Visiting Ali in Manchester

My boyfriend, Ali, has just moved to Manchester to do his PhD in Maths. I went to visit on Thursday after uni and have just had a really lovely few days with him. It was well worth the three and a half hour train journey on a Transpennine Express (not "proper" trains in my opinion).

His new flat is small, nicely decorated and well appointed. Seeing that it was comfy made me feel a lot better about him living alone. He seems to have made it his own already. It was really great to have our own space and not have to worry about flatmates.

There were still a few things he needed so we went to Sainsbury's in Withington and I bought a few outstanding essentials...along the lines of tea towels, bathmat, knives, glasses, bowls, cutlery tray, food...

The rest of Friday was spent mooching about Manchester, which up until now had been a city I had few pleasant things to say about. I am warming to it however. The parts which escaped the IRA bombs and still boast their originial red-brick architecture are beautiful. It was also just nice to wander about doing nothing together, something we've not have the chance to do in a very long time. In fact, I actually can't remember the last time we spent proper 100% alone time together, there are always friends and relatives around.

On Friday evening we went to see my best friend Beth. She went to uni in Manchester and has just got a job there after graduating. She's also got a new flat in Didsbury which is beautiful. It was great to see her happy and settled.

Today we went back into town for a frying pan and other bits and bobs. We sat in St Ann's Square with an M&S picnic and enjoyed the sunshine. My train was at 3.45pm and it was sad to have to leave him.

The first thing I did when I got in was book train tickets to go on the 2nd and the 9th. We'll see each other every week for the month of October - start as you mean to go on I say!

Tomorrow Mum and Dad are popping up to bring a thicker duvet, some blankets and my thick dressing-gown...preparations for a Scottish winter are beginning!! I'm at work at 12pm because they wouldn't give me the day off. It will be a short but sweet reunion.

I'm fairly exhausted now so might catch an early night. I'm not relishing sleeping alone again, even if my bed is a single. I'd share a dog basket with Ali if it meant a night together. I'll be looking forward to Thursday all week.