Easter Party 2024

 This is coming a bit later than scheduled because it is written immediately after the event and anyway I'm actually a bit tired and sneezing probably due to pollen but anyway I did after an awful lot of mither and faff get to the LG Easter Event.

Trains were removed and this year I had to travel a day late and get a cab of the taxi rank to the venue with sets my anxieties off around being understood and being bad at remembering routes in areas I don't spend most of my time in (and then I can get lost).

Thankfully it did work out all right so changing from train to cab was seamless and even going in a less usually way but more direct in some respects didn't fox me so I got dropped at point I was very familiar with to walk with case to the venue.

It wasn't long before ringing the doorbell before half nine and moewing I was greeted by this welcoming sign, changing into something more comfortable before catching up with people while our host was setting things up.

The cans were set up to see armed with bean bags who could knock the most over and surprisingly I didn't do too badly at that but was it the strong wind which was preferable to anticipated rain?

The Egg Hunt was underway, hidden in all manner of weird and wonderful places and everybody found at least a few which as you went around you put into your colourful box.

We had a buffet evening meal with thing provided by our host and things we bought of which one had to be cooked - Faggots from the delightful town of Penkridge which I did have and enjoy on top of salad, various pies and Andi's excellent trifle with cream.

We had an Easter themed bingo which was different having surprisingly enough never played it and by the time I got four lines we were on full cards! 

Much talking and yarn sharing followed until one by one people either left or for those staying overnight, went to bed so I fell asleep to the glow of the coal fire before waking up around 8 o clock getting wash and changed for the next morning where we talked over a Bacon sandwich before heading to lunch.

It was around this point I was getting a bit concerned cos while the rails strikes had stopped it's not unknown for drivers on Sundays just not to turn in for work and there seemed to be a dirth of services showing on one site.

I consumed a turkey roast, sticky toffee pudding with cream and a half pint of orange which was very tasty and would keep me going until I got home.

People said their goodbyes and I left aided by a lift from Andi on something of a high from the events to catch the 16:32 Preston service that  stopped at one of the two stations nearby before catching can home.

Thanks to Jennifer for hosting, the event, Andi for the lift to the station and everyone for what they brought to the event both by way of physical and personal contributions.

GHS Halloween special 2023

Today's entry will be work in progress as normally a blog is written before publication date and as I won't be around until late Sunday today's entry won't be fully prepped until later on today.

This is the most spookiest time of the year where around this neighbourhood we decorate our gardens with all manner of ghoulish from lanterns made from Pumpkins and massive spiders webs ready for parties which is where I've been for the last few days.

An interesting take on decorations of which there were a good many around the venue in places you might not of noticed.

All having arrived by around 1pm BST on Saturday we had a homemade burger before starting on the treasure hunt finding well hidden candy cones - one was in in the bonfire! -  with the aid of clues.

After that we decided to make our lanterns ready to light in evening, that bit did prove more a challenge given the weather but everybody put a lot into it.

*Photographed in spookyography.

Some used templates to make cats' -how apt! - and they turned out well.

After painting the halloween gingerbread with icing it was time to light the bonfire and start the fireworks show.

Unfortunately it was raining hard so we had to stay in a gazebo to keep dry apart from two that went to an adjacent greenhouse.

The rain caused a few issues with a couple failing to stay lit but when you saw spectacular effects like this it kinda made up for it.

We had a diy buffet meal with everybody bringing or making something toward it which was delicious and then a quiz with a general knowledge and music sections with clues which was fun.

There was much talking around various things until around 2am BST when miraculously we lost an hour and I got to sleep facing the fire. 

Sunday morning we all emerged for losing that hour and had a smoked bacon sandwich before going to the pub for a meal where I had turkey roast, sticky toffee pudding with cream and a pint of orange as I don't do alcohol.

We mainly walked back before sorting upcoming meet ups together for next year before making my way to the train station to go home.

A splendid time was had by all and thanks to Miss Green, Andi  and everyone for a great time together.

The littlest spooky affair

As explained previously whenever something happens over a few says there is a week long delay in the publication of a post about on here and that's why this week we're looking at last weekends fun.

Never has that one word seemed more apt given that we'd missed what would of been last years Littles Halloween Party thanks to you know what and for some people actually it was the first time they'd seen each other for near enough eighteen long months.

Even though I had been able to get to littles camp in July and had by the skin our our teeth's made February 2020's I'd not seen the totally awesome Sammy and partner for that long.

For me it was an early start as I had to meet with the organizer who themselves was going to busy so I had to be up on time with my stuff including contribution to the evenings buffet for a taxi which both arrived a few minutes early and was much cheaper than expected to the best railway station in the Northwest Midlands.

I arrived at GHS Central and after just missing each other for a moment made my way towards Miss Green in the pouring rain (that thankfully cleared up later on) to meet with Andi for a lift in her car to the venue.

In time everybody started to arrive so we had a bite to eat, beefburgers with onions much appreciated given I'd last eaten at five in the morning.

As we entered the afternoon our first scheduled event, the Treasure Hunt took place outside where we had to find some eighteen packets of Jaffa Cakes of different flavours well hidden.

I managed to find three which wasn't bad going.

Then it was time to start making our Lanterns from Pumpkins, to save carriage Miss Green had picked one up for me so across a couple of tables and armed with cutting plus scooping devices we worked on them. I kept to plastic tools as I need adult supervision!

Here are a few in various stages of completion.

By this point tealights had been inserted ready for being placed on a wall.

Sandwiched, good pun eh?, between the first half of the evening buffet comprising of things bought by all of us and the second which had deserts, we went outside to see the bonfire lit roaring away.

Then it was the turn of Miss Green and Andi to light up a most amazing set of fireworks although one catherine wheel didn't want to behave firing up ones tail with excitement as an array of different colours and shapes emerged before ones eyes.

By then it was time for the second half of the buffet as I went for a cake and pink blancmange before the great 1971 Year of Decimalization quiz in which I did get 19 points which wasn't too bad given I missed a chunk of grown up programming back then.

We then chatted to Ghoulish background music from three cds - forget playlists! - until about 1 where I took up cat position opposite the coal fire. 

Needless to say we all got up later although naturally I was up first quietly changing the outer fur and washing the paws in time for a smoked bacon sandwich at half past nine before we got read to go up the road to a pub for a meal.

Obviously some restrictions still apply so naturally we entered with face masks until we arrived at our table to place orders with myself having a Turkey Roast with Sticky Treacle pudding with cream.

Naturally this was punctuated with much talk but a common theme was just how long we'd missed being together where upon a most unexpected and highly generous act of one in paying the entire bill lead to the conversion of a contribution to the drinks bill being converted to a tip for the staff for excellent food and service.

Return as people departed was complicated by a combination of engineering works around the Trent Valley and storms with heavy rain leading to cancellation of services so my part way rail replacement bus turned out to a coach all the way to the rail station and other had to pick a totally different route!

I arrived although some people waiting for taxis were not following the proper rules about who gets picked up next snatching cabs as they arrived which delayed me a bit.

The weekend showed very much what we needed and had missed this eighteen months.

Thanks to everyone not least Miss Green for assistance at the station and sorting the messy transport out ad Andi.

The Halloween that took a break

Normally this weekend I would be off for a Halloween Party and Bonfire Night but like so much else this year it's been messed up being polite by the Covid Party none of us wanted so it's had to be called off.

In any event with at the time of writing this some 90 odd percentage of this district on Tier Two restrictions and my own council ward having a high rate of infections, it really would not wise to travel and stop overnight with people.

Anyway had we'd of been able to then it would of been highly likely we'd of been making Halloween Lanterns to which a tea light would of been placed inside and there would of been some sort of treasure hunt going on.

You'd of had to had been careful not to accidentally come into contact with people from the spirit world who just seem to be hanging around.

Boo!

There would of been on the Saturday night a Bonfire lit to which we'd be out dressed up for the cool nights standing near holding sparklers before the fireworks would be carefully let off illuminating the night sky in pretty colours.

Dedicated to friends who haven't been able to see for a good while.

Ghoulish weekend for Littles

Last weekend I was away for a few days with friends for our annual Halloween get together which for a couple of us had a complication as a power line failure near London had put trains and drivers in the wrong spot.
For me things started the day earlier when I set out by bus and train to meet with Auntie Andi as we were stopping over with a n other where we had chops, kidney and vegetables for tea followed by a spooky decorated Donut.

There were plenty of decorations around the house and garden, spotting them  did prove to be quite useful for Saturday as after listening to some music and chatting, I slept by the fire.
Saturday morning was a bit busy as Miss Green and Samantha R went out for walk and  to pick up the order for pies and other things from the excellent local butcher but got drenched as it was raining hard. Anyway I didn't feel like changing out my pleated green skirt for something more waterproof.

I opted to stay indoors as we tried to work out when (and If) there was going to be a lull for the treasure hunt as well as the bonfire.
Gradually people started to arrive so the four soon grew catching up with events since the last time we'd meet and it was time for Miss Green and Andi to cook the beef burgers and onions as we were starting to feel a bit hungry.
We had three new people who soon fitted in well.
The treasure hunt based on the 1971 movie of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory was able to done outside as we roamed the garden hunting for clues of which I did manage to find one before it was craft time.

To save on carriage I arranged to have a pumpkin bought for me and so we went outside to carve the pumpkins with knives and spoons to remove the gunk from the middle ready to add the tea light later on.
That's mine  with the rotten teeth!

We returned indoors for the decorating the ginger bread persons with icing and a children's tv theme centred music quiz which was enjoyed.
If the details or hazy on that it's cos I was out of spoons at the time and also needed to rest me paws as they were swollen from carving.

Slotted between the savories and the desert portions of the buffet tea provided by various persons Miss Green and auntie Andi lit the bonfire.

This was followed by the fireworks and at least this time the rocket sticks stayed where they should as we ooh and Ar'd to the colourful explosions and we waved sparklers around.

After the deserts, we listened to some music including children's tv themes from the past until it was time for bed.

Sunday morning I woke up at half-seven which late for me but earlier than most so after getting changed and having a wash so discretely I stepped around one person who remains unaware I passed them I rounded up stray glasses and washed them up.

Andi and Miss Green cooked Bacon  butties (Bacon between two slices of bread) which helped keep me ticking over until after a few people left the remainder of us went out for a meal at a local public house by a canal of which most of us walked by the canal too.
I was on catisfactory turkey roast and still orange with ice which was delicious and everyone agreed the food was marvellous.

Slowly the group left and Daisy, Suzy and I were taken to the nearby rail station by Andi to make our ways back so as I was a bit early I went via Stone for a change getting in time for a meal at home.

Thanks to everyone who came, bought food, helped out  and contributed to a great weekend.

GHS Halloween Party 2017

As mentioned last week, I was going to away for a few days with friends at our Littles Halloween and Bonfire party at GHS which as ever required a little preparation.
I set out from home at half past Seven  on the Friday morning as in what is supposed to be an hourly bus service from our estate  to the nearest town had a gap in it and this was only slot that would work  before catching a bus to our rail station that offers some of the best  rail connections across the UK to catch my London Midland Train.
Having contacted the person to let them know I was enroute, I then met up with at their local rail station before we caught the local bus to GHS and had a hot drink.
At GHS something very spooky had been going on the building was festooned with ghostly streamers, spiders and skulls and some ghosts were in residence!

 Two other people were coming early as I was although events proper were not to start until noon on the Saturday so apart from chatting I had my dollies to play with when the person who runs GHS had her  nails painted most well.
When they returned there were a number of things to do such  making Spooky Halloween sponge cake which I did with some assistance, making the two sponges although I had to remake one as mixture made from margarine, sugar, eggs and self raising flour  didn't quite work right for one of the pair before applying home made Plum Jam and cream following by green and black icing that was allowed purposely to run off the very edges. 

 As well we were having a beef roast to which as is increasingly the case rightly I'm expected to help out with so I cleaned and cut the home grown potatoes, prepared the cabbage and carrotts ready for the carrot and potato mash with the cabbage being boiled and the potatoes being roasted.
I also helped in making a jam flan with blue berries on top which was served with cream all of which was appreciated when two other guests arrived in time to consume it and I was thanked by Miss Green for my contribution making things easier for her.
After conversation I went to sleep cat style near the fire being a bit tired and slept like a log all night.
I woke up on the Saturday had some shredded wheat for breakfast and around Eleven o clock  got changed into my thicker grey zip up at  the front dress which is easy for me put on by myself before as from Twelve noon the remainder of our group arrived bit by bit  in time for home made Burgers with Onion (cheese slices available for  those that eat it) which that tasty I had two!
After this it was time for our Halloween treasure hunt that took place outside although overnight it had rained and indeed was somewhat overcast for much of the day where hunted for clues that lead to others with prizes.
We also did  Pumpkin carving out of doors with child-proof tools which is as well with me although we interrupted for a period by a shower that required us to huddle in the shed while it passed over.

 Cutting and especially scooping out a pumpkin can be a really sticky job so I the Sticky One was joined by another-me with those sticky paws.
Actually I was fairly quick at getting the actual carving done

 Here's part of the completed group with mine on the right hand side.
We had a kind of bring bits with you tea with quiche, sausage rolls, pork pie and  a variety of desserts such as the Pink Blancmange trifle of Andi's I had and yes my sponge which I was informed by my second best friend was very nice.
The final event of the day after the spooky music quiz was our bonfire which as on previous years we had some competition locally. 

 Here's a picture taken with a slowish exposure of one of fireworks 'going off' while the bonfire was blazing.
We we up rather late so typically I and a n other whose name I won't say to avoid embarrassment were falling asleep around everyone else but other than to say it was probably apt both of us did.
We got up lateish Sunday morning I know I was up around a quarter to Eight  which is late by my standards and having gotten changed had either cereals or a smoked bacon sandwich fried.
After changing clothes (for some of us), we set off for a morning walk though local woodland, passing a canal with ducks, a Kingfisher and narrow boat before we arrived at a Public House for lunch as Miss Green had booked a table.
I had a delicious Turkey roast with trimmings  while others opted for other things such as beef steaks before we waked back to GHS as in small groups we all said our goodbyes.
Suzy and I were kindly driven by Andi to the rail station to catch our way trains home that were running a bit for one of us and somewhat late for another due to an incident in the North.
I got a cab off the taxi rank  straight home which was rather quick and not too expensive as local estate service does not run on Sundays plus it's over a mile to walk over rough and in places step terrain.
I'd like to thank Miss Green for organizing this super event, the hospitality  and her contributions to catering, Andi for lighting the fireworks safely which is so super important, helping with the Burgers and kindly providing Suzy and I a lift.
I'd also like to everyone else who did bring something else to this event, fun and contributions to the food  that all help make  this a most enjoyable weekend get together.

GHS Halloween and Bonfire Party 2016

Introduction
If anyone wondered where I might of been  over the last few days it was because I was away with friends over a three day period and it is usual for me to be off line during the period so  get the break away from the cyber world and deal exclusively with the real one.
After arriving and changing into my tunic, as it was the start of the weekend I had a math lesson covering measurement using imperial measurement which wasn't something I had when I went to school and in a country that commonly uses them being brought up on Metric, I am confused by them so we covered inches and and yards, pounds, ounces, stones and hundred weights. I also did some multiplication and division.I wasn't as attentive as might of been which was picked up upon!

I also did some cake making  too, which is a bit of first for me even if  it was a ready bought cake mix, cracking open and stirring  the egg in,ladling the egged mixture in the cases before putting in the oven for fifteen minutes. Miracle of miracles they actually rose!!!
 I made the icing although some landed where it shouldn't like on  the grown up in charge of me and then  spooned it onto the risen cakes before applying  the decorative stickers made from icing.
We were going to have cottage pie for tea and as it's 2016 I was to help out so I helped chop onions (that made me cry), potatoes for mashing ,dice carrots and cabbage while the grown up sealed the mince beef adding the onions before taking that adding to the carrots and cabbage with gravy  to cook putting the now mashed potatoes on top. The grown up put it in the oven so it all cooked.
It tasted really well and was the first time I had something I made a substantial contribution toward making.
On the Saturday morning, I got up, wished up any outstanding dishes and fixed some breakfast before setting down at the desk to do some more Frozen colouring while we waited for the others to arrive. I also showed them my English study guide I work with.
Upon their arrival we had home beefburgers made from local ingredients and served in tasty white bread buns.
Thankfully the weather held up well so were able to hold our Willy Wonka themed treasure hunt with clues from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book and movies outside in a big garden looking for clues and finding lots and lots of Wonka Bars! I won three of them!
By that point we went inside so while the bonfire people were talking, four of us including my best friend on an other site made Pumpkin Lanterns from the pumpkins she and an other had provided together with some child-safe tools.
Making one is a bit messy, which may be a part of why we like it  and this is the one I made.

Having finished them off, the Tea Lights were put in them and taken outside.
As well, connected with the Willly Wonka theme we had kits to make our own chocolate although you did need grown up help with melting the chocolate and putting it into the mould so I made this bunny rabbit shaped one from milk chocolate. Sammy made a chocolate Shark.

We also played with play-doh making things and cutting out shapes which was fun.
After this we went outdoors having put coats and warmer attire on to observe at a safe distance our bonfire that had been made in the late afternoon laughing as it roared like a lion with an orangey glow.
After that we moved a bit further back as our fireworks we safely lit by Andi which included Catherine Wheels and rockets oohing and awwing as they lit up the night sky in brilliant colours and shapes.
After all that excitement we had a freestyle buffet to which everybody had contributed something including my cakes with some of us in our jim-jams as it was a little late eating in the front room with the coal fire going. Paul had found some  Ham in beer which was intriguing as although I had heard of it -it's Belgium- I've never tasted before and Andi's blancmange based trifle which was really lovely
We were all a bit late getting up with all the excitement of the previous day, stretching our backs and flexing the paws as we got a light breakfast. I had on my green pleated school skirt which Jennifer approved of.
We went for a bit of a walk the local canal observing the wildlife and the spectacular colours of the Fall and even a narrow boat in a flight of locks until we came to a public house that most over here does do food which was where we going to have lunch together before we left.
The one thing that struck me upon be escorted to the tables we'd booked was the relatively high number of reservations which suggested an air of confidence among locals and that passing trade while important wasn't their main thing.
After getting a class of orange, I ordered a turkey roast with trimmings with the vegetables coming separately to be shared between us  that was well cooked but not dry which matters not least with the turkey itself and the stuffing. For a desert I opted for the fudge cake which was a really large portion served with a drizzled sauce and ice cream which was very yummy.

We made our way back and it wasn't long before a group of us needed to get to the local rail station to take the train home so Andi kindly drove us there before she made her way back being more local.
I only had a short wait for the London Midland service to Liverpool that calls at Cheshire's biggest rail station to come on just slightly late on the platform (2b  not 2 3/4qtrs!) making my way into the disabled carriage area. I arrived at Crewe and with some assistance from Virgin station staff dealing with the ticket barrier went out of the concourse to the taxi rank where I got a cab back home.

To conclude this bit of a report it was interesting weekend  learning new things even if I do need supervision with them and an enjoyable one for being with friends that all contributed *something* to having fun together well away from the groan up world. I'd like to thank Andi for safely lightening the fireworks that were so much fun to watch which is important in addition taking three of us back home.

Firework Party time

Having just gotten up after going to bed really early to help with the tiredness I felt yesterday evening I thought it was time to write up the weekends events.
For me things started with being up at 6 in the morning to makes sure I was dressed, double check my case and fix breakfast ready for for my Taxi to arrive as the weekend local bus service operator is anything but reliable especially if you need the very first bus of the day and being hourly it would be very easy to miss a connection to the rail station.
Because I was being picked up at the other end, it's kinda important for me to be a bit responsible and ensure that to the best of my abilities I get on the right train so this was the best way of achieving it.
Getting through the ticket barriers newly installed isn't fun but I used the Disabled one and waved my ticket to someone who let me through with my case and Hello Kitty tote bag with some long sticking out of it.
Having arrived at the other end I met up with the person who going to give me a lift and waited through the torrential rain storm for another person to arrive before we set off to their house where events were being held. We called in the local shops to pick up some provisions for later consumption although I stopped in the car as it was raining. It does nothing for me fur! (Lol) 
I immediately got changed into my black pinafore dress which is super easy for me to put on (a boon for disabled girls like me) and started the sorting out of bits and bobs I'd brought with me like cards, a gift for the organizer and some playthings.
I had said at a site that one the most important things was working our way through the loss of a dear friend in tragic circumstances and the other was that I felt I had more of need to 'play' which was shared with two other people at least so for us this needed to happen.
Sometimes more grown up sophisticated work or techno stuff can creep into littles meets but that's not I'm there for so I said I was going to bring two things with me, a pack of Hello Kitty playing cards and my Panda glove puppet, Peaches, who came from Covent Garden, London and came to work with me as one of  a few things I used - played  with is the word I'd now use - doing a stressful, emotionally demanding job helping to bring people who hurt kids to justice to help deal with stress and it was the place I learned to express my inner child.
By bring them and talking a little in advance I felt there was a good chance we'd get what we were looking for.
In time everyone arrived and so 'Matron' and Andi got started with the Beefburgers (not LAMB burgers, giggles) with onions by 1PM, talking away (food is so sociable) before we got on to the first activity proper.
At this point the group split up and so I joined Sammy and Lausie outside with their partners keeping an eye on us carving the albino Pumpkin into a spooky but fairly happy face between us, having fun scooping out the mush and scraping the skin off bits ready to put a light in later on.
I got a bit sticky and one of my splints will need a wash where bits got trapped as I forget I'm wearing them as they're just part of my life now but it was so much fun and I'd like to thank them for letting me play with them.
Susan had organized a treasure hunt around the house and its surroundings based on a  Hobgoblin theme with a series of clues and individual prizes as well as Winner prize which was won by Lausie who's just rather good at this sort of thing although I and a few others did get the odd one too.
Next up was Jennifer's music quiz which was based on themes from BBC Tv series issued on BBC's own records where you had to identify the name of the program and when it started (although we relaxed that to the period of original transmission). I got 7 out of twenty but given I wasn't familiar with British tv for some of that time for obvious reasons that wasn't bad I guess especially as one them was Choo Choo connected.
We had a cold salad evening meal from what people had bought and in some instances actually made like Andi's Trifle which was very nice with the cream (shades of the Catgirl coming out here!) which everyone enjoyed.
After a period, the baked potatoes were out which indicated one of the highlights of the weekend was about to begin. At this point I put on my Witches Hat and Held  my orange broom which with the school uniform I was one looked like something very reminiscent of Harry Potter series ready to go outside.
Matron, brave as ever had gotten the bonfire started with bit of fencing and other stuff which soon really started going keeping us warm as the sparks flew in the air before with the assistance of Andi lighting them, the fireworks were put in in order exploding colourfully, fuse permitting of course all around us as a few other folks had spotted although we had competition from major Firework Display a few miles away.
Given some of the issues I've had due to the dangerous misuse of fireworks to hurt me, being able to stand and enjoy anew fireworks without any issues was a great thing for me personally.
Afterward we listened to the super sounds of Kim Wilde and other 80's artists as well as the Eagles as the coal fire kept us nice and warm talking as I was impersonating a cat on the floor, clawing and me-owing and we turned the light off so Andi's illuminated skull shone onto the ceiling which was fun as some of were sure we saw ghosts, maybe even the ghosts of schoolgirls past!
Eventually we got to bed in various rooms, I was in the front room, sleeping on the couch in front of the fire waking up later than usual so I fixed a tea and got washed and changed to have some Rice Crispies before Matron and Andi got some smoked Bacon sandwiches going before a few people left and the remainder of us went to a Pub for a meal together, naturally I kept to soft drinks, which was served very efficiently, piping hot  and very tasty before we all made our way back.
Andi took Suzy and I to the rail station to catch our trains which was interesting as the number of people getting in seconds flat to the Virgin train to London Euston station has to be seen to be believed!
Unfortunately my Choo-Choo was rather overcrowded - standing room only - in the regular carriages including the disabled section occupied by people who I'd be 98% certain weren't,  so  I had to stand in some discomfort for part the journey before myself and a Person of Colour saw a couple of seats come available and claimed them!
Thankfully my back pain subsided by the time I arrived and the ticket barriers were up so I quickly get a taxi off of the the taxi rank, whose driver was only two and half miles away from home who got me back in for Quarter to Six.
I'd like to thank Susan and Matron for organizing the party and Andi for the Pyrotechnical support in addition to the lifts.
A fun time was had by all.

GHS littles Christmas party 2014

Comments, thanks and accounts of this years Littles Party at GHS have been posted in the usual space at GT but as ever here's the Joanne account.
For me the journey started a bit early with having to catch a bus from our estate to the nearest point to meet  a bus bound for Crewe rail station in order to catch the service to GHS Central which had concerned me as following a change of operator for Saturday on the main service with major attendance issues (many no-shows) and the other service having a big change over of staff a fair number of which play fast and loose with the scheduled route.
But anyway eight minutes late the first bus arrived and I was able to run across the sidewalk to the other side to catch the second bus with seconds flat.
Enroute I left a message for Ms Andi's transportation and as efficient as ever meet me  having made my way from Platform Three while two other attendees  arrived  shortly afterward as we made our way to the imposing surrounds of GHS where two others were already present, helping Susan and Jennifer, our hostesses.
Upon arrival like a few others I changed into my dress - yes, d-r-e-s-s -, put my Hello Kitty slipper socks on and came down showing of something else a few may not expected, nails painted in advance as I'd decided after camp and that experience I actually was going to have them painted  from now on.
The only real surprise in this was the source of the painted nails as I had expected to have to do this all by myself but after a bath but as ever fully dressed, I calmed asked Mommy if she'd do my nails and surprisingly she just went ahead and did them!
This is something I'd not of expected back in December 2013.
Also I brought along Amy, a big Holly Hobby doll, with me.
Anyway toward the tail end of the afternoon, Jennifer, Andi and I think a n other disappeared toward the kitchen to cook the most wonderful Beef Burgers from the local butcher while we await the amazing Sticky One and partner to arrive as they were stuck in slow moving afternoon Christmas traffic.
An improvised sorting office was set up for exchanging Christmas cards.
We played pinning on the Donkey's Tail  with the picture mounted on  board, pin and using an improvised blindfold, hoping to get as close as we could to putting that pin in the right spot (and NOT in the wallpaper).
Susan had organized a Christmas treasure hunt  with clues around GHS indoors and outside you had to find that lead to the others and each had their own prize so we charged around the premises in hot pursuit of them. As it happened I actually found three clues and so got three Christmas Chocolates, while the Sticky One won the main prize.
Between eating a cold salad with cake and a marvellous trifle home made by Ms Andi, we played games such as The Logo Game with questions about famous brands and logos in addition to Articulate, the game where you have to try to describe a word without using it, your team members getting what the word was.
We also played music from cds in addition to vinyl records and even some 50's original 78's by Bill Haley where Caroline and Karla showed off the Jive (they're pretty good at it)
Eventually by just after 1AM we made our way to sleep, where I slept with the GHS coal fire for company waking up around 8 AM which was late for me but I think I needed the rest as it had been way beyond my normal bedtime.
Having gotten up and dressed, I had a cup of tea as I reckoned I didn't really need to eating any more but chatted to everyone as they woke up and had breakfast which included bacon sandwiches.
Around 10:30, we assembled to go on a walk along a former rail line and over part of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal though woodland encountering joggers, dogs, ducks, a water pumping station and goodly number of locks. I think it was around 1 and a half or more miles but although it was hard going for me I enjoyed being out in the open enjoying the countryside.
The walk lead to something that turned out to be really good, a Christmas Fair with a lot of home made crafts present on the stores (about 30) and a pop up drinks and snacks place who were  selling decorations, stuff related to present wrapping like paper, bows, decorations to hang up as well as plushies and dolls

.
I bought a Little Red Riding Hood  home made doll and I believe quite a few of us got various things while we were there.
After this we had a shorter walk to the GastroPub (British English for Public House that specializes in meals) which was doing Christmas Fayre as well as traditional UK  pub meals at very reasonable prices.
We were served by an American, not that I'm complaining with my background, it's familiar enough(!) and I had a Turkey roast that came with boiled potatoes, parsnips, and mashed potatoes with trays of side vegetables like black carrots and cabbage.
It was a fitting way to end an enjoyable weekend together as people started drifting off to their homes but for me that wasn't the end of the weekend as I stayed on over  chatting, listening to music, seeing the Snooker competition and Strictly while eating B-Bq'd sourced Turkey breast before leaving the next morning on the train.
To sum up I'd like to thank Susan and Jennifer for hosting it and everyone who bought something not necessarily tangible objects to the party for making it such a fun event.

Party time

It was on an overcast Saturday morning that I awoke around 6AM to get dressed, fixing breakfast before commencement  of this weekends activities, having prepacked my bags over the preceding week to take with me.
This would of been easier other than Mommy had to get up as she was going out too and blew a light that caused the lighting circuit in the house to fail, putting me in the gloom half way through this!
 I was of the general understanding that people bring some food to share and so having eaten, I walked down to my local village store to pick my contribution, fresh North Staffordshire Oatcakes, that had arrived in in the early hours of that morning. 
A short while afterward I walked to the bus stop to catch a bus from our estate to a another bus ready to catch the 09:22 London Midland train to GHS  from Crewe where I encountered Arcee so we shared a part of the compartment together.

Yes that's really the ticket!
Attending this party were Debbie, Lillian, Sammy and, Lausie and partners, Arcee, Susan, The 6th former, Suzy and Auntie Andi although sadly Rachel and Daisy were not able to attend as they were poorly.
Upon arrival I changed to my usual uniform but with the white socks with the bows and the white Hello Kitty Slipper socks and tidily put away my Hello Kitty bags containing  a change of clothes, HK PJ's and toiletries.
I have to say that the new socks with their bows and slipper sox with the remainder of the uniform looked perfect, shrinking me down do very much a school girl in my head plus it went down well. A good by product was I did feel more inclined to take heed of the 'groan ups' warnings should I of been doing something risky as while having fun is great, sometimes you can make serious mistakes in the pursuit of it and someone has to say NO.
Naturally as people had travelled from different parts of England, some took longer to arrive and  so by the time most of us had arrived, food was served. I had a homemade Hamburger with onions as by that time I felt famished. It tasted delicious.
We went outside for private group photos as the sun shined and I completely forgot to put my shoes on so by the time we'd gotten on the grass my HK slipper Socks were a bit muddy, the source of good humoured comments by the 'sticky one'!!! Mebbe she has competition? (lol) 
We had a self assembled buffet for our evening meal from what people brought.Also I should thank  Andi for the most amazing trifles that were positively yummy.
By evening it was time to play games, traditional party games, so we started off with playing pin the nose on the Donkey where blindfold you attempt to pin the spot where the nose is. I didn't win this but it was fun, reminding me of childhood parties.
The was a  treasure hunt with clues scattered around GHS where we all tried to find them, which was heaps of fun dashing around hoping to win a prize.
We also played pass the parcel where a parcel is wrapped several times with a prize in each layer for the person who has it in their hand when the music being played , stopped. We sure played this at my school's Christmas Parties and for me at least I felt back in that time, happy.
Our Pyro expert team organized a most wonderful firework display that lasted for good time as rockets exploded colouring the sky in a very pretty way while many of us held sparklers waving them in the air. It was magical.
Finally The First Former held a most enjoyable  quiz after which people started to make they way to bed which for me was sleeping on the couch  by the GHS coal fire.
It was so magical most of us woke up later on exhausted from it all with some going back to sleep for an hour or so after waking up! 
I probably was one of the earliest risers getting dressed, opting to  put on the first time my new Green pleated school skirt before tidying myself up before the Bacon and Oatcake breakfast following which those needing to start back early left after goodbyes and hugs.
Those of  us remaining went out to a meal having prebooked  a table for midday, and so it perhaps  being not that surprising I chose Fish and Chips followed by Hot sticky treacle pudding with cream to order.  It's the cat in me I guess! Ordering with an accent like mine is usually fun but they understood me all right and the staff were really helpful.
It seemed the perfect way to end an enjoyable weekend together.
Afterward following many hugs, we all started on way back with myself catching the train and walking after a bus ride in the gloom as there's no Sunday bus service to the estate and fixing some tea to drink.
Although it was all new for me, the weekend had been really really enjoyable for being able to *play* with like minded individuals who just accepted me as I am since encountering me at forums and in Tuesdays chat. I'd like to thank everyone who was there for making me so welcome 'in the flesh' and for The Sixth Former for hosting this most enjoyable party as well as Lillian and partner for the Christmas card.
It means an awful lot, peoples.

Get set to go!

Another wet end to the week, probably going to have some chores to do this weekend as it's that time of the month so I'm writing this up in advance, ready to publish although this piece isn't the one I had I mind.

Followers -and there's 36 of them - of my Tumblr that's usually about stuff that doesn't really quite fit this blog like photo sets, will know I've been posting a bit around uniforms specifically Sailor Suits from South Korea and Japan and that one day I might just get one as I can see myself in my head wearing one.
One big difference with Tumblr is captions and photo's are often reblogged, following site trends with comments added directly in the post and recently within those I follow there's been a number around uniforms.
Now, I can't mention the 'U' word without touching on that one of kind school, GHS and it's upcoming activities as I most definitely will be in attendance although I might have to be really careful not to be put  in 'Corner Time'!   Us First Formers can be a wild bunch!!!
Not surprisingly then, for most of this week, I'll be sorting out what to take when it comes to clothes although I prefer to travel light, making sure I have things like my tickets and cellphone safe, packing away and mentally preparing myself.
It was reassuring to hear this week 'Matron' was going to look out for me as it will the first time I've been 'out' with such a lot of girls under one roof  including overnight although they're all people I know online and I've been with three before there.
Although this all kind of new to me and anything new easily leads to you feeling nervous, I am so looking forward to it.
Also on Sunday I will be putting up my HK Advent calendar.
As I'll be away that weekend I should point out the next post won't be until at least late Monday next onward as I'll need to rest and then write it.

The train now departing on Platform 5 is for GHS

Phew! It's taken me a bit of time to really take in the last couple of days as you'll of been aware from last week I was going to away for a few days.
All adventures start somewhere and for me it was a continuation of and part return visit from a few months back when the Head Girl and First Former met me in my environs on what was a rather warm sunny day.

Well first of all to get to GHS, you need transportation and as I don't drive due to my disabilities, it meant getting tickets to travel on a train having selected a suitable rail station I could get to by bus. Fortunately I'm not far from a BIG rail hub with plenty of journey options and one really good operator who have an excellent online ticketing site, so I ordered my tickets and got them next day in the mail.
So after packaging a change of clothes for an overnight stay in two Hello Kitty tote bags, I caught a bus to the rail station which got me a bit early as I had heard of some traffic delays from construction work nearby but typically on the day there wasn't!
That meant I had time to read the iPaper before wobbling down the stairs to Platform 5 to get on the 09:22 London Midland that calls near GHS before meeting the dedicated GHS taxi service to whisk me off. It was a most excellent taxi service I can assure anyone!!!
For the train people the engine number started with 350 but I forget the rest but it was modern with plush seats, overhead destination and automatic doors.
Having arrived in the spacious grounds of GHS and equally spacious building just set back from the road, it was time to reintroduce myself  to the First Former, a lovely articulate girl in her uniform.  
This can only lead to one thing, folks, I too as visitor to the school needed to get changed into full uniform for the duration of my stay so up the stairs I went one foot after another to have a quick wash and change.
It was at this point actually being at GHS, being in and presenting myself to the others for the first time fully uniformed completely hit me and I would be lying if I didn't say for  brief second I paused before going down the stairs to met everyone as Joanne, the school girl.
Fortunately over the years with my disabilities I've learnt  to "kick my own butt" to make things happen as difficult as they can be for me and so got over that.
We spend time freely chatting  after light refreshments until Auntie Andi was able to come and so after the midday meal, she lead a presentation about out of school activities otherwise know as Camp looking at activities, expectations, general etiquette and so on. 'Big smile' was the response to wishing to attend next year as I think I can hack it being a fairly responsible  member of 1EB.
Talking of which, something else happened as it had brightened up a bit:

The nearest you're gonna get to an official uncropped out photograph taken with Permission by  the L6 Head Girl no less. As is usual form, things such as photos should only be taken and shared with the subjects permission including that of anyone also in on them within the group.
Cast your mind back to the 'likeness' of Jo and the illustration from the fall of last year when the little girl declared herself free after effectively retiring from the world of employment. Can you see the how they all fit together?
A pivotal moment for me I'd say.
Before I forget, the Head Girl it has to be said is an excellent cook and hostess, the food being delightful and the First Former has an excellent body of knowledge about cuts of meat amongst other things, for we had Beef  and homemade  Plum pie in the evening. Yummy!
We played Scrabble (tm) with the assistance of the First Former something it transpired she was rather a Wiz at,  which from my point of view was a jolly fun game to play even if it reminded me of the difficulties my learning disabilities leave me with. 
In my world at least I'm happy to take part in things that are fun even though they're hard for me, with you helping me as needed rather than have you feel you have to change everything for me and this was a good practical example of it as any. And thanks for everyone for helping with it for I got a reasonable score!
Before bed I read a bit from Five Go To Demon's Back (Famous Five series) and we played some music, guessing who sung it, the 'proper' title and the year which was fun as for a number of them I only recall the North American  year and month(s). I did pretty well at this as I think anyone asking Auntie Andi would soon find out! (Shh).
Sometime after 11PM I think - as as most of you know I can't 'tell the time' from a clock - I went to bed downstairs with a great view of the embers from GHS coal fire glowing red  in my white top with Hello Kitty pj bottoms on. I also bought with a HK plushy and a small Rabbit one in a pretty dress. Although I'm not a great sleeper I did manage to get to sleep.
Come the morning following a wash, I again got fully changed into uniform to be greeted with a smile from the First Former as she came to see I was up and went to have some Tea and chat about all manner of things obviously including how I was feeling being joined by Auntie Andi where we talked 'techno talk' for a bit (Andi and I know a bit about recording, radio and stuff).
Breakfast was rustled up from GHS's kitchen which is what I understand to be cooked British breakfast with smoked bacon which was delicious with Tea before packing my bags ready for leaving.
I am not one for putting words into peoples mouths but as I remarked to Andi, the online Joanne_ Chan people read and interact with is the one you get in 'real life', being less of a role play so much as a online expression of what I'm naturally like in real time with you. I think she saw that as I although I'd  thought I'd only be with her for a short period rather than most of the time, interacting directly, so she could see it straight off. She was happy to affix a Merit badge to my sweatshirt before leaving later that morning anyway!
But that wasn't all because Auntie Andi had kindly offered to take me to the rail station and after a big hug I was making my way across the concourse to travel home on the London Midland service.

There, wasn't that quite an emotional adventure,eh?

Thank you's:
Everyone at GT for your inspiration over the years as without it this could never of happened.
London Midland for efficient trains and easily to understand ticketing.
The Head Girl for graciously having me and preparing scrumptious  food, something nobody has to do but they do because they're generous, caring about others,
The First Former for being herself, witty, knowledgeable, caring and super fun to be around and finally, Andi for being Auntie Andi a great combination of the  funny, serious where needed and pretty unflappable sort you'd want to be with.