We stayed in Birmingham for about two months, I had my 17^th Birthday here. We did try to get jobs at the local hotels and restaurants, but for two young inexperienced guys it proved far more difficult than we had thought it would be. We went to Birmingham Nightclubs quite a few times, My Birthday being one such time, taking the bus into the city and back home at two or later in the morning. I must say, I was surprised by the forwardness of the Birmingham Girls in these clubs. They didn't hesitate on going up to guys and getting them to dance. The dancing too, wow! Not the stand and swing around stuff we were used to in Guernsey, hell no, these girls would grind up on you like they were having sex and wanted your babies. Quite an eye opener for an innocent young lad from Guernsey, who had always been taught by Gran that women didn't like sex and just did it as a duty.

Perhaps that is where my misplaced over heightened sense of respect for girls came from, and why I was struggling with the “relationship” thing. I was discovering, much to my surprise, that Gran lied to me, maybe she never met an English girl and only Guernsey girls where like that. It was a miracle that my cherry didn't get popped here either. Boy, was I slow on the uptake.

I got to see my first ever professional football game while here in Birmingham. It was a local derby game between Aston Villa, and Birmingham City. I was completely in awe at the noise and passion of the crowds, more than a little intimidated by the way they dressed, Skin Heads, with the “Bovver Boots”, tight jeans and torn t shirts sporting logo's professing to hate everyone who breathed.

Robert knew the safe places around the ground to stand so we kept out of any trouble.

I had always loved Football, played constantly every chance I got growing up and watched every game possible on TV. As I mentioned, I was always a little heavy as a kid, so I chose to play as Goalkeeper, a position that included me in all the action ,but didn't require much running around. Now, with my new weight loss, I discovered I was pretty handy as an outfield striker. I now had the height, speed and stamina needed to compete with the other lads my age and the added advantage of having tended goal all those years meant I was able to second guess goalkeepers and score a lot of goals.

Robert and I used to go to the park and get into games with local boys and I found out I could more than hold my own as a player.

I got to the point that I was uncomfortable “sponging” off of Robert's Mum, and told him so.

He understood and suggested that we go down to London and stay with his Sister. He knew she was running a Youth Hostel with her boyfriend, and we could shack up there. Surely it would be easier for us to get work in London, so I agreed.

We found ourselves a few days later thumbs extended on the side of the Motorway, hoping for a ride to London, and the next stage of our adventure. We did this at night because it was commonly known people would be more apt to stop for you at night.

We waited about two hours in the rain before a young guy in a Volkswagen Bug, stopped and loaded us up. He was headed for Kings Cross, in London, the same place as we were. We happily climbed in and headed south, again excited for the adventures ahead.

It didn't take us very long to find the Pheonix Youth Hostel, in Kings Cross. It was just a few streets away from The London University and less than a mile from the main square where the Tube Train Station was located.

Robert's Sister was a big, very pretty and vivacious girl, full of life and spirit. I immediately liked her. Her Boyfriend, on the other hand was a different thing altogether.

He ran this place as if he was some kind of “Lord of the Manor”, people running around, doing his bidding at his every whim. We had to make an “Appointment” to meet him later that day when he felt he would grace us with his regal presence.

He was a tall, skinny, long haired and bearded a John Lennon, Wannabee. I hated him from the second I set my eyes on him. I had a feeling deep down in the pit of my gut that this guy was bad news all around. My instincts turned out to be accurate.