So I'm sitting here, happily munching away at Mini Cheddars covered in gherkin relish, which means only one thing; I'm back in Loughborough. The only place in the world where this is passable at lunch. I tried to do a jacket potato with tuna, but as I am lacking a potato, this became difficult. I then tried to do soup, but couldn't find the tin opener. So out came the mini cheddars and the gherkin. Jublee.
Anyway, this weekend has been Good. It was full of exciting things; things that made a change from workshops and stress levels. On Saturday morning I hitched a lift with Nick, Scott and their mate Liam into the Bullring, Birmingham via some fairly major motorway blockage, and arrived around 11am after which I split from my ride (they were doing some Diet Coke promotion) and spent the next couple of hours wondering around the city centre until I met up with Mother for lunch at a place called Madisons. Good pasta. It was also a good time to explain that I had discovered that morning (during a conversation with Nick) that I might be lactose intolerant. Eh? I here you say. WTF is lactose intolerance? Well apparently it's when you can't drink milk without feeling bad or drinking red wine without falling asleep. Unfortunately I encounter both these, and think I might be allergic to some dairy stuff. If this is the case I'm gutted. I'm the sort of person who really would kill for a cheese and pickle sandwich. I hope it's just a phase I'm going through - I wouldn't like to be thought as intolerant to anything - let alone cheese.
Anyway, I digress. The next point on my agenda was to meet up with the Multipack. This was my first encounter with the Midlands based web-discussion group, and I came away very pleased I'd managed to attend. Lots of like minded people talking about stuff that goes over the head of my housemates. Oh yeh, and a couple of pints and some pizza. I would have finally been able to tell you what the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory was like inside if it hadn't been (rather unexpectedly) shut (this time I didn't even get inside). We ended up in the cafe opposite mopping up a cloud of CSS, server side scripting and accessibility debate.
I will be a definite returner.
That evening I caught the train home and spent the next day enjoying the luxury of a proper day off. I even managed to tackle some of that huge pile of 1000+ photos from the States that need mounting up properly. I got as far as the end of Yosemite before my hands grew numb. Roast dinner, TV, to bed.
Monday was spent with Jon. Being that I had decided to change my plans on returning to the 'Boro (brought forward a day or two) this was the only day free and so he picked my up at twelvish and we headed over to the industrial estate to go and have a look at what's going on in his workshops. This meant I got to see a few new tanks, the new horsebox he's making and the pleasure of the best bacon and egg sandwiches in the Midlands (the best greasy spoon I know).
After we took a trip back to his and spent a good hour or so whizzing about the hills on a greenkeeper's buggy. Brilliant stuff. I love fast but pointless vehicles. Eventually we got thirsty and met up with one of Jon's mates (Dan) at West One in Hagley. Another first visit, I was surprised to hear the name 'Higgs' shouted out from behind the bar. It's been probably five years since I saw Tom Ford and so spent a few minutes finding out what he'd been upto before heading back outside into the cold and finishing a couple of beers.
This morning The Father drove me back to get on with dissertation. On a further positive, my emails to the Britpack have yielded well and although Andy Budd was too busy right now, Malarkey, Ian Lloyd and Gez Lemon have all said they are happy to help. I am well chuffed. That brings the total up to four. this is going to be the mother of all web dissertations.