Champagne and Roses

Today was day off number 2. Almost!
So with the Mike Stagg visit and Stormtroopers planned for today, it was another early start up at 5am. This time however, Luke also got up with me and whilst I was in the shower made me a bacon sandwich and ironed my chinos. We walked to town together and he dropped me off at the Store.
Ali and Ciara arrived just after me, then Eric came in and we all had a catch up in the office to psyche ourselves up for the rest of the day.
The closedown the night before wasn't so successful so Ciara and a little team of cast members worked on standards and fill and Eric re-merched kids home onto the end cap of the 3-way instead of GV tees.
After a while Ciara went to Starbucks and bought us all coffee and chai, the little star!
Then we did some more revision and tested each other for figures just before we opened.
Ali and I did a practise walk through as though we were presenting to Mike Stagg and Ali had a great little story she had worked on to keep it light but informative and not too in depth and full of numbers.
We were told to expect the Stormtroopers around 11:30; this was the time after the press release announcing the date that Star Wars product will be launched into stores. To celebrate we would have 3 Stormtroopers marching from the Raddisson Blu to town and having a photo shoot in Store as a pre-awareness campaign.
All eager to spot them first, we stationed the security guard at the door, not knowing whether Mike Stagg would be part of the group, we all tried to keep our composure when we heard they were marching down Grafton Street.
In the end, the Stormtroopers were led by the PR team from last night, Mike Stagg was not in sight and we had a photo taken with the troops outside the store.
Once they had left, we were still on high alert incase Mike (or Michael as Ciara started calling him) turned up.
Eric took over from me stage managing and I sat in the office for a while with Ali until we decided to nip out for some lunch. Armed with Starbucks panini, chai and more cheesecake we ate in the office until Ciara came on lunch and she was so taken with a mouthful of cheesecake she bought some on her break too!
Once we had eaten I headed home to Luke for an afternoon to chill out.
I was presented with a note saying dinner was booked for 8pm and that we could relax for a while first, there was hot water on if I wanted a bath and to wear something fancy for dinner.
To relax Luke brought in my ice bucket complete with chilling champagne and the first dozen red roses he has ever bought me. We drank champagne and ate green grapes as I admired my lovely roses. He said it was a treat for me for working so hard and giving up my days off this week, so lovely. I didn't have time for a bath in the end, but had a quick shower before getting dressed for dinner.
We got a taxi to Locks Brasserie on the canal path for delicious and decadent french food. We often walk along the canal to see the swans, and tonight was no different as a few of them swam past and preened themselves or fished for bread in the water. We have always wanted to eat here, and this may be our last chance before we more back home.
I had beetroot and goats cheese mousse to start with rabbit and little gem lettuce with girolles mushrooms for main, Luke had ham and chicken terrine to start and steak for mains. The food was so tasty, even the 3 baby new potatoes on my plate were cooked so perfectly they were heavenly!
We had a glass of wine each and ate lemon tart and creme brûlée for dessert with petit fours and amaretto coffee for Luke and peppermint tea for me.
As it was such a nice mild night we walked back home and had odd conversations that made us laugh.
Today I am grateful for ultimate romantic gestures (and the non-attendance of Michael Stagg)!