Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a raftsman in Greenhithe ain’t for the faint-hearted. Woke up this mornin’ thinkin’ it’d be just another chill day on the Thames. But nah, life had other plans, right?
So, I’m cruisin’ down the High Street, grabbin’ a cuppa from that little café, you know, the one near the old church? Can’t remember the name, but their scones are to die for. Anyway, I’m sippin’ my tea, and suddenly, I see this massive barge comin’ down the river. Like, seriously, it’s the size of a bloody whale! I’m thinkin’, “Great, just what I need. More work.”
I rush over to the riverbank, and there’s this crowd gatherin’. People are pointin’ and gaspin’. Turns out, the barge’s got a leak! Water’s pourin’ in like it’s tryin’ to drown itself. I’m like, “Oi! Someone call the coastguard!” But no one’s movin’. Just standin’ there, slack-jawed. Typical, right?
So, I jump into action. I grab my gear and hop on my raft. It’s a bit rickety, but hey, it floats. I paddle out, heart racin’. The Thames is choppy today, like it’s got a mind of its own. I’m dodgin’ waves, tryin’ to get to this barge.
Finally, I reach it. The crew’s panickin’. I shout, “Get some buckets! We gotta bail this thing out!” They look at me like I’m mad. I mean, c’mon! It’s sink or swim, lads!
We start bailing, and I’m feelin’ like a hero. But then, outta nowhere, this seagull swoops down and snatches my sandwich right outta my hand! I’m standin’ there, mouth agape, watchin’ it fly off with my lunch. I’m like, “Really? A seagull?!”
After what feels like hours, we finally get the barge stabilized. The crew’s cheerin’, and I’m feelin’ like a rockstar. But then, I look around, and it hits me. I’m soaked, covered in river muck, and my sandwich is gone. Just great.
I paddle back to shore, and as I’m pullin’ my raft up, I see my mate Dave. He’s laughin’ his head off. “You look like you’ve been swimmin’ with the fishes!” he yells. I can’t help but laugh too. It’s just one of those days, ya know?
Later, I decide to hit up the pub on Greenhithe’s main drag. The one with the funny name—The Olde Ship or somethin’. I need a pint after all that drama. I walk in, and the place is packed. Everyone’s talkin’ about the barge incident. I’m like, “Yeah, that was me!”
I grab a pint, and as I’m sippin’, I overhear this couple at the next table. They’re goin’ on about the new housing developments on the riverfront. “They’re gonna ruin the view!” one of ‘em says. I’m thinkin’, “Mate, have you seen the view from the river? It’s already a mess!”
As the night goes on, I’m feelin’ more relaxed. The pub’s got that cozy vibe, and the locals are friendly. I even join in on a game of darts. I’m terrible, but who cares? We’re all laughin’ and havin’ a good time.
By the end of the night, I’m thinkin’ about how wild this day was. From savin’ a barge to losin’ my lunch to makin’ new mates at the pub. Greenhithe’s got its quirks, but it’s home. And even on the craziest days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, here’s to more days like this. Just maybe with fewer seagulls, yeah?