Around the end of week 3 things flattened out a little and for some their journeys were near an end. In fact a few had already departed and our group numbers were beginning to thin out. I was just getting over my Bali Belly and felt ‘elegantly wasted' off and on over those next few days.
We had made plans on several occasions to have a girl's night in at the villa, no silly annoying boys around, just a night when we could sit back relax, chill out and talk girlfriend! We managed to co-ordinate for 6 of us to gather for a hot night of cool jazz and idle chitchat...
Allie arrived in the late afternoon utterly miserable. This was her last night in Bali and she was again struggling with some disgusting infection that had her nose running like a tap and her throat raw. I gave her some Neo-zep to dry her up. [These tablets are great if you have a cold or flu and are available in supermarkets and pharmacies. A pack of 4 cost less than 2000 rp.]
Raels, pole dancer extraordinaire and Sticky Licky arrived an hour later, then Janene Janene the beauty queen and finally some 2 hours later Randy Mandy from sandy crutch bay. We sat on the verandah of the villa and gorged away on smoked salmon, a variety of cheeses and dips, and Droste chocolate mmmmn. Wayan the only man allowed on villa turf that night appeared discretely to light candles and dot them around the edge of the swimming pool giving a wonderful ambience to our surroundings. It was definitely a ‘midnight at the oasis' kind of evening.
For the following day, we had agreed to meet at La Lucciola for a late lunch and an afternoon of indulgence sipping on Moet, ogling the waiters and watching the world go by. As usual La Lucciola delivered the goods with outstanding service, beautiful food and icy cold champers. This is my perfect way to spend an afternoon in Bali.
In the days that followed Allie, Sticky and Janene, Mandy and Tich had all boarded their flights and returned to Australia. This left Raels, Anna, Al and I to continue the party. The next big event was the AFL Grand Final which was also Raels birthday.
On Saturday September 30th we gathered in Billy's bar to watch the last Saturday in September unfold. Before leaving Australia I had posted some things to Raels for her to bring over for me as I simply didn't have room in my luggage. One of those items was a pink cowgirl hat with sequined silver trim that I had told everyone no touchy touchy just looky looky. Raels thought I was being very precious about it, and had even asked why I hadn't worn it. It would all become abundantly clear when I arrived in Billy's. I felt like a pack horse when I arrived. I had the cowgirl hat and gifts, a bottle of French champagne, my big digital camera, tiny cam-corder, and of course champagne glasses.
Raels wandered in about 10 minutes after me and the footy had actually begun. Anna, Al and Raels are all barracking for Sydney to win. I personally didn't care who won but as their numbers were far outweighed by Weagles supporters I went for the Swannies too.
We cracked the champers and sang happy birsday to Raels and I presented her with the pink cowgirl hat. She says ...'OMG I can actually wear it, I can't believe it, you've been so bloody precious about it, how special am I?'... Me, ..' Hmmn well mate that is because it is for you, part of your birthday present'... She can't believe she carried the damned thing over and never once tried it on. She was under strict instruction to leave it alone. As she opens her card and other present tears well up in her eyes, then a roar from the Weagles supporters as their boy's kick a goal, thankfully breaks the moment. I hate it when someone gets all soppy, because if they cry chances are I will, if you vomit, I will. If you bleed I will pass out. Haha! Well, we all know the result of that day; the Weagles won and had their moment of glory in the sun. It was a nail biting last quarter and from my viewpoint a good game. Anna, Al and Raels are devastated by the result and as the Weagles supporters spill out onto the street delirious with their win.
Across the road in Legends restaurant my friends band is about to start playing so we pack up our gear, [Raels looking very gorgeous in her new hat] and mosey on over to party there for a couple of hours. The guys start to play and people are up dancing. The Weagles supporters are very obviously enjoying themselves as they should be. I had organized for the band to sing Happy Birsday to Raels and she is given a special birthday drink by the staff at Legends and is pulled up on stage for the birthday song.
Anna is a complete dag and gets up on stage to sing Pretty Woman, Raels behind her pretending to be the back up singer. I am playing photographer for the afternoon and have handed over my pink devils horn headband and Raels cowgirl hat for Yande and Koming to wear while they play. The Hot Line band play for roughly 2 hours and we had a great time, the grand final result virtually forgotten as we partied the afternoon and early evening away.
Later that night Raels and I both exhausted and slightly intoxicated amble down to Suri Wathi for a night cap by the pool. Antoni the manager / owner comes over to join us for a drink, has his cousin bring a guitar over for him then serenades Raels for her birthday. It's time for me to depart and I wander off down Garlic lane and back to the villa.
On Tuesday 3rd October, I wake up relatively early [for me that is] and decide that today I must start to pack all the party stuff I have which remains in Bali. I also need to change money, buy some Bourbon and do some shopping for last minute requests from friends back home. Once I am downstairs waiting for breakfast I feel decidedly unwell and have an overwhelming desire to vomit. I feel as though my legs will give out from under me and need to sit down. For the next hour or so I struggle with the nausea that comes in waves. I really have no idea what is wrong with me, abandon the idea of going anywhere and lay on the bed downstairs. Around 2.00pm my mobile is going off and I wake up having slept for almost 3 hours. It is Nyoman asking if I will be at the villa around 6.00pm as he wants to come over to talk. Katak has also messaged saying he will be over later. I am very dopey and message back yeah don't think I will be going anywhere.
I get up and go outside to sit in the sun for a while but still feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck and return inside to lie on the sofa. At 5.00pm my mobile phone is ringing, this time Raels asking where I am and what am I doing. Telling her she has just woken me and that I feel like crap she says she will be over shortly. I move from the sofa to the bed again and lay back down. I guess no more than 20 minutes have passed when she arrives. The nausea seems to have subsided but I feel completely washed out. Neither of us can work out what is wrong with me. I have achieved nothing and feel terribly disgruntled that I have wasted the entire day. I have the not happy Jan syndrome and am basically pissed off at the world. Raels kindly offers to pack the party stuff for me, she is a lifesaver. When Nyoman arrives some 30 minutes later I am still on the bed being a misery guts. He asks if I am going out. Don't think so hon and the fact that I am lying on the bed like a fish out of water seems to wash over him. He is busy smsing. I ask him what it is that he wanted to talk about. He has a puzzled look on his face and tells me he doesn't want to talk about anything, but came over for a swim. I know I am not really together today but I also know he told me he wanted to talk to me. I haven't the energy to challenge him but I make the supreme effort and rise from the bed. I start helping Raels sort things out and direct her where to pack what. For the first time that day I don't feel like my legs are going to give out from under me.
I am oblivious that Katak has arrived with 7 friends in tow and it is only when Raels exclaims, Oh how gorgeous is that and I mutter from beneath the kitchen bench, what is and stand up to see beaming faces smiling through the double doors with birthday cake and lit candles and they all start singing happy birthday. I bury my face in my hands and shake my head, no, no, no it's not my birthday yet. I am ashamed to admit I was not able at that moment to show my joy to friends who had gone to so much trouble. Katak and his friends realizing something isn't right tell us ok so now we go and cook the food. I really am not with the programme. Katak explains that all his friends have put money in for the food to cook a bbq and surprise party. Raelene grabs me by the arm and gives me the lecture of my life. Having been brought back to reality with an almighty thud I go outside to make amends. Explaining I had been unwell all day and was shocked by their surprise, they all tell me it's no problem and yes they would all love a drink. As I turn to go inside Katak walks over to me. I tell him I am really happy for what he and his friends have done but he tells me to be quiet and puts in my hand a small box. He says to me..' Jill this is for you and while you wear it you will never forget me, happy birthday.' That wave of nausea passed over me again as I walked back inside and opened it.
When I think back to that day, that night, this song comes to mind...
...' I know I'm not the milk and honey kind
Today I proved it true
When the red mist falls around my eyes
I know not what I do
Please give me back today
And I won't say the things I said
Or do that thing I did
Every minute, every hour
The replay's just the same
And I can't stand the shame
Oh let me start today again'...
[Paul Kelly : If I could start today again.]
PS: To a friend who will be married next week, I wish you a lifetime of happiness, love and laughter together. If could be be with you to celebrate you know I would. I will think of you on the beach in Jimbaran :-)