Final preparations

Preparations for the barn were drawing to a head. All the shopping was done. The guests had been allocated to drivers, to cars. I knew who was bringing what games, and roughly what the plans were for food. Now it was time to get cooking. The menu consisted of bean chilli, and spaghetti Bolognese. For 25. Yikes!

A letter...

Laura sent me a letter in the post, because she didn't think she'd see me today. How sweet!

Fucking shopping

I had never, until today, filled a large shopping trolley until it was overflowing. I had never, until today, spent more than £150 in a single trip to the supermarket. Asda! A world of firsts.

Early, but still nice

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

"My parents are staying from Wednesday night until Saturday,” said Laura, “so this is the last time we’ll be able to spend the night together until the weekend. Would you like to come round for dinner?”
“Yes,” I replied, “that’d be lovely.”

Shit hits fan.

No more interent at work!
No more eating lunch at your desk!
No more personal phone calls!
No more bullying!

Thus came the edict from my boss. She had called my team, the middle team, into her room for a word, and - flustered, mumbling - had explained what was eating her. There was, she told us, a chance that someone would be sacked.

Eight and a half miles

I've been running. Map after the jump.

Cloud inversion

Who would win the battle of the sandwiches? Whose butty would be better? We took the train to Blackrod, and clambered up through the woods to see the waterfalls. The mist was cool in the air, moistening my beard as we climbed over the moorland towards the tower at Rivington Pike. We watched the tops of the clouds and ate our lunch, as dogs ran, scrapped, and yapped around us. We strolled down through the ornamental gardens, past this amazing sideways tree on the shores of a lake. I held Laura’s eyes closed as I guided her into Lever Castle. She opened them, and squealed with surprise! I smiled, and we started to explore the ruins.

Who pinned an Arnie badge to my pillow?

I have a pretty good idea who it was. Kate?

"Put your finger in cider"

Laura and I went to the Manchester Winter Ales Festival, and tried lots of ciders. We tried:

Crones Rum Cask
Dunkerton Kingston Black SV
Gwynt Y Draig Scrumpy
JB Cider
Lyne Down

But the winner, by miles, was...