In trying to work out why I was so stupid, I think from sixteen, as a boy on cargo ships, i had been used to walking the seaports around the world, often through the night making my way back to ship after a late night out; always missed the last bus etc. Even here in Britain, I would walk the length of Liverpool Docks after seeing a girl home, from the Pier Head to No. 19 Gladstone Dock, cobbled all the way, big echoes ; same in Glasgow, where angels feared to tread, London ,Newport, Swansea etc. I certainly would not chance any of that here today. Hamburg, all night drinking in the Arnold Cafe, Saint Pauli, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Oakland, LA, Eureka, Tacoma, Vancouver, and nice places such as Auckland (Ma Grogans) Wellington etc. All without a thought and never a misplaced step. So I imagine that I was confidant to roam. That it why it was a crime that we were not armed with the truth of our situation; we thought they were just not too happy to have us around.
Anyway, it seems that they all eventually followed me home! I can't walk the markets of Slough or Whitechapel these days as comfortably. He he.