Dare Bec - August 2007

Close quarters

A girlfriend invites you to her birthday celebration. It's in Stanthorpe's wine country. It will last 3 days. It involves not one, not two, but eight other girls.

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For some Babes this is a blissful proposal - there's nothing better than wine, women and song.

However, if you're anything like me, spending all that time in close quarters with several strong personalities and constant noise while wearing the daggiest pyjamas, it can be enough to send you running for the granite hills.

Now don't get me completely wrong, the experience was not entirely without joy. The setting was gorgeous, the food was lovely and the wine tour was fruitful. The Granite Belt has come a long way and the produce on offer is wide-ranging and mostly stunning. Each cellar door had something for everyone's different tastes. I came away with 10 bottles of wine, port, moscato and even 2 olive bush seedlings. The weather was clear and, of course, freezing so we spent some good times in front of the fire grazing on gorgeous cheese platters, sipping the local drop and teaming up to play Trivial Pursuit.

As an introverted person, shy around new people, it was an experience outside my comfort zone. At times I needed to take a break and retreat to my room or take a walk. Not since my backpacking days have I had to live with so many other people and subsequent compromises. I have lived alone for over a year in my own house now and I realise I am settling into my own ways. I see trouble ahead when my brother moves in with me in November if I don't develop some new coping strategies. I definitely have some lessons to learn.

What the experience has taught me is to be more accepting of others and some techniques for coping with change.at least until I get back some time to myself. I would recommend preparing yourself before embarking on a similar trip. Take a good book, see if you can snag your own room, buy some great wine and try to relax.

Rating 4

Our Dare Babe Bec is up for anything (within reason!). If you have a challenge or a dare that you would like Bec to test drive before you do, please send Bec an email with your idea!

Bec Fortescue p 0423 125 458 e bec_fortescue@hotmail.com