I need a holiday, part one

Above (left to right): Me, Daz, Chopper and Gareth shortly after Chopper's return

I've only realised these last few days that it's not too long until my holiday with the boys. We've had it booked for a while now, and it's always seemed like it is miles away until we actually go. Now it's less than a month to go, and I'm really looking forward to it. Having been working for a few months it's also the first time I probably 'deserve' a holiday, so my eager anticipation is being fuelled even more.

This has prompted me to write a post looking back on holidays gone-by, and this theme will probably turn into a series of posts. Each one will look back on one specific incident and I'll recount it as best I can. I was trying to think of my number one holiday memory of all time, but it's just too hard. There are too many to pick from. Anyway, here goes. This one just came into my head first, for no reason in particular.

Holiday Memory One: Chopper goes missing
Destination: 'The Pit', Gran Canaria
Year: 2007

We were all enjoying ourselves the hub of Gran Canaria's drinking district, which we coined 'the Pit'. Literally a hole in the ground filled with bars, this was probably our favourite haunt whilst we were there. We'd been to a few bars before arriving at the Pit, and had just tucked into a stash of about 24 Buds that we'd ordered from 100% Orange. We suddenly realised that Chopper wasn't with us. I think most of us just assumed he'd gone to the bog or something, and then forgot about it. A while later though Alex then went to look for him, and soon returned with the man in question. He found him in a nearby car park, without his shirt or shoes. Alex luckily found the shirt, but not the footwear. The two of them returned to the Pit, and Chopper was completely spaced out as if he'd just landed on earth. It was a classic scene, Chops stood half naked in the middle of the Pit, simply shaking his head. We asked him where he'd been and what had happened, but a shake of the head was all we ever got. The next day, we found him asleep in bed with his feet completely black from all the dirt he must have stood in without his shoes. To this very day, dear Chops still can't remember what happened. We suggested that he could well have been violated, but the truth will forever be in question!