Louise's Birthday

I spent the entire day today hanging out with the Young Dutchman. I feel like I should have gone for a run or done something more productive during the day than play computer games, talk, and watch episodes of "Community", but we were just happy hanging out together. I suppose before long he shall be gone, so I enjoy having him around for now.

In the evening however, I had to leave him so that I could go out to my friend Louise's surprise birthday party.

When I arrived at the restaurant, a few people had already arrived, and we were seated around a big, long table. I found myself seated next to the cute Oxford boy from last Tuesday, and across from a guy who introduced himself as "Rob the Lawyer."

Conversation with both was fine, although I kept having weird awkward pauses in conversation with the cute Oxford boy, as though we couldn't quite figure out what to talk about. I think he's honestly probably more interested in my friend Lucia, but she doesn't quite return the sentiment, so I'm there as a decent back-up option. Whatever, but we're still not exactly flowing in conversation, perhaps time for more wine?

And so my glass was getting empty, but the Rob the Lawyer, who was sitting across from me and who I was currently in conversation with (i.e. he should be paying attention to me), made no moves to do anything about it. So I gestured towards the wine bottle between us (it was a large table and wine had been put out for everyone) and asked, "Could I have some more wine, please?" At which, he pointed to the wine bottle as if to say, "There it is, why don't your pour your own?"

But my friend Sophie has absolutely slapped my wrist in the past (literally!) when I have attempted to pour my own wine, saying, "Adrian! You NEVER pour your own wine when gentlemen are present!"

So seriously, I have an issue about even touching a wine bottle, as I have been told off by men for emasculating them when I have attempted to pour my own. And yet, despite my hints, this guy seems determined to leave me parched. So finally, after I have been sitting without anything to drink for quite a while, I say, "I'm not one of those girls who pours her own wine."

At which Rob the Lawyer becomes horribly embarrassed and tops off my glass and then keeps apologising and making a huge deal out of it. But seriously, what kind if man doesn't know to pour the wine?

And so then, just as I'm worrying that I've committed a major faux pas by pointing out this guy's failings, I ask him how he knows the birthday girl. At which point he reveals that he is the boyfriend of the birthday girl's sister, which makes me suddenly realise that THIS is the guy she has been cheating on for the past couple of months. (Poor guy, I think he must be the only person who doesn't know). Which bizzarely, makes me feel better about how oblivious he obviously is...

After dinner, we moved on to the next pub where we were meeting more people for drinks. It was horribly crowded, but we all managed to get drinks and carve out some space for ourselves and our group.

Princess arrived and greeted me by giving me a giant kiss right on the lips, something he hadn't been doing as frequently while he had a girlfriend, so I guess the reports that they've broken up are true. I just find it funny that he does that with me...

Over near the bar, I spotted what looked like Princess' flatmate, and a legendary friend of the group, Lex. I could see lots of other people were also going up to him to give him hugs and say hello, but more commotion seemed to be happening over there, so I went over to say hello and see what the fuss was about. You can imagine my shock upon getting closer to realise that this was NOT Lex, it was some poor, random chap in a pub who was suddenly having 20 random people run up to him and give him hugs. You can imagine the shock the poor guy was in!

However, the resemblance was absolutely uncanny. Up close you could see very subtle differences, but I have never before in my life encountered such an accurate doppelganger of any of my friends. To his credit, the guy took it with good grace, even posing for pictures with all of us and getting swept up in all of our conversations. Turns out his name was Matt and he worked for a "quango" (quasi-non-governmental-organisation), and was actually really nice. We kept calling our friend Lex however, to say that he needed to get down to the pub and meet this guy (although sadly, he never did!)

Finally, it was past midnight, and my friend Sweedy was tugging on my arm, making the very valid point that if we didn't leave right then, we were going to miss the last train home. And so as I was running around giving everyone last kisses good-bye, I found myself hugging the cute Oxford boy, at which point Princess came up and pointed out that the two of us could go home together, with a wink and an arched eyebrow. It was kind of random and weird, yet very funny. I guess somebody noticed there was at least some interest there!

Luckily however Sweedy did drag me off at this point (without the cute Oxford boy), and when I got to Oxford Circus, I found that I'd managed to catch the absolute last train of the evening, at 12:36 AM. When I got home, the Young Dutchman was already fast asleep, and I crawled silently into bed. Fun night out though!