Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, Grays is a wild ride. I woke up, right? Sun’s blazin’ through my window, and I’m like, “Great, another day in this little town.” But boy, was I wrong.
First off, I had to grab brekkie. Hit up this tiny café on Orsett Road. The name? Can’t remember, but it had the best bacon sarnies. I mean, seriously, I could’ve eaten ten. The lady behind the counter was all smiles, but then she dropped my coffee. Like, come on! I was ready to lose it. But then she laughed it off, and I couldn’t help but chuckle too.
After that, I strolled down to the Thames. The river was lookin’ all sparkly and stuff. I thought, “Wow, this is nice.” But then I saw a bunch of kids throwin’ stones. Like, why? Just why? I mean, it’s a river, not a rock concert! I was about to say something, but then I remembered my “visiting professor” vibe. Gotta keep it cool, right?
So, I wandered over to the Grays Beach. It’s not exactly a beach, more like a muddy bank, but whatever. I sat down, took a deep breath, and just soaked it all in. Then, outta nowhere, this seagull swoops down and steals my sandwich! I’m like, “Seriously?!” I chased it for a bit, but that bird was fast. I swear it was laughin’ at me.
Then I decided to check out the local shops on the High Street. Man, it’s a mix of everything. You got your classic charity shops, a few trendy boutiques, and then there’s that one shop that sells weird knick-knacks. I found a rubber chicken. I mean, who buys that? But I couldn’t resist. I bought it. It’s now my new best friend.
Next, I had a lecture to give at the local college. I was pumped, but also nervous. I mean, what if they didn’t like me? What if they threw tomatoes? But when I got there, the students were super chill. We talked about everything from Shakespeare to TikTok. I even made a joke about how Shakespeare would’ve totally been on TikTok. They laughed! I was on a roll.
But then, halfway through, the fire alarm goes off. Like, are you kidding me? We all had to evacuate. I stood outside, shivering in the cold, and thought, “This is not how I pictured my day.” But then I saw a group of students reenacting the fire drill. They were hilarious! I couldn’t stop laughing.
After the chaos, I headed to the local pub, The Queen’s Head. Needed a pint to calm my nerves. The vibe was great, and the locals were friendly. I ended up chatting with this old bloke who told me stories about Grays back in the day. Apparently, it used to be a big deal for shipping. Who knew?
As the sun set, I walked back to my hotel, feeling all sorts of emotions. Grays had thrown me a curveball, but I loved it. It’s quirky, it’s real, and it’s got character. I mean, where else can you chase a seagull, bond with students, and hear wild stories over a pint?
So yeah, Grays, you’ve got my heart. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!