Vets, transexuals and blind George

This is a back blip.

After a long week of ups and downs we retreated to our Friday afternoon meeting at the pub.

There must have been something in the coffee and beer because it was a particularly rowdy and hilarious afternoon with Chris (Gadgetboy) regaled us with stories of his recent "extreme" ski-ing holiday. Basically, up in the mountains in Chamonix, completely off pister - climbing to the tops, crampons and gear, with ski's on backs and then ski-ing down in untouched virgin powder. Nice

It will all lose translation in the telling, but apparently this is how it goes.

1. When sharing a room with a complete stranger there are two rules - No.1 - you wear something to sleep in, No.2 - you don't use the bathroom for no.2's! (I don't know if this is a general rule for men, or men on ski-ing holidays, or just Chris!). Anyway, Tony the Vet (don't shake hands, he has his arm half way up a cow on a regular basis), who shared a room with Chris, clearly did not know about the rules, and Chris was 'horrified' the first morning to find that Tony did not follow rule No1 and got out of his bed all chirpy with a "Good Morning Chris"...and Chris was more concerned that this guy was "hung like a baboon" . Then Tony proceeds to break the No.2 rule as well.

2. At the first meeting of the group on the holiday, Chris was trying to decide whether the lady he was talking to was an extremely masculine woman, or a bloke in a dress. It transpired it was the latter. Reinforced midway through the holiday when the lady in question took a tumble on the piste and her wig fell off.

3. Last day of ski-ing and the instructor asks the group to wait whilst he looked for a route around a cornice with a significant over-edge drop. George, one of hte party, had not realised that the group were stood still on the edge of the cornice and came belting down, promptly flying over the edge of the cornice and dropping 20 foot...fortunately into a big pile of powder. The cornice has subsequently been named Blind George's Leap.

Anyway, after silliness at the pub, I got home and we then trundled off to Dad's and spent a pleasant hour there chinwagging and catching up. Been a hard few weeks for my folks - hope that things will start to improve for them. Thinking of you both. And the whiskey was very much appreciated! And thanks for my birthday present too :-)

Then we went for a meal and rather too much alcohol at Rose and Daves. Quality evening, lots of laughs, home made pasta, loads of red wine, and then me and Rose rooting through family photosand hatching a plan, whilst the boys watched some film about cowboys with Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan. Mum, Val - you should go look - I have exacted a small revenge for you posting pictures of me when I was younger....school photos anyone? Its interesting to see them, because the photos of me and my brother that are there show family resemblance which is uncanny and particularly with James too.

Anyway, making the most of a child free weekend, we are shortly off to Liverpool for a jaunt and to catch up with some friends for a meal and probably some more vino!!!

Happy saturday everyone :-)