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gothams3rdrobinSo I was away for the weekend. Rowan and I sneaked down to Hampshire on the train, as part of a super-sekrit plan to surprise Mel for her birthday. *grins* All went great, and Will's relief was palpable.
The plan was to arrive 'unannounced' at Mel's on the friday, explaining that Will had arranged to take Mel for a meal, with us, Mel's parents and her big brother in tow. What we weren't letting on, was that there wasn't going to be a meal at all - Will had instead hired a room at Aldershot football club for a surprise party with friends and family. *grins* The hardest thing was keeping certain people - Rowan included, but not the only one - from letting the plans slip, but it all went beautifully.
Doesn't mean Mel didn't suspect something, naturally. But the details themselves were kept secret.
It was funny arriving at Mel's flat; Will came to collect us from Reading train station, bringing Mel's brother Chris (who'd arrived the night before as yet another surprise) along with him as an excuse for the length of time he'd be gone. When we arrived, we had to remind Rowan not to say anything at all once we got out of the car, as Mel would hear him and recognise his voice. So, we get up to her flat, and Will's all "What should I do about these strays I picked up?" *grins* Mel's squeeage was awesome!
We had chinese for tea Friday night, once Mel's parents arrived, before Will, Mel, Rowan and I went to crash at Will's parents house as there's not room for everyone at the flat. There we were introduced to the family cat, Magic, who's very skittish and looks a lot like![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alryssa's Vicky and Zinda.
We spent most of Saturday on the 'Watercress Line' steam railway; both to keep Rowan entertained, and Mel out of the house so the mothers could get the party prep done. We got dropped off with Will's parents afterwards to get ready and head over to the football club to set the room up, and Will took Mel on a slight magical mystery tour to keep her off the scent *grins* I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep Rowan away from the food much longer, by the time they arrived and we all went "Surprise!", since we hadn't eaten in hours. *chuckles* The party went really well, and Mel was pleased with the present we got her, so yay!
Mel was giggly-drunk by the time we got back to the house, and I think she would have happily nattered away all night if Will's sister and her fiancé hadn't wanted to go to sleep and needed us to vacate the living room. *grins* Plus we were all intending to head out to a wedding fayre at a nearby village the following morning - though both Rowan and I were still asleep at the time we'd been intending to leave. I don't think it mattered too much, though, as it wasn't an extensive fayre so we weren't there all that long really. Probably for the best as Rowan was tired and hungry, not to mention bored.
We'd planned to get the three pm train home on the Sunday, but Mel's parents offered to drop us off on their way home. This meant we were able to stay for the Sunday dinner at Will's parents house. Mel and I helped out by peeling the potatoes, and Mel's mother supplied the meat. Dessert after was a lovely roulade, or the leftovers of the Bagpuss birthday cake Mel's mother made - I don't imagine there's any left now, not with Will the cake-fiend in residence! *grins*
Typically, once we got home and I'd gotten Rowan to bed, I had to check my email and LJ *grins* Two days of net-deprivation, people! I was very tired, as I didn't get on with the bed in Will's old room (I don't get on with many beds, so no biggie), but I just couldn't shut down so I didn't get to sleep till about five this morning. Didn't help that Rowan couldn't settle either - it must have been about midnight before he finally crashed, and I don't like going to sleep while he's still awake. So by the time he was asleep, I was past that point of no return, and had to force myself to go to sleep. As a result, we're having another lazy day today, and I'm watching the baseball on TV - which makes a change from the glut of football over the weekend! ;-)
Though we have made the fatal mistake of leaving Rowan's 'Surf's Up' Playstation game at Mel's flat....
I have got pictures of the weekend, including a short vid of Mel's reaction when she arrived at the party. I just haven't gotten around to downloading them yet. Ought to get my washing done too.
The plan was to arrive 'unannounced' at Mel's on the friday, explaining that Will had arranged to take Mel for a meal, with us, Mel's parents and her big brother in tow. What we weren't letting on, was that there wasn't going to be a meal at all - Will had instead hired a room at Aldershot football club for a surprise party with friends and family. *grins* The hardest thing was keeping certain people - Rowan included, but not the only one - from letting the plans slip, but it all went beautifully.
Doesn't mean Mel didn't suspect something, naturally. But the details themselves were kept secret.
It was funny arriving at Mel's flat; Will came to collect us from Reading train station, bringing Mel's brother Chris (who'd arrived the night before as yet another surprise) along with him as an excuse for the length of time he'd be gone. When we arrived, we had to remind Rowan not to say anything at all once we got out of the car, as Mel would hear him and recognise his voice. So, we get up to her flat, and Will's all "What should I do about these strays I picked up?" *grins* Mel's squeeage was awesome!
We had chinese for tea Friday night, once Mel's parents arrived, before Will, Mel, Rowan and I went to crash at Will's parents house as there's not room for everyone at the flat. There we were introduced to the family cat, Magic, who's very skittish and looks a lot like
alryssa's Vicky and Zinda.We spent most of Saturday on the 'Watercress Line' steam railway; both to keep Rowan entertained, and Mel out of the house so the mothers could get the party prep done. We got dropped off with Will's parents afterwards to get ready and head over to the football club to set the room up, and Will took Mel on a slight magical mystery tour to keep her off the scent *grins* I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep Rowan away from the food much longer, by the time they arrived and we all went "Surprise!", since we hadn't eaten in hours. *chuckles* The party went really well, and Mel was pleased with the present we got her, so yay!
Mel was giggly-drunk by the time we got back to the house, and I think she would have happily nattered away all night if Will's sister and her fiancé hadn't wanted to go to sleep and needed us to vacate the living room. *grins* Plus we were all intending to head out to a wedding fayre at a nearby village the following morning - though both Rowan and I were still asleep at the time we'd been intending to leave. I don't think it mattered too much, though, as it wasn't an extensive fayre so we weren't there all that long really. Probably for the best as Rowan was tired and hungry, not to mention bored.
We'd planned to get the three pm train home on the Sunday, but Mel's parents offered to drop us off on their way home. This meant we were able to stay for the Sunday dinner at Will's parents house. Mel and I helped out by peeling the potatoes, and Mel's mother supplied the meat. Dessert after was a lovely roulade, or the leftovers of the Bagpuss birthday cake Mel's mother made - I don't imagine there's any left now, not with Will the cake-fiend in residence! *grins*
Typically, once we got home and I'd gotten Rowan to bed, I had to check my email and LJ *grins* Two days of net-deprivation, people! I was very tired, as I didn't get on with the bed in Will's old room (I don't get on with many beds, so no biggie), but I just couldn't shut down so I didn't get to sleep till about five this morning. Didn't help that Rowan couldn't settle either - it must have been about midnight before he finally crashed, and I don't like going to sleep while he's still awake. So by the time he was asleep, I was past that point of no return, and had to force myself to go to sleep. As a result, we're having another lazy day today, and I'm watching the baseball on TV - which makes a change from the glut of football over the weekend! ;-)
Though we have made the fatal mistake of leaving Rowan's 'Surf's Up' Playstation game at Mel's flat....
I have got pictures of the weekend, including a short vid of Mel's reaction when she arrived at the party. I just haven't gotten around to downloading them yet. Ought to get my washing done too.
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 08:38 pm (UTC)Then, of course, I get home to discover my other best friend tried to call me from Ohio while I was riding on steam trains! *rolls eyes* Typical!
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Date: 2008-04-01 05:33 am (UTC)Wish I could've been there.