So my major priority this week was to purchase ALL the stuff that Katie needs to take with her on her International Award trip to India in February - she's going trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas with Doha College. I know, I know - the words 'Katie' and 'trekking' do not go together - the thought of her wee leggies wearing massive big hiking boots is just a whole bag of wrong. However, I digress. There's a shop here called 'Go Outdoors' which advertises heavily on TV, and they've just opened up a massive new store a few minutes' drive from the flat. Gayle had the day off, so she came over and off we set, list in hand. Now at this point, I have to say that 'Go Outdoors' is the very LAST type of shop in the world I would normally frequent - those who know me well will understand what I mean - but what a pleasant surprise! I could almost imagine myself in a fleece, puffa jacket and Timberland boots, hiking through the clear mountain air, cheeks all rosy and shining with health....................or maybe not! Anyway, it's an amazing place - has absolutely everything you could ever want for all kinds of outdoor pursuits, and we were quickly able to fill a trolley with fleeces, socks, hat, gloves, head-torch, water purification tablets, reconstituted mealpacks, waterproofs, etc etc. £215 later, all done - result! So going to pack it all away in a bag and forget about it until I fly back to Doha in Feb. Just got to get pool shoes for Katie to wear when they go white-water rafting - she refuses point blank to wear the strappy sandal things and I agree with her, they are HIDEOUS and would do her street-cred no good whatsoever.
So feeling all virtuous about being a good mummy, it was now time for Gayle and me to go and do some 'real' shopping, after a spot of lunch. Drove to Fort Kinnaird shopping mall, parked up outside Superdrug (I LOVE that shop, managed to spend £80 on make-up & toiletries) and when Gayle got out of the car, she slipped on the packed ice and fell flat on her face. Poor girl went down like a ton of bricks - boom! Actually, she landed on her bum, so no damage done except to her dignity. Once I was satisfied that she hadn't hurt herself, I couldn't stop laughing!! She will have a massive bruise tomorrow for sure.
Had lunch in M&S cafe, which is always full of old people or mothers with small babies. Fresh tomato & basil soup with bread rolls, shared a cheese & ham toasted sandwich and millionaire shortbread. Yum. There was an old couple sitting at a table near us, and we initially thought they were husband and wife, but observing them more closely, it appeared that she must have been about 90, and he 70, so most likely mother and son. So sweet - Jack are you listening? That'll be you and me in 40 years time.......
Had a quick detour into Ocean Terminal to buy a birthday present for my niece Jodie who's going to be 18 on Friday, then off to Tesco to stock up on Pinot Grigio and vodka.
Lee came over after work, then Jodie came round too. Cracked open a bottle of champagne (thanks Trish!) ordered kebabs and pizza and drank loads of wine, watched 'The World's Fattest Man' on tv and generally had a great evening. My sides were aching and sore we laughed so much .
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