Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m a cooper, right? You know, makin’ barrels and all that jazz. But today? Today was a whole different kettle of fish.
Woke up in me flat on Front Street. The sun was shinin’, birds chirpin’, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be a good one.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I head down to the workshop on the High Street. Got me tools all ready, feelin’ like a proper craftsman. But then, I step outside, and boom! It’s like Bedlington decided to throw a surprise party for me. Rain. Buckets of it. I’m talkin’ torrential downpour. I’m soaked before I even reach the end of the street.
So, I’m trudgin’ along, dodgin’ puddles like a pro. I pass the old church on the corner of Church Lane. It’s a lovely spot, but today? It looked like a scene from a horror flick. Dark clouds, wind howlin’. I half expected a ghost to pop out and say, “Oi, mate, you’re in the wrong place!”
Finally get to the workshop, right? And guess what? My mate Dave, the one who’s supposed to help me, is late. Classic Dave. I’m fumin’. I mean, how hard is it to show up on time? I’m there, ready to roll, and he’s probably still in bed, snorin’ like a bear.
After an hour of waitin’, I decide to start without him. I’m hammerin’ away, makin’ a barrel for some fancy pub down in Newcastle. It’s a good gig, but I’m just not feelin’ it. My mind’s wanderin’. I’m thinkin’ about the last time I went to the Black Bull on the corner of the Market Place. Best pint of ale I’ve ever had.
Then, outta nowhere, the door swings open. It’s Dave, lookin’ like a drowned rat. “Sorry, mate! Traffic was mad!” he says. Traffic? In Bedlington? What traffic? I roll me eyes.
We finally get to work, and it’s goin’ alright. But then, I hear this loud crash outside. I rush to the window, and what do I see? A bloody car has crashed into the lamppost on the corner of Station Road! I’m thinkin’, “What is this, a scene from a movie?”
So, we run outside to help. Turns out, it’s just some daft lad who thought he could take a corner too fast. He’s fine, just a bit shaken. But the car? Total wreck. I can’t help but laugh. “You alright, mate? Need a barrel to hide in?”
After that chaos, we get back to work. But I can’t shake the weird vibe of the day. I’m hammerin’ away, but my mind’s still on that crash. And then, just when I think it can’t get any weirder, the fire alarm goes off!
We all pile outta the workshop, and I’m thinkin’, “Great, just what I need.” Turns out, it was a false alarm. Some kid pulled the alarm for a laugh. I’m fumin’ again. “You think this is a game, mate?”
Finally, after all that madness, we finish the barrel. It’s a beauty, if I do say so myself. We load it up, and I’m feelin’ a bit proud. But then, I remember I promised me mum I’d visit her on the other side of Bedlington.
So, I hop on me bike and pedal down to the other side of town. I’m cruisin’ past the old pit, thinkin’ about how much this place has changed. Bedlington used to be all about coal, now it’s all fancy cafes and shops.
I get to me mum’s, and she’s made me tea and biscuits. Best part of the day, hands down. We sit and chat, and I forget all the madness. She tells me about the gossip in the neighborhood, and I’m laughin’ so hard I nearly spill me tea.
But then, as I’m leavin’, I step in a puddle. Of course. Soaked again. I can’t help but laugh. “Cheers, Bedlington! You’ve outdone yourself today!”
So, that was my day. Full of ups and downs, laughs and frowns. Just another day in Bedlington, I guess. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!