The Seagull

A Memory of Staines.

Back in the seventies I drove to Staines to visit my long lost Uncle Basil who I hadn’t seen since I was eight. I drove into Staines from London and asked a newsagent how to find his address.
Upon arrival, I parked and knocked on the door. My Aunt Marjorie spoke from an upstairs window and asked who I was and what I was doing there. I explained and she said, “You’ve come at a most inopportune time, he’s at work”.
I promised to come back later and went for a pint and a bite to eat. I found the Ship Inn, ordered a pint and a sandwich out on the deck. By the time the sandwich arrived I’d almost finished my pint, so I had a couple of bites and went back to the bar for another. On my way back to my table I saw a seagull zooming in, snatching my sandwich and flying away with it!
I went back to the bar and complained, “a seagull just got my sandwich and flew off with it!”
The barman asked if I wanted to pay for another one. I said I shouldn’t have to pay for it because a seagull took it.
He said, “Well make the bloody seagull pay for it then!”
Later on I went back and visited with my Uncle.