Down South

Headed down to the South Coast for the housewarming of a high school friend on Saturday.

It was a long train journey, longer than I originally thought. You know how you can think you understand that two hours is a long time, but to actually travel for that long seems a lot longer? There was some nice scenery though. I had forgotten how hilly the whole region is.

I got picked up at the station by my friend, which was a good thing considering it was a good ten minute drive to her new place. A really nice two-bedroom townhouse that she shares with her sister. I was one of the first to arrive and we snacked and chatted for the whole time pretty much until the rest of the party arrived, mainly people I had not met before. Much of the entertainment was provided by their one-year-old niece: a cutie with a lot of energy. Children are so curious at that age - dangerously so sometimes. It's amazing what can amuse them for hours too.

In the end, my friend and I were left alone in the house, as everyone else went off to the races. We had a good long comfortable coze about lots of things, ranging from computer games, TV shows and movies, books and sport, to what's been going on in our lives since we last met up. It had been a really long time and it's just the way I like to spend lazy weekend afternoons.

The train journey back was noisy, as it was full of racegoers returning home or young people heading out to the city for a Saturday evening's revels. All in all, a pleasant day. It's a shame she lives quite so far away now, considering our geographical proximity previously, but she seems quite content and as for me, the distance is not completely insurmountable.