Daphne visit: Friday – Friday *EDIT*

*WARNING!* Long entry ahead. *WARNING!*

So, I was planning to get a good nights sleep the night before Daphne arrived here. But I just couldn’t get my head down. About 7:30 I left my house for the train station. I was planning to get the bus at 9am from Darlington train station directly to the airport. But, not knowing where I needed to catch the bus from, I decided to get to Darlington half an hour early, as the next train would leave me about 6 minutes to find the bus stop.

Upon arriving at the train station, I decided to go for a smoke and then wory about finding the bus stop. Only to discover that it was actually part of the train station. I caught the bus and went, for the first time ever, to teeside Durham Tees Valley airport. Turns out that when I was told it wasn’t big, the person wasn’t actually joking.

I sat in the arrivals part of the airport waiting for her. And then she appeared. I stood up and rushed over to meet her. We hugged and kissed, then she told me that the person she sat next to on the plane had offered us a lift home. As long as I didn’t mind the car smelling of dog and there being no seats in the back. I had absolutely no problem with this so, when Vanessa appeared from trying to find her luggage (which had been left behind in Amsterdam) we set off.

When we got back to my house Daphne showed me all the goodies she had bought for me. Including my swank new Dr Who t shirt. We then went into town so that Daphne could change her money. That done, she bought me a Boro scarf (which could easily be changed into a Dons scarf if need be) and we ate. Back to the house for a quick nap and then into the LRC so she could email her father and I could email my mother. From there, we proceeded to the union for food and a few drinks with Stuart and Jemma.

The next day was an early start so we could go to York to meet up with Steven the Rill. On the way, Daphne decided that she wanted something to eat. So we called by Greggs, as when she was here in August she tried one of their sausage rolls and liked it. Said foodstuff wasn’t ready yet, but we were told it would be about 5 minutes. We went outside so I could smoke and Daphne was so excited that she was bouncing up and down. It was cute.

We then went to the train station to meet Stuart. There were supposed to be more of us but 2 people had to pull out due to illness and one due to babysitter issues. I wore the Arizona t shirt Daphne gave me in August and Stuart wore the Beatles t shirt Daphne had given him the night before. At the first stop on the way to York we were joined by Jemma (as she lives there so it just made more sense). She was also wearing the Arizona t shirt she got in August. (I was trying to organise for everyone to wear one.)

We got into York train station and found Steven. From there we went to York Minster walking past a busker playing the piano (I’m serious). We went into the Minster and had a look round. Though we couldn’t go into the Minster itself, as there was a service going on, we did go down into the crypt and wondered round looking at the exhibits from throughout the life of the Minster. This was interesting but it was a shame that, in an effort to shore up the building and stop it collapsing, they had reinforced concrete with steel bolts in it to point out where we needed to go. I can understand why this was needed but the fact is that, surrounded by so much history, it looked a bit ugly IMHO.

After we left the crypt we headed to the top of the tower. This was up 275 steps. The first set were not too bad but the second lot were steep, winding and so narrow I was literally shoulder to each wall and so ended up going up sideways. The views from the top were breathtaking and well worth the hike. There was also a small moment of amusement as when we reached the top one of the piano playing buskers on the street below could be heard playing The Simpsons theme tune.

We then headed back down (after being told we could) and wondered round the gift shop, where I picked up a gargoyle I have called Gary. We then went to the Three Legged Mule pub for a non-alcoholic drink and give our legs a chance to recover. As everyone was hungry, it was decided to walk round the city walls and visit the Morrisons where Stuart’s mum works and have lunch.

Sadly this did mean more stairs but we did stop off at a gift shop (where I got myself a replica medieval coin) and Daphne treated everyone to a chocolate. We got to the shop, surprised Stuarts mum and then ate a surprisingly good meal.

From there we made our way to the Jorvic Viking Centre. There was a queue to get in so we waited and then entered. After heading down some stairs (there’s that bloody word again!) we entered a room that we were told was a time machine. Naturally I thought this was cool. We then got into something like a roller coaster carriage and went round listening to a narrationj which we could have in a variety of languages (including English for children) and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the time. We then had a look around the rest of the stuff on display, I found out how much of a viking I am and then left. I was hoping to buy a version of a viking board ganme but the cheapest they had was £10 so I couldn’t afford it :¬(

Then, at my insistance, we went to the Japanese Shop where I found something I’d been looking for. As you lot know, I’m taking Chinese classes and I had been looking for a special pen with a brush on it so I could do the characters properly. I had a feeling that this would be the ideal place to find it, and so it was. They were hiding from me, but I found one and Daphne bought it for me.

From there we went to the National Railway Museum cos it was free. They have the Flying Scotsman there, but it’s been dismantled for maintenance so there really isn’t much to see. We then headed to the train station, saw Steven onto his train and then headed home ourselves. We were all knackered but in need for a drink. There was one criteria when trying to decide where we were heading. NO BLOODY STAIRS! We ended up meeting another friend Emma in the Camels Hump (which had a couple of stairs) for a few drinks. Then away for a parmo and home.

Woke up early the next day and went for a wonder round town. I had previously mentioned to her that one shop had a sweet looking mancala set with a folding board, stones and a box that looked like a book. We went to the shop so I could show her it and she bought it for me. (I was going to buy one before but got my laser screwdriver instead.) We then headed to another shop to buy a foam mattress topper for my bed (as Daphne was complaining that my mattress was lumpy). We headed home with our purchases, picked up our Boro scarves and headed to the union to watch the Boro – Everton game (yes, brian, it is the one that was described as high school soccer)

We had talked about actually going to the match but tickets were too expensive so we did this instead. It was quite a good game (even if Everton were lucky with the equaliser) and we had fun. We went back to the house to sort the bed and break in the new mancala set and then ended up back in the union where the friends we were satwith while watching the game could still be found. We had something to eat, a couple of drinks and then went home.

On Monday I had to go and sign on. So I introduced Daphne to the delights of James Cook House (long time readers will no doubt remember some of my rants about that place). After this was done we went to see my friend Emma so that Daphne could meet her daughter and give Emma the reading material she asked for from the States. Daphne had also got a Winnie The Pooh marshmallow lollypop for Charlotte which was quickly desticked. I also took the opportunity to return a book to Emma, lend her a couple more, get back a couple I had lent her and borrow a Christopher Brookmeyer book. From there we went to the train station to get the tickets for the next day, the union for food and then to see my other friend Emma and her son, neither of whom I’d seen much of since I split up with Kat. We spent about an hour there and were presented with a picture by Emaa’s son before we left.

We then went to Lindthorpe cemetary (last of the romantics, me) to visit Moses Carpenters grave While there we noticed that some people had left coins for luck so we did likewise. We then got the stuff for making spaghetti bolognaise and went home to eat and relax.

Tuesday we were up at stupid o clock to head to Edinburgh so Daphne could meet my parents. We got to the train station in Edinburgh, hung around where we had arranged to meet my folks when all of a sudden there was a poke in my side and my mum was there. We went to get something to eat then headed to the Royal Mile so Daphne could find a fudge shop she was obsessed with finding. We stopped off at a few shops on the way and my mum and Daphne seemed to enter some sort of gift buying competition with each other. Daphne also bought me a wooly hat with the saltire on it. After we found the shop, we wondered round the national gallery and then it was picture taking time where everything went well up till the point where I dropped my mums camera and broke it.

We saw my mum and dad off to the bus station and then went hunting for dark chocolate Caramel Wafers for one of Daphne’s friends. We eventually found some in a cafe that was selling them individually. We went to the train station where I bought some cans of Tennants lager and then back to Boro. We headed to the union for a quick drink and ended up playing Rock N Roll bingo. After that we went for food and then home.

Wednesday was quite a chilled out day. We were planning to get a tattoo (Scotland in Mandarin characters for me, America in Mandarin characters for her) as well as give Jemma some moral support for her first tattoo (musical notes on her shoulder blade) but the artist we like was away home ill. So we made appointments for the Friday. We then decided on taco’s for dinner and went to Sainsburys to buy the stuff. While wondering around we discovered that they had packs of the wafers we spent ages looking for in Edinburgh. GRRRR!

We ate our food and then went to the Union for kareoke. I was slightly worried that it may not be on due to the England – Germany match but it was. So she got to see me do The Time Warp. Then I nearly got a hit for the way I sing Angels by Robbie Williams (and no, honey, I’m still not apologising for that :¬p).

Thursday was payday. It was also the day that we finally made the trip through to Whitby we had been planning since August but never quite got round to. We quickly found our way towards the Abbey and stopped en route for some food in a pub. Then we tackled the steps up and wondered round the Abbey itself, which was cool. Afterwards we tried two different types of mead, as Daphne was thinking about buying some as a present and then we headed back into town. Wandered around for a bit, got some sweeties for the trip home and then we caught the train.

That night we met up with Kev and Nikki for a curry. The meal was gorgeous as always and we had fun. Daphne got a shock as I had forgotten to tell her that Kev had got his hair cut since she last saw him. We were going to head to the pub for a quick drink afterwards but we were tired so away home to bed for the pair of us.

Friday was tattoo day. We headed to the shop where Jemma met us (as she had a lecture beforehand). My design was changed slightly from simplified Mandarin to traditional and Daphne’s was changed to Japanese. Then it was Jemma’s turn. She was terrified about getting it done so I let her hold my hand. I then convinced her that the best way to get over her fear was to just get it done. All three tattoos turned out well and we went to the pub for a quick drink and some food. We then got a taxi to the shop so I could get the stuff to cook chilli.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this. Photo’s from the visit can be found on Daphne’s entry (Pics! to Lets go to Whitby!!!) and don’t forget I’m still looking for questions about my life in 2008 and hopes for 2009 for my NYD entry.

Will

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