>
> Do I know Southend? Hmm, let's see now...
> I lived there for 22 years, does that qualify?
> I moved there in '76, just six months before the great fire that destroyed the longest pleasure pier in the world. A great shame as it had a totally awesome ghost train ride that scared me half to death. Well, I was only six at the time.
> I eventually moved away two years ago when I changed jobs.
>

Small world! My Dad's family were fisherman at Southend on Sea, Benfleet, Hadleigh, and Leigh on Sea going way way way back. I think they originally came over from Denmark during the Danelaw.

> > > Oh great, now Beasty is trying to chat up my boyfriend.
>
> Hey! Who made the initial advances?
>

Hey! I was just sticking-up for Essex girls - someone has to. ;o)

>
> For the record, I wouldn't try it on as I'm a guy, due to be married next year and she would have my gonads for breakfast if I did try it.
>

Yuck! You guys eat some pretty nasty things for breakfast; like 'sweet breads', 'black pudding' and 'tripe and onions'. ;o)

Congradulations on your marriage. Is she from Essex? Honeymooning in NZ can be very pleasant (I get a dollar for every new tourist I introduce ;o) ).

> But it would be interesting to meet a few other rinkies (Is that the term?), since I only just found the site a month or two ago. Maybe I'll get out to the convention type thingy one year.
>
> Be "st thing is, you go brown in the sun and don't look p" asty

P "if I do a typo on the first letter I may come unst" uck!