Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 - 23:59

Indoodly, it's been a few days since I last posted, but this has been due to happy busy-ness as opposed to the oft-cited reason of being on a downer.

I'm not happy with that first paragraph. It somehow seems to be miserable even in the face of happiness, and makes me feel a mite like an ungrateful bastard (OK, so I do feel a bit like an ungrateful bastard 'cause of other reasons, but that't a different issue) and I don't like that.

Anyhow, it was my birthday on saturday. I (unfortunately) had to work - or rather it was the case that I decided me going into work for an hour or two was preferable to getting someone else to count my plates for me. Workaholic in a sense. Controlling, perchance. Still, it was more that I just don't trust the lack of expertise and care of some of the lab staff.

After that, which didn't go all that well 'cause my spikes were too high (I'll let you come up with your own mediaevil themed mental image for that), I went into town and met up with JR and her sister.

Today I am going to give JR's sister an acronym. I'm sick of (and find it unfair and a bit rude) referring to her merely/mainly by reference to her sister. She is going to be called 'Rrr' from now on. Okay?

Met up, silly balloons, bit of a wander about (and I felt a little worried w.r.t. the sisterly bickering, in that I wondered how much I'd have to listen to over the course of the weekend, 'cause I get on with both of them better one-to-one.. but in truth I shouldn't have worried 'cause JR buggered off out most of the w/e) and back to their place for fodder, DVDs, banter.

Some very cool pressies. Got a scarf and a funny book (amusingly, the same funny book as I got Rrr, but this year has been quite a one for coincidences and repeat pressies, 'cause I also got got a book, two DVDs and a CD that I'd already got from friends/folks earlier in the day!) off JR, a cookbook off Rrr/JR's parents (very nice of 'em!), and a very amusing and touching 'emergency box' off Rrr herself, with various amusing little pressies and labels on them saying what they were for (e.g. throaties for after I starin my voice doing kareoke).. all very very touching indeed. I was slightly overwhelmed :-)

Watched 'Borat' (not funny really - too little satire on the USA, too much easy jokes, anti-semitism, shock/gross out stuff and slapstick), had dinner and headed off out to town once we'd all got tarted up. The ladies both looked very beautiful.

Had a good evening, overall. There were points at which I feared there might be cracks appearing n'stuff (my mad ginger ex texting left me feeling a bit pensive, there was a bad m/f ratio so I had no-one to talk to blokeywise, and I think I felt a bit drunk and inappropriate at times) but overall I think everyone had a good'n.

Chatted for a while when we got back, then went to bed. There were some flirty textual conversations through the wall, like had happened after JRs b'day but this time were happening with the other sister :-)

In the morning (OK, was early afternoon actually, but I'd been up till 4 a.m.) I was woken by a New (Fucking) Radicals tune, but got up and breakfasted - before Rrr, myself and Rrr's Ma and Pa all went out for a bit of a walk up a local hill.

Which was great fun. It was very sunny and very deep snow, but we timed it just right w.r.t. the weather ('cause it got very blizzardly and grey not half an hour after we got back). There were odd hairy moments with peeps falling over and hurting themselves, but overall the views were marvellous, the walk bracing and cheering, and.. yeah.. good stuff.

We got back to the house and warmed up, had some lunch (mmm shepherds pie) and spent the afternoon/evening chatting, listening to music, and watching some DVDs (some pretty crap, some a lot better). All pretty relaxed, and generally without issue regarding my fears that I'm socially inept and stuff.

I do worry though. Today was fairly functional and tired - JR gave me a lift to the station, and this afternoon I've been listening to the CD that Rrr made, plus the Sandy Denny album my Ma & Pa got me. Bit of chat online, some chess, and reading my book (Mark Haddon 'A Spot Of Bother') which I am very much enjoying.

I've had a very good weekend, despite feeling fairly worried at some points that I was coming over as less entertaining than I should be, plus more ungrateful and assuming.. and well.. I have my neuroses. That said, might be meeting up with Rrr for a wee jaunt to the coast later in the week, which'll be pretty cool.