Wow…. I had a really lovely time out yesterday. I really enjoyed myself and I didn’t feel like the non drinking weirdo.

The girls were so inclusive and made me feel just as much a part of the day out as they were.

I know that might sound daft but I do still feel like a round peg in a square hole where drinking is concerned.

I am very proud of my choices but I still feel a bit socially awkward without the alcohol…. And yet I can talk to anyone. I’ve no idea why I think I need a drink to relax.

I suggested I’d drive us to the train station, which makes complete sense as a non drinker. We got the 15.21 train into Glasgow.

As I said yesterday, I completely relaxed once I was in the car… I couldn’t overthink my choice of clothes, I couldn’t change anything now I just had to go with the flow.

I’ve don’t think I’ve been in a bar in Glasgow for around 6 years. I might be wrong with that bit certainly not for a “drinking” night out.

Glasgow has changed so much. It’s very different from when I used to go out. I felt awkward in the first bar Kong, when we arrived, as I didn’t know quite where to put myself. I read that back and realise I’ve as much right to be there as anyone else but I felt like a mouse. Not sure where to go or what to do. Will change that for future outings!!

We’d booked the rooftop terrace, only to be told by the girl at the desk that we absolutely hadn’t booked the terrace and we had a table inside and downstairs from the terrace. Her manner was very abrupt and stand-offish…. It made us feel like our face didn’t fit…. she may well have had a really bad day and just taken it out on us, but a spade was a spade and it was what it was. There was nothing she could do about it.

After one of the girls, determined to change her mind, finally succeeded… we traipsed off upstairs to “stand at the bar for a drink for 15 minutes, then come down to our table”. That was all we would be allowed.

We headed upstairs thinking that was better than nothing…… the terrace was beautiful. The heavy rain shower had just passed and the outdoor area was empty. We rushed outside and grabbed a table, then a second table and then a third table….. but we were finally settled. And you know what… never had to move for the whole time of our booking. Outside in the sun, with patio heating. Just perfect. It’s a shame that couldn’t have been an offered option at the start.

The staff on the terrace were lovely. They couldn’t do enough for us.

I got a chocolate orange espresso “martini” which was lovely.

We got plenty of photos!

Then we headed around to Pizza Punks for dinner…. We may have got a little lost along the way due to “someone’s” google maps trying to drive there on the one way streets but it allowed us a photo of a random guy in a kilt.

I and had the most amazing pizza… I picked “create your own” with artichoke, mushroom, sundried tomato and candied chilli’s.

Now that I shared the photo, I remember it also had mac n’cheese on it too. 😬

It was really good at only £13.95 a pizza.

I also had a lovely mocktail.

It was really tasty.

It was raining by the time we came out of Pizza Punks and we tried to get a taxi, but ended up walking to Splatter Art Glasgow where we were to design our own splatter art!

My blank canvas…. I love the walls though!

And the finished article.

I actually did put some thought into it, and was still finished in about the first 10 minutes. 😆

So…. Turquoise for the sea and white for the beautiful Scottish beaches, pale green and purple for the land and heather, the yellow/orange for the sunshine and then the red….. blood was all I could come up with 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 there went my beautiful Scottish analogy. 😂

I really will be putting it up in the house when it’s dry.

Here’s Elly at work….. she was such an artist. Her painting was stunning.

Isn’t it beautiful!

That’s not even finished… I have video of everyone else’s but no photos.

We carried them home in these giant pizza boxes and spent the whole night shouting, it’s not pizza to everyone!

The classic Glaswegian moment where a girl screams out a car window, “gonnie gies a slice” 🍕has us all laughing!!

We stopped off at Sloans on the way to the train station… it says it’s Glasgow’s oldest restaurant and bar.

Are ye dancin?

Are ye askin?

The alleyway in is all painted now. It maybe has been for years 😂 I had an alcohol free gin and slimline tonic here.

I really had a lovely time with the best company and the best alcohol free selection to date!

We ran everything through an app called Splitwise. It means you don’t need to keep a track of who is paying for what, as you run it through the app, and all settle up the next day. It’s great for events like this where there are a lot of you.

So back to earth today. No events, no nights out, and I find myself pottering but literally doing nothing much in between.

I change Khaleesi’s bed…. And everyone wanted a shot of it. Calaidh first…

Then Bhru.

Khaleesi got bored and wondered what all the fuss was about.

She was quite happy in Gran’s chair.

Until she realised that all the bedding was lying outside to go through to the washing machine…. That was comfy…

Until she finally settled back down.

I’m sitting outside now. It’s hot then it’s cold (cue for a song!) it’s windy then it’s still and I’m going to read my book and do precious little else I think.

And that’s exactly what I did… except I moved inside next to the wood burning stove! It’s freeeeezing!

Hope you all have a great week!

Stay safe everyone 🌈🌈🌈