Casino Night

Friday night was a James Bond-themed "Casino Night" at the Royal Automobile Club, which I had been looking forward to for some time. I wore my mother's cape that I'd brought back over from my last visit to the US, and it was absolutely the perfect thing, I wish I'd gotten a picture of myself in it!

I thought I'd left my house just in time to arrive perfectly on time, but found I was running 10 minutes early, so I stopped in at my own club, the O&C, next door. It turned out that I wasn't the only one who had that idea, and I ran into Elana as I was in the bathroom checking my make-up, and then found Doro and her friend Katie at the bar. It's so nice going somewhere that's right next to your club, as it makes things so convenient!

We arrived at the club and immediately I greeted tons of people I knew, including the Inter-Club president and the Social Scottish Guy. I spotted the Italian guy and Tristain talking with another shorter guy, and when I came over to greet them they somehow got themselves involved in conversation with each other, while I got stuck talking to the shorter guy. This wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that the more I stood near the short guy, the more apparent it became that he smoked. The smell was absolutely killing me after a while, and I'm sure I was slightly rude when I made my excuses that I'd spotted some other friends I needed to go talk to, but I just couldn't stand the smell!

I went back to talking to Doro and her boyfriend for a bit, and introduced Doro to Social Scottish Guy, pointing out that he was someone she should know. Social Scottish Guy then took some pictures of all of us, including quite a few of just me alone. Doro whispered to me later that she thought Social Scottish Guy fancied me, but I just laughed it off. I mean, he's a lovely chap and all, but well, just not my type...

I spotted Fiona and went over to chat to her for a bit, but didn't get to talk long before we were called in for dinner. When I got to the table, I found that my usual plan of sitting with strangers had obviously back-fired, as I found myself sitting next to the really annoying girl from the O&C who I'd been horribly rude to at the Farmer's Club dinner in February, and another girl, and American who barely talked to me.

At least it was almost a relief to realise that things were so lacking in potential from the outset, as then I just steeled myself to be relentlessly charming, because what else can you do? Given that there were no cute boys there and the dinner was proving to be a painful slog, I figured that perhaps I might be not quite so strict about my usual "no getting drunk" rule. I hadn't had more than a glass or two of wine in ages, perhaps getting a bit tipsy to survive the dull conversation wouldn't be the worst thing ever?


Usual plan of sitting with strangers has obviously back-fired. Sitting next to annoying girl from O&C, and another girl. Oh well, be relentlessly charming, because what else can you do? Survive dinner. Focus on drinking loads of wine, given that it's obvious no cute boys are there and dinner is painful.

After dinner, I escaped my table (where I had to admit, things had turned out to be mildly amusing as people had more wine), and joined Doro and her boyfriend's table. I have to admit, I hadn't usually given Doro's boyfriend much regard, but she pretty much left us talking whilst she went on and did her own thing, and I had to admit that he was a swell guy. I can see why she likes him.

I went over to the tables to try and do some fake gambling, but I couldn't find a spot at the tables, so I found myself just talking to random people instead. It was definitely a night where "the usual crowd" was there, so there were plenty of people I knew to talk to.

I found myself talking to Doro a bit, where we discovered that we also both don't have pierced ears (she was admiring my clip-on earrings), and we ended up talking about what "my type" is when it comes to boys, and I had to confess that it's frequently British public schoolboys, yet they're all so incompetent when it comes to talking to girls!

I then got myself involved in conversation with the same fascinating young Scottish chap I'd been talking to at drinks a few weeks ago, and he was just as fascinating as ever, yet he also seemed just as oblivious as ever to my interest. Annoying.

I then found myself in conversation with Italian Guy, who I'd met at the Burns Night supper in January. I was surprised to learn then, as we were talking, that at the age of 32, he was actually divorced with two children! Married at 25, and divorced already by 32, I was absolutely stunned. And so we spent some time talking about how he felt some of the girls there were just too young (indeed, some are only 25), who would want to do the whole marriage and kids thing again, whereas he was really looking for someone who was hopefully divorced with their own kids as well, as he didn't want to have any more. It was kind of scary to realise that at such a tender age, one could have done the marriage and kids thing and already be failed and out the other side. Yet it was a wonderful conversation, almost like we'd reached a truce, having determined that we're not suited for one another, and now we're the best of friends. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a conversation with him more.

I chatted to Fiona a bit as well and was surprised to discover that she's 36 and has never been married, as she seems like such a lovely girl. Eventually we all headed over to the dance floor, where I spotted the girl who had given me travel advice for Australia, and I took the opportunity to thank her for it and talk about my wonderful trip.

Eventually the dance floor upstairs closed, and the Inter-Club president ushered us all downstairs to the Long Bar for drinks. As we walked down the stairs, in our drunken conversation, Social Scottish Guy was referring to me as his favourite auntie, but I insisted on "cousin" as it seemed more same-age like. Social Scottish Guy protested and declared that he was too old age age 30, but I smiled and told him that I was 30 as well. He seemed genuinely shocked, saying he had me only pegged as being 25. Perhaps it's childish, but I was flattered.

Social Scottish Guy then bought me a drink, and as we stood there talking to people, I suddenly realised I'd had too much to drink. This is, of course, the danger of not keeping a careful eye on how much you're drinking, because by the time you realise it, you're often too far gone. I desperately tried to drink all of the water I could get my hands on, but it was astonishing how hard it was to sober up. I then found myself just sitting there with the world spinning, just feeling very annoyed with myself and hating the feeling of being drunk. I just couldn't seem to find enough water to get rid of the miserable spinning feeling.

I shared a cab home with Social Scottish Guy, and when we got to the Caledonian, he invited me in for a night-cap, but in my intoxicated state I didn't even recongize it for the come-on it probably was, but just protested that whilst I might be tempted, I'd better head home. In truth, it was just that the thought of more alcohol was making me ill.

In the morning, I was actually surprised to find I'd avoided the worst of a hangover, and the only noticeable effects were that I'd gone to bed without undoing my hair, and that I'd missed the 9 AM Body Pump Class. Yet since I made it to the 11 AM class, how bad is that really?

Still, even if it wasn't a technical violation of the "No Hangover Rule", it definitely was a reminder of the virtues of drinking in moderation and sobriety. So back on the wagon I go!