Sunday 30 September 2001

First up: the engagement + housewarming party on Friday night was absolutely brilliant, lots of people showed up (30? 40?) and an excellent time was had by all. Probably one of the best parties I've ever been to (I'm not biased, honest) with great people, interesting conversations (both the hilarious gossipy trivial brand, and the deep and meaningful), a fair bit of drink taken; basically lots of fun. 

Sam and I stayed in bed all day Saturday - not because we were at all hungover, you understand, but we were just plain exhausted from a long week and late nights, and a day spent dozing and snuggling and snacking and watching DVDs in bed seemed like a damn good idea. 

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Several people at the party gave us gifts, which I wasn't expecting in the least. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity, actually. Richard and Lisa (Sam's parents), for instance, gave us a lovely Bosch washing machine as an engagement gift; Ernest and Isabel matched that with a tumble dryer; we have also received a microwave, iron and ironing board, a wok set, miscellaneous bottles of wine and gift vouchers ... So we have lots of toys and are feeling very very lucky.

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We've had to spend a lot of time and £££ setting up the house, which I've found fun and exceedingly aggravating at the same time. Sam had really only just moved into the house, and wasn't set up at all - certainly not to my standards, as I had my house really well set up, but then boys are different, I know I know.

If I'd just moved suburbs, or even States, it wouldn't have been so problematic. It was damn traumatic having to go through all my possessions, make decisions and culling like crazy, because I had to take into account the cost of shipping (eeeeeeeeek!!!!), and it was a tough thing to do, really. 

All I brought over was a suitcase of clothes and two boxes of unaccompanied baggage (a few more clothes, chef's knives, wok; you know, the bare necessities). Everything else I packed up back in July (summer clothes, books, CDs, cookware, some pieces of furniture, prints and pictures, other bits and pieces) and is being shipped and probably won't arrive until November or so. 

So, I don't have "my things" about me, and we're really only camping/making do until my gear arrives; we've had to start from scratch, buying boring domestic-y things like potato peelers, dustpans and brush, brooms, blahblahblah. Though life is a hella lot easier now we have the washer and dryer ...  But I do miss my good cookware, my CDs and books and all.  Still, we're pretty much set now, which is good, and not too long to go now until my ship comes in (heh). We have also ordered up a lovely big comfy bed (King-size Miracoil Viceroy) and some free weights and gym equipment which will go a looong way to improve quality of life (basically I haven't had a good night's sleep since I got here - and keep ye dirty mind to yeself! - and my neck/shoulders/back/hips have been giving me merry hell of late).

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Sam and I went to the Radiohead concert a couple of weeks ago, and it was just the best show ever, and oh wow Thom Yorke;  talented, that amazing anguished-soul-in-torment voice, fantastic guitarist and pianist, also really unpretentious in that he seemed almost overwhelmed by the audience's reaction. Radiohead are sheer brilliance live, which I wasn't expecting, really (you know how some bands come over better in studio than live, or vice versa). They did a great and long set (2 1/2 hours total?), mostly from 'OK Computer', 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac', then they did three encores (the audience was howling and stamping; the arena was positively shaking), finally finishing with a souped up version of 'The Bends'.  And oh my the audience was great, had to be the best rock concert audience I've ever seen. Really got into it, sang along well (like, you know, in tune and all), screamed and shouted, the mosh pit was bombing, there was such an amazing vibe. 

The occasion also marked the first time I've sat in a concert and heard "Thank you very much BELFAST!" Woo-hoo!  We've also been to a couple of ice hockey games which I loved (the Belfast Giants are one of the best in the UK apparently; at least they were last year, I'll probably jinx the poor sods). I had never seen ice hockey; its like grass hockey except faster with more punchups and less rules, seems to me, heh; and ooh the players are yummy, but I found myself screaming and yelling "Giants! Giants! Giants" along with everyone else. With a Northern Irish accent. We have a few other shows and concerts lined up. All this culture, such a pain in the arse.

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Tomorrow: All About The Kitten. Or maybe a serious entry about Belfast.

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