Today is all about…September 2022

While I wrote this September blog at the beginning of October, due to the death of my mother-in-law, I couldn’t be bothered posting it until now.

September has very much been an eventful month. The calendar has very much been a social one.

I am going to try and ignore the shitstorm that is currently happening in the UK government. We are damned if we do, damned if we don’t!

Alas, the fucktards have caused so much drama with their September mini-budget, that nearly crashed the pound; the Bank of England had to buy bonds to save the pensions, and high-interest rates made the housing market near on impossible for many.

But I will not be suckered into this negativity, I’ll leave that to other people

Let’s look at the positive, is this the final nail in the coffin for the Tory government?

The monthly thought: The Queen

September saw UK history being made with the news that The Queen died.

The country went into mourning, the world looks on as the UK’s longest-reigning monarch is to be replaced with the UK’s old monarch to be crowned.

This month’s talking points

Simon & Barratt’s Wedding

My two weeks’ annual leave starts with a wedding.

We met Simon while on holiday in Zante. The same holiday that we found and adopted Maki.

The last time we saw Simon was pre-covid in 2019, so it was good to catch up.

We arrived at Grantham and a huge lesson was learnt. We were no longer in the city, as Uber wasn’t available! I know! First-world problems.

Friday we caught up with Simon and Barratt. It was great to see them both. A lot of alcohol was consumed, and we ended up getting a lift back to the hotel from a member of the bar staff because there are no taxis after midnight!

The wedding was beautiful. It was a glorious day weather wise too. I believe there may have been an attempt at rain, but it disappeared before we could question it!

Apart from the grooms, we didn’t know anyone else at the wedding (apart from the handful we met the previous night). However, quite early on we got chatting with Charlotte and Tom. We kept each other company throughout the day, and all became drunk buddies.

We had a blast. Drunk Mike may have made an appearance. I’m so thankful that I don’t get hangovers!

Benidorm

Carl is another of the friends to pass the half-century mark. To celebrate a small gaggle of gays went to Benidorm for a long weekend in September.

It’s been over 19 years since I last went to Benidorm. I can’t remember much of the old town. Apart from when I asked a Spanish bartender how to say “Fuck me hard”.

After repeating a few times and confirming that was right, I responded “No, that’s a request”!

As I was telling the group we walked into the actual bar. Alas, the fit guy no longer worked there!

This breakaway was to celebrate, and I can confirm that we did that…a lot. It’s safe to say Drunk Mike made multiple appearances while in Benidorm.

My ‘No alcohol before midday’ rule was also broken several times. Well, it was for a special occasion.

I spent a lot of the day Scottish sunbathing (in the shade), but I was happy with that.

The husby and I ventured into the new town because you can’t come to Benidorm and not try and see some of the TV show Benidorm spots.

We couldn’t get to the hotel, but we did get a pic outside Neptunes.

On Saturday, there was the worst-kept secret, a birthday meal with friends and family. It was great to see Carl’s parents again.

We all went out afterwards, where more alcohol was consumed. Although, I was home before the torrential rain hit, which left our balcony looking like someone pebble dashed up the wall!

Carl’s actual birthday involved Mimosas at dawn. Then straight after breakfast, there were shots and cocktails…all before 12pm.

This cemented what to expect for the rest of the day. Put it this way, Carl spent the full day wearing a dog collar!

On the final day in Benidorm and again, I’m glad I don’t get hangovers. Carl would be wishing he didn’t either, as he looked like he was hanging out a badger’s arse.

After packing everything up, we found a pub and watched the Queen’s funeral.

The plan was to head to Carl’s parents’ place for a few days. However, I already had something else planned. So I left the husby in the capable hands of Leon, while I travelled back to the UK on my own.

Snowdon

September 22nd would have been my brother’s 50^th birthday.

So to commemorate this, a few family and friends decided to retrace his footsteps and climb Snowdon.

This was something that has been planned for a few years and was originally scheduled to happen last year. Although, Covid still produced restrictions that made it not possible.

So the decision was made to walk it this year on his actual birthday!

This was also the reason that I returned home early from Benidorm. This was more important!

To be honest, I’ve not much (aka none) experience of doing anything like this. I wasn’t nervous though. I felt I was fit enough to do this.

Only time would tell really!

We did the Pyg Track when we were climbing. My niece, Ashleigh, had the “I fucked up” look less than 30 mins into the trek.

The day started off nice and clear, at the bottom anyways. We couldn’t see the top and knew that it was going to be wet and windy. What we didn’t know, was how wet and windy it would be!

When we reach the clouds, it started to spit, so the waterproofs went on. I learnt a big lesson right there, prior to any activity like this check that you can still fit in them before the actual event.

As the wets were pre-Covid, I had to really squeeze into them. I had to get them on, and I did!

This also meant that they couldn’t come off without a struggle, so going for a sneaky wee was out of the question.

The trek up with like a gift that kept on giving. As soon as we got to a point where it looked calm, we turn a corner and see a new challenge. Well, at least it kept us fit.

As we ascended the mountain, the weather started to worsen. The wind was awful, and at times difficult and dangerous. But, it was the rain that was the main challenge.

Before we had even reached the summit, my waterproof walking boots were full of water! And my wets were about to give up their jobs of protecting me too.

It was also cold. Generally, I was okay but my hands (as a forgot gloves) were freezing!

But the group persisted to the top. The wet and cold were taking over, as was our grumpiness from the enthusiasm and excitement!

When we reach the summit it was a sense of achievement and relief.

I was gutted that the weather meant we never got to see the beautiful scenery. Although, the niece was probably more glad of this because her phobia of heights was triggered at one climbing stage. Could you imagine what it would have been like if she could see the view?

Also, who would organise a trek up the mountain while having a phobia of heights?

At the top, I popped open a bottle of Kylie Processco (it had to be done) and we toasted to my brother for his birthday.

The plan was for those that weren’t doing the climb, that they would get the train up and we would scatter some of my brother’s ashes. Due to the weather, the trains were cancelled.

So we started doing the descent via Llanberis Path. By now, my waterproofs were no longer waterproof!

The path was a lot easier, and there was no climbing, although at stages it was steep. Plus it felt like it was never going to end.

It was a lot quicker to get down the mountain. Go figure!

We met the parents at a cafe at the bottom of the mountain, where I had the most amazing hot chocolate.

The important thing is, we did it! We had climbed Snowdon. After that experience, we won’t be doing it again!

As for the brother’s ashes, it’s been agreed to return in the spring and travel up by train to scatter them.

And as time passed, I would do something like this again. Just not during those weather conditions!

‘Today is all about…’ photos