This was taken on the only occasion the three of us managed to spend the whole day together on August 31, 2000. We had planned to go shopping in Truro for the day, the first and only occassion that we got together without adults, but we couldn't get there easily so off to Newquay we go! Wait for the story now!

We made hasty arrangements the night before as Tracey never knew far in advance when she wasn't working. I remember my mum not being very keen, but it was the only choice - the following week Tracey & Beth would be back at school and we weren't going to be around for long. So I arranged to be at Tracey's house the next morning, where we'd walk to the bus to go to Newquay.

Beth's dad brought her to Tracey's house and announced that he was on his way almost to Newquay and that he didn't mind taking a detour to drop us in the town - it would save us money! So we hopped into the car and Peter took us, saying he'd come and pick us up later whenever we finished.

I remember that we all needed to buy school supplies and that each one of us also had our own items to buy. I think Tracey needed something for her mum and I wanted Robbie Williams' Sing When You're Winning. We got all that no problem, although not necessarily in the morning. We had lunch in a cafe and I remember that we found our money before we ate (of course we didn't have to think about adding 7% tax!) and Tracey (being the oldest) was in charge of the money.

One of the day's aim was to get a photo of the three of us. Of course it's easy for three of us to fit into a photo booth (see above) and have a whale of time - and the price was easily divided between us. The photo I have is the "mouth wide open" shot... I can't remember what Beth and Tracey have, but it's probably something equally good!

So after maybe four hours, we've decided that we've had enough of being in Newquay and that perhaps it's time to call it a day. Beth suggests we phone her dad, but I say that it's just as easy to phone my mum - after all, Beth's dad has travelled to and fro twice already today, he doesn't want to have to do it again... and if Tracey and I need picking up from their home, then my mum should just as well come to Newquay. Cue the phonecall.

My mum doesn't want to have to drive around Newquay looking for us, so she tells me that she'll be waiting for us in about half an hour (the length of time it took to get there) around the station. Message received and understood. As none of us have anything else to get or do, we decide to head off to the station. Simple?

The three of us find the bus station and sit down waiting for my mum, and chatted. I look up at one point and recognise my mum's car and I start moving, followed by Beth. Tracey doesn't think she's seen us and stays where she is.

Of course, Mum doesn't see us, so we go back to Tracey. Mum will find us, won't she?

It takes us maybe twenty minutes to realise that Mum isn't coming back. I start thinking, "is there another station here? A train station?" Tracey and Beth don't know, so I go into the bus station and say something like "Is there a train station here? If so, where is it?" We have to head behind Woolworths. Or maybe twas Argos. It was a big store anyway.

So off we head to the train station. By now, it's raining and I was the only sensible one to bring my rain coat with me. Beth can't stop laughing and Tracey just can't believe that I made such a mistake. I should have clarified WHICH station, eh?

Of course Mum's waiting for us outside the train station when we get there... probably half an hour later. She wasn't going to drive around Newquay wasting her petrol (Although I believe the country wasn't in the Fuel crisis at that point - it was a few weeks later), and that the excercise probably did us good!

I have great memories of that day, along with Christmas Eves. But there's too many of those, so I won't even begin to reminsce about them!
Last updated: April 3, 2005