Hello again everyone.
So
Squatter actually visited me and my family in Ukraine last month, and I just haven't had a chance to post properly about it.
I was, and continue to be, buried under a solid, immovable mound of work and personal problems (Lush's advice to all children: "Kids, love is not like they say it is in the Disney movies") so it wasn't as cheerful of a visit as one might have hoped. I had to spend vast swathes of my time chained to my desk, while
Squa was being looked after by my assorted crazy relatives and the cat. He did, I am delighted to say, live to tell the tale.
Here's what is probably my favourite picture of
Squa from the visit:
http://nataliaantonova.wordpress.com...8/p1010073.jpg
He's pictured here at the Monastery of the Caves, or Lavra as we call it. We did actually go down into one section of the caves, and barely escaped alive. It was a week-day, but I hadn't counted on the vast amount of tour groups that would be jammed in there, under the earth. The funniest part of our excursion was when we were whispering quietly in English about getting out, and all of a sudden, the girl in front of me (who was also wearing a traditional scarf like I was, because that's what is required - and I only wish I had a picture of that), turned around and whispered, also in English, "OMIGOD, where is the EXIT?!?!?!"
Well, we did eventually find it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be typing this message now, would I?
And
Squa looks pretty darn fine in the picture, if I, a spoiled jezebel, may say so myself.
We celebrated my birthday at this little Hungarian place I like. Some cool people came, there was both English & Russian conversation. I don't remember how much was drunk but, at the very least,
Squa and I did not have to be carried out of the premises, which is a testament to our fortitude. Or something.
Squa brought us amazing presents - one is presently immortalized on my neck (while its twin is in the jewelry box), one is hanging up on my brother's wall, one I am presently trying to read, one is stoppering a bottle, and one is tucked into an Umberto Eco book.
The pendants that
Squa made for me bear my initials - N. A. This is so I never forget who I am,
Squa has said. And I'll try not to. I'll really try.
I wish it wasn't such a tumultuous visit and I wish I'd had more time to properly hang out with my friend, but I'll never stop being grateful for our friendship, and that makes all the difference.
Thanks to the
Downs for introducing us.