Well my weekend has gone by in what might be described as a reasonably reasonable fashion. On Friday at the shop I was fortunate enough to have someone else take over my usual duties on the till for a change so I got to play at arranging the books which is always fun! It has been an exceptionally busy week at the shop really and not just because of Goth Weekend either. Whilst the sale of what gothy stock we had collected did help boost takings much of the sales seemed to come from other things, parents buying things for children over half-term and other sales of the various tasteless, umm, I mean delightful and very reasonably priced gifts we have on offer. Ironically of course, on the day when I didn't happen to be spending all my time on the shop floor I ended up having three different sets of visitors coming to see me. Strange how these things seem to work sometimes. Heh, still I don't suppose that my cosmic timing has ever really been the greatest!

Halloween itself ended up being fairly quiet really, which I was actually quite pleased about. I did venture out for a little while into town but it was so utterly full of people it was virtually impossible to walk anywhere! Besides the goths there seemed to be an equal number of people standing around taking pictures of the goths. There were plenty of families too visiting during the school holidays and quite a number in Halloween-based fancy dress (i.e. trying and generally failing to pass themselves off as goths, snobbishly elitist as it may sound, there's a clear difference between between being gothic and just dressing up). Anyways, whilst the outdoors was rather uncomfortably crowded I was still able to spend a little time gothwatching. The Victorian look seems to be proving quite popular, as were brightly coloured hair extensions. Heartening to still see a few big hairy blokes in dresses about too, it is a pleasing thing when this little town shows it's open-minded, welcoming side. It doesn't always of course, but it's nice to see when it does! Personally though, I can't really count the Captain Jack Sparrows, Gandalfs, Highlanders, Monks, Romans and so forth as gothic, although some of those costumes were still quite impressive. It was, I suppose also Halloween as well as Goth Weekend though. As to what the large group of Father Christmases were doing roaming the streets though I remain somewhat puzzled.

Another equally impressive sight, as the dusk began to settle over the town, was a quite enormous flock of starlings all gathering together to roost for the night. It was almost as if the birds had also decided to get together for their own Whitby Goth Bird Weekend. It was a very pretty sight and took my off watching the people for a while. It was also interesting keeping a watch on the various impulses my nerves were sending to my brain with all the excitements going on. The troubling and unpleasant sensations of anxiety that always come from being around people were peculiarly off-set by the pleasure of seeing so many varied and interesting people about. It's a strange thing indeed feeling too diametrically opposed sensations at the same time, but I suppose I ought to be used to it by now really. I've still remained feeling largely outside of all the frivoloties though all through the weekend. I watched and felt it all flowing round me, something like a rock in the middle of a fast flowing stream. Still, such disconnection has ever been my personally preferred defence mechansim against overwhelming sensations. Hopefully someday soon my brain will learn that such responses are unnecessary. Anyways, I spent me a quiet night in with my newspaper and books, hiding from any annoying children that might happen to come to the door.

Sunday began in a decidedly rainy and windswept fashion. Suddenly I was able to walk through quiet streets again, or at struggle my way through quiet, storm-lashed streets anyways. This was as I shambled to go see mother and step-father, later joined by big brother and his girlfriend for tea. So it has been a rather pleasant evening really, a good portion of which was spent with a cat sprawled across my lap. It was nice to see big brother though, if even for a short period of time. I suspect that it will be Christmas in Sheffield when we see each other next but that isn't really that far off now I suppose. Still, a good evening was had, once the rains had died down and the electricity had been turned back on! Heh. Now though a regular week shambles ominously into view with all the grim inevitability of a remorseless zombie army. Presently I'm not feeling particularly eager for the week ahead, now it seems that the weather has remembered that it's supposed to be getting into winter. I suppose it doesn't help either that the tiny amount of wine I've had today has given me a somewhat squished brain. I really don't drink at all most of the time so my reaction to alcohol can be strangely unpredictable. Oh well hopefully sleep will cure that. Anyways, since the boss is away it may well be that I find myself without anything to actually do at the Coliseum tomorrow. Hm, I'll still have to wake up though and I've never really been much enamoured with that particular part of the day.

Oh well, we shall see what marvels the week ahead may yet hold I suppose. Mayhap good things and significant changes are happening in me yet and I am just not quite aware of them? Either way, hopefully the future will bring more good things and fewer bad things. Yes, that seems like a fairly reasonable thing to wish for! In the meanwhile I hopes that everyone else be well and the world be treating you kindly. My brains be just about running out of energy for any more particularly coherent writings (even by my usual rambling standards!) so for now I shall bid you all good night. Sweet dreams.