The seventies Hippy Trail 16

13-8-1974
Abbey Wood, England

Hello there folks,

I am still working here in Abbey Wood and have got a flat in a terraced house. You know the ones that are like those in the televsion show Coronation Street. They are all the same, about twenty feet wide and all joined to one another. I work in a place where they make wire cables. They put the rubber on the copper wire and twist the cables for telegraphic wires etc. I have been working ten hours a day and even worked last Saturday and Sunday.

England

There is loads of work in London and they are crying out for workers. There are also lots of Pakistanis and Indians and West Indians here and there is a bit of a race problem. The economy here is not bankrupt but there is a lot of inflation and everything seems to go along as if nothing is happening.

I am going to a rock festival next weekend for three days at a place called Reading, about 25 miles north of London. Traffic, 10CC, and lots of other groups are playing.

I came across from Amsterdam by catching a train to the Hook Of Holland and then a boat to Harwich and hence by train to Liverpool Street Station in London. Trains are terribly expensive. It cost me more to go to London from Amsterdam than it did for me to get from Istanbul to Amsterdam.

I think my surf board is in Amsterdam and H is too. I tried to contact them and he says that there is a mix-up so I hope the bastards have not lost it. I have heard a lot about Cornwall - it is a popular tourist resort and I have heard a lot about the surfboard riding there but I guess it is not anything spectacular. I might go there soon for a look. I am dying for a surf. I bought myself a mandolin last week and started to learn it. I caught up pretty quick since I learnt the guitar but it is pretty hard to do tremolo. I will just have to practice it.

The English beer is everything they say about it - flat and warm, but I am geting used to it. The lager here is too expensive and everyone here drinks pints. The soccer has just started this weekend and already there has been riots and fans smashing up pubs and players being sent off for brawling. It should be an interesting season. I might go to a big game and take some movies of someone like Leeds or Spurs playing soccer. I think the quality of the English F.A. has dropped a lot in recent years and places like Germany and Holland and continental countries have forged ahead with much more skill. I am reading a book at the moment called "A history of Eastern Civilizations" and it has given me a greater insight into the things I have seen and how much I have not perceived. I have been reading a lot of books lately as it might be my last chance to get hold of books from a library. I am reading a good one by Michener called "Iberia" - sounds a really fascinating place. Well, I will write to you as soon as I possibly can.

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Amsterdam is the capital of holland and is a major trading and university city, port and commercial hub.
Bristol is in the West of England and is the largest town in Gloucestershire and lies on the river Avon. It has a cathedral and a university. The main industries are ship-building, engineering, and trade in tobacco and cocoa products.

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