There were two approved fireworks displays in Cape Town, and one of them was over the waterfront. AJ happens to have a friend named Freddie who lives in a house with a spectacular view...
So off we went around nine in the evening. Had to go through some heavy scary traffic and up some serious hills to get there.
The do actually turned out to be at a neighbors house two doors down. You should know, this is a seriously wealthy part of town. These people are rolling in it. Freddie and his partner apparently own three houses in Cape Town; that's Serious Business. (So I was a little nervous, to be honest. That and AJ also 'warned' me that pretty much everyone there would be "pink" - ie. "gay", though I haven't yet asked if that's just a family term or a South African thing, and if it refers to just gay men or lesbians as well... *shrug*) I had no idea what to expect. (The thing is, I was afraid things might be too posh and dull... or they'd be too "pink" as it were. I don't really "do scene". But then, neither does AJ so if that had been the case we'd probably have split early.)
It was really quite nice. Everyone was friendly and interesting and all.
Oh! The two in the foreground are a couple, and their son was there with what looked like a girlfriend. So!
Oh yeah, there was some dude in a kilt who would occassionally break out into a highland jumpy dance. Go figure.
Guy in the red shirt=Freddie.
There was an absolutely glorious hot tub which I am envious of. One person stripped down (quite skillfully I might add; we saw nothing, despite the fact that he was wearing nothing) and got in for a spell.
AJ was quite the responsible driver. A sip of champagne for him and loads of food and he was good for the night.
*sigh* So there was champagne. LOTS of champagne. And I eventually did get arse-over-tits, but it didn't really hit me until right at the end. I had a great time and can recall all of it with fair clarity... right up until we walked off. I vaguely recall stumbling down the street to the car, and AJ tells me I greeted the parking attendant with great enthusiasm...
And then vomitted pretty violently in the car. (Managed to get much of it out the window though.) Had to be undressed and put to bed at about 2am.
Well, no regrets. I'm an adult after all. And I needed that. Even the getting sick. I was purging myself of a lot more than food last night and it felt good.
The Bethke's weren't too pleased to deal with me, and I'm sorry about that. They did a great job cleaning AJ's car, but I think I'm still going to have it taken in and professionally seen to. I cleaned my own shoes and clothes, [Edit: with further help actually; AJ very sweetly helped me get my shoes back into a respectable state and Erica does the laundry] and I'll find a way to apologize to Tony and Erica (who's still pretty steamed at me).
And then I woke up bright and shiny at 8am, because the world is not fair like that. I seem to be nearly immune to hangovers. We went to the chapel and had Eucharist, and I thought that was just about the nicest thing ever.
SO! Lesson learned! Champagne is the thing that hammers me out like a piece of metal, and it comes on very suddenly, very quickly, and very powerfully. The first time the dog bites you, shame on the dog. Second time, shame on you.
I don't imagine there'll be a third time. I like to have things happen to me for the sake of the experience, but stuff like this is not worth repeating. I don't like the fact that I said things which I don't remember. Not being in control of one's faculties is unnerving.
But Happy New Year everyone! May you thoroughly purge yourselves of the crap from 2008 and enter 2009 in a right spirit. (For me I think that's going to be a more conservative one.) CHEERS!
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