The Youth of Today

Have you ever had one of those clearly defining moments in time, when almost like a light bulb switiching on, you suddenly wake up and think to yourself - what the hell am I doing?

I had one of these Eureka moments on Saturday. It was one of my friends birthday and she wanted to see her last twenty-something birthday out in style, by having a few bevvies with close friends, rounding of the night with a boogie somewhere to see in the small hours.

We started off in a perfectly nice bar, made even better by the two-for-one offers on some very refreshing Mojitos. Granted it was a bit rucus in there, being Camden, but it was a lively rucus which we took great delight in blending into. Then it was decided after departing the bar, we would head on down to the Electric Ballrooms - and from here, I can honestly say, it all went a Pete Tong.

Don't get me wrong, it was still a laugh to be out and about, but I seriously felt like a fish out of water and couldn't help but look about me thinking what mad house have I landed in? I think it's safe to say we were definitely one of the older groups in the club and I have to say the other girls in there were rather shameless. I know it's the done thing to be out having a laugh when your young, but I'm sure I was never that bad at that age.

I got to see arse cheeks galore where the skirts didn't cover the underwear - and in some cases I'm sure there wasn't even any underwear involved. There were a fair selection of the - shall we say - larger ladies, who were clearly wearing clothes two sizes too small (I'm all for being confident in your own skin, but there are certain things that just should not be displayed, rolls of body fat and beer bellies being just that!) and don't get me started on the binge drinking. I saw one particular girl who was swigging pints of beer, got dragged outside by her mate to puke all over the pavement, as well as herself and her mate in the process, then come sauntering back in to carry on drinking and even copped off with a bloke in the corner. Since when has pebble dashing been a glamourous look, especially when it is smeared down your chin and in between your clevage???

It was quite a relief to get out and back into the norm of reality. Maybe I'm just getting too old for this crap and really am turning into my mother, but give me a good old cocktail bar anyday, with a bit of live music and a nice chilled relaxed atmosphere. At the end of the day, self-decency and respect costs nothing ladies......you'll thank me one day - when you get as old and wise as I am!!!

True friends to the end?

The amount of times I've heard growing up, people say only time will tell who your true friends are - and I'm starting to realise how very true that saying is.

It's natural for people when they grow up they tend to spread out, start a family or choose a quieter pace of life, but you always think that there'll be certain amigos that will make the extra effort to stay in contact and have regular catch ups with. Even though I do still make an effort with all my friends, I'm getting to the stage now where I can't help but feel that with certain people I am doing this all in vain.

Only this weekend I was having a heart to heart down the local talking about someone who I thought would always be there to share life with, someone I grew up with, who has now made it very clear I don't fit in their life anymore owing to the fact that I have to be kept separate from all her 'couple' friends as I may not be able to 'cope' with it. Whilst I was sitting there in the pub, I realised I was crying into the shoulder of someone who has actually turned out to be one of my best friends and I never would have thought it in a million years. Someone who I had known when in college and then drifted apart from - only to drift back in contact with again a couple of years ago and he's proved that he is growing into a rather solid rock.

Life has it's ups and downs and I believe in taking every day as it comes, but every now and again it's always nice to see a shining star that brings a twinkle to your eye and brightens your day into a genuine smile that reaches the eyes.

Nostalgic Memories

When did life become so dull and boring? What happened to the days when you would jump out of bed and wolf down your breakfast because you was too impatient and felt like you was missing out on something in the big wide yonder? Where has that added 'zing' gone, the one that would be there whilst you're running down the street in your flashing LA trainers full of joy and wonder?

Fast forward 20 years and this is where it has gone to - a 9 to 5 desk job, mortgages and bills galore and the feeling that life really isn't all that you thought it would crack up to be! Nice one!

I've been trying to pin-point the exact time when I realised my ambitious 'I can conquer the world' phrase ended and my 'oh-my-god-I'm-getting-old' phase kicked in it's place. I'm guessing about 3pm on September 23, 2009. No, kidding!

But on a serious note, why is it you spend your whole youth wishing you could just grow up and be taken more seriously, yet spend your adult life living down memory lane, wishing you could get some of that vitality back?

I even went through a phrase last year of going out and getting drunk just for the sheer hell of it, to do something fun and stupid and irresponsible. But all that made me realise is that the older I get, the worse the hangover gets, which made me feel even more old and depressed than when I had just stayed sober to begin with!

What can I say? I guess I'll just have to think up some other hair-brained scheme to 'mix-it up abit' and inject some fun into my life. To do that, I think I am going to need my nice comfy couch, a cup of tea, dressing gown and my slippers to properly relax and get the ideas flowing.....