So, where was I? Yes, the do in the hotel. We got down to the bar area and it was rammed with partygoers, women with fake tans and classy and trashy outfits, most men in the full evening suit things with bow ties. I never think that outfit looks good on a bloke, and it seems a bit odd that when at such a formal event that all men should wear outfits that make them look exactly the same, whereas the women get to go to town with their outfits. If I was going to do a very smart occasion I doubt I would go for the bow tie route. Found a huge settee to relax on with the missus while they waited for the gong to go in to dinner. It was fascinating watching all the mingling people exchanging pleasantries wondering about what would happen later to them all. Who was going to get horrendously drunk, who was going to drunkenly get off with each other... Give it a couple of hours and I'm sure this very cordial picture I saw in front of me would be very different. The gong came and off went the missus and then gradually people filtered out, not with great urgency, until all that was left was me and a bunch of cockney lads on a golfing holiday who already seemed quite drunk. A girl waiting to go through to the party gave me a very flirty look, I'm thinking 'yeah, still got it' before my brain intervenes and says 'you're only fucking 29 you gimboid, not 50'. I relocated to the middle of the room to find a nice table of my own, the settees had no accompanying tables and they were so 'deep' that they weren't really comfortable to sit on with a pint. I settled in for a stint of solo drinking. I really enjoy the odd evening spent drinking on my own. I got to thinking all about what I've been reading of late, trying to take it all in again. It hasn't lost any of the impact it had on me when I first read it the other day. I just love to sit and ponder existence, consciousness, the quantum realm and all the things to make your head spin. I can't ever stop thinking about what it means to be me, in this universe, in this time. I just feel so at peace these days, in the past couple of years when I've read dozens upon dozens of books because of one book being placed in the wrong section of the bookshop. Where previously I felt almost anger at my confusion on the deepest issues, I now feel, as my french friend described it, serene. Which I think is a nice word. The cockney lads behind me were gradually getting more loud but I didn't really mind. One was drinking red wine, swilling it round the glass before sniffing it then holding it up to the light. 'such a young wine, such a young wine' he was saying to his mate, obviously trying to impress him but his mate didn't give a shite and pretty much ignored him. I popped to the bar for another pint, lad comes up to serve me and I tell him one of the cockney blokes was before me. He really appreciated it and said if I was on my own I was more than welcome to join them. I thanked him for the invite but told him I was just waiting for the missus but it was very nice of him. Settled back down to my drink when a fucking huge irish family horde. Classily dressed in Rugby shirts and tracksuits, with their charverish kids in tow. They stuck about 8 tables together. Took ages for them to order food, think the fella was quite taken aback at the price (£144, but between 14 people it isn't that bad considering). First course was platters of triangle sandwiches and bowls of chips before the curries and burgers came out for mains. Something clattered off the bar and I couldn't see what it was, shared confused looks with one of the Irish lads. Finally notice a golf ball on the floor by a table. Seems one of the drunk cockneys had hoyed it. One of their mates came over and apologised profusely but I insisted it didn't bother me at all, I was just curious, that's all. He kept saying 'sure you're ok?' and I kep insisting that it was fine, he was very pleasant. Time ticked on until eventually my missus made it out of her do so I had a wee drink with her. Then the bloke who came over earlier wanders over and starts telling my missus how lucky she is to be with me because I'm a really lovely man. I was pissing mesel, but he was dead canny. I had had a bit of a laugh with him at the bar earlier as well. My missus didn't really know what to make of it but he was shaking my hand as they stumbled off up to their rooms laughing. Nice fellas, I felt quite chuffed. Went off to the room and fell asleep pretty much straight away on the fucking cracking bed. Found a nice greasy cafe in the morning for a 'vegetarian brunch'. Only downside was the rubbish veggie sausages, they used those ones that are just like battered peas and sweetcorn instead of the superior faux meat ones. Popped in to the missuses parents place and set up the PVR that we got them for christmas as they have never been able to work the video. Had a drink with them last night, they are lovely people, which is a good job as they are the future in-laws. Can't wait to go to Beachy Head soon, I've been thinking of a time to propose to the missus. I could wait until we go to the lakes in march or I might chance my arm on a walk on Beachy Head on Christmas Eve, I'll see.
Anyway, I'm well fucking bored of typing, got to get back to reading and that. |
