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September 12, 2004
The weekend (and week) of Lydia
On Thursday I got a msg from Lydia wanting to meet up over the weekend. I was extremely lasse-faire in my responses, as I wasn’t feeling all that great about how things were going with her. However, I smacked myself into realisation that she’d done nothing wrong, and therefore it was unfair of me to put it on her. I also decided I’d straight out ask her WTF is going on.
Anyway, after class and dinner, I took Lydia to the Ginger Monkey for Vinh’s Birthday Party. He wasn’t there at 9pm, so we went to get Lydia some food at a local Boat Noodle Restaurant in the meantime. After noodles, Lydia and I were chatting, about to get on the moto when a car, 3 bikes and a couple of guys went screaming down the opposite side of the road to us. One guy was knocked down, just out the front of an alley (the alley to my apartment I later realised), then had the snot beaten out of him. Another dude was chased by the bikes and a car into an alleyway further down the street. The two beaten guys were pushed into the car and driven off! It was quite an adrenaline-pumping scene, and we very much doubt it was as simple as a moto rip-off! This kind of thing happens every day in Cambodia, and much, much worse (we were glad we saw no guns!)…
Anyway, after calming down, we took a scenic route back to the Monkey (to avoid driving where the scene had just been) where the party was in full swing. Surprisingly, I saw Nev, who I have been meaning to catch up with since Sihanoukville, but something inevitably comes up.
After a couple of hours partying, I confronted Lydia, asking where I fit in her life. The response left me in almost as much limbo as the day before. She feels comfortable around me, and even misses me if not seeing me for a few days, but of course, she couldn’t say any more, she was confused. Ok, a simple “we’re just friends” would have been easy to handle, as would have a “do me now”, but that jus left ME confused!
After taking Lydia home (not drinking, due to medicinal reasons), the night continued to Howie’s and then Sharky Mart before home.
Saturday the 4th comprised of 9 hours straight of working on my new server from Regent. I got there (with a Vegemite Baguette in hand) at 10am, and didn’t leave until the Accountants did at 7pm. It was a very long, but productive day.
During the week I had planned to meet Lydia on Saturday night for dinner, and the plans roughly stuck. I got there with some Aussie and French Merlots (The Eaglehawk was surprisingly crap), but found no dinner, so I staved hunger off with some bread, cheese, and a slice of pizza. Tina, a German chick who’s about to go home arrived also, and we all chatted for a few hours on Lydia’s balcony, drinking wine. After Tina left, the conversation continued until the wee hours of the next day, at a point at which we decided sleep was necessary. Due in part to Lydia not being bothered to unlock downstairs and to be bothered leaving, I stayed, given some firm ground rules (we were both tired anyway).
…
We ended up not getting any sleep...
And so, this is Sunday, and we didn’t really want to separate, but Lydia’s plans forced her away.
We think this means the next step in our relationship, and that we’re seeing each other. Lydia still needs things to go slowly, and I will oblige.
Ah, I am to see her to borrow some money to call Dad (it’s Dad’s Day), we will see how she is.
Sunday 5th – Fathers Day. After dropping Lydia off at Tuol Kork, I did bubble tea with Kit. Borrowed $10 from Lydia so I could call Hunters Hill. Spent a good 35 minutes on the phone with the fam, which was really, really good. There was a second or two delay, which was frustrating, but it still worked out. Went back to Lydia’s place...
The first half of the week was similar, not sleeping in my own bed until Wednesday night.
Tuesday I got paid, albeit with pay problems again. Tuesday night I had dinner with the German girls at Shangri La (lakeside) which was absolutely excellent!
Wednesday Lydia left for Battambang, where there was a Youth For Peace group meeting/conference, not coming back until Sunday. I was pretty tired for the rest of the day, maybe in part due to our previous days’ exercise regime. I was also a little cranky, which unfortunately came through in my dealings and teachings for the day.
I spoiled myself with a $4 pizza for dinner and felt a little better after that and a couple of beers at home. Chatted briefly with Lydia over the phone.
Posted by Dan at September 12, 2004 08:42 AM