inulro | I'm back

Came back yesterday, actually. Which took longer than expected due to traffic on the M1 from Sheffield to Nottingham and on the M42 around Birmingham. Yup, the official wading-through-treacle British driving experience. My own fault for not realizing that the school holidays ended yesterday.

Despite achieving new records of being shite, sleeping all weekend and missing all sorts of activity, I've done little but sleep since we got back and feel worse than ever. Not a good sign. Last year I felt great after Whitby.

The Good Stuff

Faith & the Muse rocked greatly and I'm endlessly happy that I forced myself to stay awake and upright long enough to see their show. I'm also endlessly grateful that they showed up with all their travel problems. The cover of "running up the hill" was truly inspired and the whole set was just terrific.

The random guy who gave me his chair in the Spa after seeing me limp over to the corner to sit down on the floor.

The response we had doing the fundraising stall for the animal shelter. We raised lots of money (not sure exactly how much as I can't get the donations tin open) and had lots of really positive input. I'm very pleased.

The Pure lunch. Actually got a chance to speak to some of you.

The Bad Stuff

Insomnia kicking in on Thursday night, thus meaning that despite going back to the cottage right after F&tM and going straight to bed, I had less sleep than everyone who was out partying all night. Friday afternoon dragged interminably, and I apologise to anyone I wibbled at incoherently (that's you, JV) towards the end of the day.

Being completely exhausted and having to crawl back to the cottage and rest insanely early every other evening.

Being stuck behind the biggest wankers in the world for the Faith & the Muse set. The only thing that stopped me picking a fight after the set (because let's face it, I don't otherwise give a shit about being ejected from the Spa after seeing the only band I care about), was the realization that I had to spend the entire following day in the Spa on my stall.

Shopping

I was pretty good. Up at the Abbey, I finally decided not to purchase a book called Medieval Death on the basis that I could have written it myself. I came very close to buying it anyway, just for the title.

I only bought two books at Endeavour Books this time round - two of the Joe Donnelly books I haven't read. Oh yeah, and the local ghost story booklets, but those don't count.

Aside from that, I bought some Bat Conservation stuff, and lots of handmade soaps from the Bazaar, which is about my usual style.

I'm sure there's more, but I need to go try to sleep. Work tomorrow.