“You never know where life is going to take you.” my mother always used to say, and now it had definitely taken me in a new direction.

“Robin, have you any plans for today” asked my Mam.

“ No, I was just going to mess around on my computer, the weather is pretty awful, so the lads won’t be out playing football or on their bikes. Why are you asking, is there something you want me to do?

I often imagine myself as Grace Darling, the heroine, battling the elements, forcing a way through the surf, my hair blowing wildly in the gale, my dress sodden and clinging, but I am not a 25 year old Victorian heroine, I am Jack Armstrong, a 22 year old man living in modern times.

I’m Joseph Clark, or was, most people know me now as Josephine or Jo. Tragic events turned my life around to a new direction and I now know where I am headed.

—————————————————————————————————

We often sit on our balcony with a bottle of local Douro red wine or vino verde or, the speciality of the region, vintage port, overlooking the beautiful Douro Valley remembering all the special times.

.

Chapter 8 The End of an Era

Back in Perranporth for the summer I soon settled into the routine, but was now based in our admin office rather than the Piran Hotel, working alongside Mum on the running of the business rather than the operational side in the hotels. Although the Abba act had been very successful and a bit of fun, they were not going to continue this year. One of the barmen had left for a new job, and Maria wanted to concentrate on expanding her hair and beauty business, so there were to be no distractions as Maria.

Chapter 6 One of the girls

Back at the flat the girls had decided that we would forget the casual looks for this evening and dress ‘to the nines’. So after a quick shower and moisturise I brushed out my hair, really glammed up with heavy evening-out make-up, put on one of my new undie sets, sheer tights, my ‘little black dress’ and some 3” heels, a quick spritz of hairspray and ‘Allure’, grabbed a clutch bag for my essentials, and went out to meet the others.

Chapter 4 Showtime

We all met for breakfast in our hotel before setting off, and the boys couldn’t believe how I had been transformed, they even said that they had been out with a lot worse lookers than me, and that they might have to provide a bit of muscle to protect me on our travels.

John, who was a couple of years older, drove us in his Triumph 2000, which was bit of a tight squeeze getting all our costumes and clothes and things in the boot, but as we were only away for a few days we didn’t need much personal stuff, at least the boys didn’t.

Chapter 1 A happy childhood

As I have now reached the grand age of 60, and I am beginning to ease back from the hustle and bustle of work and family responsibilities, I have more and more time to look back at all the thingsI have enjoyed and experienced in my varied life.
_____________________________________________________________

To help out his sister, Chris has agreed to work in his sister’s cafe in Mevagissey for the holiday break from university. due to staff problems Chris has been coaxed into working as Chrissie.

Chapter 2,
Girls need to take more care

Chapter 1
The holiday job

“ Oh come on Chris, you’ve done it before with no problems, please help me out.”

“ No, I’ve changed in the last two years, I don’t think I will pass like I used to, and, besides, there must be someone else you can ask”

———————————