Barca!!!

Xperience 47 & 48

I have to start off by saying my team never wins. It’s almost as bad as my plant problem (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, my dear sister actually commented in a previous post about this problem).
It might be because I’m always rooting for the underdog (surely the Netherlands wasn’t?) and let’s be honest, it’s mostly in those cheesy Hollywood movies the worst team wins.

So when Barcelona and Manchester United made the final of the UEFA Championship (gosh, I hope I get this right) I felt I had to support Barca. But not because they were the under dogs, nope. Firstly almost everyone I know backed Man U (I don’t like following the crowds) and secondly, they beat Real Madrid quite impressively (a very sad night for me).

I tried to keep my choice of team quiet, just in case I might be bad luck to them (you never know), until the last week. It wasn’t until Kim mentioned they’re going to watch the game at their local pub in Camps Bay (I know, who thought Camps Bay had a god honest pub??) and I invited myself, that I came out with the dirty truth.
I say dirty truth, because two vendors on the parade actually refused to sell me a Barcelona scarf (?).

Just to make sure I’m not a complete idiot, as it turns out I’m the only sod I knew supporting Barcelona, I asked a friend of mine who he thinks will win. As Joao is very rarely wrong about these things, he quite carefully predicted a Barca win, all I needed to hear.

So off to Dizzy’s I went with my new scarf and more courage than the dutch. As I walked in I new I’m in Man U country, oh boy.
I’m sure I don’t have to replay the whole game, let’s just say I celebratedevery one of the three goals.
Kim’s boyfriend (and every other Man U fan) was gutted, I couldn’t believe my good luck, my team won!! I’m still grinning like a lottery winner.
So we partied like only winners and losers can, really hard.

What was the new xperience? A cool pub in the middle of Camps Bay (with wicked shooters, I’ll get the name again) and another I didn’t bargain on… My team won a major competition!!!

(And this makes me up to date on the xperiences too)

 

The Universal Lie

Xperience 43 (46)

Some things will never change. It doesn’t matter how many times you may verbalise it and ask the universe to manifest it, Buddy, it ain’t gonna happen.
Today I’m talking about one particular thing, the elusive ONE drink after work.
I believe (and quite a few friends can concur) you have a 1.72% chance of keeping to only one. It is useless to try and fool yourself.

Friday, I committed myself to 2 drinks after work (see, I’m learning here) at Neighbourhood in Long Street, did you know they have a two for the price of one special on cocktails? Just for the record I didn’t have any…
After my two drinks I left, I thought I was home free, until I got to my car and ran into 3 long lost friends I haven’t seen in more than a decade.

New xperience for the day, a little hole in the wall just of Long Street, called Tulip. This little gem plays the most awesome music and have patrons which could only be described as the coolest Cape Tonians around. There’s only one problem, they don’t serve Irish Whiskey…huh?

Around this time, I made a call to organise somewhere to sleep, there was no way I would be able to drive anywhere.
We partied like rock stars, up and down Long and Kloof. I’m also going to claim two new xperiences during the night. Unfortunately though, I can’t describe them in this blog. In fact, it was the kind of things you should only confess to a priest and a paramedic.

It was in my opinion a successful night…even if it started with a version of the universal lie.

 

Some you lose and then some return by themselves

Xperience 41 & 42 (43 & 44)

I wish I could use my cash flow challenge as a new xperience, but alas it’s not new. When my sister and I moved into our apartment about 10 years ago, we had the same challenge, all the time though. Looking back, we had some amazing times, born from creatively working with our money and still getting the maximum fun out of it.

It turns out that Cape Town is quiet over winter, everyone who’s got the means, fled the rain and wind and the rest is hybernating. Cape Town is also quite expensive, a city geared for tourism and the prices don’t drop in the off season.

Tuesday I didn’t do anything, it was cold, so was my feet and brain. All I could think of was how many days till summer, quite sad and pathetic, I agree (so the xperience get’s carried over, I’m getting worse at this).

Wednesday though, did have a new xperience and one I didn’t like one bit. I only recognise it now.

Our operations manager (and close friend and mentor) resigned. For our company this is a loss, for me this is a huge loss and for his company a huge win.

This is a good time to wish Pierre well in he’s continued en devours. Thank you for being a patient teacher and guiding me through the daily battle field of business, good customer service and HR. You are going to be missed, our team is now one “girl” down.

Loosing an important part of a team is tough and we haven’t even felt the effect yet.

Xperience 43 (46)

A few years ago I met Nicolet through a friend of my ex, we hit it off from the go and became very close friends and partners in crime. She was studying here and was planning to join her family in Miami as soon as she graduates. Nicolet did just that.

I cried like a little girl all the way home from the airport, not sure what I’m going to do without my friend.
I then did something I’m not too proud of, I made more friends to try and fill the gap left by her.

Now to make new friends isn’t wrong, I just think it’s in the grey area when you do it to make up for a friend gone.

On Thursday I got the best and biggest surprise of the year, when my dearest friend Nicolet literally appeared on my doorstep. She’s know for weeks she’s coming back (scaniving wench) and didn’t tell anyone, wanted it to be a surprise to the point of almost lying in our faces.
All’s forgiven, as from this week on Cape Town is Dutch again.

I think I may also have learned the most important lesson so far this year. You can’t make new friends to fill a gap left by someone else. My new friends created their own unique place in my life and no-one will ever be able to fill their gap.

I’m truly blessed by everyone who regards me as a friend, thank you.

 

How much does the Russians recycle?

Xperience 38 (40)

There is a real difference between art movies and the stuff Ster Kinekor feeds to us as art movies. For one, there are countries other than Hollywood producing movies
We can thank our Cape Tonian behinds for institutions like The Labia.

The grand old dame in Orange street is hosting a Russian Film Festival and the venue for my next new xperience. I got my ticket for The Vanished Empire, a cold alcoholic drink (Labia is cool like that, you can even take it into the cinema) and while waiting made a new friend (cool people hang out there…).

The movie was nothing like the description which sometimes makes me wonder, can we really trust the person who wrote the sub-titles? I’m sure you’ve watched an animated conversation from a distance and made up your own dialog. If not, you should try it.
So the movie was good, but even better was drinks with a new friend afterwards (and no, he’s not russian).

Xperience 39 (41)

The plan was to go to the new market on Hope Street, but winter is slow season which leads to severe cash flow problems. I will be damned if I go to a new market and can’t spend money on food (glorious new wonderful tastes).
So I stayed in, trying to think of things to do that’s also wallet friendly until I had to go to work. After work, I went to Giovanni’s and spent my last R12.50 on an espresso. I’m sure my dad and anyone that’s got anything to do with finances wouldn’t approve, but as always it was a fine cup.

I just realised, I did have a new xperience! I had to beg the liquor store to return my car to me. Don’t judge! Let me explain.
There was a game at the stadium and parking was as rare as pork sausages in India. The only parking was at the liquor store… so I parked there and pretended to go inside, or else they ask you to move your car. In all fairness I’ve spent a considerable portion of my income at their establishment, I think it’s just good client relations to allow me some parking once in 6 months even though I’m not buying anything from them.

So I lost track of the time and realised just after five I need to sneak my car out. It took some serious convincing to get the mean liquor man to release my poor little car. By the way it’s the store close to Giovanni’s, get my drift?

Xperience 40 (42)

I thought Sunday was another day without a new xperience. Until I spoke to my friend Maralise.

Since I moved to Cape Town most Sunday evenings are spent at Maralise’s. First her parents house and after she got married at hers. Now they’re staying again at her parents’ house while renovating. It almost felt like high school again, with a few differences. Her dad now pours me a glass of wine and there are toddlers, who needs bathing. And here’s the xperience.
Sitting on the loo with a glass of wine while my friends bath their children and prevent them from drowning each other.

Gosh, how much they’ve grown up from teenagers consuming liters of coffee, playing darts in the braai room and watching Sunday movies. Me? I’ve trade coffee for wine, I was never any good at darts and I still like the Sunday movie.

Xperience 41 (43)

I think I have to do some planning with this xperience stuff…. and then keep to it.

Did I mention I don’t like winter? Today winter hit Cape Town. I had warm porridge for breakfast, wore my new Wellies, favourite scarf and thickest coat. Winter’s done, bring on Summer pronto!
I don’t find winter to be inspiring at all and coupled with my cash-flow problem, new experiences today was a challenge.

While talking to Maralise (who reminded me of yesterday’s xperience) and complaining about today’s no-show xperience, I fell over the bag of newspapers. The bag I’ve been meaning to take to the recycling point.

And then I realised, I have never actually done recycling. I always mean to and tonight I did. I grabbed my bag of newspapers and box of empty wine, mayonnaise and chutney bottles and dropped it in the allocated containers.

I feel green…who knows, I might try to grow something next.

 

Stretching my memory here

On we go with the archives…some of these will be short and cryptic.

Xperience 24 (should be 25) (5 May)

Quite hung over from the night before, we only got up in time for lunch. After a quick coffee, Renée and I left poor Nella to do some work, while we went shopping for breakfast stuff (at around 2pm). This xperience might be subjective, but my rules, rule.

I cooked in Renee’s kitchen for the first time… I dare you to say anything about this, it counts.

Xperience 25 (26) (6 May)

I tried to make the Ginger Butternut soup that saved my cold ass at the Vortex. I failed. I’m still working on a new recipe, watch this space.

Xperience 26 (27) (7 May)

My friend Megan is a student (I envy her) and for their project they had to organise a function. Xperience Jameson’s Reserve and a function my friend organised…

Xperience 27 (28) (8 May)

Village Party!! The official last party of the season (and a first for me) and none of us are working this event…which mean we all get to party together for a change.We got to the venue, geared with booze, sunglasses and comfy shoes… today we’re stomping! Once again I became friends with people I’ve known for ages, thanks Wendy for an awesome, awesome time.

Xperience …(9 May)

My first day back at the office… not a good one. I didn’t do anything new…

Xperience 28 (30 – are you keeping up?) (10 May)

Quite frankly, the cold I’ve been fighting  during my holiday won the war. I went home at 2pm under duress, apparently I was making the rest of the office sick.

Even though I make a lot of soups, I’ve never done a chicken soup. The whole making chicken stock from a carcass, or else it don’t count, just never did it for me. But I’m sick, I need chicken soup and I have to make it myself. I cheated a bit  and bought a bit of roasted chicken, pre-chopped veggies and chicken soup powder. It worked, I made a perfectly good chicken soup and ate the whole pot before the next dinner…

Xperience 29 (31) (11 May)

Home sick, on the couch with my cat. So what’s the new xperience here? Late in the afternoon, I booted my laptop and wrote 3 new posts (my first attempt to catch-up) and used the Blog thingy on Word. I just uploaded the next day…easy-peasy.

Xperience 30 (32) (12 May)

This one should not be tried at home, or anywhere for that matter. I found some leftover meds from earlier colds and took it with to the office. Around 11 after coffee, I took my meds to get through the day, as I threw the box away I saw the expiry date, two years ago…ooops.

Do not operate heave machinery, computers, price lists or telephones… and throw the old stuff away!

Xperience 31 (33) (13 May)

Could someone please tell me what Tilapia Fish is? In my opinion it’s an extremely cheap fish, sold at the Pick ‘n Pay that tastes like mielies. Seriously…luckily fish won’t make me fat, I hope?

Xperience 32 (34) (14 May)

Natasha and Charlotte’s birthday parties are legendary and I absolutely love dress-up parties. They had a wonderful theme, “I can’t believe you wore THAT to my party”. The Venue (the name of the venue) was a perfect choice (nice new xperience) and as always everyone really did their best to make you go “O my hat!”

Xperience 33 (35) (15 May)

I slept over at Renee’s, as we also had the Bar Year-end party and that only finished around 5am. On my way back home, a big part of the M5 was closed off for road works. Instead of taking the alternative route, I decided to drive Main Rd through Maitland. Nor exactly a new xperience, as at some stage I had to visit clients there. But this was the first time I could take a nice slow drive and have a good look. In fact I found a few new businesses to add to my list of “where can I find..”

Xperience 34 (36) (16 May)

I’m young enough to know you can find anything on the internet. In fact I Google everything. But on Monday we actually ordered food. We didn’t look at the on-line menu and phone the order, nope. We actually did the whole order. Here’s the part that blew us away…. our order was delivered 20 minutes later!! I think we might have a problem in the future… By the way, Debonairs is super awesome.

Xperience 35 (37) (17 May)

It was my turn to cook for Marianne, after she made that sumptuous risotto and I had to impress. I had a pork fillet in the fridge and needed a recipe from heaven. Thank goodness for Google, I found an easy, good recipe with cream, mushrooms and paprika… I also had a lemon pudding recipe I was dying to try.

We drank too much wine, ate all 4 servings of the main course and made a real dent in the pudding, both my new recipes was a raging success!!

Xperience 36 (38) (18 May)

Local government elections. I’ve voted in the national elections a few times, but this was the first time I voted in the “small” one…

Xperience 37 (39) (Today, at freaking last!)

Whilst looking for ideas for my xperience today, I found this video;

which lead me to this website;

http://blublu.org/sito/updates/updates.htm

So now I’m up to date…

And tomorrow I’m going to a Russian Film Festival, can’t wait.

 

Oh my hat…what have I done???

Have I mentioned yet that my natural hair colour is blond? And yes I do tint it (that’s the right phrase according to my stylist), bright red. My dad sometimes refers to me as a “blond under cover” and I have to agree, normally I deserve this term. I realised just now, today I really deserve it.

I’ve been really good in doing my new thing a day, I have been really bad writing about it (as I’m sure you have seen). The other problem is, I can hardly remember if I fed my cat this morning, what’s the chances I’m going to remember what I did a week ago… pretty much, 100% ZERO.

Typical, now that I’ve decided to update and catch-up on the lost writing, there’s a few open days (insert crass and horrible sailor language here).

Back to the rules I suppose;

Rule 5.1.2.3 Should I forget what I’ve done, the xperience is null and void and a new xprerience should be added to the day. (I think it said).

So here’s the lowdown on what’s happened.

Xperience 20 (29 April to (help you count))

Royal Wedding!!! Unless you’re a complete freak and anti-social,  you could not miss this one. All I wanted was a nice place with a good view and cushy seat to watch it in peace. As I drove into Montagu, I made my way to the information office and the friendly lady referred me to The Vic Hotel, just down Bath Street.

It was perfect, a big screen, good sound, bubbly (of course darling) and buffet lunch. And the rest of the guests was at least 40 years me senior, but I had a blast. With some minute by minute commentary from my sister in Johannesburg via sms I was geared for this xperience. I had a Royal View, Royal Service and a Royal Xperience.

Xperience 21 (30 April)

I was back in town after my Lonesome Road Trip and in dire need to see some friends. I heard there was a UV party at one of the local digs, but my friend Marianne suggested an alternative.

Our friend Jos was playing at a small party just outside Durbanville, a venue called Hok 11 (translate Cage 11, I know, I know…just bear with me). Marianne kind of remembered where it is, so the two of us are off. First in the wrong direction, but after a call and 2 u-turns we found the venue. Jos was great (no surprise), the bar was horrendous (they didn’t have enough change an hour after the party started and tried to work on an IOU basis, yeah right buddy!) and the rest of the peeps only left primary school last year. Not our scene. We blew Hok 11 (xperience epic fail) as soon as Jos was finished and made our way to the UV party… much better thank you.

Xperience 22 (1 May)

Bien Donne Baby!! was the cheer a few years in a row, when our friends made our way to the SA Cheese Festival near Franschoek. This year they were at a new venue.

Strictly speaking this is not a new xperience, but the new venue and the fact that my mom’s cousin had their first stall there, makes this a winner.

Unfortunately I was a bit fragile from the night before and Marianne and I first had to have a big GREASY breakfast to get us going. I found my family member’s stall (I’ll have to find out the name from my mom again, oops. Told you I’m a blond) and by George had the best Pistachio Goats Gouda ever. I have a thing for Goats milk Gouda and was a bit apprehensive, what if it’s crap? How on earth will I lie and say Yumm, when it’s yuck (like that dairy free cheese stuff). Lucky it was amazing yummm, enough to buy a stash for the month.

Xperience 23 (2 May)

I know there’s a few holes in my education. Not my parents fault, as one takes over your own education after the age of 16.

Monday, week 2 of my holiday, was time to go to the movies. Also the day I found a huge hole in my education. I’ve never been to a 3D movie! And I was really impressed…it might have been the really gorgeous 3D Thor, who know’s…

Xperience … (3 May)

I have no freaking clue what I did, carry over then.

Xperience 23 (should be 24) (4 May, this is getting confusing, keep up)

Girls night with the fairies in Obs. I got spoiled rotten with seared tuna, a salad I almost dove into and my contribution, a bottle of bubbly. For later we decided to go to Trinity, the new Super Club (or newish, I should say) in Cape Town. We dressed, got a lift (by this time we were way over the legal limit) and made our way to the club.

The club is nice, the barmen a bit slow (can you tell I work in a bar part-time?), but the worst is the Play Station Generation kids who hang out there. Never have I seen someone look you straight in the eye and then walk right into you, not twice, or thrice, no… every time! What the…!? This is not a Play Station game, you will not get 150 gold coins when you bump me twice…walk around me! Give me a nice outdoor venue…pleeeaaaase??

 

More is more…

Xperience 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4

Less is more, might be the rule of thumb. But there are four other fingers on each hand.

My sister and I loved it when we drove through Meiringspoort Pass, in our (limited) opinion the most beautiful pass in the world. It’s also the source for my love of passes and driving them. The first good surprise for the morning was Tradouw Pass (xperience 19.1) on the R324 between Suurbraak and Barrydale. I was a bit depressed for not stopping in Suurbraak to take some photo’s and vowed to go back some time, but then I drove into the Pass. Suddenly I was transported back to Meiringspoort with its hundreds of little bridges and my mom, sister and I convincing my dad to stop at every turn, bridge and rest point. I stopped everywhere I could just to enjoy the view and take some photos.

A piece of road that should take about half an hour to drive, took me just over an hour. It was an hour well spent.

On the other side of the pass is Barrydale. A lot of people know this town as the last stop before Ronnie’s Sex Shop on Route 62. I now remember the town as the place with the best Oxtail Soup (xperience 19.2) and backpackers that has really fluffy duvets.

Now don’t judge me because I used food as an xperience, you can only do that when I actually get fat from this. I was driving around town looking for someplace to have breakfast when the blackboard outside Jam Tarts shouted “Oxtail Soup!” to me. It was cold, overcast and looked like rain (I also heard it was raining in Cape Town), perfect conditions for soup. The soup was amazing, even better was the tip to take a drive out to Warmwaterberg Spa (xperience 19.3.1) from the manageress.

I took the drive out, about 20km, but lost my heart to the Little Karoo…again. The Warmwaterberg Spa is exactly how it was described to me, nothing special or particularly appealing to the eye, but put your hand in the warm water… and then try to leave. Unfortunately they were fully booked for the night, but seeing that it’s only 2 hour’s drive from the city, I think I found a new hide-out.

On my way back I had to stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop (xperience 19.3) an institution on Route 62. A bar only, no sex toys or any other adult (other than alcohol) items are sold here. I had a drink and a nice chat to the yuppie bikers and then started my way back to Barrydale, slowly trying to find my heart between the koppies.

I stayed the night at the Klein Karoo Travel Centre and Backpackers. Mark, Bella the Labrador and their family fed me like a queen at the Dungbeetle, their restaurant at the backpackers. It took me a few hours to drag my tired and slightly drunk body up the stairs to the best surprise of the trip… the most comfortable bed other than mine. It was perfect, the duvet Fluffy (with a capped f, yes) and thick, pillows nice and soft and there was a warm water bottle ready to keep the cold out. I had a real moral dilemma the next morning, should I sleep even later or have them drag me out??

Less is more?? Not if you visit Barrydale…

 

Taking the Dutch to Oude Molen

Xperience 18

I have a strange soft spot for museums. One of my earliest memories was dragging my poor dad to the museum in Hartenbos. To me a magical place caught in a time bubble, now that I think back, not exactly what my dad had envisioned when they booked our seaside vacation.

So new town means new museum too and off I went. Swellendam has an interesting history and museum to go with it, but this was not the new xperience.

Something I didn’t know was that there’s a blueberry farm just outside the town. I know it’s not season, but after I saw the sign, I had to follow. I found a little farm called Wildebraam. They do not only grow blueberries, but make jam and liqueurs from all kinds of fruit which they buy in. Here comes the best part – tasting! I tasted Pineapple & Granadilla Jam, Sundried Tomato Mustard, Hazelnut Liqueur, Sweet Pepper Jam and I’m sure there was a Chili Chocolate Liqueur. For a change, these weren’t my new xperiences either.

Back at the backpackers I started talking to a Dutch guest touring our country for 4 months. I couldn’t help to mention he must have the best boss in the world, taking leave for 4 months? Jasper confessed he resigned his job to travel. During this whole conversation I invited him to join me for dinner at the Oude Molen, a small restaurant that came highly recommended by a friend.

Now I thought this was going to be my new xperience for the day. While having dinner at this wonderful little place just outside the town, Jasper threw a spanner in the works. My new xperience was not the restaurant, no. My new xperience was inviting a total stranger out for dinner. We only introduced ourselves after the first glass of wine. I know, I know, but it was only while we were ordering we realized we don’t even know each other’s names.

Looking back now, it seems Jasper and Natasha both pointed out a very important point. Every new xperience might have more than one dimension. Thanks to a stranger and a trusted friend, I’m now looking out for 2D (or maybe even 3D) xperiences.

 

The Lonesome Trip

Xperience 17

It seems I’ve been so close to my own xperiences, I’ve lost a bit of perspective.

On Tuesday I thought my new experience was Swellendam, a small town I always see the sign for, as I drive down the N2 and hometown of a close friend.

It was my friend Natasha who reminded me that the new xperience, actually, was going on a road trip by myself. She’s right.

I’ve found myself to look for the more literal new xperiences, however small, rather than my original intention, to xperience not only the tangible (and frankly, a lot of times, tasty), but also the more insubstantial. Those seem to be quite a bit more difficult to spot and to plan. Maybe that’s just it, don’t plan it, but keep my eyes open for when it happens? At least then I would be able to write a better post about it?

The first day of my Lonesome Trip was hardly anything to mention. I was bushed from the 4 day outdoor party, and pretty much got myself cleaned, fed and crashed for about 14 hours when I got to my destination. During the drive to Swellendam though, it did feel quite empowering to realize I could go and do whatever I felt like. I made no reservations, I listened to a CD of Verdi’s best arias and if it had a few more I might even have driven on to the next town. I confess I did feel a bit lonely while shopping for some sandwich goodies, it lasted about 2 minutes until I spent an obscene amount on a small piece of cheese.

While sitting next to a big warm fire in the backpackers and talking to some other travelers, I realized, I might be alone, but I was by no means lonely.

 

Ginger and Vortex Crew, things to add to the day

Xperience 15

Been on holiday is one thing, been very lazy whilst on holiday is a given. A new xperience every day isn’t that hard it turns out, writing about it everyday, that’s the challenge.

I’ve been going to outdoor festivals for about 9 years, which means I’ve pretty much done everything you can, including eat all there is to offer.
Sunday morning I dragged myself out of the tent at about 3am to start my shift at the bar at 4. Yep, that’s when our shifts start. Next time the chick/dude behind the bar don’t laugh at your half-assed joke around lunch time, think about this, we’ve been listening to drunk jokes for 10 hours already.

It turns out that winter also graced our presence at this party and we got to enjoy a lovely 3 degrees for a few hours (just for the record, I’m severely allergic to cold).
Unfortunately, I reverted back to eating something new for this xperience, I will get fat…fact.

There is a new stall around, selling 100% organic, homemade yummy food. And greek coffee…yes, I was jumping up an down seeing this. Giovanni’s is far-far away, I need some kind of substitute.
They had butternut & ginger soup, xperience 15 saved Renee and my frozen bum. I’m so going to try and make my own at home, can’t believe I never thought of ginger??

Xperience 16

Monday I was back at my spot behind the bar, serving the happy, lucky folk of Vortex their drinks.

I decided to sleep at the venue on Monday night, seeing that we still had to pack up the bar and home was far away. Oh, did I mention I was on leave as well? No reason to go home.

Nella and Renee invited me to stay over with them at the crew camp. We packed our tents (in my case, pretended to fold it up and chucked everything in my car) and made our way to the bush camp, with A-frame “chalets” and beds. We were queens and a king for one night!

My evening with the crew was awesome to say the least. A new xperience I would love to have again and again.
Most of these people only slept about 18 hours over 6 days or more, working their asses off to make sure we got parking, music, lights, warm water and about a million things I can’t even think of. And they still partied with us around the fire, telling weird (and quite funny) stories of everything that happened behind the scenes.
We crawled into bed around 5am, about 26 hours after I started my last shift. I fell asleep with a huge smile on my face, new friends are the best new xperience one can ask for.