New Year´s Eve in Aluche

After New Year´s Eve dinner with my love´s family, we headed to a local bar in Aluche, a suburb of Madrid. We got there at 02h30, and it was heaving with people. It had by far the thickest cloud of cigarette smoke in any bar I´ve ever been to. (Later someone succeded in opening a window, which was rapidly closed by the propietor explaining that it had to be so for the noise. Hence the cloud). We found a space to talk and dance, and (like a cliché waiting to happen) before I knew it it was 07h30 and they were turning the lights on for people to go home. The happiest part of the evening was being able to converse in (broken) Spanish with loads of M´s friends who I´ve only previously been able to communicate via intermediary with. It is such a relief to be able to squeeze out a few words in another language and to be understood. And to listen to people and understand what they are saying to me. I should think the (Spanish sized) Barcardis helped in this department, breaking down my inhibitions about making mistakes. (It also broke down my barriers about dancing like a crazed baboon; which surprised me a bit. Up until now I´d stuck with the idea that something stronger was required for that ... but maybe it´s just because I love dancing.) V, a Madrileño lawyer living and working in Seville, is of the belief that Robbie Williams has modelled his moves on mine. Quite possibly there´s an illicit tape out there somewhere doing the rounds.

On the way home we stopped off for traditional New Year´s Day breakfast of chocolate and churros. In the drunken words of R the policeman, está la puta madre.

I surprised myself with how much fun I had. I was delighted with being able to communicate with M´s friends and hope it´s another big step in being able to communicate properly; I really want to just be another one of their mob, rather than M´s English speaking Australian partner. Most of all, for M´s sake, I don´t want to have to rely on her all the time to do my communicating for me. I dropped into bed exhausted and happy, looking forward to a bright and productive 2006.