Sparkle 2 – The Saturday

Having crawled into bed sometime after 3am, I somehow managed to remember to remove my make up and revert back to Bob before joining my wife.

With nothing in particular planned, we slept in and on getting up, enjoyed getting dressed without being in any particular hurry. Several change of outfits later, I was satisfied to go with jeans and my green top and a pair of shoes with chunkier heels to try and cope with walking in the Gardens.

Shortly after noon, we joined some of the girls out at Teela’s stall in Sackville Gardens and donned the complimentary t-shirt adorned with a group picture of us all at Teela’s earlier in the year.

Having been given a handful of pamphlets I was then treated to a display of salesmanship or should there be woman in there, second to none as I could only helplessly watch Kate dispose of her allotted pamphlets effortlessly.

My wife took the opportunity to dash into town to pick up a pair of leggings for her planned evening outfit as she had left hers at home.

Despite our best endeavours, we failed to secure any bacon butties for lunch and so with Teela’s blessing, Kate, Mrs Kate, Tina, Mandy and myself walked over to Taurus and taking over a window table enjoyed a bottle of wine and a round of club sandwiches whilst watching the world go by.

It had tried to rain on and off all day but we had been lucky so far and so I worked up the courage to return to our apartment and despite the pleas from my friends, change into my denim shorts. On the way back, Di and I popped by the Marquee for the Lady Boys of Bangkok and purchase tickets for the Sunday evening performance.

Once back in the apartment, to disguise the scarring on my legs due to 35 years of rugby including an area of discolouration due to a previous case of blood poisoning, I topped up the colour on my legs (spray on tights in bronze) and experimented with a dry spray on oil from Avon which I had won in the raffle at Teela’s which gave me a streak free glistening healthy finish to my legs.

I think the pictures do justice to my “painting” skills!

Whilst I was getting changed, my wife had returned and we opened another bottle of red wine as we continued to enjoy the occasion. Walking out in my shorts and my purple top, peep toes heels with bright red toe nails, and the best part of two bottles of wine in me!, I felt on top of the world.

I certainly caused a stir or two as I strutted up Canal Street back to Sackville Gardens and a rendevouz with my “friends”

My wife dutifully walked 10 yards behind me not wanting to be associated with my “new look” – not – only joking – honest!

I can safely say that Mandy and Tina were struck dumb when they saw me in my shorts. I can’t help it if they were jealous of my legs! If nothing else, I put a smile on my friends faces although it might have been wind now I come to think about it!

Late afternoon we made our way over to Taurus once more for a few pre getting ready drinks – do you see a trend about the weekend yet!

With time drawing on, we made our way back to the apartment via the bottom lock gates where I took the opportunity to have a few photos taken in my shorts.

Back in the apartment, we freshened up and touched up the make up opting for darker evening colours and I changed into a gorgeous full length silver clingy velour dress with matching shoes, no tights.

As the organiser of the meal at the Shang Hi I managed to be fashionably late – some greedy buggers had started the first course before we arrived after dashing across the junction in the rain.

The meal was good, company excellent and we had been joined by Tina’s wife and her sister and her partner! I thought Nicky was fairly unique until I met her sister. Wow, what great girls and superb company.

After the meal, a we made quick dash through the rain back to the apartment on the way stepping into a bloody deep puddle at the lights. Changing into my glitter dress for the rest of the evening, we rejoined the girls at Eden’s where we settled in listening to some decent music.

Whilst at the bar ordering a drink, I bumped into a girl who was out with her sisters having returned for a holiday from Australia. We had a good laugh and took a few photos and then I invited them round to meet the gang which they did. Not sure what my friends thought when I brought a gang of them back to meet them but we all seemed to get on well especially Mandy before we decided to move onto Napoleon’s.

At Napoleon’s I finally got to dance with my wife joining Kate and Mrs Kate on the dance floor. The music was ok for a change with even I managing to recognise most of the tunes even if they were the 20” mega mix versions!

By 3am my wife decided enough was enough and feeling pretty tired retired for the night. The remainder of us sat around the tall tables down in the basement chatting etc until Nicky, he sister and partner had to leave. I think Kate and Mrs Kate must have left around this time but alcohol has affected my memory.

As the light of a new day was dawning, Tina, Mandy Di and myself made our way back to the apartments stopping off shortly before 5am to take a series of pictures at the lock gates.

Climbing into bed I remembered to remove most of my make up and clothes and slipped under the sheets absolutely b…….ed!

Disclaimer - due to copious quantities of alcohol consumed over the weekend, whilst the events I have related are all true, the order and what day they occurred on may not be quite so accurate - sorry!

Close Encounters of the Bus Kind!!

Part one of my Sparkle blog is complete and what happens?

On my way to work on the Wednesday, a bus decided not to stop and ran into the back of me whilst I was stationary awaiting some bloody idiot driving a gully sucker to move on from where he stopped – on a blind bend with double white lines whilst he asked (presumably) for directions from a passing jogger.

The bus drove me forward a few metres and in the process I cut open the back of my head and suffered whiplash. The driver of the bus almost suffered considerably more as I contemplated dragging him off the bus and explaining to him my displeasure!

However, common sense prevailed. In the meanwhile the driver of the gully sucker moved on oblivious to what he had caused.

The bus driver claimed that he had braked but skidded. That would of course account for the fact that there were no marks on the road and that I hadn’t heard the bus approach!

Suffice to say, I ended up not getting to work on my second official day in my new job and writing off a hire car provided for me. This was my first accident since 1985 and I have driven in excess of one million accident free miles!

Here I sit typing the latest blog with a sore aching neck and shoulders. Hopefully it will improve quickly and I am looking forward to taking my wife out a couple of times soon as a thank you for accompanying me to Sparkle.

Part 2 of Sparkle to follow soon – when I can remember what we did!

My first Sparkle - Friday

(I apologise if some of the facts and events have been changed but this is due to the fact that I can’t bloody remember!)
Having packed for all eventualities in respect of the weather, some would say including my wife that I had packed for a month and not the 4 days we would be over in Manchester and after the event I would have to agree, we set off late morning for Manchester on a high and looking for some quality time away from the kids and spent with our good friends.

Only the previous day I had succeeded in securing employment after a 2 month lay off and hand in hand with the job, I had a new rented family size car – a Mazda, which swallowed up effortlessly our two full sized cases and two sports bags.

First port of call was Tina’s house where we met up with Tina, Mandy and Nicky. With all their bags packed, myself and Mandy both still in “Bob” mode, drove into Manchester and parked on double yellow lines outside The Atrium proceeded to off load the bags and I checked in, meeting Dianne who was already in the process of checking in. Dianne was good enough to help me carry up the bags to our 3rd floor apartment, whilst Mandy stood watch over the illegally parked car and the remaining bags.

I then left Mandy to check in and start getting ready whilst I returned to Tina’s to pick up Tina and my wife. It was at this time that I realised that the key I had was Dianne’s spare and that Dianne and Mandy each had our two keys! – doh

Instead of getting a taxi, we decided that we would split the Friday cost of parking at Charles Street - £16 – probably still cheaper than a taxi from Stockport and would leave the car in Manchester for the 4 days – it would also mean it would be easier for us on the Monday morning when we were planning to go shopping at Cheshire Oaks.

Once safely back at the Atrium, I quickly got changed whilst we opened and enjoyed a cold bottle of white wine. Shortly afterwards we were joined by Tina and Mandy and Kate and Mrs Kate for a pre Sparkle drink.

Wearing cotton drill trousers in beige, a black top and wedges, we then walked into the village which we could see from our apartment and sat down with another bottle of wine outside Eden’s on the decking adjacent to the canal.
With time running short we then made our way back to get changed, my orange and brown skirt this time teamed with a new orange top and new chocolate brown peep toed shoes making another appearance.

As we were sat down, Bea made her appearance having missed each other at Edens due to her being delayed by the traffic and a new girl who Bea was chaperoning. I realised that we somehow had one additional diner than I had booked so many months ago! and so we bolted on a 13th chair and table setting for Dianne who was the last to arrive.

The food and service was very good helped by the fact that at 8pm, the place was quite empty! We even managed to split the bill and get out on the street for shortly after 10pm.

My wife and I returned to our apartment and got changed and repaired the make up before re joining the others. My infamous glitter dress made another appearance teamed with my silver and black laced overlay heels.

Mandy and Tina we found outside Eden’s and we stopped long enough for a couple of nice piccies on the stairs leading down to the entrance. On then to Taurus with Kate and Mrs Kate where we sampled the drinks before heading to Napoleon’s, where for once hey were playing songs that I recognised – albeit the 20 minute disco versions!! And as a result managed to have a few dances with my wife joined by Kate and Mrs Kate. We bumped into Penelope and June who we were not expecting and so had a good chat before we all went on our way again.

We got back to the apartment for 3ish and scrubbed clean climbed into bed absolutely b.......ed!!

A Quiet Night Out with my Girlfriends

Due to me having made a mistake with my dates for Teela’s, I arranged with Tina and Mandy to go out in Manchester the following Monday.

Plans almost were upset for a 2nd time when I was invited for interview that afternoon, however, I was able to get up to my usual hotel for 4-30pm and was well on the way to being ready when Tina arrived followed by Mandy.

As it was a nice summers evening, I dressed appropriately in a summery flared short skirt in orange and brown and a fitted orange blouse, black peep toed heels with natural 7 denier toeless tights. As it was so warm, I didn’t bother with a jacket.

Myself and Mandy drove over to the village parking in our usual place at the top of Canal Street and were joined there by Tina.

We decided to eat at Taurus and accompanied by a nice bottle of white wine, we enjoyed a very nice meal - just the three of us overlooking the street and chatting.

After the meal we strolled down Canal Street to Edens where we sat outside on the decking at the side of the Canal where we continued chatting as the world passed by, although due to all of us driving, it was bottled mineral water we were now drinking.

It was while we were sitting chilling out that we witnessed a particularly bad incident. On the street above us, a mixed gang of youths had an altercation involving a bloke and a particularly loud girl which after unpleasant verbal exchanges between a number of the individuals in the group, a coloured lad slapped the girl and then suggested in front of the rest of them that he could take her!

Frankly having seen her and heard her, I don’t think I would have wanted to tackle her! Notwithstanding that it’s not on threatening a girl and certainly not hitting her. In some respects I was glad it was Emma sitting there as I am sure I would have ended up getting involved.

It seemed that the 12 of them had been thrown out of Edens earlier in the evening after having purchased 12 cokes!

With them having finally moved on, we finished our drinks in the tranquil surroundings and quietly reflected on the world the universe and everything in it! On the way back to our cars, we popped into Velvet to finish the night off in the snug and ended up chatting to two foreign lads.

Back at the hotel we were treated to a pleasant smile from the receptionist such that after Mandy had changed and left for home, I, under the pretence of buying a coke from the vending machine in the foyer got talking to her. She asked me what perfume I was wearing as she had smelt it the last two times I had passed her. – Elle by YSL. We spent a pleasant hour chatting about a wide range of topics, whilst various guests returned – including how she did her eyes (lots of eyeliner). She had been out in the village before with a gay friend and so I asked her to join us one evening when she was free and told her about the forthcoming Sparkle. I believe she will once she has been away for her hols.

Back in the room, I decided to experiment and glued my forms on and taking advantage was able to wear my nighty as it was designed.

Setting the alarm for 7, I awoke and shaved and re applied my make up and then dressed to go shopping. I decided for the first time ever to forsake my heavy duty underwear and went braless under a t-shirt and just my knickers under my jeans, finishing off with a pair of heels.

Walking out so dressed was such a liberated feeling. I felt I could walk on water – confidence was at an all time high! The feel and look was so right!

I drove over to Cheshire Oaks for 10am and parked up. Walking around the shops I found that I seemed to attract no out of the ordinary attention but did notice that a lot of the guys I walked past, even those accompanied by women didn’t bother looking at my face!

I bought a new bra and knickers in M&S as well as a couple of pairs of toeless tights and then in the Playtex shop as I was perusing the bras, the shop assistant came up to me and asked if I needed any help. In the split second it took, I made up my mind and explaining my situation asked if she would not be too embarrassed to give me a bra fitting. She was fine about it and we discussed the merits of the wide range of bras available, trying on a number of different styles and checking the fit. The added complication for me was that I wear two different sizes depending on whether I have my forms on or I am using fillets with my own flesh. Anyway, I came away with 4 new bras in a variety of colours which I was intending to wear over the long weekend at Sparkle. As I said my confidence knew no bounds!

Finally, I picked up a couple of lipsticks and a new eye shadow palette at Revlon and made my way back to the car.

I realised that I needed to shift as the room needed to be vacated by noon and I was running a little late!

Entering the hotel with 10 minutes to go I decided to seek out the cleaners and ask them if they could give me an extra 20 minutes. They were ok and un phased by my request and how I was dressed and so I repaired to my room without further delay and returned to Bob mode.

On leaving the hotel, I again found the cleaners and thanked them for accommodating my request and in the process had a 20 minute chat with them about my dressing amongst other things. You all know how I can talk the hind leg off a donkey!!

Back home later that afternoon, I reflected on the next adventure – Sparkle.