Nightlife

1 October 2006 11am

Well, all my avoidance came to naught.

Finally, last night, we succumbed to peer pressure and went out in Port Pirie.

I'd love to be able to say we had the night of our lives, and more excitement and joy than at any other time on this trip - but the truth is, we prefer knitting to clubbing.

And with good reason.

Now, before people get offended, hanging with Julie and the Riva girls was great fun - that was the really good bit, and what made the whole night worthwhile.

However, I guess the reality is that dodgy clubs here are like dodgy clubs everywhere - very poorly mixed top 40 club tracks (on cd - there was no dj), men eyeing you up and down as you walk in the door, and pressing up against you on the dance floor, no matter how many times you try to get rid of them, so much alcohol on the floor that your slipping and sliding in your heels could easily be mistaken for progressive dance, and my favourite thing about dodgy clubs - the gaggle (the proper collective term for a group of teenyboppers) of teenage girls clustered in the toilets, gossiping secretively in full hearing distance of a dozen other women pretending not to eavesdrop.

Having said all this, the party we went to was a lot of fun, and I got to hang with my cousins (distant) - I've discovered I truly do have a whole bunch of long-lost cousins. Because I feel so removed from my family here, I'm really enjoying catching up with all the "who's not speaking to who" type gossip. I'm talking to all of them, because this way I get to hear all sorts of fascinating stories. All families are like this when you scratch the surface, right?

If nothing else, Port Pirie has given us excellent opportunities to study human behaviour!

Anyway, now Liz is working (extremely hungover) and I'm here at the cafe nursing my coffee. The girls are starting to drop in for the obligatory morning after debriefing.
As the morning rolls on, more and more hungover staff will be arriving, so I'm quite looking forward to having a giggle at all the dark glasses and pale faces.

I on the other hand am planning to drink the second coffee I just ordered, then head home for a nap, followed by a little rest, and a lie down, after which I may have another nap. I think this good plan.