Squash

In a significant move in my moving progress today, I took my bed off of its risers, because I'd finally cleared out all of the boxes from underneath. My room suddenly looked so different, with the bed once again low to the floor and so many of the boxes gone.

Still, there wasn't much time to ponder the new appearance of my room, as I needed to head out to the club to play a game of squash with my friend Doro. I used to be a bit squash player in my Magdalene days, but I haven't played now in years. So I was keen to take the opportunity to get back to doing some playing.

On the street as I was making my way to the club, I spotted my new landlord. I wondered about whether I should say hello or not, but then decided I should, because I'm not a jerk like that. He seemed totally startled to have this stranger saying "hello" to him, but then seemed to at least recognize who I was...

When I arrived at the club, there were lots of non-club people around, obviously lost and trying to figure out where they were supposed to go. I then remembered that there was an Oxford jazz evening that night, which I'd seen advertised in an e-mail I'd received from one of these "young Oxford alumni" e-mail lists that I'm on. Doro and I even saw a chap at one point without a tie on, which we commented would make it impossible for him to be served at the bar!

I got changed into my whites (playing squash at the club requires that one wear whites, or clothing that is at least 80% white, giving the whole exercise a very 1920's feel), and met up with Doro at the squash bar, where I found her chatting familiarly with the bartender down there. We chatted with the bartender for quite a bit (I had never actually even seen the bartender at the squash bar before), until it was our court time, and we went down to our squash court.

There are two squash courts at the club, one named "Oxford" and one called "Cambridge." We were playing in "Oxford", which didn't bother me, although Doro (who has only been to Cambridge) seemed a bit miffed!

We mostly volleyed, although played properly for a bit, yet regardless of how we were playing, I suddenly realised I'd forgotten about how much fun squash is. We were panting and heaving in no time flat, but I was having a total blast slamming the heck out of the ball.

Our 30 minute session seemed to end far too quickly, I was definitely keen to keep playing for quite a while yet!

Since we were both absolutely soaked with sweat, we went back to the ladies powder room to change, but once there I realised I'd forgotten to bring anything for a shower. So I just towelled off with a damp towel until I was in somewhat decent shape, and then used a hairdryer on my sweaty hair to make it look a bit more respectable. Lesson learned for next time!

I then joined Doro up in the bar where she was having drinks with Paul, another guy we know from the club, and wondered if we might see anyone from the jazz evening come join us. Alas, nobody from the jazz evening ever came upstairs (although I did see the bartender lecture one chap about his lack of a tie).

We had two bottles of white wine (Paul bought one and Doro bought one), and although I felt a bit badly about not taking my turn in buying a bottle, another bottle of wine was really the last thing we needed at that point! So, after having a dinner that was almost entirely wine and bar snacks, we headed home... Must play more squash again soon, it was so much fun!