Day 2 - Friday. Manchester for Amy’s 5th birthday

2022-10-14 - Newton-Le-Willows

As previously mentioned, I was just about up to say goodbye to Alma and Leon at 8:30. Showered, had breakfast, Richard took me for a ride in his absolutely brand new Kia EV6, which was very nice. The layout reminded me of an Austin Maxi: wheels far out at the corners, big back seat and boot.

Train to Warrington. 10:09 from Tonbridge to London Bridge, Northern Line to Euston, Avanti west coast to WBQ. Except that my Avanti train had been removed from the timetable. Instead of an 11:30 first stop WBQ, there was an 11:10 with additional stop at Crewe, but arriving WBQ same time. 🙄. I had just enough leeway to make that train. I ran through Euston and had enough time to jog mid-way up the train.

Eventually found a seat at a table with, what I surmised was a Glaswegian (saw a message thread on her phone to the Glasgow Girls Group, didn’t see any messages I’m not a monster) named Fiona (engraved on her AirPods case), and a couple of guys who were hungover, had recently come into a lot of money (one had just paid off his mortgage), and liked fancy cars (talk of Porsche Taycans) and road bikes (talk of Hard-Knock pass, and Colnago C68s with Titanium lugs, Super Record and Bora wheels on order). I stayed quiet for some reason. (The bike convo only came up on approach to WBQ.)

Dad collected me from the station, met mum at home, ate a large lunch because I hadn’t eaten on the train. Baxter’s scotch broth soup, oven par baked ciabatta, blue cheese, coffee.

Was lovely being home just the 3 of us. Felt normal, comfortable.

Walked with Mum to collect Amy from school on her birthday. We dropped off gifts at Kat’s, briefly said hi. I had heard that Amy was excited about time collecting her, but she was quiet and shy. I think she was a little bit under-the-weather.

Went back to 93 w/ Amy. Quiet afternoon, Amy made things with pipe cleaners. Then went back to Kat’s for Amy’s birthday part 1, which involved a chippy tea, and opening family presents.

Elliot liked Amy’s dressing gown

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Chippy tea for dinner (in my honor). Amy got cupcake cake

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Then went to The Pied Bull with Mum and Dad.

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Dad left his phone at Kat’s. Mum used this as an excuse to go home. Pleasant couple of pints with dad, then home relatively early. Mum was still up.

Melatonin + 5-HTP, slept well.

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