Sunday, November 28, 2010

So another few weeks has passed. Seven to be exact. Ish :)

Not a great deal to report in terms of change, so I'm going to keep this short and do a more substantial update in December, once the holidays come.

Mood - slightly better generally, though tonight I'm in a very weird head space.
School - reports finished; last two full weeks and then just three more days with the kids before hols.
Health - fit and well again, but not back at the gym.
Romance - pass.
Social stuff - had a big weekend out with Muz, Mark and Graeme last weekend. Fun. Have booked for Tropical Fruits in Lismore for NYE.
Apartment - no real change. I need to get rid of some of the wood! However I did get two outside benches from Gary and Peter today.

The school holidays really can't come soon enough. Really.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

And so it’s suddenly 4½ months since I last blogged, and I’ve turned 45½. To be honest this probably isn’t the best time to be updating this as I’m currently sick with a chest infection and am going slightly stir crazy as I’ve hardly been out of the house since about Wednesday (it’s now Sunday night). Being sick sucks at the best of times, but add in that it’s school holidays that I’m missing, and that it’s the long weekend with everyone else out having fun, and you can guess that there’s a big black cloud over Davie’s head instead of rainbows and puppies.

Not that there are usually puppies over my head. If you know what I mean.

I digress. So, going back to the last update. What’s been happening? Well the move didn’t happen quite as planned, so in chronological order the shoulder operation came first. All good apparently, though I wouldn’t recommend seven weeks in a sling to anyone. Also, after about 12 days, I was lucky enough to develop capsulitis, which is more commonly known as ‘frozen shoulder’. This has actually stopped my rehab a little, in that I still get some pain and can’t quite get the full range of movement back at the moment. Apparently it will come in time. Until then though, no gym, no running, no tennis.

The move happened about 3 weeks after that. I also wouldn’t recommend moving house with only one arm working. That said, all went pretty smoothly and am adjusting to living in Surry Hills. The apartment is great, but I need to do a few bits and also need to buy some outdoor furniture and a BBQ to really feel settled. The only downside so far is that Surry Hills (well at least my part) seems to close on Sundays – no coffee, brekkie etc. God only knows what it’ll be like tomorrow for the public holiday.

OK, this is an update in a couple of parts. It’s now Wednesday night and I’m feeling a little better. Not completely though – I’m on my second lot of antibiotics and still have to take it easy til next week. I did venture out for a beer with Bobby and Graham on Monday night, and believe you me it was most needed.
Work has been interesting. Due to maternity leave, an opportunity at work came up to move to teach the Year 5 OC students. For those who don’t know, OC in Australia means Opportunity Class, and it’s basially for gifted and talented children. They come from out of area and join in Year 5 and the teacher stays with them for two years. So I put my hand up and got the move, and started teaching midway through last term. It’s interesting and different. Not always as easy as with the younger kids, as the children don’t automatically love you and can have a little bit of attitude on occasion. Best thing for me though is the breadth of stuff I can teach, as the whole point of the OC stream is to go across the curriculum and give the kids a much broader exposure to things. Next week I will be starting to teach a whole term’s worth of lessons that I have devised, so I will feel a bit more comfortable rather than like last term when I inherited someone else’s teaching. Also it’s hard moving half way through a year as the kids all know each other, but not me. I’ll get there. Ultimately the kids seem a nice bunch, but they do tend to talk over each other a lot and seem to need to learn some basic respect rules.

Which brings me onto the old love life. Or not. Apparently I was in a flirty place with a couple of people, but obviously nothing at all came of that as I’ve no longer any idea who I was talking about!! Haven’t really been out much so hard to meet people. I’m really tiring of the whole online thing and am beginning to resign myself that I’m going to remain alone. I really don’t want to be, but unfortunately not wanting something to be a certain way doesn’t really fix it, and conjuring up a relationship out of nowhere doesn’t really work. It particularly hits home in the holidays, when I don’t have the routine of day to day life to distract me from the loneliness.

I also realised that all my mates are in couples these days. Murray, Gary, Marc, Bobby… even all the teachers at school. George is about to move away for a minimum of 6 months so not even him to hang out with. Hey ho.

So that’s it. Was hoping to head down to Melbourne for a bit of fun these holidays, but it wasn’t to be with the whole chest infection thing. Maybe the next holidays. I’m meant to be heading up to Tropical Fruits for NYE and spending a bit of time up Brisbane way. I’m honestly finding it hard to drum up the enthusiasm to go through with the booking of the flights. Maybe next week I’ll feel a bit more lively.

Over and out for now.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

jesus. 6 April since I last blogged?

OK. Update. Things are... interesting. Thing I alluded to last post was an apartment purchase. Moving to Surry Hills. 12June. Completion/removalists willing. Starting to get excited.

In other news. It's reports time. Plus my program is due. Plus I'm going on school camp next week. Plus I'm having shoulder surgery on 22June. So as you can tell, there's a lot going on, with a very fixed timeline. I'll fill you in more as it happens.

From a mental health perspective, I'm in a much better place. Unrequited lust resolved; in a good flirty place with a couple of people; strengthening friendships with a couple of mates; work all going well. In fact I might have an announcement about work next time I blog. All good.

Just wish I were fitter. Have stopped all exercise until the shoulder is fixed. 3 months of physio after the shoulder op, so will have to wait until October before I can start and train again. ;(

Right. More news as it happens...

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Short.

I'm now 45. Easter came and went. So possibly did another friendship, due to my inability to act appropriately in the face of known unrequited love/lust/whatever. Will I ever learn?

Spent the weekend in Tamarama which was great. Had a fun, fun, fun night out with Muz. Always fun. Have another thing on the backburner which if it happens I'll tell you more about very soon.

But I'm OK. I think. A little (more) disillusioned, but OK.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Drunken posting. Never good. There'll be a more balanced review of what's happening in a few days, when I'm on holidays.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

I'm starting to realise that there's a lot about me that I don't like.

In times of stress, I eat junk. Crap, crap, crap. Processed food, chocolate, sweets and alcohol. When I'm more balanced, then so is my diet.

I also hate my approach to personal relationships. I am so gung-ho. If someone shows the least bit of interest, then in my mind that's it forever. Picket fence, dogs and so on. I must appear so incredibly needy and clingy.

I hate that I'm like this. I honestly don't know what I can do to change.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Well there's a post in me somewhere, but until I stop thinking and behaving like a teenager I've decided not to write stuff down. Until then...

Sunday, March 07, 2010

This update short and bitter - I guess that's the opposite of short and sweet...

Actually I'm not feeling bitter really - just stating a fact. My state of mind is somewhere between being slightly fed up and marginally bored.

It's the morning after Mardi Gras. I'm sure all over Sydney friends old and new are either sleeping or carrying on to the next load of fun and frolics. Good for them. Not all of us do that. I certainly used to, but it seems my life has moved away from that lifestyle, and whilst I don't always miss it, on days like these I'd like to feel at least a little more part of it. The people I've hung out with over the last few years are either out, out of town, out of my friend loop or out of their gourds. :) Not a single person has been in touch with me today, and that realisation that I'm not a priority for anyone hurts a bit. I haven't spoken to other people as I know mostly they are out and about spending time with different friends or significant others. I've kind of fallen through the cracks. I used to fit in. Or at least more accurately I made more of an effort to be a part of it all. Now I don't, and I'm realising how quickly one gets forgotten.

As I said, not bitter - just how it seems right now. OK, off for a walk. :)

P.S. And after the walk, can I just say that on the one weekend of the year when I'm meant to feel 'a part of it all', I've never felt so alone and removed from it all. Bed soon. Things'll be better after some sleep.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

And verily it became March. Autumn in Sydney is one of my favourite times, and I can already feel a little more of a chill in the air in the mornings and evenings telling me it's on the way :)

I failed to remain free of vices for February. Garry whom I use to live with here came over for a visit and it seemed churlish to stay sober so I didn't. Along with Muz we had a scream of a night and it was well worth the sacrifice.

In other news there's not a great deal to report. School is fun but hard work as always. I have a busy month ahead as I need to finish all my programming for school and also finish off my professional accreditation. Head down Dave! And no, sadly not in that way...

I've almost given up on the apartment hunting. Things seem to be getting more expensive by the second, and the exchange rate is working against me for bringing some cash over from the UK. We'll see. But don't hold your breath.

I've been hanging out with a couple of new people, which is great. However one in particular I quite like but they don't want a relationship and so it remains a little bit weird and a challenge. It's also a bit strange at the moment as everyone else is caught up in Mardi Gras madness, whereas I'm at home working on school stuff. It's not even that I want to do the Mardi Gras stuff. I'd just like to have someone to not do it with.

That'll do for now. Don't expect much in the way of updates til my birthday day - which also coincides with the end of term and the Easter break. Til then... :)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Lunar New Year!

It's almost halfway through February and time for an update methinks. Almost 6 weeks since my last blog entry, and even that wasn't really an update, more a summation of the year just past. So, what's been happening?

The school holidays came to an end in a fun way. I went to Brisbane to celebrate Muz's 40th birthday and had a cracking weekend. It was great to meet the remainder of Muz's family and spend some time up there without a care in the world. Much beer, much fun.

Then back pretty much straight away to school. I'm teaching a Year 1 Extension class this year, so it's going to be a bit of a challenge. So far, so good. I'm one of only two teachers in the school that doesn't have an interactive whiteboard this year which is a bugger, but I do have aircon in the demountable that I'm in, and that's been very useful since we've gone back! I've got a nice class, even though some of them are a bit out there in that way that very clever kids can be.

I've given up caffeine, alcohol and sweets/chocolate for February. Halfway through and it's OK. I managed it last year and went on to do 3 months alcohol-free later in the year so I know I can do it quite happily. In other news I've been referred to a shoulder surgeon to get a date for an op to fix my SLAP tear. I'll know more once I've met with him, but when it's done I'll have my arm in a sling for between 2-5 weeks. Not looking forward to that, but am looking forward to some 4-5 months later when the shoulder has full range of movement and I can gym and tennis again. I'm going to start running again in the meantime otherwise I'll turn into a complete slob.

Still on the lookout to buy a flat, but still not seen anything quite right... and everything is so very, very expensive. Sigh. Let's see how it goes.

Right. Meant to be doing some work hence this update :) Back to it. Oh hold on, it must be lunchtime!!

Monday, January 04, 2010

2009 in review

Here are some of the things that were good and bad for me in 2009 – across all aspects of life!

Favourite album: Junior – Röyksopp. I could not stop (and still am) playing it. Always one for electronic music this has the right combination of vocal and instrumental tracks, and enough interesting songs and arrangements to keep hearing something new.

Favourite single: The Girl and the Robot – Röyksopp. I’ve always been a sucker for space opera type singles and this has the lot – operatic vocals and a robot – duh! Honourable mentions go to On My Own Again – Kleerup; Bulletproof – La Roux; Stuck On Repeat – Little Boots; Your Disco Song – Vitalic.

Favourite ‘rediscovered’ track: It’s a tie! Well there’s one rediscovered and one discovered as although it’s an oldie I only really found it last year. Rediscovered: Supernature (William Orbit Mix) – Erasure. I want this to be my set opener at about 4am when I finally realise my dream of being a DJ. Discovered: First Hand Experience of Second Hand Love – Giorgio Moroder. Still sounds fresh and relevant today, some 30 years on.

Best mix: Other than my own Minkered Mix 8, the winner has to be the Automatic Lovers’ Mix – Little Boots. The mixing itself is patchy in parts, but what a fantastic bunch of tracks!

Best live gig: The Human League. Having not seen them the first time round, it was great to finally see them live – and not only once but twice. At the V Festival they played Dare in its entirety which is one of the most influential albums ever for me. At the Metro they did a greatest hits gig that had us singing and dancing in the aisles. Perfect! Honourable mention goes to Grace Jones at the Enmore. Who knew a 64 year old woman could still mix it with the best of ‘em?

Favourite musical guilty pleasure: Either Shewolf (Calvin Harris Remix) – Shakira or I Left My Heart In Tokyo – Mini Viva.

Favourite movie: Can’t for the life of me remember going to see anything. I’m sure I did. Both GI Joe and Transformers 2 were fantastic in their improbability. I also really enjoyed AstroBoy.

Favourite TV show: Probably Being Human on the ABC, or Dollhouse.
Favourite music blog: So Hip It Hurts – knowledgeably written by someone who has the same musical tastes as me.

(This stolen from meme at Muzbot) Song lyric that sums up the year?: “No one’s singing songs for me” The Girl and the Robot - Röyksopp. Enough said.

Best career moment: Being made permanent at school after applying and being interviewed for the job was up there, but there were two other moments that make it all worthwhile. Firstly a boy from my class last year came to read to this year’s class because he wanted to show me how well he could read now. Secondly a child telling me he’d made no mistakes on his work because he just wanted to make me happy. Tears in my eyes!

Best holiday moment: Spending time back with Dad in the UK. He was fit enough for us to go for a couple of day trips and we both really enjoyed it. Also Helsinki with Sue, Julia and Stevie P – interesting place, wonderful people, my time for me within the trip home. Edifying in every way.

Best personal achievement: Two things here, one relatively minor, one a bit more major. Playing tennis again has brought me so much pleasure, and it’s with huge disappointment (and a sore shoulder) that I start 2010 unable to play until I know whether or not I need an operation to fix a SLAP tear in said shoulder. In May though, I ran my 4th half marathon. I knocked an impressive 12 minutes off my PB, and a full 20 minutes of the previous year. I trained hard and deserved the result.

Best social event: probably Sunday arvo beers with Muz. I did that more than anything else last year which is a good indication of how much fun it can be.

Area to improve upon: Procrastination. Say no more. This is a review of 2009 and it’s already 4 days late.

Thanks to all my family, Muz, Adrian, Gary and Peter, Bobby and Marc for their friendship and support over the year. Let’s see what 2010 brings – if I can improve as detailed above, you might just get a list of things I’m hoping for up on here very soon!

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Happy New Year!

It's been a quiet Christmas and NY so far. Maybe a little too quiet, but I'm relaxed at least. I'll update more over the next few days... those essays I promised a while ago, and I hope to do a year in review too. Plus thoughts and hopes for the year to come. More soon.