I hate not having an alarm clock while I’m travelling. It really breaks my routine and just bugs me. Almost a month into a European trip I was desperate to acquire one, having forgot to bring one with me.
So, on a flight from London to Dubrovnik I found myself seated at the window beside two English ladies who introduced themselves as Leslie and Liz. We soon discovered through chatting that we were all heading for a HF Holidays walking trip. But it occurred to none of us to actually ask where exactly we were all going.
When I discovered that the British Airways duty free trolley had digital alarm clocks I was determined to have one and bailed up the stewardess as she passed. My wallet was in my backpack in the overhead locker and the stewardess was unable to reach it for me. To avoid me needing to climb over everyone to get to my money, Leslie kindly offered to pay the required 15 pounds for me and get it off me later. With all parties in agreement, the transaction was completed I had my shiny new clock.
Later on the bus from the airport to Baska Voda I couldn’t find Leslie and Liz. The trip leader assured me nobody had been left behind. On further enquiry I discovered to my mounting dismay there were two different HF Holidays groups on the flight – one going to Baska Voda with me and a second bound for Montenegro with Leslie and Liz. My creditors were on the other bus and I had inadvertently pinched their 15 pounds.
I confessed this crime to my walk group during dinner a few days later. I suffered the inevitable taunts about my presumed convict past. When we were taking up a collection for the hotel staff on the last night my wallet was upstairs in my room. ‘Well nobody’s going to lend you any money so you better go and get it,’ chided the group leader. Ha bloody Ha.
Fortunately on the return trip to Dubrovnik airport the two HF groups again crossed paths. Leslie and Liz were found by a search party consisting of our two leaders, the leader of the other group and around a dozen hikers from both parties. The 15 pound debt was paid and my reputation restored. My new kept excellent time until being left behind in a hotel room in Dubai.
Travels with my Teddy archive, May 2011.