Nice to meet you.

It's been a social weekend. As blogged yesterday, I met up with G ostensibly for coffee, but it turned into a couple of pints.

The night out with The Crowd ended up being just me and S. FC and Mrs FC got unexpected guests and couldn't make it. GM was always an outside bet - he had previously claimed to be skint this month.

With that, I was nearly texting S to see if he wanted to meet up. S can be difficult at times - a lack of maturity - meaning conversations feel shallow and typically film-related. But he was good company last night and the conversation flowed easily.

And then today, my youngest nephew had asked me for a favour, so I went to visit. My brother-in-law asked me to stay for dinner, so we had a few drinks and chatted.

I'm knackered, but despite being an introvert, I do enjoy weekends like this. I get out of the house and I don't feel like I've wasted my weekend by sitting in front of the TV or at the PC, doing very little.

Let's go!

A week or so back, I suggested to The Crowd about meeting for drinks. it must be six months since we last did it. Everyone seemed keen, though GM claimed a lack of money, so would have to pass this time around.

Today, I followed up to see if people were still interested. I think it's still the same: everyone's keen but GM definitely can't afford it.

I suggested that we might stay local if GM is not coming out (S, FC/Mrs FC and I all live on the same side of town). There are about seven bars we could choose from, including CB Pub, and I don't mind any of them.

I'm not in a rush to make that decision, i just wanted to make sure we were still meeting, which seems to be the case. 

Green with envy?

With it being the day after Paddy's Day, Facebook is full of memories of past days. It's the women who stand out: Foreign Girl was 11 years ago. She was great fun. 15 years ago there was a near miss with a girl that I regularly saw on Plenty of Fish who ticked a lot of boxes: tall, nice figure, brunette. I didn't talk to her, and I can't remember if I even tried. On the same day, one of RB's friends came out because MF was out. She was cute in a Joanna Garcia Swisher kinda way. And there are pics of KfW2, who inadvertently wore a thin black top that didn't hide her blue bra when the flash went off.

It's been years since I went out for Paddy's Day, but I don't recall there ever being a bad day out. Even the day where it was only KfW2 and I and she was pregnant was a great day out.

'Member?

It's an anniversary of sorts... a couple, actually. Firstly, it's ten years since I moved into this house. It's not the date anniversary, but it was the third Friday of December. I'd been at a work thing with KfW2 and spent the entire day massively hungover. The actual date was yesterday. 

It's a similar anniversary to meeting Chloe. Again, not the date which is actually the 15th, a few days ago, but yesterday being the third Thursday of the month was when I met Chloe on a night out with S, GM and FC. She was out on her own work event, being chatted up by some guy who didn't work with her, but was maybe related to someone she worked with? Those details are vague, but I was quite drunk that night.

And while I'm at it, I can't recall if I ever stated this, but Chloe reminds me of the blonde woman from the "threesome" dream post last week. Similar figure, smile etc.

Vibes

I met up with some ex-colleagues last night for a catch-up. It wasn't a particularly drunken or late evening. Left the house at 5 PM and I was home by 11 PM. We grabbed some food then hit a favourite bar of mine. I think I've posted about the bar before, I've been to it many, many times over the years.

One of the barmaids has been mentioned here, too, I think. She's been serving in the bar for easily 15 years. I still recall a couple of stories involving GM and another ex-colleague who's dropped off the radar these days (thankfully).

It was just a decent night of quiet pints and chat, no real newsworthy moments apart from the cute woman who sat at the table beside us who was giving off serious Anna Kendrick vibes. However, she was easily half my age.

I was also sat with my back to the majority of the pub, so I definitely missed out on loads, but I was happy enough chatting and didn't really need the distraction.

Oh really?

GM featured in last night's dream. I can't remember the start, but in it, GM broke up with his girlfriend. Or rather, his girlfriend broke up with him. He asked me to collect a gift that he'd made for her where it transpired that he was planning on proposing to her. And at the same time I found out that she had been cheating on him.

GM did break up with his girlfriend in real life about two months ago. I don't know if there was any cheating involved. From the sounds of it, it was just that the relationship had run its course. 

Wonderful

It's ten years to the day that Sports Girl admitted that she liked me, looking stunning in her Wonder Woman costume. I think it had more overtures than that. We were, after all, friends. She left the bar shortly afterwards and I shared the update with GM, admitting that I was attracted to her, but in a purely physical way.

It would never have worked out. She had weird ideas about sex... conflicting ideas about sex and I'm not sure casual sex was her thing either. And she was not girlfriend material, at least for me. She and GM got together about 5 months later.

But that Wonder Woman costume... 

Night out.

It was a great night out. I was a little apprehensive when I first arrived at the bar and it was packed. While I've been out in bars over the past year or so, I've never been out when it's been really busy so the brief flicker of anxiety/discomfort was something new to me.

FC and Mrs FC were the first to arrive. Mrs FC was quick to ask if I'd lost weight. GM was the next to arrive. S was an hour late. He'd gone out drinking with other friends and took his time joining us.

We went to two bars - arguably my two favourite bars in the city centre. And it was great people watching. And I'm not gonna lie, it was great seeing cute women. There seemed to be a lot of women in skirts and boots too which was a bonus. 

There was one woman sitting at the table next to me in the second bar who was giving off serious Anna Kendrick vibes, but they weren't giving off "open to talking" vibes.

We called it quits around midnight, which was just right for me in terms of time and drunkenness.

Watching.

I am looking forward to Saturday night. If I am being honest, I'd say that I am as excited about being in the city on a Saturday night as I am about seeing The Crowd in... years? I can't even remember the last night I saw them. Was it the Chloe night? I'm struggling to recall if I've seen them since.

It looks like GM is going to drive, and might leave early, but I've already suggested meeting earlier than we used to and leaving town before it becomes impossible to get a taxi. 

But sitting in a bar, on a Saturday night people watching and having fun is something I've missed as much as the company itself. Is it the potential of meeting new people? Maybe. I've always had great success in chatting to new people with GM. It's definitely at the back of my mind.

Well, what do we have here?

One of the blockers in getting The Crowd out for drinks has been GM. Rather, this unspoken rule that it's everyone or no-one. It's similar with FBS, D etc.

But GM has been the most difficult to pin down. We can never agree dates, but GM has never been that upfront about suggesting alternatives or sharing his availability.

I was genuinely surprised at how easy it all came together on Monday evening.

I was also extremely surprised when GM started posting in the WhatsApp group earlier today suggesting places to meet. This is unusual and, as a result, I am suspicious.

Party time?

After D's attempt to get us out soon, I took the plunge and sent a message into the WhatsApp group with The Crowd about meeting for drinks soon.

S was quick to reply in the affirmative and so, surprisingly, was GM. Nothing as yet from FC or Mrs FC, but maybe this time we'll get something sorted. I'd be surprised if we saw each other this month, but maybe the start of November? That feels doable.

GM's already suggested a Christmas night as well. Hopefully we can do both.

Pondering.

There was an outside chance that The Crowd were going to get together last night. As part of some messaging that was going on on Wednesday, FC suggested an impromptu meeting at CB Pub.

That would have worked in my favour. I could have done the walk with Nerdy Girl then met up with The Crowd afterwards.

But S was quick to cry off. to be fair, travelling to Bristol was a good excuse. GM though was another matter.

"Busy" He used more words, but that's what it boiled down to.

"Maybe we can schedule something in a few weeks?" I countered.

"Dunno, I don't get a lot of free time and I've just gotten a new puppy."

I get that people are busy, but that's the whole point of arranging something in the future, isn't it? To avoid conflicts. 

It kinda feels that he's avoiding any socialising [with us], and it's felt that way for some time. 

Oh?

For the first time in a long time, I remembered a dream I had last night. The details are long gone, but I didn't get a chance to blog about this until now. Some of the basic components were that it was at a Christmas party, I was looking for someone. During my search, I bumped into CH and a girl that I went to school with, and some HR girls, including GM's ex.

The girl, who I don't think has been mentioned on the blog before, was a thin girl with a huge rack. We were were in the same class, friendly, but not close. As I think back, she gives off Judy Greer vibes.

Anyway, the girl from school pulls me aside and talks about how we'd hooked up (this never happened in real life), pulled up her dress to show off her g-string and impressively flat stomach, and asks for another go. When I turn her down to find the person I'm looking for (unidentified), she throws a huff and leaves.

And that's pretty much all I can recall from the dream.

Where did you go?

It's ten years to the day that GM brought Foreign Girl out for an afternoon's drinking and partying. I don't think her and GM talk any more - nothing wrong per se, they just drifted apart. She's disappeared off Facebook too. We were Facebook friends for a couple of years. I don't actually think I can remember her name.

But I recall that being a great day, somewhat drunken, and then GM admitting a few days later that Sports Girl had thrown an almighty huff later at FC's house because she assumed, rightly or wrongly, that GM and FG were getting it on. I know they had in the past, but I don't know if it was an active thing by the time she came to visit or if it was happening that night.

But I seem to recall it being a great day.

Dear Diary

Posting about G earlier reminded me that I've not heard from Mrs FC or anyone else from The Crowd. Seeing as GM supposedly needs notice weeks in advance these days, I don't think we're going to be meeting this month as was originally promised/suggested.

And once I get this weekend over, I'll be piling the pressure on KfW2 for dinner and regular readers will know that she'll almost always take priority.

Missed call.

Facebook memories get busy around this time of year due to a plethora of work Christmas parties over the years, but the one that prompted today's blog post was the first trip that KfW2 and I had to our Christmas Market.

Setting the template for future years, KfW2 and I arranged it between ourselves then opened up invitations to everyone else. A few people turned up, had a few drinks and left, including GM and CC.

We (including KfW2's husband) were the last ones standing, and we were extremely drunk. We parted ways - I was living in a city centre apartment, but KfW2 and her hubby needed to get a taxi. I awoke the next morning to a missed call and a really sweet (drunken, but still sweet) voicemail from KfW2. It was quite long, too.

Getting out.

I met Nerdy Girl again last night - that's twice in a week. It's something I want to do because I feel I'm really in a rut, so meeting Nerdy Girl ticks multiple boxes - getting out of the house, getting some fresh air and being sociable. When we parted, she mentioned doing it again next week, which would be great. We're still kinda stuck on our short walking route because the plantar fasciitis is still an issue, though it does appear to be easing. We're probably a good few weeks away from getting back to our original 6-mile route.

I also sent out a message to The Crowd to see if they were interested in meeting for drinks this weekend. S and GM aren't available. FC and Mrs FC are available, but I think the general feeling is that we hold off until everyone's available. Who knows when that will be?

The good, the bad...

I think I have a tentative date to meet KfW2... it's 31st August. I'd demanded that she messages me later to confirm so that I can book the restaurant, and she's agreed, but let's see if she actually does that. That's the good.

The bad is that she mentioned that she's promised to go out to dinner with CC, and I have concerns that this will turn out like a similar night a few years ago, almost to the very day where KfW2 invited CC along. Or rather CC invited herself along and KfW2 never said "No".

But that's good. Potentially this weekend, I'm seeing E again. Fingers crossed on that. And then the following weekend, it's KfW2.

I might see if GM wants to meet either for coffee or something a bit stronger. I know he has a girlfriend and stuff, but maybe a different ear might help?

Urgh

I didn't get to sleep last night until after 4 AM. I started work at 8 AM. Suffice to say, I'm hanging. I have a splitting headache that I can't shift and my eyes are really sore. I've already made the decision that I'm going to take some time this afternoon just to step away from the screen.

I might nap, though I tend not to be able to nap. Never have been, regardless of how tired I am.

I've been swapping messages with GM. We're both going through a hard time, and just chatting makes me miss him. I can't remember the last time I saw him in person, and we always got along really well, and I'm surprised that we never kicked on as mates.

But, an afternoon chilling should help and I should be tired enough this evening to get a good night's sleep.

Hurrah!

I've messaged KfW2 about doing dinner soon, I've already gotten a reply from a glazier about doing the work I've asked and he's coming to take a look (though he's not committed to a day/time yet). I've also done a little bit of gardening and a little more tidying, I've put out the feelers for an electrician to do this one thing for me and I've also messaged GM and Mrs FP, both of whom I should have messaged weeks ago.

So now it feels like I actually have accomplished something today rather than that fake feeling that I had earlier this afternoon.