Who’s the Silly Goat?

So there’s this *thing* in my new company whereby if you do something stupid, dosey or just plain ridiculous, regardless of whether it’s work related (breaking the server, booking interviews on a bank holiday) or in your personal life [let’s keep examples private] then you get given The Goat. The Goat sits on your monitor, staring at you, mocking you, laughing, nay bleating at you, until someone else makes a gaff and he’s passed on.

Thankfully I haven’t been given The Goat yet, but it probably is only a matter of time ~ there is talk on the grapevine that there is a moratorium on giving him to newbies – I can only hope.

I’m Here Because You Broke Something

Sometimes you just look at something and say “Yes, That!” and this is one of them ~ it’s so very true, so very very true … although to be fair recently it should’ve be stuck above my desk by the IT guy with all constant struggles I’m having with my new mac – the poor man gets daily “helllllppp!” IMs … I hate Macs!

Beer, Sausages and Scotch Eggs … aka Heaven

So the challenge:  “brother and his girlfriend are in London for two days, show them the best of London, but what??” … tonight I introduced them to two of London’s iconic (in my mind) beerage places – one because it’s the oldest pub in London [Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese] and the other because it serves the best selection of craft beer and scotch eggs and a sausage board worthy of a trip from out of town!!

I adore The Old Red Cow (ORC) for many reason – food, beer, atmosphere, food, lots of men in suits, sausages .. the last two are indeed unconnected…

We met up with some friends at the ORC and laughed the night away … there may have been a little bit of beer, maybe a little too much – but if you leave London without a hangover, then you haven’t experienced remotely enough of what it has to offer!

Corrrr – Two varieties of Scotch Egg

Andy and Melissa dive in

mmm sausage heaven

Tony, V and Matt

Tony and V

Stuffed with sausages

Occasionally I stand back on a moment and look on with happiness at life – tonight Melissa captured that moment ~ some of the friends and family I love, all from disparate groups, having fun together.  A happy happy night.

Happy V

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

First stop on our London beer experience was, and naturally had to be, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, being the oldest pub in London.

It’s as though the old spit and sawdust has just about being swept from the floors – it has a comforting charm from the sign outside to the vaults you have to near double in half to get down to.

A quick low (by accident) alcohol beer pitstop later and we were on our way to the main event for the evening at the [Old Red Cow] for beer, scotch eggs and a sausage board that makes me smile wistfully at the mere thought of it.

He’s Finally Here!

After the near-miss over a week ago, I’m again stood at a terminal, gazing up at the arrivals board, trying and again failing not to cry, waiting for my brother and his girlfriend to arrive. This time it’s King’s Cross and this time they’re definitely coming.

I haven’t seen my brother in 6 or so years and I’ve never met his girlfriend. It’s all kinds of wrong.

Pacing, pacing … the train’s delayed, but not by much … the platform number isn’t being displayed and there are barriers In The Way (f-sake) … I have to get through! … I manage to do so with a quick teary explanation [I’m on the cusp of being an emotional mess].

A train arrives, “is this the train from Edinburgh?” I ask a station guard, “yes” – I turn into a meerkat searching for him – nowhere – crying (he’s not here!!), “Andrew!!” I shout at the back of some random stranger.

*Not* his train it turns out … definitely didn’t look a twat or anything like that..!

Three minutes later and his train slowly pulls into platform 1 … I’m heading up the platform against the opposing flow of travellers ~ salmon have an easier time of it ~ then as the crowd parts, they’re there; he’s there; I’m running* (*fast waddling with shopping bags); I’m crying before I even get to him [I’m crying now thinking back]; we hug; I sob … I sob a bit more; composure is *entirely* lost ~ eventually I let go and finally meet Melissa, his lovely girlfriend, and our two day adventure in London begins… well after the ubiquitous selfie!

Southbank Rooftop Drinks

God I love London. I love London for many reasons and in any season. The South Bank is fantastic winter or summer, there’s always something happening, it’s got a great buzz, whether it’s the Christmas market, a food festival or the Sunday bookstalls. But despite the hustle and bustle it can also be a haven of calm. Atop the gaudy yellow spiral-ish staircase is a rooftop garden bar. People sit on benches, tree stumps or the grass chilling and drinking pimms and wine in the sun.

It was the first proper sunny weekend of the year and fortuitously Tiff and I had arranged to meet. Rooftop drinks was our mission ~ to relax in the sun, drinking wine (naturally), watching the world go by … and speculating on couples, reading just how well [or badly, usually badly] their date is going ~ another particular favourite pastime of ours. Not only a fantastic night, but also just what we both needed.

It was so lovely to watch the world go by. We walked over Hungerford Bridge on the way home. It’s one of my favourite views of London, especially at night. I love London, I love that it’s my city.

Colourful Girl

On the way home tonight this woman was stood at the bus stop in archway.  She was the epitome of individual and she made me smile so much. It’s another reason I love London so much – it’s a place where anything goes, anything is accepted and people feel they can be whatever, whoever they want to be.

Impromptu Bowling

Thursday’s used to be all about cocktail night, but that’s all changed since moving jobs ~ they’re free and in need of filling.

Unfortunately plans got cancelled ~ in my head I was going out, so spending it at home felt itchy … “fancy a drink?” I texted – “We’re going bowling if you fancy it?” … “Yeah!” I texted back.

Just to make sure we were suitably prepped and in the mood we had beer and this mahoosive 26″ pizza beforehand… but seriously have you seen the size of it??!!

I ended up bowling, extraordinarily badly, in a dress, probably [definitely] too short for bowling, with pretty much a bunch of strangers, having an excellent time.

It transpires I’m utterly shite at bowling! Whatever skill I *used* to have As A Child, is as long gone as my natural hair colour and my ability to get up in the morning without pain! By the end of it I was just grateful to hit even one pin!

In an effort to complete a second game in the hour we embarked on “speed bowling” whereby we’d launch the ball down at the pins just as the barrier was rising … needless to say *that* didn’t go well… but we thought it was hilarious!!

Fun Times! Thank you Nick. x

Global Blogging (Domination!!)

I’m not even sure how this happened, and specifically which of the 96 previous posts caused so much international interest, but somehow my blog has been read in 36 countries..!!

Taiwan, Kenya, Korea, Syrian Arab Republic, Pakistan, The Philippines, Colombia, Serbia and Saudi Arabia – my blog has been read by people in these countries.

What does little-old-me have to say which is of any interest to someone in Brazil??   Yet there has been 10 views – I’m so intrigued to know what they viewed – if anyone knows how I find out let me know.   And was it one person reading 10 posts or 10 people reading different posts … I Need To Know!

But this has led to an urge, a craving, an overwhelming desire … I want to collect more countries.  Moare!!!

You hear of bands trying to “break the US” … how do I break Scandinavia or Africa?  Or China!  It’s like the Enigma code … I’m over thinking this / fixating on it a bit too much aren’t I??  *mashes refresh* … *looks at the flags* … ooo look Ireland today and Austria!

So Near and Yet So Far

I haven’t seen my brother for nearly 7yrs ~ it hardly seems conceivable that it’s true, but it is. Sadly it is. Year after year either money or time have gotten in the way of either one of us hopping over the pond to see the other.

I started to moot the idea of going over to see him for his 40th, before Christmas. Simultaneous he was beginning to plan a trip back to the UK. And today he landed. He was flying from Boston to Newcastle with a brief stopover in London. We talked about meeting at Heathrow, but we weren’t sure whether they’d be allowed through or not. At 3.30am I received a message saying they would be able to, would I be there? Would I ever!! … but I only picked up the message at 7am.

“Yes … I’m coming … Please be there!”

I stood at the arrivals exit for over an hour, hoping that every tall man was my brother, every dark haired woman was his girlfriend. I tiptoed, craned, agitatedly walked this way and that; and cried in anticipation. But he never came.

Customer services couldn’t help, nor could BA ~ “he’ll be in the connecting flight part, he won’t be allowed out, there’s not enough time to reclear immigration” … Nooo, but..? But nothing.

We were within metres of each other, but couldn’t see each other; couldn’t hold each other; couldn’t talk; couldn’t anything. So close, yet so far apart.

Our reunion is delayed only a few more days, I’ll see him on the evening of the 21st. And whilst we’ll only have a few days together, the three of us are going to have a brilliant time in London.