Practically Headless Penguin

I went stationery (and other things) shopping today. Got up at about ten to find Pedar was still here, surprisingly enough, waiting for the smoke alarm man to come. He didn't come. Therefore, Pedar left around half ten and I left around eleven. Walked down to the station and caught the train without incident, but when the train passed Blundellsands, I looked across and realised Becca was sitting there, and neither of us had noticed the other. So we blinked a little, then I moved across and we managed to talk pretty much solidly until the train got into Central.

Clare (osiris13) and Hannah (purplerainbow) met us at Central, and we promptly went to Stationery Box, where Hannah bought scary purple magazine holders. They were scary. They looked like instruments of torture. That done, we wandered into Clayton Square, then into Tesco Metro (don't ask) so Becca could buy Titanic on DVD (again, don't ask - her video has worn out). She also wanted to get Romeo and Juliet, so to that effect, we went to Music Zone. Hannah bought several things - a book by Tim Burton and something else, I forget what - and Becca bought three CDs. They were Placebo's Sleeping with Ghosts, U2's Best Of and something by Green Day for Thomas's birthday. I remarked that Placebo really ought to go back into the charts, considering that nearly everyone now has Sleeping With Ghosts, but they do deserve to. It's one of those wonderful, gorgeous, sublime albums everyone should own. Talking of sublime albums, we spotted the Goo Goo Dolls' Gutterflower for £2, so both Hannah and I bought it. It's lovely, but the sound quality on this computer is crap, so I'm not really getting the full effect of it here.

Following that, I think we went to WHSmith, where the actual stationery shopping portion of the day began. I got myself a clear-and-red pencilcase and a silver mid-year academic diary, both of which I am remarkably pleased with. Becca and I had a mild disagreement about who should buy which diary, but we eventually decided that the silver one had quotes on the bottom of each day, which appeal to me more. Becca couldn't find Romeo and Juliet, so she got Notting Hill instead, and I also got a pen, which is made of clear plastic with clear gel ink, but it writes in pink. It was too cute not to buy.

Clare didn't need to buy a pencilcase, because Hanah had already seen one, thought of her, and bought it. It's a penguin (like Clare's "One by one the penguins are stealing my sanity" slogan top) and all cute and fluffy, but they all seem distressed by the fact the zipper is in the head, so when it's open the head of the penguin lolls bizarrely off the body. Like Nearly Headless Nick, Becca said, which soon became Practically Headless Penguin. I was amused.

We went to Subway (and Home and Bargain!) as always, and Hannah was moved to wonder how many teenagers go up Bold Street for the sole purpose of buying bottled water from Home and Bargain, but we did manage to buy sandwiches and find somewhere to sit without major incident. The major incident occurred when I opened my bottle of sparkling water. Needless to say, it went everywhere, and Becca trotted off to get napkins while Hannah ensured my sandwich didn't get saturated in peach-flavoured water. Even after that, we sat there for much too long, talking and taking up a table, before we went off to Quiggins. I didn't buy anything from there, although I did see a lovely pair of denim baggies. The problem was the old problem - they're too bloody long! Why can't I be taller? It's not fair!

Ahem. Hannah got a purple top-thingit, and Becca bought purple eyeliner, just because. It was quite cool. I love eyeliner, but can't apply it for love nor money. It's a little disconcerting. After that, we went to Woodstock and the Bead Shop. With a bit of prodding from yours truly, Clare picked up the twenty-six beads required to spell out "PRACTICALLY HEADLESS PENGUIN" and the elastic thread. I was proud. Hannah bought dye. I was mystified.

We'd already been to the Bad-Ass Boutique before then, I think. Clare actually bought jeans (they fit her! They're long enough!) and Becca got another Custard bag. I would have bought something Pucca-related, but they don't sell pencilcases, it seems. Boo. Anyway. I then suggested we go to Thorntons, and we did, but on the way there, we nearly walked straight into lilka. I didn't recognise her, because her hair is so different. It's all short! I had to get over that before I could introduce Hannah, who is pleased there's someone else on her friends list she's met in real life, and Clare. We talked for a while, and I realised it's been real ages since I've seen her. We're meeting again on Friday, which is good.

Going to Thorntons always involves buying chocolate, doesn't it? I got simple milk chocolate, and we went into the station to find Becca and I had just missed the train. So we stood on the concourse and talked some more. Hannah wants volunteers for a charity Crystal Maze thing at the farm she works at, and as groups of six are needed, she's press-ganged Becca and me. Not Lorna (spiderdragon), who is in Blackpool with her bowling league(!), so we may talk cucharita into it. We weren't very enthusiastic about it, but we've arranged that afterwards, we'll have our Red Dwarf night, and watch all the DVDs. It should be fun. I mentioned that our group of six will need a name, and Becca suggested "Slashy Happy People!"

Suddenly, it sounded a lot more fun.

I got home about five, and have done precious little ever since except get my schoolbag together. It's all very intimidating.