Homelands Weekend: Chapter 7

Right, I have to catch up a bit for my own good... we just finished the drive from Winchester in record time, we pulled into Colchester and Mark dropped Barry and I out of the car. Okay... that's about where I left it.

I had to run across the way to go get some cash out, came back into the Hog's and Mark, Barry, Lars & Lucy were sitting 'round a table. Mark ended up getting a parking spot and went and sat down. Nice.

My camcorder made a few appearances on the table for Lars & Lucy as we flipped through most of the pictures on the camera. It was one of those great story telling afternoons of pictures and video.

One beer. Stories, laughs and the start of plan-making. If I remember correctly, Mark didn't stay too long with his one Coke and took off to get himself done up for an evening of good times. Jutty was supposed to come out with himself and probably catch a lift with Mark when or meet up with him on the train from Manningtree. Yeah, that sounds a bit more correct to me.

Two beers. Lucy and Lars went off to Nando's to get something to eat. Lars was feeling like food was a good idea and as much as we struggled with a Wimpy burger only a couple hours before, food actually sounded like a good plan, but I stuck with Barry.

Three beers. Barry and I sat and read the newspaper that was left behind by someone for a bit, but I could feel myself get a little bit better. A little less pain as the beers filtered in. Barry and I did nurse our third... he was in seemingly more pain that I was. We waited for what seemed to be about an hour for Lars and Lucy to return from getting a bite to eat. When they returned then the party seemed to pick up.

Vodka/Red Bull. That's the drink to pick up any party. HA! Once the party picked up then the cameras came on and the pictures started to click. Once the pictures started to click, then the people started to show up.

Jutty cancelled in the end. Don't blame the guy... he probably had the benefit of looking at his bed and thinking that sleep was a good idea. Mark did have that luxury, but he was pumped to get out to Route, I think. Good lad... too bad we decided against going to Route in the end. Leo showed up not too long after as well. That was really cool to see him although he didn't stay for too long. He wasn't drinking that night and had a hankering for Chinese, if I remember correctly. But when he left, we all picked up and left the now-busy Hog's Head and we were off for a tour of town.

The series of events went something like this... oh yeah, as I'm still carrying my backpack full of my weekend packing. Man, that was heavy to carry around all night. All I wanted to do was get rid of that. But no, I had to carry it around EVERYWHERE.

The first stop from the Hog's Head was the Hub Bar. A bottle of Sleeman's did the trick for everyone. I remember the girls to be quite fit all around. Yeah, a good bit of eye candy. It was the Rapture pre-party I think going on in there at the time. They had a DJ booth setup and another bar setup where we'd usually sit at the front of the place. A one-drink-stop for us before we headed down the hill to Twisters for one.

Lucy, Mark, Barry, Lars and I rolled into Twisters and it was pretty packed. A few of the Amberblacks were kicking about. Stopped and chatted a bit, but the five of us rolled outside where it wasn't quite as busy. So non-busy in fact, that we managed to goof around for the pic you see to your left. Ha ha ha... good one. The antics of a tired, party-going bunch.

We didn't stay too long again at Twisters. I think that was only a one-drink-stop as well. So it was back up the hill to O'Neills. That wasn't quite as busy as some of the places, but I did have to wait at the bar for a little bit to get the round in. The bag was such a pain in the ass all night, but at O'Neills we found some space on the floor to make a small circle and put the bag in the middle of. Not long after the round was in a few more showed up. Hughes, Chapman & Jim walked in and joined our crew. The circle got a tad bigger, which was much better. It's always great to see that lot.

A couple drinks in O'Neills and it was back to the Hog's on their late license. We sat outside for a few and all sorts of chat topics were on and off all night. Man, if I could remember a few of them, that'd be good. Sadly, I can't. All I do have is more pictures and what could be the best one from the Hog's (which is debatable) would be Chapman's posh face. Ha ha ha... real posh, Chaps. Oh yeah, Chapman and I were talking about him really wanting to come out to Canada to visit me. Hey... everyone is welcome to visit me... seriously! I can't wait to all you lot come out to visit. Even Jim was talking about making the trip out there. EVERYONE is welcome.

We eventually moved inside, sang along to the live music act (which could have been one guy or maybe a few) and eventually got kicked out at closing time. The (presumably) landlord had a hard time removing us... but eventually we were out on the street.

Instead of catching a cab home, I crashed over at Lars' place for the night. Everyone else went their seperate ways... or the ways that they planned on heading in. Ha ha.

I think that could probably conclude the weekend... Bank Holiday Monday was just more suffering, but with breakfast. I think everything else was pretty well documented. Right... well, thank goodness that's done. I never really finish these sorts of stories when I start them. I have an unfinished journal of my trip to Finland kicking around somewhere. Maybe one of these days I'll write what I have in there. That'd be cool to have on the ol' Blog site.

Anyways... this is me signing this story off!! Cheers all.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7