It was alarming rubbing shoulders with the boisterous youth in the strong winds and rain of Leeds town centre.
I was surely the same at that age: leaping about and very loud with the beer and all.
I suppose I had a feeling of apprehension, about being jostled and caught up in the aggressive carnival of it all, and being so cold on that Saturday night that I suspected the slightest nudge and I would shatter into tiny pieces.
Being slightly nervious standing between two club doorways ; a throng of bouncers and drunken revellers on both sides, I sought refuge in a shop doorway, whilst watching the ridiculous spectacle of young women wearing one stitch beyond stark naked struggling with inside out umbrella’s.
Out of the blue a stranger arrived to cheer me up.
Young lad completly drunk, staggers up to me in my adopted doorway and says “Can I come in”
Now this lad was obviously an experienced drunk and when confronted by a pair of anything, ie two night-clubs, suspected the truth lay somewhere between the two.
Feeling rather mischievous , I just said “Sorry mate your too drunk”
”AAAWWW Go on let me in” says he swaying violently.
“Sorry mate not tonight” I replied
He staggered off completely missing the real club ,and it was perhaps for the best.
I thought of looking at my clipboard with my taxi survey results, and pretending to see if he was on the guest list, but thought the humour would be too advanced for someone in his black belt state of inebriation.
I wonder if he will tell his mates about the new club in Leeds and the miserable old sod in the woolly hat who wouldn’t let him in.
Wonderful ! You couldn’t make it up .