Otterly Odd

"We should meet up more often"

We met by the penguins, it was quite fitting. Sort of awkward at first, but once the ice was broken, the quips were served and as we passed by the monkeys, we were well into the swing of things. It was weird, but not in an obvious way. Much of the time, we found ourselves falling in step as a pair, behind the rest of the group and conversation flowed easily and enjoyably. There were a few smart remarks that left an impression, but no blood was drawn. After the camels came Camden, complete with chips, caps, cupcake corsets and cocktails. Unfortunately, train strikes called for an early end to the events; I accepted the offer of a walk to the station. While we'd been together and talking about all sorts for most of the day, the five minute stroll was the first time we'd spent together without the others within reach. Questions were ventured. Cheeks were flustered. Answers were not forthcoming. It was weird, in an obvious way. 

"It was nice to see you again"

We hugged. Holding tighter than necessary, but not for long enough. A squeeze of the arm and a brush of the fingertips and that was it. That was that. 

What was that?

Flitterbee: Damien Rice ~ The Blower's Daughter

Clocking Time

I wake up with cold feet.

It's 5.18am and I can't drift off back into slumber. Silently, I lie: worn out, yet wide awake. After twenty minutes or so, I switch on the radio and listen idly until an acceptable waking hour arrives and the world starts to stir. I get up and make a cup of tea.

Disco Cake

Yesterday, I was sad.

So, I baked purple coconut cupcakes.

Then, I danced around like a ungainly lunatic.

I felt slightly better. 

Flitterbox: Groove Armada ~ I See You Baby

Czech Point

It snowed. It was freezing. It was fantastic. 

We sauntered along cobbled streets like we were living in a movie set. We sat for hours in warm cafés, watching the world pass by. We ate a lot of food, mainly breakfasts consisting of multiple courses, but also cake and croissants and crisps and a candlelit dinner, cruising along the river by night, drinking in all the sights, as well as all the wine, swinging to the soothing melodies. Jazz! In a city that is crazy about that genre of music, jazz was everywhere, which made me grin lots. I wouldn't say I was an avid jazz fan, but I'm partial to a bit of Peggy Lee or Michael Bublé on occasion. So we went on a jazz boat (free glass of red wine!) and we went to a jazz club (free glass of white wine!) and we listened to a couple of live jazz bands and generally took a lot of photos that featured all that jazz. It was amazing. We also went to see a black light theatre production - intriguing at best; terrifying at worst. Imagine, on the stage, there's some glow-in-the-dark human-sized spiders. Okay, so now imagine that they climb over the seats and over the audience and attack you. Imagine that you have this strange foreign person in a spider costume and black balaclava grabbing your arm and hovering in your face. A bizarre and scary experience, I can tell you. The rest of the time, we explored extensively, by foot, metro, tram and bus, though sadly not by segway. The castle, especially, was a sight not to be missed, offering incredible architecture as well as views across the land. I had so much fun, with all the cake-eating and show-seeing and coffee-sipping and wine-consuming and spa-relaxing and of course, TLDG!

But now, I've been back a fortnight and it's February already and I have no money to spend on any luxuries for the foreseeable future, at least. However, if someone fancies whisking me off on an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris, Rome, or even Stockholm, well, I wouldn't say no...

Flitterbox: Joss Stone ~ L-O-V-E

Glass Houses

I don't quite remember when I first met Billy, or how. But somehow, we kept bumping into each other and then there was never enough time to talk as there was always somewhere else to be and so, eventually, we met up for tea (we both really like tea) and chatted there instead. Billy likes tea with two sugars. I have none. This is something we have always disagreed upon. Billy and I have a rather tempestuous relationship and perhaps that's because we are both complicated people with complicated feelings and perhaps that's because we're both quite similar in some respects. Or because we're complete polar opposites. It's a fine line.