Breaking The Ice

Hope everybody out there had a Happy Everything. 

Christmas and New Year here were manic – I had three friends stay for New Year’s Eve, which turned into a week and a half of non-stop reminiscing, philosophising, dancing and romance.  As a result of the madness, I’m really enjoying the silence in the house the last couple of days - everyone is settling back into their daily lives.  I’m feeling very homely, cooking and baking every day.  I’m broke, but I can always find the cash for fresh ingredients and kick-ass coffee.

In good old ring out the old, ring in the new tradition, the Pirate and I have decided to go our separate ways.  For real this time!  We’re really enjoying living together as friends, but there were a few awkward moments over the festive season as the Unlikely Valentine and his friends spent quite a lot of time here.  It’s time to move on.  The Pirate has given his notice on the property and started the search for new digs.

Napoleon Dynamite returned yesterday after a looong absence.  He got me a Silverchair album for Christmas – he remembered that Ana’s Song is one of my all-time favourites.  Sweet kid.  I feel wretched as I gave in and drank the bottle of whiskey I’d bought him during one of our Big Nights.  I’ll replace it with a more expensive bottle to make amends.

It was so wonderful to catch up with everyone over the holidays – two of my guests travelled from Germany, and one from England.  It was amazing to be reunited with the most special people in my life for a few days.  They’re my kind of girls – up for anything, and willing to analyse it all the next morning over breakfast pints!  The biggest theme of the week was PASSION.  I’ve been having my Christmas Fling with the Unlikely Valentine, the Femme has been enjoying a dalliance with a local bad boy, and the girls met a few interesting characters while they were here.

The situation with the Unlikely Valentine is as complicated as ever, but I think he’s out of my system for now.  I saw a LOT of him over the holidays, and we moved our relationship up a few notches – introductions to friends, prearranged rendezvous, and boardgames.  Where’s the excitement?!  I got used to waking up beside him every morning, discovered where the stash of loo roll is kept, and grew familiar with the in-jokes.  I’ve had high fives from his mates, and he even offered to cook me dinner one night.  Enough with the romance already!

All I ever wanted from him was passion.  And with the time we’ve spent together, that passion has faded.  To put it very crudely, “If he doesn’t want to strip me naked and fuck me on the kitchen counter every now and then, what’s the point?”  That’s an excerpt from a conversation with friends last week, and I have the feeling it’s going to stay with me a while.

The Femme, meanwhile, has ditched her bad boy due to similar issues and raised her standards.  She will now only consider a relationship with a man who can answer the following questions:

 a) Who is Charlotte Bronte?

b) Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath? 

c) Who is your favourite poet?

With the return of Napoleon yesterday we decided a few drinks were in order.  The four of us (The Pirate, Napoleon, The Femme and myself) went to one of our favourite pubs for the Monday night trad session.  The place is a legend – great music, perfect pints, local poets and a cosy winter atmosphere.  The Femme and Napoleon excused themselves early, and The Pirate and I were left to remember times past and discuss the new dynamics of our friendship.  Time well spent.

I’d like to make a New Year’s toast - to true friends, literate men and happy homes.  Happy New Year!