Up North for a Shandy!

No rest for the wicked! A few hours north for Kris - 50 quid on Virgin trains from Northampton to Stoke, dirty robbin bar stewards - and a rendez-vous with the Keele crowd. Cracking night on the tiles in Leek - far too much beer, again, with the usual suspects; Jim, Cath, Dave, Sarah and Dyche. Even 'dirty nickaz' Shaz made it for the night. Not seen each other for years! We're an excitable bunch us Keele crowd. Didn't take long for the beer to take effect. Jimmy T was on hand with the bubbles and before we knew it the rounds were flying at a local Belgium bar (quite poignant, given Marit was probably doing the same!) Just like old times, a drunken night just got drunker, care of pints of Cobra in an excellent curry house. Best vindaloo I've had since Goa.

Red wine carried us over the finish line, but not before PC 999 Dyche has done his usual trick and pass out, clutching a drink, hands tucked in lap. Light weight! Not even the half dozen sugar coated doughnuts he'd munched mid-session were enough to keep the man going. Cue Sarah with a black marker pen! Why oh why is always Dyche that gets the graffiti treatment? Poor fella! Not!