Mugged Again! Lightning Does Strike Twice...in London!

The second time I was mugged in London was a few days after my friends Lorraine, Audrey and I had returned from Europe. It was on my last day in the city, before leaving on an early Pan American flight the following morning.

I had just confirmed my flight details, and had organised to have money transferred to the

Bank of Hawaii to cover my expenses for a few days stopover in Honolulu on my way back to Australia.

                                                        

My friends were staying on in London, but I felt as though I had been away for long enough and should be making my way home. I had enjoyed our touring around Europe and England. We had some funny times. 

I remember while driving through England and Scotland and going through castle after castle, my mind was boggled with all of their history.  I think it was about the last guided castle tour we were on, and the English Guide routinely, announced, ...

This Castle has been standing for over four hundred yearrrs !!,,,,

and I, in my tired, and bored Aussie twang said .......

'Well! it's about time they pulled it down!' 

 There was dead silence for a few seconds, I burst out laughing at my clever wit, but  my friends were horrified!....So  I made a quick get way, from the group and walked outside to wait for them.

Suddenly I heard footsteps and giggles coming from behind me, as a few people from the tour straggled  out and joined me, followed by bursts of laughter, and then we all ended up in hysterics. They were feeling the same as me.....Absolutely 'castled out'!

                                                         

The trip by bus around Europe was fun, but, quite scary at times, especially when in Rome we stayed at a hotel booked by the tour group. On arrival, we were told that there had been terrorist attacks  in the area and the hotel was short on food for us! This was a bit of a blow, because we were all starving!

We knew that there was something wrong when we came through the border and our bus driver Ettio was shouting excitedly to the officials and border police. Finally, Ettio jumped back into our bus, and with gears crunching, tyres screeching we took off at break neck speed down through the Dolomite's, and we swung and swirled, trying to hold on as we headed straight for Rome!

 So there we were at this hotel, with no food, no service, except for security, and police carrying guns, all running in and around the hotel.

 To top it off, while we were all trying to find something to eat from the deserted kitchen, Audrey's jewellery was stolen from our room. When we asked if we could report the robbery to the police, we were told that we could not do this as the police station had been blown up that afternoon!.... We were told to stay in our rooms, and lock the door, which we did, and the three of us were too scared to even try to go to  sleep!

 We did have some fun times on the bus tour.  It's a good economical way to travel through Europe, especially when you don't know where you are, or where you are going.

                        

                             

    I was to leave London the following morning on the early Pan Am Flight and I had done my last minute shopping at Marks and Sparks, and was quite loaded up with parcels, including gifts and lingerie for my teenage daughter back home in Australia. It began to rain again, so I decided to catch a bus back to our accommodation, which was on the other side of the city......somewhere.

The streets were wet and crowded, and there were a few people sheltering under umbrellas while waiting at the bus stop.

I did notice two men standing together, one was dark, and the other white.

Even now in my minds eye I can still see them as they separated, and circled around me, as we prepared to board the bus. It didn't register with me because, at the time I was worried that my parcels were  getting wet.

The crowd, eager to get on board, and out of the rain,shoved and pushed me up the steps and into the already crowded bus.  It was standing room only in the aisle , but I managed to cling on to one of the poles with one hand, while the other was being squashed while I was trying to hold my bag, along with the parcels into my chest. I could hardly breathe!..'Back Off Please! I yelled! And for an instant the pressure eased.  I caught my breath, and then 'WHOOSH!'  a really big squeeze, pushing me very hard and squashing me and my parcels into the pole! Suddenly it stopped and I fell down on to my knees still clutching my bag and parcels while trying to hold on to the pole.

Gasps of relief were heard when the bus slowed down at the next stop to allow a few passengers to get off. The crowded aisle had thinned out a little, but then, all I could think of was to get off this ridiculously and rough red bus ride, which I did at the next stop.

I set about trying to collect myself, I felt as though I had been turned inside out!. My bag was still twisted and hanging around my neck, and when I straightened it I saw that it was wide open!.....

 'Shock! Horror! ...MY RED WALLET!'  The same one that I had bravely snatched from the 'tunnel mugger'....was gone! I frantically searched on the ground around me.

It was gone alright!...OH! NO! I had been mugged again in London!!

Mugged twice in London?.......Lightening can strike twice in the same spot!..........

Everything else was in tact, passport, plane tickets and the usual contents. But, my wallet was gone...I had NO MONEY! I didn't even have any change! ..NO COINS!... I could not even make a phone call to my friends for help.... and where the hell was I anyway?

I began to panic with fright, then the burst of tears ......'Can I help you Madam?' I looked up to see an English Bobbie standing in front of me.........'Oh! I cried.. I have been robbed! mugged!... they took my wallet!'....

'Where were you Madam?' he asked............'On the bus!' I sobbed.

'Oh! Well! madam you won't see that again. Your wallet will be in a rubbish bin probably near the stop where they got off the bus!..You will never find it Madam!'

With that he walked off and left me standing there, still crying on the crowded footpath!

Yes! A London Bobbie! I always thought that 'if one is in need'..in London....

You just look for a 'Bobbie'!

Well, not that one you don't!..... well..perhaps he was on his lunch break? or something?............Who cares?........

Here I was, standing in the rain, on a crowded footpath in London! With no money!.. Not one cent, or penny, or........ whatever! ....

I was trying to calm down, and wonder what to do, when I remembered my shopping, from

Marks & Sparks, which by now the plastic bags were looking not only bedraggled, but also wet!

My one thought was to get back to the store, and try for a refund!....In my panic I couldn't remember which way to go. I didn't know where I was!..... I asked some people for directions, and started running.

When I finally arrived at the store I was totally drenched through to my skin with the rain streaming from my head down on to my face, my shopping bags dripping!

I was a soggy mess!

My shoes were squelching, making strange noises as I ran into the store to find a ladies room where I tried to dry myself with some paper towels. It was getting near closing time. I had to act fast!

After running from one department to another, I finally found the section where returns were made.

'But Madam! these garments are wet!' the assistant snapped..

'What?...Wet?...they can't be wet! I exclaimed! ...'The bags are plastic!...How can they be wet?'

On closer look I could see that there were wet patches on the garments.

Oh no!...The water must have seeped into the tops of the bags as I was running through the rain!.....What was I going to do?

I started to get hysterical....'I have to get a refund! ...I need the money!. ..I was robbed! I cried.

The manager was called, and the assistant explained the situation as he inspected the garments.

'Madam, we cannot refund your money because these garments are wet!......YOU are wet!...

Good heavens Madam!...you are very wet!'

'I know! ..I know! I cried! I've been running for miles in this bloody rain!...I was robbed on a bus! They took my wallet! I don't have any money!.....I need a refund for these things... I don't care if they are wet!...I sobbed hysterically..... Just give me back some money!

...Please!!.....With that I collapsed in a wet heap into an upholstered chair.

The manager stared at me in horror.

'Oh dear! Madam! please!...come!...and pulling me out of the chair he said 'Please! come this way, we will refund you your money!

Come along.   I will get someone to help you!'