Vodka

I don't know if you'll have noticed but I normally have the title of the blog run into the first line.  But this evening morning (2.57am) I feel that that one word says it all.

Vodka.  

Because I'm wheat & yeast intolerant, I can no longer drink wine or champers/cava =(  Then, to my horror I discovered that I cannae drink Pimms either!  Dear Lord...we need a word!
However, I do seem to be ok with Gin & Vodka.  Which is great news because I consumed quite a bit of the latter this evening.

I had a leaving do to attend.  I had to say goodbye (or hopefully just a momentary farewell) to my wonderful friend Jorge.  He is heading west to Texas and I'll miss him.  He's a wonderful person whom I admire and respect.  I have many great memories from time spent with him.  We were discussing this tonight and he said that he'll never forget the first time we met...I believe that this is because I turned up to his BBQ party in a short skirt and my red coat, sat on a garden chair and promptly fell backwards.  In my wisdom I thought if I just stayed there for a bit that no one would notice... this was an incorrect assumption and one I doubt I'll make again.
One of my favorite memories of our time together is when Flo, Jorge and I decided to go on a camping trip together to the west of Scotland!  It was brilliant.  It was a fabulously wet, cold and wonderful adventure which I think we all remember with fondness ~ in particular the following conversation between Flo (who's from Malaysia) & I as we drove through the Scottish countryside passing fields of lambs that were just weeks old...

Flo: What are baby sheepses called?
Me: Lambs
Flo: No, no...I mean those cute wee sheeps
Me: Uhuh...lamb.
Flo:  WHAT?  Those are lambs?
Me: Yup
Flo:  Oh my god, I am NEVER eating lamb ever again!
Me: Em...why?
Flo:  Because they are soooo cute!
Me:  What?  What are you talking about Monkey (nickname for Flo...always good when used in public place (she calls me chalky...so it's give & take in our friendship!))?
Flo:  I can't eat something THAT cute.
Me:  Yes you can.
Flo:  Well yes, I have, but not any more.

To give her credit, I believe that Flo did indeed stop eating lamb, well kinda, most of the time anyway....until she moved to Australia.  I believe that her and Jamie are eating lamb again but have given up kangaroo because they see them hopping about outside!

In terms of having to say goodbye to friends who are moving on to pastures new, it's been quite a difficult year. I feel abandoned.  What annoys me most is that it's not like the b*st*rds end up all going to the same part of the world....no, no....they've spread themselves out, like a burst bag of marbles.  Inconsiderate and irresponsible actually.  The good news is that not everyone has got away ~ phewf!  For that I'm thankful...but I still miss the ones who got away, the ones who have moved on to begin their next chapter elsewhere.

Silver lining = I've got a ridiculous amount of places around the world where I can get free accommodation.
Cloud = I cannae afford to get to the free accommodation!!