Update

So, still in Prestwich (outside of Manchester) above the pub, at the Church. It was sunny today, poured, then it got sunny again. There's a fantastic park/walking path behind the Inn, behind the the Church. Really nice, and foresty with some giant woodcarvings.

We went to a quiz night tonight at a pub in Bury. A quiz night is when you got to a pub with a team, group of friends or whatever and they ask a bunch (tonight was 30) general knowledge questions. Then who gets the most right wins a round of drinks. We went and unfortunately there were quite a few of UK related questions and the Brits with us weren't as sorted in the knowledge, although they did get a good amount of the UK questions. Anyway, after the quiz there was this completely sloshed woman who apparently was named Gail probably late 30s or something, the most stereotypical "working class", "homeless", "Austin Powers" teeth ever. The spaces inbetween here overlapping and twisted incisors were black. She was very drunk and overheard my American accent. She asked where I was from then started rambling on like a meth addict about how she hadn't been home for over a hundred years and something along the lines of coming from Ontario, Canada. She was reckless and completely falling over herself and those around her. She came up a little too close to me and tried to talk. I turned away and pretended to be engaged with the others I was with. I then decided to turn around with my Australian accent and tell the lass I 'as from Brisbane. She didn't know what exactly was going on. She was all out of sorts. So then she came back over, and tried to talk to Win. I immediately introduced him as my deaf friend. He played along brilliantly and kept making awkward half word noises. Only this somewhat backfired as she then grabbed his face, turned it toward her and started yelling- "HELLO, CAN YOU READ MY LIPS". She then proceeded to get dangerously close to his face (at which he later remarked that her breath matched her teeth) causing him to immediately turn his head resulting in a sloppy kiss on the upper lobe of his ear. He then remarked that his hearing was cured but he had become blind from her sight.

After which we attempted a hasty exit- only for Win to run into a real handicap person at the doorway, however not deaf. Gail longingly shot a gaze at us as we keenly exited the pub and made our way to Pizza Pioneer a few stores down to have some more spot on Hawaiian pizza.

The night ended shortly after as we took a cab back to the Church where we had a round and went back and forth trading racist and obscene jokes with Tom (the owner of the Pub) as he hassled me about my about various Jewish stereotypes (all in good fun really). Tom then gave me a giant Guinness hat, shortly after which we retired to our rooms.

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In the meantime though, I've fully planned out and booked my excursion to Dublin. 3 Days, 2 Nights. I fly in from Manchester via RyanAir on the morning of the 19th. Have that day to do sight seeing and all the James Joyce intel I ever wanted. That night for Pub Crawl Episode I then the 20th for more sight seeing, bus tour that has the Guinness Storehouse en route, that night for Pub Crawl Part II then most of the 21st to recoop and revisit anything or tie up loose ends. Both nights I will be staying at the Litton Lane Hostel in the MOST central Dublin. It used to be a recording studio and is where both Van Morrison and U2 recorded at one time, which is pretty cool. It's also 24 hour check in!

From there I fly from Dublin to London.

[Editing note- although it may sound from all the "I"s that I am traveling alone, Win will be with me up until the night of the 24th- So Mum, you can relax... somewhat.]

London isn't as sorted yet but I am going to finish that up tomorrow. I basically just need to book the hostels, everything else is ok.

Also, although I haven't been to London yet and thus don't really want to mention it- but currently I'm on budget (Dublin included) (knock on wood) so that's a plus. I just hope it stays like that until I get to Spain at least.


It's kind of amazing- on a few levels. First just that I'm actually on this trip. That I'm actually in England, live above a pub, have been doing what I'm doing. Everything!, its absolutely awesome. Second the ridiculous differences of weather (I'm assuming culture, definitely at least language) that I will experience when I go to Spain. It really is two trips in one. I feel like I'm going to leave for a whole different trip instead of just carrying on.

I really am grateful that Paulie and Ed have taken me in and that Tom is such a cool guy. Aswell as all of Ed's family and Win. The stay has been fantastic so far! I don't know how I'll ever thank them.

Anyway it's 2, I've been up writing and planning and breakfast is at 9- so I need to get to bed! I'll probably write next in Dublin, but maybe sooner- ttyl!

Cheers!
Itinerary details for those who care (aka "Daddio")
[Thursday, July 19th
RyanAir Flight 535
MAN (7:55) to DUB (8:55)
]
[Saturday, July 21st
RyanAir Flight 118
DUB (19:15) to LGW (20:35)
}