my innermost sanctum

the "aftermath"

everyone seems wanting to be irish. having witnessed the increasingly huge number of wee islanders at the local last evening.

it was surreally mad to see the place packed to the rafters as i arrived there at quarter past six. some of 'em of course were there because of their white paramours - dressing in green et al - copycows. and the rest thought st paddy's was simply a day to get loud and drunk. and making eyes at white birds.

still, one of the barmaids was lovely enough to look out for a place for moi. who quickly called me out, took my bag and led me to my seat. and that i was much grateful.

as the evening went on, at least 12 other mates turned up - canuck as we all know they are mostly of both scottish and irish ancestry. anyhoo, here are some highlights of the evening:

1. at first sight of me red barnet, almost all admired and then touched it. apparently for good luck.

2. as they pointed out this massive paste-on shamrock on my cheek [courtesy of 'em roving guinness representing cows with very limited english vocabulary] i told me mates to quickly kiss it. 'cos i'm irish.

3. a scottish mate said to a canuck mate about me -
".. she's totally confused. 'ere she is tuckin' into fish and chips. and she's wearin' green, and speakin' to me in scottish.."

the latter kindly put it: ".. she's a great britain mutt, look at the red hair.."

me: "thank god, i'm not ginger."

4. another mate, pointing to my xxth pint of the black stuff -
"... could you believe it this is her fourth pint? and she doesn't show it?"

yet another: "where has all the guinness gone to, letter b?"

moi: "it's all gone up 'ere to the 'ead, replacing all the lost greycells. guinness is indeed good fer ye. slainte mhath!"

erm, i'm indeed confused. slainte mhath is scots gaelic..

5. it so happened that said scottish mate has got irish blood courtesy of her paternal lineage. and it does make me wonder why 'em both celtic races have got to be on each other's nerves. like, each claiming to invent the greatest whiskey. or should that be whisky?

5. some of 'em native birds with white paramours are indeed genuinely friendly. probably they thought i'm not wee islander? if that's the case, bless 'em.

and i left the local early - quarter to 1am - which was mighty strange. me mates had to turn in early, the aussie band were not that brilliant. and that an ex-fling had positioned himself less than about 5 steps away from where i was sat. i wasn't even interested to re-acquaint him.

so i decided to leg it before trouble - whatever that is - set in. and that also, i was wanting to give a fanciable/good [i simply can't decide which] mate in the UK a ring, who was feeling under the weather.

all in all, a fine evening in spite of.

as enscribed by the letter b @ March 18, 2005 10:53 AM