lanark

We found out on Friday. The funeral is this coming Friday, and I've already booked my plane tickets.

I'm not going to make this a saddo entry, however. I've been trying to do some happy things lately, and I'll write about that instead.

First of all, I don't think I ever wrote about the big gig last week. Was it only last week? It seems an eternity ago. It was last Tuesday, to be exact. Dot to dot were opening for Architecture in Helsinki and a newly-reformed Bis in their big premiere show. I knew they'd be on early, so I pulled a sickie to make sure I could be there. I didn't even have to lie - I simply called in and told them I didn't think I'd be able to make it in, and they assumed things I guess.

It was the best gig I've been to in a very long time! The place was PACKED, and from early on, so Dot to Dot played to a nearly full house. They started out a bit shaky, but ended strong, and I was so proud. The other two bands were FANTASTIC as well. Especially AIH. Eight adorable Aussies playing a million instruments among them, and switching things up constantly. It was a sight to see, and a pleasure to hear. I've been listening to them non-stop on my MP3 player ever since.

It was also a lovely evening because I was surrounded by friends, including some new ones. We had a long-distance visitor, and tried to show him two good nights out on the town - great excuses for us all to get together with a few drinks. It was just what we needed, I think.

This past weekend, we took it even further. Sick of sitting around the house, or propped up against the same old bars, I decided I simply HAD to get out of Glasgow. I set my sights on Lanark and its surrounding countryside for a leisurely day out. Somehow I managed to rally the troops and organise a trip for seven! And it worked! These things can easily fail miserably, but this was surprisingly successful!

When we first arrived in Lanark, things weren't looking very sunny, both literally and figuratively. We almost missed the train, first of all. And once we arrived to the rather bleak-looking town, we couldn't agree upon what to do or where to go. Some of us were starving as well, which didn't help. Eventually we settled on a chip shop and bus to the historical village of New Lanark. Although it was too late - and expensive - to take a proper tour of the site, there were hiking trails along the Clyde that were screaming for exploration, so we set out to see some waterfalls... and beavers. We never spotted the latter, but we saw lots of the former, and it was lovely! Truly gorgeous, in fact. The perfect outdoor activity, just what I was after.

We missed the last bus back to Lanark, so took refuge in a hotel bar as we waited an hour for a taxi. Then we headed back to Glasgow, and went to dinner together, in a proper Italian restaurant. It was really nice. Afterwards, we piled into another taxi and went to Cathy's flat - a first - to sip wine and play Pictionary. It was nice and relaxed and... perfect really! By the time we got home at 1am, I was exhausted in a contented, fulfilling way. So satisfying!

As awful as the circumstances are, I'm quite looking forward to a weekend in London, reconnecting with a large group of long-lost friends. It's going to be insanely emotional, I know. But worthwhile. Times like these really remind you of the importance of friends.
Plus, the service looks like it's going to be lovely. Liz will be buried in a gorgeous woodlands in an informal, non-religious ceremony. Sounds like exactly the sort of thing I'd want. I bet I'll still go through an entire box of tissues.