Phil’s Exciting Half Term – Days one, two and three

I know day one was a long time ago (Saturday actually) but I’ve just been soooo busy that this is the first time I’ve had chance to actually sit down and write anything.  So as I sit here on my couch on day four (and I’m not even going to tell you what today’s plan is yet) and I actually get time to breathe and re-cap the past three days of fun and excellentness.

Day One

So Saturday started out like any other day.  I lay in bed with something that felt a little bit like a hangover but wasn’t quite and Emma hustled and bustled around like an irritated badger (NOTE: come up with a cuter animal).  Emma wandered off to the YMCA to do her volunteer work and I managed to get to my mother’s house in an attempt to watch the Villa game.  Villa, as usual, missed out on a good chance to push up the table and before too long I was in the car again flying down the motorway (with Emma driving) towards Exeter.

So you’re thinking that that’s it aren’t you?  That the exciting thing on day one was going to Exeter to visit our good friend Frankie.  Well you are right, but you are sooo wrong!  On the way down I got a text from said friend, who wondered whether we would like to go to a Hip hop night.  Those of you who know me well will know that this isn’t really my scene, but in the spirit of the week I went along anyway.

Me and Akil after the gig. Despite my expression I was impressed

Wow!  I had a great time!  The hip-hop night turned out to be Akil from Jurrasic 5 MCing.  Not sure who that is?  Well feast your eyes on the picture of me and him or have a look at the wikipedia page.   The night was really good and Phil’s Exciting Half-Term got off to a suprising and awesome start.  I couldn’t wait for Day two, but had no idea what exciting thing to do!

Day Two

Day two hit me like a sack of well ripened potatoes.  I wasn’t sure whether it was the extra hour in bed or the fact that I was still over-excited from last night, but I was a little happier than I usually am on a Sunday morning.  I jumped out of bed and almost tripped over a hamster, before getting dressed and (eventually) leaving the house with Emma and Frankie.

We went for a ‘lovely’ meal at the local Harvester and had a good look around the Exeter Quay and the city itself.  It is nice to get out of Birmingham every now and again, especially when your new surroundings are as impressive as Exeter.  Lovely cathedrel and lovely sunshine everywhere.  It was whilst looking around the city that I heard of Oxjam.  Did you hear about Oxjam?  Its for Oxfam, a lovely little music thing that had events going on around the city (and indeed the country).

I looked like an extra from braveheart all afternoon

Quite by accident we ended up with blue faces (part of an online petition against climate change, click here for info) and dancing around to a jazz musicians.  After a quick trip back to Frankie’s Emma and I ventured out again and saw a Beatles tribute act and some crazt 80’s electro-pop thing called Marble Fairy who Emma really liked and I marginally enjoyed.  All in all, a great day and I had brought my live music quota up to 4 bands in 2 days.  Awesomeness!!!

Day Three

You’d have thought that by now I’d be ready for bed and wouldn’t want to do anything else even mildly exciting.  Well you’d be wrong!  As had been planned for almost six months (since we last drove past the sign in fact) we went to see the magnificent Cheddar Gorge.  The last time I’d been there was probably when I was about 10, so I was unashamably excited to see it again.

When we go there I was unashamably annoyed at having to pay sixteen pounds each for entry!  Definately a low point, but we had travelled for a long time (an hour) to get there and it was something that definately had to be done!  Life is too short and payday is too close!

We got on a bus and saw some quite incredible goats – and I’m aware that seems like an oxymoron, but bear with me – that were climbing all over the sides of the gorge, then dived into the caves to listen to a rather annoying Somerset accent talk about nineteenth century cave exploration.  It was fun.

Pondering the meaning of life in a flint age hut

By far the best bit for myself was the fantastically un-PC (there was a warning sign) museum of pre-history.  With a huge spinning skull and lovely descriptions of cannabalism the building was a scientific triumph!  The only mention of God (and this suprised me given the amount of American visitors the place must get) was in a board that likened the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to the human sacrifices practiced in pre-history!  I’m sure some people would be offended by that, but I found it fascinating!

 

Forever forwards!

So now I’m back in Birmingham and planning my fourth day of fun.  I’ll try and update this tomorrow with lots of more information for you lovely people!

Exciting isn’t it?

Phil