Friday, July 23, 2004

Only Tuesday and time for another post. What's that about?? Surely some mistake...
 
I left you Thursday night as I was heading off to pick up post from the house. That I indeed did, but I don't remember doing much else in terms of beer at the Newtown, as alluded to as a possibility. Think I was a good boy... as I had an 8am with the chiropractor on the Friday morning. One final click and whirr and I'm as good as new. Apparently. Friday was just normal work and stayed late-ish as I was in late. Friday night was another staying in night - what's going on? I did stay in however, after phone calls to the UK to check on Dad - seemingly OK for the moment, more tests to come. Later I got into a very interesting exchange with the lovely Craig - mentioned in dispatches from Sunday last - culminating in me being further intrigued by him and looking forward to catching up. Flirting is good. Discuss.

OK, Friday and I didn't post this Tuesday, so I will now. Now, where was I? Ah yes, flirting...

Saturday I slept late-ish til gone 10am. Up for brekky and Video Hits and some general stuff and then decided to head up to Newtown. On the spur of the moment what the hell I texted Craig and asked if he wanted to catch up for coffee. In the ensuing radio silence I managed to walk up to Newtown, walk up and down the high street, got bored and walked down to Broadway hoping there'd be a 3.30pm Harry Potter. There was! Woohoo. Of course literally seconds after I'd booked my ticket Craig returned my message to say yes, in 20 minutes at a coffee shop back on King Street. Doh and double doh! Bloody typical. So I declined and Harry-d, which was great fun. Walked back and left a further message for Craig...
Home and dinner with Pete, Paul and M.. Johnno. They were staying in having a DVD night, but I had other ideas. As everyone was away I decided to head to the pub, possibly to meet some new people, but just to be slightly anonymous - something that's hard to do in Sydney. As it turned out I ended up arranging to meet Adam and Joe - two guys I'd talked to a couple of weeks back. So, the beers flowed and soon we were down the Imperial - how did that happen? Then I noticed Patrick was there - I met Patrick last week with Craig. And lo and behold there was Craig. There was talking and drinking. There was snogging and drinking. There was drinking. For some reason we decided shots of shorts would be fun - and so a schnapps, black sambuca and Bailey's later I was in a cab with Craig heading to his place.
Sunday morning hit with a hangover. A bad one. Panadol didn't help and eventually when we dragged ourselves out of bed for brekky it still wasn't pleasant. Breakfast was though. I finally got home at 3pm having had a luverly time. Vegged for the rest of the afternoon and night - Pete had made soup and I watched Underworld on DVD. Perfect.
Monday I finally felt almost normal again. Work was work and the gym was the gym. Managed a 20 minute run and even though the legs hurt a bit it wasn't as bad as before.
Tuesday was work and then meeting Craig at the movies for Shrek 2. Good film - lots of fun. Had another nice time with Craig - we did coffee after and then went our respective ways. So that was like a proper date then.
Wednesday was more work and then the gym. Good work out with the trainer and then I got halfway home before realising I'd left my house keys in my gym locker door. Grrr. Hate that. Finally home and straight out again for dinner with Aaron. Thai. Nice. Couple of beers in the Newtown and home.
Yesterday was work and then to the gym for a longer test run. My legs failed :o( I managed about 12 minutes before the pain in my shins became fairly acute. I struggled on to see if I could run through it, but then came to the conclusion that I never used to have pain like that and so something wasn't right. Still. Grrr again. Anyway. Home, quick shave and out. Met Craig for food and then to the Newtown for a couple of beers. Aaron was there with Fred and we endured the Newtown's talent quest until about 9.30pm before calling it a night. Well before calling it a night at Craig's. :o)
The alarm wasn't so welcome at 6.20am this morning however. Nor was the strange dream about my mum. Not alarming per se, just a bit odd. Hey ho. Nothing new there for me though really. But interrupted sleep probably keeps one in that no man's land between awake and deep sleep. More chance for weirdy dreams then. Into work and here we are. Leaving work at 4.45pm and heading home to pack. It's the weekend in the mountains! Yay!! It'll be cold and we're staying in a nice house with a log fire. Lots of red wine and nice food. Me, Rich, Russ, Aaron, Rod, Tony and Dave joining us tomorrow. Can't wait. Nice to be away from Sydney. Only downside is missing Craig's birthday on Sunday, but I guess I can give him something late... :o)

Thursday, July 15, 2004

OK. It's the middle of winter and I've just been outside to get a coffee (the day is dragging somewhat and I needed a break from computer to benefit fingers and eyes). 3pm and around 16/17C. Sunny and warm. With a quality of light you just don't get in the UK. OK, the wind has a slight chill, but today would pass for a 'lovely day' for about three-quarters of the year back in the UK. I knew I moved here for a reason... :o)
Thursday afternoon again. Obviously posting time. Last Thursday was indeed quiet. Home, food, telly, internet, reading in bed. I was a bit sore from the chiropractic adjustment, but at least it felt like something was happening! Friday was work and ended up staying a bit later than planned. Met Marc at the Newtown at 8pm and we managed to get ourselves a table for dinner at the Peasant’s Feast – a nice restaurant that I’d been to twice and Marc wanted to try. Nice food, nice wine, nice company. On leaving we walked back and had that ‘what happens next’ moment. Marc was keen for us to go our separate ways and do it again soon. I was OK with that. So we did the goodnight kiss thing and…
Leaving his place at 7.30am the next morning was good in some ways and bad in others! I could have done without the gym at 9am, but you get that. Gym was in fact great, and I was ready for my brekky at the Chocolate Dog après. The afternoon turned into a whirlwind of laundry – long overdue. Later I joined Bobby and Martin at the Newtown for a swift trio of beers and then we talked ourselves out of kicking on and I retired gracefully chez moi.
Sunday was a weird old day. Starting disappointingly with Rich cancelling brekky I decided to go anyway and made sure Aaron was still attending. More Chocolate Dog-ness. Rich did eventually turn up, having been out late the night before/no sleep/shenanigans. I wandered round Newtown in readiness for the next meal appointment – lunch with Paul and Gary, with Pete and Johnno in attendance. It was great, once P+J finally arrived. The talk did centre a bit too much upon going out to dance parties, but as that’s how we know Paul and Gary it’s not that surprising. Plus I’m meant to be putting them in touch with some UK friends so they know where to go out and about for their upcoming trip to London. From there to Wayne’s 50th birthday drinks with Aaron. Which was great fun, for the most part. Rado was DJ-ing and there was beer. However, after all the morning’s talk from people saying they were over going out, never again etc. the talk turned again to who was going to go out further and go clubbing and get trashy and…
And so I left. Fairly abruptly, which isn’t really me at all. But for that one day I’d had enough talk of that and craved a normal conversation. Heading home the cab drove past the Newtown and it was busy, so I diverted in there for a beer. And I’m glad I did. Got talking to the lovely Craig – the other guy I met the same night I met Marc for the first time. Craig was there with a mate of his and we had more beer and some normal, fun conversation. Woohoo! And a bit of flirting too, which is always nice…
Headed home a little tipsy around 9pm, and was in bed by 10pm. Nice end to a slightly frustrating day.
Monday was work and then home via the architect’s. We’re almost ready to submit to council. Finally. Watch this space. Oh, and Bobby went to the UK – which is good and bad. Good in that I get to quieten down as he’s been, of late, my main parther in crime. Bad because of late he’s been my partner in crime and so I’ve no one to play with. That’s not entirely true, but early August seems a long way off! Still, that will bring both him and Pete back which will be great. Tuesday was work and then chiropractor where I was re-straightened and told I could run again! Woohoo! Have one more appointment in the morning so will run after a workout on Saturday for the first time in almost 4 weeks. I think my fast time in the City to Surf is a goner, but hopefully I’ll be back running pain free. Actually after the chiro I met Gary at the Colombian for a beer. We had a fun chat, pizza and I got a cab at 9pm-ish. Interestingly I was complaining that my life was too going out focussed, whilst Gary was rueing that he doesn’t get out enough. Grass, greener anyone?
Yesterday was work and then gym. I’ve been the boss this week and so it’s actually been quite busy. Supermarket on the way home. Nice food. Calls to Dad and Dave Puls (finally!). Bed with the Wicked Witch… which brings me to today. Work. Going home via the house to pick up post and maybe have a beer at the Newtown later? Maybe not. Tomorrow chiropractor first thing then work. Got to phone Dad to find out his recent scan results – fingers crossed all is OK, and hopefully get chance to speak to sister Sue too. Rest of the weekend? Nothing. Bliss. Gym and run Saturday morning, nothing else planned. Not a thing. Not one. Yay!
Oh, and one last thing. Pete and Johnno have sold the house so I’m going to be moving. Gary and Peter have offered me their place in Tamarama to house-sit early Sep to early Oct, by which time I’ll get a house-share with Pete and Bobby. We’re meant to move out last weekend in August. Currently that leaves me homeless for 10 days. Any suggestions??

Thursday, July 08, 2004

Quickly as I'm way overdue on the posting front...

Melbourne was fantastic! I did indeed post 9 days ago as it was my anniversary, but I didn't fill you in on the weekends shenanigans. From here to the airport Friday; caught up with Russ; hit the Qantas Club; vodka; flight; kind lift from Ben (someone we met at New Year); The Laird. Drinking and catching up with mates ensued. Lovely to see Steve and Alan again. Stumbled to the pub/hotel to sleep around 4am. Ugh.
Saturday was brekky with some of the bears; trip to St Kilda for a walk by the ocean and coffee. Stumbled into a bar and stumbled upon Jason Smith and a gaggle of travel agents. Beers. Home. Snooze. Laird. Beers. Catching up with more old and new friends. The Peel. Dancing. Snogging. Etc. I disappeared for a wee while to walk someone to their motorbike... no, really. 7am back to the hotel for vodka with Bobby. Then Alan. Then coffee with Alan. Then suddenly we were back at the Beer Bust at the Peel. Beer. More beer. Dancing. More beer. Suddenly it was 3.15am. Slept for 55 minutes before getting a cab with Rich and Russ back to the airport. Won't be doing that red-eye-nightmare-straight-into-work flight again. Oh no. Work was awful! I almost fell asleep at my desk in the afternoon...
Got home that night, ate and slept I think. Not much else. Tuesday was more of the same without the falling asleep and with an added sports massage in the evening which was bloody fantastic.
Wednesday and Thursday I was in training which meant a welcome respite from work. Wednesday night I had dinner with Bobby I think and then Thursday... who can say? Dunno. Or more likely gym Wednesday and dinner with Bobby Thursday. Some combination - you choose!
Friday work, gym, quietness. Dinner and trashy telly I think. Saturday morning I was at the gym at 9am and by 10.30am I was in town having had brekky and trying to find friends to play with as it was the most beautiful day. However everyone was trashed and so I wasn't really very pleased. Ended up back in Newtown and bought new work trousers. How excitement. Back to the ranch where the boys (plus Bobby) were still a mess so I ended up at the park in my shorts reading my book and listening to music in the sunshine. Gorgeous day in the middle of winter! Ate and then walked up to Newtown with Bobby and made sure he went to bed. I walked into the pub and spent a nice evening with Adam and Joe - two guys who started talking to me as the recognised me from Gaydar... Ended up at the Imperial and home a little drunken at 3am.
Sunday - up for brekky with Bobby and Rich and Russ at the Chocolate Dog (my fave!). It was glorious again and so Bobby and I took the bus to Coogee and walked the walk to Bondi. Coffee on the beach in both places! Then back to Foodgame for a chicken pesto burger. Yum. Home and change and then back to the Shift around 9pm for Bobby's celebration-sponsorship-confirmation drinks. It was meant to be a quiet night. However... it was one of those nights..! Got more than usual attention from sexy men. You get that sometimes. Rarely. But it happens... the upshot being I ended up at Arq against my better judgement. With a 3am curfew. That became 7am. When I left to go to the dentist. No, really. Then I went back to day Manacle instead of work. Naughty, but nice. Fun. Lots of nice people. Lots of nice new people. Yay. By Manacle it was just Aaron and I, with Rado DJ-ing. Then to the Colombian with a couple of new mates in tow. Then the Newtown. And more people joined us and then the Town Hall to try and eat... and...
Finally in bed by 10am! Great fun. Welcome to 4 years in Australia Bobs :o)
Tuesday was work and the podiatrist. The night-time was a long overdue date with tall dutch Marc, whom I first met in April as Pete left for the UK. We'd been trying to catch up for ages and finally that was the night. I had a great time. He seems like a nice bloke and he's cute too. We're doing it again tomorrow night with added dinner. Noice.
More work and gym and then last night to dinner at Bobby's as he's heading back to the UK to get stuff/meet Pete etc. on Monday. Bottle of wine. Jamie joined us. Fun.
Today was work; chiropractor and that's it. First night at home in a while. Long overdue. I intend to slob big time. More news from the front line tomorrow!!

Just realised I started this post with 'just quickly'... actually that was fairly detailed! Home time now... woohoo!