Just to take the edge of the nice neat new year new start, the year opens with two significant dates. Yes – I am that unusual creature – a bloke that remembers dates!
Today marks 23 years since the day we actually met. Despite me being from Bolton and Susanne from Hindley we met in Stockport at the all dayer they used to have every year.
I have mentioned previously about not exactly being socially gifted. One thing I really struggle with is striking up a conversation with someone I don’t know, regardless of gender.
I also struggle picking up signals – positive or negative.
I had been seeing Susanne around at various events for about eighteen months and had been, er, noticing her. I was totally oblivious to the fact that for a similar time she had also been paying attention to me. I later found out that I was a regular subject of discussion in the factory, and I was asked by one or two of her friends from work what took me so long?
As I have said previously, in mitigation she was normally sitting with her parents. That filters out all bar the truly keen from saying hello. As always in Stockport she was with her Mum & Dad.
One of the main bands on that night was the Metrotones. A UK based doowop band. I had already seen the band a few times. That gave me a possible subject to talk about. You will all now be aware of my relationship with music I can talk for hours, whether you are interested or not! All I needed was opportunity.
In a way they were instrumental (geddit?) in Susanne and I getting together. A gig of theirs led to a separation from a previous girlfriend, and then Susanne and I met at one of their gigs. Two in one from the Metrotones!
Ever the subtle one, I was sitting with my friends, my back to them gazing over. When her parents got up for a dance, it was a now or never kind of moment. Fortunately, we hit it off and the rest is history.
The third of January was our first date. We had arranged to meet in Westhoughton, outside the town hall. From there it was over to The White Hart in Farnworth. There was DJ on playing Rock N Roll. Strangely for me, I was rather distracted from the music that night!