Day 12: The Goodbyes

well it was finally here, the day i had been dreading since they all got here, the day there were going home. We woke up around 11ish and all went down to the Eaton center to do their last minute shopping, i spent more time with my sis today as i knew it would be last for a while, we all got back to mine after lunch and waited for the minibus to arrive at 3pm while they did last minute packing.

The journey to the airport was very sombre, a bit due to tiredness but for me mostly sadness, we got to the airport on time and they both checked in at different desks, my sis and hazels cases were humungous and had be labelled HEAVY !!! it was all that american tat and shopping they had done.

By now the girls flight was soon to be boarding so they had to go through and the time had come to say goodbye, it was very emotional and as just as Hazel had come out of the shop to buy tissues it started, i said goodbye to Hazel first then suzanne, we both burst into tears, this was one fo the hardest goodbyes yet, it was heart breaking i had dreaded this part and it was awful, i reassured her that i would be aback at xmas and it was only 2 months away, i could hardly look back as they went thru the gate as we all said our goodbye to the girls and i waved my last goodbye and proceeded t o be dragged to the bar by big joe as they had a little extra time with me.

We chatted over a coke and had one lat blast of mike tourguide video and our pics on the camera and we laughed over the jokes we had shared, and now it was time to do it all over again i had to say bye to Andy and Joe, it was tought too knowing my best mate was going home as well, we hugged and said our sad goodbyes, it was a fantastic time, i would say better than last year, this time it was back to normal where me and joe had a laugh just the 2 of us and we bonded even closer ! thanks lads for a great time and to the girls too i cant thank ou enough coming to visit me, i had the best time ever and cant wait for xmas to see you all again !

As joe walked backwrds thru the gate (i laffed my head off a great touch!) i was still very sad and needed a big hug from Jayne i txted her right away and told her they had gone and she reassured me everything was going to be ok and that i should go over to hers tonight for some love and cuddles cos i needed it, Jayne was fantastic it sjust what i needed i couldnt have dealt with it on my own especially getting back to my apartment around 7 and putting the key in the door and walking into a quiet empty apartment with no sister or josephs there in sight, i grabbed my stuff for the night and headed to jaynes as soon as poss, still firmly fixed in my head the great time i had had with those guys and how much i love them all ! jayne sorted me out as i walked thru the door i broke down and she hugged me and held me, i cannot thank her enought for that , shes an angel, thankyou !

Day 11: Drive back to Toronto

We were on the road by 8am a good time and we were out of Manhattan by around 9.30, it was going to be a long drive back , i was knackered and slept for the first 3 hours until we had a stop and got some breakfast, i had completetly spent up my american dosh !

By 4 we were over the border back in Canada, but started to hit traffic coming in to Toronto, we would have made it sooner had the spare tyre not dropped off on the highway and started dragging underneath the van ! a hairy moment so we had to shove it in the boot.

by 6 we were home and me and john took the van back and explained the spare tyr business, it was all ok. A mad rush to get ready was on as it was the last night and i wanted everyone to say goodbye to them all, we arranged to meet Jayne and her friends in scruffys by 9, it ended up a really great night as me and joe wore our new clobber that we had bought and we told the stories from our trip to NYC, Jayne and suz bonded more which i thought was great so i was happy ! later on after most of the goodbyes it was on to elsies where we had one last final beer or 2, it was another late night and lots of beer consumed , it was very emotional too as i knew this time tomorrow they would all have gone home and it was over, sob sob.

Day 10: Hungover and no beer

woke up around 11ish very under the weather and still a bit bladdered. We arranged the meet the girls at their hotel around 1ish, took us a while to get going and slowly made our way there feeling very hungover.

On our way me and Joe bought 2 statue of liberty hats which we proceeded to wear all day long ! met the girls and went for lunch at a deli cafe nearby which was an experience , the portions were gigantic !

After this we deciced to do a bit of shopping and then the rest was sights for the girls. First stop was the diesel store where our kid very nicely bought me a very expensive pair of diesel jeans, and how nice they were, i was very touched by it !! big joe bought some as well and the girls bout some more stuff !!!! (yes more after they spent around $3k yesterday) for their blokes for prezzies, lucky blokes !!!

We aimed to get down to ground zero to show the girls so we did our expert subway hopping by now the map we knew off by heart and was easy, we got down there and walked round and then as dusk fell went to battery park to show them the staute of liberty from the city.

We had all decided by now that no beer was being consumed tonight as we were setting off very early tomorrow for the journey back, the girls made there way back to their hotel while we hit the tacky tat shops to buy our other halfs and ourselves tat gifts with NYC on it, we must have visited every one from times square to our kids hotel. We spent an hour or so in their hotel room while we had a laugh while our kid gave a fashion show.

Around 10ish we headed back to our hostel via central park so i could show them John Lennons memorial and where he got shot, we were all packed and in bed by midnight ready for the morning drive home, a great time in NYC was had even tho it was short but we had such a great laugh !

Day 9: Sightseeing NYC

woke up at a fairly early hour after 10 to a lovely day weather wise, we got ready and headed out via a mcd's brekko and then hit the subway to do lots of sights, during our day we saw The chrysler Bulding, Grand Central station (where me and joe discovered the amazing talking cavern), Empire State, Madison Sq garden, Ground Zero, Battery Park, mid sfternoon we hopped on a shorter boat cruise that i went on last time, only 1 hour ths time , got great views of the skyline from the boat where john wasnt feeling great hahaha, the tourguide alays kept saying what was "free" and what wasnt, funny ! from there we made more subway treks back to the Empire State Bulding to go up it, we waited for ages to get up there and to be honest wasnt worth the ait or the money, we were only up there for about 15 mins, took some snaps and we made our way back down.

Headed back to the hostel for around 6ish to have a bit of a kip and get ready for a big boozy night. Headed out to Times Square for 10pm where we arranged to meet the girls , of course they were late and hadnt shown up by 11 ! we were in the Hard Rock when they did finally show up a little bit tipsy hahaha. Great to see them again it felt like ages since we had.

We all jumped in cabs and made our way down to Bleeker st where we went in a pub called the red Lion at first as a joke, but little did we know we would enbed up there again after circling the city in cabs trying to find a club that was open on a monday night, our mission failed so we went back to the Red Lion, we made the best of it and too kloads of pics, had lots to drin kand loads of shots ! they kept serving all night and we eventually stmbled out of there at 4.30 am !

Day 8: NYC Here we come

Got woke up very early by the ladybirds at 8 in facy after only getting in at 2ish, me and Joe and John went down for the van at Bay and Bloor at 10.30ish while the girls and andy got the stuff ready at mine.

No probs picking up the van, we got to mine by 11 and loaded up the car, me and Joe found out the van had a DVD player and this would be a way of getting our revenge for being woke up early, by choosing all boy films hahahaha, we were off on the road by 11.30am where me and Joe challenged the ladybirds to who had the best game for the road, they revelaed theres by digging out my duvet from my bed that they had sneaked in the buggers ! how they did that i never know. me and joe then revelaed our by showingthem the dvd player and dvd;s we had chose hahaha they wernt happy but then the coup de gras was our other game 1-2-3 crush the ladies !!! by flinging our chairs in the middle back at the same time to crush them both on the back seat hahaha they loved it really !

Got over the border with no probs and we were making good time, had a few stops by 6pm i took over driving for a few hours whilst everybosy else slept and i had concerntrate on the now dark night road in the rain, very eye straining !

John took over the driving about an hour outside NYC, around 10ish we could see the skyline and a few noticeable buildings, we had taken a back road into the city and ended up at the top end of manhattan near Yankee stadium where we proceeded to get a little lost, after we got our bearings it was plain sailing to our hotel/hostel, we were there by 11 and unpacked the van , whilst the girls made there way to their ultra swanky hotel and left us paupers to it, we arranged to meet them tomorrow night as they were having a quie one tonight and then shopping tomorrow, mmmph we were a little miffed but left them to it and knew a good night was going to be had tomorrow.

We got changed and headed out around 11.30ish to eventually Times Square where we had a few beers in an irish pub then a sports bar then a bar near the subway, it was a little quiet tonight so headed home at 2ish after a chicken shish kebab, bloody lovely !

Got back to the hostel where our room was adequate, me and Joe had the bunk beds while andy and john got stuck eith the double bed hehe, but what were the plastic sheets on mine and joes bunkbeds all about !?!?! i had an awful nights sleep it was freezing !

Day 7: Lazy Days

Well ispent all day at Jaynes in bed feeling a bit the worse for where and v hungover, it was taking its toll !

Suz, Hazel, Joe and Andy went downtown to the CN tower and for some lunch and a little at the Eaton Center. I got back to mine around 6ish while those lot were in bed, it was going to be a very easy night as were setting off for New York City tomorrow morning.

We got ourselves ready and all slowly headed to Elsies after 1 pint and a bit of food our kid and Hazel called it a night and headed back to mine for an early night, we stayed in Elsies with John and Lonny till close after not having much beer at all.

Day 6: A bit of sightseeing

Woke up at lunch all a little worse for where, as we trudged down to Yonge and Bloor to McD's for some grub and a long walk downtown to show suz and hazel a few sights, ended up down at Harbourfront where we encountered some nutty woman !

we got back to mine around 4ish weher we all needed a kip before a big night out at the Bull where everybody was coming down to meet all of them.

We went out at around 8ish, our kid went off something to eat and was meeting us in a while, me joe and andy got to the bull and hardly anyone was there, it took us ages to sup our first pints ! after an hour or so everyone was there, Julia and her clan, John, the BRDF along with a pissed up Cliveo who was totally out of it and needed looking after, and Jayne and Susan, Jayne met our kid but it wasnt the best greeing as she fell over , i felt awful and so bad for her as it wasnt meant, fortunately they broke the ice later on and started to get on better after a rocky start !

around 1ish we all went u p to the Unicorn where we were mashing on the Dancefloor singing "Joe, Joe ,Joe, Joe" and dancing in circles like a bunch of proper joes ! a great night ! i ended up sleeping at Jaynes to give them lot more room at my place.

Day 5: Our Kid Arrives

Well today was the day that i would get to my sister for the first time in nearly 11 months !

We nursed our hangovers till early afternoon then me and Big Joe set off to the airport to collect them, we got the subway and bus there and was slightly late , luckily they hadnt come through yet and we got stuck around waiting for a while, it ened up they had come through while me and joe wernt looking and there they were stood over to one side waiting for us....it was amazing to see my sis i ran over and gave her a great big hug, it was nice to meet Hazel finally, i was happy now i had all i needed all my closest people here with me in the place where i live !

We had a long cab ride back to mine as it was rush hour, got back around 5ish and they unpacked, i gave them my room and i would sleep in the pullout bed with joe, we had joes bacon hotpot for tea and all got ready t o go out on our first night out all together and time to catch up with our kid !

Started off at Elsewheres where we introduced suz and hazel to the Butt Hutt (Smoking room at Elsies), from there we went to the Duke of Kent, Fox and Firkin, Philthy Mcnastys (where i found out our kid has a new b/f!!), after that we went to a few more places but ended up back at Elsies till gone 2, had a really great night catchjing up and chatiing and getting to know hazel.

Got back to mine and it was bedtime at gone 3am, a great day !!

Day 4: Last day of work

Got up on time again for work considering all the beert that we drunk the night before, work was fairly easy and i left the Joes at mine all day where they had a lazy day playing xbox and watching movies.

I got home and that was me done for work for a week, Suzanne and Hazel arrive tomorrow so its a very exciting time ! went over to Jaynes for a while as i hadnt seen her a few days before we went out on our night.

Went down to the summit for 1 at 10ish (a late start) where we collected John and headed down to Crocodile Rock for cheap beer and 911 night. A great night and we were all bladdered, weather was awful tonight, we headed back to mine later on where we cranked up the tunes (Amarillo) and acted daft, i fell in the bath after Joe had soaked me with water the git !

Day 3: Back to work

Got up on time and headed to work whilst i left the Joes in bed, only 2 days at work while i left them to shop and sightsee and Big Joe could show Andy round.

Got home at 6ish and they told me all about their day, funniest story ever they went on the Skydome tour and it was the same tourguide as least year when we all went on it, the tourguide who walked backwards and says never never never be here again ! we ll funny he got some video and pics of him ! ....apparently hes called Mike, so the name Mike Tourguide was born.

Went to watch the Leafs game down at Gretzkys where we met Lonny and had something to eat, after the game we went along Queen street to a bar where we played a daft game of trivial pursuit, a proper daft game where me and big joe started talking in a funny way like Mike Tourguide, this would be a common them of the trip!

Ended up at "another" bar till close , Lonny was plastered so he ended up staying at mine on the couch, work again tomorrow its my last day for over a week so i cant wait.

Day 2: Thanksgiving

Had a lie in and chilled at mine watching Max and Paddy and playing some xbox in the morn, early afternoon we went over to Jaynes who was making us a thanksgiving dinner, Susan came over as well, there was loads of eats and booze, we had a great laugh the 5 of us.

Around 9ish we left Jaynes and went to Scruffys to meet John, only had a few more pints and headed home as it was very quiet out and i had to work tomorrow...booooo !

Day 1: The Joes Arrive

Wake up at 10am at Jaynes a little hungover and race to get ready ,shower and dash over to mine to drop the airbed off and race to the subway for 11am, their flight is on time and is due in at 11.55am, i get to kipling subway station by 12pm and get on the bus right away, hopefully i will make it before they get through, its touch and go. I get to termainal 3 by 12.20 and race downstairs to arrivals, phew theyre not here yet i made it !

I had a quick fag outside whilst looking through the window to keep an eye out for them coming through as soon as i lit up there they were......Big Joe and Andy came walzting thru !

We jumped in a cab and headed to my gaff, great to see them again espesh big joe, chilled ay my place for a bit whilst they unpacked, that didnt take long, and blew up andys inflatable bed. We went for a walk down to Y&E and got joe a key cut and then popped in Elsewheres on the way back to my mine for a swify pint or 4 !

Got pizza for tea and ate at mine and got ready to go out for the night, its thanksgiving tomorrow so its day off. We started off at Elsewheres and then went down to Y&E to the Fox and philthys where we hit the vodka redbull to wake big joe up a bit, it did the trick as we ended up staying out all night till 2am ended up in chickndeli and got well bladdered.