Babbling update on my Derby trip...
Jul. 16th, 2003 10:47 amHmmm. Seem to have lost my delicious and/or nutritious breakfast somewhere between the bunshop and home. Not sure how I managed that, but I ascribe it to my general grogginess. It's supposed to thunder today,which I am heartily looking forward to - I feel cacky, with a sore throat, swollen glands and heat rash all over my neck, and I can't help blaming at least some of that on the hot weather.
The rest I'll blame on Derby :) Drove up with some colleagues on Monday afternoon and got there in about two and a half hours, mainly due to my friend driving at about 90 all the way. I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this next statement, but I really don't like Derby. It's grim and there's nothing there, except for one rather cool fountain near the cathedral. Got slightly drunk on Guiness and played in that on the way back from the pub on Monday night. My colleagues pretended not to know me.
The hotel was a bit grim. My room was tiny and very hot, so I passed out about midnight, only to be woken at 5:30 by the train announcements at the station right outside my open window :( Bah. Seminar went fine - gave the audience 40 minutes of patented Hannah-babble, no questions so all over and done with quite quickly :) Basked in the irritation of slight celebrity status, everyone coming over and introducing themselves and I was just "leave me alone!!!"
Left at about 4 and caught a nice air-conditioned train to Birmingham. Hung around getting in peoples' way until
radixlecti turned up. This was definitely the best part of the trip - despite us both being somewhat wasted and pissed off at the heat (and flies), enjoyed catching up on random wibblings. Resolved to go to Brum more in the future to enjoy the good company :) Especially as the Bull Ring is no longer ugly and off-putting. Ate dinner with Dave at some pub by the canal (the Flapper?), then quick drinky at Bacchus and back on the train to Bristol (
radixlecti - hope hiccups have gone ;)). This train stank, and felt like a sauna. The people opposite me had some rather disgusting ham, cheese and bread laid out all over the table, so I just read. Came home, showered, crashed out.
Got up ridiculously early to take Steph to station and drop car off for its MOT. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's done today and not too expensive, otherwise I'm somewhat shafted with regards to transport...
The rest I'll blame on Derby :) Drove up with some colleagues on Monday afternoon and got there in about two and a half hours, mainly due to my friend driving at about 90 all the way. I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this next statement, but I really don't like Derby. It's grim and there's nothing there, except for one rather cool fountain near the cathedral. Got slightly drunk on Guiness and played in that on the way back from the pub on Monday night. My colleagues pretended not to know me.
The hotel was a bit grim. My room was tiny and very hot, so I passed out about midnight, only to be woken at 5:30 by the train announcements at the station right outside my open window :( Bah. Seminar went fine - gave the audience 40 minutes of patented Hannah-babble, no questions so all over and done with quite quickly :) Basked in the irritation of slight celebrity status, everyone coming over and introducing themselves and I was just "leave me alone!!!"
Left at about 4 and caught a nice air-conditioned train to Birmingham. Hung around getting in peoples' way until
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Got up ridiculously early to take Steph to station and drop car off for its MOT. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's done today and not too expensive, otherwise I'm somewhat shafted with regards to transport...