Jesus. Minker major. It's Monday evening and I'm still recovering from the most incredible weekend. More details soon, but last night was the last ever Harbour Party (well at least in its original guise). Imagine the music of the Vauxhall Tavern, but with an open air harbour setting with views of the Bridge and the Opera House and 5000 sexy men. Ay caramba. Just incredible. I haven't really got the words to do it justice, it was one of those 'you had to be there' things. Wayne G played a blinder and it was great to have some UK people there with me - Darryl, and Paul and Alan and the lovely Dr. Darren all the way from Misty Moor. Plus Aussie mates too. All in all an incredible experience, akin to something almost religious. Recovery at Arq which continued being fantastic. Sydney really comes into its own at Mardi Gras time. Less than a week until the party. Yeehah!

Urgh. Feel a bit rough. Bit of a minker last night. Darryl has arrived safe and well, yesterday morning. We went and had brekky and then I signed up properly at the gym and am going back next Monday to get a program sorted. Also getting a trainer once a week, so I've no excuses. None. Oops! Met Adrian for coffee and it all got a bit social as loads of the guys were out too. Then we went for one beer... and I don't really have to tell you what happened next! Met loads of people from London - one of whom I haven't seen for about 6 years! Today's been spent doing very little other than vegging. Back into work at 8am in the morning. Bed time now...

Happy birthday to my sister Sue. I'll ring later tonight! Oh, and I missed blogging sister Karen's birthday on the 2nd. And Michael's on the 12th. Happy bidet one and all!

Not a great deal has happened since I left you last, other than work. Wednesday met Adrian and Russell for coffee after work and then had a lazy night in front of the telly. Thursday managed to drag myself to the gym after work and then Martin popped in for a glass of the old vino and a natter. Last night I got in and made an omelette with the last of the roasted veggies and then slumped in front of My Best Friend's Wedding. The perfect thing. Garry came in and tried to drag me out, but I was too tired. Maybe I'm just getting old. Great news yesterday though - Garry's got another permanent job - and if he passes his probation will get sponsored! Yippee - it means he's be able to stay sharing the apartment here, which is great news. This morning (Sat) I'm again off to work. They've been pretty good with my request for days off over Mardi Gras. I've got Harbour Party day off and the Monday after, then I've got Mardi Gras weekend off and hopefully (as this roster isn't out yet) the Monday as well. That means I can go to ICE and not really care how minkered I get... Darryl arrives on Monday at 8am and it'll be great to see him. Paul and Alan and Dr. Darren arrive a week today so it's all happening! It's going to start and get busy out and about too as people start to filter in. We're having a big Mardi Gras party here, what with the view and everything from the apartment. I'll try and take some digi-cam pics so you know what on earth I'm on about! Right. Brekky. Oh, and you'll be pleased to know my diet has become way healthier since settling in here. Now if only I could maybe drink a little less. It would help me afford some furniture too!

Well I've had a pretty good couple of days, let me tell you. I went and priced and measured everything at IKEA, then got depressed as I realised I can't afford to buy anything for ages... and I so want to buy some nice stuff for this place. All in good time I guess... I ditched the gym as I couldn't be bothered, so I did what I often do in these sort of situations... I cooked! Made roast lamb with potatoes dauphinois and felt better. Garry and I had a slobby evening in front of the telly and then I had a really good night's sleep. Today was a good day. Up and had healthy brekky. Tidied and sorted room and took laundry to be washed. There's a communal machine here but I needed the time! Went and bought some bits, some food and then hit the gym. Finally. For the first time since September! Yippee. Felt good about that. Came home and went and picked up some Harbour Party tickets for Paul and Alan, then came home and cooked again. Just call me Nigella Smith-Oliver. Loads of roasted veggies and pasta, and then went the whole hog and made some feta cheese and rosemary bread. Fabulous! I guess this means I'm feeling very settled in my new home. Gotta love that. Darryl arrives on Monday too, which is going to be fantastic. Just hope all the days off I requested from work have come through OK. Will know more tomorrow...

A year has passed since I wrote my note...

Well not quite, but it's a week since I put fingers to keyboard. Most of that week has passed in an alcoholic haze. People keep dropping in to see the new apartment with bottles of wine and it's rude not to drink them. And then go and buy more. And then fall out of the front door into the nearest bar. Almost literally. The early part of last week held the moving/leaking dramas, but that's all sorted now. Work's been fine - had my review and they're happy with me. Had a long chat with the boss about some marketing ideas I'd had and he seems quite impressed. Other than that, the weather's not been up to much so no sunbathing or anything. Today is the start of the new regime for me - been already eating better here just because I'm more settled than the recent limbo-waiting-to-move weeks. Trial week at the gym later today and have two days to sort out admin stuff. Yay. May also go quite mad and treat myself to something nice. Like a DVD player. Watch this space...

Oh, and in the move I missed the Minkered... one year anniversary. Those were the days. I'd do the odd interesting post then...

In the new place. Great. Apart from the leaking ceiling in my bedroom, the light fitting full of water, the fused lights and the ceaseless rain the last two days. Joy.

Nice couple of days. Work's been a bit odd - our manager's a bit of a nutter and so it's been a bit strange. More on that another time. Lovely meal with Pete and Paul last night for Pete's 40th. Lots of nice people there - Adrian, Fred, Andrew and John, Adam, Adelaide, David Bassett. Nice Lebanese restaurant. *Lovely*

Lazy night tonight - job application and bit of a slob. Going to cut my hair now and then bed. Oh, but new address email first. Anyone reading this and not receiving an email update and wants one, please let me know!

It's ten past midnight and I should be in bed. Weekend was fun but worked Sat/Sun. Date on Friday was nice, but not sure it's heading anywhere. Nice guy, just no oomph between us. Got keys to the new apartment and crashed there over the weekend. Will move properly on Monday. Yay. Lazy day yesterday, admin stuff today. Been remiss at keeping this up to date and being in touch generally. All that changes very soon. New address email tomorrow. OK, time for bed for now.

My day could be worse:

Heading off in a moment to sign the lease on the fab new apartment.
Work 11am-8pm.
Date :o)

More later (I hope!)

Well. Billy MacKenzie will be turning, nay spinning, in his grave. There I was at work, minding my own business, when a strangely familiar haunting tune came over the music system at work. It took me a little while to work out what the song was, but eventually I placed Gloomy Sunday - me being familiar with the Associates version from Sulk (and what a fantastic album that is, boys and girls). I then realised that the song was actually being murdered rather horribly, and you can imagine my surprise (nay horror!) when I checked the clever little digital display we have at our information desk so we can tell people what was playing.

La Luna - Ssara Brightman (that was their spelling, not mine)

Sarah Brightman. Sarah Brightman!!! I was agog, and then aghast. Furthermore, on the album she goes on to murder several other well known tunes - This Love by Craig Armstrong/Liz Fraser, Scarborough Fair, A Whiter Shade of Pale and Kate Bush's La Luna.

This woman should be shot. Interestingly enough, when I checked out the origins of Gloomy Sunday it appears that it's associated (no pun intended) with suicides. Read a couple of articles about that here and here. Bizarre then that Billy MacKenzie should eventually take his own life. Shame it didn't have more effect on Ms Brightman. Listen to the old bat warbling on and on from here (you may have to save the link to your PC and play it from there as it didn't work straight away for me...)

I've decided that there are certain things you should go through life unaware of!

Well. Whaddya know. It looks like everyone's finger crossing paid off. I'm heading downtown later this afternoon to put down the deposit on the flat Garry and I really wanted. Yippee! It's on Oxford Street itself, which is a little weird. Think living on Old Compton Street. Is that a good or a bad thing? Good things are lovely open plan living area, lots of windows, polished floorboards and good sized bedrooms. Oh, that and the roof terrace :o) It's shared between the 5 apartments in the block and has the most wonderful views of Oxford Street (handy for Mardi Gras) and also views of the Sydney city skyline and the Bridge and the Opera House. If you've been watching it on Channel 4 (or Channel 10 for those few readers in Australia) it's very Secret Life of Us.

You were going to get a map, but this map facility is playing up. Grrr.

I feel like I can get on and plan some stuff now. What with all the visitors and then the househunting, my time's not been my own. I can work out which gym is nearest (actually there are 3 within 10 minutes), I'm only a 15 minute walk to work through Hyde Park and a 30 second stagger from most of the places we tend to go out to. Oops. We'll probably move early next week as it's a long weekend this weekend (Australia Day) but be sure I'll update one and all with the details.

You may also notice Minkered... looking a little yellowy. Ochre. Minkered mustard. I just thought it was time for a change and I don't think I'm going to get the big relaunch done for my one year anniversary so a little cosmetic tinkering is the order of the day.

My cough and cold seem better too, so hopefully things are on the up for Little Davie. And let's hope that's in every area of my life!!!

It's Sunday. It's glorious weather. I've done nothing, other than call in sick and have a lazy day. I think I'll take myself off to the doc's tomorrow and see if he can fix me. Meantime, here's something that does exactly what it says on the tin. Except it comes in a bag. Marvellous.

How come I only get here at the moment when I'm either too tired to type up what's been going on, or I've got too much to do? Tonight it's the former. Worked until 7pm, grabbed a bite then met Martin before heading to the movies to see The Man Who Wasn't There. Quite enjoyed it, and it's always nice to catch up with Martin. And he dropped me home, bless him. Can't wait to move back downtown. Taking Garry to see a couple of places tomorrow and we can maybe put in an application. Fingers crossed everyone please...

Tuesday morning. Time for some househunting. Trying to update stuff on minkered too...

I've got cold or flu. Don't want to play this game :o(

I have fixed the comments facility though, so please feel free. And look forward to a hopeful minkered relaunch very soon!

Really?

Yeah, really.

Ah. Not much blogging then. I don't really know what I'm not, other than I don't actually seem to be in very much at all at the moment. Wish I could say I've been swept off my feet and having a whirlwind romance but that's not it. I'm just at the end of my run of visitors and desperately need some Davie time. Watch this space. It will be updated properly. Honest. Guv.

No change on the tiredness front. Another few days on, which have been lovely, but I'm in a foul mood tonight and so think that I'm best off in bed.

Tired. Very tired. I'm way overdue a long update, but it's not going to happen now! It's almost midnight Sunday and I'm buggered. Missus. Had only an hour's sleep last night and then worked today. Been to the Shift and the had the nicest experience I think one can have with a woman bus driver. More tomorrow as I'm off the next two days. Yippee!