Another whistlestop tour of Glasgow this weekend to try and see everyone before I head off to sunnier climbs for Christmas and New Year. I got the train up on Friday which got me in to Glasgow by 5, then went and met Jen for a coffee in Borders, it was nice to catch-up after not really speaking to each other much in the last couple of months. Then went round to Beath’s armed with Christmas McFlurries to say hi. A bunch of us headed to good ol Cheesy Pop for the evening after a few beers in what has become “Kettles” flat (AKA Mark, Ian and Alf’s flat). Beath, Vikki, Slade, Kettles, Ian, Slade, Mark and I lasted the night at Cheesy. The best bits were Slade, Ian and I dancing like … well I hate to say it but LOONS! Got a cab home and some Aladins chips and cheese to soak up the last of the vodka. Waited outside Ellen’s flat in the rain for a while then managed to break into her corridor of the halls but waited for an age for her on her doorstep. After over an hour I gave up and rang the doorbell to drag one of her flatmates out of bed to let me in. Collapsed in a heap in the lounge at about 4.30.

Up early to go meet Ali Dunn and Andy J from school days to buy a present for the new happy engaged couple Rory and Vicki. Lunch and beers in Buddha watching Man U beat Man City before treking round the shops for suitable presents. 4 hours later we headed round to pick up Andy J’s lady, Vicky, and then headed to deepest darkest Blantyre. AN hour later and after following Rory’s cryptic direction we arrived at the farm for a great party. Loads of folk there with lots of presents, food, drink and cake to celebrate with. Caught up with the old gang (Rory, Andy J, Ali Dunn and Oz). The plan was to head to Jumping Jaks back in Glasgow but by the time we all got moving it was too late so we headed to Rory & Vicki’s new flat in Anniesland. Its a really nice place with all mod cons and the like but wasn’t long before their damn rabbits had me sneezing. We stayed chatting for hours and then headed home via a cab to Ellen’s, leaving the best man (Ali) and the chief bridesmaid (Vicki’s sister Beth) to fight over the bed (a little too much horseplay from those two if truth be told!). Bed again after 4.

After a ridiculously short sleep I dragged my rotting carcass out of bed and off down to the train station, feeling quite comfortable after a bacon roll and a botle of Irn Bru. Left glasgow at about 1 on the first train of my day to Edinburgh. All was going well until we got to York at which point they announced we would not be continueing south due to a gas leak on the east coast main line. Bugger!! After countless delay, infinite confusion, 6 train journeys including an all stations crawler from Leeds I made it home 10 hours after I left. Knackered!

James – http://www.dancingwithloons.com