Mahinda’s Little World

This week, I are mostly been doing…stuff:

• Sunday
  Return from deepest darkest Gloucestershershire, sleep a little, meet Alsion in Kro Piccadilly, play tennis with Bethan, end up going out to Red Lion with housemates - first real Tenby Towers trip to t’local since Paul, Gillian and Tara moved in.
• Monday
  Work, shootin’ (of course!) followed by pub (Adrian, Clare, Rachel and me). Home and sleep, really.
• Tuesday
  Seems so long ago! Work, then the first Sale hockey training session of the new season. Well, for me anyway. Had a bit of a run around, then had to rush home and straight back out again. Actually, this day’s worthy of its own heading. See below…
• Wednesday
  Work, then it took FAR too long to get back for hockey. So I picked up Pete, headed down to Platt Fields, dropped off the sticks (and Pete), then headed back to my Tenby Towers. The plan was to do some stuff then head back for the last half-hour or so. Unfortunately, it got dark all too quickly, so I just joined them in the pub instead.
  I ended up dropping Jordan off at his parental abode, up in North Manc (Moston, in fact), in exchange for Buffy the Vampire Slayer seasons 1-6 on VHS. That’s a whole load of tapes! I gave him a box o’ beer too.
• Thursday
  That’d be today, then. Plan is to go to the theatre after work with Nicola - The Anniversary at the Altrincham Garrick, so handy enough. After that, I’ll probably join the MUGSSlets in whatever post Wine Evening thing they do. Tomorrow I’m off (with Sarah M) to sample the delights of Masham, home of the Black Sheep and Theakstons breweries. Nice.

Tuesday

Got home from hockey practice, aching slightly, then jumped on my bike and headed to The Friendship Inn for a late pint with Jo. She’s an Aussie girl who I "met" in the course of finding new housemates, and then actually met at the GBBF.

The Friendship was absolutely heaving due to the return of the scummy students

It was also pub quiz night, which didn’t help. It’s amazing how the students have all turned up at once this year - they usually meander along gradually throughout September, but it’s all happened over the course of a week this year. Possibly due to the early Freshers’ Week, which is, well, now.

So, one pint at the Friendship, and then last orders had passed already. So, off to the Drop Inn, who of course serve until midnight. The place was almost empty, which was nice.

Jo and I get on pretty well, I reckon - definitely a new friend there. She’s the type who goes out and does stuff, which is always good.

Bacon

I’ve been eating loads of bacon sandwiches this week, thanks to my purchase from Old Farm. SERIOUSLY good bacon - even the rind turns into quality scratching-like stuff. Mmmmm.

A Long Long Time

Sunday marked the 11th anniversary of my arrival in Manchestie. How scary is that?!

During that time, I’ve seen* the old Manchester get bombed to smithereens, and slowly get rebuilt. The city centre is only now anywhere near complete, to be honest, and it’s a lot better for it.

* Okay, not with my own eyes, but it happened since I arrived, albeit while I was back home for the summer holidays.

I came here a shy, unbelievably naïve 17-year-old. University shaped me an awful lot, and it was in Manchester that I really grew up. I’d say that the most formative stage of my life was that between ‘95 and ‘00, when I came to of my shell.

I’m now an office junkie 28-year-old…okay, so I’m not exactly shining out like a beacon, but I’m happy, busy and surrounded by friends. Which is nice.