Friday 28 September 2001

Adjusting

So anyway. The first few weeks after I arrived, I took things really easy; I figured settling in and getting oriented was enough of a challenge. Fortunately Sam had taken the first few days off from work, so we could hang out together and generally ease the transition. 

So we pottered about the neighbourhood and had a couple of trips into the City, did a little shopping for domestic stuff, and generally introduced me slowly and gently into the new environment. I got my bearings in Belfast City itself very quickly; whether my short visit last year had lasered information into my brain, or it's easy to find one's way around. Well, let's face it, its not that big!

It rained a lot (yeah yeah, big surprise) though I was told that the weather really was a truly shitty excuse for a summer. I liked (and still do) the rain though; it feels totally different to Perth rain. And no, I'm not being hopelessly romantic. It honestly does feel different; mistier, softer somehow, even when bucketing down. Then of course there's the fact that everything is so green, and such a range of lush greens at that; simply beautiful and such a change from the dusty yellowy and browny greens I'm used to. 

The scenery overall is amazing, the mountains looming all dark and ruggedy around one side of the City, and Belfast Lough on the other. I am looking forward to taking some day- or weekend trips up the Antrim Coast, which rivals the Cliffs of Moher (in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland) for stunning scenery, and through the Glens of Antrim too. 

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Apart from getting used to my physical surroundings, there were people to meet. The new in-law type of people, in particular. As with the house, I did feel mildly alarmed at the prospect; knowing Sam had gone through exactly the same thing didn't really help (especially considering his in-laws live 14,000 kms away).

The tough bit was having to take my ring off; Sam and I had decided not to tell Richard and Lisa (the parents) that we were engaged straight away, to give them a little time to suss me out and get used to my presence.  We didn't want to spring the news on them in the way we had on my parents! To me it was more a case of "step softly and carry a big stick" - doing the politic thing rather than what we really wanted which was to bound around like kids at Christmas.

So every time we went to visit his parents in the first couple of weeks, I would take my ring off, then Sam would ceremoniously put it back on when we got home, which was really kinda nice. I felt horribly naked and weird without it, which sounds really strange I guess but hey - I'd only worn it for a couple of months, and was still at the "ooh look! pretty sparkly thing! where'd that come from?" stage.  I did, however, have one scarey moment when Richard popped around to our place one morning when Sam had gone to work, and I answered the door while attempting to keep my glittery left hand behind my back in a casual manner. Sounds like a simple enough task, sure, but ... there's that element of farce mixed with discomfort, and a feeling akin to one's hand giving off pulsing red laser signals. 

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We eventually told Richard and Lisa two weeks after I arrived. They really were incredibly pleased, both of them got a little teary (funny because Richard is a bit of a toughie hee hee), admired The Ring, and gave us both huge hugs and kisses. They weren't that surprised, I don't think; I mean, if a woman gives up friends and family and comfort zone to relocate 14,000 kms for a mere fella (heh) there has to be something heavy going on. I mean, you don't do that kind of thing for a casual bonk. So that's all good. They really seem to like me, and have been most accepting about the rather unconventional way we've gone about things (the whole Internet Relationship Thing, that is). They think Sam is unbelievably lucky to have found someone like me (well, to have found me, to be precise). Aaaaawwwwwww. Even better, in my book, is that Sam's sister Jen approves of me; and no-one knows better than I how protective of their big brothers little sisters can be!  Ooh and they asked what we wanted for an engagement present. Ooh, pressies! An unexpected bonus (though apparently its quite comme il faut?).  

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Health-wise too, things behaved themselves in the first weeks, and not being in intense pain always makes a huge difference to one's general demeanour. I hardly touched any codeine at all in the first weeks, let alone the heavy shit. I have to give credit, I guess; having a delicious loving captive fella to give one neckrubs on demand is a big plus (also the fact that we have a yummy deep bath ... mmmmm). 

I looked around for a gym and came up with a couple of possibilities, all of which proved problematic one way or another, logistically speaking. Mostly being too difficult to get to/from without a car or bike, out of range of bus routes, and way too far for shanks' pony. That was kinda sucky really, as I need and want my weights routine more than I need and want chocolate, so we decided that a good all-round solution would be to set up a gym in the smaller room upstairs, with weights, benches, boxing equipment etc. I've always wanted a decent set-up at home, anyways, for those days when I need to stretch and heave my aching bod in my exercise routine but at the same time am too ill and fragile to venture forth to a gym.  

I've been surprised, actually, at how easily I've adjusted to the whole living together thing, never having done such a thing (with a lover, that is), and how natural and right it feels. I can't describe how pleasant and congenial it is, having someone to just hang out with, share the chores (I cook, Sam washes up), help with the shopping, and of course having lots of snuggles and really sensational .. other stuff ... on tap is fantastic. Basically I'm blissfully happy but have been assured that I'm not the least bit smug (though Sam is, just a little - his friends are most amused!). 

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We're actually having a bit of an engagement + housewarming party tonight - we organised it kinda last minute so probably only two or three people will turn up but hey! I've made blackberry flavour vodka jelly shots ...

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