Pictures of you (and you and you)

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

I had a work leaving do last night, even though I left two weeks ago. We all had a great time, first quaffing a few drinks at the Albion pub in Conwy, then scoffing a meal at Alfredo's restaurant in the town. A handful of us returned to the Albion for last orders. A good night was had by all, and I thank everybody for coming along. It meant a lot to me.

Anyway, the booby prize for those who came is for pictures of them to be posted on the interweb (and I expect my blog stats to go through the roof and for the number of hits to be reported diligently at the next Daily Post news conference). For those unable to make it, this will no doubt give them a chuckle...

First up, two people I spent a lot of the last five
years at work with, Eva and Joel (quite what
Eva is doing to poor Joel is a mystery. Maybe
it's a Slovakian massage or something).
Joel looks half-cut, but was actually 100% sober
for a change.

Then we have Neil (my former boss, a phrase he doesn't particularly like) and Mari,
a reporter I've worked with for more years than either of us will ever admit to.
Mari was really up for this photo...

...Neil not so much. So Mari went for the jugular. By the way, they are spectacles
on Neil's head, which he puts there so he can see up to people.

Here we have Owen (who came as a Frenchman),
Dion (who looks like butter wouldn't melt but
 we all know it so would), Samantha (who looks distinctly unsure about
these guys) and Steve, who looks like he's
not sure about anything.

Here's Steve looking a little more confident about who and
where he is, with glam Samantha, plus Judith, whose
curled fist makes her look ready to lash out at any
moment. She's also looking off-camera. There's
always one...

There is an "out-take" from that session, where Samantha and Steve are deep in conversation and Judy looks far less aggressive...

Group shot of Blake (aka Eric Morecambe), Laura (caught in mid-swish) and
Tom, who's probably about to say something vaguely intelligent that nobody's
listening to. Maybe it's about the poo on his plate? In the background we have Jo
(who we'll come back to) and a preoccupied Andy, who's probably texting the
latest work experience girl to arrange a hook-up.

Me (the handsome one on the left) and Tom,
who looks pretty satisfied with himself. And
so he should be - he has plenty to be proud of.
I won't say where his right hand was in that shot
(actually, maybe that's why he's so satisfied...)

Andy and Rhodri. Don't they make a nice couple? Neither of them look like
they want this photograph to happen!

Two goons. I never look good in selfies. Rob looks like someone's tickling him,
which may have been his wife Helen as she'd just been told by a fortune-telling
fish from a Christmas cracker that she was passionate.

Rob with said wife Helen. She looks very demure here, but trust me, you don't
cross her. Rob did once, and now look at him. Also, Rob was very amused by
the sign behind him reading "a touch of cream". I'm saying nothing.

Mari again and Jo, properly this time. Again, don't they make a nice couple?
And there's Rhodri in the background thinking: "Thank God Andy's going."

And finally, me and Owen (the Frenchman
from earlier on). Don't they make a lovely couple?

Absent from these pictures but who did come along for a drink are David, Bryan and Jez (who I learned used to be a bingo caller in Caernarfon. I can so see that).

Thank you again for everybody who came along, thank you to those who were unable to make it but who were there in spirit, and thank you to everyone collectively for raising £117.50 for Parkinson's UK when they had a whip-round for me. That means the most to me.

I won't miss the job I've left, but I will miss the people. Every single one of you.

Anyone fancy a cuppa?

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

I love flavoured tea. Look, this is my tea cupboard, filled to the rafters with Twinings specialities (or maybe that should be special-teas).

I've got Cranberry and Blood Orange (for when I'm feeling a little vampiric), Summer Berries, Mango and Cinnamon, Mango and Strawberry (any food or drink with strawberry in gets bought by me), Blackcurrant and Vanilla, even Strawberry and Raspberry (told you).

There are a few others tucked to the sides and on top too, squirreled away for a rainy day. I can't be without my Clippers "sleepy tea" either, stuffed as it is with valerian to help me sleep at night. Only trouble is, that tea is very powerful and I take about half a day to wake up properly from its after-effects next day.

There's also my little ceramic bowl of "hotel teas", sealed teabags taken from hotels I stay in. They're not usually very exciting or flavoursome - just your average breakfast or Tetley tea - but they're free so why shouldn't I take them away?

Always does me when I don't fancy a strawberry flavoured tea (this very rarely happens).

Friday night feeling

Friday, November 8th, 2013

Bee-yoo-tiful! What could be more rewarding on a Friday night after a hectic week's work than a chilled glass of white wine? Feet up, heating on, lights low, wine in glass, spending quality time with my loved one (I mean Gareth, not the wine. Then again...)

Stag's head at the Molly House

Friday, November 1st, 2013

The best bar in Manchester is The Molly House on Richmond Street, a place not easy to find or particularly well-known. But it attracts the coolest clientele - creatives, media types, artists, fashionistas... and me!
It's not pretentious, but it is a cut above your average inner-city boozer.
Downstairs there is the more pub-like bar where they have European newspapers to peruse, as well as various guest ales and tapas dishes to try.
Upstairs they have the more sophisticated "bordello" bar where the seating is scant, but it needs to be to cram in the amount of people who turn up there of a Friday and Saturday night. They do great cocktails, there are some great Beartown guest ales, and there's a stag's head on the wall. What more could you ask for?
Unisex loos? Yep, got them too!