I have so very much to write about covering the last few weeks. Firstly though, I need to draw your attention to the previous BlogSecret post. Since I was out of the country I didn’t approve comments as swiftly as I should have. They are all approved now and showing. It was a very interesting/fun experiment for me.

Secondly, while I was away, I got an e-mail from SMITH Magazine:

If you’re getting this email, it means that the six-word love story you submitted at SMITH Magazine is one of our favorites. Congratulations! We’re hoping to include you in Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak, a new book coming out from HarperPerennial this winter. Our first book, Not Quite What I Was Planning, was a big hit, and this one is already getting great press. We know with your help, we can touch even more people!

So my little 6-word story on love [Me, Wife, Boyfriend; polyamory can work.] is going to be in a book! I’m delighted! I love their first book, I get something different every time I read it. I asked if I was on a short-list or if it was definitely going to be included and they replied:

You are in the book barring any last minute editing changes, and we’ll be in touch soon about getting you a free book and party invites and such.

I feel all important.

I had an amazing time with BlanketGirl and her family. This was really our first chunk of time together in person after becoming to close. I admit I was nervous that our relationship wouldn’t transfer from phone into person [I have issues] but we did splendidly. I expect I will be sharing highlighted stories over the next few days and weeks. But for the moment, I’ll simply bullet as a memory aid:

• We made clothes for Fergus and managed to buy two outfits. I will take photos as soon as I’ve finished one little part of it.
• Bought two shirts and shorts because it was much hotter than I thought it would be.
• I ate many yummy things including:
  • Tater Tots – I cannot get them here and oh god they’re good. BlanketGirl taught me the art of mixing ranch salad dressing [which I also cannot get here] and ketchup for dipping. I intend to step-up my home-made ranch creation and figure out how to make tater tots.
  • Home-made refried beans – BlanketGirl and I found a slow-cooker recipe and they turned out delicious.
  • Home-made cheese cake – did not eat enough of this!
  • Orange Julius – sweet jesus it was good. Cannot get frozen concentrated orange juice here, been meaning to find out how to make them without.
  • Breakfast at IHOP – yum!
  • Dinner at the Macaroni Grill – adults only. This was my Christmas present and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
• Thanksgiving dinner – wowowowowowow.
• Family photos – first time everyone has been together. Literally. When Weasel and I were in the US last time BlanketGirl’s husband couldn’t be there.
• Tiny steam railway adventure
• Many movies including The Adventures of Mark Twain [claymation adventure] and Mr Brooks.
• Watching Depeche Mode videos and listening to the entirely of A Piano by Tori with BlanketGirl.
• Looking at art and colouring together.
• Going to two doctor’s appointments with BlanketGirl.
• Helping BlanketGirl help her friend when her baby fell and hurt his head in a very scary set of circumstances.
• Reading The Joy of Cooking the 1963 and 2003 editions. Both are amazing.
• Playing The Sims with BlanketGirl and rekindling my interest in playing.
• Hugs, hugs, kisses and more hugs.
• Getting to know my nieces for the wonderful girls they are. They’re old enough to be proper people now and I’m so impressed with them. They are a compliment to their parents.
• Phallic cacti.
• Bought books [Comic Book Tattoo and latest Merry Gentry book by Laurell K Hamilton] and DS games.

I intend to elaborate on some of these.

Meanwhile, the train craziness on the outward trip. We were going to get the 11:45, but after talking with Eleanor we decided to get the 10:15. We were in the taxi to the station when Eleanor called and said that the trains to Kings X were delayed because of a fault. We managed to get a train to Liverpool Street instead. Our tickets still covered us. We got on the Underground to Paddington and Heathrow Express. I’d checked us in online the day before so we just had to drop our bags off them go through security.

We had an hour before the plane boarded so we bought water and waited. When they started boarding they said anyone who was disabled or felt they needed more time could board now. So we went up and I said I had a lung condition and they let us straight on. The flight itself was uneventful. We got off last since we didn’t have any connection to make and because I didn’t want to be around so many people.

Customs took ages, we had to claim the cheese wheel I was taking to my Dad. We collected our bags and when we got out BlanketGirl was there! She had made a sign for us and had cards from the girls [we arrived after their bed time]. Heaven.

The trip home was almost as smooth. BlanketGirl drove us to the airport. We checked our bags, found a cafe and waited for our boarding time. Saying goodbye was very difficult. We got to our gate and again found we could get on early thanks to my lung condition. We had the same seats for both flights. Everything went swimmingly up until 3 hours outside London when we hit some impressive turbulence and I vomited. I had a bag, but the bottom fell out when I tried to put it into a plastic bag. I covered me, my lap, my seat and Weasel’s skirt. The flight attendants were incredible. They helped get us cleaned up, gave us a pair of First Class pyjamas each and were very polite and concerned.

I will never, ever fly with another airline. British Airways is everything I could have asked for and more.

I wasn’t feeling too hot by the time we landed, so we got straight on Heathrow Express and took a taxi from Paddington to Kings X. Train journey was fine and we got a taxi home from the station. Stoat had come and made us stew and bread and cleaned the kitchen. I called people to let them know were were home then I slept 15 hours.

My sleep schedule is shagged, I slept from 2am to 2pm today. Body has been feeling a little picked on too. So I’m going gently.

Happily though, no WG flares and no complications for my lungs. I’m right on schedule for my bronchoscopy and dilation on Tuesday.

We are home, we are safe and a wonderful time was had by all.

P.S. Weasel and her family and I went to see the Mediaeval Baebes in Ely last night, it was awesome.