08/09/2024 – The Rambling Sloth 🦥

As I suspected, after all the stress and anxiety about last night, I had the loveliest of nights with a lovely group of ladies.

We meet up whenever our friend Maureen is home from the States.

Maureen, Linda and I went to Uni together and the other Linda and Sarah know her outwith Uni. I think this is the third time I’ve met up with them all over the years.

We graduated in 1995 and I dedicated my life to a man who didn’t deserve me and I kind of lost touch with them for a while. (Incidentally yesterday would have been my 28th wedding anniversary if we had still been married). I love how much they didn’t like him and it all comes out now. 😆 Anyway, the 5 of us slot back in to comfortable chat immediately and it’s great to catch up on each others’ lives. We’re all at that age where we are questioning everything.

It’s also sobering to think that we lived with each other when we were 21 🫣😆

I don’t seem to have many memories of my time at Uni. Maybe that’s purely because it was so long ago. That or the fact I was too focused on my relationship rather than my friends. I only have flashes of certain times but don’t remember any of the details.

Anyway, back to last night… after another we digression. Last weekend I spoke to Mum and Glynis about my new fear of driving. Glynis recommended getting out there and the more you drive the more confident you will become. After a day of indecision, I finally decided to drive and I’m so proud that I did.

I arrived after a faultless drive into Glasgow city centre. I drove straight into car park and parked in the first space I saw. I will admit I had the shakes but I did it.

Now…. To pay for the parking….. you have to scan a QR code… download the NCP app and start filling in the detail. 15 minutes later I find that parking is

£7.95 for 2 hours

£12.95 for 10 hours

With nothing in between…. 🫣

No wonder the car park has spaces.

By this time I’m just paying it. I guess that’s how many of the car parks get their money these days?!?

To be fair it is bang in the centre of the Merchant City in Glasgow so I really shouldn’t complain!

We met at Table Twenty-Eight in the Merchant Square. Town was busy. There were a whole lotta people… 😆 she who solo travels felt very “out there” walking alone through Glasgow last night. I felt like there were flashing lights highlighting my lack of experience in the city culture. 😆

I actually dressed up and put on the jump suit I wore to my 50th birthday. This is not the best photo but Craig took this before I left.

The food was amazing. They had a good vegetarian/vegan range too.

I had Truffle Parmesan Polenta with smoked aubergines, vegan ‘nduja, crispy garlic and chilli oil. It was so good. Polenta is very like semolina but it really worked.

Linda and I also shared her skinny fries and some Honey, Garlic and Soy cauliflower bites. They were exquisite!!

Dessert was sticky toffee pudding with whiskey and pistachio ice-cream. My mouth is watering again at the thought.

None of the photos are great 😆 I also felt uncomfortable being that person that took photos of food 😆

It’s been a very long time since I saw midnight…. I arrived home just before 12.

I knew I would have a lovely time and for once I didn’t cancel at the last minute over the anxiety of it all. I’m so glad as I had a lovely time and I’m so proud of myself for going.

I know how daft that might sound to folk who go out all the time but I’m just telling it how it is….

So back to today…. We’ve had high level cloud and we’ve had some mist and some sunshine. It’s cloudy now but it’s still about 16°C. I did a food shopping this morning, have done another 2 loads of washing and have got a clean bed to look forward to tonight… bliss. I’ve tidied up all the clothes mess I left yesterday and have 3 bags ready for charity. I’m sitting with my feet up but I should really put some clothes up for sale on Vinted.

Right now I’m just gonna sit here and chill…. Coz I’m tired 😆

Please throw the ball mumma!