As previously mentioned, I was just about up to say goodbye to Alma and Leon at 8:30. Showered, had breakfast, Richard took me for a ride in his absolutely brand new Kia EV6, which was very nice. The layout reminded me of an Austin Maxi: wheels far out at the corners, big back seat and boot.
Train to Warrington. 10:09 from Tonbridge to London Bridge, Northern Line to Euston, Avanti west coast to WBQ. Except that my Avanti train had been removed from the timetable. Instead of an 11:30 first stop WBQ, there was an 11:10 with additional stop at Crewe, but arriving WBQ same time. 🙄. I had just enough leeway to make that train. I ran through Euston and had enough time to jog mid-way up the train.
Eventually found a seat at a table with, what I surmised was a Glaswegian (saw a message thread on her phone to the Glasgow Girls Group, didn’t see any messages I’m not a monster) named Fiona (engraved on her AirPods case), and a couple of guys who were hungover, had recently come into a lot of money (one had just paid off his mortgage), and liked fancy cars (talk of Porsche Taycans) and road bikes (talk of Hard-Knock pass, and Colnago C68s with Titanium lugs, Super Record and Bora wheels on order). I stayed quiet for some reason. (The bike convo only came up on approach to WBQ.)
Dad collected me from the station, met mum at home, ate a large lunch because I hadn’t eaten on the train. Baxter’s scotch broth soup, oven par baked ciabatta, blue cheese, coffee.
Was lovely being home just the 3 of us. Felt normal, comfortable.
Walked with Mum to collect Amy from school on her birthday. We dropped off gifts at Kat’s, briefly said hi. I had heard that Amy was excited about time collecting her, but she was quiet and shy. I think she was a little bit under-the-weather.
Went back to 93 w/ Amy. Quiet afternoon, Amy made things with pipe cleaners. Then went back to Kat’s for Amy’s birthday part 1, which involved a chippy tea, and opening family presents.
Elliot liked Amy’s dressing gown
Chippy tea for dinner (in my honor). Amy got cupcake cake
Then went to The Pied Bull with Mum and Dad.
Dad left his phone at Kat’s. Mum used this as an excuse to go home. Pleasant couple of pints with dad, then home relatively early. Mum was still up.
Melatonin + 5-HTP, slept well.