How is possible that a three day weekend felt like it lasted about three hours? Not sure if this is a sign of a well spent weekend or a bad omen. Am I blocking out bad memories or have I simply destroyed so many brain cells that I can only remember a fraction of what happened?
I know I called round to my occasionally nefarious friend for a quick beer at about 2:30pm on Friday afternoon. I left roughly twelve hours later, his alcohol stocks severely depleted. While I don’t remember too much of the intervening period I did have a flashback the next morning to singing yelling along to Bollywood music and dancing about frantically as if actually at an Indian wedding. If it was a wedding I’m fairly sure I would have been the black sheep cousin that everyone avoids. Oh dear, his living room curtains weren’t even closed. The shame. Thankfully I live safely far away on the other side of town. He may need to consider a timely move however.
To make up for the frivolous evening before, I decided Saturday would be all about being sensible and grown up. Not the easiest to accomplish with a hangover but I decided to achieve this by going to the market in a bid to save money and observe some free entertainment. You really get all sorts at the market. I’d fit right in. I spent the entire time repeating how cheap everything was compared to the supermarkets. After exclaiming this for about the tenth time (but really five limes for a euro – who’d be without?) I could see my occasionally better half’s eyes glazing over as he made a beeline for the fish and meat section. The sight of rows of fish eyes and counters dripping in blood is always guaranteed to keep a Conortje at bay. Foiled again by the shrimps!
That evening we strained our eyes and froze our arses off trying to witness what was promised as a spectacular light show in the sky of the Perseid meteor shower. I’m not sure we’d have made convincing astronomers sitting out on our balcony, a glass of red wine in one hand the other shivering cowardly in the cold. We did see a couple of shooting stars but I’m not sure I’d go as far as calling it spectacular. In fact I’m sure I saw many more the night before in the living room of my occasionally nefarious friend.
I would have killed to see you doing bollywood!! please tell me there are pictures!
Oh god I really hope there aren’t. Jovica, you wouldn’t happen to know would you?
What was that you were saying about rowdy neighbours again?
I totally forgot about the meteor shower – but it doesn’t matter because anyway, yesterday night was a single, huge thunderstorm here
i love markets. when i was in petrozavodsk many years ago (it was still in the USSR at that time) i went to a market to buy some flowers and tomatoes. they were selling big chunks of scary-looking meat. there was no way to know what kind of meat it was, but there was a hint: on the counter was the top half of a pig’s head. just the snout, eyes and ears; the whole mouth and lower jaw was gone.
yum, i said, and became a vegetarian on the spot. (until i left for finland, anyway.)
73man – hehe yes well as I said, fortunately I don’t live in that neighbourhood
lenfercest – I bet your storm was much more spectacular
laurie – ooh that reminds me they had dried salted fish there too – massive things they were – looked very scarey indeed
Ditto on wanting a copy of the pictures, Conor.
Do you have a telescope or any way to study the sky closer or were you just being casual observers?
Well, as it happens, I’ve just had words with your ONF, and it would seem that there are no extant photos of your adventures on Friday evening. For most of us, I think this is rather a shame. For you this is probably a relief, as he did make mention of a wedding dress?!?!
It sounds like a wild night was had by all. Your occasionally nefarious friend is, apparently, still recovering and may remain out of circulation for some time yet. Or at least until his alcohol supplies have been replenished.
The best street market I’ve ever been to was the central market in Florence. The range of food there was just incredible. Hundreds and hundreds of different cheeses. It would have taken months to sample them all. Cheese-lovers’ paradise! And AYS rock-bottom prices.
medbh – we were beyond casual, which may of course explain our lack of success. We were luckier on Sunday night though to be fair.
Jovica – Has he not restocked yet? Gosh, he must really not be feeling well
Nick – Now you’re talking – never been to Florence but it’s on my list!
We saw several really good meteors last night, a few average ones, and a lot of could-have-been-one flashes out of the corners of our eyes. We also saw a few satellites and the Milky Way. It was way too cold though and I was tired, so we didn’t last very long. I heard the peak was around 3am and I was in bed before midnight. I think a thermos of strong coffee will be required next year.
I’m thinking about you, in that room, the curtains open. Your friend doesn’t live on that street does he?
You might have got some interesting offers.
Ann – ideally all wrapped up warm and lying down in a soft dark field (With a flask of coffee)
Minge – hehe he almost does as it turns out
It’s nice to know I’m not the only drunkard in the blogging community!
Yeah, I’ll be wanting to see some of these bollywood moves in Oct.
And with enough scoops, I might even join in… Then the neighbours really would talk.
Newbie – oh believe me you’re in good company
Alan – I’m going to print this out as proof!