Tuesday 25 August 2009

Glasgow Showers (literally)

I'm tired (and just starting to get a little grumpy) after a night on the sleeper back from Glasgow ...

Had a great weekend with the Murrays on Arran - wind, rain and midges galore! Despite the trials and tribulations there was much fun and games, food and wine, laughs and bad jokes - I'm so lucky to have a friend who shares her family and their holidays with all the little London orphans!

We topped it off with dinner at The Wee Curry Hoose last night with Karen '1 week to go!' and Scott. What a lucky, lucky girl I've been over the past 4 years to have made friends like these.

The highlight though was my heavenly shower at Glasgow Central Station. After cleaning the house in the morning before we left I was feeling a little grotty, and 8 hours later as I got off the train from Ardrossan I contemplated having to make it through today at work with unwashed hair and no shower ... and I wasn't too keen. Thank goodness for the fabulous station services which, for a mere £3, provide me with towel, soap, shampoo and hot running water in an enormous wet room. If that wasn't enough, they even have a hair dryer. And so, a mere 20 minutes later (I had to dig around the suitcase for some clean clothes!) I joined Del and Nick in a pub for a well earned beverage in a cleaner, nicer smelling, vastly improved state.

Glasgow Central Station RULES!!!

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Hello!

I've had a lovely week.

On Friday I celebrated the 30th birthday of a very good friend. A great dinner with friends of his and his girlfriend, followed by a trashy night out that took a full day of recovery. The photos are still slowly emerging ...

On Sunday I found myself behind the wheel of a car again! Another day trip to Kent lead to another sunburn - seems summer hasn't quite gone after all!

I also received an invitation to my Great Uncle's 90th birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to seeing all my grandfather's family again ... it's so easy to lose touch over time and as an only child, family is very important to me.

But the highlight?

As I walked to work on Monday after dropping the car off I took the time to enjoy the sunrise, appreciate the quiet streets and admire the landmarks of London that I take for granted. As I neared the office, people started to appear - joggers, people heading to work ... and a young family taking a morning stroll. The parents moved slowly to allow their young son to keep pace as he explored the world around him and watched the passersby.

"Hello!"

It's amazing how a simple salutation from a copper-headed toddler can make a day great. As he looked me in the eye and bellowed his greeting I wondered why moments like this didn't happen more often. I wish they did.