Tuesday 10th May – Thursday 12th May 2011
(Warning: This is LONG. I started writing this at 00.30 it is now 01.27, make that 01.50…and ive finally finished at 2.40, wow bed.)
My friend Ali lives in Portsmouth and she is too god damn cool that I could probably write a story about her, but I wont because lets face it ,it’s about 1.00am and I’ve gotta get up in 7 hours for a run.
I met Ali at Glastonbury festival in 2008 through Clic Sargent Charity. I didn’t know anyone, which was the case for most of us. Whilst on the mini bus collecting people on the drive from Bristol to Glastonbury I remember hearing a Canadian accent and Ali talking about where she was from. I remember turning around in excitement like a child in a pic ‘n mix shop saying “YOURE CANADIAN?!” No shit Sherlock. Ali confirmed she was indeed Canadian, and we carried on talking about her skiing and how excited she was about the festival. We kept in touch through facebook, meeting up occasionally and boom. Before we know it we’re at another festival together! This time Beachbreak 2010, I hadn’t known about this one it was in fact Ali who told Phil Day about asking me to go, and I'm so happy that she did. Drunken foolery was had, meet and greets a many, bbqs and general great memories. So that’s a brief description on how I met Ali.
Ali has two brothers – Julian (Jules) and Aaron (Gay boys neither of them actually gay, it’s just how I roll. I'm not in any means homophobic) turns out Ali’s brother Julian studied in Bristol (where I live and have always lived) and now currently lives here himself. I see him occasionally, and he visits me when I'm working in Boots on my Saturday shift. Ali’s eldest bro Aaron lives in Whistler, BC and was in England visiting for two weeks. They came to Bristol to stay with Jules from Monday 9th until Thursday 12th and of course due to not seeing Ali as much as id like, and wanting to meet her gay of a bro I was all over that shit. Jules had to work on Tuesday, so it was settled I was crashing at Jules on the Tues & Weds, just to make my life easier and to get the most out of the trio being together.
Seeing as Jules had to work on the Tuesday I’d said to Ali I’d get to them about midday, chill for a little while before heading into town to meet Nikki for our Pizza Hut lunch. I arrived shortly after midday with more bags than the pair of them had put together, and geared with a camera of course. I set down all my stuff in a pile, hugged Aaron who was putting cutlery away and then hugged Ali again who was putting the mountain dew which I had brought over into the fridge. So the three of us sat on Jules’ comfy sofas with a can of dew in our hands and spoke about their Bristol plans. By the time we’d laughed at the top 40 hits on TV we discovered it was about 1.30pm and we had better start leaving to meet Nikki on time for 2pm.
It turns out I do not know Bedminster all too well, and so Aaron lead the way as far as the bridge by dean lane….then I knew where we were, but he knew too so I let his legs stray on while I spoke to Ali about whether or not our friend Olli was going to join us during her stay. When we got to the centre I showed them both the way to Pizza hut. We walked in, 5 minutes later me and Ali decided on where to sit (tough choice) we ordered some cider and beers whilst we were waiting for Nikki. I received a phone call.....
Nikki: “Hey I'm just walking up to pizza hut, where are you?”
Me: “umm no you’re not we’re sat in view of the window”
Nikki: “you Muppet I'm by the one in eastgate, near your house!”
Me: “yeah maybe we should have pinpointed which pizza hut eh?”
Traffic.
We ordered a starter whilst Nikki was stuck in traffic and making her way to the correct Pizza Hut, 15 minutes later HELLO NIKKI. By the time our pizzas came we were all pretty full from picking at the starter and so Aaron decided to get it boxed up and drop it into Jules’ office. Nikki drove us to Jules and then she dropped us off by Cabot Circus. Aaron was keen to see his friend Frankie who works in Molton Brown, and she is lovely. While they caught up it was decided then and there that we were going for drinks in Bedminster and Frankie would join us once she had finished work. Next stop: Disney store, Ali would buy the shop if she could, or just all the mugs. I however was sold by all the toy story stuff. I will own you one day £35 remote control car. After the Disney store we went into Oakley where someone spent some crazy amount of dolla on TWO PAIRS of shorts, but man are they hot. It’s very rare that I go into Oakley and leave empty handed. We quickly popped into the Two Seasons store where we all noticed shorts. CHEAPER shorts. So after a quick glance we left and headed to The Apple.
Lemon Cider.
None of the Pearts had tried this delicious beverage before, and so I ordered 4 of them knowing that Jules had just finished work and was on his way to join us. I think the Cider went down well; Aaron had to finish mine off cause I apparently drink too slowly. We went to the Arnolfini next where Julian works, and its here that I discovered my love of cider was slowly fading again. After a pint there we started heading back to Jules’ to get ready for our pub quiz later that night. Aaron went and had a nap, he says Jet lag, but really he’s just not as rock star as he makes out.
Whilst he napped me and Ali got ready, we were all pretty tired but pumped for this quiz; we were trying to think of an appropriate name, but failed. We arrived at The Lounge where the quiz was being held. Unfortunately the quiz happens on a Monday night and as it was Tuesday there was no quiz happening. Despite that it was a funny night, Frankie joined us (the pretty one who works in Molton Brown) whilst her and Aaron caught up on old times, I got the camera out and started doing what I do best. There are some classics so once I know how maybe ill add some on here for you to see?
Rum. Rum. Rum. Rum
And so we walked back to Jules’ and stuck on Hot Tub Time Machine, I cannot believe Jules has never seen that. Drunken conversations were had, Aaron passed out on the sofa. An hour into the film Aaron woke up and realised where he was, so he packed off to bed. I followed suit and tried not to wake Ali up in the process who I was sharing a bed with. I tripped over her, but luckily did not wake her up despite chuckling to myself.
Wednesday morning: 5am OUCH MY HEAD, now this is not a good hour of the day to wake up with a banging head. There was a serious lack of curtains in this room, and I wake up to the slightest amount of light. So 5am, awake, hung over. Not impressed. So I did the usual log onto facebook and moan about being up so early, awaiting some sort of sympathy. 3 hours later turns out Aaron is awake (facebook geek), so I waited a little while and went downstairs to discover Jules was also awake. I sat with a pint of water, awaiting the kettle to boil. Tea. Bliss.
Jules cooked up beautiful fry up. Despite how amazing it looked, and I imagine tasted, I couldn’t stomach any more than two bites, and so the food was wasted to the bin.
Hangover 1 – 0 Leena.
In spite of this I made another cup of tea, something that actually went down well.
We walked into town, dropped our jackets off at The Arnolfini as it was a hot day and too much effort to have to carry them about all day. We then headed to Lloyds bar for a drink, where I should have been as smart as Ali and NOT got a drink, but instead had a Tutti Frutti Cider calling out to me. Tutti Frutti cider in hand, very sweet not something ill have again. Again another drink Aaron had to finish for me. Jules’ friend met us on his lunch break and so we went to another bar further up past the Watershed. I then decided I could not hit up anymore cider. Rum it is rum it was.
A drink finished.
Jules’ friend had to head back to work, and the four of us Ali, Aaron, Julian and I started walking to the Grain Barge for something to eat and for another drink. Once there we only had 10minutes until they stopped serving food. Knowing I probably still didn’t have an appetite I just ordered some chips, and a Havana & diet coke. I couldn’t finish the chips, and evidently water should be my friend for the day.
Hangover 2 – 0 Leena.
After the barge we got a taxi up to the Avon Gorge Hotel. Beauty at its finest, me and Ali had to go to the bathroom so the guys headed to the bar. Once we let our bladders do some releasing we went to the bar ourselves. Think Leena Think. No rum. Don’t do it.
“Hey you ladies being served”
“Umm can I just get a *notices a bottle of Jack Daniels* orange juice please.”
Hangover 2 – 1 Leena
“Anybody want a peanut” Thanks Ali. Yum.
We all sat outside, me and Aaron perving on girls, Ali eating peanuts and Jules putting together a plan for the night. After our drinks we headed back to town. Another taxi. We picked our jackets up from the Arnolfini and headed back to Jules’place.
It was their dad’s birthday, so whilst they skyped I crashed on one of the sofas. I remember hearing ‘happy birthdays’ so I was partially awake. An hour later I decided sleep was not happening and got up to get ready for our ‘big night out’. Jules cooked a nice pasta bolognese.Went down a treat, finally a meal ive finished!
Hangover 2 - 2 Leena
Once everyone had sorted themselves out for the night I decided the camera was to be left behind due to it being named 'The BIG night out’ I did not want to lose the camera.
First stop: The Old Duke. Jules and Aaron went on to meet some people outside, whilst me, Ali and Olli (we met Olli just as we starting walking to the old duke) went to a cash point. I go to the old duke now and then as my best friend is in a blues/funk band and they play here occasionally. So I hit up the bar, double Captain Morgan’s & diet coke. Once me, Ali and Olli had drinks in our hands we went to join the others outside on a bench. Me and Ali caught up with Olli. Ali and Olli go way back to the school days, I work with Olli and after a short while discovered me and Ali had a mutual friend. Small world and all that.
After a few of us starting shivering we went indoors. Aaron downed his double JD and we headed to the Big Chill Bar. 2 for 1 cocktails, such a good thing I noticed this AFTER ordering sailor jerry’s. My first time in this place, there’s a lot of hype about it and I see why. Its my kind of place, ill be back there for sure. Everyone was deep in conversation, Olli had to head home due to work the next morning, and a few others left. And so it was back to the awesome foursome (that sounds gay). The Big Chill were shutting up and getting last orders in so Jules asked the dude at the bar where to go next.
Excitement.
The SECRET bar.
We headed there, Aaron was off like a rocket, even though he doesn’t know Bristol that well, he pretty much found it (with the help of Jules obviously). There it was. Classified.
A young lady answered the door after we rang the buzzer.
“How many of you?”
“Four”
“Come in and sit just here, ill bring the menus to you”
SWEET. THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT
Nag me all you want, I’m not telling you where this little treasure is.
The well dressed lady came back. She set down a decanter of water (this alone excites me) and then handed each of us a menu in turn. After a long debate of which REAL rum cocktail I was going to get, I asked her for a recommendation, turns out she was gearing towards the one I was going to order
Rhum Conference.
Time flys when you’re having rum
I could easily describe this place in more depth, but to keep this a secret its best you know nothing more than it is breath taking from the moment you walk in. No picture could ever capture its true essence.
After the boys had another drink, I finished the last few sips of mine and discovered that I was yet again in a delicate state. A real nice buzz, Ali also drunk we were talking all kinds of great nonsense. The Secret Bar was now closing, so we paid the bill, Aaron left a heavy tip and spoke to the barmen on our way out. Taxi home. Ali went straight to bed, I grabbed a glass of water and realised the boys were you tubing at a ridiculous hour of 230am. I laughed at a few things and discovered some priceless classics to go home with. On that note I settled to bed.
6.45am are you kidding me? Daylight is not my friend. Ali woke up about half 8, and then we headed downstairs to discover Aaron and Julian were both up. At this point im pretty sure no one has an appetite. A few you tube videos and card games with Ali later, Ali grabs a bowl of shreddies, Aaron two slices of toast and jam whilst me and Jules finish last nights pasta dinner. It went down a treat.
We all continued to play cards, Ali and Aaron packed up and we set off into town to chill on Castle Park before their train at 2.23pm. We spoke about Analtails in the sun, then felt a slight drizzle of rain and before we know it, its time to head to temple meads for them to catch their train.
Cancelled. That’s what their train reads whilst Ali and Aaron grab some snacks for the journey home so I left Jules with the luggage and went to ask someone what was happening and if there was another train they could get. He wasn’t too helpful, so to make him happier I say “I mean its not me getting on the train, but if you say they’re all cancelled I would be pretty happy for them to stay”
Ten minutes later. The train reads on time, so me and Jules say bye (see you SOON) to Ali and Aaron. A few hugs later and they go off to platform 11, which later turns out to change to platform 13. I know that feeling, usually when I go to visit Ali that happens last minute, and lets face it….I can only run so fast being as short as a hobbit.
Ali is only about a 2hour and a half journey away so we really ought to see each other more than we do, but this summer is set to be a busy one for the both of us. I go to Spain tomorrow; she goes to turkey On Monday. When she gets back she’s in the UK for 3 days and then shoots off to Canada for another wedding. I start college again in September, a foundation degree in Photography, sounds like a heavy one.
See you soon x.
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| So so sweet.too sweet for me. |
