Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The love of my life :) And birthday! :) Warning- LONG post...

So you've probably been wondering about me and Joel, and now seems like the perfect time to tell you about us :), and how we came about.

So, a long time ago, in 1988, on this warm summer's day in August, two different sets of parents were going through the pain and agony of childbirth, and, oh wait, that's not what you wanted to hear about, my bad! ;) We were born the same day though, so I'm sure there's a story along those lines. One I don't know about, for obvious reasons!

So yeah, it's both our birthdays today. We're both old, man. 23. Ouch. But I digress!

Part 1.

I don't actually remember when we first met, actually, but I do know how we met. It was way back in 2007, in my 3rd/final year at Uni. I was a total geek at Uni, it was (un)believable! I was always on StudyNet, the Uni's web portal, either answering law questions other students had posted on the discussion pages, or listening to lectures, but I was almost always on it.

I remember seeing an advert on StudyNet, at the start of 3rd year, looking for people who wanted to join the International Students Association team, either as secretary, president, public relations officer, etc. I don't know why, but after seeing it, emailed the gut placing the advert, Roy Cotton, saying I was interested. If anything, it was the wrongest year to want to get involved in any extra-curricular activities, but for whatever reason, I put myself forward as secretary. It was a very small society, because most people hadn't heard of it before, even me! I got elected as Secretary, because I made a couple of my friends come just to vote for me, and there were only a handful of people there, so that was a smart move!

So yeah, I became Secretary, and this other Nigerian guy, Kennedy, was the Campaign Officer. We used to have meetings in the library every week, and even organise events, mostly serious stuff though, like safety on campus talks with a member of the local police. Numbers were thin, so people used to bring their friends, although none of mine turned up, because it was on the other campus,! Even though it was the main campus, none of my friends ever went there, as we had absolutely no dealings on there. We lived on the other campus, and the law school was even in a different town! So if not for ISA, I probably wouldn't have been anywhere that campus, College Lane. But I digress again. So Kennedy used to come along with his friend, Joel. Those 2 were inseparable. If you saw one, the other one was probably there as well, or round the corner! So that's how we met. It just used to be 'hi' and 'hello' stuff, and we never really saw each other outside ISA gatherings.

I was a year ahead of them, and towards the end of the year, since I was leaving, I had them round for dinner, as well as one of their other friends. Kennedy's very friendly, so we sort of kept in touch. After that year, I left Hertfordshire, and went to Southampton for my Masters. Kennedy and Joel both went on placement that year, Joel to Littlehampton, Ken to somewhere somewhat near Littlehampton, can't really remember where. We all weren't close, per se, the odd text here and there, but I remember they both came to see me in Southampton one time, and it was raining, unfortunately! But we went to KFC first, then the cinema, afterwards. I remember I'd not yet been to the cinema in Southampton before, so it was a bit of an adventure trying to find it in the rain! But we managed it! I think it was Casino Royale we saw, but don't remember clearly. Let me see if I can find any photos... Ah, found some, but only putting up a couple...

Me and Ken... No, the scarf belongs to me, not him. He's a United fan. Meh.


So this was right after the movie, and we umm, won something in some raffle draw thingy, according to Bow Tie man. Riiiight...

Me and Joel. There's just something about this photo...
Me and Joel's glasses...
Anyways, them coming to Southampton was a mini-surprise, but a good one! I see from the date on the photo that it was November, which was close to (UH) graduation. I didn't see Joel then, so not worth talking about! ;)

So again, the odd text here and there. The next time we really talked was sometime in the 2009, towards the end of Joel's Littlehampton placement, about May/June? I remember him calling/texting me, telling me I had to come visit him in Littlehampton, because it was close to Southampton and I'd never been, and it was like his last weekend there soon. I said yes, seeing as there wasn't any reason not to, and I wasn't uncomfortable around him or anything. Got there late on a Friday, and he'd booked a table at this restaurant close to his, but I was too tired, and lazy, so we just chilled, then slept in his room, while he slept in the spare room. We went to Brighton the next day, as his mates, from work I think, were meeting up for a drink. His flat mate, can't remember her name, also worked where he did, and if I remember correctly we all headed down together. It was a fun day. We went to the Red Snapper, had a fabulous meal, then headed back down to Littlehampton. I remember something funny one of the guys did- one of the other guys left the table, either to go to the loo or have a meal, so the other guy says to the waitress, 'It's XYZ's birthday today'. So she said she'd bring a cupcake with a candle when he was back at the table, like a surprise. So he got back to the table, no one said anything, and right on cue, the waitress brings this cupcake on a plate, and places it in front of him, and we all sang happy birthday (including staff and other guests, I think), trying to hold in our laughter! Why? It wasn't his birthday! The guy was as surprised at anything! But at least he didn't blow it and ask who's birthday it was! So so funny! Would be a good thing to try one day... So dinner over, we went to a nearby pub for drinks, and headed back home afterwards.

I was leaving the next day, so Joel had planned for us to see like a carnival thingy in the area? But I was too lazy, and there was cricket AND F1 on (hey, don't judge me! ;)), so we just stayed indoors, played catch with a baseball bat and gloves, and I made him watch F1 and cricket! Sorry! Haha. But yeah, it was a good weekend, and we became a little bit closer. I do not have any Littlehampton photos, unfortunately!

Funniest bit of the weekend, now I look back, was speaking to my friend Oyinda on the Friday, and when I told her I was off to a guy's house for the weekend, and I'm sure you can guess her reaction. But I was like, 'nah, he's just a really good friend, nothing's happening at all'. There was this male friend, Kelvin, who was really close to the girls (another story for another day!), and he was round theirs a lot, them round his, but he wasn't going out with any of them. It was never really going to happen, he was just a god friend. And I remember telling Oyinda that Joel was just like how Kelvin is/was to them. LOL now, right?

We talked more after that, but we pretty much were just friends. He obviously moved back to UH for his 4th year after placement, and I moved back to St Albans after my Masters, although a bit later, as I was in Southampton until September. I kept saying I'd come see Kennedy at him at Uni, but it never happened. Then I found out we were birthday mates! It was the year I had a barbecue for my birthday at my Aunt's, and I told him he had to be there, and he was like it was his birthday as well, but he wouldn't be able to make it, as he was going to America. Disappointing, but you know, I couldn't like tell him not to go to America! At this point, ofcourse, there still wasn't anything there.

The next time we got to hang out was in November (2009), this time in St Albans. There was a fireworks display in town for Guy Fawkes, so Joel, Kennedy, my cousin Derin, and I all went. It was good fun!I took a few photos, mostly of fireworks, though. I found out later on though, that I was a bit anti-social that day, tweeting away and taking photos, not really saying much. Ooops!

Only non-fireworks photo...
We got to hang out not too long afterwards, this time in London. We're both massive tennis fans, and there was the ATP Tour Finals in London. I wasn't expecting there to be tickets available, and was just checking the ticket website and realised there were some available, most likely a Roger Federer match! I was on the phone almost straightaway to Joel asking him if he was interested, and I must have seemed crazy, because I was literally on the moon! He said yes, we bought the tickets, and we went to the O2. It was amazing! Joel was/is such the perfect gentleman! Maybe I should have noticed the signs then, but I was just crazy excited! I remember there was a Champions League match just before the Federer v Murray match was about to start, and as it was Arsenal playing, I HAD to find somewhere in the O2 where the match was showing. And we found somewhere! He bought drinks for both of us, and listened sweetly while I went on about the match. He's not much of a football fan, and he was well within his rights to not be happy about watching football while there was a perfectly good tennis match (doubles) going on before the Federer match, which our tickets were valid for. But he didn't mind at all!

Arsenal match found in a bar, yippee!
Post-match smiles.
Awwww! (If I may say so myself...)
And King Rog, after dispatching Murray in 3 sets!

Loved it. And this time, even though I took loads of photos on my camera, I wasn't as anti-social as last time! Right, Joel? ;)


Part 2

Now it gets interesting! ;)

So we kind of lost touch a bit shortly after the O2. I guess he was busy with Uni work and stuff, I was trying to find a job, etc. And as far as this blog is concerned, we've almost come full circle. This post, which I wrote in early March 2010, was about the day it all started. But before you go running off to read it (but who am I kidding?), it doesn't say anything! I remember when I was writing that post, contemplating whether to mention what I will mention now (haha), but deciding against it! You know, you don't want to be jumping the gun and end up with egg on your face, so I played it coolly.

That post mentions how my friend Esther got me and Chris to go for her cousin's graduation party in Hatfield, but it doesn't mention anything about the party. So I said I hadn't kept in touch with Joel much after tennis at the O2, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him at Esther's cousin's graduation party! He lived closeby, so not too surprising, but totally wasn't expecting it. I hate parties, just in case you don't know, because I hate small chat, because it seems to me to be fake more often that not, and I'd rather do something active (dancing doesn't count!) with strangers than be in a room with loud music and food with strangers. Totally not my comfort zone!

So yeah, I was very happy to see Joel there, and I bored him some more with Arsenal talk, because we (Chris and I) were coming straight from the Emirates. I'd gotten Nikky B's autograph (don't have it anymore, as it was useless- dark background+dark pen=pointless autograph) and was really excited about it and the game itself. I was tired too, so socialising wasn't top of my list. I ended up just sitting on the stairs instead of going into the (unlit) room, but Joel stayed with me. He even got me food and drink, and tried to make me dance with him. I did eventually, but it was horrible as I was so embarrassed, but he says otherwise! As I was spending the night with Esther in another friend's flat, I pretty much couldn't leave until Esther was ready, but I had good company, so wasn't too worried about it. He didn't stay with me all through, because unlike me, he isn't anti-social, but he stayed with me as much as he could. But eventually, it was time to go. He left before me, and just as he was about to leave, he kissed me on the cheek! I was kinda surprised, and almost didn't think much about it, except Esther and Zainab, another friend, were both there, and after he left, Zainab was like, "Is that your boyfriend?" and I was like no. Then Esther was like "You look cute together." and I guess that was pretty much when the wheels started to turn in my head. Oooooooo... ;) It was like a lightbulb moment!

He'd mentioned that night that one of his friends hadn't been to London before, so they were planning on taking her to London sometime, but he wasn't sure when, and would I be interested? I said yes, and he was like he'd let me know when. But anyways, with the wheels turning in my head, I text him the next day, something along the lines of "fancy seeing you yesterday!". But I didn't get a reply or anything, and the wheels pretty much got stuck that day. But I heard from him a few weeks later, about the London trip. Turns out he didn't get the text, or he say it wayyyyy late, one or the other.

I know you'll ask why our meetings seem to have Arsenal connections, because the day of London trip, I had to be at the Emirates, for a match screening. Spurs away. That match brings with it so much hurt, so I'm not even going to go there. But yeah, with both events happening the same day, as contemplated for a long time whether or not to go to London, as I only knew Joel and Kennedy, and there were going to be other people there (obviously), but well, I eventually did. Was late, but it was fine. We met at London Bridge, I think. The one with the London Eye? We had some food, then continued the 'tour' they were on. I've got some photos! :) None of both of us, unfortunately...

Building somewhere I do not remember...

Clocks? Same place as the previous picture...

Kennedy. Oh, and Buckingham Palace gates! ;) Saw the changing of the guards!

Great view!

Can't remember what shop this was!

That's a photo of a bus that had hit the bus stop earlier on. HAD to take a photo. And Joel thought it was funny.
It was a nice day out, and *cheese alert*, I just wanted to be next to Joel all the time. I tried as much as I could, and tried to remain cool, too! Haha. We both aren't much talkers (it's true!) but he kept asking me questions, most of which I had no answers to, but he said he was just trying to know me better! "Favourite food?" "Umm, I dunno." "Favourite colour?" "Umm, I don't have one!", etc. I think it was also because I was trying to suss out whether or not he liked me or not! So many times I thought yes, and so many times I thought no. But that's all part of the whole thing, isn't it? Random, but I remember him buying me waffles, and ice cream, because I wanted some. It's the little things, isn't it?

So yeah, it was time to go :'( I remember there being a problem with the tube, so we had to take the bus for just two stops or so. Packed bus, so we stood instead. Do not laugh, but we were standing kind of next to each other, holding the same pole, and I wanted SO badly to put my hands over his! I almost did it, if not because we were getting off the bus. It was a bit weird, and I think that's where he hit me that I definitely like him. A girl's worst fear, isn't it? Knowing you like a guy, but not being sure whether he likes you or not. Torture. SO much better the other way round...

But I got off the bus, wished I didn't have to, but I had to dash to the Emirates. Awful. Not talking about the Emirates.

So this was April 2010. 14 April to be exact (thanks, camera!) I was off to America the week or so after, and we pretty much text back and forth before I left, while I was away. All. Through. It was awesome! (to be continued...)

2 comments:

  1. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
    this is so sweet.. lol @ oyinda! i trust her.. and bosh and zainab.. loool

    you guys are cute and YES a girls worst nightmare is liking bobo and not sure if he likes you back!

    ReplyDelete
  2. iBlush, thanks! :-)

    I know, right?! But I guess it's just one of those things we have to go through at some point. And it's fabulous when you know for sure! :)

    ReplyDelete