They say things happen in threes. I’m much one for listening to them, but when they’re right, they’re right.
On a whim, I google an old, old friend with whom I first terminated contact with, and later lost track off. Actually, it’s a long painful story, and is really totally entwined in my life, and although it has nothing much to do with The Ex, she is in fact the reason why the story was so painful . I’ll save the recollection of the whole saga for when I get caught Blogging whilst pissed again. It happens.
Anyway, during my marriage, whenever I got up to mischief or didn’t toe the line, The Ex would somehow, miraculously and quite by coincidence, appear or make a remark relating to the said events. This obviously led to a reflex reaction of guilt on my part, deserved or not, but would inevitably expose the questionable events and get me into trouble, or not. Depending on the said event.
I therefore had to laugh, when not two days after I reestablished contact with The Old Friend (and she’s going to hate me for assigning her this anonymous tag), who would phone? The Ex. Clearly I had no reason to feel guilty about anything, and thus there was nothing to ‘catch’ me on, but the coincidence was really hilarious. Why did she phone? That’s a whole other Blog entry all together. One I will make if the issue raised bares any fruit.
The three I was referring to, I guess, pertains to women in my life. Thus, the Third happened last night.
As a continuation of the Birthday Weekend Celebrations, last night the Gateman and I went to the same old spot again. However, during the afternoon we first stocked up on some essential pre-party supplies.
You see, the club’s alcohol is rather expensive and you can’t buy hard liquor by the shot. Either you buy an entire bottle at a price really impractical for just a casual party, or you drink beer. Beer in itself is not the problem, but we dance more than we drink, and if you don’t keep the supply of beer constant, it turns out just as expensive to get a buzz off beer.
The solution to this challenge, is to load up before you go to the club, and enjoy the buzz when you’re there. However, to time the buzz just right, is science. King and I nearly got ourselves into trouble during the holidays, when we overloaded at home, and missing the buzz, had some more hard liquor at the club. I do believe he, at least, was on the verge of toxic shock.
So, Friday night the Gateman and I shared half a bottle of Bai Guo. That was good, but Bai Guo on it’s own takes a while to kick in, kicks hard, and leaves quickly. My theory has been updated, as when King and I tried it in the holidays, I was of the opinion it kicks in quick, hard and fast. Not so.
Anyway, Friday wasn’t all that good. Last night, I had a plan. A drink popular amongst students in South Africa is a Snake Bite. It involves dropping a shot of your favourite spirit into a glass of beer. It gets you pissed super quick. I adapted the formula, applied it to the piss beer here and voila! A good starter.
I dropped half a shot of Bai Guo into an airline-sized cup of beer, and down the lot. The result was a buzz that kicked in just as we arrived at the club half an hour later, and it lasted well into the night. The Gateman is quite small, so he was fine. I topped up on a beer every hour or so.
Having explained in detail about all the alcohol, the actual success of a night out, as I stated previously, is not so much what you drink, but who you’re with. And to a secondary extent, where you go.
Last night was great, because a) the crowd was fabulous. The place has not been in such good spirits since that first night King and I went there. b) The DJ was clearly thinking straight, as the music he played really got the crowds going. It was just a great atmosphere, and everyone was bumping and touching everyone else.
Which leads to The Third. Whilst dancing I bump into everyone. I dance with my body. My hips, my shoulders, my legs. A little arm here and there. And there’s no space to dance like that, actually, so sometimes there are casualties.
A guy was dancing behind me. Every now and again the excitement of having a foreigner dance in front of him would get too much, and he would grab my shoulders and swing it, almost in time with the beat too. This is a non-verbal attempt to connect with a stranger, and it happens often, so I don’t take offence. Anyway, at one point I felt hands around my waist.
I thought, hang on buddy, I was being friendly, but this is a smidgen too friendly. As I turned around to give him the eye, I saw he was gone, but that in his stead now stood a girl. Obviously, I didn’t mind anymore the hands around my waist. However, she saw me look around and let go. I turned back and moments later when I turned around again, she was gone. Pity, I thought.
As the night was winding down and the floor cleared a bit, the Gateman and I were dancing to one side. A good song was playing, I swung my head to the left and when it came back around to the right, as if by magic, there she was again.
I caught her eye and she smiled. She danced with me. Well, she danced with me in a abstract sort of way, eyes closed, enjoying the music. Ever now and again our hands would collide, she would open her eyes and smile. Having lost Ms. Li like this before, dancing nicely and then she was gone, I quickly typed in Chinese on my phone “Can I have your QQ number”, and showed it to her. She smiled and typed her phone number instead. I asked her name, she typed it too. Pei Pei.
She left shortly after that, and so did we. She SMS’ed me later on, and we had a conversation after I got home. Knowing Chinese women like I do (which I guess, is not at all), I will see this as an opportunity to broaden my circle of friends and not as a romantic interlude.
That way I might just protect all emotions involved.