Destined (not a poem just a little story)

When I was 16 years old I took a part time job (lied about my age) in a local night club collecting glasses.

Things transpired and I ended up working there full time. As the most junior it was my role each day to go for the staff's sandwich order each day. Regardless of everyone's order mine always remained the same. Sliced egg on a big white bun smothered in salad creme. I always seemed to be served by the same girl.

This continued for a little while until I tried a couple of other jobs and eventually ended up on the railway. After a year or two I accepted a slight promotion and moved out to west cumbria in the role of a conductor.

The girl from the sandwich shop had also changed jobs and would be on my train on a regular basis as her home town was part of my route although we did not recognise each other.

Then I got bored with work and ended up in the army.

In 1996 I was deployed to Bosnia. Although I enjoyed the job down time was a little boring so a bunch of us wrote letters to our local news papers asking for people to write back. Many did and letters would be divided based upon interest.

Mine was footie and anything cumbria really.

So I got my pen friend and she was brilliant. Told me all about things going on back home and all the dismal stuff Carlisle can do to dissapoint.

So I spent months and months writing to this girl without actually meeting her.

Eventually we did meet, although she walked right passed me when she was leaving a pub as I was holding the door open for her and her friends.

I digress.

This all started in about 1989.

The girl in the sandwich shop was called Alison Carr.

The girl on the train was called Alison Carr.

My pen friend was called Alison Carr.

My lovely wife used to be called Alison Carr.

She is by God's or Cupid's design now

Alison Maleney.

We've had our ups and downs but my God we work together.

Don't believe in fate or destiny???

Never used to. I do now.

Craig out