I've been waiting for this day to come for many weeks, and last Thursday it was the day of all days: I had booked a ticket via P&O and Thursday was the day the journey started. Yet there was a set back: I had to work a nightshift previous to the journey, and after working 8 hours, I was ready to drive, but knackered. My colleague arrived a bit earlier, so I could leave on time. The whole journey through Belgium and France was a doddle, on a few small traffic jams everything was fine. I was knackered, but the music kept me going through the morning. Originally I had the ferry around 11 o'clock, but I arrived way on time, so the original plan was to relax on the parking area, and maybe to catch some sleep. But the nice people at the check-in terminal were nice enough to book me on an earlier boat, so I didn't have any time at all to catch some sleep: I was probably the last person to board! Once on board, there were many annoying people who thought it was necessary to shout as loud as they could, and make themselves heard. You might call them 'cheese eating surrender monkeys', I call them 'ze french'. Thankfully I had my book and headphones with me, and a few buns, so I was occupied throughout the whole journey!
After reaching Dover, I assumed they wanted to search the car, but seeing as I was the last person, the custom officers couldn't be bothered, and they let me drive off without searching the car. I couldn't care if they did: I've got nothing to hide at all. I am a good civilian, no drugs or alcohol in my car. I did have a bag of Dutch snacks with me, for my mother-in-law, but it's not forbidden to take them with me to the U.K.? Anyway, I was prepared for a rough journey, seeing as the U.K. is having problems, caused by the weather. The wind and rain were heavy, but not as much as I've seen on the news. After 2 hours driving on the M25 and another road I simply can't remember the name of, I went to Barnet, to pick up my wife. She had worked already, and I agreed to pick her up. But for the love of God, the parking facilities are really poor in Barnet. After a horrible phone conversation with her, explaining where I should park, we met at the car park of Tobey's Carvery. I was a bit peckish, and she too, so we decided to eat something. The menu they gave us only had full meals, not sarnies or anything light, so we both decided to get sausage rolls instead. What a treat, you might think?! They were f**king horrible! The most horrible thing I've ever tasted, and it did upset both our stomaches! Sick as we were, we went home. After a well-deserved sleep, I simply can't remember what we did? I think we stayed at home, had a meal there, but I could be wrong. Oh no, we had a meal at home, and it included dumplings. Another nasty thing I didn't like. We had a stew (is that how you spell it?). It was nice, but the dumplings weren't made for me.
The next day we woke up, got ready for the journey to Milton Keynes, and after setting off, we filled the car with Diesel, to make sure we made the journey without having to walk a single feet. The journey was good, we stopped at a service station for some treats for uncle Martin and Caroline, and bought them some nice flowers in a basket. We made it in time, and we were welcomed by Caroline (Martin was still at work). After Martin got home, they all decided to take me to a restaurant. The ladies got ready (why does it always take hours for them to look good?) and we just sat there waiting for them. I wish I knew the name of the place, but I think it was next to a Hyundai dealer?! An American type of restaurant, with a huge gorilla next to the entry door. You know which one I'm talking about? The food was good, and I had chicken with chips. The chicken... well, the size was appalling. Three bites and the chicken was finished! I was still hungry after leaving the restaurant, and after a quick detour, the girls decided to go to Domino's to get me a pizza, my favourite: Texas BBQ. Once we made it back home, I ate the bloody pizza within minutes, and was still peckish after! A good night it was, and seeing as we were all tired, we went to bed. The next day was going to be a long one!
To prove my point, my wife has taken a picture of the chicken, judge my opinion if you like, but for me it was too small (she always makes pictures of food, don't know why?!) Oh, the name of the place was Buddies.
The next day we decided to go to Milton Keynes shopping centre, probably the biggest one I've ever seen! We went out around 10 to eat breakfast at our well trusted Wetherspoon, and we ate a full English breakfast (both Martins). The two girls had a sausage on a bun. Mmmm, nothing beats a full English Breakfast!
After this short stop, we walked around the shopping centre for hours. The girls seemed to like it, and even I had to admit that it was nice, yet you couldn't see the whole shopping centre in one day. We only walked the main path, not the sides at all. Many shops we've seen, a couple we've been in. We've been in Sports Direct, Doc Martins, Superdrug etc. I always go shoe shopping, because I'm after one specific type of shoe, and in other stores they normally don't have size 9 1/2. I've got weird feet, I know. And this might come as no surprise: we ate again, this time at Krispy Kremes. If I don't increase body wise by the end of the year, I might have the cure to stay slim forever! After munching away, we walked again for many hours. I do apologise for this picture: I forgot to bring my hair gel with me to Milton Keynes, and even though we bought a new one, I didn't find it appropriate to do my hair in a shopping centre. So my hair was held together by a female hair spray (thanks Caroline). And yes, I do look miserable, but every man on this planet will look the same if he goes shopping with a woman.
Anyway, after these dreadful yet intriguing hours, we decided to leave, seeing as Martin had a ice hockey game to go to (in Coventry), and it wasn't my cup of tea, even though he asked me to go with him. We (Caroline, Hayley and myself) went to the nearest pub for.... FOOD. After the lovely meal, the ladies had a strawberry woo woo, whatever that is. It had alcohol in it, and the conversations that followed, we had a great time, even though the subjects were a bit unusual (princess Diana, prince Charles, the bombing of London etc.). Not your usual subject. After we went to the nearest shop to buy Freddo's (I love them), we went home and started playing games, such as Monopoly, Triominos and The Catch. Is it called the Catch? Nope, it's called the Chase. And obviously, I won every game... even though we didn't finish Monopoly, because the girls didn't want to continue. I was a maniac, bought every property I could. Lol.
After Martin got home from his game, we played some more Triominos, and I won a game. Hayley won another, but Martin came really close. He's a good player, messes up other people's minds with his tactics.
We went to bed, and woke up, and had a cup of tea and a nice breakfast. We both had a wicked weekend in Milton Keynes, and I do love it down there. Martin had shown us all there is to see, and the best place has got to be the location where they make Aston Martins. Beautiful cars, one day I will own one.
The long journey to London was quickly done, not a lot of traffic on the road at all. After arriving home, we had a proper Sunday Lunch, with Yorkshire puddings. Nom nom nom, they are tasty! We decided to go to London centre, to buy some presents for my sister and brother-in-law, and my mother and father. It was busy, Hayley told me that there was a award ceremony that day, don't ask me which one. We went into Cool Britannia, shopped for hours (and even smelt someone's nasty fart), and got out with 2 bags filled with quirky things (Riana and Michel will know). You want proof that we walked around Piccadilly Circus? Here's proof!
We had enough, so we went home, walked passed the Polski Sklep (the turk shop), and we walked straight into Hayley's friend, Lisa. She kindly offered us a lift home, which was literally 2 minutes, but still, it was a nice gesture. We got home, we played board games, and watched things on television. Family Fortunes, with some bloke from McFly. He lost. Duh, obviously. It had been yet another long day, so we went to bed.
The weather during my stay was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining, no rain at all. Well, maybe a drizzle, but that was it. My last day we both decided to go to Enfield, to eat at TGI Fridays. We had a full meal, and it was lovely, yet we both knew that the end was near: I had to leave London around 3 o'clock, so there was no time to waste. I was sad, as you can tell, and so was Hayley.
After a long kiss and a long hug, I said goodbye to everyone, and left for Dover. The traffic wasn't so bad at all, the weather good. The drive was a doddle, quite boring to be honest. I got to Dover on time, yet I missed the previous boat, so I had to wait for the one I was originally booked for. And ofcourse the car got searched. Always me. A quick pee and a look around followed, and got back into the car. I got scared for a minute when I walked out of the Burger King, there was a police van, and no one else was inside, so I was guessing they were looking for me, but they weren't: they were peckish too!
After boarding, I made myself comfortable, and had a nice book to read, yet no headphones (they were lost at the time), so I could hear everyone shout and scream. And also one bloke who snored so loudly, people in Calais could hear him snore, even though we didn't set off at all! The journey was long, and after reaching Calais, the long drive home emerged in front of me. So boring, with cruise controle the journey become even more boring. Some idiot from Belgium started to annoy me, a chav in a BMW, who had the nerve to cut me off several times, and when I tried to pass him, he passed me again and cut me off again. With this going on, I missed the original exit, and had a small detour (20 minutes) which turned out to be an even shorter route to Kerkrade!? Weird ja? After stopping at a service station in Belgium for a tea and some fags, there wasn't much to talk about. I played music, drove home, and after filling up at my local petrol station, I gave the car a quick wash (at 1 in the morning).
Nearly 1300 kilometers I drove in those days, but it was fun. I don't want to make these journeys any more, I want to move over, so I don't need to travel this much to see my wife. That's future talk, but near future talk. But until then, journey's like this one will happen. And I'm happy, because I still like driving.
Thanks to my family-in-law for a brilliant long weekend. It's back to normal for me, and I hate that. U.K., I promise you, I'll be back soon. Boy, I miss the food a lot. I want to go to TGI Friday, Krispy Kreme, etc. I'm a fat f**ker.
I love you Hayley, thanks for a brilliant weekend. Standard as usual, but that's what I like. And I don't need anything else, this has been yet another good weekend. Thanks hun!
