60 hours

[strange_complex]

Pretty much all the companies who really need to know I'm moving now do, although I still haven't managed to get through to an actual human being at Nationwide. My office is packed up; the house is starting to happen today. Got up bright and early this morning to go to Tesco's and pick up some extra boxes, and since then it's been coffee and getting down to it.

Last night I went out for dinner with davesangel at the Apartment, a funky little bar-restaurant in town where they do a damn fine two-course meal for two plus a bottle of wine for £28 all told. They have large plate-glass windows overlooking the splendid neo-classical City Hall, and we were lucky enough to get placed at a table which must have had one of the best views in the venue. It's almost like the waiter knew I was going. We gossiped, giggled and discussed HP fanfic, while the sun faded from the sky and the lights came up in the square below. Afterwards, I walked home rather than get the bus, for the sake of some final quality time alone in the dark with Belfast.

It seems that almost everything I do at the moment is unpleasantly overshadowed by the word 'Last'. There was my Last Lecture back in June, my Last Cornucopia almost a month ago, my Last Supervision on Friday, giving back my Last Library Book and having a Last Hot Chocolate in Café Conor yesterday, my Last Time in the city centre last night, several people I know I've already said my Last Goodbyes to, and a whole slough more to add to that by the end of the evening - for tonight is the Last Sci-Fi Meeting.

I am going to get tearful by the end of this week: I can feel it coming.

Friends here in Belfast are plotting to sabotage the ferry which will take me away on Friday night so I can't go, or offering to murder my choice of the QUB Ancient History staff so I can take their jobs and stay on. Then again, on the other side of the equation I'm starting to get texts, LJ comments and emails from people in England checking when I'm coming back, and telling me how excited they are about it and what we'll do when I've returned. I already have the St. Giles' fair to look forward to next Tuesday, and B-Movie the following weekend.

Keep it up, English people - it means more to me than I can say right now.

Comments

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

I know exactly how you feel about Lasts, and mine are (a) temporary, and (b) well over a month away! But everything's still tinged with nostalgia.

But you know how much Oxford's missed you, and how much individuals have missed you, and how Very Important it is to have you reinstated in Your Rightful Place.

(NB: Patrick mentioned that his mum is further winding down her teaching hours with a view to retirement possibly at the end of this year. Maybe there'll be more hours/a full-time post going at Warwick as a result?)

[white_hart]

I'm certainly looking forward to getting a chance to meet up again!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Bless you! I am trying to think of the current round of Lasts as much as I can as 'Lasts... For Now'. But the reality is that even when I do any of those things again, it will only be as a visitor, which isn't the same.

And thanks for the inside info from Warwick! Sounds very interesting...

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! I'm particularly hoping to join you for some of your monthly trips around the Farmers' Market - when is the next, by the way?

[haematoma.livejournal.com]

Not wishing to distract you from the English loving, but I adore the B&W icon, it's gorgeous ^__^

[white_hart]

It's the first Thursday of every month, so unfortunately you'll miss the September one which is tomorrow - next one is 6th October.

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

offering to murder my choice of the QUB Ancient History staff so I can take their jobs and stay on

Tough choice, eh?

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Ah - a pity, because I will be working at Warwick by then, and I may be needed up there on Thursdays. Oh well - if I can't make the market, there will certainly be days when I'm available for lunch, especially inSeptember before the job starts.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you mean! ;)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!

[white_hart]

You'll have to see how your timetable pans out. I was thinking of organising another regular lunchtime meet as well, though, which I might get sorted in September, or drop me a line and we can meet up anyway.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, I will. I should have more of a clue what I'm doing after next Wednesday, when I'm meeting up with the head of dept to discuss the job.

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

you coming to bee film?

blimey

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yep, on the 9th. Gonna be there?

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

quite possibly - any chance youm will be around london on monday 12th? sack trick - the band who you *need* to see are playing - part of the reason they formed was their mutual love of kiss..... they are infact the greatest live band around today..... they need your affection..... www.sacktrick.com has downloads if you fancy a taster - I recomend the boy who played with tigers

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I'll check out the downloads, but I think I'll have to miss the gig due to needing to get on with my book. Still, maybe some other time?

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

maybe no tomatoes for me..............

[hypereyes.livejournal.com]

have a safe journey home and the best of luck with whatever you do next :D I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you properly :(

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm sorry we didn't meet properly, too, but maybe I'll see you when I'm over on a visit some time.

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

You don't know that for sure! Give it ten years and you might be the head of department at QUB!

I am firmly of the opinion that life always gets it right in the end, even if it takes a while and looks really shit in the middle. Things that have seemed awful at the time have always eventually led to a greater and more fulfilling form of happiness.