This sounds like a lot of fun. Based on the pictures you've posted of the view outside your window, I'm sure it would be spectacular.

Haven't fully decided yet :p It depends on many factors: how's my skin doing (bit of a flare up after staying in travelodge for two nights), how's Pilau doing (he's currently a bit clingy, but then I have just got back :P), what's the weather like in halifax ( two beardies, each of whom weigh nigh on 4 stone, and both of whom require physically lifting in and out of the car to go for walks - lot for Mum to deal with, add shitty weather and the dogs tramping mud through and needing feetwashing and towel drying...)

Lot of factors. I'm keeping my options open til last minute, if that's ok with you? :)

That's OK, Dana.
Depends what the weather's like, Glatt!

Packing and cleaning and sorting out paperwork on Saturday - urgh.
Then work at Boots on Sunday until 17.00 (it will be manic, so I'm hoping it will go quickly).
Then off on the train to Lun-Donn.
And across to Victoria, hoping to be first in the queue (before there even is a queue!) so I get first choice of bunk.

Excited?
A bit. Erm, okay - a lot.
I will still worry a little right up until I am on the coach though...

And I have no idea what to wear.
I have four Christmas dresses and not one of them is really suitable for eating out at 17.00. And if it's cold most people will come to the panto in jeans and jumpers.
Ah well, I think I will wear the plain black one anyway. I don't mind being a little overdressed after all.

I'll save the blingest one for Christmas Day.
Jeans and jumper for Arran. Although I'll have to borrow one from Dad!

I don;t think I'm going to be able to do the Isle of Arran, I'm afraid. I wasn't able to get into Uni today as Mum wasn't around to have Pilau (don't like leaving him more than an hour or so on his own as he gets stuck in places or positions he can't get out of :p) which means I am going to have to go in on Wednesday :(

OK Dana. Sundae will just have to take loads of pics. Love and squuzles for Pilau (gently!)!

I'm wondering about the possibilitiies for a summer weekend GtG.

We can discuss ...

It's such a shame I live in an impractically small house. Locationwise it'd make the perfect choice for a GtG, given it's between the two of you.

I have a large tent. By the way, laydeez, have you looked in the Secret Santa look what I got thread recently ... ?

I am soooooo jealous (but happy for you three, obviously!)

sounds like so much fun.

will be keeping you all in mind and raise a glass for us, will you all?

loads and loads of pics, please.

I know I never post pics but I don't know how to do it - everytime I try I mess up - and no one will HELP me over here but I really appreciate the pics other people post.

Right - just about to clean Diz's tray, then pack, then I'm off!
Huzzah!

Huzzah!

And lashings of Ginger Beer.

I'm just about to wash and blowdry hair :)

Then watch Young James Herriot...then bed...then sort the dog out then off to Glasgae!

Am hoping to get there around 3pm.

Leaving here at 19.30.
Train at 20.05.
Coach at 23.55.

Leaving LOTS of time in between!

I'm confused???? Are you going on a trip for the holidays or something??? Will you miss Christmas with your parents?

Oh Sarge! DanaC and Sundae and I are off to the pantomime in Glasgow tomorrow. For Sundae this means an overnight coach trip from London, DanaC is getting a train tomorrow, and I am getting the 11.05 ferry from my little island - due to arrive in Glasgow Central around 1.30pm ...

Cellar grrrrllzzz checking in from the Alamo guesthouse. Just about to go out for a teriyaki meal before the Panto!

Please post some pics!!!

Okay.
This is the start of my write-up of my trip to Glasgow and Arran, December 2011.
I will say at the very beginning that I do not have many photos. And those I do have are mainly of myself. Sorry.

There are reasons for this, and I will explain myself as I work my way through.

Just - be aware.
This is a wordy thread now, not a picture thread.

I left home in time to catch the 20.05 train from Aylesbury to London on Sunday night.
I dithered and stressed about what coverings to take and ended up with my cloak and a big fluffy sweater of my father's. Big fluffy sweater took up 2/3 of my little wheeley suitcase. Grrr.

Here I am at the station - there far too early of course - whiling away the time by taking photos of myself and the meagre departure information (trains only go one way from here).

The journey to Victoria was uneventful.
I know the walk between the station and the coach station very well now too.

There was some jiggery pokery as I tried to work out if I was waiting in the right bay without having to leave my seat (and therefore my place in the queue) but it turns out it wasn't an issue.

I got the Megabus Sleeper service from London to Glasgow.
Paid in advance on the internet, this offers low fares to travel on a bendy-coach overnight. The difference from usual coach services is that there are sets of bunks in the middle section - top, middle, bottom repeated 12 times. Each bunk has a number, and this corrresponds to the 36 seats. As you board you are given your number. So it doesn't matter where you are in the queue as they have already been allocated. Still nice to be first (I was) if you have been waiting 2 hours (I had) as it means you get to put your things on the overhead shelf and take your cloak and boots off before being squished against the window by your seat partner.

I was given bunk 18.
I wish I had been able to take photos, but the bus has a fast turn-around and I didn't dare hold up those behind me who wanted to find their bunks & seats ASAP.
Mine was a bottom bunk. The advice for getting into it is get on your hands and knees, facing the pillow and simply roll in.
There is room to turn over, even for a lady of ample proportions, but no more clearance than that. My elbow brushed the top of the compartment when I turned.

We were advised to be seated first, then as the coach started we were offered tea, coffee, water, juice and biscuits, mince pies or tablet. No idea what tablet is. Limey can explain.

Then given a safety talk and advice on how to access each level of bunk. The chap suggested we removed all but essential clothing as the duvet in the bunk is high tog and it can get very hot in there. No heating was supplied to the seated area during the journey and again he warned it would be very cold there.

I rolled into my bunk and fell asleep almost instantly. I had doubled the large duvet over, so I was sleeping on half with the other half over me as a cover. As the night went on I did need more and more cover - anything sticking out felt chilly. It was comfortable and felt very snug.

I awoke properly at about 05.30 and didn't think I could sleep much more, so I got up and sat on my seat, reading. Despite the bunks having an adjustable light there is really not enough headroom to read.

Being already up gave me a chance to clean my teeth and my face before everyone else crowded the single bathroom after the wake up call at about 07.15.

It was far better than a normal overnight coach journey.
Again, sorry for no pics - everything was rush rush rush and I had to be considerate of other people.
I did previous post an article and a short video clip if you are interested.

Glasgow was dark and it was raining.
I made my way to the Wetherspoons on Argyle Street (very close to one of the station exits) to find this time it was open - last year the opening times on the internet were wrong and I had to kill time in McDonalds instead.

This was a bonus as I could relax, spread out with the newspaper and have a reasonably priced breakfast. With the added plus that I could also have a beer a bit later as I had ordered food.
It's far easier to hang about in a Wetherspoons (a chain of pubs with large square footage) than it is in a fast food outlet.

So I had the Traditional Breakfast.
Fried egg, bacon, sausage, hash brown and beans. I was then offered a choice of grilled tomato, mushroom or black pudding. I declined all three - without being offered an alternative - but it arrived with a tomato anyway. Which I left. The rest was yummy though, except that the egg yolk was very very pale and thin-looking. Hope I don't get bird flu.

I did treat myself to a beer - to my topsy-turvey body clock it seriously felt like lunchtime.
Just the one though, and only Fosters.
I didn't take photos because I took them last year in the same establishment.

I eked out a cup of tea until after 10.00, at which point I knew breakfast would be finished at the B&B and they would check me in, even if I couldn't access the room.
Turns out they had no guests on Sunday night (an exceptional circumstance for them) so I could have pitched up at any time. Still, best to be courteous.

We had booked the triple room we had last year, but when I arrived I was offered a choice. Triple room as booked, or a triple room with another double for the same price. They were together in their own separate "wing" and B&B owner Steve thought we might prefer them. Non nom nom I bit off his hand. Metaphorically.

Of course I snagged the solo room, but everyone benefitted as none of us had to share a bed, we had two bathrooms between us and the other ladies didn't get to hear me snore. Or pump.

Limes got in at about 13.30 I think. Dani was due at 14.00. I suggested they met up and shared a taxi (as I showered and luxuriated in having a room to myself).
They pitched up about 3 hours later (exaggeration), but that's okay as I was having a lovely kip.

Welcome, welcome!
Time to open presents and prizes and have a good old chinwag!
Limey brought the wine, I supplied the cocks and Dani had fistfuls of cash.
Watch out Glasgow. The Cellar girls are in town.

I've posted photos of our combined haul in the Secret Santa thread, but I might as well include them here as there are precious few other pics!

Dani and I were gifted American food stuffs. Limey had brought some of the snacks she received from Sheldon. She handed over her hand-knitted (beautiful) gifts and I gave the ladies their hand-picked cocks. Limey's was made in the UUSR, given her time spent there and present translation work. Dani's is made of UK coal, coming as she does from the mining part of England.

And the cash?
Big Sarge sent me some spending money for the trip. A complete surprise. He asked me ages back if he could contribute, but I declined - it not being an emergency or anything I could really justify as essential. So he sent it through Dani instead, correctly understanding that I would not be offended or embarrassed but would instead use it on the trip for things I would not have able to afford otherwise.

I would like to say here that I had two other PMs from people asking if I was able to make the trip, given I have had to make some unexpected payments (DSS and glasses). I thanked those people at the time and do again. I didn't take you up on your offers but I feel treasured that you thought of me.

Oh, we swapped about a bit gift-wise.
I had the peanut butter and I swapped it for the Turkey Jerky.
I shared this with Limey and Mr Limey and they were so impressed they bought the company!

Well, no.
But they are looking for a source so a local shop will buy it in for them.

No-one's getting their hands on my Cherry Pop-Tarts though!

So, we are all reunited now.
And can I say what a thrill it is.
Not being sarcastic, I have been looking forward to this for so long and for so many different reasons.
But it took me by surprise what a lift I got when I heard the girls upstairs checking in (I'd propped my door open, as ours were the only two rooms on that staircase).

Now we opened Limey's wine, sat and chatted and caught up on all our lives.
Then I sat and put on some slap, Dani made some subtle adjustments from day to night appearance and Limey understood she was beautiful just as she was so stayed that way.

And we were ready to go. Off to Sapporo Teppanyaki!
Limey was a little put out that I didn't have the address - I had simply put my faith in Glasgow cab drivers. I think we went by a direct route, but even if we'd given the street name he could have foxed us if he wished. Past the main square with lights and booths and a large wheel and all that and everything.

Restaurant ahoy!
This is where I need Dani & Limey's camera-phone input.

When we arrived the restaurant was empty.
I don't mean a few couples in secluded corners. I mean E.M.P.T.Y.Great start. I love a party with a happy atmosphere.

Next, we are given Christmas set menus.
Okay, fine. Four courses for £35. WHAAAA?!
I booked on the understanding that we would have the Early Bird Special - three courses for £14.95!
We had to eat early because we were going to the panto, and it seemed an excellent deal to fit in with our needs. Instead we're going to be charged £20 more for food we probably won't want. In an empty barn of a place.

We had the a la carte menu, but ordering separately can never work out as cheap as a set menu.
Dana, being both kind and practical starts looking into how we can share dishes.

At this point I realise I have left my camera at the hotel.
My camera. The thing I like to take everywhere, but only really comes into its own WHEN I GO OUT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

My special night is going down the toilet.
I had to make a conscious decision not to start hating everyone and everthing. I was in Glasgow. I was with Dana and Limey. I was going to see JB no matter what happened. Life was good, it was fine, I'd have to be a spoiled bitch to sulk.

At this point the Manager sent our waitress over to offer us the Early Bird Special after all.
She saw how far in advance we'd booked and so decided to honour the deal, especially as no-one was around to witness it ;)
We still got the festive place-mats and napkins and Christmas Crackers too!

We ordered starters - two Nigiri Sushi and one Spare Ribs (me)
My starter was HUGE. Dani had to help me. I offered some to Limey but I think she declined.
There are photos. On camera phones. Hint hint.

Now, our starters had arrived the same way they would in any restaurant.
I was disappointed but trying not to show it. It was my idea to come here and so far, although the food was good - it was a bit of a disaster.

I assumed because we were the only three people there, and on an illicit menu anyway, all our food would be prepared in the kitchen.
Hardly the spectacle I had planned.
I kept a brave face (I hope) because neither of the others had been expecting a show - although Limes had had one at a business dinner years ago.

Oh, about this time we had cocktails. Tokyo Iced Tea. Limey, ever the pragmatist pointed out there was no iced tea in it. Thank goodness. The Nipponese version is Vodka, Gin, Rum, Cointreau, Tequila, Midori melon liqueur and lemonade.

Now came the saviour of the night - Big. That was what was on his name tag anyway. He was big too - height wise. Especially as he was from Thailand.

Despite my fears he came to cook our mains in front of us, with all the tricks and treats the Teppanyaki cooking tradition provides.

I will halt now in the genuine hope of some photos.
More words from me afterwards.

Excellent so far. I look forward to pictures.

Bunks on a bus sounds like a nice way to travel. Even better than flying. We have Megabus here, but I don't think they offer bunks.

I'm glad that you got your Early Bird special after all. How was the show?

Y'know, it's funny. I didn't even get that northern connection with the coal. 'Cause, we always had a little lump of coal tucked onto the door lintel at New Year for good luck.

I was thinking "Hey, aren't The Girls From Across the Pond getting together and WHERE are the stories and pictures?

I want to meet Big. ;) And I want to try the Tokyo Iced Tea. Sounds scrumptious.

It was. Didn't taste nearly as potent as it, in fact, was...

We have a new rule: Dani sticks to starters in restaurants :P

Though, in fairness, I think I might have coped with the menu items, had there not also been a stirfry appetizer thrown casually into the gap between starter and main course...

I am not going to go into any detail about the meal until I have PICTURES!
Pretty please.

I don't know what the steps are for posting pics from a phone.
But rest assured you can just slap them on here and I'll do the commentary.
Although it would be nice if you didn't show the sequence where Limey and I didn't know you were taking photos and are waiting for you to say "cheese" and come off looking really bored. Or else no-one will ever invite us to a GTG again.

Commentary to be provided by Sundae ...

Set two ...

Set three ...

Set four ... (Dani has to provide the rest!!!)

Bravo! You all look great, and happy. Love the 'stache, limey.

Thanks Limey.
I can't work out how to comment on them as is, so you'll have to look at them all again - soz!

Starters.
See what I mean about needing help with mine?
The lighting makes them look a bit pale and fatty, in fact they had great flavour and little went to waste.

We all agreed that the wasabi was HOT.
More so than usual I mean. Talk about clearing the sinuses.

Dipping sauces for various courses.
From the left - chilli, garlic mayo, soy sauce.

I used them for my sauteed poataoes. Very yummy.
Big at work, setting up the cooking surface.
He claimed that his oil was orange juice and his soy sauce was cola.
Best of all though was when he produced the chilli sauce for me to look at, then squirted it straight in my face!

Not my eyes, but I felt it hit my cheek.
I squealed like a stuck pig, thinking mostly of how I was going to get to the pantomime on time now, but a bit embarrassed on his behalf for squeezing so hard because I was going to have to kick up a stink and his future prospects were grim. All for the sake of an accident.

Of course it turned out to be a trick. What had hit the side of my face was nothing more than red string, concealed in the opening and squeezed out using air. We all found it funny once the panic subsided.

OMG - How wonderful! That looks like such an awesome time.

Big proceeded to chop and trick and slice and fool.
He caught us a second time with the chilli sauce trick, by saying, "No, real one this time" and presenting a different sized and shaped bottle.
It was a little less traumatic though (sez me - because it wasn't aimed at me this time).

We were then served a stirfry with potatoes - as Dani says this wasn't officially on the menu, but I knew it was coming because I'd been all over the website before booking. Hence my initial reaction when I found out we couldn't have the Early Bird as that was the result of intense research.

Anyway, I knew part of the game of serving the potatoes was to try to flip them into the diners' mouths. Limes went first, and her tactic was to stay as still as possible and rely on Big's skill and experience. Sadly this didn't work and both hit her on the forehead.

I tucked my napkin into my dress and tried to weave and dodge like a dog with a frisbee but only managed to get one in my mouth and the velocity made it bounce back out again.

I think Big hit his stride with Dani and she caught the second one like a seal, to our applause.

Between-course course.
Dani pontificating. Possibly about the trajectory of potatoes.

Big had fun and games with all sorts of ingredients, not least the eggs.
He flipped them back and forth across a large, sharp spatula - making them walk. He flipped one up into his hat. He cracked two in midair (although he did have to fish some shell out of the bowl after - haha).

This was for our accompaniment of egg fried rice.
A heart of egg.
A strip of egg about to be chopped up with chung-chung-chung chopping movements.

Having sorted the vegetales, Big went on to cook our main courses.
Limey had Moo, I had Bruk-bruk (yes a rubber chicken made an appearance) and Dani had Baa.
I heard both of them say that they were cooked to perfection. A bonus for being the only three people present!

Limey in her Christmas cracker moustache!

Before cooking the meat, Big set fire to the grill.
I am really impressed that this photo came from a mobile. It does it justice.

You all look awesome!

More tricks from Big - handing Dani her egg fried rice then flipping the whole bowl into a backwards somersault. Then serving her an empty bowl. It sounds tiresome, but it was funny.

Nom nom nom.
The girls' red meat (lamb and beef)

And finally - we all had an ice cream dessert.
The sticky rice was not available (and after all it was on the Early Bird menu that no-one else was eligible for!) so we all had ice cream.

Cellar laydees checking in.

COOL !!!
Looks like a Good time !!
Look out Glasgow !!
The Cellar Babes are BACK !!!!!!

Makes me smile!

Wonderful!

Wonderful! You all look a lil buzzed by your skin tones ;)
Good for you.

Halway through our main course the waitress stopped by to remind us to leave room for dessert. She said we could always pack up our main courses to take with us.
At that point, Limey and I more or less stopped eating.
Dani was already further ahead than us and decided to plough on. She knew she wouldn't want it the next day, so set out to enjoy it there and then.

We planned to eat ours on the crossing to Arran.
The take away boxes were nicely sealed little tubs, and although we knotted carrier bags around them I can confirm there was no seepage.

So, on to the pantomime.

PANTOMIME ONLY - Ignore If Not Interested
 

We timed it perfectly. Enough time to queue up for the toilets, find our seats, for Dani to think she was going to throw up and have to run outside, for me to run after her and instead buy a programme and for all of us to be back in our seats ready for the curtain to rise!

The show starts with John (Robinson Crusoe) in red tights and a red and gold sleeveless vest with Ian Krankie as his father the Captain and Wee Jimmie Krankie as his identical twin brother. The joke there is that Janette Krankie is a tiny auld woman (64 and 4'5"), playing a schoolboy, who barely comes up to John's chest.

The company sing Putting It Together (Sondheim) as they build a wall with JB's face on it (Dani clicked before I did) for him to burst through with trademark exuberance.

The plot is hectic and revolves around set pieces like any panto.
Pete Gallacher is the villain again - note Limes & Dani, the heroine was different. I checked my Aladdin programme. But she fulfilled the same role - young, pretty, Scottish and had a peripheral part. Got to kiss John at the end but was a bit weak and wavey in between.

Robinson Crusoe preferred Man Friday, although the gags were subtle enough not to impact children - many young boys would far prefer to be with their friends than ugh! girls!

There were throw-away lines from the Krankies; the day before they'd been in the newspapers for admitting that at the height of their fame they were swingers and had had multiple partners. Good luck to them, get it while you can!

Wee Jimmie Krankie really made me laugh with "his" solo of Dirrrrty Wee Boy. I think I've heard it before but it might have been a new song. It was just perfect about the ways little boys are dirty (as opposed to women dressed up as boys with an adult's mind!) and rang true to me.

I thought the 3D was as least as good as last year if not better, Limes & Dani not so much. It might have been the angle - they were in the Circle last year and I was in the Stalls. We were all in the Stalls this time.

And a lovely mechanical Kraken! It was pretty full on even as a grown up, I'm impressed by the fortititude of Scottish children.

Some rousing songs, and as Dani said, in duets you could spot the quality of John's voice. It is effortless, clear and true like a bugle.

Robinson Crusoe kisses the mermaid to break the spell and make her a woman.
And the lucky fish got a full on snog! He even touched her bum!

Clap clap clap, a personal thanks from John and we all left with smiles on our faces.

Oh - John asks via his fan forum that people do not sent cards, gifts or flowers for his first night or to wish him luck with his run. Instead he requests that if people want to send anything, instead they donate - even if it is just the cost of a card and a stamp. This year he raised over £800 for Stonewall (last year it was The Dog's Trust of which he is a patron). Everyone who donates has their name recorded and this is passed on to him. One of his staff then picks a name of all those who have donated out of a hat and they get signed goodies.

After the panto we walked back to the B&B.
We did last time, but not knowing the way, and the pavements being made of sheet ice, it did seem like a longer journey back then.

I was hampered by the fact my tights were falling down the whole time (yes girls, they went in the bin 10 minutes after I got home!) and the holes in my shoes, but at least I wasn't worried about breaking something.

Back to the lovely Alamo, and we chilled out and chatted in D & L's room, quaffing some beer/ wine and putting the world to rights. We don't agree with eachother on everything, but we have a similar political bent and the sense to agree to disagree.

I threw in the towel earlier than the others, but then they'd slept in their own beds the night before as opposed to trying to sleep in a washing machine.

A luxurious night of not worrying about thrashing about and waking Mum or snoring or when Diz is going to pounce awaits me. Ahhhhhhhh.

Night-night girls, night-night Cellar.

Good morning!
We're up in time for the Alamo's breakfast.
Check last year's thread for photos.

I had a large scrambled egg and bacon plate, lots of toast and a croissant.

The girls didn't seem to consume as much coffee as last year, but I'm sure they made reasonable inroads.

Off to Glasgow Central for approx 11.00.
Bye-bye Dana, train to Arran for us.
Again, refer to pics from last yeat for station and trains photos.

We were headed for Androssan Harbour, to get the ferry to Arran.
Dana was homeward bound.

There was a photo on the Cellar recently (and in the media) about a wind turbine that burned up due to high winds. Now Rhianne told us it was close to Limey, but I had no idea it was one of the ones above Androssan Harbour!

I took a picture of them last year, but here is another.
The weather and the distance (from aboard the ferry) makes them indistinct.
With the naked eye I could see which one had burned. Looking at the photo now I can't be sure.
But it's one of them!

Next pic - Limes plus Limes!
Limey on board with biscuits.

Limey eating beef leftovers.
My chicken leftovers, prior to scoffage.

They were as good cold as they were hot.

Arran.
Beautiful.

The above photo shows a seal (or seals, I'm no longer sure!)
This attempt at detail shows one.

Not great photography, but they were hard to capture.
Obvious to the nekkid eye though!
We saw plenty, and Limey was a good enough host to stop for me, realising they are an exotic rarity in a landbound County like Bucks.

Absolutely