Most of my friendships are what I consider sometime friendships. They are not based on seeing someone often, just every so often. This is no way reflects badly on the friendship, and it is a truly glorious thing to have so much news to catch up on!
I had an unexpected evening out with Kate. I had some free meals at a local restaurant and my daughter who I had intended to go with got a better offer with friends so I was faced with a conundrum. Do I not go, eat out alone, or see if anyone is free. I looked at the menu and made the choice that I was definitely not going to miss this meal. Options two and three were looking good!
I think I was around fifteen when I started doing a lot of things by myself. I think it was cinema first. To me, there is such a delight about going to daytime cinema Often I have been the only person in the cinema, they show the film just for me. Then the meals started. I have always been a prolific reader, so would simply take a book with me, and eat delicious food whilst engaging in some marvellous literary work. Not having a book isn’t a problem either, but I think it makes other people uncomfortable. Sometimes.
One of my most culminative independent activities was going to Stratford-apon-Avon when I was twenty-one. The few day away were planned with the skill of a military logician. I made a series of four cassette mix tapes from all my vinyl to keep me entertained for the multiple hour coach journey. In fairness, they did get dull after four days away, I like lots of variance in my music and four cassette tapes was simply not enough. I stayed in a Posthouse Forte that was most glorious (my own bathroom!) and went to the theatre three times (Cymbeline, Merry Wives of Windsor and Much Ado about Nothing. I also engaged in a night time theatre tour and went to the church that Shakespeare is buried in. Allegedly.
When I want to do something, often it doesn’t occur to me that anyone else would want to join me in said activity. Similarly, I love my friends deeply, think about them often, but only sometimes do I initiate contact or meeting up. My diary is a blurry mess of scribble and sometimes the prospect of putting extra ink onto a page feels heavier than it should. I also know that my friends are just as busy and sometimes I have too much story to tell.
Seeing Kate was awesome, we watched fit and healthy people exit the gym close by as we ate copious amounts of deliciousness. On the way home I bought some nail glue which I then proceeded to cover me and Kate’s floor in (requiring brake fluid and thinner to remove). So other than no longer having nail glue privileges, I had an amazing time.
Map Point.Where in my life can I express myself better?
Shiny journey 