The internet really is an amazing thing. I know that's old news but I've been reminded of it again since I got my piano and went looking for a teacher.
Thanks to Youtube I've been able to take lessons with a man called Andrew, from somewhere in America, who spends his entire life playing, teaching or vlogging about the piano. What would otherwise have cost me a great deal in money and time and effort has now become so incredibly convenient and easy that I've tried to do at least 1 lesson a day, sometimes managing up to 3. I started right at the beginning, unsure of how quickly - if at all - my previous skills would come back and have been pleasantly surprised by the muscle memory trapped in my fingers. I spend a large part of the lessons practicing whilst he reiterates the principles for the real beginners and after about 8 lessons, I can nearly read music again which to me is the key, if I can read a piece I can stumble my way through it, teaching myself as I go. Most importantly my intention when buying this piano has been realised, it is bringing me so much joy and that is all I could ask for.
After spending a few hours playing in the pool and lapping up the sunshine, I got ready for the evening's festivities; drinks with some of my oldest friends from England followed by tequila at the Fat Cactus with my cousins.
After a G&T with Georgia and Emily at their hotel I kissed them goodbye and jumped in an Uber to meet Mat and Sarah. Before long we had a giant jug of frozen margarita and some home-brewed "ginger bread" tequila. Oh and some food, but no one was really that interested in that...
A few jugs and many tequilas later, we were ready to dance!
Finding the right dance floor however, became rather tricky as at this point it was already close to 1am. We were on our way to the Duchess when I luckily called to double check they were still open and found out they were closing so we turned our Uber around and headed to Cruw, a gay bar in Green Point where one of Sarah's friends was. This turned out to be an epic fail as the combination of an over active smoke machine and way too many naked men on top of each other had us running out the door for air. Finally we decided on a good old faithful, the Dubliner on Long Street.
However crusty the patronage may be and however cheesy the music always is, the Dubliner never fails to disappoint.
A few happy hours later, having danced everyone else off the floor we were officially drunk and tired and ready for bed. Long Street at the best of times is pretty dodge but this time of year it's next level and we held on to our bags as we walked up the road to a little cafe to buy cool drinks and snacks before they went to Mat's flat and I went home. After a chatty drive - I probably made no sense - I got home and flopped into bed. The end of this year is turning out to be one for the books!