¡Jesus Maria!…
![onthebuses[1].jpg](http://blogs.bootsnall.com/K_Eric77/files/2006/02/onthebuses[1].thumbnail.jpg)
… said the bloke behind me as the double decker ‘rapido’ bus veered into the soft shoulder at 80 miles an hour. I would have agreed, but I was trying to recall the words of the motorist´s prayer and to translate them into Spanish to take my mind off the unique driving style of our pilot.
Argentine bus irritant. The bloke who takes your luggage out of the hold at the end of the journey sometimes demands a tip. For 10 seconds work. I asked one what the tip was for. He replied ‘For me!’. Had to give him one then, didn’t I?
South American bus funny thing. All SA bus drivers have a mate. This person sits up front with the driver, checks tickets and occasionally gives out (extremely bad) food. But their main job appears to be to wave to their counterparts in buses coming the other way. I like to think of them as the Dougal to Father Ted. I normally take the role of Jack, shouting ‘Feck!’ from time-to-time.
Currently in the Blackpool of Argentina, Mar del Plata. The Stones played their final gig in BA last night with more rioting and a live feed on the telly. Considering they started in the 60s and are playing now, why is their dress sense still mired in the 80s (the decade that taste forgot)? They finished with Satisfaction, so Devo’s version of that song is one tune of the day. Jagger, the ultimate professional, ripped off his shirt for the finale to reveal an Argentine footie top (tailored to within an inch of its life). Clever buggar. Still can’t stand him.
It’s U2 next, so telly has gone from wall-to-wall Stones to wall-to-wall Serious Irish Christians. They’re being supported by Franz Ferdinand, so I’ll go in search of any warm up gigs on Monday with my best Scottish accent at the ready for the guest list.
In the meantime I leave for Buenos Aires, where I intend to stay for a month, on Sunday. I missed getting a seat on my chosen train – The Midnight Special. Still, Harry Belafonte’s version of that tune is today’s second song.
Finally, have just finished reading The Day Kennedy Was Shot by Jim Bishop. Exhausting in detail, but not exactly conclusive (although he thinks it was). Now, we all know that John Peel killed Kennedy and by coincidence I was listening to a Peel commemoration programme I’d recorded as I got to the bit when Lee Harvey Oswald was being charged with the of the president. At the exact time Paul Gambacchini was claiming that Peel had said he was there at that moment. Not according to the book I was reading. More grist to the conspiracy mill. Anyway, one of the tunes played on the programme was Holiday in Cambodia by (I’ve just realised this!)… the Kennedys! In a world of truth and justice that record would have been number 1 for at least 6 weeks and as a result it is today’s third tune.
Bye All
Late PS – Poor Cath from the Patagonia part has suffered a theft in sodding Santiago de Chile. What is it about that y place? Anyway, here’s a picture she’s lent me to remind us of that fabulous night on the Glacier. Keep your chin up Cath.
Just thought I’d pop this in. 
Oh well, that’s the English season over. When does the cricket start?
Tags: Travel
JohnnyBoy
February 25th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
Was Blakey grimacing at the bus driver when you arrived at the bus station? “I’ll get you Butler….” Anyone remember what Butler’s mate was called? A point for the first correct answer. Maybe we should rename this site, or carry it on when the wanderer returns. It could be a tribute to fabulous 70s ITV sit-coms.
February 25th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Jack Harper…..arf arf arf!
Scotland 18 England 12 arf arf arf arf!!
February 25th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Surely it was ‘I’ll ‘ave you Butler!’. I was originally planning to do On The Buses when I did a bus post, but forgot. Well done Mikey for that… I have plans for a continuing site upon return – I have some ideas (centring around the World Cup and betting with a couple of side topics), but all suggestions for a jointly authored blog gratefully accepted.
I see JK gets a point but Scotland get 18 of ’em.
February 25th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Have you been to Bolivia? Because the buses there are really something special, people dont just sit and stand in the aisles on 10 hour bus journeys they even hitch a lift in the luggage compartments!
February 25th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Ok ! What was everyones ‘bus route? I’ll start with Crosville C53 Kingsway.
LJP.We want your local ‘bus route in BA.
No ‘buses in O’Connell Street,Dublin tonight by the way!!
February 26th, 2006 at 11:24 am
The driver was called Stan on On the Buses. I knew I’d come in useful at sometime on this trip. Your Grandad would feel he had achieved something with you because his Motorist Prayer has been recalled a few times lately. A good fitting song would be The wheels on the bus go round round round!!!
February 26th, 2006 at 11:42 am
I’m so impressed you found a picture of Stan! Now Olive may have been fitting for the landlady at Hostel Magallanes…
Thanks for the sympathy over the whole “Thieving-gits-of-Santiago” episode. Am now firmly over it looking forward to sampling the delights of the Peruvian chicken buses.
As it’s now in mind. Can anyone name the members of family who lived next door to George and Mildred? There’s a pisco sour with your name on it in Santiago if you can…
February 26th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Dunno, but their son was called Tristram.
As for buses, mine was the 15 to the town hall and then a long walk to handbridge, as I’d spent the rest of the cash on sweets.
February 26th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Aha, the Fourmile family…
February 26th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
A heart warming win in Cardiff. Nice to see a tear in Alan’s eye.
February 26th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Fair play, the Fourmiles is a very good shout.
I used to get the C53 too, happy days indeed, two B & H before I got to the Town Hall from Newton Lane, my God I was a good smoker.
February 26th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
There won’t be any similar Gerrard pictures before the end of the season.
Good God, Mike, B&H for starters? You must have had a tramp’s cough.
February 26th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Mrs Foumile was Ann, Mr was possibly Geoffrey.
February 26th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Oooh, spot on Col.
February 26th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Tristram was the son and George’s fish was called Moby. The blog is turning into a TV times love fest. Martin, please feel free to translate it to everyone you meet in South America.
February 26th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Actually, I have it on good authority that this blog is now required reading by students in North and South America. It’s a way for them to supplement their knowledge of English and improve their cultural understanding of West Europeans. Right now Google Argentina is suffering from overload as tens of thousands of youngsters enter “On The Buses, TV, England” simply to be ahead of their mates when school starts again in a week’s time. Talking of which… see next post.
February 26th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
Correct! And why not?
And of course it was “I’ll have you for this Butler!”.
It is 2.05am and LJP, all I can say is that we have won another trophy (MUFC) and battered our neighbours @ Lansdowne today.
Only draw back is the Ambulance Chasers beat the Bitters today.
Hail! Hail!
Taochfaidh Arla!
Can I tell you about the the Crosville Bus Enthusiasts Club that used to meet at Werburgh’s some time?
February 27th, 2006 at 4:56 am
JK, the Crosville Bus Enthusiasts Club now has my Dad as a member! I think they meet out in North Wales now, they get a taxi as the bus service has gone to the dogs since de-regulation. Not quite sure what they do, but it doesn’t involve pulled up keks and dodgy handshakes.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:01 am
That’s real spooky Mike. Always wondered what happened to them.My abiding memory of was a guy called Gabriel who’s Mum knitted him a Crosville ‘Bus sweater.It was green and cream and had ‘Crosville’ down the sleeves.He is a really nice guy.Could never quite work out exactly what they did, but generally they would spend Saturday morning talking about ‘buses and swapping pics of them.Then it was off to Victoria Road to check out the real thing at the depot! Yes,hand knitted sweaters and enamel ‘bus badges. Good luck to them.
I think we would all love to see the green and cream machines back on the roads again.Deregulation-another failed Thatcher experiment.
PS Did anyone ever drink in the Crosville club (top of Chichester Street)?
February 27th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Without wishing to turn this into a Crosville love-fest, I’ve realised my Dad goes to a retired Crosville worker type-thingy, not a bus-spotters club. I know Gabriel from many years ago, and he was indeed bus crazy. As far as I know my Dad has never worn a hand-knitted sweater with any enamel on at all, at least I seriously hope not.
I went to a few 18th Birthday Parties at the Crosville Club, I was probably sick in Chichester Street. Didn’t one of Martin’s bands that he managed once pack the place to the rafters?
February 27th, 2006 at 10:17 am
I believe that when Martin was their Svengali, “Shhhh, Nervous Desire” played at the Labour CLub (correct me if I’m wrong). I did go and see “The Elephant Men” at the Crosville (weren’t you in the Elephant Men, Shaun?), on a school night and was banned from going out for a month (and yes, I was sick).
February 27th, 2006 at 10:18 am
There are simply too many bits and pieces going on here! Next post is amazingly about a Crosville Bus (the L1 – prepare yourselves). Do John and Mike want to start a private chat room somewhere in the meantime? Also, as an ex-Crosville employee myself, why don’t I ever get invited to the enamelled sweater love-ins?
February 27th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Because of your behaviour the last time. We’ll say no more on that, young Parry.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
Just thought I should mention that I’ve been insulted on Christmas in Iquitos, if anyone wants to have a look…
February 27th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Your Uncle Tom is reading all this over my shoulder. He is working for pleasure on a 1949 bus for a show in April. !!! He has mentioned going round the world on it. I’ve enjoyed all your comments and learnt a few things
February 27th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
LJP.You are quite right. Why should you travel to the far flung corners of the World just so we can entertain ourselves with idle chatter about the C53? But you started this ‘bus thingy! So that’s my defence – which is a lot more effective than CCFC’s this season!!
So as the denizens of this fine blog are busy scouring E-Bay for Crosville sweaters, displaying a picture of a Leyland Titan on the front (in the immortal green and cream livery of course) I bring you this exciting and breathtaking news.There is a Crosville ‘Bus Enthusiasts (1967) website. Try http://www.crosville-ec.org.uk/ .A passport to paradise!!
Ding ding. Plenty of room on top!!
(No double entendres please)