"Excuse me, are you local?"

It's one of those phrases that becomes increasingly inevitable the longer you live in Bath. It's normally uttered by a confused looking stranger (often from another country), who has just ventured down the wrong back alley or side street and has no idea where the hell they have ended up!

The inquisitors in question tend to split into 1 of 2 camps. The first, is those who are miles away from where they actually want to be and have got completely lost on their way through. Normally they end up asking you something seemingly simple, like "Is this the way to Bristol", or "Can you tell me where the train station is?" and in this case it's normally a matter of pointing them in the right general direction, as you know that they will have completely switched off by the time you tell them to take the second right and the fourth Georgian crescent.

But every now and again you get someone who has reached the complete end of their tether in trying to find a specific place, and they know they are close but just cannot quite find the last piece of the puzzle to get them where they need to go. Tonight's direction seeker (and blog inspiration), was just one of those cases who was looking for the 'Nexus Church' while stood at the end of Walcot Street - i.e. next door to where they wanted to go. However my favourite is still the American couple last month who asked for directions to the Abbey when standing outside the Pump Rooms (and underneath a big signpost!). The poor woman just didn't have a clue.

However, I shouldn't be cruel as I am sure I have asked for just as ridiculous directions in my time. And at least a lost tourist is still better than a booze-soaked hobo. Or worse, an overly enthusiastic charity clipboard worker!