Image by Stephanie Kilgast via FlickrI started today by falling out of bed, it wasn't a defining image and neither was the huge bruise that appeared on my thigh. Admittedly it hurt and I felt like crying but I was unable to sleep because I had visitors heading to Leeds. My brother and the children were on route, I was excited because they were the first to travel from home to my Gingerbread house in the North. It's a shame that Sugarwell Court isn't made of gingerbread, instead the flat smells more like an Indian restaurant.
Not that they noticed because they were more interested in the grand tour; the bedroom, the kitchen, the corridor, toilet and shower area. This is what the eldest sibling and father of two children now refers to as home, for the next six months anyway! It was brought to my brothers attention that he had misplaced his valuable items, including his wallet, at a service station but thankfully the satchel had been handed in and held for him to collect on the homeward journey.
With limited lasting appeal to be found at Sugarwell Court, we headed to explore the universities and city centre. I enjoyed watching as the children ran amok through the library, that was my favourite! Afterwards we visited the museum, the children* created a swastika from one of the interactive sessions and then learnt about animals. We were then treated to a meal and joined by my partner who provided a tour of her accommodation. There weren't enough hours in the day sadly and the departure was really difficult. Both children had tried to keep it together but it was a mutual outpouring of emotion at the end! I think even my brother got caught up in the moment but he remained composed. I reassured the children that I would see them soon. As the car drove away, I watched as my son, who was staring directly at me, turned from a quivering bottom lip into a face that broke my heart. Tears streaming down my face, I ran through the streets again questioning whether university was the right decision!
Image by joedawson via FlickrThe adventures in Newcastle are to be continued... We enjoy the city too much, the [birthday] reunion didn't have Carnage like last year but it wrote it's own chapter in folklore. I was up early on Saturday morning like a child at Christmas, hardly able to contain the excitement I decided to head into town and pay bills, purchase plimsolls and return with McDonalds! An emphatic start, although our engines then stalled until the afternoon. A letter of apology was issued from 'cat girl', following her antics at the house party. I don't think she really needed to apologies as she was one of the highlights! It's a shame that the Guiness Book of Records weren't present when we ate lunch at a Chinese as we consumed the fastest all-you-can-eat meal ever. This was largely due to the happy hour/pricing applied! With hunger locked away, we returned to the house that my partner's cousin shares with friends. The place is incredible, spacious and features a scenic balcony, every essential necessary for student accommodation! Drinking games were introduced, I wasn't familiar with the rules but had a fair attempt before the taxis arrived to take everyone to Digital, Newcastle. The night was running smoothly until security nearly derailed everything. Confusion over the queues meant that I was banished! I returned after an interlude to permit everyone on my guest list entry to the nightclub through an alternative route. Brains triumphs over brawn! What made the charade even better was that I used the iPhone as a form of identification, Facebook profiles are now accepted, who knew?! The night was incident free until the journey home, I would have enjoyed revisiting the town but reminiscing at the end of the night was special. Especially as we were in good voice! Arriving back at the house, we were greeted by a wrestling free-for-all taking place. Not sure what started the spectacle but it provided entertainment value until the early hours. Another great weekend, let's do it more often...
