There's someone in here

There's lots of differences between America and Northern Ireland. You probably don't need me to tell you that. Like they need drive-through Starbucks and we want drive-through Starbucks. Or we sell small packets of crisps and they sell gigantic bags of potato chips. Or their parking spots are made for SUVs and trucks, and our parking spaces are not, despite Tesco mums' best efforts. Most of the differences are fine; you get adjusted.

However, here's one difference that will never be normal to me and I bet if you've ever been to the States you'll have noticed it too. It's that uncomfortable gap in the toilet cubicle door. What is with that? 

Yes I was sitting down when I took this photo. What of it?

It's all over too, it's like they have one company make all their toilet cubicles and they decided there should be a gap and so in public toilets all across America there's a gap. Or maybe there's a federal law which dictates the size of the gap? You see, it doesn't matter where you are, you can see people on the outside and they can see you. That's just weird. (Of course, Americans probably travel to Europe and think it's weird to pee with no one being able to see in. That's how we pee in Europe, my American friends!)

I suppose it's a small price to pay for the free refills though.

Benidorm is probably used to this

My flight over was the lovely Belfast Newark one. I've always loved that flight and never more so than on Monday when it was not the flight the hen party that had descended on Belfast International was getting. Lucky for Newark, better luck next time Benidorm.

You know the drill with those sort of hen parties. They have to have some sort of matching attire: cowboy hats, tiaras, t-shirt or feather boa. They hurl cheap plastic accessories on the bride until she has more stuff on her than a Christmas tree. A cheap, tacky and, dare I say it, a slutty Christmas tree.

This group were no different. Pink feather boas all round and team t-shirt with names on the back. Let's see, we had Sarah Big Baps, DD Diane, Leg Over Lesley, Maneater Michelle amongst others. Even those names make me cringe; I would hate to have to wear a t-shirt like that. But then there was worse.

You stay classy Gemz. (I don't even want to write on my blog what her friend Claire's name was.)

All through the airport were these pink feathers from their boas.

I have a feeling that the clean up from them in the airport will be the least messy of their entire trip.

No post weekend blues here

After a busy last week and a crazy busy weekend at Soul Mates I'm off on my travels again. I know there was good reason to book it for the very next day, but as I started to pack at 10.30pm last night I began to think it wasn't the best idea. When I was still up at 1.30am I really did wonder what I had been thinking. And by 3.00am, when I went to bed, I vowed never to do it again.

At 6.00am I was up to put my jeans in the tumble dryer and throw the final things in the case. Three hours sleep was a new low in a week of little sleep. Actually, I got more sleep at Soul Mates than I did at home. And that's even including Steph's extra early alarm at 6.00am on Sunday.

But the weekend was brilliant! It's hard to explain why it was though. I had little sleep, I was constantly on the go and I practically never sat down. Nurse Carol was appalled at my lack of bathroom breaks on Saturday. Well, I either needed to go but didn't have time, didn't need to go or there was a queue of 14 kids for the one toilet in the church. And so from 7.10am until about 11.30pm I held it.

Despite that, there are three main reasons I loved it.
1. I worked with some fantastic new people. They really stepped up to what we were asking and did a good job.

2. The kids and leaders loved it. It's always easy to work for people who so visibly express they're glad they're there.

3. Johnny made his annual trip on Sunday. Three years old and already four Soul Mates under his belt. That's my boy!

But now I'm very much looking forward to the flight so I can sleep. And I'm already writing in my head a blog post about the hen party who were just ahead of me in the security line. We'll save that for the other side though.

Well, if you've been here long you'll know travelling brings out the best in my blog.