The Runner's Arms. (Forum pub.)

evening foggy - i got home early for good behaviour

see if ST nips in and shows us her balcony again

Is the Runner's Arms closed for renovation - I have a thirst you could photograph.

The Barmaid is back....

well hellloooooooo!

Hooray! 

<tosses hair over shoulder, applies lip gloss>

Well, helloooo back Mr Shed!

<high fives Ninja>

degsy, this pub is the only pub where the drinks are free, hangovers non-existent, banter is intelligent and witty, but mindless on occasion. Food all home-cooked and we have a cupboard under the stairs where we keep some dream totty for both the boy and girl customers.

Speaking of which, I think it's time for a bit of eyeliner porn....

Nah, Mediterranean men are very nice and all that, but there was a severe lack of eyeliner in the hilltop villages and towns where we spent our time and during our 12 hours on Mount Etna, we only came across six other mad climbers,  none of whom was wearing eyeliner (lots of Berghaus, Merrill and Karrimor, though!).

Where's this sunshine that you were all enjoying last week?

<stamps foot petulantly>

I was hoping you'd have brought some more sun back with you ST.

I did try, LN, but they said my bag was already over the limit, so I couldn't squeeze anything else in

It was odd - Mr ST and I had checked in one bag between us and the check-in woman glared at me and said "You are 4 kg overweight - please remember for next time" - as if any excess weight in the bag had to be down to me, not Mr ST. Clearly I had too many girlie things like lotions and potions in there; it couldn't possibly be Mr ST's size 12 walking boots, or the bottle of wine stowed in there, oh no.....

Mt Etna sounds amazing.  Don't think I'd have been brave enough to try it, looked a bit chilly.

S and I did discuss a luggage share arrangement for the nearly here holiday but it has been discounted on the grounds that I am not prepared to give up any space in my very large suitcase.  Shoes were one of the things I cited as taking up too much space.  I may be taking a couple of spare pairs (well 4) but they're ickle thin sandals not thumping great size 10 deck shoes.

Pouring with rain here and flipping freezing.  Better perk up where I'm heading or I may be borrowing the huge shoes as the ickle sandals won't look good with socks!

Remind me where you are going, TP

I took my running shoes, walking shoes, Birkenstocks (soooo comfortable and about 10 years old!), espadrilles and a pair of smarter sandals - wore all of them, except the sandals. I really cut down on the clothes I took and ended up wearing everthing except one top, so that was a success. We had a washing machine too, so that helped.

Thank you for saying Birkenstocks.  I remembered about them the other night but never got round to adding them to the pile of stuff currently inhabiting the spare room.  I'll add them tonight.  They're great for if your feet are feeling huge or sore.

It's a cruise to Scandinavia & Russia.  Calling at Copenhagen, Talinn, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Helsinki & somewhere in northern Germany whose name escapes me at the moment, possibly Rostock.

Your feet could never be huge, TP - they are teeny tiny!

Cruise sounds wonderful. St Petersburg is supposed to be an incredibly beautiful place, I think.

Birkenstocks added to the pile along with the D&G mules I bought in that dress agency place in Oxted.  The black sandals & flowery espadrilles have been evicted.

It's St Petersburg that was the big attraction for me.  We've booked organised tours to see the major sights in the 2 days we're there. I am packing some compeed as it looks like a lot of walking.

How many more sleeps TP?

I hope this Bar does breakfasts too.