Ripper tour

[claire]

Hi Claire

We've not had one since October 2007 and I think it's time we did. There was a murmuring of having one in December, though if it was the day of the WS1888 Xmas do, I couldn't make it as I have another engagement during the daytime.

PHILIP

And presumably the day after would be a multi-hair of the dog-stop affair! Whenever it is, I'm definitely keen.

[kensei]

Philip-

I got in on this thread a little late. Just wanted to take the opportunity one more time to thank you for inviting me on your tour back in September, I had a great time even though I had already worn my feet out doing it solo in the daytime. I showed my video to my girlfriend- she is a historian and tends not to appreciate making jokes about such subjects, but I tried to explain it by comparing your approach to that of the Tower Beefeaters, where if they didn't apply a liberal sprinkling of jokes you'd want to kill yourself afterward.

Take it easy!

[George Hutchinson]

Hi Claire

We've not had one since October 2007 and I think it's time we did. There was a murmuring of having one in December, though if it was the day of the WS1888 Xmas do, I couldn't make it as I have another engagement during the daytime.

PHILIP

[claire]

Sounds like fun...

Phil--is there a London Job planned at any point?

[John Bennett]

Oops, I've just realised - it was friday, not saturday. With Mark and Lindsey.

[John Bennett]

Hi Phil

My tour was at 8pm.The school tours I've done so far were nothing like that one. They weren't studying it for a start, it was fun treat, apparently.

Sounds like you've had some good 'uns, mind.

[George Hutchinson]

You were working Saturday, John? So was I - a 6pm coach tour. I saw Colin but I didn't see yourself.

I've just had three excellent ones - even the school group I took on Friday, who'd come up from Devon for it. I even got handshakes and there wasn't a trace of attitude. And it was actually sunny!

PHILIP

[Celesta]

Hello John,

Sorry to hear you had a rough night. The world just seems to get ruder and ruder. It's exhausting when you are trying to teach someone something and they can't control their egos. I had to deal with that at the museum I worked in for awhile.

[John Bennett]

Sorry to hear you had a rough night, John. It's not the easiest of jobs, I imagine. But it's rather nice to hear that Rumbelow is back herding punters around the East End. I thought that he had given that up for good.

Kind of you to say Maurice... it wasn't rough so much as tough, but it's all relative. The last one I did (saturday) was fab - a lovely group, and when you get that, you seem to be able to pull out the stops. It's like a virtuous circle.

Yeah, Don is back. I saw him 2 weeks ago too.

[The Grave Maurice]

Sorry to hear you had a rough night, John. It's not the easiest of jobs, I imagine. But it's rather nice to hear that Rumbelow is back herding punters around the East End. I thought that he had given that up for good.

[John Bennett]

Actually, De Locksley's site says they go to the murder site of "Frances Coles, Elizabeth Stride (same site)..."

Woops.

But enough of him. I've just got back from a pretty tough tour with a load of 16 year-old Aviation students from Stockton-on-Tees. Far too chatty (I had to use my subtle classroom-management techniques to shut 'em up), sometimes rude and the teachers with them didn't help much.

And they were literally getting out the sick-bags BEFORE they saw any photographs. Drama queens.

But what was more frustrating, on Dorset Street I was projecting myself above their incessant chatter when Don Rumbelow comes past with his group:

DR: Ah, hello.
Me: Oh, hi Don.
DR: In full flight, I see.
Me: Er, yes, you could say that....
DR: Well, have a good one.

Needless to say, things got worse when I got to the Aldgate Exchange Pub afterwards - they'd shut early.

You see it isn't all fun being a tour guide. But there's always the next one...

[Rob Clack]

Yes, Rob, me, too. Why clutter the heads of the poor tourists with technical details or facts?

Blech!

True, I think a lot of people go on these tours not to be educated but to be entertained anyway. At least with Philip they get both.

Rob

[Celesta]

Yes, Rob, me, too. Why clutter the heads of the poor tourists with technical details or facts?

Blech!

[Rob Clack]

I'm getting visions of De locklsey taking his customers to Chamber Street and saying "this is where the Pinchin Street torso was found".

Rob

[George Hutchinson]

I think you need to join us on a London Job, Claire. Not only will you be in the company of the best-suited topographical and architectural enclave of guides you could get (if I do say so for ourselves), it'll also be free!

PHILIP