Sunday session (with a twist)

My perfect chill-out weekend was coming to a close; I’d had well needed catch ups on Skype with friends I hadn’t heard from in a while, eaten a scrumptious and peaceful brunch of Eggs Florentine in the village, read a decent chunk of my book, swam in the crystal clear ocean and worked on my tan. My Sunday afternoon movie had finished and I was just contemplating what to do with my evening when I received a text from Andy inviting me to a spontaneous Sunday session in the city. I was quick to oblige; Sunday sessions are also very popular back home in Cornwall and getting into a relaxed, pre-working week haze on the rooftop is probably my favourite way to drink. Beats getting smashed playing beer pong with Japanese beer and losing your friend with no means of communication in a foreign country anyway. By the time 4pm came around, I was on the train heading into the city.

The chosen venue was the Mechanics’ Institute, this trendy little rooftop bar in Northbridge that’s decked out with fairy lights and overlooks the city centre. Northbridge is the cultural hub of Perth and their Fringe Festival is on at the moment, so my walk to the bar took me past some gorgeous-smelling gormet food stands, comedy shows, live bands and bars set up under big tops draped in multicoloured lanterns. Perth is so cool; anyone who tells you there’s never anything going on is incredibly mistaken!

I spotted Andy’s bleach blonde flash of hair two storeys above the ground before I got within 50 metres of Mechanics’; a very useful tool for eliminating those first awkward seconds when you enter a crowded bar alone and frantically search for the people you’re meeting up with! There was already quite a crowd gathered and I recognised several faces from the Australia Day house party; Andy’s girlfriend Kara and her brother Luca, Sean and Sam (mine and Nick’s northern friends from our victorious stints on the beer pong table) and Smerilli and his girlfriend Claire. I was embarrassed to learn that my memory from that day was more hazy than I thought when the couple who sat opposite me on the train into the city, Kate and Andy, rocked up and explained that they were at Australia Day too but thought they had the wrong person when I met their smiles with a blank look. Fantastic.

I was gutted I'd already eaten; the rumoured Bloody Mary and burger combination is something I've been
 desperate to try since I arrived in Perth. Booze and food in one jar: Does life get any better?!

I grabbed myself a cider and we were just getting stuck into some hilarious stories from the aftermath of the party when Andy casually revealed the real reason for the “spontaneous” session by pointing to the ring finger on Kara’s left hand. They got engaged! After seven years of dating, Andy finally popped the question at a Valentine’s Day beach picnic on Friday night. So cute. There was the typical gender divide of reactions: “Congrats dude” and glass-raising from the boys and squeals of delight from the girls. I was so stoked to be invited to celebrate with them, as they only invited a few close friends and hadn’t told anyone but their parents the news at this point, and the next few hours were spent discussing dresses, flowers, venues and, most importantly, more parties to celebrate them telling the rest of the world. More exciting than anything, they’ve set a date for November and I’m invited! Granted, it’s a huge long shot that I’ll (a) have the funds for another down under adventure and (b) be able to be away from uni but, deadlines permitting, it would absolutely make my year to have the chance to come back, be reunited with everyone and see such a lovely couple tie the knot. Fingers crossed the dissertation gods are kind to me…

People gradually filed out, leaving the remainder of the group to get reasonably merry, and we left Mechanics’ for the station at around 8pm. Walking back through the hustle and bustle of the Fringe Festival, we were overcome with cravings for something edible and instantly gravitated towards a retro Ben and Jerry’s van serving up amazing flavours that simply do not exist in the UK. Cookies and Cream and Chunky Fudge – yes please! Us English folk aren’t the only deprived population though; the Aussies had never heard of Phish Food. What sheltered lives we lead on either side of the world; why has the full extent of B&J gloriousness been kept from us?! Sort it out please America.

We said our goodbyes to everyone and I hopped on the train with Kate and Andy who, as it turns out, get off at Cottesloe too and live two streets away from me in Peppermint Grove. They frequently visit my local watering hole, The Albion, and we’ve pencilled it in for our next Sunday session in a couple of weeks. It’s nice to know I have new found friends in my neck of the woods to hang out with, even if it’ll involve being a third wheel! I got home and immediately crashed out due to an early start. Congratulations Kara and Andy, you beauties!

Kara and Soko with their bling!