PENELOPE P in PORT Aged 49 Penelope P is found licking her wounds and patching up her emotions after finishing a 6 year relationship. Originally from the UK, her split inspired her to move lock stock and 2 smoking barrels from Sydney to the tropical paradise of Port Douglas to start the next Chapter in her life. Not knowing anybody and putting a pin in a map, literally, this is the blog of her finding her feet, her confidence and her life.....
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
So what am I doing now?
Well, now that the Stevie Saga is over.... back to reality.. what am I doing now.. well this is just the cursory list:
Product range
Natural Repellent and product range
Mud Spa Products
Development for local spas
Driftwood Sculptures
Concierge Service
Getting off the Ground with two friends (though I seem to be doing all the work)
Fairy Rose Bud
Yep.. me as a fairy and doing face painting at children's parties and on the market
Dive Hair Accessory
My new invention for diving.. about to be launched
Marriage Celebrant
Chasing up for my registration documents from the Attorney General's office so I can practice and start marketing myself - especially since I am the marriage celebrant at a friend's wedding in September!
Artworks
Artworks and paintings by me.. some giclee and some painted by me
Model
Still trying to get acceptable photos to the agency.. though have attended one catwalk training session. No don't think I have gone all vain... my friend was contacted as they needed some more 'mature' models on their books... not sure if they meant mature in mind.. but hey... give anything a go once!
Yes, I 'm busy.. but not much money coming in!
And yes.... I am still searching for a 'proper' job...
Bon Voyage Stevie!
As I type this now.. Stevie is on the plane on his way to Finland.. to the girl that he loves and that is having his baby.
I hadn't seen him since our return from Tolga and since he was ill Saturday night, Sunday night.. and he was leaving Tuesday, Monday night time was moving on.
I did kind of force the issue on Monday... me and my tenaciousness tch tch!
I rang him on the afternoon of Monday and he said he was feeling better but running around sorting out last minute things and we would meet up later that night (yeehah! methinks)
I text him at 5.00 saying that he could come round to dinner and watch a movie.
His reply '2 sick gunna stay home still got a bit 2 do might c ya when I get back ok take care :-P stevo
My reply in my mind.. fuck that! My reply in text:
That's a shame.. Hope u feel better tomorrow. Would have liked to have seen u before u left but I understand. I will try and call you. Find texts a bit impersonal to say goodbye :)B
Then he calls me.... at around 7.30pm to say that he has finished and is at home.
So I say I will come over to say goodbye.
I get in the car and whizz over the 10km to Cooya Beach to see him.
On the way through the driving rain on the road before his house (which is usually a 120km speed road) I luckily see in time a white object in the middle of the road. I swerve in time to avoid it and then think..."that was a strange shape"... I reverse up and get out of the car and see.....
As I move toward it, it just stands there.. even when I pick it up it doesn't move. I am worried that it has a bad wing so I place it in the car and drive round the corner to Stevie's house.
When I arrive Stevie comes to have a look so we are both standing there once I managed to locate the owl who was well tucked up in the footwell. He was happily perched on my fingers and arm and even poised for a photo!
Then when Stevie took him on the flat of his hand and lifted up his arm ... it just casually stretched its wings and off it flew! So no need to ring the animal rescue place.
I spent a pleasant hour with Stevie and then he walked me to the car (didn't want to outstay my welcome). He kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye.. I kept my face up which he knows means that I want a kiss on the lips.. which he duly gave me - well, I do consider something a little more personal and intimate for a goodbye than a cursory kiss on the cheek! I uttered a 'well we had some fun' and with dignity got in my car and drove away.
Steve joked to text him if I saw the owl again.
I turned the corner from his house (50m) away and there at the side of the road (I suppose better than the middle!) was the owl. I was concerned about this owl's complete lack of road sense, especially since Stevie said that he had seen the owl before hanging around the roads. I didn't want this owl to end up as road kill, so I approached it again with an idea to perhaps get it repatriated away from roads. But I think he took one look at my face thought 'not that bleedin mad woman again' and he retreated by walking in awkward owl waddle into the long grass of the verge, where I left him.
No sooner had I got home my phone went - it was Stevie.... can I give him a lift to the airport tomorrow!
So much for fond farewells!
So the next morning I go round to pick him up and take him the hour drive to Cairns airport.
We had a coffee and a pleasant time and then... yep.. that time to say goodbye AGAIN!
I girded my loins and said 'right I'm off now' we stood up.. I proffered my cheek... to kiss... whereupon he turned my face to kiss me on my lips... I felt tears whelling said..a goodbye and good luck (in not too much of a high pitched voice) and walked off head held high, whilst frantically looking for the exit which I couldn't find.. and was so worried that I walked off the wrong way .. and then would have to walk back with my head held by as I have to walk back passed him again and then say another wavy goodbye. Luckily the exit was in the direction that I turned so I could make a clean directional movement with just my back view disappearing off.....(I had purposely worn a silky dress with an open plunging back as I know how much he liked my back.. so knew my rear view retreating would be good... though thinking about it now.. he was sitting with his back to my retreat.. oh well!).
I don't know what the real story is with him.. he opened his wallet up at the coffee bar and there is a picture of him next to a picture of his Finnish girlfriend. Also in his bedroom there is a picture of him and his girlfriend in a frame on the sideboard. I know that he loves her, but can't be with her.. but with a baby on the way.. who knows. I said for him not to bother to contact me and then U turned and said 'you know how to contact me'. He hasn't got a return ticket, so what will happen in 6 months is anyone's guess when he said he will return. So whether he comes back sooner or later than that.. well... time will tell.
I know what you are thinking... so what does his girlfriend look like?... Well.. to be honest and objective I have to say I wasn't too impressed. She is definitely blond, a bit heavy set, but certainly not a girl that you would immediately from her image say was stunning or beautiful...
So Stevie and me, yes, he was a bit of a loose cannon for obvious reasons, but despite the shortness of our relationship I have to say that finally I found a man who I so enjoyed being with.. his nickname for me was Sooki lala' and he called my bottom 'Fred'. We laughed together and he was open in communicating his feelings and we somehow did click mentally and physically. He was never shy in extolling my good points.. even enthusing to his brother how smooth my skin was.. and I had them both 'wowing!!' as they felt my skin. I was a little more coy when he extolled with equal enthusiasm 'and guess how old she is..you'll never guess!' not only to his brother.. but all the frequenters of the local hostelry! He came out with how beautiful he thought I was and loved my bum, my back, my tum (eeek!), my legs, my skin.. and loved it when I tied my hair back as it showed off my face. He would ensure that when we arrived in a bar that I had a stool or a seat (and no... not because if I got drunk it meant I didn't fall over). He liked my nails painted pink and loved when I wore ladylike dresses (didn't experiment with wearing my hair in a bun and donning spectacles!). There was a comfort between us, and I felt like he could accept me for who I was.. He was also inciteful and many a time he would say something and he would hit the nail on the head on how I was feeling without me expressing it. Despite his rough diamond upbringing he had a sensitive, open, intelligent side and a good moral code. Yep.. going to miss him...
I wondered about the symbolism of the owl on our last night of meeting up....
The Owl is at home in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition: it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. Owl's medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, comfort with shadow self, moon power, freedom.
Owls symbolize wisdom, the ability to see things that are hidden, stealth, swiftness, darkness, freedom, dreams, shape-shifting, secrets, omens, clairvoyance, astral projection, magick, deception, observation, total truth, night, death and misfortune. They are connected to the Underworld and the Moon. They are connected to The Goddess in general, as well as Athena, Mari, Lilith, Anath, Gwynn ap Nudd, Blodeuwedd, Yama and Cailleach. Barn Owl: Barn owls are the ones who see without seeing and hear without hearing; the ones who can hear what is not spoken and ones that see things without physical sight
Not quite sure what that means... but hopefully the death bit can be ignored or maybe it signifies an ending.
This was a song that both Stevie and I love.... it's a really happy sounding song but with rather sad undertones of losing someone in your life.. Somewhat apt as Stevie soars to the snows of Finland...
I hadn't seen him since our return from Tolga and since he was ill Saturday night, Sunday night.. and he was leaving Tuesday, Monday night time was moving on.
I did kind of force the issue on Monday... me and my tenaciousness tch tch!
I rang him on the afternoon of Monday and he said he was feeling better but running around sorting out last minute things and we would meet up later that night (yeehah! methinks)
I text him at 5.00 saying that he could come round to dinner and watch a movie.
His reply '2 sick gunna stay home still got a bit 2 do might c ya when I get back ok take care :-P stevo
My reply in my mind.. fuck that! My reply in text:
That's a shame.. Hope u feel better tomorrow. Would have liked to have seen u before u left but I understand. I will try and call you. Find texts a bit impersonal to say goodbye :)B
Then he calls me.... at around 7.30pm to say that he has finished and is at home.
So I say I will come over to say goodbye.
I get in the car and whizz over the 10km to Cooya Beach to see him.
On the way through the driving rain on the road before his house (which is usually a 120km speed road) I luckily see in time a white object in the middle of the road. I swerve in time to avoid it and then think..."that was a strange shape"... I reverse up and get out of the car and see.....
 |
| The very tame Barn Owl.. with a death wish |
As I move toward it, it just stands there.. even when I pick it up it doesn't move. I am worried that it has a bad wing so I place it in the car and drive round the corner to Stevie's house.
When I arrive Stevie comes to have a look so we are both standing there once I managed to locate the owl who was well tucked up in the footwell. He was happily perched on my fingers and arm and even poised for a photo!
Then when Stevie took him on the flat of his hand and lifted up his arm ... it just casually stretched its wings and off it flew! So no need to ring the animal rescue place.
I spent a pleasant hour with Stevie and then he walked me to the car (didn't want to outstay my welcome). He kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye.. I kept my face up which he knows means that I want a kiss on the lips.. which he duly gave me - well, I do consider something a little more personal and intimate for a goodbye than a cursory kiss on the cheek! I uttered a 'well we had some fun' and with dignity got in my car and drove away.
Steve joked to text him if I saw the owl again.
I turned the corner from his house (50m) away and there at the side of the road (I suppose better than the middle!) was the owl. I was concerned about this owl's complete lack of road sense, especially since Stevie said that he had seen the owl before hanging around the roads. I didn't want this owl to end up as road kill, so I approached it again with an idea to perhaps get it repatriated away from roads. But I think he took one look at my face thought 'not that bleedin mad woman again' and he retreated by walking in awkward owl waddle into the long grass of the verge, where I left him.
No sooner had I got home my phone went - it was Stevie.... can I give him a lift to the airport tomorrow!
So much for fond farewells!
So the next morning I go round to pick him up and take him the hour drive to Cairns airport.
We had a coffee and a pleasant time and then... yep.. that time to say goodbye AGAIN!
I girded my loins and said 'right I'm off now' we stood up.. I proffered my cheek... to kiss... whereupon he turned my face to kiss me on my lips... I felt tears whelling said..a goodbye and good luck (in not too much of a high pitched voice) and walked off head held high, whilst frantically looking for the exit which I couldn't find.. and was so worried that I walked off the wrong way .. and then would have to walk back with my head held by as I have to walk back passed him again and then say another wavy goodbye. Luckily the exit was in the direction that I turned so I could make a clean directional movement with just my back view disappearing off.....(I had purposely worn a silky dress with an open plunging back as I know how much he liked my back.. so knew my rear view retreating would be good... though thinking about it now.. he was sitting with his back to my retreat.. oh well!).
I don't know what the real story is with him.. he opened his wallet up at the coffee bar and there is a picture of him next to a picture of his Finnish girlfriend. Also in his bedroom there is a picture of him and his girlfriend in a frame on the sideboard. I know that he loves her, but can't be with her.. but with a baby on the way.. who knows. I said for him not to bother to contact me and then U turned and said 'you know how to contact me'. He hasn't got a return ticket, so what will happen in 6 months is anyone's guess when he said he will return. So whether he comes back sooner or later than that.. well... time will tell.
I know what you are thinking... so what does his girlfriend look like?... Well.. to be honest and objective I have to say I wasn't too impressed. She is definitely blond, a bit heavy set, but certainly not a girl that you would immediately from her image say was stunning or beautiful...
So Stevie and me, yes, he was a bit of a loose cannon for obvious reasons, but despite the shortness of our relationship I have to say that finally I found a man who I so enjoyed being with.. his nickname for me was Sooki lala' and he called my bottom 'Fred'. We laughed together and he was open in communicating his feelings and we somehow did click mentally and physically. He was never shy in extolling my good points.. even enthusing to his brother how smooth my skin was.. and I had them both 'wowing!!' as they felt my skin. I was a little more coy when he extolled with equal enthusiasm 'and guess how old she is..you'll never guess!' not only to his brother.. but all the frequenters of the local hostelry! He came out with how beautiful he thought I was and loved my bum, my back, my tum (eeek!), my legs, my skin.. and loved it when I tied my hair back as it showed off my face. He would ensure that when we arrived in a bar that I had a stool or a seat (and no... not because if I got drunk it meant I didn't fall over). He liked my nails painted pink and loved when I wore ladylike dresses (didn't experiment with wearing my hair in a bun and donning spectacles!). There was a comfort between us, and I felt like he could accept me for who I was.. He was also inciteful and many a time he would say something and he would hit the nail on the head on how I was feeling without me expressing it. Despite his rough diamond upbringing he had a sensitive, open, intelligent side and a good moral code. Yep.. going to miss him...
I wondered about the symbolism of the owl on our last night of meeting up....
The Owl is at home in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition: it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. Owl's medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, comfort with shadow self, moon power, freedom.
Owls symbolize wisdom, the ability to see things that are hidden, stealth, swiftness, darkness, freedom, dreams, shape-shifting, secrets, omens, clairvoyance, astral projection, magick, deception, observation, total truth, night, death and misfortune. They are connected to the Underworld and the Moon. They are connected to The Goddess in general, as well as Athena, Mari, Lilith, Anath, Gwynn ap Nudd, Blodeuwedd, Yama and Cailleach. Barn Owl: Barn owls are the ones who see without seeing and hear without hearing; the ones who can hear what is not spoken and ones that see things without physical sight
Not quite sure what that means... but hopefully the death bit can be ignored or maybe it signifies an ending.
This was a song that both Stevie and I love.... it's a really happy sounding song but with rather sad undertones of losing someone in your life.. Somewhat apt as Stevie soars to the snows of Finland...
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Final Days with =[
Well final countdown with Stevie calling and asking if I wanted to come round.
So I jump in my car on Thursday and mosey on round.
Being a bit pre-prepared I did throw an overnight bag of basic toothbrush and contact lenses and make up in the car.
Just as well as that afternoon found us on a 2 hour drive to go and visit Stevie's brother Jamie in nearby Tolga.
Me driving the ute as we swing up onto the Tablelands and the lush vegetation of the rainforest changes to the dry fields with irrigated cane fields and cows pottering around (and many times across the road - much to the detriment of some cows.. and drivers).
I have briefly met Jamie on the night I met Stevie. In Stevie's words he is the one that Stevie looks after and is a bit of a liability .. oh, and apparently goes after anything with a pulse.
Our des res in Tolga was a caravan on a mobile home site. A place where many people lived in temporary accommodation whilst they were there working on the fruit picking (Jamie picks avocado and bananas).
I was a little dismayed to enter to what can only be described as best 'basic'.
One double bed served in the main area as a settee and Jamie's bed, and then next door (which didn't have a door) was two single beds - no sheets, pillows.. and some fairly well used mattresses.
Due to the toilet block being a walk away... pissing in the sink was the modus operandi, a bin in the centre of the room was doing a good impersonation of fly heaven.
After having some drinks we wandered down to the local hostelry. The aptly named Tolga Hotel. We had a good time chatting and it was funny the local's reaction as the twins made everybody think they had had too much to drink and were seeing double.
We had a pleasant evening chatting and laughing and then went back to the caravan where we practiced shadow animals and making shadow effects (as one does!).
Stevie and I crashed onto the mattress.. with a pile of Jamie's clothes as a pillow (don't know what was best.. face on dirty mattress or dirty clothes).. We managed some very silent lovemaking despite there being no door and Jamie on the other side of a dividing wall that could put a crispy thin wafer to shame.
The next morning we had a mission to go swimming in Lake Eacham. We passed by Mareeba supermarket to gather provisions and breakfast. I returned from buying some toothpaste (yep.. got my toothbrush.. but there was no toothpaste!) and a towel.. As I arrived back to meet the guys.. Stevie presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Obviously extremely touched. I have only received 4 bouquets of flowers in my life from men (yep.. and this is the 4th!). So a momentously memorable moment for me.. how lovely was that.
Yep.. my overnight bag didn't contain any swimwear.. so off with the dress and in with g string and bra... Luckily, there were not many people around so they didn't have to be subjected to the sight of my white dimpled derriere.
On the way back we stopped for some scenic viewing and I was struck how similar the vista looked to the rolling hills of England!
On arrival I was asked if I needed to get back the next day.. which was a negative... so we ended up staying another night.
Back down the Tolga Hotel... Stevie was downing drinks like there was no tomorrow. Jamie was taking it easy. The boys certainly got female attention down the pub and at one point there was 5 women including me surrounding them. One woman was getting quite frantic in her enthusiasm and even asked Stevie if he fancied some brown meat (she was of Indian pursuasion). The sum of her conversation was about sex and Stevie was visibly shaken by such a torrent of very blatant and quite nasty sexual comments.. how she had a husband and three children but seemed to have slept with most guys in the bar.. quite distasteful.
Stevie was getting a little worse for wear so both Jamie and I were a little in cahoots to try and get Stevie home. Finally I walk him home - a rather shaky walk, trying to support a stumbling 6'2" man and not managing on a couple of occasions as he falls onto the gravel grazing his elbow.. and me trying to stop him hitting his head. Once he is finally in bed we go to sleep... I wake feeling a growing spread of warm liquid... yep.. not only was I on a bare mattress, it was now also having the additional accessory of a pool of freshly peed urine.
I moved onto the other bed and took refuge. Needless to say, despite Stevie feeling amorous in the morning I didn't feel very sexy, or found the surrounds conducive to feeling sexually aroused.
So funny as in the morning I thought Stevie was having a shower and Jamie was lying on his bed... but it was Jamie who had gone for a shower and it was Stevie lying on Jamie's bed... very strange feeling to be with someone you like and there is a double of them. Certainly wasn't lost on Jamie who jokingly asked if I had ever considered sleeping with two twins at the same time. I have to admit just hanging out with them both for two days was a weird situation to be with someone who has a replica.
I drove back.. and dropped Stevie off where he disappeared without a word into the shower. I shouted a cursory goodbye and left... just dreaming of a shower myself.
I was supposed to meet up with Stevie on Saturday night but he spent the day in bed with flu...(certainly not helped by his drinking the last two days) and was ill also on Sunday. So all those last days where we could have had a lovely last few days are eeking away. I type this now on Sunday night.. yep.. I've developed the cold that Jamie and Stevie have.. so with only one day tomorrow before he leaves on Tuesday the clock is a on a countdown. Oh well Que cera cera...
As a footnote... as a follow on to our shadow attempts I showed Stevie and Jamie this clip the next day that I saw on Facebook and would like to share it with you on this blog.. it is amazing. By a theatrical company called Pilobolus
Monday, March 4, 2013
=] Continued........
Just when I thought it was bye bye Stevie......
Last Thursday a message popped up on my phone at 3.53am "What U doing"
My answer: "Sleeping... ah no, texting you!"
His answer "Going 4 a swim in ya pool, soon bahaha"
So there I was at 4.00 am swimming with him in the balmy tropical night! My goodness.. talk about pressing the rewind button..... it was all lovey dovey and how wonderful for emotional amnesia!
The next morning was a long lazy sleep in (good thing about this not working lark!).. a Friday morning laze. Complete with my post passion new Brazilian (a request to reveal all was me in the shower at 5.00 hacking my way through my undergrowth with a razor).
What a lovely catch up!
I had various commitments this weekend working at a couple of markets, so late nights were out and early mornings were in so didn't expect to meet up for a a few days after I dropped him back home.
He is on a mission to suck up like a sponge all these wild experiences and joyous moments so that when he goes to Finland next week, which I think he is not so looking forward to, he can squeeze bits out of the sponge when the going gets tough over there. He is already on anti-depressants in preparation for his 6 month stint over there,
Last night - Sunday - was massive storms, lightning and rain with 98 cm falling in one night. When the power went off and I was looking at my only candle .. all 2cm of it, and was contemplating moving to a local hostelry I received a phone call from him. I said that i was going to the pub.. he had had a bit too much drink to drive so i said I would pick him up to save the taxi fare.. and he could spend the taxi fare on drinks on me. He said rather sweetly that I am far too helpful and that I shouldn't be so giving, so the taxi fare was my idea of being a bit less giving.
The journey over to pick him up was an interesting one.. he lives about 10km away. I was driving down the main road that I normally travel at 100km down.. thought I would go at a reasonable 80km... as I realise a bit too late that most of the road consists of puddles across the road as I aqua plane across a particularly large one (remembering.. Don't brake!)...
When I got to the turning to Cooya Beach through the haze of rain I could see some hazard lights ahead .. I found out they were just before the puddles of all puddles. A 4x4 passed me and careered through.. so there's me in my VW Beetle thinking.. here I go....
I knew it was a mistake when I could see the water looking like a river running around the car.
I imagined the headlines 'Bug gets swept away with dumb Brit driving". So I hit reverse and tried to drive back to position A - no easy feat when I couldn't even see out he back window in the driving rain.
So rather a palpitating moment for the heart. Made it back to terra firma. I rang Stevie and like a knight in shining armour he said he would be with me in a minute... just got back and another car pulls up. I wind down the window and hear a 'Rosie!' - yes, it's Stevie's house mate, Kyle. He agreed that in non 4x4 cars that this flood took cars off the road and since he was in a compact non 4x4 hatchback I advised him that Stevie was on the way.
So in Stevie's wake of his truck we went in convoy and drove behind him as he cleared most of the water away in his wake. Kyle disappeared so we had a tete a tete night ahead as it was obvious gong back to Port Douglas was not a viable option... yes, how well planned am I, no toothbrush, no contact lenses, wearing a white T shirt dress and white underwear with no spare clothes.... ooh yes, all good for an overnight stay
We hit the wine and had a lovely night.. involved merriment, fun, and even sitting together in the corner spa under the shower head.
We spent the day together starting with a lovely breakfast in Mossman in a cafe modelled out of bits of wood and inventive metalwork and a not too healthy bacon and egg muffin and coffee. With a white dress and undies now looking decidedly more feral..
We watched a film called 'Stone' - with Edward Norton, Robert de Niro and Milla Jovovich - made in 2010 and highly recommended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_%282010_film%29
Then a few beers in Mossman at lunch time where Stevie bumped into many locals, The first lady Jody, congratulated him on the forthcoming birth of his baby as she had been chatting to his Mum... so it's general community knowledge. Felt a bit weird sitting there whilst he was being congratulated on the birth and talking about his life in Finland. Found out the baby was actually planned as well... so that was interesting...
I left late afternoon with a smile, a wave and a kiss goodbye....
All good!
What a strange relationship this is. I get the feeling he lets things slip like how beautiful he finds me, or gives me his hand to hold, even though he doesn't like public displays of affection, he even said how cool I was today and how easy it was to get on with me! I did ask him why he doesn't come (he has only come once in the whole time).... he said anything more than two drinks would do it.... and that he feels guilty.. so not sure what's happening on this .. or what the real story is...
He has asked me to take him to the airport next week!
Well, that's the latest update - It's certainly going to be strange when he is not around after next
Last Thursday a message popped up on my phone at 3.53am "What U doing"
My answer: "Sleeping... ah no, texting you!"
His answer "Going 4 a swim in ya pool, soon bahaha"
So there I was at 4.00 am swimming with him in the balmy tropical night! My goodness.. talk about pressing the rewind button..... it was all lovey dovey and how wonderful for emotional amnesia!
The next morning was a long lazy sleep in (good thing about this not working lark!).. a Friday morning laze. Complete with my post passion new Brazilian (a request to reveal all was me in the shower at 5.00 hacking my way through my undergrowth with a razor).
What a lovely catch up!
I had various commitments this weekend working at a couple of markets, so late nights were out and early mornings were in so didn't expect to meet up for a a few days after I dropped him back home.
He is on a mission to suck up like a sponge all these wild experiences and joyous moments so that when he goes to Finland next week, which I think he is not so looking forward to, he can squeeze bits out of the sponge when the going gets tough over there. He is already on anti-depressants in preparation for his 6 month stint over there,
Last night - Sunday - was massive storms, lightning and rain with 98 cm falling in one night. When the power went off and I was looking at my only candle .. all 2cm of it, and was contemplating moving to a local hostelry I received a phone call from him. I said that i was going to the pub.. he had had a bit too much drink to drive so i said I would pick him up to save the taxi fare.. and he could spend the taxi fare on drinks on me. He said rather sweetly that I am far too helpful and that I shouldn't be so giving, so the taxi fare was my idea of being a bit less giving.
The journey over to pick him up was an interesting one.. he lives about 10km away. I was driving down the main road that I normally travel at 100km down.. thought I would go at a reasonable 80km... as I realise a bit too late that most of the road consists of puddles across the road as I aqua plane across a particularly large one (remembering.. Don't brake!)...
When I got to the turning to Cooya Beach through the haze of rain I could see some hazard lights ahead .. I found out they were just before the puddles of all puddles. A 4x4 passed me and careered through.. so there's me in my VW Beetle thinking.. here I go....
I knew it was a mistake when I could see the water looking like a river running around the car.
I imagined the headlines 'Bug gets swept away with dumb Brit driving". So I hit reverse and tried to drive back to position A - no easy feat when I couldn't even see out he back window in the driving rain.
So rather a palpitating moment for the heart. Made it back to terra firma. I rang Stevie and like a knight in shining armour he said he would be with me in a minute... just got back and another car pulls up. I wind down the window and hear a 'Rosie!' - yes, it's Stevie's house mate, Kyle. He agreed that in non 4x4 cars that this flood took cars off the road and since he was in a compact non 4x4 hatchback I advised him that Stevie was on the way.
So in Stevie's wake of his truck we went in convoy and drove behind him as he cleared most of the water away in his wake. Kyle disappeared so we had a tete a tete night ahead as it was obvious gong back to Port Douglas was not a viable option... yes, how well planned am I, no toothbrush, no contact lenses, wearing a white T shirt dress and white underwear with no spare clothes.... ooh yes, all good for an overnight stay
We hit the wine and had a lovely night.. involved merriment, fun, and even sitting together in the corner spa under the shower head.
We spent the day together starting with a lovely breakfast in Mossman in a cafe modelled out of bits of wood and inventive metalwork and a not too healthy bacon and egg muffin and coffee. With a white dress and undies now looking decidedly more feral..
We watched a film called 'Stone' - with Edward Norton, Robert de Niro and Milla Jovovich - made in 2010 and highly recommended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_%282010_film%29
Then a few beers in Mossman at lunch time where Stevie bumped into many locals, The first lady Jody, congratulated him on the forthcoming birth of his baby as she had been chatting to his Mum... so it's general community knowledge. Felt a bit weird sitting there whilst he was being congratulated on the birth and talking about his life in Finland. Found out the baby was actually planned as well... so that was interesting...
I left late afternoon with a smile, a wave and a kiss goodbye....
All good!
What a strange relationship this is. I get the feeling he lets things slip like how beautiful he finds me, or gives me his hand to hold, even though he doesn't like public displays of affection, he even said how cool I was today and how easy it was to get on with me! I did ask him why he doesn't come (he has only come once in the whole time).... he said anything more than two drinks would do it.... and that he feels guilty.. so not sure what's happening on this .. or what the real story is...
He has asked me to take him to the airport next week!
Well, that's the latest update - It's certainly going to be strange when he is not around after next
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