weekend from hell...long

Don't you just hate when life throws you a curve ball - well that's just what happened this weekend!

Friday evening we drove #1 and #3Sons up to friends in Uxbridge, and from there they were going on to watch comedian Simon Amstell gig in Camden - this was a birthday present to #3Son (16 on Wednesday) from their pals. There was a group of them going, including a parent of their friends, a lovely lady I've known for years.

Himself.com and I stopped off at a supermarket for some bits (which took some time as I was armed with my calculator but no reading specs), and then pootled back to Brighton.

We stopped off on the way back to pick up a McDonalds for #2Son, and Himself.com, and I was pleased that I wasn't even tempted as I was looking forward to the ham salad sandwich I'd planned for myself. The rest of the evening was spent watching tv - for some reason I thought there was a double episode of 'Ashes to Ashes on' and although was a bit miffed there wasn't, enjoyed the episode that was on, and am looking forward to the finale next week..

I guess we went to bed about 11 ish - for some reason we were both cold, even though it wasn't if you know what I mean.
I was woken at about 2am by himself.coms mobile going off, and can remember thinking 'FFS, can they really not leave him alone til office hours' (he's got a lot going on at work atm, and it seems only he has the answers!). Then my blood ran cold as I could hear him saying, 'O.K son, stay calm, you're where? I'm on my way!!'

By this time I was wide awake and half dressed! I still had no idea what was going on, as Himself.com had nipped into the bathroom, saying he'd 'tell me on on the way, but not to worry!!!' Too bloody late mate!
The phone rang again, and I answered it, it was a nurse who explained she was 'from the A&E Dept, at Hillingdon Hospital, and was looking for verbal permission to administer pain relief to #3Son and he is under 16' WTF???

It transpires that they had been to the Simon Amstell gig, had a fab evening - they'd had front row seats and were 'targeted' by the comedian, which of course will have added to their evening.
They took the Tube back to Uxbridge and a few of their group wanted to go and get something to eat. My boys said they didn't feel comfortable as there seemed to be tension in the air in the town centre, so it was decided the parent would go with those who wanted to get something to eat, and the boys would make their way home with one of the friends - something they have done many times before - its is the 'nice' side of the town.
Unfortunately, by some freakery, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were passing a pub just as a rowdy group were being thrown out - who decided to take out their frustrations on the lads.

My boys and their friend, did manage to get away (thankfully all together, and in the same direction), but not before they'd been given a bit of a beating.

We arrived at the hospital at around 3.30am, to find our boys shocked, bruised and bit bloody, but in good spirits considering their ordeal! #1Son has a broken nose, and #3 a large lump on his head, and possible concussion....but of course things might have been so much worse!

The friends Mum of course was blaming herself, but I doubt very much if things would have been different had she been there - in fact it might have been worse had they all been together...like a 4' 10" mums presence would have made any difference to a bunch of drunken louts!

We drove everyone back to the friends house accompanied by the sound of dawn breaking, so our boys could pick up their stuff, and say their goodbyes to the rest of the group who were waiting anxiously for their return.

#3Son asked if it was OK if he stayed on til the next day as originally planned- they had a shopping trip scheduled for the next day, to get their shirts for the England game they are going to. Difficult though it was for us as parents, we agreed to let him stay, as we'd only be making ourselves feel better by having him home, and would be punishing him for something he wasn't responsible for, so we arranged to pick him up later that evening..

We made our way home with #1Son (who was going to get the train home that morning in time for work in any case) and finally fell into bed at about 10am, having first fed watered and exercised the dogs. Got up at about 1.30, and phoned #1Sons employers to let them know he wouldn't be coming in and why.

In the scheme of things, tracking was the least of my worries, but in some strange way I found comfort in it, and although I was under by 13 points by Saturday evening I still resisted a McDonalds, when we stopped to pick one up for #3Son when we collected him later that evening! Hmmm....makes it sound like all my lads do is eat junk - I do cook for them, honest!

Although I wasn't really in the mood to go to the working test on Sunday, I was supporting a friend who had arranged it, so got up at six, leaving Himself.com to catch up on some much needed Zzzz's.
My girl worked well for me, and just missed out on the awards, but that never bothers me, its just good to see the dogs go through their paces. Out part of the competition had finished by lunchtime, so the afternoon was spent chatting and laughing with friends, which never fails to lifts the spirits.
I had pointed my packed lunch, and had prepared a Lasagne for the lads, all Himself.com needed to do was cook it through. I had a low fat version when I came home, with a nice mixed salad on the side.

My water consumption has been well down, and other than an major adrenalin rush on Friday/Sat; a bit of yomping up hill and down dale, and belly laughs aplenty (gotta be activity points in laughing surely!!) on Sunday, things haven't quite fitted my 'Masterplan' for this week!!

Roll on bedtime - I am knackered before I start!