Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 September 2008 10:14:03
I have realised that if I don't want to end up living the scene in Bridget Jones when the Alsations come in I need to get a life, and meet people. This will inevitably involve stepping outside my comfort zone, but it can be done in a reasonably successful way as last night showed.
The church I have been attending, and failing miserably to really get to know people at, was having a "Let's sell Alpha to people" evening. (For the less cynical amongst you it is a supper for people who may be interested in attending an upcoming Alpha course, which others in the church were welcome to attend). Anyway, after a couple of weeks of umming and ahhing as it was in a restraunt and would involve a set menu I decided to go for it and belatedly booked myself in on Tuesday.
So last night it was that I put on my new interview skirt, (something v. rewarding about having to buy one as other ones were 2 sizes too big and so literally falling off me) and co-ordinating shirt (which I got from the upmarket Oxfam down the road) and headed off to Cafe Rouge. Note for me this was a big step as I have in the past basically been food phobic and still find situations where I don't know what the menu will be, in advance, a bit scary. When I got there it was unlike any church event I'd ever been too - it was soooo civilised and I really felt the difference being in a more neutral setting makes in terms of making you feel more relaxed, as does being able to have a glass of wine.
Anyway, once I looked at the menu things got a little scary. The main course involved "herb mash", and unspecified soup. When the waiter came around to check what what we were having as our mains, veggie or meat option I enquired if there was any chance of a plain mash. The guy was wonderful and said no, but I could have the same potatoes as the dairy free person was having - wonderful. In terms of the soup it was tomatoe, with proper bits in, but with some other stuff aswell and was v. nice, apparently. This is where I will surprise some of those who know me well, I didn't wuss out. Rather I took the soup and ate it to 3/4 of the way down by taking an approach where I just left the solid stuff in the bottom of the bowl. The mains did have leeks and mushrooms ontop of the meat but I merely pushed them off the chicken, quietly and loved the main. The desert was also gorgeous.
This may not seem a big deal but for me it was. Too often my food issues have seen me either avoid events with food attached or end up with it being a big deal as people didn't know how to cope with this rather strange person, and I got stressed. Hopefully, last night might spell a new relationship between me and food where I am ready to step out of my comfort zone more often.
It also gave me the opportunity to start meeting some people who do the silly o'clock service aswell as other locals. So all in all a good evening which showed me that deciding to be a grown up can have it's benefits.