Journal 230 - Australia

Faraway music, memories of wine and cocktails, and the ache of dancing feet.

I was worried about last night. This week I had been wondering how a social outing with my colleagues would turn out. After all, they were likely to see the side of me that I generally keep away from the workplace. I kept trying to remind myself that I would be seeing that side of them too and not to worry so much.

I did have to make super effort to look amazing for the evening too. I've never thought I would particularly fit into the Hair and Beauty stereotype. The truth is though, that we are all just people. Nobody looking at our group would know that we were all a bunch of Hairdressers and Beauticians. Still, I was going to dress to impress. I didn't want to let the side down.

And now I've cut my hair shorter, I really feel like I have to girl it up even more so. I think I did pretty well. I put some extra slap on and a pretty tutu dress.We started the evening with an exchange of Christmas gifts under the tree. (Still way too surreal, all this, Christmas with the sun shining lark, I suppose I should just get over it and get used to it though). I must admit i felt a bit awkward doing the gift thing. But my gesture of flowers was received well. And I certainly enjoy my new fluffy slippers and jewelry pieces. The champers got popped open and the evening was begun.

Onto town for tapas and cocktails. So much laughing. Then onto the next bar. My first experience of a 'Cougar Bar'. And the beginning of the mission. 'Operation: Visa Husband'. I don't really need to explain that one do I? Well, the girls want to keep me in the country. They must have approached at least twelve different men, asking if they wanted and English Wife. A few thought they were crazy. Others were genuinely interested. One was little unsure, because 'It's a lifetime commitment'. So sweet that he had actually gotten to that extent of thinking about it.

It was pretty fun. And I was touched that these ladies were going to so much trouble just for me. You could say I feel like I fit in now. I needn't have been worried. We laughed, we danced, we bar hopped. In fact we hardly spent five minutes in one place it felt like. One minute we were at the bar, drinks in hand, the next they were gone and we were out of the door. Jodes was horrified. She didn't like playing 'Skull it'. She told us off, saying we were 'Supposed to make love to your drink, not rape it'. But it appeared us girls were on a mission.

Of course, the more they drank, the funnier my accent became. And the more I drank, the more relaxed my accent became. And the circle went on for a while. As I my accent went more and more towards London, the more they laughed at me. In a nice way. In fact, I was told 'I like you as a Bogan Pommy.' It wasn't really a compliment, but at the same time it wasn't an insult either. In fact I think it might have been a term of endearment, of sorts anyway.