OK another week and my job has got soooo boring. It’s 2pm and I have had no work to do today or yesterday. Literally no work at all. Yet they are still paying me, and I’m pretending to look busy because I don’t want people to see me not working and then I’ll be out of a job. I’m only here for a few more weeks so no point looking for another one. And that’s the trouble – having to look busy. Otherwise I could happily sit here, read a book, surf the internet researching various topics, emailing etc. and be relaxed. But because I have to look busy, I have to surf the internet on a tiny screen and when someone walks past click out of it onto some database or something. That’s the trouble I’m not relaxed and am jumpy and constantly worried I’ll get caught doing nothing. What an absurd situation.
Oh well that’s why I’m writing a long blog entry, because I am so bored. I’m writing it on word first so it looks like I’m working and then will cut and paste it onto my blog website.
Moving into my new houseshare has been a brilliant move. All 3 housemates are really nice and chilled out and easy to live with. I’ve got a huge room with my own balcony, very quiet at night and on a lovely tree lined street of old houses with wrought iron balconies. And the best thing is I’ve got a kitchen! It’s so nice to be able to be able to cook at home, eat healthily and save money. OK the house may be a bit old and smelly and my room be a bit empty with none of my personal stuff in it, but for a short 6 week stay its hunky dorry. And nice to get out of that depressing run down and lonely hotel room.
So I moved all my stuff in first thing Friday, then rushed to the Chinese embassy, got my visa sorted and went to work. Saturday me and my friend Arabelle went on a Blue Mountains tour. Bit cheesy, would rather get the train and go on my own little walk but it was organised for me and I had good fun. Saw the obligatory kangaroos and a 3 foot long Iguana lizard. The tour guide was a bit of a character, ranting on about politics and other things, an interesting fellow, so when, as the last person to be dropped off, he asked if I wanted to go for a schooner (= beer) I accepted. It’s these little chance encounters that can often turn out to be a lot of fun and so it turned out to be on this occasion. 1 beer turned to 4. Then we drove back to his place, had more beers, lots of rum and a few sweet smelling roll ups. At this point we decided to cycle to this night club a few miles off. Not sure if drink driving applies to bicycles but who cares, was a right laugh. Managed to fall off a few times but arrived at the club alive and well. 4 hours passed, can’t remember much, but ended up getting a taxi home, leaving my new friend (I found out the next day) attempting to cycle two bikes home at once. He gave up after a while.
Good clean fun as they say. Sunday was quite relaxed and quiet as to be expected. And this week I’ve been bored at work but had quite pleasant evenings with my new housemates, cooking and watching TV, going to the cinema and generally enjoying my new environment. I’m gonna go now and try really hard to find some work to do, ask other admin people around the floor if they want help, because the top boss keeps walking past and I think it’s a bit obvious and sooner or later they could get rid of me! Oh yeah this Friday one of my housemates is throwing an 80s party, hmmm. I don’t really do dressing up, am too self conscious. Us blokes aren’t brought up to dress up, well only behind closed doors in secret, ooops. Dressing up is a girls thing innit?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Go and see Hot Fuzz
Last weekend I let my hair down for the first time since I arrived in Sydney. Got hammered and ended up in some interesting club with people dressed up in weird and wonderful costumes. Met lots of alternative people and had fun. Saturday I paid for my sins and remembered what it was like to be hungover again.
Yesterday evening one of my neighbours asked me “Got any spare change mate?” in the street. So not only do I live with the mentally ill but also beggars as well. Still even living with down and out alcoholics, druggies and beggars, nobody in the place seems menacing or hostile. Just shows how friendly Aussies are and how generally crime free the place seems to be. In a down and out hostel in London I reckon that there would be a lot more trouble. Thankfully in London I have more permanent accommodation to stay in so I don’t need to experience living in this sort of place.
All the other travellers always ask me how do you end up meeting these people, and I suppose it’s because I just talk to people and don’t put up barriers. I don’t look down on these people. Who knows one day I might end up like that. I certainly don’t think so but you never know.
It’s been a busy week this week. Working late every day to compensate for taking Friday morning off work to move into my new house, get a Chinese Visa, enquire about flights and do lots of other bits and bobs. Then on Saturday I’m off to the Blue Mountains.
Just looked at google earth for the first time. Wow, that’s pretty cool, a nerd like me could spend hours on a thing like that! Oh also saw Hot Fuzz at the cinema last night, funny as f*ck. Also I liked it because I grew up in a Gloucestershire “village” and this is where the film was supposedly set.
Yesterday evening one of my neighbours asked me “Got any spare change mate?” in the street. So not only do I live with the mentally ill but also beggars as well. Still even living with down and out alcoholics, druggies and beggars, nobody in the place seems menacing or hostile. Just shows how friendly Aussies are and how generally crime free the place seems to be. In a down and out hostel in London I reckon that there would be a lot more trouble. Thankfully in London I have more permanent accommodation to stay in so I don’t need to experience living in this sort of place.
All the other travellers always ask me how do you end up meeting these people, and I suppose it’s because I just talk to people and don’t put up barriers. I don’t look down on these people. Who knows one day I might end up like that. I certainly don’t think so but you never know.
It’s been a busy week this week. Working late every day to compensate for taking Friday morning off work to move into my new house, get a Chinese Visa, enquire about flights and do lots of other bits and bobs. Then on Saturday I’m off to the Blue Mountains.
Just looked at google earth for the first time. Wow, that’s pretty cool, a nerd like me could spend hours on a thing like that! Oh also saw Hot Fuzz at the cinema last night, funny as f*ck. Also I liked it because I grew up in a Gloucestershire “village” and this is where the film was supposedly set.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Dodgy accomodation
Solved my accommodation dilemma. Found some chap in a houseshare who’s going on holiday, so I can move into his place for 6 weeks to cover his rent. It’s a reasonable size room on a quiet street, fairly central and walking distance to work so it’ll do the job nicely. Only downside is one of the housemates is a young lesbian who bragged about her liking for expensive powder. So good bye to my rustic hotel. No more living of takeaways. And no more nutters? Last night hung out with a couple of the hotel’s long term residents. The bloke clearly had Tourette’s and would greet everyone passing through the door with a tirade of insults. The woman was insane and clearly delusional. She thought she was sophisticated good looking and rich. Errrr why then is she a permanent resident in this down and out hostel? Then some other bloke started shouting how he was going to have a bath in the ladies room, and stated that if anyone had a problem with this “They would have to deal with Ted the Butcher!” – Hmmm Okay. I soon left these crazy alcoholics. Oh sometimes I do wonder - what the hell am I doing here? Living in these shitty short term cheap accommodation places just to experience Sydney. Maybe I’m as crazy as they are.
I know we are all lucky really to be rich, have a roof over our head, food on the table, fresh water and plenty of material possessions. But living in Sydney has made me realise that the living standards in London are terrible. Doing an admin job in Sydney I am earning exactly the same money as I would be in London. However rental accommodation is less than half the cost. Buying a house is around a third of the cost. Transport and food is cheaper and so is everything else come to think of it. I’m much better off here. It’s true; it really is rip off Britain! I think that there is far too big a divide between high income earners and low income earners in the UK. They tell us that the average wage to living ratio is as good as Australia but it doesn’t paint an accurate picture. The average wage takes into account the many people in the UK on ridiculous earnings; stockbrockers, company director’s, footballers, celebrities etc. People working in bars, cleaning jobs, low level office workers and even skilled jobs such as teachers, nurses etc are far worse off. It’s just not cricket! It’s not balanced. We need to sort it out. And it can’t be right when middle income earners can’t even afford their own flat.
Taking a global view, the situation is even more absurd. Billions are starving; don’t have running water or electricity, when the developed countries just bathe themselves in unnecessary wealth. Its obvious capitalism/globalisation hasn’t worked! Well basically it’s worked for the developed countries at the expense of the developing / third world countries. But that’s not right is it? We’ve all got shit loads of stuff and sod the starving people. And charity doesn’t solve the problem, granted its better than nothing, but give a begging man something and he’ll keep begging. Fair trade, job creation and the sharing of expertise and profits to poorer countries is needed. It’s not difficult! Currently, for example, a jar of coffee costs $2 and the coffee grower in Bolivia or wherever will earn say 2p. What should happen is that the grower should get half the money and then decent wages should be paid. I know communism doesn’t work either, but neither does capitalism in its current form, as always some compromise is needed.
But I suppose it’s easy for anyone to sit on their arse and spout of shit like this. Nothing will change because there are too many parties with too much self interest at stake. Maybe I should do something, but I probably won’t, like most people I’ll put number one first. I want to get a house of my own and live comfortably and sod everyone else.
I know we are all lucky really to be rich, have a roof over our head, food on the table, fresh water and plenty of material possessions. But living in Sydney has made me realise that the living standards in London are terrible. Doing an admin job in Sydney I am earning exactly the same money as I would be in London. However rental accommodation is less than half the cost. Buying a house is around a third of the cost. Transport and food is cheaper and so is everything else come to think of it. I’m much better off here. It’s true; it really is rip off Britain! I think that there is far too big a divide between high income earners and low income earners in the UK. They tell us that the average wage to living ratio is as good as Australia but it doesn’t paint an accurate picture. The average wage takes into account the many people in the UK on ridiculous earnings; stockbrockers, company director’s, footballers, celebrities etc. People working in bars, cleaning jobs, low level office workers and even skilled jobs such as teachers, nurses etc are far worse off. It’s just not cricket! It’s not balanced. We need to sort it out. And it can’t be right when middle income earners can’t even afford their own flat.
Taking a global view, the situation is even more absurd. Billions are starving; don’t have running water or electricity, when the developed countries just bathe themselves in unnecessary wealth. Its obvious capitalism/globalisation hasn’t worked! Well basically it’s worked for the developed countries at the expense of the developing / third world countries. But that’s not right is it? We’ve all got shit loads of stuff and sod the starving people. And charity doesn’t solve the problem, granted its better than nothing, but give a begging man something and he’ll keep begging. Fair trade, job creation and the sharing of expertise and profits to poorer countries is needed. It’s not difficult! Currently, for example, a jar of coffee costs $2 and the coffee grower in Bolivia or wherever will earn say 2p. What should happen is that the grower should get half the money and then decent wages should be paid. I know communism doesn’t work either, but neither does capitalism in its current form, as always some compromise is needed.
But I suppose it’s easy for anyone to sit on their arse and spout of shit like this. Nothing will change because there are too many parties with too much self interest at stake. Maybe I should do something, but I probably won’t, like most people I’ll put number one first. I want to get a house of my own and live comfortably and sod everyone else.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Gods are smiling
Talking about my manic mood swings, I thought I’d write an entry today because I’m exceedingly happy. Woke up today without a headache and sore throat for the first time in 10 days, so looks like I’ve recovered at long last. Its so refreshing waking up feeling better when you’ve been ill for a while. Really makes you appreciate your good health! So the god of health has finally released me from my punishment.
The god of wealth has also given me a break today. Got paid so that my bank account no longer says zero. Thanks to Dean for lending me $200 earlier this week, otherwise I would have been out on the streets. Also they’ve sorted it out so I’ll get paid more than I did this week, hence should get paid a lot more than expected next week.
In addition the god of having a nice roof over your head has blessed me with some short term flat shares to look around on Saturday and Monday. This means I can hopefully progress and stay in a place with a kitchen, flatmates and closer to work.
And to pray to these gods as a way of thanks I’ve just spent my lunchtime meditating under a very large, old and wise tree, receiving the spirit energy from within it, so feel very refreshed. That’s what I like about Sydney, it’s old and haphazard enough to feel homely. White settlement (no disrespect to the aborigines who were here before) here started over 200 years ago so there is a homely feel about the streets and buildings. White settlement in Perth started much later so the buildings and layout of the place is too new and organised, grid plan streets etc. I grew up in a very old and extremely higgldy piggldy place so only seem to feel at home in old places.
And lastly it’s Friday! And I’m just looking forward to being healthy this weekend with some money in my pocket, footloose and fancy free. Although happily not totally footloose thanks to a special someone. Someone who has made me have a good week. Thanks.
The god of wealth has also given me a break today. Got paid so that my bank account no longer says zero. Thanks to Dean for lending me $200 earlier this week, otherwise I would have been out on the streets. Also they’ve sorted it out so I’ll get paid more than I did this week, hence should get paid a lot more than expected next week.
In addition the god of having a nice roof over your head has blessed me with some short term flat shares to look around on Saturday and Monday. This means I can hopefully progress and stay in a place with a kitchen, flatmates and closer to work.
And to pray to these gods as a way of thanks I’ve just spent my lunchtime meditating under a very large, old and wise tree, receiving the spirit energy from within it, so feel very refreshed. That’s what I like about Sydney, it’s old and haphazard enough to feel homely. White settlement (no disrespect to the aborigines who were here before) here started over 200 years ago so there is a homely feel about the streets and buildings. White settlement in Perth started much later so the buildings and layout of the place is too new and organised, grid plan streets etc. I grew up in a very old and extremely higgldy piggldy place so only seem to feel at home in old places.
And lastly it’s Friday! And I’m just looking forward to being healthy this weekend with some money in my pocket, footloose and fancy free. Although happily not totally footloose thanks to a special someone. Someone who has made me have a good week. Thanks.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Manic Moodswings
Had a permanent headache for over a week now, maybe related to getting the flu last Wednesday, which in itself was a bit of a nuisance since I’d just started a new job. Had to take Thursday off work as very sick but Friday recovered enough to struggle in so that they realised I wasn’t a skiiver! Shaken the worst of it off over the weekend but headache and general aches have lingered on this week and won’t seem to go away!
Rested enough to go out and see the mardi gras parade Saturday night. Highlight of the parade had to be the dykes on bikes, there were literally (tens of?) thousands of them. I’ve never seen so many lesbians. Also lesbians populate the gay bars much more here than they seem to elsewhere. Seriously Australia seems to produce more OUT lesbians than anywhere else in the world. Maybe the men here are less desirable? Or maybe they just come out of the woodwork more here and are more “loud and proud”? Who knows? Anyway on Sunday all the pubs were full of “after parties”, gurning party people that were still on it from Saturday night. The city was buzzing!
So despite being slightly ill I had a great “mardi gras” time. Maybe I ended up having more fun, because I didn’t get hammered and was “with it” enough to appreciate what was going on and I could remember it all the next day!
This week it’s been work during the day, then in the evening going back to my hotel room and then going out to eat a meal on my own. It’s a bit depressing really, living in a hotel room on your own with no one to talk to. It just doesn’t feel homely. And because there is no kitchen you have to “go out” to eat. And Coogee is full of young holiday people and couples wining and dining, and I’m the only loner sat at a table. Housesharing is difficult because I’m only here for 2 months and I’m not going to a hostel because, despite the social aspect; I refuse to share a room. I think I either need to be younger or have more money for this travelling lark!
Anyway Sydney is beautiful and the people I work with are lovely. And I’ve got people to hang out with; it’s just on those lonely evenings when I’m too tired to go out and “do” things. On another note the rain here is very different, it’s like torrential for about 10 minutes and then it’s sunny. No days full of fine drizzle. And the trees smell sooooo gorgeous after the rain, hundreds of different powerful organic type smells, nothing like back in England. And the birds make strange noises, that remind me of my childhood (used to watch neighbours and home and away). It’s weird the birds really do sound like they do on the neighbours and home and away sets. Well it’s not weird at all really, perfectly natural. But I still don’t like the fact that there could be poisonous spiders and snakes lurking anywhere, watch out! There’s no place like home and this week in particular I’ve really been looking forward to coming back!
Rested enough to go out and see the mardi gras parade Saturday night. Highlight of the parade had to be the dykes on bikes, there were literally (tens of?) thousands of them. I’ve never seen so many lesbians. Also lesbians populate the gay bars much more here than they seem to elsewhere. Seriously Australia seems to produce more OUT lesbians than anywhere else in the world. Maybe the men here are less desirable? Or maybe they just come out of the woodwork more here and are more “loud and proud”? Who knows? Anyway on Sunday all the pubs were full of “after parties”, gurning party people that were still on it from Saturday night. The city was buzzing!
So despite being slightly ill I had a great “mardi gras” time. Maybe I ended up having more fun, because I didn’t get hammered and was “with it” enough to appreciate what was going on and I could remember it all the next day!
This week it’s been work during the day, then in the evening going back to my hotel room and then going out to eat a meal on my own. It’s a bit depressing really, living in a hotel room on your own with no one to talk to. It just doesn’t feel homely. And because there is no kitchen you have to “go out” to eat. And Coogee is full of young holiday people and couples wining and dining, and I’m the only loner sat at a table. Housesharing is difficult because I’m only here for 2 months and I’m not going to a hostel because, despite the social aspect; I refuse to share a room. I think I either need to be younger or have more money for this travelling lark!
Anyway Sydney is beautiful and the people I work with are lovely. And I’ve got people to hang out with; it’s just on those lonely evenings when I’m too tired to go out and “do” things. On another note the rain here is very different, it’s like torrential for about 10 minutes and then it’s sunny. No days full of fine drizzle. And the trees smell sooooo gorgeous after the rain, hundreds of different powerful organic type smells, nothing like back in England. And the birds make strange noises, that remind me of my childhood (used to watch neighbours and home and away). It’s weird the birds really do sound like they do on the neighbours and home and away sets. Well it’s not weird at all really, perfectly natural. But I still don’t like the fact that there could be poisonous spiders and snakes lurking anywhere, watch out! There’s no place like home and this week in particular I’ve really been looking forward to coming back!
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