4 things I did, that I don't normally do
1) bought some gear from a one handed black dope peddler in Clapham North
2) get stoned at Chessington World of Adventures
3) wait at Heathrow for nearly 3 hours
4) introduce my japanese girlfriend to my family

I somehow got roped into going to Chessington World of Adventures (CWA) this weekend to celebrate the birthday of someone I once knew at university. It was on a Saturday, the first weekend of the summer holidays. My head was filled with images of screaming children, prams, chavs, pikey familes and long long queues. I phoned Kev on Thurs to make sure he was going. He was. We discussed ways of making this more exciting. The 3 options were: not to go, get pissed, or get stoned. We plumped for the last option.

On Friday I went out with Matt, Nick and Nick's 'mad alkie mate' Mark, and met them in Clapham. We cruised through a few trendy bars, trying to find somewhere showing the friendly match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Matt talked about his holiday and recent trip to hospital, and we drank beer. At 10.30 I headed to Clapham North where all the dope dealers hang out, and advertise their business. "Skunk?, skunk?", yep I have some. "Lets go to this alley way". Ohhhh Kay, can I get £10's worth? "Only £20. Check it out smell it, smell" smells good (?) "£20 please" I hand over £20 "have you got a piece of paper?" I get out an old Tesco reciept. He proceeds to put in £20 worth of drugs, using his good hand to pick it out of his large plastic bag, and his stump to hold it open. I wrap it up and put in my pocket. "You shouldn't buy off the street, remember to always smell it first. I'll give you my number so you can call next time" I proceed to key in his number. what is your name? "Bill" cheers Bill, see you soon.

On Saturday, Kev and Holly manage to miss two trains to Chessington. I wait for him at Wimbledon station. We meet Malik (Dal's mate) at Chessington station and we follow the crowd to CWA. It transpires that they are going to be late too. The sky starts clouding over. We meet Dal's mate outside the gate to CWA. He works in insurance.

We finally all meet and go in. We chat, we queue and we go on rides. Now the sky is grey and low, and this has obviously scared all the families away. The queues are suprisingly short. At about lunchtime, the heavens open and we get wet. Very wet. It soon stops and we go on more rides. We go on the Pirate Ship, my personal favourite ride. We walk to the Vampire ride. The electronic board outside tells us there is a 45 minute wait. Malik and I go back to the Pirate Ship (waiting time 5 minutes), twice. We find a field and have a smoke. We chill out. We meet the others again. Malik becomes more camp and jovial. I sit in Prof. Burps Bubble works. The colours seem brighter than usual, and music makes my neck tingle. Kev, Holly and I disappear and have another smoke. We got to Samuria again. The ride is more lucid, the bumps and rushes are amplified. I wonder around a bit more, and see some seals. The park closes. We leave.

On Sunday I went to Heathrow to meet my girlfriend. The flight was the 16.55 from Kuala Lumpar. It is delayed by 30 minutes. I wait at the arrivals gate. I see many people waiting. I see bored faces and drooping shoulders. I see glazed eyes and long arms. I see restless children, bored fathers and figeting mothers. I wait. I see the doors open. I see people arrive. I see expectant faces. I see smiles. I see kisses and talking. I see joyful children, happy brothers and sisters. I see old men shaking hands and young women hugging. I see this replayed a hundred times, over the next 2.45 hours I am waiting at the arrivals gate.

On Monday I went to a wedding of an old family friend. We arrive 45 minutes late. The food has started. We find the table and I introduce my family to Keiko. Everyone says hi. We sit. I am sitting in a Chinese resturant, at a chinese wedding with a Japanese girlfriend, in England. To my relief there is not tension. The older members of my family, the one's I worried most about, are the most friendly. We eat, we drink, we enjoy.