Post by The Doctor on Apr 30, 2016 13:10:41 GMT
Friday.
Kicked off with a nine o'clock train from Dunfermline to Edinburgh. Got in and awaited Burns arrival, snagged an All Day Breakfast Sandwich and some Cherry Coke from Boots for the way down. Burns arrived and we got out train. Quiet coach and it was a nice pleasant relaxing journey. Felt a slight bit of stomach discomfort but thought nowt of it. Met Graham at the station, and we checked into the hotel.
A normal twin room much to Phil's dissapointment. We headed to Iguanas for the mandatory Strawberry Daiquiris. I only had two, and upset the barman on my trip up to the bar when I only asked for one, as he explained it was 2 for 1. I explained I only needed 1, as we were only going to be there at short time (and it was 4 o clock) this dialogue happened all through him preparing the daiquiri with variations in phrasing and word selection.
Another stomach twinge so decided that a civilised night was needed) We headed off to meet Andy K who was braving two megabuses to make it to Brum. He arrived looking suprisingly cheery for a man who has been on a megabus. NIck caught up with us soon after.
We escorted Andy to his backpackers hostel to check in (Nick, Burns and I had used the place for AA2008 iirc), it was not in a nice are. Andy checked in and was eerily absent for a good ten minutes. We were afraid for him. Nick went in to see if he could find him. We thought he would be lost to us as well. He returned, but without Andy. Thankfully he returned a few minutes later with tales of a most stringent checking in procedure/prostate exam.
Thoughts turned to food and we headed up to the centre, a buffet was mooted just to avoid waiting too long. In the hands of Nick, who as he lives in Brum was our designated Native Guide how could we fail?
I still don't have a satisfactory answer to that,but fail we bloody well did and ended up at a rather nice chinese restaurant near the hotel which we've visited before.
Food was ordered, and life was good, I even ate some seaweed and enjoyed it.
A couple of beers to go along with the meal so nothing daft.
We retired to the Wetherspoons nearby for one last drink before Andy trekked back to the Hostel.
In the room, just as I got in I unleashed the most foul smelling emmissions much to the dismay of Ralph. A quick visit to The Office and some horrific evacuations later and it was time to sleep, ready for the next day.
It has been reported that hotel breakfast eggs have been eaten by more than one of the party. Results still to come in.
Saturday.
Up at a nice early time for breakfast, and Garry Bodsworth arrived at the hotel. Up to the train station to meet Matt Marshall, Mark, Martin and Stuart and Andy K again.
All present and correct we walked to the event, it was a nice day and we walked past the infamous Ibis Budget...thankfully no poor soul was staying there.
Made it to the venue ten minutes before our tickets were valid, other Stuart joined us.
First circuit of the lower floor began and we all drifted off with our own missions and the Micromaster forfeit in mind. Picked up the only Adam Warlock related comics I haven't yet read - the Rune stuff for a stupid amount of money. Not an issue as the next dealer had several bargains and picked up a large swathe of sets and a trade. It looked like Marvel UK TF comics would be light on the ground, but I found a box with 10 issue packs for a fiver. Snagged 3 and the Marvel UK MOTU movie adaptation (which I ended up for free), continued the sweep and picked up some Zarjaz and Dogbreath issues which were needed. Pointed out the Marvel UK haul to folks. By this time Phil had arrived and we wandered upstairs to the second hall and did the same - picked up a few bits but not much. We then assembled for lunch, and the talk of the Marvel UK Transformers raised it's head and as some of the issues we bought came with their free gifts (and were in excellent condition), myself,Garry and Andy K went back down to clear them out. I'm not saying we raced down or anything, well not all the time. Snagged the 1991 ABC Warriors Black Hole trade as well from the same place.
We loitered about a bit more before heading back to town. Things were lobbed into the hotel room and back to the Pub.
Nothing much to be of concern, a few pints - saw Phil back to his train, came back and had a bite to eat and continued the drinking pausing only for Matt's Rock Lords quiz and the barrage of filth and creativity it unleashed. Then Graham bought a round of shots to celebrate 20 years of Beast Wars.
We continued the drinking, folks started to drift away for trains back home, and the shots came out again. The same number but for less people so more for me! Then it happened again, and again. My memory gets a bit hazy at this point. But I know the switch went off in the head that says Drunk Andy needs his bed. So I left. The next proper memory I have is trying to clear up bright pink pools of vomit, while still vomiting.
Andu is the new chunder monkey. I moved his Marvel UK TF issues away from him suspecting he would be poorly. Then he made a mad dash across the hotel room to where I moved them to be ill. Only my amazing reflexes pulled them to safety in time. I am a hero.
-Ralph
It feels wrong that I was the Responsible Adult and Andu was the Chunder Monster. The world is upside down.
-Ralph
That room was the colour of energon! Rivers of it! What fun that was to try and clean up.
-Ralph
Thanks to Burns quick thinking and reflexes only a few copies of The Last Light, my jeans and a t-shirt were beyond saving.
In the morning I was delicate to say the least. A bold attempt was made to clean up said jeans enough so I could leave the room and once a shop opened replace them.
Breakfast was a struggle, but I made it.
The bright pink faded stains on the jeans did not look too horrific, but there was much coverage. We saw Graham off to his train then Garry, Ralph and I went and wandered and I got proper trousers again. We checked out of the hotel, when asked if everything was alright by the hotel staff member I felt shame. We cleaned the room as best we can, but...
Wandered about a bit, Garry headed home and we saw Nick for a spell as he needed to grab some Toy-Fu stock from us.
The last to leave is Team Scotland. On train 1. Andu begs for his bed.
-Ralph
Train stage 1, looked like we might miss our connection at York but it was all good in the end. My condition on the train was variable to say the least.
Andy fades in and out of conciousness. He does not look well.
-Ralph
Andu is shaking his head and saying he will never drink again.
-Ralph
I knew I needed to visit the toilet, but no train toilet was built for what was to be unleashed. So I gritted my teeth and soldiered bravely on until Waverley.
Desperate race against time! Will we make it to Waverley station in time before Andu must worship the Porcelin Throne before he explodes? He grows redder by the moment!
-Ralph
One horrific visit to the loo and I was back in action, much more lively and very hungry. Burger King was consumed on the train back home.
Foolish!
As Andu kills his digestive system Burns is almost home with chicken pakora while feeling fine. The tables have turned!
-Ralph
A cup of peppermint tea and then to bed.
I've left gaps in the story, as I feel Ralph will describe the horrors of late Saturday night better than I can.
A certain Chunder Monster tells me he is now off the booze. Let's see how long he lasts.
-Ralph