Another “restful” holiday – not! My trip to Ireland was frantic, and I don’t think I got a decent night’s sleep until the latter half of it… To start with, the usual Christmas booze-fest with my North London-based chums left me in somewhat weakened condition on Boxing Day for my flight to Dublin. But first I had to scrape the ice off my motorbike and ride it home – an exercise in bravery indeed.
Kudos to my main man Benjy for dragging his sorry, hungover ass out of bed and driving me to Gatwick! That was most welcome, I can tell you. Although it was somewhat worrying when he turned up at my gaff and said “Jaysus – I think I’m still pissed!”. Thanks for the information, mate! But he got us there and got himself home safely – what more can you ask for?
Once home, of course, the drinking and frolicking began – and in between that was the conspiracy, three gigs that proved to be a mammoth endeavour. Just setting each one up took hours! And we had to pack the gear up and move it between venues – argh! But in the end it was great fun, and we actually had a few people turn up to see it. And some of them actually enjoyed it. Go figure…
New Year’s Eve was a slightly complicated affair, involving a mild pub crawl and a rigid determination not to be anywhere near a pub, club or similar when the time came for handshakes and snogs, and an Indian takeaway. But it all worked out, and I ended up back at my sister’s flat for the event, happily ensconced with munchies, wine and good company. Some of the good company took me home at the end of the night, which was quite a result! Happy New Year, indeed… 🙂
So between the Conspiracy, the boozin’, the racing-around-trying-to-see-everyone and all the usual Christmas/New Year shenanigans, I finished the holiday a shadow of my former self. Mind you, my former self wasn’t all that impressive either! But it’s always good to get back to me roots, even if they’re disappearing rapidly with the bulk housing projects that are taking over the old sod. Outside of the town centre, Mullingar is virtually unrecognisable – I actually caught myself saying “I remember when this was all fields…”!
Of course, I had to get out to Mayo to see me bruv, and he had me roped in to a karaoke party (git!) – methinks I protested too much, because all it took was a few Buds and I was yelling into the mike as often as they’d allow me. Not my finest moment, considering I was recovering from a nasty head cold that had possessed me all over Christmas, but it was good fun. Tottering home at 6:30 in the morning was not, though…
And here we are – at the start of a new year full of opportunity and promise, and I’m too tired to care just yet. New Year’s Resolutions – yeah, whatever. I have a few, including one that I drunkenly declared in Mayo about running a marathon – now that I’d love to see! That is to say, I’d like to *watch* me running a marathon, not necessarily to run it…
But one resolution will certainly stick, for a few weeks at least – no booze-fests for the time being. I’m in detox!