"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine"
Monday and Tuesday I should have just stayed at home, since I was only in work for a total of ten hours. Our servers crashed early on Monday afternoon and we all went home seeing as we didn't have any work to do, and I couldn't be bothered to stay inside any longer with the sun shining. Tuesday I left early anyway because I had planned over the weekend to leave early on Tuesday and enjoy the hot sunshine that we haven't seen much of recently.
Yeah, I've totally been climatized by living over here for so long. I was used to hot, humid days that left me feeling sticky and craving the air conditioned buildings of Virginia; now whenever I see that the temperatures are over 75 degrees (22C about, I think), I freak out and mentally start putting together my cutest summer outfits. Yesterday was the first time in a long time that we were in the very low 80s (27C!) and I wasn't going to spend my day stuck inside inputting data at a desk. I have a second job that I like to call Tanning, and I had missed too many days already.
I came in, quickly did all of my 200 records that I usually stretch over the entire day, and left as soon as the clock hit 12:30. I was going to Richmond park with Alex and Lizzie, and it was going to be brilliant.
It was a brilliant day as well. I love just laying out in the sun in nothing but my bathing suit and drifting off to sleep listening to my iPod. Occasionally I'll move so I can flip over and bake my other side, but other than that, nothing. I don't speak; I don't move; I simply soak up every sunshine ray that I possibly can and feel my skin tingle under the harsh sunlight. It's fantastic. All I needed was a pool and I would have been in heaven.
The thing I love most about Richmond park is the fact that it's so huge and has deer roaming around everywhere. The minute you step into the gates, you just see herds of deer walking about and minding their business. They're harmless so long as you don't charge up to them. One time while I was laying out, a small group of about six or seven were napping in the shade right next to me for about two hours until I it was time for me to go. They were so close that I could smell their pungent scent and it reminded me of going to the zoo.
One time, we saw some random ducks waddle past us as well. People bring their dogs down to run around, and you'll see loads of people dotted all over the grassy stretches either tanning, having picnics or reading. It's so lovely.
We stayed in the park for a couple of hours and then left after around five, because Alex needed to pee and I couldn't handle having all of the little bugs landing on my legs and getting stuck to the tanning lotion. We walked all the way back home, bought a Calippo ice lolly on the way and I had a shower immediately after I got back to the flat. I had definitely caught the sun on my arms, chest and face, but my legs could have done with a bit more time.
I was supposed to go round to Alex's house so we could order chinese takaway, but I fell asleep after my shower and was woken up when she called me.
"We're ordering the food, do you want anything?"
"Um, some of those chicken ball things, and that chicken noodle stuff," I grumbled to her.
"Okay. We're going to watch a film, so get over here."
"I wil, I will. I'm awake. I promise."
I know I said I was going to be healthier and all that, and for the most part I have been, cutting out all of the bad snack foods that I munch on during the day, but after spending many hours under the hot sun, eating chinese food is quite possibly one of the nicest things ever. And watching American Pie Wedding. It wasn't even ten o'clock when the film finished, but I went back next door, did my washing up in the kitchen and then fell back asleep. It was just an all round really nice day, and I was glad to have been out and about rather than merging council records together.
Today it's back to overcast weather and the clouds tease us all down below making us guess whether or not it'll rain. I'm not too bothered by it though. I have my umbrella in my bag and look like I've just gotten back from a mini holiday. Sadly, I have to stay at work to make up the hours I lost on Monday and yesterday, but it was totally worth it. I'll be able to catch up on records, blogs and reading until it's time for me to head on back home.