Bras & Anti-Capitalists

It was a pleasant bank holiday weekend in Brighton. Starting on Saturday with a trip to the vet with Steve that left me £90 lighter and broke the car.

In the evening I took Rob, Henry and his friend Jon to Komedia to see the Krater Comedy late-show. A pretty good line-up with a very, very funny first act. There was then continuation of the drinking which as usual, ended on West Street – oh God help me. I blame Henry entirely for this as I never go there unless he is around. I did meet some very “nice” lads from Haywards Heath [exotic] who we couldn’t get rid of for a few hours. One of them had a Sugar Puff t-shirt I remember vaguely.

Sunday I had lunch with Ilona in the Pavilion Gardens – where the sky mirror has been set-up. We did some catching up and she is very excited about a new man on the scene. I then went for a very long walk from Hove lawns to the Pier and back again and watched ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ for the second time.

Monday the weather was disappointing so there were no frivolities on the beach; which had been planned for 51 as a bonding session. Instead Katie cooked me some lovely lunch and stuffed me full of Ferrero Rocher before forcing me into Bravissimo. Now, it is important to note that Monday was also the chosen day for the Anti-Capitalist March through Brighton which targeted businesses such as Macdonald’s whom they believe to be connected to the weapons manufacturer in Mouslecoombe. I had no idea that they were building weapons at the bottom of my road! I lived there for a year without this knowledge. Anyway, there were quite a few angry people wandering through Brighton whilst Kate and I were browsing bra-styles and waiting for fittings.

Maybe I am naive but I wasn’t really prepared for the fitting experience. Firstly, although I am famed for my love of a little naked time I do tend to only indulge around well known company, taking my top off and having a stranger stare directly at my chest was very odd. I don’t mind the top off part but the sort of direct staring was unnerving. Then having several bras handed to me and being instructed to “put yourself in it properly” whilst muttering and pondering about sizing was occurring began to make me uncomfortable. To add insult to injury I began to worry that my fitting lady would be alarmed by my actions and so I couldn’t decide how to stand or whether to put the robe on or where to look. Anyway, the result of the entire experience is I have been told that I am a 34F. Yes. An F cup. I am horrified by this knowledge although my bra does feel pretty good.

So whilst policemen were swarming all over Brighton trying to prevent a riot and paramedics were being warned that they would be targeted in any violence and protestors were shouting and burning things to improve the world I was having my breasts sized by a strange woman.

I think mine was the more successful revolution.

The End of Days

Well avid readers [Leah] as I'm now home it seems nonsensical to continue blogging about Australia, but because I want a complete diary of my trip I will finish what I started . . .

After returning from our trip down The Great Ocean Road El made us a lovely prawn pasta [this is her speciality] and we caught up on all the action and I was very grateful to be back in Rupert who by this time felt like home.

Poor El dutifully went back to work the following morning and Leah and I continued our adventures over the next few days by visiting Ackland Street for cake [oooooh custard pastry thingy with icing sugar], drinking lots coffee, eating pizza in a wind storm, going to the fantastic Art Gallery in Melbourne [one of many] to see the beautiful stained glass ceiling and ending up trapped amongst some very ornate silverware. We managed to see Constable's Clouds and some fine impressionists so I was happy. We spent some serious time editing The Cooking Show with what I hope will be hilarious results - I believe it will be posted on Leah's blog if you have a spare 25 minutes check it out - it's probably the most embarrassing footage ever taken of me. I no longer have any shame.

I took Leah to the Reading Room at the library and we spent a few happy hours there together doing what we love best [reading] and I suddenly realised how arrogant it was of me not appreciate my schooling. I was given time [like we all are] to learn for free when knowledge was freely available for the taking and the resources I needed were supplied and I had the audacity to complain about it?! Rob said something interesting on Friday evening, he said that as teenagers we truly believe that education is more for the benefit of the teacher than the pupil. I know I felt like sometimes especially with subjects I didn't like, but for the opportunity to do it again now, at this age; to just be able to study whatever I wanted because I had time and I wanted to learn, I'd bite your hand off!

Anyway, however pleasantly the last few days of my stay passed it was always with the heavy knowledge that I would have to leave. And believe me when I say that it weighed me down just knowing it was coming.

Darling, I can't thank you enough for all the effort you made whilst I stayed with you both. El was incredibly patient and lovely and let us have all that gorgeous time together and had to work! You planned so many things for me to see and do and it wouldn't have mattered if you hadn't because just seeing you again after such a long time was amazing. Leaving was horrible and I cried a lot on the bus to the airport [by the by I was about 3 hours early for my flight] and thought about you all the way home. I am the luckiest person I know to have you in my life and I have no idea how to get through the next couple of months without you all over again.

I had a fantastic time and came home full of energy and very, very happy.

You rock my world, even from the other side of the planet.