Monday saw another change of locality as I wooshed west to the A1 then up to Durham to catch Tony & June again. I settled in and enjoyed a cuppa before driving up to Low Fell (via McD’s) to see Jon – who I met when we delivered newspapers for the same shop a scary number of years ago.

Once upon a time, he was a tall kid who did karate and could kick your ass. Now he’s a tall guy with a degree in Chiropractics who works on the Newcastle United first team. And who could probably still kick your ass. And if he couldn’t his younger brother, Ian, definitely could. A shame Ian wasn’t around as it would have been nice to see him as well.

We chewed the fat and watched Family Guy for a couple of hours, then I had to head back to Durham.

Waking at a reasonable hour for once, I packed up and thanked my kind hosts once again. My next stop was to have my gob examined by another ex-schoolmate who now happens to be my dentist.

Simon gave my pearly whites the all clear (amazingly), and then kindly treated me to lunch down at the Gold Medal (formerly Porcupine Park, formerly the Gold Medal – yes, you read that correctly). I forced down a rather large Thai chicken pie with far too much veg and mash – delicious – then squeezed my overloaded carcass into the car for the journey up to Scotland.

I decided to pop in and see Leah again, and was fed a rather tasty baked potato with Mexican sauce-smothered beans. We surfed through rather bad TV and crashed out quite early. A good night, really – and just what I needed after the rush of the previous few.

Wednesday and Thursday were catch-up days with paperwork gone through, credit cards canceled, cheques deposited, blog postings written and Hallowe’en all but ignored. In fact, I’m only dating this post as the 31st so I can pop on that rather cool picture of Leah’s neighbour’s pumpkin!

The early rise was to get to Chris and Lyds’ (again) early enough to lug some bags of clothes and the like down to the car before I had to set off in time to get to Lightwater Valley and meet Viv and a handful of kids.

With Chris’ help, I managed to sort some stuff out. I’d had clothing scattered over 6 loactions up till now. New Zealand (can’t access), Cardiff (collected), Perth (gone through), Kim’s loft (picked up) and Chris & Lyd’s place (currently being searched). I had been looking for my winter stuff for the trip to Chamonix. Gloves, scarves, hats – you know. Believe it or not, I found these. In the very last bag. In the very last geographical location. Sod’s law with a vengeance.

We hoiked the stuff into the back of my mum’s Clio and I made my way north towards Ripon and then to the theme park. Lightwater Valley is like a small person’s version of Alton Towers. The rides are OK, but they’re just not on the scale of those at the Midlands-based park. Still, it’s a nice place to wander round and it does have a very cosy pub where Viv and I spent quite some time just chilling out and escaping from the kids. When weren’t chowing down on doughnuts and meat pies, anyway.

The reason for the visit was predominantly the fireworks display that kicked off at around 6:30. It really is getting dark early these days! not a bad display, either, with some fireworks I don’t recall seeing before. Neat.

Up the A1 then across to Billingham where Viv attempted to poison me with home-brewed win she’d had for almost a year. Sadly, her plan failed… when it turned out to be pretty damn nice! I got to see Match of the Day on the telly before turning in.

Sunday was a complete chill-out. I hogged the internet, got some work done and was very well fed! Thank you, Viv! Again!

In the morning, I was rudely kicked out by my hostess as she had to get to the aforementioned place of employment and I decided to traipse into Halifax to see some old work colleagues at SSP. It was great to see them again, and I remember why I enjoyed working there so much. A shame that a few have left for pastures new with no forwarding address, but a joy to meet up with the large numbers who remained – and remembered me! It was also rather heartening to be offered a job right on the spot. Wow. I guess I made a good impression in my 11 months there.

I didn’t take the job, though. I’m not ready to sit in one place and if I was it wouldn’t be back in Bradford. When I said this, they brought up the idea of contract positions based in several locations around the country… and the world. I did make a good impression! We’ll see. Perhaps next year.

Next stop was to see Chris and Lydia on the far side of Bradford, newly returned from Disneyland Paris with their sprogs. Only a quick stop for some tea and to have a look through the bumph I’ve left in their loft. It was on my way there that I received a phone call I had been hoping for – a job offer for the position of IT Coordinator with a well-known winter holiday company based in Chamonix.

Upside – flights, accommodation, lift pass, kit hire, insurance and tax-free allowance. Downside – start date November 12th, so I can’t make the Machine Head gig in Cardiff at the end of the month. Gah! Still, sacrifices must be made and I get to snowboard in a really good resort for around 6 months. For free.

This meant turning down the driver’s position with the other company – sorry, folks. I hope you found someone else to take the place up. Strangely, the “unskilled” (comparatively) driver job paid £200 per month more than the IT job I accepted. Maybe I should have haggled over pay. But I’m just happy to be going out there. And being the IT guru. And therefore having power over mere mortals.

Still on a buzz, I drove over to see another Kim with her firstborn who I’d not yet met. It was great to see yet another friend, even if I was only there for long enough for a quick chat and to help little Jack throw plastic balls at his mum! Lovely kid – constantly playing but never seeming to be a pain. I did the usual trick of getting on with the smaller members of our population, especially as I was leaving.

I put my hand out for him and Kim started to say “Oh, he never shakes han… oh.” Yup, I got his first handshake. He also “talked” to me when I was in the house, which he never does with strangers. Definitely a good day!

From there, back into Bradford to see Tracey who was to put me up for the night. We had a very short chat, I got changed and then we departed. Tracey had an appointment elsewhere and I was meeting some other friends in Leeds for a drink. Pat and Debs were really cool – the first time we’ve met! Yet more people I’ve started chatting to online and I simply can’t remember where I caught up with them first. They’ve travelled to many places I have – and to quite a few I’d like to visit! A great conversation with great people. I look forward to catching up with them again next time I’m home.

And back into Bradford (my mum will be going mental about the miles I’m putting on her car) and to the Gasworks, which has replaced the now Leeds-based Rios as the regular rock haunt. Never have I seen an aged Goth smile so much as when DJ Simon recognised me and insisted on hugging me over the barrier round the DJ booth. I even got a dedication – pretty much unheard of. Thanks, fella!

I bumped into quite a few people in the club: Blokey and Cas (good luck with the little one next year!), Loco, Little Purps, Charlotte… Others who I recognised, but confess don’t know the names of. I was a good boy and only had one drink in the several hours I was there so was perfectly safe to drive Tracey back home and zonk out as I had an early(ish) rise in the morning.

Wow, that’s been a busy week… and more to come!

Where have I been? Well. I left you in Manchester where Andy had been doing my ego good by letting me score goals past him, and doing my arteries bad by force-feeding me junk food for two days. The horror. From there I drove eastwards to Bradford where I met up with two of my old neighbours, Kim and Steve. Neither of these were the ones I wanted to render limbless before I left the UK.

We had a simple evening – grub courtesy of the Moonstar House from which Kim and I used to order food many eons ago. I went for my old favourite of chicken omelette with lovely crunchy peas. Top notch. And, yes, I know – “chicken omelette from a Chinese?” It’s delicious. The best I’ve ever had. So there.

Obviously, we had to follow this up with beer. We walked down to the Queens, again a local haunt when I used to live in the area. No matter how many times I go there it always seems further away then I expect it to be. It’s worth the walk, though. Never busy during the week, cold Brown Ale in the fridge and a pool table that’s always free. Chunky and Steve were waiting to see us (I’ve not seen Steve in more years than I can remember, though I did recognise him) and kindly kept buying me beer to sup.

The night ended a little later than we intended, especially as Kim had work the next day! Not the first time I know she’s come staggering home and made it into the office by 8:30 in the morning… Prior to buying the house she’s in now, Kim used to rent my spare room – for around three years!