Party On!

Quiet Girl pinged me today to let me know that she'd put her name down for the work event in 2 weeks. Still nothing from the fourth person in our shared chat. Stalky guy is going through some family stuff, so he doesn't know if he'll be there.

I don't think any of the other people we usually see at these events will be there. The Halloween weekend is bad for people with families and only QG, me and Stalky Guy are child-free.

QG's friend, the one who I'm increasingly convinced does have a crush on me won't be there. She's separated or divorced, but has a daughter, so I think she'll be doing Halloween with her kid.

It'll be interesting. I don't think it will be busy in general. The numbers attending these events has dwindled since Covid. Apparently last year, it was about 40 people. Back in the day a "theme" event like this would get nearly 300.

There are some nice pubs nearby so if the work party isn't that good, there are options, though I'm not sure QG would go to the pub with me if it were just the two of us. 

Plans.

As expected/predicted, an email came out about a work Halloween party. It's been years since I was last at one, but our regular monthly thing is less frequent now and I could do with a night out.

I asked who was going in my work chat with Stalky Guy and Quiet Girl.

"I'll go," said Quiet Girl, "but I'm not dressing up."

I knew this. QG is definitely not the "dressing up" sort, and I'm glad cos that means she'll be wearing her usual attire: jeans and a t-shirt and I get to surreptitiously admire her ass.

So that's three definite social engagements in the diary: I'm meeting Nerdy Girl on Friday for drinks, it's just over a week until I head out with D, FBS etc. and then just over two weeks until this work thing with QG.

Still outstanding: a night out with AM (and QC1 etc.) and a rescheduled night out with KfW2, but that's unlikely to be for at least 5 weeks. Oh, and a potential meet up with M.

Weather or not.

I'm looking forward to the work summer party this coming Friday, though with half an eye on the weather forecast, it's potentially going to be a damp affair. We've formed a fairly decent core group of people who usually attend these things with Stalky Guy and Quiet Girl and myself, plus associated colleagues.

Last year, we sat outside and stayed well after everyone else went home. Whether that happens this time is another matter, and the weather will be a factor in that. In previous years, we've adjourned to CB Pub afterwards, which is kinda central to everyone.

I do pride myself in being able to bring everyone together, and everyone genuinely tends to get along, which is always a bonus. 

Things to do.

AM sent a message into the previously-quiet WhatsApp chat. It effectively said the same thing that we'd agreed on a few weeks back: dinner and drinks at a restaurant I'd suggested. I've said that I'm available but no-one else has said anything so far.

That makes a busy enough month: brunch with CC yesterday, I'm assuming drinks with G next weekend and dinner with AM (and others) the weekend after that. On top of that, there are two work-related things potentially happening before the wend of the month: dinner and drinks with some current and ex-colleagues plus our annual work summer party at the end of the month with Quiet Girl, Stalky Guy and others.

Lots of socialising this month. It must be my busiest month, socially, in ages.

Oh yes.

Ideas Girl has already leaked the details for the work summer party. It's at the same place as last year. We had a good time last year, with Quiet Girl, Stalky Guy and another couple of people hanging around afterwards and getting a much later train home. The weather was good too if I recall correctly. Fingers crossed for more of the same thing year.

I still have the memory of QG laying her head on my shoulder on the train on the way home. That's not helping the loneliness. I do not have a thing for QG (well, maybe a little crush), but it's not QG that's provoking the loneliness, but the action itself.

Quick Digest

I did call KfW2 at lunch and we spent 20 mins or so, chatting. I think that's the the first time we've spoken since I was at her house about 2 months ago. Our calls and texts are getting more infrequent, and she doesn't really interact on social media any more (not that I am massively active on Facebook). I should follow up over the weekend see about getting her out properly for food and drinks.

I also did get the gardening done. Well, about 80% of it. I have some tidying up to do, but the equipment I need to do it is at my Dad's house. I'm meant to be heading over there tomorrow, so I could get the work done by the end of the weekend.

FBS has already replied to D's text message saying she's unavailable on the day that D's suggested for drinks, but she's not offered up any alternatives.

And finally, thanks to some guy in work who's been a massive PITA over the past few weeks, I have a work call to attend tomorrow morning at 4AM. FFS. These use to be fairly regular when I was in the same team as Stalky Guy, but in my current team, these are almost unheard of. 

Back and forth.

For the first time in ages, SSCW was in the office. We got talking, as we do, and quickly fell into our old rhythm. That usually means that I take the piss out of her and in return, she tries to be outlandish to get a rise out of me. It's never worked though, which I think annoys her a little. Everyone else that she's worked with has quickly fallen into her trap.

Her "in your face" attitude is just an act, but few people have actually realised that. Stalky Guy is genuinely scared of SSCW.

I've met her outside of work on a couple of occasions and she's been really... normal. I recall one night I was out with QC1 and she was genuinely interested in talking to me rather than getting a rise out of me. 

But people are always intrigued by our... I want to say chemistry, but I'm not sure if that's the right phrase to use. 

It was great seeing her again, though. 

Bah!

Neither Quiet Girl nor Stalky Guy are going to this month's work event. I'm disappointed. It's not just Quiet Girl's non-attendance, but in general. My lack of social life over Xmas has continued into January, so I was hoping to get out to the pub, have a few drinks and do some people watching.

I've reached out to a few other people, but I am not holding my breath.

Housebound.

As expected, our monthly work night out has just been announced for the end of next week. I've already posted in our shared chat in work that has Quiet Girl and Stalky Guy in it. No replies as yet, but fingers crossed. It'd be good to get out and socialise and do some people watching. I've barely left the house this month.

Plans.

It hasn't been announced as yet, but I am assuming there's going to be a work thing at the end of the month. If that's the case, I'll be trying to get people to attend. Quiet Girl, of course will be top of my list, but there are a few other people who are fun, and if not, then Stalky Guy.

That's something I'm going to try to do this year: more socialising - build upon what I did last year by going to more concerts, which I think was reasonably successful.

Cheers!

So, my plan of getting Quiet Girl, Stalky Guy etc. out to CB Pub actually worked. Originally, QG was going to call her husband to get a lift home around 7 PM and offered me a lift, too. But then I threw out the CB Pub proposal and everyone accepted.

"You know, I could be talked into that..." pondered QG.

"I didn't ask you cos you said you were going home, but you're more than welcome to join us."

"Well, it is on the way home."

And with that, I ordered a taxi. 

We only stayed for a couple of drinks, but that was the plan. I was home around 10 PM, and quite drunk. My alcohol tolerance has plummeted this past year.

QG's friend was also in the office, but she didn't join us at the drinks reception. Apparently she left, mid-afternoon. I've not seen or spoken to her since the work event where she might have slapped my ass and asked me to text/call her.

It's still so quiet.

Quiet Girl will be coming into the office tomorrow, she announced earlier. There's a drinks reception afterwards, but I'm kinda hoping that I can talk people into leaving that and going somewhere more public and neutral.

For the people I have in mind, CB Pub is the prime location. It's on the way home for three of us: Stalky Guy, QG and myself, and a few others. That's a long shot, mind you, but depending on how things go tomorrow, I'll throw it out as a suggestion.

Confirmation.

Quiet Girl messaged earlier to say that she's put her name forward for next week's work social event. Stalky Guy is going, too, so that's the basis for a good evening. At least until about 9 PM when Quiet Girl will trundle off home.

Stalky Guy and I may call it quits around that same time, but we often stay out later if the vibe is good. 

But it's a week away, too early to be making actual plans. 

Cheers!

We've got a work thing coming up in 2 weeks, so I sent out the feelers to Stalky Guy and Quiet Girl. Quiet Girl, at first, was reluctant to commit. However, as the conversation went on, she changed her mind. She hasn't confirmed 1005 that she will go, but I think she will. She always seems to have fun when out with us, so my gut feeling will be that she come out.

Let's go?

The group chat with D, FBS and Friction Guy has been busy today. I sent a message suggesting we meet for drinks soon. FBS was first to reply. She's busy. It could be late October or even November by the time we get something arranged. But at least the suggestion is out there and the conversation trundles on.

I should contact KfW2 and arrange something with her.

Oh?

One thing that I meant to call out in last week's work event with Stalky Guy and Quiet Girl was Quiet Girl being quite tactile. For the record, I'm not suggesting anything untoward, just calling it out because in the years that I've known her, she's never been overly tactile with anyone that I've seen.

And yet, last week, she was sitting closer at times. On more than one occasion, she was resting her head on my shoulder. It was this action that made me realise that something was different.

Sure, we've hugged before. She's a hugger. But this? This was different. 

Just talking.

The work event was great fun. Even Stalky Guy was less Stalky Guy than usual, which helped. I spent most of the evening chatting to Quiet Girl, though. Her friend didn't show up - she was travelling for work. 

Both QG and another woman, who comes out with us regularly, were quite tactile last night.  That's not unusual for the unnamed woman, but it is for Quiet Girl. She's a hugger, but never anything more. Until last night that is.

Other than that, nothing strange or startling occurred, but it was still a fun evening. Quiet Girl is always good company.

Another blast from the past.

I've spent the last few weeks trying to arrange a team building thing for work. It's not team building per the more obvious thought like trust falls and guff like that, but doing something, like ten pin bowling then dinner and, if time allows, drinks.

I did the same when I worked alongside Stalky Guy and KfW2. I might be an introvert. I might have social anxiety issues. But I am social.

Anyway, I've kept my distance in the new team (I say "new" but I've been here for years now), not wanting to step on anyone's toes in the existing social status.

This time, however, I stepped up because no-one else seemed to be making any efforts and it's been a slog. Getting agreement or suggestions from people is like pulling teeth. But I persevered and we were due to do something on Thursday.

And then it all got pulled out from under me, mainly because two bosses had a clash. Not something they HAD to attend, but something they wanted to attend. And because of that, the other five of us have our plans changed.

However, a side effect of our plans changing is that we've extended invitations to other people, people in teams who work alongside us. And the newsworthy reason of this whole post? The drunk-but-cute girl from this post is supposed to attend. I don't think I've ever spoken to her, so that'll be interesting.

Just chat.

One of our regular work nights out last night. Only Stalky Guy and I were in attendance from anyone I was friendly with in work. It was a bar I'd never been to before and it was excellent. Great vibes, open, airy, bright... I'll definitely be back another time.

Stalky Guy was all chat. And it was he who brought up Quiet Girl's friend who I think made a move on me last year. He didn't know that, mind you, even though if she did, she did it in front of both he and Quiet Girl herself. At least, that's my recollection.

But while I do have my reservations about Stalky guy's company at times, especially around his social skills, he was OK last night. Maybe that's because it was just the two of us, who knows?

Out, half a dozen drinks, and back home for around half past nine. And regular readers will know that I often like to post pictures of celebs who look like or give off vibes like the people mentioned on this blog, so here's another. The girl in this music video gives me Quiet Girl's Friend vibes. And it's just such a great song into the bargain. A real summer tune.

 

And if you're in the UK, the actress in the Lynx advert with the dog who attacks her date. She also gives off serious QGF vibes.

Oh no!

Stalky Guy messaged me to tell me he couldn't go to the work event on Friday. He was super-apologetic. However, that suits me down to the ground. The weather is supposed to be great this week, so I can spend a few evenings tidying up the back garden, and then maybe actually use it at the weekend. Also, with Quiet Girl not going and anyone else interesting not going, I'm not that inclined to show up.

I kinda want a new BBQ too, so I could maybe do some shopping for one of those.