D Day again

Another visit to Southsea in November and one of my favourite visiting spaces, the D Day Museum car park on Clarence Esplanade, with the wind and rain lashing the lorry.  Just a literal stone’s throw from the Solent but feeling like a boat rocking on it.  The occasional roar of the Isle of Wight hovercraft passing in the long dark. I find it comforting though I guess many might not like the physical fragility of this travelling life.  I love it.  It reminds me of the impermanence of everything.  I like keeping the rain out as it tries insistently to dribble in to the living space. And stuffing socks into gaps where the wind whistles through.  And my life-saving, god-sent woodburner churning out the dry warmth and cracking and tinging as it does the magic, dries the towels and cheers the soul.

Other magic too.  I don’t even need to leave the cocooned warmth of my life pod to trudge across the weather-whipped carpark to shove pound coins in to the machine.  One click on the app, three numbers of the CVC and it’s found me, charged my card and saved the receipt for tax reckoning day.  And all for only an extra 20p a shot.

Talking of tax reckoning day, I’ve just spent the most tedious days of my year doing mine for 2017/18.  The only joy involved is the memory of the events passed, the props purchased or the teeth fixed. (I am in that wonderful profession where I can set dentistry and haircuts as a legitimate expense – you wouldn’t like a toothless hairy Mr A, now would you?) I don’t think I’ve ever had the accounts away from my desk in November before.  It’s so often been a mad dash to the post on Christmas Eve.  Pity the poor accountant coming in after the break to that mail bag.  But then, they did decide to become accountants…

And tomorrow a radio interview.  Not just ANY radio, but the BBC World Service, the programme Outlook and the broadcast day, Christmas Day.  Another step in my plan for international fame, and all arising from Rhys Edwards’ fabulous film on National Geographic. If you’ve not seen it check it out here –

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/video/shorts/a-look-at-the-whimsical-life-of-a-traveling-showman/

The World Service reporter AND a photographer (it comes to fame when you have a photographer too) are coming down to Portsmouth tomorrow for the recording in my lorry alongside Nelson’s Victory at the Historic Dockyard.  All my Great British goosebumps will be jostling…

Arriving at the Historic Dockyard but, this year, no worming my way through to the pleasant but hidden Second Sea Lord’s residence where previously I have been sited. No, this year, THE gate is opened and here I am nudged up alongside the majestic Victory with all its history, the awe and wonder of that classic bark. 

It must rank among the best locations.  No, it really is THE best.

And a good interview.  Listen on Christmas Day.  Just before AND just after The Queen.  Hey twice in one day, or so the lovely Mariana, producer of the World Service told me.  A young lady of considerable talent for her meagre years.  Expert at handling the recorder and at encouraging me to talk.  I can’t wait to hear the result. Another chapter in the white book.

All the best from a historic battleship near you,

Mr Alexander