London calling II: hammered...and breaking the seal

I was too tired yesterday to continue with my story so I left it for tonight. Btw, maybe I raised too many expectations…so please keep them low!! (i.e. this is my disclaimer).

My weekend in London gave me a full immersion into the English language or, at least, into a dimension I am not used to. You may wonder why I raise this point since I have been living in NYC for a year so far. It’s true but in NYC I frequently mingle with other Spaniards, Latin people and so forth. However, while in London, it was like traveling to the antipodes: two days surrounded only by Australian people. No sign of Spanish at all and a warm welcome to that characteristic and difficult – at least for me – Australian accent. On the flipside, a great source for my list of new words and expressions . I guess the title of this post is enough evidence of that!

Where had I stopped in my story? Saturday evening, I recall. It was around 7 pm – my friend and I were around 3 hours late since the other guys had started their drinking race around 4pm – and, after trying to figure out some “universe mysteries” (e.g. (no offense) are girl(friend)s unable – maybe unwilling would be more accurate – to realize that certain plans are just for you and your buddies?; or is it so difficult to understand that a guy does need some of his own space sometimes?) – we headed over to the pub where we were to join the rest of the Aussie crew.

We arrived at a beautiful pub and, after getting a Guiness at the counter – Hoegaarden was sold out, unluckily –we went to the terrace where some other friends that I had already met and some other people – mostly girls, beautiful Australian girls – I was introduced to were chugging beer and white wine. For some reason – believe it or not, I had nothing to do about it this time…I swear to God – at the beginning I was allocated to the “girly” side of the table, which I accepted gratefully, needless to say. Dammit, if that sample was the average for Australian girls I will be definitely applying for a job down there after graduation!!! Beers kept coming, the mates (I truly learnt the meaning of this word for Australians, btw) started to get hammered and some funny talks kept coming, as well as some promising perspectives for the night…I even had the time to talk on the phone to another great friend from Exeter who couldn’t make it to London since he now happily enjoys his very recent parental obligations. It would have been awesome if both himself and the fourth friend who left four Japan four years ago had made it to London. The reunion would have been just perfect, as it was in Budapest a rather long time ago.

I was having a lot of fun and, by the time we were discussing whether the Gunners or the Spurs were bigger (although my dear Reds are unrivalled), the evening was coming to and end and it was time to make a move. A sly sneak inside the pub, a subtle kiss hoping to see her again soon and a sad farewell as she left in the darkness brought the evening, an incredible one, to an end. It was then time to go back home for a party that turned out to be much more massive than expected.

It was one of my first parties in an apartment in London ever. And the bar has been set really high. It will be tough to make it better. More and more beer, scotch, wine…, a stained carpet, general madness, some insinuating flirting, a naughty terrace, … and a non so subtle move this time that took my party to another place…

A proper full English breakfast, similar to those that we used to have back in Exeter on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to fight our hangovers, brought the London trip to an end on Sunday. I was tired, jittery and slightly sweaty due to the hangover and traveling back home didn’t sound like the best plan. However, it was already time to go.

Around 6 hours after I took the subway at Maida Vale – btw, I was able to purchase a very cheap ticket for the Heathrow Express thank to the works on the Piccadilly line – I was back in my place. I was exhausted but at the same time, so happy about the weekend, the reunion and the general impression that friendship is definitely worth it.

Ciao

London calling I: catching up

Sunday night and I'm rather tired. It's been an extraordinary weekend and, although I should go to bed to get some sleep, I feel like writing some feelings and thoughts about the last two days.

Last Friday I flew to London. It had been some time, maybe a couple of years, since I last visited a city that I've always loved. It's funny b/c last time I was there I was still at the firm I used to work for. Thus, the circumstances were completely different at that time. I had not planned to visit London this summer but I had some "dues" to pay there...

After a long time I managed to meet again with a great friend of mine. A guy that I met in England while we both were studying in Exeter almost nine years ago thank to our respective college exchange programs . We first met in a random way: 20p here and there, some Crowded House music and Australia (he is from there and it was, and still is, my dream country although I haven't been there yet)...I now look back and I realize that I don't keep that many friends from those days, roughly four or five, but they are really good ones. It's amazing and something to be proud. No question about it. Well, the thing is that I had not seen this friend of mine for a long time - even though he even visited NYC a few weeks ago when unfortunately I was not there - and going to London was a great opportunity to catch up. And, as I said before, it's been a great w/e.

Everybody knows London has a great vibe. Nice places to see, great shopping, lager & stout, hot venues... If you add a reunion on top of that, it sounds just great. On Friday evening, around 830 pm, I arrived at my friend's place in Maida Vale, an awesome neighborhood close to Notting Hill. A few minutes later we were already out with his Aussie buddies and surrounded by beer. It was a rather quiet night, though. Saturday was an awesome day. Around noon we went to a food market near the London Bridge where you can find anything: from wasabi nuts (God, they are delicious!!) to scallops, samosas, raclette or awesome carrot cake (one of the best I've ever had, btw). Then some shopping in Carnaby St. (mandatory stop at Merc) and then back home for some rest before getting ready for the big night out.

During that time my friend and I philosophized a little about life, our buddies’ situations and problems, girls, girlfriends, the turning points in life where we are now (he quit his job in Melbourne to give a go to London and he's doing a great at a big law firm)...again with some beers (Ed Burns would be proud of me) and some more wasabi nuts. It's good to hear that some of your friends have the same concerns and doubts, it makes you feel less insecure and it makes you look at the future in a more hopeful way. It was also a good time to try to remember some of the cricket rules....well, at least to try to remember... What happened after, the big night, requires some extra lines but I'm too tired now, so I will leave it for tomorrow. I must definitely write about that.... I would just say that I now love Australia even more.....

Before finishing, and after a very dramatic season, the soccer team from my city has been able to remain in first division. Thank God! I got a text message on my phone by the time my plane landed earlier today and the news was a huge relief!! It's been a season to forget but let's hope that next year we'll do better..

Going to bed now...second part on London still to come.

Ciao

Le Cafe

It's 445am in the morning and I am back home. I 'm on my own since my my three flat mates are spending the night at their girl friends' place (I guess so...). The whole place for me... but I just can think about how things are - or seem to be - changing. I ain't drunk tonight although I have had a couple of drinks. Just enough to let the words flow easily...

I've been having dinner and drinks with my former workmates. At this place called Le Cafe. Nice place and nice food. I can't help thinking about the time when I first visited the place on its opening day a couple of years ago. It's a place with nice cuisine and with huge pictures of both Brad Pitt and another very hot girl on the restrooms doors. First time I visited the place I did not know if I had to go through BP's door b/c he is a guy or through the hot girl's door b/c she's so hot and she was showing the guys' way. I found out (after first entering the latter) that the former was the right one....

As I was saying I've been having dinner with my ex-colleagues - and very good friends - from the law firm I used to work for. I wouldn't say that I'm feeling gloomy right now but a kind of nostalgic feeling is all around me. It's been great to see these guys after a long time and to chat about how our lives are going. On the flipside, I must confess that at certain point I've felt like I was living in a different world. The funny thing is that I am. So close and so far at the same time. I don't work for big corporations any more. I don't have a huge responsibility with respect to deals that appear on the financial papers anymore. I am not in that world anymore, at least for the time being. I am currently a student who used to share every single work related thing with these guys and doesn't anymore. I do live in a different world now.

It's been a year and a half since I left the law firm to embark on a huge adventure looking for new paths. I do not regret at all so far but I can't help feeling nostalgic about my law firm times. They were tough and extremely tiring and demanding but I do definitely keep the good times I spent with my friends and the stuff that I learnt. The latter is definitely useful to look at things with some perspective. A conclusion has been drawn tonight. We (I will still include myself among them for these purposes) dislike the way of life that we (used to) have; however, switching to something different, more comfortable from a personal standpoint, may not be as easy as it seems at first sight. Leaving dough aside, we like action and it seems like action and long hours go hand in hand. Finding the right balance may be more difficult than it seems...

Tonight's dinner has also showed me - more than anything else lately - that people do move on. I have seen for the first time the beautiful baby (I had bought I cute NYC t-shirt for him) of two of my friends. I have been able to celebrate the prospective weddings of another four friends. A cute (she's still really cute, btw, and has reminded me of not so-long-ago good times) girl I used to hang out with has been doing good with a guy for a year so far... people move on. And I won't say that I am not b/c that would be untrue but it is kind of impressive to see your friends taking some big steps. I guess it would be different if I saw them everyday. But when you don't see people often, changes always seem bigger.

Anyway, it's time to close down. Tomorrow there is a long day ahead. I will play some tennis with some friends in the afternoon after nearly a couple of years and later on I will go to a friend's birthday party. I'm sure it will be good fun.

Ciao