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Published: January 9th 2019
Day 39-43: Really great to be back - that's both genuine and satire. Offered 'gear' within 60 seconds of getting off the bus in london - seems to be an international pattern emerging. 15 person dorms provided a real lack of sleep mind. Higher proportion of old men also.
Using trains and buses further cementing my intentions to work here in the short/mid-term future. British country side does have a distinctive aesthetic. Eye gouging costs mind you.
Some great stories from my time at the grandparents. A notable stand out being one about a Ram shagging himself tired and requiring a lift back to the farm. Learning about grandads endeavours around Europe in a Fiat 500 also amused me. 5 hour discussion around the table on Christmas day. Very grateful for the progresses in heart surgery.
Return to the hometown of Ludlow had me a little excited. Plenty of yobs around as I make my way via Birmingham - dodgy haircuts and mosaics of branded streetwear. Subsided in Ludlow thankfully. Nothing quite like an dreary overcast grey day to remind you of what you've missed...!
Day 44: Drive to Scotland via a couple of scenic back road's. Fair
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A street that famous from Harry Potter (apprently)bit of forestry and wind turbine activity. Once settled into the quaint terrace house in the suburbs, Phasey and I headed into town to 'find our bearings', noting the buses back finished at 11pm...
Fast forward a circuit of the festive markets and a couple of hours in the Jolly Judge pub on the royal mile and we were in the midst of discussions about glock and graphic design with an Austrian group, and trading rounds with an American couple. Cool to see some kiwi beverages on offer too.
Fast forward a couple more hours and we'd safely missed the last bus and made an appearance at a techno event until beyond 3am Quality first night.
Day 45: Compensating for the after-effects of the previous night, about £25 worth of 'childhood foods' where purchased. Still smitten with the purchase of flavoured Moonshine from the markets however. Found out we were staying on a road called The Wisp - cool name in my opinion.
Stumbled across an Aussie pub so obliged myself to a Victoria Bitter prior to a folk music Pub tour. Great atmospheres and music, and fair to say Phasey and I found our local
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Festive market set up dancing shoes!
Day 46: Further exploring of the city, which does have a grandure about it. May contemplate living/working at some point. Plenty of orange tarts with painted eyebrows about. Nice to hear bagpipes often. Torch light procession was awesome. Followed by Symphony Ibiza - 2 hours of electronic music with orchestra within a great hall - Does it get any better?
Day 47: Bit of R+R prior to heading into town on New Year's Eve. However, once we settled in, we quickly befriended a 'proper' Geordie and a Welsh/Scottish family in a pub. In short, turning 2 humble pints of Carling into over 3 hours of drinking with the group. The Street party was awesome, great vibes, good acts, thousands of people and bumped into a fair few Kiwi's and Aussies.
Admittedly don't remember seeing the midnight fireworks, but I've been assured I was witness to them after Snap! 'Rhythm is a Dancer' has played. In at around 4am, so a cracking start to the year all up.
Day 48: Slow day today. Tough morning admittedly, but the prepared bacon butties did their work. Can't get over the endless betting firms and adverts over here.
Cool Runnings and The Lion king were on during the afternoon. No better way to complete the years first day in my eyes.
Day 49: Bit of a highlands excursion today. Started off early in Falkirk to see the Kelpsies horses and iconic Falkirk wheel (see pictures). Headed to Glasgow soon after. Quite nice to walk around, but sense the nightlife reputation is what gives it a higher regard...
Western Highlands do echo a drive through the South Island - which is a compliment. Keen to come back and tramp a little as well. Sampled some Haggis in Fort William. Under rated culinary experience, but I won't get carried away either.
Day 50: Back down South to little Ludlow to begin the rounds of catch ups. Very much enjoy hearing how people are and what they've been up to. And it seems Zoe's engagement has given me a good excuse to come back in a couple of year's!
Day 51: Early start to get to London. Do enjoy the frosty sunrise's. Good shopping spree down Oxford St during the sales. Good couple of hours wondering around Kensington gardens, Hyde park and Regent park. Used the tube peak-time
on a Friday evening, back stuck in door. Quite something.
Good session catching up with Tash and Robyn. Didn't win mini golf mind. (Welcome to the email thread by the way...)
Day 52: Another slow start (I am aware of the trend of slow starts following catch ups..), but nothing a carrot and apple juice can't solve. Loving WiFi on the trains - Baby driver is a great movie. Headed back up to Ludlow for a great catch-up with Chloe and her lad, heading into a village pub whereby I bumped into Dad's best friend in one of their old watering holes - the chances. Safe to say it's been good hearing the stories of his glory days.. although I'm sure a few details need to be crossed checked.
Day 53: Visited the spiritual home of Cadair Idris. Very content. Great to know it's also Jack's first mountain (sadly it can't get any better). Dropped by the Small's for the evening, great to see the family for the first time in 9 years, reminisce and share a few stories.
Day 54: Headed to the Godfathers for a really sweet note to end the homecoming on. Trained
back to London with Phasey for a final blast, and catch up with Andy on the 35th floor sky garden bar over looking the city. Really cool views at night. Proceeded to navigate/stumble into a few bars before hitting a kareoke night. No video footage thankfully. Very high standards to beat for 2019 now!
Day 55: A few hours walking around London with Phasey and Andy. Really nice end to what's been a busy and awesome return. Can't thank folk enough for their hospitality - notably Jack for taxiing me around everywhere! Really have come to value family, friends and experiences just that little more.
Day 56: 12 hours of sleep required after training down to the grandparents yesterday evening - Probably reflecting the antics of the previous night. Mainly a day of preparations and logistics, with the quality of service of Ryanair at the forefront of considerations!
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