Over the May Bank Holiday weekend I went down to stay with my daughter, Little Chick. She is studying Psychology at a University down South and I quite often go and stay overnight.

She lives in a flat with seven other people (although a couple have gone home as their year has ended) However there are always extras coming and going and I have got to know most of them really well.

Most of them call me UniMum and I quite often get lovely messages from them, asking when I am coming to visit. I think it is something to do with feeding them all!!

I arrived on Saturday afternoon to a lovely cuppa made by one of the mates, Ryan. Perfect!

I was told by the group that they were planning on drinks in the flat before going out on the town and I was going with them. I tried to protest for awhile, but it got me nowhere and so I thought I better be prepared for a big night.

Sitting chatting with a couple of them, I offered to cook dinner that evening, knowing I would need some hearty food before a night of drinking.

Having never been to University or played complicated drinking games I knew I would be up against a group who were used to drinking each other under the table.

Little Chick, Charlotte and I popped to Tesco to stock up on ingredients and to replenish Little Chick’s permanently empty cupboards, and I had decided to cook a massive Chili, with nachos and dips. Cheese and Chorizo Quesadillas and plain cheese for the vegetarians were also added to the menu.

By the time everyone had been told about dinner, there were 10 of us. Sat around a little tiny table. All the flatmates had shared their plates, glasses, cutlery and cooking utensils. It was a bit haphazard but very much a communal kind of event.

Sat around the table with me and Little Chick was Ryan, Charlotte, Hege, Ollie, Malachi, Aneek, Rav and Will. I dished up the chili, we added some wine and sparkling water to the table for those who wanted it and everyone dug in.

The quesadillas lasted about as long as a cornfield beset by a plague of locusts!

After the food it was time for drinking games. Now, there may be some of you questioning the wisdom of playing with a group of uni students, especially when they know the rules.

Selfie Time

Thankfully they also know not to “piss off the person that feeds you” according to the lovely Charlotte. This meant I was very rarely nominated to take a drink when something happened!

Uni-Mum and her babies

After grabbing a quick shower and getting dressed, we had the prerequisite photo session before walking en-masse into town to visit the Slug and Lettuce where they do the best cocktails, apparently.

Uni Girls Forever

Of course the beautiful girls, Hege, Charlotte, Little Chick and Rav made for a great photograph and I was happy to act as their photographer.

Charlotte and Rav

The best part about The Slug was that the cocktails were buy one get one free! Either by the glass or the pitcher. Bonus.

Long Island Ice Tea

We sat chatting away, sharing drinks and stories and getting more than a little tipsy. Some of the group were not indulging in the alcohol due to work the next day, or preference. I think I drank enough long island ice tea for them too!

Beautiful Ladies – Hege, Charlotte, Me, Little Chick and Rav

The beautiful Hege had to get home early due to being on warden duty and needed an early night. We had found out that Uber was now available in the area so we booked the first taxi for half of the group.

Ollie and Malachi with their fruity Porn Star Martinis

The other half stayed for a bit longer and then ordered another Uber to get us home.

Aneek found a new love! Brutus the Bernese Mountain Dog

Whilst waiting outside, we met a man with the most amazing dog, a Bernese Mountain Dog called Brutus.

Surprised Charlotte didn’t get pulled over by the strongest dog I have ever met!

We all had a walk with him and I can tell you he was as strong as an Ox! I was surprised that Charlotte managed to stay upright on her huge platform heels as he dragged her along the pavement.

Brutus meets the Gang

Our taxi arrived and we met up with the others at the flat and another new face, Larry. There were more silly games and I cannot for the life of me understand the principle of Reverse Irish Snap, even when sober!

We connected Larry’s Bluetooth speaker to my Spotify account. Unfortunately I didn’t realise that it was set to start playing out of the Amazon Echo, 200 miles away at home.

My poor husband got the shock of his life when he was woken at 4am to voices downstairs. Creeping down in his boxers thinking there were burglars, armed with a baseball bat, he was confronted with Beenie Man blaring out the speakers.

Bad wife moment!

All too soon it was time for bed. I left them all to it, and once my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

Sunday morning and I was up with the larks, well maybe the mid-morning sloths. I had promised to make a fresh meringue for the troops and everyone was pitching in with pasta for the evening meal. There was only going to be 9 for dinner, so the pressure was off a little.

Aneek pitched in by sweeping the floor and tidying up, Rav grated enough cheese for a hundred people and Little Chick, well she gave all the orders!

Whipping up the egg whites was a bit of an order for any of the crew who had an alcohol induced headache. It was pretty noisy. Once the meringue was in to bake, I went back to bed for a couple of hours.

Fast forward a few hours and we were all sitting down to a meal of Bacon and Pea Fettuccine, with Garlic hedgehog bread. A fresh fruit meringue for dessert and we were done!

Mmmmmm Meringue

With a full tummy I went to bed early. Monday was bank holiday and we were due to meet my sister, brother, niece and Mum in Law for lunch before I drove home again with Mum.

Meeting up for a wonderful family lunch at a local pub really set the day off well. Pork belly with mash potatoes and vegetables just went down a treat.

The only downside was a I needed a nap afterwards, but had a couple of hours drive home.

I had a fabulous time with Little Chick and her friends, but I was glad to be back home and in the comfort of my king size bed.

Well until the next time I visit them all!