Pubbing and Clubbing

When we got back from the club, we decided to hang out in Katerina and Billie’s kitchen for a while. I knew it must’ve been early morning by now, but I still wasn’t ready to call it a night. Billie made tea and I offered ‘round some of my biscuits. Oliver thought I said 'squits' which is English slang for violent diarrhoea. That led to a discussion about the different types of English slang and Australian slang. The ones who’d stayed out later started to trickle in, bringing various violent or dramatic stories from the night. Someone had threatened to stab another person, one couple "broke up" over a lost phone...which turned out to be in the possession of another friend. Apparently this couple's troubles started when Oliver moved a kiwi fruit. Billie was convinced that all the ruckus started because she was wearing the colour red. She had to lie down; there was too much drama for her to handle. This is coming from someone who thinks that tea solves everything.

We went to the pub first, but there was only time for a few quick beers and for Nick to ask me half a dozen times why I didn’t drink because surely I drank something?

The club was okay. Walking to the club was freezing; I decided that I would never again go out at night without thicker stockings.

Did I ever mention that I have an embarrassing habit of putting my tongue between my teeth when I smile?

I'm a claustrophobic person. Even being in an elevator with too many people freaks me out, usually. But dancing was more fun when we were all crammed next to each other and couldn't move without bumping into at least one person (it also meant that no one really noticed my two-step dancing). I was with Katerina most of the night. She dances well, and has an adorable pout while she dances. It made me smile, but then she asked why I was smiling and I said 'nothing'. It was too noisy to talk, anyway.

Some guy was dancing next to us at one point. He grinned at me. He was dancing very close. I couldn't help but grin back at his boldness. When he started grinding against Katerina, I got up on the higher dance floor and took Katerina with me. She thanked me for saving her.

Nick was drunk before we'd even left the pub. Most of them get really friendly when they're drunk, hugging or humping or kissing their friends. Yes, I did say humping. One of the guys said 'I've conceived about four thousand children from having [one body part] between my [another body part]'. (Sorry, I can’t repeat).

Oliver was great tonight. A real gentleman and friend. He walked with us three girls from the club to the bus stop, he diffused the awkwardness when that guy started slagging off his girlfriend with her crying only a few metres away. And he looked out for everyone.

We had to take a cab home because the bus we'd spent 40 minutes waiting for in the freezing cold didn't stop for us even though we were waiting at the stop, and standing by the road looking at the stop. I asked if it would have made any difference if we'd actually hailed it. Oliver said maybe but possibly not. He and Billie said that transport in Bath is awful. This surprised Katerina and me because all the buses have been on time for us so far. That made Oliver laugh, but I still reckon that mostly anything is better than Brisbane transport.

The Club

Dancing sober is too clear. It amazed me how quickly my ideals were compromised; I was seriously considering having a drink, if only so the songs would sound better. The main reason I didn't buy one was that the line was too long for drinks, and also I needed my coinage for dry cleaning tomorrow. I spent all my coins on the cab fare, but oh well. I'm glad I didn't have that drink; I needed that money.

The next day I was glad I hadn’t drunk anything because I was groggy enough from sleep as it was. I mean, a little bit of alcohol might have been okay. I hear it loosens your inhibitions. Mind you, Katerina had a beer and a shot during the night (which is a fair bit considering how tiny she is) and she didn’t seem any different. I really do hate the taste of alcohol, though. And I'm not into the lolly-water drinks, so I don't know if that leaves many other options.

Fun fact: most of the clubs in Bath are underground. Read more...