Three Good Days

I've actually had three pretty good days the last three - ever since I had most of Wednesday off ill in fact. Thursday I was so-so at work, but instead of bailing again, I had a goal to stay there all day, even if it meant taking all the crappy email work. I wanted to go and see the council fireworks and Christmas thing on South Bank.

Which I made, though if I remember the work day correctly, it was a struggle. Well worth it though, wandering down to South Bank through town after work, seeing the crowd but mostly the crowds in a positive mood through Queen Street, and the Christmas tree and angels and reindeers and Santa glass statuettes, all very pretty.

Then across to South Bank proper, and woohoo a ferris wheel was right there almost at the front gates. As well as a big big screen in front of a large grassed area, where families could watch free movies, with the food choices up there - mmm, smell of hot dogs and chips yum.

There were groups of 'elves' all over the place, guiding people around, and telling the kids whether they had been naughty or nice and whereabouts on Santa's list they were. Santa was on a Holden ute, being drawn by six white boomers (aka kangaroos in real language), although it looked like one of the kangas was doing the driving of the ute. A tree surrounded by Christmas lighting, that didn't really come into its own until dark - all very festive, and I was wandering around with that silly half grin of mine, the one I get for no particular reason.

Oh, okay, so I may have been experiencing general happiness, whatever LOL.

Had a quick look at the carollers - umm, or however you spell those people that sing Xmas carols - wasn't exciting enough for me to stick around, and then wandered up to light a candle and make a wish, donations to the hospital. Felt sorry for them a bit, not the greatest turn out, and the wind was creating havoc on the floating candles that they were trying to put on the ornamental pond.

Wandered along the riverfront, speakers had been put up to blast out, err play Christmas songs, Thursday I think they had the Destiny's Child Xmas CD on repeat or something, and got back to the ferris wheel. I can't remember the last time I was on one of those - perhaps Dreamworld a few years ago or something, and it was fun being on it - yes, another one of those silly stupid grin moments.

Fireworks were well worth going out for, and found that my camera has a good fireworks show setting. Wandered around South Bank a bit more, before going back to the city and seeing the decorations at night, which was nice. Got home after everyone else had gone to bed, which is pretty rare for me on a weeknight - well, a non Friday weeknight.

Yesterday at work was the first time since my last hospital excursion I actually felt more than 60% okay - at points there, I am sure I was working on full barrels, which felt good. Whether it was a last day of the year reaction or not, I'm not sure, but it can give hope for next year for me, that I won't be out on my back at only fifty fifty health. Fingers crossed.

There were drinks after work, and I was tempted to go, but then had the thought I see them around for forty hours a week anyways, and I need to take a break from it all. And that first beer could turn into an all nighter, and I had been out the night before anyways. Two whole weeks off yahoo.

And then the third good day, today, mainly due to the fact that I took my parents out for tea, I got them out of the house on steak eggs and chips night, as Saturday meals have been the last however many years. Mum had been keen on seeing the fireworks and stuff, but with me also wanting to go, she said earlier in the week that if I wanted to see them, to see them myself because who knows whether the family would get out to them. My parents, seriously I am sure have only been out half a dozen times, if that, all year, and if you took out the work related outings, would have gone out two, maybe three times before tonight.

So to sweeten the deal, I offered to pay for dinner, as a Christmas present thing. I managed to get them out, surprisingly enough, although my sister didn't come, she has a thing with crowds at the moment. This is the sister who is moving to Melbourne, but at the moment it is all sympathy towards her crowd issues.

We managed to get a table at Decks, which is a seafood and steak place - with no booking, I think we got about the final table at that time of night, 6.30pm, which was good, because I didn't really want to head off to the pub, or Subway or general take outs. It had looked nice as I had walked past it on Thursday night, and I thought of making a booking, but wasn't sure what time we would be in there.

The girl apologised that it was an inside table, but the place is light and airy anyways, lots of people to watch, great service, wonderful food - it was telling when the garlic bread starter came out, made up almost as a mini pizza, was delicious - when the starter exceeds expectations, well, it's a good sign.

The service was friendly, prompt and with a smile, and the clincher, at least for me, was the music. Dido with 'Here With Me', Robert Miles with 'Children', that catchy lyric 'Another Point of View' via google have found is done by DB Boulevard, along with others that I can't quite bring to mind at the moment, all very chill out, all very excellent. Yes, definitely the music was the clincher in my point of view - food was fab, service - but I have already gushed about all that. Was thinking about it as a work excursion destination, but then thought that you would get all the price conscious biddies complaining.

Said to Mum that my food was presented well enough to take a photo of, she said she wasn't impressed and that if I did take a photo, well I can't remember the exact words, but it wasn't going to be nice. Paid the bill in full, made sure I gave a good tip - I don't usually tip because it isn't the culture over here, but was well enough impressed to this time around.

Am so glad we got in early and weren't turned away due to not booking.

Watched the fireworks, Mum really enjoyed them, I think Dad did as well, but he is less vocal in what he thinks. And was good to have a second go at them, on Thursday I was too busy taking pictures to just enjoy them - and there were some good things happening on the barge fireworks wise that I missed not having full vision the other night. Walked across the bridge to town and again Mum was impressed with the glass statuette Santas and reindeers and angels.

Can you tell that I am brimming with, well, I would have to describe it as pride that something I 'organised', for want of a better word, well I gave the encouragement for the night out, came off so well. Lots of brownie points in the bank with the parents I think.

Have had fun the last three days - and off to Tas tomorrow for a week and a half of Christmas and New Yearing down there. I may dash something off blogwise tomorrow morning, but may not as well. Will see how we go - if not, then the next you hear from me may well be 4 Jan. As usual with my out of town expeditions, I intend to keep an actual written physical diary, just in case anything interesting or exciting does happen.

England winning the next two tests perhaps? LOL.

Pauly

Sick Day

Yep, most of another day off - I went in this morning, but three phone calls in that nauseous feeling of pins and needles on the inside of my skull started in earnest. Tried a few email jobs, but really was kidding myself about how I was going. Better to rest up at home, and try to get better for the days ahead. At least that's the theory.

I'm getting more sleep and I'm taking things easier at work, so I'm not quite sure why the electrical storms in my head keep threatening. Perhaps that thing called breakfast that I still hardly ever have could improve things?

I hate feeling useless at work - but there is the counterargument that I have been pushing myself too hard to recover as well. Was told that the goals I have set myself are quite high, both by the boss and one of my workmates. Will see how things go - friggin three months to see a neurologist, grrr.

One thing with the more sleep I am getting is that I can actually remember my dreams, and boy, they have been doozies the last week.

First one, I have been out partying all night in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, although most of the night before dawn just passes in a blur. I then head home and only then remember that I am the only one in the house and I had the responsibility for feeding the animals and all. I find the dog outside the house, and the cat inside - I thought I had left her out and worry about her messing the place somewhere, but then see the cat door. I realise I am in my grandparent's place in Upper Hutt - in reality they haven't lived there for hmm five or so years. And finally the two sets of birds I was supposedly looking after have completely run out of water, and their seed is just the shells. Bad Paul, bad...

Second dream, somehow I get onto Air Force One, the US President's very own 747. For some reason he is in Australia, and everyone is rushing around because someone - outer space aliens, for some mad reason I think - is threatening to nuke the planet. However, instead of multiple missiles and explosions, they detonate a massively huge device in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so hot it basically immediately melts the polar ice caps. War and environmentalism, what had I had for dinner that night?

Thirdly, this morning, it starts out with me in one of my high school classrooms, again in Upper Hutt, with the teacher doing some sort of religious education. He takes the bible around the room asking for volunteers to read excerpts and interpret their meaning. Me being me of course, my skin starts crawling at the mere thought of having to read the good book. From my conscious mind, to my dream land comes the thought of Ezekial 25:17, the one quoted from Pulp Fiction, which tells me I wasn't quite as in a deep sleep as I thought or hoped.

Then the dream morphs into me going out with workmates to a pub somewhere in town, which turns out to be the meeting point for the local Contiki trips. Only eleven people going on this one, and they brought in the truck that they would be on - sleeping in it as well, to avoid the crocodiles apparently.

These mental images proudly brought to you by Paul's imagination.

Slightly Better

Had another so so day at work yesterday - I was going along quite happily, helping customers and all, when this one customer rang in on a transfer through to me, wanted something done that I can't do, but I was more than happy to take the details and put it through to the team which did do it (or attempt to, she was asking something I don't think could be done). Then the whole tone of her conversation changed - it was, I KNOW you can do what I want over the phone, I WON'T get off the phone until what I want has been done. And also, that old favourite of I've been on the phone for twenty five minutes and why did you take the transfer when you couldn't help me?

Umm, maybe because I need a full picture of what you want, I can't just magically do anything just by some company details.

Anyways, when the attack dog persona came out, the bottom of my stomach fell out, my breathing quickened up, my focus was on the phone and computer screen, can be classed as tunnel vision perhaps. After I had successfully gotten rid of her - umm, warm transferred to the appropriate section - I went to the boss and said I couldn't handle any more customers on the phone for the day. Yay for email work.

But it was slightly better than the day before - by the time I got on the bus home, I was happy enough when listening to my music again. On Monday I was just flat for most of the night. And is it only Wednesday? Surely it must be Friday by now?

Paul

Bad Day

I had a really bad day at work yesterday - apart from the English losing the cricket of course. But yesterday was the first day since my last 'fainting spell' that I had annoyed customers on phone calls. I'm not sure whether my coping mechanisms are up to snuff yet.

Had three bad calls in a row, asked the acting boss for some time out of phone calls, which she gave. Then a couple hours later she came over and asked me to go back on the phones, because they were busy or something - of course, me being Mr 'Never Say No' in the workplace, jumped back in. And then about six minutes to go until home time and I get another bad call. I put the guy on hold and hit my head against the monitor a couple times.

Just feeling totally drained as I caught the train home, and hardly spoke at all last night to anyone. And have to put the mental armour all back on again today. And I hate appearing to be slacking off at work, wondering whether my illness is all in my head, because no one else can get in there and have a look.

Eh, back to it I guess.

Paul

English Batting Collapses

As regular as clockwork unfortunately, and there go the Ashes. Hmmph.

And it got me to thinking, as all these Australians with smiles on their faces wandered around the place, why do I support the English in the cricket? Was asked that the other day, in a genuinely quizzical and curious manner. After all, I am living in Australia, and it's not as if they were playing New Zealand- who, coincidentally, also got done today, by the Sri Lankans at the Basin in Wellington.

Perhaps it is the fact that the Australian cricket team seem to be basically perfect at the moment, and the fact that as a Kiwi, I have seen too many humiliating losses to the Aussies, especially in the cricket, to really want to go for them. Wow, that was a long, convoluted sentence just gone there.

I don't mind some of the Australian cricketers, Gilchrist and Lee come to mind specifically, as also I have never liked Warne or Ponting, but as a team they are just so devastating, that of course I like to see them knocked off their perch, be it by us, the Poms or anyone else.

I don't actually mind Australia in most other sports, apart from rugby and swimming. Of course, it annoys the heck out of me that the Wallabies have got two World Cups, and the All Blacks always seem to peak in non World Cup years, but as long as it isn't a World Cup final, I can quite happily support the Australians - again, I can't stand George Gregan as an individual.

In the swimming of course Australia is all over the record books and medal tallies - when the rest of the world goes for personal bests, Australians seem to be disappointed if they don't get a world record. And don't get me started on the Give Australia As Many Medals As Possible Games, aka the Commonwealths.

Was thinking, and there is one sport I do always support Australia in, unless playing New Zealand - the netball. Partly because only six nations seem to play it, also because the trans Tasman games are the best out. Also perhaps rugby sevens, because it is so wham bam wow over in fifteen minutes, straight onto the next game.

Of course, 'bigging up' the English cricketers made me think what am I doing in Australia. I think I contribute to the country, even though I'm not a citizen - I work, and pay taxes, and add to that all important GDP - but the other thinking is that I'm here taking an Australian job blah blah blah, and if I don't support the country in sport what am I doing here. Then again, I thought we had freedom of speech and democracy in this country - apart from the Ashes perhaps.

And then thinking about what annoys me so much about most Australian sports teams - it's the arrogance I think, the we know we are going to win even before the coin is tossed. Of course, what I see as arrogance can be seen by Australians as self confidence - and suddenly there is the answer, because my own self confidence yo-yos so much, I can't understand people, sports teams, a country with that sunny disposition.

Thinking specifically Oz and NZ, over this side of the Tasman the national day is celebrated as the perfect landing in 1788 in an empty country (or terra nullus, I think the Latin has it). Whereas Waitangi Day back home is more a day for discussion, or sometimes argument, because there was a treaty signed with the native population there, and there have been mistranslations ever since. Have always thought Anzac Day should be the national day in New Zealand, rather than February 6.

Then the thought comes, well if I'm not happy with Australia, why don't I go back home. Let me tell you, the thought crosses my mind more than occasionally. Of course, in Wellington, my home town, I have two couples who are close friends, and apart from the job, the accommodation and the rest, it would be perfect. Of course, most of my friends are scattered to the four winds.

And my family being in Brisbane is how I somewhat accidentally ended up here. The Accidental Alien perhaps, somehow escaped being shipped to Woomera or Nauru.

Sorry, just having one of my cynical moods here. Today at work didn't help either.

Paul

Anzac Square

Was wandering around Anzac Square in town the other day, seeing the Eternal Flame honouring the First World War, the horseman honouring the Queenslanders in the Boer War (before Federation, remember), the World War Two memorials with the fuzzy wuzzies of Kokoda and the nurses caring for the wounded, as well as the Korea & Malaya memorial and the Vietnam one.

Was thinking, one day there may well be one about Afghanistan and Iraq.

Sometimes I wish I had a time machine to go forward twenty years and see how history will judge this war on terror. Oh, and also get the teams who will win the World Series for the next few years and bet big on them - yes, Back to the Future was on, AGAIN, on the weekend.

Paul

Queensland, Beautiful One Day...

Perfect the next - just don't get sick up here if you can help it.

I got my two specialist appointments from the seizure, stress attack, whatever it was two and a half weeks ago. The psychologist will take a month and a bit, while the neurologist doesn't have a spare slot until early March, just under three months away. When the secretary or whatever you call them nowadays said the next available appointment is 7 March, I was a bit in shock, and said I would think about it.

Of course, I got back to them a couple hours later and said yeah, book me in for then. I thought briefly of talking to my GP to get another referral to a specialist who may be less busy, but then considered the fact that this was the second neurologist I had been referred to, the first one who advised they weren't taking on any new patients at this time, and my mother said a three month wait wasn't TOO bad, so rather than be picky and ask for a third referral, I will just shut up, grin, bear it, and hope I don't flake out the next three months.

Or maybe that would be a good idea, get the thing fast tracked more. One of the funny in a worrying sense way things that has happened the last couple weeks, is that when I am out and about in crowds, shopping centres and the such, I am feeling nauseous, dizzy and all that. A bit of a worry, but this whole stress and seizure thing is such a chicken and egg story, which started first, because both are making the other worse, vicious circle - and no, this isn't my normal over analysing at all.

I was having my hair cut in the Myer Centre today, and my concentration, my sense of well being, just completely went out the window. Nausea threatening to overwhelm me - the hubbub of the crowds outside, the feeling my head was too heavy to hold up, perhaps wanting to close my eyes and fall asleep - and no, I wasn't tired when I went out to town at all. Just a sense of being overwhelmed - worrying.

More later
Paul

Iraq Study Group, and australia

The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, is on the TV behind me giving his ideas on the Iraq Survey Group report that was released in Washington overnight, Australian time. Was hoping to grab a transcript from the 7.30 Report website, but obviously I was expecting it too quickly - oh, that's right, they would probably wait until it had screened in WA to put it up online.

Anyways, the gist of what Downer is saying is that it is okay for the Americans to have their own debate, but he won't say whether it will impact on any Australian decision - oh, and that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died under Saddam, and although lots have died since the war (better wording would be since the invasion) it's mainly Iraqis killing Iraqis, and that any significant coalition involvement should be training instead of combat.

What a muppet, and how does the guy have any credibility left after his apparent glaring incompetence during the AWB thing. How many cables were sent to his office, only to remain unread? Or so the terms of reference Commissioner Cole got would have you believe.

And just when you think Aussie politics was about as bad as it gets, she's baaack - Pauline Hanson is sounding the media out about resurrecting her political career. Instead of the Asians and Aborigines this time around, she is warning that there are too many Muslims and disease ridden Africans allowed into the country. If I roll my eyes as much as I want to about the fact this woman, with those complaints, with some public backing, has a political career in this country, I would go blind because my optical nerve would snap.

Muppets, the lot of them.

Paul

People's Day

I was going to do my Christmas shopping yesterday, at the local shopping centre, but was umming and ahhing on the bus, and decided to head into town instead. I wanted to see the new Gallery of Modern Art, or GoMA as it has also been named, which had been opened the night before. Was expecting to only be there a couple of hours, a taster as it were, and then head into town to do other stuff.

I didn't manage to get across the river into the city proper until after 4pm - it was People's Day at the Cultural Centre, after the VIP opening of GoMA the night before. I wasn't there when Beattie opened it, but from the coverage last night, he basically said 'it's your's, get to it' or something akin to that, in a grumpy tone - I guess if you open everything every second day, you get sick of doing it all the time.

Wandered in to the museum, asked if I could take photos, the girl said yes, but no flash photography please, and thanked me for asking. I caught up with the Premier's media entourage in front of two giant statues of Chairman Mao (kind of appropriate with Queensland being a one party state), and I got asked by the Sunday Mail girl what I thought of the place, with my photo taken even - it didn't make the article in the paper though. Wasn't expecting it to though - I got some unspoken coverage of me on National Nine News though. Should I be vain and ask the station for the coverage perhaps?

Was very impressed with the gallery though - nice and light and airy, compared to the older part of the Cultural Centre, which seems very concretey, very confined, very, if I dare say it, ugly. And, as one of the artists said on the news last night, is good that they have built a world class thing in Brisbane that is NOT a sports ground, is quite surprising in fact.

The gallery building itself is great, and the exhibits are not what you would expect in the stereotypical cultural backwater. As I think I said earlier in the year, the museum seems to have gone a bit downhill, but the art galleries, both GoMA and the more general, pre-1970 Queensland Art Gallery are for Queenslanders to be proud of.

Was pottering around quite happily in the galleries, and then, as part of People's Day, the state government pulled out a lot of stops. There were tents all over the cultural district, with free water, free sunscreen, free guides, and I think free hats as well, although I didn't pick up one of those. Was a very good idea, and whoever organised it should be congratulated.

Also had the usual food tents, at all the fair type things - I had the German sausage option, frankfurter and kransky - sounds like a detective series on SBS or something - but could also have had Hungarian, French, Dutch, Thai or Aussie type food. And is nice to be able to wander around that part of South Bank, it seems like it has had buildings and or renovations on it since I got back to Oz in 2004.

And the street performers they had hired were fab. The group playing Indonesian or Balinese instruments were good, although when I spoke to one of them afterwards, she said the instruments were totally out of tune - sounded good enough to us plebs I said. Then did my good deed for the day, by getting the woman a coffee while she watched over the equipment.

The acrobats were amazing, whether they were German or just with German accents, the strength was awesome. One of the tricks was the guy holding the girl by the hands and she was doing a hand stand on him, he was on his back, and bit by bit he got up standing without dropping her. The abs on the girl were something awesome as well. Hans and Ule I think they were calling themselves.

They had a 'green bus' around the place as well, which relied on feet power. Very Flintstones and Bedrock vibe, and the performers on that had to work hard to get the public in the thing - no, they didn't get me.

Best street performance I felt though was a bit of aerial ballet, with these dancers on bendy plastic poles about fifteen feet in the air, basically yes doing ballet. Although there was a bit of dance music as well - all very entertaining, and had a great time. We won't mention the fact I was doing it all by myself. Had a bit of a look in the reconfigured 'old' art gallery as well.

Will be down at GoMA again over the next couple of months - it was all a bit much to take in during one visit, and the main Asia Pacific exhibition is only around until early February. And then there is a Warhol one coming along. Yes, to Brisbane, can you believe it?

Today has been watching the cricket and Christmas shopping at Chermside. Christmas shopping for hopefully only the first and only weekend this year - was feeling a bit nauseous in the crowds and all. Not good, but I managed to make it through.

Paul

The King Is Ill

Just when I am going through my latest issues with seizures and stuff, news comes through that one of the most famous Queensland sporting persons, Wally Lewis, or King Wally as the parochial league fans have it, also has epilepsy. In his current role of sports newsreader, while reading the teleprompter, he froze on screen and couldn't talk, before it cut away to the actual report, and the regular newsreader followed up with the rest of the sports news after it cut back to the studio.

Have only seen the actual TV footage of him freezing once, not sure whether I want to rewatch it again or not (the wonders of video on the internet), but my heart went out to him when I saw it. That Wednesday a couple of weeks ago, I only froze while on the phone with one customer, in front of my workmates. Wally froze with a large number of people watching their televisions (not sure what Nine's news ratings in Brisbane are, but I know they aren't what they used to be).

I could totally understand what was going through his mind - the attempt at a smile to reassure that things are okay, the look of panic in his eyes at the thought 'not again, not now'. Yep, I could empathise completely, even though I thought he was a bit of a blowhard when he actually played rugby league.

Wally is on three weeks sick leave at the moment, which will link up with his six weeks annual leave - the word from the family is that it was because there was an attempt to change medication or something. It happened a couple of weeks ago as well, blamed at the time on illness and five kilos weight loss (maybe the losing weight thing is true about seizures?), and in 2001 as well, he stumbled over his words and left the studio during the news, which was rumoured to be a stroke.

At least it is making it a more public issue, although some of the coverage is making it sound worse than it is, at least in my mind. Taking a long time to get back to work, making it sound like it just keeps occurring out of the blue, rather than control it through meds - and here I am, trying to do my same job two days after my flake out. Of course, I'm not on television almost every night, but still.

On the personal level, after Wednesday's doctor's appointment, I did make it into the office both on Thursday and Friday, but on Thursday only took one phone call before my head was swimming, and onto the electronic work via email and fax - and the call I took wasn't a bad one either, in the back of my mind I was thinking how effective I would be on a bad call. On Friday I took phone calls until just before lunchtime, and then finished off the day with emails etc.

We will see how the next week goes - three day week, gloriously enough, have scheduled days off on both Thursday and Friday. Still want to do something with the three days I have off that do not have doctor's appointments attached - have been thinking about just hopping on a bus or train to the hinterland somewhere, whether Maryborough or Dalby or Byron Bay, just for a few days out of the big smoke, somewhere different to take photographs, and to take a break.

With my procrastination no doubt nothing will occur, but it is nice to think, to dream.

Paul

Mild, Moderate, High

Finish the above - mild depression, moderate stress, high anxiety. The two referrals I was wanting when I was thinking about things last night, to both a neurologist and a psychologist. And, the most amazing thing, a doctor that I felt was actually listening to me, rather than the usual let's check your blood pressure and medicate you up that I have felt with the doctors I have dealt with the last couple of years. A keeper perhaps?

So, part B of things looks like it is already mapping itself out, if you consider part A the money thing.

Paul

Medical Advice

Hmm, I'm not usually woozy this long after a seizure. Usually when I have one, it hits and then goes and nothing else happens for six to twelve months. This one, I had last Wednesday, had my usual dizziness the day afterward, but then Friday and the weekend I was fine.

However, this week I went into work as per normal on Monday - did the not on the phones thing, still a bit nervous about talking to the customers, after freezing on the phone, not able to speak or move at all, before blacking out last Wednesday. However, I felt faint a couple of times before needing to hold onto the photocopier to stay upright, and left the place after about an hour.

Yesterday, Tuesday, I was again on the email work, went into work, nervous as heck about what was happening in my head, but was okay, until about 4pm. Dizzy spell, feeling leaving my legs a lot, and my arms a bit - having to pinch my arms to spark feeling again, and I thought enough is enough, I have to lie down for a bit.

After laying down for a bit in the sick room, off to home - having to concentrate on keeping track of my thoughts, that is one of the worst feelings, having to concentrate to just keep up with normal background transmission. Made it home safely enough, but had a bit of dizziness last night even - or I could just be worrying myself sicker.

Off to the doctor's today - I really wonder whether it is the normal epilepsy thing, the episode last Wednesday was more a black out than a 'normal' seizure - I didn't convulse, I didn't have a headache, I didn't have aching muscles - and am wondering whether the epilepsy is a convenient cover for something else/worse. I would like to see a specialist, maybe a neurologist...

And of course the illness keeping up my stress levels, with a dash of that old familiar, depression in there. One problem, my debt is almost out of the way, but the others are scrabbling for attention before the money issue is completely out of the way. Maybe a psych as well on the shopping list.

Just thinking out loud here, we will see how the appointment goes later this morning.

Paul

What A Week

Well, after talking about hospital visits with family members back in New Zealand, guess where I ended up on Wednesday. Yes, I flaked out again at work, a la seizure, a la what happened back in February. What made it worse was that I had a customer on the phone at the time, and I was trying to speak, to finish up the conversation, even to hit the mute button, and my brain to mouth communication and brain to hand movement failed completely.

It felt like an age later when I came to with a paramedic over me, quite cute this time around if I do say so myself, but I am told it was only like five to ten minutes or so. Apparently I didn't convulse strongly, if at all, and the only lasting effect this time around is the bite I gave my tongue - four days later and it is still hurting to eat, to drink and even to talk too much. But no headache, and no muscle ache, so that is a positive.

Four hours in hospital later, just under observation I think, with both Mum and Dad coming in to be with me, before the blood work coming back okay, as it always does, and then let out into rush hour traffic to home. A bit of dizziness Wednesday night and Thursday - I took the day off, and surprise surprise the cricket got watched. And that is all we will talk of this first test at least, the English are getting a pasting.

Friday I went into work, but just did email work, what with the tongue and all, still was feeling like I was talking through cotton wool. Half the reason I went to work on Friday was that it wouldn't look sus when I turned up to the work Christmas party, but really, I shouldn't have bothered.

The party was as dead as the Titanic - two people, including myself, turned up from my team, probably ten or so from the ranks of the permanent staff on my entire floor. Was padded out a bit by the temps who were 'allowed' to turn up after 8pm, but there wasn't a great take up from any of the teams in the entire building. It livened up a bit but I think that was mainly due to the alcohol consumed - I paced myself, after events earlier in the week and all, and basically drank myself sober - somehow it managed to stagger to 11pm and the train home at that time, but I could have taken a pass very easily. Some interesting dynamics in the latest group of temps though...

Yesterday I got myself out of the house, with camera in tow, went to Shorncliffe and Sandgate, then went into town, had a circuit around the Gabba (outside, because it was a sell out), and then went down to Kangaroo Point Cliffs - caught a ferry across the river to town and then caught the train home. Was a good day out - got sunburnt though, so won't be heading out today, more cricket torture watching no doubt.

Paul

Inoperable

My parents got back from New Zealand yesterday, and the news from my grandfather isn't good. His lung cancer has spread quickly the last six months or so, and is halfway around the pulmonary artery - if it gets around the whole artery, choking it as it were, it would not be good. And because it is so close to pretty major organs, heart lungs etc, it is pretty well inoperable - or, if they were to contemplate an operation, the survival rate from the surgery itself isn't flash hot, and they wouldn't recommend it in this situation.

The specialists in the region get together in Hamilton each Wednesday to discuss the latest cancer cases, and my grandfather's one is up for review today actually. It is all about quality of life and extending life expectancy at the moment, and I'm sure there will be a report from back home either tonight or later in the week.

A bit annoyed with my brother - you don't hear from him in weeks, and then I get home to a message asking me to ring him. When are the parents going to be home, I need my duty free smokes - well, they may be home in about half an hour or so, give a ring then. So he comes around, picks up his smokes, briefly asks about the trip, and leaves, after borrowing some work equipment from Dad.

Examples - Mum said the news from back home isn't good with Grandad, my brother says so he's a goner then, with a smile a slight laugh on his mouth, and about his daughter he asks she's almost two isn't she? She's your daughter mate, if you don't know - and on the grandfather thing, well, we all deal with grief in different ways, but the word 'goner' with a smile just got to me for some reason - and just the feeling that they were secondary questions to the important thing of the duty free.

I think I may head over to see how things are myself maybe Australia Day weekend. Yes, it is two months away, but my grandfather is giving the impression he doesn't want people hanging around anyways. See how things go.

Paul

It's The End Of The World As I Know It

Or nearing it at least - the end is in sight for my stupid damned debt. Take on a personal loan with credit cards and jump into the unknown of another country for a relationship, I think I have learnt my lesson from that one - of course, the loan was taken about eighteen months or two years before the Canadian experience, but still, it was more lack of job that got me in trouble.

Anyways, with the latest payment, I am at least four pays to go on repaying it all. Considering I am paid fortnightly, and taking into consideration the likelihood of travel to Tasmania and probably New Zealand, even taking that into consideration, I would see myself as debt free by sometime in February. About two years after I started this whole take responsibility and front up kick, and about four years after my give up my job and see where the chips will fall plan. And that worked so well as well - kidding.

So while I was doing the internal happy dance with that realisation, I thought about AFTER repayment. I have been so focussed, with probable obsessive compulsive traits, about this money I have to repay that all of what happens after has been shoved into the little box in my head marked 'Future Thoughts', and been stuffed until it is overflowing - not that I have looked at it in about two years of course.

I thought about flicking the lid to that box this week, just to have a look see what is there, prioritise it and all, just brushed against it even (stay with the metaphors with me please LOL), and it sprung up at me hard. Relationships - pretty obvious really; places to live - when to move out of the family home, whether Brisbane or elsewhere; work - whether to stick it out for a while longer where I am, saving money to make a move somewhere, or whether to take a leap into a more fulfilling job - those were just thee first three issues to jump out at me.

Well, first three issues after the big one of course - the fact that I do not like myself. I wouldn't class it as self hatred at the moment, but just a case of lack of loving or liking myself. And I have to work on that - preferably with professional help perhaps? Maybe it's not as if a shrink can help me like myself or anything, but thinking along those lines more so that I want to give myself the best chance of not screwing up the next relationship I have.

I mean, after I pay the debt off, I could somewhat easily throw myself into a relationship and all that entails, but if I don't do my best to get my head straight, then it will probably be doomed to failure like the last one. I kind of got talked into that one I think, if you know what I mean - I was wanting to be self sufficient coming into the relationship, financially at least, or at least pay more of my own way, but I got talked into bringing my plans forward a year or two.

Long distance relationships suck in so many different ways.

And I want to get my head straight before throwing myself into another situation. Of course, this could just be the procrastinating side of my head working out a new strategy after the 'wait until the money is paid back' defence stops working, but hmm, I would rather have the procrastinating side of me in control rather than the self sabotaging one. Self sabotage because that part of me doesn't feel I should ever be happy, so works to make sure that will never happen.

Hmm, this has been a constant thread of my self analysis ever since I can remember - that my brain is divided into different camps of thought. When I went through my teenage depression, I even thought of my brain as a little parliament or congress, with factions aligning differently every so often to create a 'working majority' in my head. Is that strange to think that way, because I sure as heck think it is.

And I think too much about certain things (the workings of my brain, American politics, Iraq for examples) and don't think much about others (my grandfather's illness). V says I stick my head in the sand, but I just think of different stuff, usually that I can't change myself - therefore self sabotaging my importance in the world? If I think about stuff that I can't change, then I will automatically fail? Or perhaps it is the opposite, and I can't fail with things I can't affect.

Okay, my head is spinning enough with all this inward thought, this is not, repeat not, one of the entertaining entries.

Paul

Heck Of A Job, Rummy

Once the Dems won the House of Reps, Dubya finally agreed to the resignation of Rumsfeld, which he had offered after Abu Ghraib became public knowledge. A bit of a hint that Rummy's resignation was forced this time around, and Dubya's dad's CIA chief has stepped in as the new Defense Secretary (bloody Americans with their S in defence). No, not 'slam dunk' Medal of Freedom George Tenet either.

Just a week or two ago, Bush had said that Cheney and Rummy would likely be kept until the end of his administration, and the American media, at least the doubting Thomas parts of it, picked up that as probably a bit of a mistruth - they, the media, are being very careful about the word lie, but six of one half a dozen of another basically.

Reminds me of some of the stupid things Bush said after Hurricane Katrina, how he would like to rebuild one of the Republican politicians house so he could sit on the front porch again, when over a thousand were dead, and tens of thousands were refugees - or FEMA boss Michael Brown doing a heck of a job. Which he promptly resigned from about a week later.

And then, joy of joys, the Dems took Montana and Virginia in the Senate, the later by less than 0.3% of the vote (thank you liberal suburbs of DC), but the Republican wouldn't go for a recount to try and find those 7000 votes he needed. Next on the chopping block possibly is UN Ambassador John Bolton, who was only appointed while the Senate was on recess, when the then Republican led Senate wouldn't confirm him anyways.

And Bush did say that Cheney would be sticking around as well - hmm, feeling queasy Dick? Was half watching Robocop (repeat number 513) last night, and the way that OCP controlled Detroit made me think of Halliburton and Iraq.

And of course, thinking about these huge international stories just means I avoid the more immediate issues around me - ah procrastination, one of my deadly sins. Was thinking about my less than savoury personality traits yesterday, might do a post about them umm one of these days.

Paul

Pause For Breath

The polls were right - sigh of relief, after about six years of the Dems seeming to do everything to strive to fail, things may have changed. A majority of about thirty in the House of Reps, and too close to call in the Senate, four seats won, Virginia and Montana a wafer thin lead after the votes have been counted. Bring in the lawyers and the recounts and the challenges - if both seats stay in the Dem column, by 7800 and 1500 votes respectively, both chambers of Congress will have changed. Who would have thought it, even two months ago?

Of course, despite the international news being swamped by the US news, the rest of the world does go on - bombs and mass casualties in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Gaza, Britney Spears is getting a divorce from K-Fed.

Paul

Great Picture

Looking very West Wing or A Few Good Men - pan across to the Iwo Jima statue, drums and trumpets swelling in the background. For a country that you can be so cynical about their politics, they do do their national monuments very well.

Paul

Melbourne Cup Day

Mmm, the race that stops a nation, like, whatever. While a lot of the others at work were getting all a-flutter about the race and their sweep picks, I put the obligatory two dollars in for the one sweep entry, and was dealing with annoying customers and frustrating orders. No doubt with the Japanese winner and second place getter this year, there will be rules against unAustralianess at the Cup next year. Maybe the foreign horses will be sent to Nauru or something.

Anyways, frustrating day at work, hoopla about a horse race - but it is also the US midterms, woohoo. Tell you what, about eighty percent of my news reading the last couple of months has been about the elections - with the other twenty percent probably being Iraq. How on earth did I get so interested in such a dry topic? Some people can get excited about what is happening on Grey's Anatomy this week, whereas my interest is what is happening in the Senate races in Tennessee and Virginia.

I can understand my interest in general American history, and the Presidents and such, but Congress, I can't remember when I got interested in that. Maybe 1994, with the Republican takeover? And how did I grow up Tory back home in NZ but have become more progressive and liberal with my international political leanings?

If I could go back in time and shake myself out of my boring political leanings, I would. There was an interesting doco on TV before about Tiananmen Square in 1989 - how different it all looks with hindsight, communism in Europe fallen and socialism in Asia by lip service only. June 1989, it seems several lifetimes ago...

But on the US elections, we will see how things go early evening tomorrow. If the Yanks vote for the Republicans to keep their majorities again, things are seriously screwed up.

Paul

Over Sold

I bought a shirt the other day - I wasn't going to, but I had a voucher that was going to expire in two weeks, and I had to get something nice for this 21st I am going to next weekend. So I'm in this particular store, I see three shirts that I like, well, quickly whittled down to two, and that one was too light anyways, but I need to try the shirt I liked in medium.

The guy brought me some sandals to try on, to have a look at, this new season's stuff is nice and comfy - yes, it is, and yes, the sandals that I am wearing are crap, but that is the whole point, I don't think I will ever get fancy sandals, but I just came in to get a shirt, I don't want and more importantly do not have the money for $90 sandals.

Oh, but we are doing a deal in watches at the moment, half price for these ones, what a nice season's range we have - no, I am fine - oh, but you are buying a 21st present, maybe the person would like a nice watch. Umm, no, it's a workmate, not only is a watch too personal a choice for that sort of relationship, but I have a set budget in my head for what she is getting, and a watch, half price or not, doesn't come into it.

No, I didn't say that stuff to the guy, but I thought it - I hate oversellers, and I hate it when people at work say I am in sales, no sorry mate, customer service is my primary concern, sales is for those people who have the confidence to sell, I might have it, the confidence, but I don't really care one way or the other.

Anyways, I ran away from the store with only the one shirt that I was meaning to buy in the first place, and may not be back for a while. It was kinda lucky that the guy didn't hit my secondary weak point with clothes shopping, ties.

Pauly

Rain On The Roof

Greetings from Drought Central, also known as Australia, and specifically the south east Queensland portion thereof. Woke up to a sound this morning that I hadn't heard since I don't know how long - rain on the roof. Spent an extra half hour in bed, on the cusp of full wakefulness, luxuriating in the sound of raindrops. And not just a faint sprinkle at that, just had a 'moderate' downpour the last half hour as I have been typing, and looking at the rain radar, it is going to be rainy most of the day.

And for the first time in another I don't know when it happened last timeframe, on the weather report last night, it had showers, rain or storms for the entire week ahead - yippee. LOL, just had a thought, all this rain, just in time for the first Ashes cricket test.

Yes, it may have been the farmers and rural Oztraya that got an extra three quarters of a billion dollars in drought relief, but us urbanites are having our portion of the pain as well. Level 4 restrictions came in on 1 November, meaning that we can only water gardens with buckets and to keep pools uncovered (a consideration in this household) you need to get a seperate water tank off the town system. We got a mini-pool anyways, so a pool cover storage thing will apparently take up too much room.

It just continues to surprise me how, on the dryest continent on the planet, climate change doesn't get a bigger priority in the politics of the place. The Prime Minister has been a sceptic about global warming like forever - good John Clarke skit on the 7.30 Report on Thursday about it, showing that the PM just continually delays even contemplating it or anything - and the Premier of Queensland seems to be relying on prayer to sort this drought out, a state week of prayer announced for next week.

And of course, that was announced about a week after the latest cringeworthy excuses for Queensland not to get daylight savings were aired.

The week, of course, also newsworthy for the British Stern report on climate change, saying if we, as a planet, don't sort out the environmental damage we are doing, within the next ten years, the effects could cost a quarter of global GDP, there could be two hundred million climate refugees, when the parts of the planet they are living on become uninhabitable for humans, and forty percent of animal and plant species will die off in the next, umm, well I can't remember what timeframe that was going to be.

Again, with the dryest continent on the planet thing, you would think the debate would get a bit beyond disagreeing that people who can't live where they used to be call refugees, thank you Ms Vanstone, or the idea that if the entire planet doesn't do something together, then any discussion can wait until then, thank you Mr Howard. And Parliament House is using five percent more energy and twenty percent more water (or is it the other way around) than it was last year - along with Australia being the biggest user of energy in the world, on a per capita basis, that kind of scotches the 'we are doing our bit according to the Kyoto Treaty even though we aren't in it' argument also raised in Canberra this week.

Along with the report that global fish stocks have collapsed in a third of the seas already, and may be completely gone in forty or fifty years, and the documentary out about Peak Oil, doing the nightmare scenario about a world running out of oil, plastics and a lot of transportation. Back to the days of sailing ships and horse and carts perhaps?

One of the other things in that doco, A Crude Awakening, was that to have as much power as we do nowadays, without oil, we would need ten thousand nuclear reactors, and all the uranium would run out in twenty years anyways.

There may be rain on the roof today, but over the horizon we may still be screwed.

Paul

Positive Negative

The news from back home with my grandfather is one step forward, one step backward. Last Thursday I think was the bad day, when I finally actually heard what the situation was - before that I was more head in sand about it than anything else.

Then on Saturday it was good again, my grandfather was home and on the phone - surprised my mother as she thought he would still be in hospital - and sounding bright, alert and all that. Another downer on Monday, when it was confirmed he has lung cancer.

Biopsy done on Wednesday after the docs got their heads together on Tuesday, and now to wait a couple of weeks before those results come back. Just in time for my parents to be there, hmm - and he is apparently sounding very vague and all, has some dementia as well apparently.

Spoke to the boss, who said if I need to take time off to see him, if it gets to that severity of thing, then to book the flights and take the time off, she has already given verbal approval. My mother has said not to go over in a rush or anything, otherwise it may give the appearance of birds circling around - yes, I know what type of birds I mean, but I didn't want type that species up in regards to a family member.

It's a day to day situation really. Hopefully things improve, fingers crossed.

Paul

The Important Things

Just had some sobering news come through from back home - my grandfather is ill again, and the prognosis isn't the best. He has had cancer for about seven or eight years, but the reports from back home are getting more and more negative.

He had pneumonia for about three months over the winter just gone, but now that the pneumonia has gone, there is still a large shadow under his chest shown by x-ray. Also with his last test, there was apparently moderate degeneration of brain cells - moderate meaning it was more than would normally be expected. One of the drugs that he was on to control his blood pressure apparently had this sort of side effect, and since his last illness about four months ago or so, he hasn't been on that particular drug, and his blood pressure has been normalish.

Also during the last check up, last week I think, he was told finally and categorically that he could no longer drive. From the report I got, his face fell so much in disappointment. The doctor tried to cheer him up with stories about other, younger, people who also couldn't drive because of medical issues, and it seemed to work, but I can just imagine how devastated he was on initially hearing it.

My grandfather loves to drive, to have his independence - even though he hasn't been able to on doctor's orders over the winter just gone, that was just a temporary thing, the news last week seemed permanent. The doctor gave the whole you will be uninsured for err insurance purposes, and if you hit and kill somebody, that could be culpable homicide.

He collapsed in the bathroom a couple of days ago, he said he fell, but my grandmother suspects his legs just went from under him, and he tore the skin open on his forearm - my uncle, who is about five blocks away, taped it up to try and heal it.

I remember my other grandfather, on Dad's side of the family - he died in 1991 from complications to skin cancer I think - I'm thinking that his skin was as delicate as tissue paper towards the end, frail, ill. Shaking his hand at the end of the last visit, the strength completely gone, a roomful of relatives already looking mournful, watching as me and my brother said goodbye, not being able to bring myself to say 'see you next time' and mumbling something platitudinous (if that is a word). About a week later, he was dead.

Of course we went up to the funeral, but I refused to do the open casket thing - other relatives took photos, tastefully of course - and I couldn't bring myself to lay flowers on the coffin in the hearse either. I'm not sure whether I scattered some of the ashes either, I don't think so but I can't be sure. Could not bring myself to put my hands into his body, if you know what I mean.

Anyways, back to the living. Last night, approximately 4am, my grandfather said to my grandmother that he was going to the bathroom. He got out of bed, and simply collapsed - where did the phrase 'like a sack of potatoes' come from anyway? His knees were screwed up against the bed, my grandmother asked him to stand up, and he thought he was. After a bit longer, he simply got the paper tissues next to his bed, and started shredding them, as if there was nothing else of importance in the world.

Grandmother rang my uncle to help out, after she tried to move him and injured herself in the process - around the abdomen, as my mother indicated - and they got him back into bed, and were awake for the rest of the morning. At 8.30am my aunt took them both in to the doctor's, just as he was opening, and the doctor said to take him straight into hospital. The grandparents apparently have an aversion to ringing 111 - as it is in New Zealand - this isn't the first time this year they have waited for more advice before going to the hospital.

However, it took them about four and a half hours to get him admitted to a ward. The doctors there are going to do all sorts of tests on him to try and figure out what is going on, but just from the general tone of what is going on, it doesn't sound good.

I haven't seen the grandparents for almost two years, and this latest news has wound me up a lot, plus given me a brief taste of the guilts. I feel I need to go over within the next couple of months, before anything, umm, worse should eventuate. And I have been putting the idea of a trip back home off for the last twelve months or so, there are more important things to do, I can't get the leave - with the report I was given this evening, I need to talk to my boss, maybe compassionate leave, maybe time off without pay. God knows there are enough parents at work who take time off for their kids.

And that segues - if I have the right word - into the lack of time I have off with sickness. Sometimes I just feel crap without physical symptoms, but mental illness and stress somehow doesn't equate with something caused by bacteria or whatever. The idea that I am a good worker, and deserve to have time off in cases such as sick relatives, doesn't really come to the fore that much in my thinking.

Maybe a few days off in December? Can I wait that long, without something worse happening? There go the plans for Christmas in Tasmania, or anywhere else for that matter, if I do go back home in the next couple of months.

And back a couple of months will go my 'Pay Off Debt' day. Though that will happen nonetheless, and compared with other things, even though it is the Olympic Flame of my life at the moment, I have built it up so much - and will probably find a cliff face on the other side, ready to tumble down, as I try to figure the rest of my life out - compared to other things, $x worth of debt really isn't that important.

I am quite upset at the moment, but am keeping as much of it inside me as possible. Even though I did that back during the nervous breakdown year, keeping things inside, I am consoling myself with the thought that I have to stay strong for the other members of the family. Yes, I know, lying to myself - as if they need me to stay strong, or as if they notice me, either of those two things. Yes, belittling myself, it is just one of my coping mechanisms.

Have written far too much for one entry - more later.

Paul

Big Question Of The Day

Now that Schumi has retired, who will I go for in the Formula One? I think the Anyone But Alonso school of thought will be the guiding force for the next year or so at least.

Yeah, yeah, I know, pretty weak re-entry into the blogosphere, but I have been quiet a few days now, and you have to start somewhere.

More - and hopefully more of substance - later.
Paul

Multi Cultural

A bouquet to the state government, for sponsoring the Queensland multi cultural festival at Roma Street Parklands on Sunday, letting the thousands of people in for exactly zero dollars. Was a beautiful day, although a bit hot at thirty degrees, lots to do, lots to see. Lots of shiney happy people around, lots of smiles. Can you tell I enjoyed myself?

The jam packed programme started at 9.30 - about seven major 'stages' with stuff doing for most of the day, and entertainers just walking around - but I didn't get there until quarter to eleven. I was meaning to get there earlier, but after walking around Toowong for five hours the day before, I had to have a bit of sleep in between.

I was meaning to head over to the Argentinian tango people first, but got distracted by some enthusiastic Morris dancers. Put a smile on the face, was cute and entertaining, all those jangly bits, and they got a 'volunteer' in a blindfold that they danced around. And then I was going to see the tango bit, but then some Bolivians got into some pretty gorgeous costumes and I stuck around to watch their bit for about twenty minutes.

Finally got to the tango stage for the last five minutes or so, and was suddenly glad I was morris dancing and Bolivian pan piping beforehand - the grand piano, the flute, the violin, the bass, dressed up to the nines - not my scene at all nowadays. Sure, I like a good suit as much as anyone, but I just got the feeling that noses were in the air.

Scoffed down some Hungarian snap bread, with sour cream, cheese and goulash, and tried to catch the Aboriginal welcome to the Upper Parklands - yes, I discovered that the place has a lot of steps, gradients and the like, would hate to try running around the place, lots of step training. If I hadn't had the goulash, I probably would have made it to see the welcoming ceremony, but missed it by that much - they were just walking out of the 'sand pit' as I got there.

Headed over to see the Sudanese Catholic Church choir - I just love the style, the cut and especially the colours of most clothes that Africans wear. I spent about five minutes trying to word that sentence right, without trying to sound err racist or anything, but gave up trying, and I know what I mean and it isn't offensive, hope it doesn't come across that way to others. And the Sudanese had pretty good voices as well, even if there was a bit too much hallelujah in it for me LOL.

Then it was a tough choice, either to see the Premier do his welcome to multiculturalism or to go to the Dutch pavilion. When an Amstel beer is on offer, well, can you guess which one I took? Quenched the thirst, but would have been nice to share it with somebody - yes, I did go by myself, very much the Loser from that Beck song perhaps. I have just gotten so used to doing things by myself, more's the pity.

Then went into the actual gardens part of the Parklands, took a photo of a grasshopper eating a leaf, with the shadow of its body against the leaf itself - very nice. Was actually the first time I had been down to the parklands ever, and, apart from the thousands of people there last weekend, found it quite peaceful. Kudos to whoever put that idea together - was it disused railyards before probably?

Found some Bolivian food, some doughy thing with beef in, like a funny shaped spring roll maybe - with chili and sour cream, and then proceeded not to sit down at a table where I could have eaten it civilised like, but instead found a chair watching the Abyssinian dancers. With the beat of the music and the red, yellow and green scarves, it could have been a Bob Marley concert. Although I think I was more concerned with spilling chili all over myself at that stage.

Watched the Poles, Croats and Kurdish dancers before being seduced by the samba beat of the mock Rio Carnival outside. Well the samba beat and perhaps the samba dancers, in those bikini outfits - at least they were well dressed for the weather, the poor Bolivian, Polish and Kurdish men, their traditional outfits were all in stifling wool. And love those big tin drums that the Brazilians have. Only thing missing was a football motif, although they did crash out of the World Cup earlier in the year, maybe it would have brought up too many bad memories.

At the end of the carnival procession, my camera battery, which had been promising to expire since about an hour into the festivities, finally gave up the ghost. All through the time, since that Sudanese choir, I had been thinking, as long as it lasts to the carny, I will be okay if it dies after then. The battery must have been listening to me, to give up the ghost the first time I tried to take a picture of the Russian dancers.

Must remember to buy a spare battery for these big photo days in future. I would have quite happily taken shots of the Russians doing their cossack moves. Watched a bit of the Scottish dancing troupe before realising without a camera there was no use in sticking around to watch the Police Pipes and Drums band - which I would have had to wait an extra hour to see anyhows.

Next year, I will have that second battery. This year, I had heaps of fun anyways - with the crowds as they were on Sunday, and the happy go lucky vibe of the day, it is somewhat, well actually very surprising that the multi cultural thing has only been going for three years.

Mark it on your calendar for next year, all you Brisbane readers. Is a great day out.

Pauly

Photographic Expeditions

The last couple of weekends I have gotten back into the habit of going out and about to take photos - this weekend perhaps to extremes, at least with the amount of time spent on my feet walking and all. It basically started last Friday, I had the day off, when during a spot of retail therapy in the city, I decided to head down to the Botanic Gardens and along the waterfront - yes, you caught me, there was a Young Divas concert at the Eagle Street Pier. Good singers.

But anyways, some of the shots down the Gardens look like they will come out quite nicely, and then last Sunday I was just feeling a spot of cabin fever, and decided to head out of the house with my camera for an expedition around the surround suburb or two. Spent two hours out and about, mostly walking, taking photos - ok, yes, I did buy my Economist for the week, and also headed to KFC - it was the constant advertising of the Official Burger of The Bathurst 1000 that got to me LOL.

This weekend I have been walking all over the place. I was always going to go to Roma Street Parklands today, but for some reason I felt like just sticking a pin in the middle of the city map yesterday, and headed out to Toowong. Largest cemetery in Brisbane, and I think you can get good pics at those locations. And next door to the Mount Coot-tha part of the Botanic Gardens, so would be a two fer one.

The cemetery is big, between 115 and 120 thousand buried there. There is the military section, a Jewish section, an Orthodox section - including a mausoleum in the shape of an Aegean Island church, blue roof a la Santorini and all. A husband of the granddaughter of William Bligh, the Bounty and all that, who himself was a mercenary in the Spanish Carlist wars before coming over to be a politician in NSW and Queensland has a good view over the city.

The second governor of Queensland, whose burial was the first at Toowong, in 1875 I think, has a Gothic style tower about fifteen to twenty metres high in his honour. And all the money that went on all that marble and wrought iron, not just there but all over the cemetery, and it just stays there, under nature's relentless onslaught. And over on the other hill, the gradient is so steep, I wondered how the pall bearers, the stone workers and everyone got up there to place the coffins. And then chased some pigeons, to try out the action setting on my camera.

Then over to the Botanic Gardens. Or at least that was the plan. Forty minutes later, yes, I did get the wrong street, I did start off by going in the wrong direction, I made it to the Gardens. Had a quick milkshake before heading into the gardens proper, and found a bus stop there, with the timetable and everything, so I had like half an hour if I wanted to catch the first bus, an hour and a bit for the second. After getting err lost, yes I will admit it, I didn't want to wait two and a bit hours, and not being likely to get home until 7 or so, so I wanted half an hour at first, an hour at the most.

Well, the half hour plan was out after about ten minutes gardening. The gardens at Mount Coot-tha are huge, especially compared to the hemmed in city version. I covered perhaps a third of the area in a rush, could have easily spent a day up there, and will keep that in mind next time. Very pretty out there.

Will blog on the multicultural thing either later tonight or tomorrow - lots of fun, lots of photos - the battery in my camera exhausted itself even. Lucky it's a rechargable LOL.

More later
Paul

Worst Drought Ever

Yep, that's the word from the boffins. Or maybe it is the worst drought in a hundred years.

Anyways, the finger pointing and blame game between the politicians is as hot as ever, with the Feds saying the state governments haven't managed their resources correctly, the state governments retorting that the Feds haven't given the money for national infrastructure type projects that they should have.

The Treasurer was saying that the drought may cause a recession in the bush, which may very well then cause higher inflation for the rest of us because groceries could be more expensive. This also after the low unemployment rate, lowest in thirty years apparently, is partly due to a skills shortage and apparently low unemployment overheats the economy, so that's another mark to raising rates again.

On the other hand, Mark Vaile, the leader of the Nats in Canberra - aka Mr Know Nothing at the wheat for bribes inquiry - has asked the Reserve Bank not to raise rates, to take a sympathetic view of farmers going to the wall if rates are raised. Yes, because sympathy is such a large part of economic thinking. And surprise surprise, the politicians are already thinking of rescue packages for farmers.

Sorry to play devil's advocate, but how many people do live out in the bush anyways?

And it is an El Nino year, so it is due to be hotter over summer anyway - the southern states are having some of their hottest October days ever (Sydney was due to get to 37 today), level four water restrictions are to take effect in Brisbane and the South East on November 1 - lucky they got that pesky election out of the way before things got worse, eh - and Tasmania and I think Victoria had their earliest total fire ban days ever earlier in the week.

It's going to be a horrid summer, I can feel it.

Paul

PS - Buffalo, in New York state, just got its heaviest October snowfall in one day ever. Think it is linked with us having a worse summer - ya think?

Things Are Screwed

North Korea tested a nuclear weapon today. South Korean and American earthquake monitors picked up a 'seismic event' equivalent to between 3.5 and 4 on the Richter scale somewhere in the North, and television out of Pyongyang has been rah rah we tested a nuke the last couple of hours.

I think it's the most worrying world event since September 11, or arguably the Iraqi invasion. Especially with the fact that North Korea is semi-regularly testing missiles that can reach Japan. Especially since the Americans have been trying to ignore that particular threat while getting stuck in the Iraqi quagmire. And with one of the officials the other day saying North Korea can either have nuclear weapons or it can have a future, they couldn't countenance - if I have the right word - living with a nuclear North Korea. Well, unless there is another war, where Seoul will probably be wiped out in the first day, the gung ho elements of the Administration will just have to back down.

And on the political angle, how does having an 'official' nuclear North Korea make America safer? All the focus with national security on the terrorist, Islamic threat, and they have been trying to ignore Kim Jong-Il all this time - no direct bilateral talks in the entire Bush regime I think? And for North Korea now see Iran in five years time. Going across to the Middle East, how did refusing to talk to Syria, Iran, Hamas or Hizbullah help in the latest Israeli war?

We need Team America World Police, hell yeah, to take out Cartman, aka Dictator Kim. Who knows what goes on in his mind, now that he has attained his life goal of nuclear weaponry. But seriously, North Asia is now screwed security wise - today at least. Tokyo's sharemarket is lucky it had the day off today.

Paul

Somewhat Disappointing

I read the Andrew McGahan book, Underground, yesterday. After a good set up in the first half of the book - the citizenship test was a laugh, as one example - the second half seemed to lose its way, ending up with a climax that was so err silly that it could have been thought up by South Park or Team America World Police. I won't give anything away, apart from the TAWP phrase, 'durka durka'. And it had gotten to over halfway through so well, as well.

Has been a quiet weekend. Did bugger all yesterday apart from read, and today is the day of days of Australian motorsport. The Bathurst 1000 - or, as was repeated ad nauseum today, the winner today got the inaugural Peter Brock Trophy. I was fine with the nine car tribute lap, the moment of silence, but thought things went a bit over the top with the prayer and Iva Davies singing 'We Can Be Heroes' - oh, and I'm suddenly thinking of that ABC 'comedy series' from a couple years ago. Wasn't all that stuff done at the funeral?

Sorry, just having a cynical moment here - Craig Lowndes won, and the tagline from Channel Ten went that the car was Ford, the driver was Holden, the mentor was Brock. Obviously Australian motorsport will have some reference to Brock for the next decade. And as for saying the crowd was there primarily for the remembrance of Peter Perfect, I am sure the Ford fans weren't.

And then the mood wasn't improved by the groan fest that was Aussie Idol. Disco night, oh, let's promote one of our judges with her new album, yippy skip. And then there was not one singer that was actually any better than averagely meh, and two that were downright disgraceful. No prizes for guessing that it was Sideshow Bobby and 'I'll do better next week' Lisa, killing Superfreak, lounge style, and Heart Of Glass, forget the words style, respectively.

Am on the later shift at work this week, so later starts, but means I'm not home until quarter past eight in the evening. My night is going to seem over even before I finish tea - but at least it's only for a week.

Pauly

What The?

What is up with this advertising campaign? Went into town, had a lovely day off thank you, and these were plastered all over the railway station - when I first saw them I had no idea what they were trying to say, but after thinking on it a bit, maybe the best place for a Johanssen or Jolie conversation is the pub, with a Guinness? Perhaps? Or maybe the best situation to talk such shit is while eating the Irish ale? No, it's a stout, isn't it?

Anyways, got my eyes tested, very quickly, my sight hasn't changed - I wanted to talk about options other than lenses or glasses, but the guy shoved me out of the office very quick smart - he mentioned something about putting contact lenses in the actual eye, but by that stage I was back at the counter, ordering the contact lenses I am getting. In out in about eight minutes, I remember the long chats I used to have with my optometrists, of twenty to forty minutes - was slightly underwhelmed by the service actually. Contacts will be $400, no surprise there, but what was a surprise is that they may be in next week - wow. Money wise, the hits just keep on coming LOL.

Had a pumpkin feta and pesto pizza from that place in Wintergarden that I like - was nice, could have used just a smidgeon of meat, but was very tasty anyways. No one else I know understands having pumpkin on a pizza, le sigh...

Went to Borders, sure that they would have the next book in the Steve Erikson series, but shock horror, they didn't. They did have Aftermath, that 9/11 photo montage book, yes, the $120 book, but what with my saving for my contact lenses, that purchase was pushed a little further over the horizon. I did start reading the first bit of a book in store, Underground by Andrew McGahan - the war on terror comes to Australia, hard. I ummed and ahhed about it, but didn't get it at Borders. I went into what looked to be an independent bookstore further down Albert St, all the latest American non fiction best sellers - Iraq, Bush etc, I was in heaven lol, but didn't buy anything there either.

Wandered around the Botanic Gardens for a half hour or so, testing out the camera some more, before stumbling across a free concert by the Young Divas. Those four Australian Idol girls who seem to have the best voices of the lot. Tested out the camera a bit more, and their voices were pretty good for an outdoor thing.

Got my Tassie photos developed, so came home and spent about two hours sorting them out. Oh, and bought that book I started reading at Borders in Dymocks - I have one of their - Dymocks - frequent flier club cards after all. All in all a good day.

Paul

Three Day Weekend

And not a moment too soon - although pay day came and went, and I have been happier in my own self, I found I still had little patience for difficult customers. I must have been to the bosses to check as many things this week as the three months beforehand.

Three days away from the office, with the possibility of going out, now that I am solvent again - have money solvent, not glue - should take the edge off. Fingers crossed.

More soon
Paul

Anger Management

I was steamed over the weekend, not a happy bunny. Not even my team in the rugby league winning could take the edge off for more than like fifteen minutes - it was obvious with ten minutes to go who would win, and I felt empty, hollow even from that time up until the whistle even. Dare I say that the Aussie Rules grand final was a more exciting spectacle? Geez, I need to get back to some rugby if AFL is rubbing off on me again.

I think I started stressing on Friday night at about 10.30 when I realised that I had maybe had one drink too many, budget wise - not alcohol wise - I am meaning, and that took me under the psychologically comforting amount of x amount of dollars until pay day, Tuesday. Actually, I was stressing about money a bit earlier than that, when it came down to shoes OR photos, not both, last Monday at the shopping mall.

Anyways, the key cause of stress this weekend just gone has been money. Because I had little of it, I did not go out or do anything on the weekend - although I love just blobbing out on the weekend, I do like to have at least the opportunity to go out, even if it is just for window shopping and lunch.

If I stay too long at home, I do get a sense of cabin fever - although I was talking up watching the footy finals to workmates etc, there is only so much I can try to do to be the stereotypical Australian male, and transfixed to three hours of West Coast Sydney is not one of them, I only really took notice in the last quarter of that match.

And of course, me being me, I like to keep bad information to myself for as long as possible, so I didn't tell the parents that I was almost flat broke until Sunday afternoon. And didn't get that extra x amount of dollars that I felt I needed until later Sunday evening - I was kind of not wanting to get into financial issues with my parents, as my brother has been lax in paying some loans of his own to them, or so I overheard.

Geez, this money thing has taken over my life since I went financially AWOL from home back in 2003. When I finally get rid of the debt I may very well be a completely different person - happier, for starters, perhaps. Hopefully.

Was pay day yesterday, so I am happy again, apart from the shit computer systems we have at work that have been up and down like a kangaroo all week. Ah well, one day to go - I have Friday off, woohoo.

Paul

Thought Of The Day

Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better - Richard Hooker

Had a rather grumpy weekend, and hope to explore what was going on in my head in a diary entry soon.

Paul

Two Time Grammy Winner

Have got the AFL Grand Final pre game 'entertainment' on the television behind me - two time Grammy winner Irene Cara (who?) is bouncing around on top of a stage in the shape of the Toyota logo - oh, What A Feeling from Flashdance, with attendant cheergirls in pink spandex. I have to ask, what did she get her second Grammy for? All the club colours around the stage, in prayer to the Toyota corporate dollar - cynical, moi?

And oh yay, the Australian Idol finalists singing Waltzing Matilda. Or rather, murdering it - shit, I even prefer John Williamson singing it after the haka at the rugby. And just when I thought how they could improve on the pre game show, what with half an hour still to go, here come the Young Divas, aka Idol contestants of the past. Gee, I wonder which channel is showing the AFL?

I don't mind Ricki Lee though - no, not going to say why lol - but again, the choice of song, Chicago You're The Inspiration. Is this the Superbowl or something? No, here's some Aussie content, the club songs, always the highlight of the game - NOT. And no doubt that fucking Holy Grail song will make an appearance.

Okay, I have to admit that Daryl Braithwaite's Little Darling isn't that bad of an Australian song. Up There Cazaly however, is not.

Better go or this will really turn into a boring live-blog - yes, not that it wasn't before I know.

Paul

Baghdad Burning

When is it going to get better?

I hate to - well, I should rather say I dislike to - go on about the same boring subjects every so often, but yes, it is back to Iraq for this post, apologies to those not interested. Yes, you can feel free to switch off now.

A total curfew on all pedestrian and motor traffic has been announced for most of the weekend, running from Friday evening, Iraq time, through to Sunday morning. Obviously intelligence is about expecting some big attack on Saturday.

Over six and a half thousand Baghdadis died violent deaths in July and August, with more bodies turning up with evidence of torture than 'clean' deaths. The UN's chief anti-torture expert, Manfred Nowak, apparently suggested torture in Iraq now is worse than it was during Saddam's reign.

A new book out by investigative journalist Bob Woodward asserts that the Bush administration has misled the American public over the chaos in Iraq - the Administration has countered by saying that the death toll is public knowledge. That may be so, but Woodward has said that there is an attack on US forces once every fifteen minutes, 800 attacks a week - we all hear about the Iraqi on Iraqi violence, but the attacks on US forces have gone under the radar a bit.

There was a secret report from the US intelligence community back in April, asserting that Iraq had become the cause celebre of the jihad movement, and forecast a worsening in violence going into 2007. In the run up to the September 11 commemorations earlier in the month, Bush said things were getting better in Iraq - the report got leaked about ten days ago, and the White House testily released extra pages this week. Hopefully that blunts any momentum the 'good news Republicans' were getting heading into the mid terms.

'Not only does this American finding have the ring of truth about it, but millions of ordinary people in Britain, Europe, the US and far beyond have reached the same bleak conclusion from a daily torrent of news, analysis and information that is freely available to all. It needs neither spy satellites, informers, nor highly trained analysts to observe the rage and fury that has been generated by Iraq...'

Oh, and going back to earlier in the month, there was a plan to lessen the insurgency in Baghdad by building walls all around the city, sand berms mostly, and lessen the amount of exit and entry roads in. A city of five million people, seemingly busy enough killing each other, and they think that building a wall around the place will calm things down?

Another 4000 American troops got their tour of duty extended, and the head of the US Army didn't submit a budget request to Rumsfeld, protesting that the army didn't have enough money to continue the operation in Iraq and also

Not to mention Afghanistan, another war in the process of hotting up - another Canadian soldier killed today, the total death toll for Canada there up to 37 since 2002, but the tenth death this month. The Brits are going through more ammunition than they have since WW2, this after one of the defence ministers in London said they would probably not have to fire a shot. Reminds of of the Americans thinking they would be greeting with flowers in Iraq in 2003. Iran and North Korea are still out there, researching on nukes as well.

WMDs, the 45 minute lead time for Saddam to use them, and Mission Accomplished on the USS Lincoln seems so long ago now. Was this what it was like towards the latter part of US involvement in Vietnam? Although back then, at least there was a North Vietnamese government to have peace talks with - this time around, it is only the insurgents and militias you can talk to, in the middle of a civil war, 'Baathists and dead-enders' I believe was the term.

Where is the good news? Is it ever going to get better there? What will the long term effect be - you could make an argument that Al Qaeda is partly tied up in the CIA's response to the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, nearly thirty years ago now, or the current Iraqi fiasco could be traced back to the 1991 Gulf War or the Iran Iraq war, or the Iranian revolution even. Iran of course supporting Hizbullah, opposed to Israel, going back at least to 1948, or 1917 and the Balfour Declaration.

Mao Zedong apparently said of his reaction to the French Revolution, by saying it's too early to tell. I wonder what people in 200 years time will think - with global warming, perhaps living on the Himalaya tropical islands...

Being flippant, hockey season is about to start, and the Mets are into the playoffs - that's good news.

Paul

Rolling Eyes Here

For 99% of the season, I avoid The Footy Show like the plague, but sometimes when I channel flick, as I did about ten minutes ago, and see Peter Sterling with that Devo red button hat on, singing Whip It, or Paul Harrogan trying to do a Liam Gallagher with Wonderwall, moments such as these it doesn't seem so bad.

Mario Fenech dying a slow death with the Proclaimers Misery To Happiness was simply misery though. And why would any feral audience member wear a shirt that isn't Storm or Broncos? It's like celebrating a losing season - and yes, I did have my tongue in cheek there.

Come on the Broncos!

Pauly

In Agony Can Sometimes Be Beauty

I think the quote is somewhat related to what happened at Port Arthur ten years ago - that's how I interpret it anyhow. Beautiful picture, beautiful sentiment.

Ende - for this post.

The Brownlow Must Be Just Around The Corner

Hmm, I have been away for a week, so no new entries have been added until the seven earlier this morning. And this blog isn't really the happening place of the web even when I am posting. However, when I looked at my reader stats last night, they had skyrocketed - in proportion to my usual readership when I am away, keeping it in context.

On further investigation, 90% of them seemed to be google searches for Rebecca Twigley, the girlfriend of Aussie Rules footballer Chris Judd - or are they even still together anymore? It's been a while since I checked, or was interested. And it is somewhat bizarre to think of all the stuff I write about on this thing, that what is searched for most is Ms Twigley. I mean, I'm not even an Aussie Rules fan.

Of course, the Brownlow Medal, best and fairest AFL player awards, are on tonight. When the girlfriends get all decked out to show themselves off at their best - I mean, the last time this site mentioned Twigley was two years ago even. Although it was a 'nice' red dress that she wore from memory.

It's funny, in an annoying way.

Paul

Day The Finale - Sept 24

Oh, that's what my dream this morning was about - a murder had taken place in a tall building, at first I think in Brisbane, but later it appears to be somewhere in the States - tall building still under construction in fact. Then I am part of the CSI investigating team, or is it Law and Order and the cops - we have to go to Siberia to figure a portion of the case out - I go with two women detectives, there is something about the international date line and us gaining an extra day in Siberia, but that is actually going the wrong direction unless we are Oz to Alaska or something. Then one of the female detectives has to communicate with her tribe, she is Inuit or Siberian or something.

Back to real life Tassie, didn't do too much yesterday, went into Launceston, had a look around, did a bit of shopping, had KFC for lunc - always a good idea at the time, halfway through eating it you think why did I make this choice. Tried finding the Colorado shoes that I wanted, all over Tassie the smallest shoe size was 8 - think I waill order something at Chermside tomorrow if they still don't have my size, either at Colorado itself or Williams. Saw the 9/11 WTC photo book that I want, at two bookstores, $120 in Aussie money, so at least I know it should be in stock up north.

Bought Zoolander on DVD, it was cheap LOL. Decided not to get my photos developed in Tas, fingers crossed will be cheaper at home as well. Had a coffee, look at menswear stores, bought another shirt, this time at Target, and felt all shopped out - we were going to grab Chinese in town, and heat it back up for dinner, but we were 15 mins late after the Mee Wah had closed for its lunch time.

Had sausage rolls for tea and watched 3 DVDs - Grease, Zoolander and Mallrats - well, I saw three, V fell asleep half way through the last two.

Day Six - Sept 23

Now that was a second half I should have watched, but with the 11pm broadcast for Tassie, it was midnight by the state of halftime where the Broncs were getting flogged 20 to 6 - went to sleep not happy, read in the paper this morning, in one result slot, as opposed to 6 pages of Aussie Rules, that must have been the turnaround of the season, the Broncs into a Grand Final on the back of a 37-20 win. There will be enough replays of the pivotal points of the game in the next week.

Dream report from last night I dream that the next book in one of the fantasy series I read, either Robert Jordan or Steve Erikson, brought in time travel from modern day Earth back to those worlds, whether an earlier time on Earth or whatever. The time travel bit was written in purple, the 'normal' stuff in black, and it just was utter crap writing wise, but then again, what does it say about my dream world, to have that as a plot line.

Oh, and there was a part in the dream/book where there was a gay person from here and now saying that things were better in the modern era than in these fantasy worlds. I don't know whether I was one of the time travellers, or whether it was writing purple at the same time as the actual time travel - Never Ending Story plot device? You get sucked into the book?

Day Five - 22 Sep

Another strange dream this morning - can't remember too much of it now, but the part I do remember is going into a 17th or 18th century era museum, it feels Austrian for some reason, and then a school tour is organised to restore the museum a bit more with some more antiques. There was more but it has just slipped away too quickly with wakefulness.

Today we were out of the motel by 9.30 and headed to Northgate, one of the shopping malls in northern Hobart - I was looking for nice shoes from Colorado which are also stocked in Williams, but the best I could get was in central Hobart at a size eight - no such luck at Northgate, but picked up Mallrats and Foo Fighters latest, which were both in the bargain bin already, well impressed to see Mallrats there, and got a nice long sleeved T-shirt from Westco. Had eggs benedict for brekkie, and V asked where I had learned about that dish - of course, I had to say Canada with the post WW Saturday brekkies, hmm.

Then off to Island Markets in a shed on a side street in Glenorchy - just had a wander around, not much of interest - apart from the live fish tanks - for seafood, not for pets. Headed out on the highway via Bridgewater and Brighton, we were thinking of heading to the animal park there, but when filling the petrol tank, the wind absolutely cut right through me, and rainclouds weren't too far off, so I made the decision not to go - there was querying about that from the other three, but it soon pissed down and my judgement was as sound as Solomon's.

Stoppef for lunch at Ross again, another chicken pie, with an added vanilla slice - took more pics inside the St John's Anglican Church, and then the rain was almost sleet like, all the way from Ross to Perth. Got home at about 3.30, dropped P and T off, and went to visit L, dropping off an eckle from Ross bakery as we did so.

B came around to be babysat for the evening, we went and got sausages from the butcher, potatoes from the greengrocer, dropped a postcard with Postperson Pat (as in Patricia), and V had a chat with the doctor's wife - all very Mount Thomas village like.

Dropped the luggage off at base camp, went to the supermarket for shopping, and am now about to relax - although they are showing the wrong footy on TV, Swans v Dockers, should be Bulldogs v Broncos, but that won't be shown until 11pm - grrr.

Latest Tassie Trip Day Four - 21 Sept

I have having weird vivid dreams on this trip. Overnight it started off in a ragged convoy of troops and equipment in some tunnel in the States - it appears Washington got a direct nuclear hit and New york was hit in one of the suburbs - the Bronx perhaps - and that was it for WWIII, as far as the US was concerned. It then morphed into an Aussie Idol audition, and I was sticking close to one of the 'hot picks'. There was also an earlier sequence involving V, but that's all I remember of it...

Today, we got into town at about 9.30, and P and T went off for brekkie, while V and I headed off for the central tourism info booth. I wanted to see how much and what time the double decker bus trip around town was - 90 minute trip, $20, first bus off the rank was 10am - good timing on our part, because the next trip would have been at five to midday. We were the first people on and therefore got first dibs on the upper deck front seat - score! I was bouncing with excitement basically before the bus took off.

Went through Battery Point and Sandy Bay, the trendy and expensive parts of town before getting to the casino - the first legalised casino in Australia. Wrest Point before 1974 was a motel, before 1930 was farmland, and I think was a whaling station run by convicts before that. Then out to under Mount Wellington and the Cascade Brewery - there was actually a sprinkling of snow on the mountain today, I think I got the remains of it once the colud lifted - got a couple of good shots of the brewery as well. The ride was a bit bumpy at times, was windy today, although the driver said the double decker could take 25 degrees of tilt before it would keel over.

Back through town and then through the domain up to Government House and the Botanic Gardens before coming back into town. Hopped off the bus, met up with P and T for lunch - fish and chips on the waterfront. Lots of food and we threw more than a few chips out. Off to the Maritime Museum, which V commented seemed to be a very male attraction, out of about 20 others in the place at the same time, there was only one other woman, and V was bored out of her brain. Good whaling history bit, with video and all - icky, disgusting, but I'm sure if a video of an abattoir was shot and shown, it would be just as disgusting.

Tried to do a bit of shopping, but nowhere had the shoes I wanted - some nice stuff in Roger David, but not in the mood to pay $50 to $70 for a shirt. Headed off to St David's Cathedral - was open, which surprised V. Absolutely awesome, and we were the only two there - V sat in a pew, while I took pictures. Lovely.

Met up with P and T again and had milkshakes from Donut King, then was back out to the motel. For all of about five minutes before V, P and I headed off to Centro Glenorchy and especially the Big W there. I went to Ed Harry, bought my first pure white shirt in I don't know how long, and then headed into Big W, where they have self service check outs now - along with a return that V had, it took about 25 minutes to get out of the place - my tiredness and a bit of crankiness kicked in.

Caught the news - supposed to be 100 kay winds over the state tomorrow morning - and then headed to the pub next door for tea. Had a T-bone steak, whell done, and triple ice cream, as well as about $15 down the slot machines, and a beer. Oh mi god, I cannot rave enough about the food at the Carlyle Hotel in Glenorchy - the steak was well done, not the usual smidgeon above medium you get, and the ice cream was to die for. So much better than the usual pub meal - and the pub itself was very open and airy - even the gaming room wasn't dingy.

Could not eat one more smidgeon of food, even if it was just a wafer - a la Monty Python LOL.