- I arrived on Saturday, in the afternoon, so once I got there P,G,I and I went for lunch. Lizard at this stage was at work so she couldn't join us. After lunch we went to Oxford Street so Pheebs and I got the chance to hang out whilst I and G went shopping in various places (currently having no money, I was good and managed not to actually purchase anything myself. I was pleased).
- Coming back from Oxford Street, we picked up stuff for dinner and grabbed Lizard so that we all ended up eating dinner together with momosas (AKA bucks fizz) which was cute. The others had all had a pretty big evening on the Friday night, which I was a little bit miffed about because it meant on the Saturday they all wanted to take it easier and not drink as much. Disappointing in a way, but it also worked out because it meant I didn't spend as much money.
- After dinner and getting ready, however, Lizard found out that one of her friends was holding a pres - we all agreed we didn't really want to go and would have preferred going straight to a bar, but somehow we ended up going there anyway. It was frustrating, and continues to remain so, the way that she sometimes is more set on what she wants to do and how it suits her, than to the needs and wants of the group... but eventually we managed to put our foot down, left there, and went to a nice bar where we could actually chat. So, yeah, it all worked out.
- Sunday was a more filling day - according to G's watch, we walked 15k throughout the day, going to the flower market, the street food halls, walking down lanes and somehow ending up in the Natural History Museum, which I've never been to before. We weren't there for very long though, because we were all exhausted and decided we just wanted to look at the dinosaurs.
- Dinner was at Franco Manca's, which La has taken me to before (but a different one, in a different part of London) - great pizza, and a nice way to finish our second day, even though it did mean that I'd had pizza three times in the same week (whoops). Then it was off to home for wine, chocolate and lying together on the sofa chatting about all sorts of stuff, which was really what I wanted from the weekend. Just to hang out, laugh and catch up with four good friends that I haven't seen in a long time - and it's just what we managed to do.
- Left London early Monday morning to get back to Exeter for the afternoon, which was kind of sad. The other four were all staying in London for the afternoon so I did feel a little like I was missing out - especially after the four of them were together on the Friday night as well.
Maybe that's something I should work on? Being more invested with the conversation?
Either way, I'm not sure whether it was just tiredness or some sadness/jealousy at the fact that GLIP was a thing before I became the S - I've always been a bit of the fifth week and maybe always will. But as individuals, I have a great time with all of them, and just need to get my act together a little bit and stop turning my nose up at picture-taking and hipster coffee shops, the same way I need to stop turning my nose up at ladies who enjoy wearing make-up, flaunting body parts and who have nice (if fake) nails.
After all, I'm all for self expression and not being peer-pressured into anything, and doing what you actually want to do. It's like Bing has said, I'm probably peer-pressuring and accusing people who wear make up of being "fake" and not true to themselves, when really they're doing those things because they like it and they want to, not to have an image. It's the same with the 'hip' coffee houses and endless instagram posts - maybe it's just fun. Maybe I'm the one who needs to learn to lighten up a little.
But enough of that. Overall, it was a fab weekend. I already miss my girls, and need to make sure it's not another four years before I see them all again...
