The List of Things That Made WBN Happy (Scarborough Edition)
Last week we (Corinne, Estelle and our splendid actor Andy) took Reasons For Listing up to Scarborough as part of the Scarborough Literature Festival. In keeping with the piece, therefore, we’re going to document the experience via a list of things that made us happy…
Corinne teaching Andy about what happens when you put caramel waffles on top of coffee.
Andy taking approximately 60 seconds to “improve” the process by speeding up insulation of said caramel waffle with the aid of a coffee cup lid.
Line runs in Coach F. East Coast Trains – you are welcome.
Completing the Guardian Quick Crossword between York and Malton (and only, possibly, making up one word).
Tea and coffee making facilities in our hotel room.
The sea! The sea!
Andy spending five minutes taking a photo of himself taking a photo of the view.
Seaside chips.
Getting soaked by a wave on our first walk by the sea front (this possibly made Andy happier than Corinne who spent the next 60 seconds yelling “THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE” impotently in the direction of the sea).
Yorkshire-priced rounds.
Andy and Corinne timing meeting Estelle’s train to perfection.
Finding a cooked breakfast for under four pounds. (Sensing a theme here?)
How lovely and well organised Scarborough Central Library was, including bringing us lots of tea.
Finding Joseph’s desk by the window in the reference area.
Having ten minutes post line run to entertain ourselves with The Books. (Estelle went for checking our surnames in “Who was Who” whilst Andy found out the origins of the word “Bristol”)
Our audience. Including them being the first to, en masse, say “hello” back to Joseph.
Everyone who took the time to stay around afterwards to tell us something that made them happy, ask questions and talk about Joseph.
Corinne’s friend Val taking charge and finding us a coffee shop for, well, coffee and cake and suchlike when Corinne, Andy and Estelle were partaking in what can only be described as faffing.
Scones and Jam and Cream.
Estelle and Corinne being humoured by the woman behind a handmade chocolate counter when they spent five minutes choosing 7 chocolates to take back to London for Charlie.
The area of Scarborough which we labelled “the charity shop quarter” and where Estelle found a new jacket and Andy came down with full-on-consumer-fever caused by a pair of brogues and a copy of Pride and Prejudice.
TEN ENTIRE STICKS OF ROCK FOR £1.
Estelle’s face at discovering the name of the ice cream parlour on Scarborough seafront (one for the 10th Doctor fans…)
And then finding the TARDIS…
Tea and quiet time in the hotel.
MECCA BINGO.
DABBERS AND MECCA BINGO.
CHIPS AND MECCA BINGO.
JUGS OF BLACK RUSSIAN COCKTAIL AND MECCA BINGO.
Andy working out the “Bingo Maths”.
Going t’pub having not won anything at bingo and, for Andy and Corinne at least, partaking in MANY double shots of spirits.
Corinne getting the barman to agree to them staying in the pub a whole 40 minutes after he called last orders.
Going on a 1.00am adventure.
Standing on Scarborough beach at 1.15am and everything being just a little bit beautiful.
2.00am tea and trashy BBC3 tv.
Tea and teacakes for breakfast.
Spending too much time in a second hand book emporium.
Finally, finally, getting some proper Yorkshire fish and chips.
And, did we mention the sea?