Great Friday Night!!

It has been a long time (YEARS!!!!) since I last really enjoyed myself going out dancing and drinking. Before Friday night, I was having fun dancing, but still had to keep myself in check, or act with some reserve. Last Friday night I was completely free of limitations!!! The wilder child in me allowed out! Oh what a blast it was!!!

I almost didn’t make it. Story shortened, I ran a day behind schedule and I ended up with 12.8 kilos of vegetables and gear in my backpack to take home. Most people would decide to just go home to drop off the load, and maybe catch up with the “party” later if they could be bothered to leave home again. If I went home, it was impossible that I’d go out again as I had so much to do still. My uni friend "Dusty" to the rescue, she suggested I leave my bag at her desk, to pick up later after our reveling. What a grand idea!!

But plans are never concrete. While having lotsa drinks at happy hour, someone (ahem) crashing a party, we realised it’d be a drag to trudge back to her work drunk (or very VERY tipsy), which we were sure we’d end up. Plus we didn’t know how far the clubs and bars we'd go to would be!

Always a trooper, never backing out once things are in motion, I carried my tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, capsicums, bok choys and carrots everywhere with me! Hahahah!! Each time I picked it up it felt kilos heavier! Who would have guessed!!?! Thankfully at least, even though they were very heavy, they all fitted in my daypack. I wasn’t walking around carrying plastic bags all night!

Her workmates were so easy to get along, so fun to be with. I realised it didn't matter where we were, "we/us/the people" were enough to make the night interesting. Though a venue with a good vibe was helpful/important, our company wasn't reliant on it to make "our" night enjoyable. By the time we moved to a bar from the party, I was happily tipsy. More drinks came round. With a little suggestion, the girls rounded up the guys and we moved to a club to dance.

Again coz our bunch consisted of mostly down to earth, approachable, easy going (some more extroverted than others), friendly and 'out to have fun' kind of people, it was easy to just be yourself… or myself. We were grooving hard to the music, males and females, my group at one stage mostly on top of the bar dancing! :-) Including me of course!!! Dancing comfortably with the guys, no malice, feeling very safe, knowing they will also protect you from idiots who think they can invade your space. Going even wilder with the ladies, shaking our booties any way we can think of!! The smile never left my face!!

Money all spent on drinks, I made sure I caught the last bus to take me home. Felt so tired as we started around 5pm. Invitation to next month’s party given and accepted. Happy farewells. S and I texted each other to make sure we found home. Woke up 2 hours later feeling sick though well hydrated with water. Realised I only had 2 small dumplings plus a double cheese and tomato sandwich for the past 30 hours!! I sweated and exerted so much energy my body may have been going to shock??!! So I delicately fed myself salty food and carbs. Thankfully, slowly I felt better, enough to go back to sleep restfully.

I can’t wait for next month! Minus the veggies and with dinner in my stomach!!!

Thanks Dusty for the invite and convincing me to go! I'm glad we are finally hanging out and grooving to the same type of music!!! :-)

Trapeze

“HEP! Legs up!! Let go (hands)! Reach out! Let go (legs)!!!”

“(Legs) forward-back-forward-knees up!!! Face forward!”

You become very familiar with these commands when you put your life in the hands of trapeze performers, 2 safety ropes attached to a tight belt, and a bouncy catch net.

I managed to book myself in for a free trapeze workshop in the city, weeks in preparation. As soon as I saw the speil, I knew I had to do it! It could be an once-in-a-lifetime chance!! So I decidedly worked half-a-day of my life around it. With a little pre-planning, not a huge sacrifice at all.

Debilitating thoughts still came to mind, “I’m too old” (I’m only 30!); “It’ll be in front of city passersby, that’s embarrassing” (Oh well, I want to experience it, and it’s FREE!); “I’m not feeling strong enough to carry my own weight/fat ass” (Hhhmmm… I know… but I’ll just have to see/give it a go.); “I should be more lady like” (hhhmmm…. I left this unanswered.); and “I feel bad I have to take some time off work. I gotta still do this and that.” (Jeez! Work’s work! It’ll still be there and the same tomorrow. All’s organised with colleagues. ‘Me’ time now.).

Fears put aside. Excitement had set in.

The day was beautifully sunny, the wind only slightly chilly. I was there 2-hours early to watch a demonstration. Rhea and my godchild Jaycee passed by to watch too. I wanted Jaycee to try it, but she wasn’t interested. I was just happy to see them and spend some time with them before the 2-hour workshop begun.

We were fitted with a safety belt that had to be worn as tight as a corset, so our body fat was bulging on top and under it. Then we were shown the right way to stand and jump off the ledge.

The exercise begun when we had to show how agile and flexible we were when we had to reach for the bar. We swung our legs dramatically (toes pointed!) to get momentum; lifted our legs up and folded them around the bar; let go of the bar and looked forward; then gracefully reached for the bar again; and slipped our legs off the bar. Surprisingly it was easy when I was put on the spot. I always knew I perform better under pressure (heheheh).

Quickly, we were climbing to a ledge about 3 stories high, being strapped on to 2 safety ropes, and reaching for a bar that feels slightly out of reach. The height and uncertainty made me feel weak in the knees but it helped that I have done some climbing before.

I did 3 climbs altogether, all tricks performed properly. First jump I had to do all the moves I practised during the land exercise, after jumping off and while I was swinging! It was hard to hear the instructor and I felt slightly disoriented – “where’s my forward?”. Second jump we did it again but with a finishing backward somersault when we let go of the bar. This was fun too! I’m pretty sure I screamed with glee as I felt myself rotating!!

The third jump was the CATCH!!

I was put on the spot! The girl before me chickened out and didn’t want to do it first. She was scared or/and suddenly became aware of the people watching us. Which made me aware of them too!! Shayte!

Being the eldest, I felt I had to put a brave front so the kiddies wont give up, or get scared. Climbing up, I struggled remembering the moves, only remembered that the catcher was the boss. There was no time for hesitation, or else we miss the moment and I miss my chance to be caught. I knew when the catcher called out “HEP!” , I had better jumped. Determined, I trusted my instinct and (little) knowledge. I knew what I was doing!! Eeeeekk!

Feeling in my zone, holding on to the bar, even looking at the catcher in the eye, I knew I feared what was to happen next, but ready. I heard a strong voice,

“HEP! Legs up!! Let go! Reach out!!!!”

In milliseconds I felt strong grasps on my wrists just when I saw him, upside down like me! Then the call “Let go” (my legs off the bar) while the crowd was gasping, then cheering! I was told I “squeaked” while he held me in the air, huge smile on my face, and when he let go of me without telling me! I momentarily forgot there was a net underneath me!! Cheeky!

The buzzed stayed for ages. The pain of the rope burn on my finger after the first jump not settling in until I was home. My finger still hurts, 2 weeks later, still healing and a little infected. Expected bruises behind my legs now gone. I didn't care! It was SOOH MUCH FUN!

I didn’t want to stop! We were almost climbing for a fourth jump, but too many of the kids didn’t do the catch properly so we ran out of time. It didn’t matter (well, it did but it was okay). I did what I came for. Now I know I like it. Wishing I get other chances to do this and learn more tricks….

HEP!