27 Hours later...

So in less than 27 hours (the last 7 I've been sleeping) and lets see what has already happened...

- Hassled at customs
- Drove on left side of road
- Had Baked beans and chips with eggs
- Started Drinking at 3pm
- Drank, in one night starting at 3pm-
- Half pint of John Smith
- 3 Pints of Guin
- Pint of Humdinger
- Jack and Coke
- 4 275ml bottles of Beck's (which was more or less forced down my throat)
- 2 bottle of Corona (again, see above)
- Saw the new Harry Potter Movie (In England)
- Shared (and treated to) most of the above drinks with(by) Tom the owner of the Church inn/pub (but at various locations, including the Church)
- Realized I can now tell everyone at home I went to Church every night in England.
- Sat at 5 different bars/pubs, drinking at all of them.
- Went to a "A quiet little place" and got hit on by two in-house hookers named Jade and Donna because I'm a hottie American- (more later)
- Sang Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World at a Chinese Karaoke Bar called Charlies in Black Bill right outside Manchester
- Had another "All English" Breakfast (fried tomato, mushrooms, egg, sausage, etc)
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SO now let me attempt to somewhat clarify, briefly, as writing this all down will be a task in itself and I need to save that effort for the book that I am going to write about all this ridiculousness.

So when I last left you, I was at the library, after which we went to TGI Friday's which here is like the "place to go" for the Working Professional on a Friday.
I got a sim card. Then we decided to go see Harry Potter. But while we waited for the movie, after we bought the tickets, we went to a bar next door. (That is what people do here... when they aren't doing anything, they go to a bar/pub... at least the people I'm with do this). Saw Harry Potter- Then went to meet Fraser for a drink at pub called the Blue Bell- after which we went back to the Church. At the Church, we immediately got to drinking. Then Tom started to buy us drinks- then He told Ed that he really wanted to take us out for drinks after he closed the pub- "Just, Just for an Hour, promise, Just an Hour." He said we'd go to a "quiet little place, just to relax." So after another drink at around 12/1230 we obliged- We hopped in a cab and made our way to Manchester. We got off in an area that resembled downtown DC or at least the club/bar heart of a city- apartment looking buildings with people on the street and pub/bar signs around the ground floors with wide open doors and neon or illuminated signs beckoning you to enter. Yet, we didn't go to any of these friendly and welcoming entraces. No. We walked up to, Just a door. A large wooden door with a peephole and a buzzer. The only thing telling you it wasn't a persons house, and that still didnt necessrily mean it wasn't, was a modestly sized brass plauque next to the door with the name "Jacqui's" and a the clubs symbol next to it. Tom went up and rang the buzzer. A moment later the door opened slightly, a woman (probably mid 30s) with a tattoo showing on her chest opened the door, peeked out to see who it was and then, upon seeing Tom, opened it up, kissed him (as a greating) and let us in.

The place was... quaint. Voluptuous red suede love seat near the door, fantastic "A Christmas Story" Leg lap styled accent lamps on various small tables around the place. A small bar. In the other room, a dacefloor with a poll, a painted picture of a naked woman. You know, you're normal "quiet little place". Inside, mainly mid 20s, woman in "club" clothing. maybe 6 of them? But they looked like they sitting enjoying the bar, not working. I wasn't convinced yet. There just happens to be a poll. I didn't see anyone dancing, no girls "working". Tom bought us some Beck's. Then another, then the lady just kept bringing them too us, everytime our bottles went dry. The first one was alright. The second one, a wee hard to get down, I was not really interested. By the third one, the girls drinking and talking at the far table got up to dance (They have all American music here, we have all British music in the states- go figure)- so the third ones effort was slightly outweighed, as I wasn't fully applying myself to the thought of trying to get it down. Instead, it merely was an accompanying taste the visual. I mean, they weren't naked or anything. They were completely dressed (if you can call it 'completely'). They did the whole "we're two drunk girl friends, lets go dance to this silly music that we really actually like". They stopped. I hit the loo. Now when I got back, they were sitting at our table. Jade was in, what was once my seat, Donna next to Tom. I pulled up a chair next Win. The fourth Beck's came over at this point.

So we got into a conversation with them. Then Donna said, you should take your American money and have party time with us! Then, as somewhat of the devil's advocate I said, "Come here often?" The response was somewhat blunt. "We work here every night." Well then, there was that. So we continued to play with fire.

"Yes, you should come to a Partay without the Passe with us!"
"A Naked partay"
"Yes, you're some American Hotties" Said Donna and Jade to Win and I.
"I would love to, but I can't" I said thinking about my lack of room, money and attempt to preserve any remaining dignity.
"OH shit, are you Gay!?" Said Jade.
Laughing histerically, I got out a "no"
"No, no, I'm just poor!"
"Oh come on! We could got have a party! Sex Time"
Now, keep in mind, these aren't non-english speaking women, or completey busted looking hookers. They give the appearance of a regular, attractive bar goer. But I somewhat digress.
A few more phrases that I don't quite remember were exchanged then Tom gives the signal and Ed gets up. It's time to go.

So we're going home right. FAULK NO! No my dear reader. Another place-
Charlie's, the Chinese Kareoke Bar. Now, I find this amusing in itself, but silently hope that there is some part Vietnamese ownership of the place to really drive the irony home.
Anyway, after Tom talks to the bouncer who wasn't letting some other people in, we walk right in. He buys us more drinks (this is where the Corona comes in). We sit down at the table and listen to some terrible signing. Almost drunk, we sing along a little bit. There's a girl Rachael there, not a working girl. Just a girl. She sings Bon Jovi. Then they keep telling me to do a song. Win picks What a Wonderful World for me. So I get up and with my best Louis impression, get to it. Win, feeling his drink at this point, comes up and joins me. It was a great time. Ed take a video on his phone (which I have not seen yet).

The whole night was very picturesque. We get out of the club and I look up and around. The buildings are fantastic, the area is perfect. This is Europe, England. Tall buildings, dark cloudy sky, people, alleys, neon, taxi cabs, cars putting down side roads. Fantasic. So, we get back to the cab and make our way to the Church. Get to our room- its 3:09am. I scribble in my journal. "Just an Hour" right.... I brush my teeth, undress, and pass out. We woke up this morning at 9 for breakfast. And that's where I am now. In bed, about to nap- not because of jetlag, but because tonight Fraser and Jimmy are taking us out... and if what I hear is even half true- it will prove to be ten fold of last night. AND I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A DAY!
Later (at 3) we might see a football match- but we'll see.
Cheers!