B.S. (Before Subcrawl)

Chloe

In life, you often have to do things you don't want to do.  In my particular case, this occasionally includes things which are deemed "fun" by other people. Over the years, I've found I have to play along and pretend to like these forms of fun . . .  unless I want these other folk to think I'm any weirder than they probably already do.

I remember the time I once told a friend back in our university days that I didn't like clubbing. She looked at me like I'd told her Donald Trump was my secret crush. (He's not, by the way. Let me clear that up straight away. )

"But . . . Why?" Her eyes had narrowed; she was somehow instantly suspicious of me. "It's great fun."

I tried to explain that while I enjoyed the dancing and music element of clubbing, as well as the drinking part (obviously), I hated the social interaction necessary. People trying to speak to you on the dance floor when it's impossibly loud. Trying to find the loo and ending up lost from the rest of your group (this happened to me a lot - my sense of direction has never been great). Being chatted up when you're not in the mood for it, yet there's somehow this implied assumption because you're out that you must be looking for a hook-up. Attempting to get served at the bar, hoping to be noticed in a crowd of more outgoing, far louder people. Failing dismally.

But apparently other people like that. Or they put up with it better than I do.

Don't get me wrong, I love going out. For dinner, to the pub, occasionally even to the cinema, although more often than not I'm content enough to wait for the DVD to come out. Although I do enjoy a pick 'n' mix.

But I hate too many variables. I hate going for dinner at those restaurants that inexplicably (in my view anyway) don't take bookings. I don't like arranging to meet folk who just say "oh, we'll think of where to go when we meet up". I need a plan, in advance.

Oh, and I loathe pubcrawls.

Give me a pub with a seat and I don't want to move. I'm comfy. What if we go to a different pub and have to stand? Why would I give up my nice chair in a place I've barely got used to, to have to then change environments and be forced to try to acclimatise again? And then again? And possibly again?

I'm socially awkward, and a creature of habit. This does not mesh well with the whole concept of a pubcrawl.

So when Becky announced she wanted us to do a subcrawl, my heart completely sank. This was so far out of my comfort zone, it was actually in another galaxy. At the far side of it, even.

For those not familiar with the subcrawl, let me explain briefly. Glasgow has a subway system which spans the city centre, west end and a bit of the south side. There's fifteen stations, on a circular loop, so you can go clockwise or anticlockwise and sooner or later you'll end up at the right station. To do the subcrawl, all you need to do is buy an all-day ticket (and try not to let it blow away immediately *facepalm*), choose what direction you're going in, and then get off at each stop, find the nearest pub and take a drink before getting back on the train. Repeat until you've visited all stations. Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

Without me even bringing my own special set of anxieties into this, there are a couple of slight complications.

Not all of the stations have pubs particularly close by, for a start. Some of the pubs aren't always open. Some you would be quicker walking to from the previous pub rather than involving the subway at all.

Oh, and on top of that, I'm not a massive fan of the subway, or any crowded public transport in general. And you can really only do it on a Saturday as the subway closes early on a Sunday and I don't imagine it's easy to coordinate everyone you want to go getting the same weekday off.

God, I know I sound like such a Debbie Downer right now, and I really wish I didn't. I'm just . . . different. If Becky had suggested we just all hang out in the one pub all day, I'd have been totally up for that.  Or I'd have lasted a good few hours before probably sneaking home to recharge.

But a subcrawl? It involves a lot of social interaction, and I know it will require me to be "on" if you know what I mean.

The reason we are having it also, in my opinion, is a bit tenuous. Becky is marrying Luke in a fortnight's time and so she wants the main friends in both of their lives, all of whom will be at the wedding of course, to "get to know each other better beforehand".

Never mind the fact we all already, at least vaguely, know each other. Let's also forget the fact there's already been a hen and stag weekend abroad (Ibiza for the girls and Berlin for the blokes) as well as home hen and stag nights. Becky still feels further bonding is necessary.

I mean, we'll likely never see most of the others after this wedding but you can't argue with the bride.

Plus she's my best friend and I love her to bits. I'd do anything for her. I even agreed to be one of her bridesmaids, which is a massive thing for me. I can do this subcrawl. It's only a day out of my life, and then it'll be over with. I never have to do one again.

And at least there will be alcohol . . .

Have you ever heard of a subcrawl? Would you try one?

Here is a map of the Glasgow Subway (courtesy of Strathclyde Passenger Transport) for your info!

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