Anyhow, it was great to see Seumas and meet Russel (I believe there's only one L there IIRC). I had a much better time when we simply went up the pub to hang out - now that's my idea of a good time. I've seen enough twee English villages to last me a lifetime, but enjoying a beer outdoors while watching mynahs and rats scurry about, that I could do forever. I was also delighted to see a neighborhood of roughly the same vintage of ours in San José. The company made it all the more entertaining.
So, tomorrow. Need to go buy a car. After that, a weekend in Sydney, and then finally, I think we can hit the road for a bit, although we're expected back in Sydney for the next weekend (this I'm looking forward to as I haven't seen Neville in ages). On the whole, though, right now I'm very afraid that I'm pinned down in the city for too long, doing social event things that I'm just not a huge fan of. I don't need to attend a bear event much less Mardi Gras, but that's what was agreed to. I hope it works out well but right now I feel like I've travelled ninety-eight per cent of the way to the whole point of the trip (the countryside) but am stuck just shy of the goal for about three weeks while I spin my wheels in an urban environment that so far hasn't proven to be substiantially different than anything I've experienced before. It's pleasant enough but I'm just not in the mood for it night now. Maybe it would help if it stopped raining.
