I'm not entirely sure what I expected when I moved. I was so caught up in the excitement of moving to a new city and the new job, all the leaving dos (awesome the lot of them, even the accidental folk nite, but how many is it possible for one girl to have?!!) and, of course, the new flat! That I hadn't properly considered what I would do about the friend situation when I got here.
The last time I moved city was when I left home for the first time to go off to Uni. Very exciting, and heaps of new friends to be met during freshers week. This time, there was no freshers week, no new flatmates, and no fellow homesick teenagers. Before I left, I just thought I'd join a few clubs through the new University, and of course there would be the work bunch!
The first week or so, I was quite content to be on my own, adoring my new surroundings, and gathering for my gorgeous new nest.
But then it happened!
I kinda knew it would, I mean, there’s only so much re-arranging of cushions, and positioning of paintings a girl can take! It got me, it was back, Hannabella wanted to go out! I wanted to get my groove on so bad it hurt! I wanted to shake my little tooshie! I wanted to hit the tiles! I wanted to paint the town red! And I wanted to do it NOW!
So, who to take on this quest for alcohol, disco lights and low down and dirty dancin’? Well, good question!
I tried with the work crowd. They didn't seem so up for it (dramatic contrast to the last lot!). I tried a local running group - potential there, but it was taking too long! I wanted to go out NOW!!! I tried a few exercise classes at work, great fun, but I realised just how much older I am than your average undergraduate nowadays!
The situation was critical, my social life was experiencing a drought, a drought so desperate, the highlight of Friday evening was a trip to the supermarket to pick up some washing up liquid and a pink begonia!
So, that was it, it had come to this. It had happened, and emergency measures were required. So it was with nimble finger, and attentive eye that I turned to our mutual friend the wonderful world wide web. Now, I'm well aware that some of you reading this are completely au fait with the whole business of getting to know people using this wonderful medium! Hell, here I am pouring out my life to complete strangers through it! But, I thought it was odd. I had serious issues with using the web to meet people! I'd noticed an ad on a local forum from someone who sounded just like me. Similar age, similar interests, looking for a gang of girlies to hang out with. I saw it, I thought it was perfect, but I did nothing!
It took me a week to drum up the courage to reply.
A meeting was arranged. There were 3 of us (at this point the old Hannabella would introduce some acronyms - what the hell - brace yourselves), myself, and internetty girly pals 1 and 2 (from now on IGP1 and IGP2). One elaborate contingency plan (in case they turned out to be Rab C. Nesbitt-a-likes with an insatiable apetite for Vodka-Irn Bru and something else entirely in mind!), some serious deliberation over suitable attire, nerves to rival those of a first date, and a bit of searching at the bar later, I found IGP1, equally nervous - and thankfully normal! IGP2 soon joined us, also normal, and an evening of wine, gossip, and giggles insued. Two and a half hours and a bit too much wine and gin later, I had miself two lovely new mates, and a plan to meet up again! Bloody brilliant mate!
And then I discovered, friends are like busses (in the 'you wait for one for ages, and then 2 come along at once' kind of way, I'm not referring to backside size here!), and I spent Friday night out with fabulous company from work, and then Saturday night out with more fabulous company from work, and even managed to meet summore new people too! Now I have a stonkingly gratifying hangover, a phone book full of new numbers, and a social diary so full, I have to keep reminding myself about that blasted thesis!
Speaking of which...
Posted by Han at May 14, 2006 10:49 PM | TrackBack