The last blog post before I go on holiday. There should be a fanfare you hear in the background as you begin reading this. “Why?” I hear you cry! Well firstly this is my first official holiday in seven years. Yes my last holiday was in April 2001, when I went to India. Secondly it is my first proper holiday with friends (that is not a school trip). I actually have a story to tell on this from the pre-blogging days. In August 2000, my college friends went to Tenerife. They flew from Gatwick. For some stupid reason I went to see them off at the airport. So there I was in a 998cc Mini Mayfair following this Executive 8 seater coach come mini-bus all the way around the M25. When we got there, I parked up my car (at quite some high expense) and then caught the shuttle bus into the airport and saw them before they went through the departure gates. I recall we went to McDonalds (of all places). I then drove home. I recall stopping at the Texaco petrol station just outside the airport and seeing a television screen on the forecourt showing adverts. In any case, it has taken me a long time to eventually get round to going on a holiday myself. Sure, I am actually just joining friends on their holiday but it is a holiday nonetheless.

Headed over to Portsmouth for some final shopping today. I wanted to leave around 9am but did not get on the road until an hour later. My sister, Natalie and Julie were with me (bag carrying for food). Pav had recommended the retail and leisure area, Gunwharf Quays as it has some ski gear specialist shops. He had gone down with Foxy in early November but I had been unable to make it. On the drive down, I was running out of fuel so got off the M3 near Southampton Airport. Here I used the TomTom to find out the closest petrol station. Thankfully it was less than a mile ahead of us. Eastleigh Service Station. Do you not just love technology. I put in a little diesel to get us to Portsmouth. I would fill up properly at a BP garage later in the day. As we were about to re-join the motorway I was stuck behind a purple Beetle at the roundabout. I noticed a sign in the rear window. I thought it was for sale. Then as I got closer, I realised it was a notice or rather warning, “New Engine being run in. Cannot go over 50mph. Sorry!” Natalie laughed as the car spend off (slowly) across the roundabout and not onto the motorway. We headed into the city. I must say, it was a great drive down and even easier to get into the underground car park. On the web site the directions state to just follow signs to Historic Waterfront and sure enough they guided me perfectly to the car park. There was a busy queue to get in and it took over twenty minutes to find a spot. We were going to drive down to the lower level but Julie spotted a space in the blue zone. We then headed up the stairs into the park. Emily had text me and I called to let her know I had arrived and we would meet up soon. She was only planning on being around for about another half an hour. We walked around the shops and across to the water front and across to the canal side area. We went into the Reef store to look at ski jackets and tops. Then as I looked at the door, I had to do a double take. It was Em. We went to the Costa next door for a drink before heading back out to start the shopping from real. Em had to go to collect her nephew, so we said our goodbyes. I would see her tomorrow afternoon. I have to admit that I was clearly more excited than her about the holiday. She had confirmed over hot chocolate, green tea and coffee that the t-shirts had arrived. (I would bug Pav to send me a photo for the blog when I got home in the evening.) We went to Tog 24 to get my jacket, a red and black affair. Then over to Mexx to get some casual clothes for the evening. Next stop was erm Next (next door) to get some trousers in the sale. We then went to Clarks to get some trekking style waterproof shoes (also in the sale). Then all I really needed was some Goggles, so I headed to the Oakley store. There had been goggles at some of the other outlets but none appealed to me. I chose some with a gold lenses and it was a snug fit over my glasses. Result. By now we had amassed quite a few bags, so we headed back to the car to drop them before heading back to the shops. We thought we might be able to walk into the city centre but it was a trek so we opted to see how much we could get done in the next hour. We went to Nike shop, were I picked up some wooly gloves, a wooly hat and some jogging bottoms. All in the same. Fantastic. We then headed over to Boots to get some toiletries. By now the troops were hungry, so we headed upstairs to Chiquito for a late lunch. Although it was busy we were seated quickly and the food arrived quick and fresh. Afterwards we headed out but there was still a few things to get. Mainly exchanging some Sterling for Euros and some minor bits and pieces. Could I pop into Reading tomorrow? Could I drive over to Slough now on the way back home? It was just before 3pm as we got to the car and headed out. Within a few minutes we were on the motorway heading home. Such a fantastic city with great access. Why can’t other cities be as easy to get in and out of? It was here though I made a mistake. I listened to the TomTom to guide us and it took us onto the A3 towards London and the M25. Why does it love the M25. It was too late to turn around so I stuck with the A3 up to Guildford and from there used the back roads towards Bagshot and then Bracknell. Across the M3 (which I should have be on in the first place) and then M4. Onto the A329(M) on the outskirts of Bracknell, we then took the exit a few miles later signposted Reading East. It was just getting busy with the evening rush hour. We parked up in the Oracle at 4.30pm and rushed across to Marks & Spencer and then Primark and finally TKMaxx. Shattered, it was time to head home. It was gone half past five, it had been a long day. I just wanted to collapse on the sofa. On the drive home, I almost ran dry of fuel. The computer said my range was 0 miles. Fantastic. I had to stop, so went to the BP at Sonning Cut on the A4. This was a clever ploy by BP. All the stand diesel pumps were out of order. No fuel. So I had to stock up on the Ultimate Diesel. Great. But never mind, might as well fill her up, the last drive is to Gatwick. I text Pav to send me a photo of my t-shirt and sure enough, during the second half hour (of an hour long) visit to Albert Square, Pav had e-mailed me the photo and I uploaded to FlickR page straight away. (2,222 images uploaded in almost exactly two years, not a bad return don’t you think?) Right Zen charged, mp3 transfered across, AA batteries charged, digital camera 1gb card wiped (pictures archived to CD). Just need to pack my bag tomorrow but I am very much there or there abouts. Now, where did I put my hat for ‘Crazy Hat Day’?