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The St Andrews Canada Day Visit
Jul. 2nd, 2003 08:25 pmOf course, as soon as I posted an entry about the most exciting thing happening around here being my brother getting his mullet caught in the fridge, something happens. I got the call for an interview for the service station job, and had the interview the same day. On the way there I met Emma Robertson, who I hadn't seen since we were in Primary 7 together, so it was good to talk to her... it's strange hearing who's got married, had a baby without her parents knowing, and so on. And as if that wasn't enough, the boy who sat beside me in S4 German - the unfortunately named Philip Pratt - was working as a mechanic at the garage, preventing a unit from collapsing. I think the interview went very well, though she noticed my back problem. I should probably see someone about that.
But what you're all wanting to read about is the St Andrews visit. Justus and I arrived with my dad at about half past ten, and wandered around the cathedral grounds for a while. We went up the Rule's tower as well, after contemplating whether we could fit us both in the toll gate at the same time (I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a very close couple). It's a good view from up there, though I found myself thinking the stairs would make a good Eye-shield sequence.
We arrived at the central slightly after 11, and were the first ones there - it wasn't open. After waiting around for a few minutes, Paulette and Chris arrived, then Ally, and the place opened. Realising just how much I had missed Chris's bad puns, we continued waiting inside for Paul to arrive, characteristically late. By then, Amanda and Iain had turned up as well, and Rachel had dropped in to distribute Canada transfer tattoos.
After a fattening meal at the Central, we went back to the Union - another place I'd missed. Panic Park had finally been repaired. Only Namco could make a game like that. Richard was right, it's great. However, the air hockey table is not. The paddles now slide about in an almost acceptable way, but the puck is awful - Chris and I spent most of the time retrieving it from the far corners of the room during the three games we played, two of which timed out. I also played pool with Justus, forgetting how good he was at it. I think he's unused to the smaller tables, though, as I beat him by one clear ball.
A trip to Dundee for bowling came next - we had two lanes, "Pob and Friends" versus "Bints United". I played a lot better than I had previously at that place (remember the 53), but Chris still managed to beat me by just one point in the second game. I convinced him to go on the DDR machine - he seemed very reluctant at first, but wanted another try of it by the end. That one had the best selection of musics I've ever seen on a dancing game - Tubthumping, Kung Fu Fighting, I Will Survive, and other cheese classics, although every DDR game seems to have a song called "Silent Hill" for some reason. I think its name was Dancing Stage Euromix, I'll look out for that one again.
Back to St Andrews, and this time to Amanda's flat for a game of Monopoly (the second best board game ever). Again, by luck I managed to survive for a lot longer than last time, and actually got more than three properties. My downfall came quickly, though, after landing on places with close to £1000 rent about three times in a row.
The "barbecue" was in fact held in a kitchen in Gannochy in the end, as it was threatening to rain. For quite a while near the start, the Sinners and Gannochists (to coin a phrase) sort of stayed in their own halves of the room, but we mingled more after a Canadian-themed game of charades organised by Rachel. I was surprised by how many of the answers I recognised, in fact.
We built a fire on the beach and roasted marshmallows to end the evening - despite repeated invitations, my dad didn't want to join us and instead headed to the Tudor. I finished off the last images on my disposable camera (the one that I'd have since the start of the year and never used), so I'll get them developed today. I might take down the digital camera for next year. At about eleven, Justus and I said our farewells and left for Inverurie again. It was well worth the drive down, and made me look forward even more to next year.
And finally - the school's got a new network now. My brother worked out how to get past the new security measures within half an hour.
But what you're all wanting to read about is the St Andrews visit. Justus and I arrived with my dad at about half past ten, and wandered around the cathedral grounds for a while. We went up the Rule's tower as well, after contemplating whether we could fit us both in the toll gate at the same time (I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a very close couple). It's a good view from up there, though I found myself thinking the stairs would make a good Eye-shield sequence.
We arrived at the central slightly after 11, and were the first ones there - it wasn't open. After waiting around for a few minutes, Paulette and Chris arrived, then Ally, and the place opened. Realising just how much I had missed Chris's bad puns, we continued waiting inside for Paul to arrive, characteristically late. By then, Amanda and Iain had turned up as well, and Rachel had dropped in to distribute Canada transfer tattoos.
After a fattening meal at the Central, we went back to the Union - another place I'd missed. Panic Park had finally been repaired. Only Namco could make a game like that. Richard was right, it's great. However, the air hockey table is not. The paddles now slide about in an almost acceptable way, but the puck is awful - Chris and I spent most of the time retrieving it from the far corners of the room during the three games we played, two of which timed out. I also played pool with Justus, forgetting how good he was at it. I think he's unused to the smaller tables, though, as I beat him by one clear ball.
A trip to Dundee for bowling came next - we had two lanes, "Pob and Friends" versus "Bints United". I played a lot better than I had previously at that place (remember the 53), but Chris still managed to beat me by just one point in the second game. I convinced him to go on the DDR machine - he seemed very reluctant at first, but wanted another try of it by the end. That one had the best selection of musics I've ever seen on a dancing game - Tubthumping, Kung Fu Fighting, I Will Survive, and other cheese classics, although every DDR game seems to have a song called "Silent Hill" for some reason. I think its name was Dancing Stage Euromix, I'll look out for that one again.
Back to St Andrews, and this time to Amanda's flat for a game of Monopoly (the second best board game ever). Again, by luck I managed to survive for a lot longer than last time, and actually got more than three properties. My downfall came quickly, though, after landing on places with close to £1000 rent about three times in a row.
The "barbecue" was in fact held in a kitchen in Gannochy in the end, as it was threatening to rain. For quite a while near the start, the Sinners and Gannochists (to coin a phrase) sort of stayed in their own halves of the room, but we mingled more after a Canadian-themed game of charades organised by Rachel. I was surprised by how many of the answers I recognised, in fact.
We built a fire on the beach and roasted marshmallows to end the evening - despite repeated invitations, my dad didn't want to join us and instead headed to the Tudor. I finished off the last images on my disposable camera (the one that I'd have since the start of the year and never used), so I'll get them developed today. I might take down the digital camera for next year. At about eleven, Justus and I said our farewells and left for Inverurie again. It was well worth the drive down, and made me look forward even more to next year.
And finally - the school's got a new network now. My brother worked out how to get past the new security measures within half an hour.
