Prelude:

After hours of preparation (yeah, right :roll:) I made my way to Greenwich by tube.
Now this may seem no big deal to most of you, but to be quite honest it scared the shit out of me. One day I might be able to explain this irrational fear of the London Underground, particularly the Jubilee Line, and my fear will be conquered. Until that day I will remain as I am – scared.
I got out at Canary Wharf still sweating and trembling, and that’s where it all started going pear-shaped. I never realised how confused I could get just by following signposts. Signposts everywhere. Panic attack looming. Reach into trouser pocket for cigs. THEY’RE NOT THERE! PANIC! Check jacket pockets – oh, thank (expletive) for that, there they are. Light up and calm down, it’s only a bloody railway station I’m looking for and there’s a train just disappearing between those buildings. Head that way, and if you’re in the wrong place just look at the signposts, there’s bound to be a few around.
DLR this way, one of them proclaims pointing towards yet another escalator. I took the stairs. I’m alright with stairs.

The Gipsy Moth:

I’ve been here before, but I’ve never seen it so crowded, I guess it’s a combination of Saturday and sunshine. After waiting patiently at the bar (not a speciality of mine) I acquired a pint of Addlestone’s cider and meandered through the pub looking to see if I recognised anyone – slim chance of that as I only know a few fellow bloggers by sight.
Did I mention that it was crowded? Not a single table free in the garden or on the patio. Time for another ciggie. After that just wait for a free space to appear.
Then lo and behold just as I was considering relinquishing the table I had found a familiar face appears from amongst the massed hordes. It be Old Nick, come to hunt out any misplaced bloggers! So I went back in and met up with Jacobite, who I had wandered past several times in the last hour.
And then everyone started to turn up and it started to get a bit confusing for me, not being used to blogmeets and all that.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the company and everyone there was nice, but I didn’t get a chance to meet them all let alone chat with them. It didn’t help that the pub was crowded (did I tell you that?) and loud, and about 8 o’clock the DJ turned up. At least he played half decent music. Then at 9.30 they shut the beer garden, so everyone who was out there had to come in. I can’t remember if I told you it was crowded, but after that movement became a luxury. As did the ability to be able to hear yourself think.

Decamp:

While some of us were outside taking in the air (ahem) we decided to search the area for a quieter place to get together as it was getting a bit crowded in the Moth, or have I already mentioned that? We decamped for a pint or two at the Coach and Horses in Greenwich Market which was literally just down the road and turn right at the vomit XX(. It was better in that at least we could find some space to move, but the pub didn’t serve Addlestone’s (BOOO!)

Departure:

Around half past eleven I started feeling a bit tired so I decided to remove myself from the festivities and head back to the security of my own bed, so I said my goodbyes and left.

I got as far as Canary Wharf and it all went totally tits-up. The main entrance was closed and I had to find an alternative way in. I can’t remember how I got there but I did eventually. But not before an embarrassing incident resulting from my previous consumption of wasabi peas with my cloudy cider. Fortunately All Bar One was still open. The bar looks immaculate, but their toilets leave a lot to be desired (even more so after my visit :oops:)

And so to bed:

I got back to my home town just as O’Riley’s, Rosie O’Grady’s and all the other late-night drinking dens were spewing their contents onto the streets much like some of their less discerning customers were as well.
Oh well, at least there were no police present. Or is that such a good thing? They weren’t needed but maybe their presence would have made some of them calm their behaviour down a bit, but then again it could equally have heightened the tension from "mild" to "just about to kick off" levels.
A twenty minute walk in the fresh air took me to a place where I don’t have to wait twenty minutes for a drink. Home.

Thank You’s and Apologies:

Thank you to everyone who turned up, especially Kelly – you still owe me a few hugs – and particularly to Nick (for pointing me to where we eventually got shifted from), Jacobite (for doing exactly what I would have done – is that him? Is it not?), Faffa (for warning me about the outrageously loud laughter), Louisa, Mrs F, Shipscook, Jen and Ray, Chyna_Doll (I knew you would be gorgeous, I just didn’t realise how gorgeous! :D), Eggbod, Rubychoo and Row(delayed by alcohol)theboat. Apologies to any who attended that I’ve missed out, but maybe we’ll be able to socialise a bit more next time we meet up.

Summary:

A good night out spoiled only by crowds and my own insecurities.

Lessons Learned:

Wasabi peas and Addlestone’s cider are both nice, but combining the two in your diet does some not-so-funny things with you guts.

Kelly is an absolute diamond. A pleasure to be in the presence of (but I’d sort of worked that one out a while ago)

Next time I go to Greenwich I will not use the tube/DLR, it’s too confusing.

The looks of a bar do not reflect the standards of the toilets.

Sunny Saturday evenings = crowded pubs ( did I mention that the pub was a bit busy?)

Endnote:

At 00:00 I was still on the DLR, so I’ve still never been down in the tube station at midnight ooooOOOAAAAOOOoooo!