...and tell

So Boff and I went to GreenUps last Tuesday at Grasshopper Bar. We met at Galaxy, the sci-fi bookshop near Town Hall Station. I had planned to surprise him with our first kiss but he spotted me on approach and I had to change tack. Eventually, as we were leaving I put my arm around him just to let him know he didn't have to be shy.

Grasshopper: it was a bit of a wank - housed in an old warehouse-style building down a lane that doesn't even exist on Google Maps (Temperance Lane, off George Street in Sydney - try it). It serves drinks in jars which I thought was cool until I realised they were just pouring soft drinks from glass bottles into the jars, which is not at all enviro. Shame, GreenUps! And the drinks were expensive, though I didn't mind so much because it was Boff's shout.

We were standing at the bar waiting to be served and he leant over took my face in one hand and kissed me. It was very tender and I was so happy that he'd worked up the nerve to initiate it himself. We were only at the venue for about half and hour before we decided it wasn't our scene and went for a walk up to Observatory Hill (one of my favourite philosophy/make-out spots, actually: insert ellipsis here).

So anyway, he asked me if he could call me his girlfriend and I said that was okay even though I think I'm a bit further off calling him my boyfriend (can that happen? I mean, is he allowed to call me his girlfriend if I don't call him my boyfriend?). Interestingly enough, now that I think about him differently, I feel that I'm at last capable of falling for him, which means I made the right decision in agreeing to go out with him. Still, I'm concerned that he cares more for me than I do for him; I've never liked inequality. I'm just going to have to give it some time.

Wednesday was writers group. Gina returned from her stint at Varuna (writers retreat - she won a scholarship) and Wendy had written most of an animation script so we had quite a bit to talk about.

Thursday night I went to Jo's housewarming. Jo is an acquaintance from violin lessons (we went to the same teacher and she had the lesson before me) who also happens to be Assie's sister Aruna's best friend. It wasn't really a housewarming but a catch-up and I mightn't have gone if I'd known it was just going to be me (Assie had been invited but had something else on).

Anyway, she said some things about Aruna that I thought were rather indiscreet, which I relayed to Assie when I went to our regular symphony concert on Saturday afternoon. Eventually it all came full circle when Assie told Aruna what Jo had said to me. I had Jo ringing me wanting to know what I'd said; I just told her that I thought everything she'd mentioned to me that night was common knowledge. I mean, she told me some top secret things about her work which she prefaced by saying "you can't tell anyone, but" so I assumed that since she didn't say that about Aruna, Aruna had given her permission to talk about it, if that makes sense? GAH!

Friday was cool, even though the morning was rather unproductive. In the afternoon I met Boff at Cinema Paris to see 'Creation' (Charles Darwin movie). He managed to get off early from work so we saw the 4.20pm session, after which we sat on a park bench for a couple of hours. I was in a playful mood so I started conversations that had many tangents. We ate at a Thai restaurant in Surry Hills and then wandered up to Glebe and hung out in Victoria Park for a while before heading to San Churro for hot chocolate. I really enjoy his company and I really hope the more 'romantic' aspects of our relationship don't usurp the friendship.

The weekend was quite segmented. On Saturday morning I went to Sir's place (my old place in Waverton) to meet Kristen and her boy LQ (I met him in Beijing) and we walked across the Harbour Bridge to The Rocks, bought lunch at the markets and sat by the water. Then met Assie at the Opera House for 'Romantic Raptures' (not that great) before heading to dinner at Fiorenzoni in Chatswood with mum, dad and Rach for mum's birthday. Food was good; we had a mixed entree platter and a mixed dessert platter to start and end, which was a good idea - even though my fettucine ragout (silky noodle and flavoursome oxtail meat) seemed undersized - because I was full by the end.

On Sunday I woke up reasonably early (the alarm went off at 6am, I woke up at 8am) to tackle some work before going to high tea with mum, Rach and my aunt in Castle Hill. In the evening Boff came over and we thought about playing cribbage but then we realised it was more fun just necking on the couch. Had to throw him out at 10pm, though, so I could tackle more of my article and therefore finish said article today so I can see him tomorrow before I go to Canberra.

Today I had an important client meeting: designer Amanda and I revealed the redesign of their magazine. IT WENT REALLY WELL. I was so happy. Even Trevor behaved himself. So the next magazine will be the best yet.

So I've finished my article and I've finished this blog post, nearly. Am leaving for Canberra tomorrow, for a few days and a variety of reasons. Boff is coming over in the morning to help me not iron (in essence, watch me pack) and we'll figure out what else we can do in the few short hours before I have to be at Central by 3pm.