November 2010
Stuff happens.
21st November 2010.
On the 22nd of last month, I met up with a Scottish tourist who had been talking to me over the internet as someone to be a local tour guide sort. So that was what I was. I went to town to be a friendly face to Dunedin. We walked from town to Baldwin Street, and then up the thing (which was sweaty and gross owing to how overly warm a day it had suddenly turned in to, and with me having dressed expecting much cooler weather). After conquering the steepest street we had lunch of Crusty Corner pies and then wandered about the university for a while. Then pottered about for most of teh rest of the day. At some point I realised I was being flirted with. It was weird. Actually normal seeming and passably good looking people don't go for me very often, so it always throws me when it happens. Then I had to cut things off so as to pack and head away for the long weekend with Oli.
The weekend in Oturehua with Oli's extended family was surprisingly fun. Much eating and chatting to people I'd not talked to in ages, such as Oli's cousin Sam (who brought my nipples up in conversation far too many times - they may show through t-shirts a little but it's not that not worthy). There was so very much BBQ. I'm surprised we didn't all overdose on too much meat. The memorial for Oli's grandmother was very nice, and my being there was handy for the taking of group photos as I'd no worry about being the one to miss out on being in them. I did feel a little intrude-y though.
The week following I don't remember so it can't have been too interesting. At a party on the Sunday following (just over a week after having met) I was proposed to by the Scottish tourist in a late night drunken phone call. I was quite flattered. Seems I'd managed to make a very good first impression.
25th November 2010.
On Guy Fawkes night I took someone I've spent the better part of a year embarrassingly crushing on to do fireworks with Oli, Bridget and Greer. It was a pretty pleasant night and not so much with the awkward at all.
The following day I headed to Stewart Island. For a solid week of Oli, Bridget and Greer. The trip down was fine, as was the ferry ride (it was a bouncy crossing, but it turns out that is fine and fun - the only bad part was that there were school children on the boat). We arrived to a house with no power and little plumbing (which was expected) and full of dead flies (which was not). So we started with a bit of cleaning before going along to the wharf and doing a little bait fishing.
The following day the other three went off in a little boat (I chose not to, out of distrust for little boats) and I curled up to read but mostly just slept. That evening, we had fish (and adventures to get some level of running water). That evening it was also made clear that Bridget did not want me there. On the second day of the eight we would be together and she was already sniping at me - joy. It was then that I realised agreeing to a week in the company of three people, each of whom I was the least favourite of, was possibly not a smart plan.
The next day, we walked in to the township and then did a couple of the walks that went out from the other side of the town, getting to see such sights as Acker's Point and the Wohlers' Monument. On Tuesday (the 9th) we walked around to Maori Bay and watched an angry sea lion chase a pair of Japanese tourists. Comedy gold. On the Wednesday we went to town again and walked around the other side of the town before going to the pub for a drink and not socialise at all with the locals. On the way back we walked around the "Back Rd" which was partially not there and merely mud. Thursday featured more fishing and a dinner of Teriyaki trumpeter. Friday, we walked around Horseshoe Point among other things. So much walking. My legs were entirely of pain. The last day we cleaned and packed and headed home. After getting home, and having a much needed bath, I went to Doug's birthday party. Where my legs gave out under me (it turned out I'd pushed myself far far too far) and I had to have help getting home. On Sunday I was in bed until mid-afternoon and only got up to have dinner with my grandparents.
The week following was mostly pretty lazy, lazing about recovering.
This last weekend been was also pretty quiet and antisocial until I went to a quiz on Sunday afternoon. Winning is what quizzes are for, it was a good day for Team Formica. Even if all we won for our first place was budget umbrellas and tickets to a play.
This week has also been mostly unexciting. Firmin doing a course has given me a valid reason to leave roleplaying things early (well, this week has been all board games) and not have unpleasantly late nights - so I feel slightly less shit than usual. I also saw my doctor, not that there has been any changes on that front. And I visited a complete stranger and got back stuff I had lent to a friend of mine who'd since skipped town without managing to return it.
28th November 2010.
On Friday evening I went to Oli's work drinks. He'd had a pretty good head start and I ended up buying and drinking four beers. Turns out I'm too out of practice at drinking for four beers to be anything but a stupid idea. We ended up having a somewhat more personal chat than me usually do. he told me a couple of things of the sort I'm sure he normally only shares with Greer. He had a wee bit of a go at me about being overly secretive about my life. We also got on to the topic of how I'm no longer friends with my ex and I told him how the friendship ended in some unpleasantness. Oli then asked if I'd forgive and pick up where left off if my ex turned up at my house the next day and apologised. I said no, it was all done. The next day I was pretty much proved a liar. Later in the night we went back to his as Bridget was having celebratory drinks. So I got to catch up with some people before grabbing a ride home just before midnight for some much appreciated drunken sleep.
Saturday morning I woke and decided that actually getting up was a non-happening thing. So I pottered about in boxers listening to an audio book until there was a knock on my door. What followed, after I'd jumped into actual clothes on the way to answer the door, was an awkward conversation with my ex after a long run of not talking. Later that evening I had takeaways (as I do far, far too often) and headed to Carla and Ian's for the evening (as I also do a little too often).
Today, laziness and bad thinking. Stupid brain of unhelpfulness. Also, gave myself yet another terrible haircut. I do do terrible so very well.
