Diary: Winter Girls Weekend in Durham
February 2025: Our breakfast chez moi, literally on a silver (well, gold) platter.
Friday: The Guests are Coming
I am turning into my mother. I woke up Friday morning with one objective: to transform my very normal flat into a Parisian spa ASAP.
It is mental (British for crazy), the amount of power house guests have over a woman. ALL DAY, I was a madwoman: massive TESCO trip, 3 loads of laundry, hoovering (British for vacuuming) the kitchen, rearranging the cupboards (which resulted in baking powder spilling all over the floor), taking apart the shower drain, putting fresh roses in a vase in the bathroom, and sending a 6-page itinerary. I really love these b*tches.
That night, Arohi and I drank champagne in bed (out of proper glass flutes), and she told me how she felt she was visiting a proper adult. I’ll drink to that!
Saturday: The Grand Tour
I woke the girls up to mimosas and the full breakfast spread. We walked down by the Durham Observatory, (a grass field with a view of the cathedral) with some extremely muddy parts. I wasn’t sure if the London divas would be able to make it.
We met Maddie over lunch at this ramen spot and then did the grand tour of the Durham Cathedral. The girls made me do my “professional voice,” which was hilarious to them, because when am I ever professional around that lot?
February 2025: Durham Cathedral
We charity shopped (British for thrifting) and then went home for a nap. I think you know someone is your real friend when you can nap in the middle of the day together.
Saturday Night Out: Tapas, Tinis, and T*T (Singular)
We started the night at a tapas place in the city centre called Tapas Factory. One of my friends is a pescetarian, another doesn’t eat meat on Mondays, and the other is gluten-free. I knew the tapas would fit the bill for everyone. Next we headed to Slug and Lettuce (for my American readers, S&L is a chain cocktail bar in the UK).
“Oh yeah, all Slug and Lettuces are basically the same,” Sarah and Arohi (the Londoners) said.
Maddie and I (the Northerners) tried to warn them: “Just so you know, it’s NOT like the Slug and Lettuce in London...”
When we got in, I could see the shock on their faces. 2010s pop blared through the speakers as the DJ announced Sheryl’s Divorce Party and Liz’s 40th. Balding men in teal polo shirts two sizes too small bobbed their heads, while tanned millennial women grinded on one another and squawked under the disco lights.
We retreated to a little corner and sipped on our espresso martinis and SOTBs while shouting over the music. Maddie and I danced a bit in our chairs, and I looked over to the group of local ladies to my right. I looked back at Maddie, not sure what to do.
One orange woman in a tie-centre dress enjoying her girls night unknowingly had a wardrobe malfunction up top. I looked at her and said, “Umm, your, your…” and pointed at it.
“WwhhHaaAAtt?”
Her friend looked down and almost pissed herself laughing as the woman finally realised and tucked it back in. Once they recovered from their squealing, she thanked me, and I told her,
“No worries. From the one I saw, it looks great!”
After we left, the girls agreed; the Durham Slug and Lettuce was indeed not like the London one.
We ended the night at a speakeasy, chatting about breakups and new prospects, before retreating to my flat by a ripe 12:30. We agreed our club nights were behind us.
Sunday: My Near-Death Experience in the Newcastle Mall
I have always wanted to go out in a cool way, if not in my sleep. I’d be happy with being chased down by a camel while journeying through Algeria or skydiving in Tahiti.
I never thought I would almost see the light from chomping down on chips (British for thick fries) in the Newcastle mall.
After breakfast on Sunday, I knew I needed to keep these divas occupied. So, no better place to take them than the mall in Newcastle (Eldon Square).
We hopped on the 12-minute train from Durham to Newcastle and grabbed some iced matchas to fuel our search for new jumpers for Sarah and a Valentine’s Day dress for me.
Halfway through, we stopped at a Lebanese restaurant for lunch. As we ate and Arohi started “woman-splaining” the bread’s history to us, I started choking on a chip. Arohi had to swat my back vigorously. It was so bad I had to go to the toilet and get some air!
How do I always manage to embarrass myself so badly in public?
After my quick run-in with death, some post-trauma Hotel Chocolat, and a bit more shopping, we headed home for the night.
We feasted on a gigantic salad that Arohi and I tag-teamed making. We cozied up to watch Sex and The City the movie (and, candidly, bickered over having the window open). There is something sweet about watching SATC with your own SATC characters right next to you.
Monday: Running, Psychoanalysis, and Another Nap
February 2025: Left to right: Sarah, Maddie, Arohi and myself
That morning, Arohi and I went on a jog and met Sarah at the cafe, where we munched on blueberry pancakes and talked about how each person had changed since we met each other three years ago. The feedback I got was that I have become way more sure of myself - only took me 23 years!
After a final afternoon nap and some squeezes goodbye, my time with my ladies was over.
