Woah! So almost 9 months goes by... and I wonder what the hell's been happening. You probably do too, if you're still reading.

So. What news? Well - since September there's been a lot happening. In summary:

Craig and I split up in March which is sad. However we're still friends and still living together as landlord/lodger (me lodging - Craig bought the house).
Dax our staffy is as beautiful as ever and will be 5 in August.
I have one assignment left before I have completed the Bachelor part of my two year Masters of Primary school teaching. Just waiting to see where I have my 9 week internship starting mid-July.
I hit the UK for three weeks holiday 20June-11July. I'm in London 23-26June and 2-10July. Prepare to catch up for beers and shenanigans.

In fact that will do for the first update in all this time. More soon - but look out people in Blighty... I'm on the way!

Wow.

Can't believe it's already been over two months since I last posted. Not that there hasn't been much going on - the opposite in fact - but it seems only recently that I was enjoying some time off from uni. Well I'm currently on day 46 without a day off. I've been doing uni work, cafe work, sometimes both, and for the last 4 weeks teaching in a school in the eastern suburbs. The teaching has been great fun, but completely exhausting, and I'm ready for it to be over tomorrow. Sad to finish, glad to get some time off!
Craig spent almost a month in the USA, and it's great to have him back. Julia my niece arrived a week and a half ago and I'm looking forward to spending some more time with her and her friend Bill whilst I'm on uni break. So two weeks of just cafe work and then back to uni for 6 weeks and then holidays until March 07! I will be working at the cafe, so it's not all relaxation, but the pressure will be off for a bit whilst the sun shines.
More soon :o)

Quick posting for July, just coz I haven't been posting regularly for some time now... Not a great deal to report since the last posting. Had a weekend down in Canberra, which on balance I can't really recommend! Partly due to the company (friend of Craig's 40th, but the weekend highlighted how much they've grown apart) and partly due to the place itself. Dull, soulless and rather scarily Stepford Wives. Other than that I've been taking it very easy. Lots of time with the dog, a bit of cafe work and not much else. Uni starts again in 3 weeks so still a bit more time to enjoy. Started doing some of the sorting I promised last posting - and that will continue. Oh, and the soccer's been replaced by Wimbledon watching - tennis was always more my sport!

Another week on and not too much to report. First things first though, happy birthday to my Dad, who is 79 today! All being well I'll be back over in the UK this time next year to help Dad become an octogenarian.
I've done very little over the past week and it's been great. Lots of walking the dog and leisurely admin and house stuff. Going to try and get some tidying done today - it's time to clean out the laundry. Don't you love lazy holiday time? I was up this morning watching the Australia-Italy match. We were robbed! Now go England...

Well this is definitely the longest time between posts since this thing began some 5 or so years ago... Apologies to anyone left that might still be reading. I alluded to stuff happening back in January when I last did post and yes, there have been some changes.
In February I finished up at Qantas as I have taken leave without pay until the end of the year. Sue (my sister) arrived from the UK a couple of days later to celebrate her 50th birthday and we had a week together enjoying Sydney - particularly the trip to the Hunter Valley. Then, on 6 March I went back to Uni some 18 years after graduating the first time...
This time I'm doing a Masters of Primary School Teaching, and that's what has been keeping me so busy! We've just finished semester 1 last Friday, hence finally having some time to focus on admin type stuff again. As well as Uni I've been working as a barista in a local(ish) café 3 days a week so it's been full on. Many thanks to Craig for being so supportive over the last three months - I'm not sure if I'd have survived otherwise! Also Jonathan was also over for part of the time, heading back just before Easter, and since then it's been assignments a go-go. Craig also started a new job too, so we've kept ourselves very much to ourselves whilst we've readjusted. Then, a couple of weeks ago we got the offer to take on a dog for someone that was going to live overseas, and so we welcomed Dax into the family home. He's a 3 year old pure bred Staffy, and very cute with it. As you might guess, things are quite a bit different from when I last posted!! Right, off to do a trial barista shift at a café round the corner - fingers crossed it works out as it would be so much more convenient and I need some extra shifts whilst I've got these next 5 weeks off from Uni. 5 weeks... count 'em!

So it's way past the Happy New Year time for the first post of 2006. But it'll say it anyway.

Lots going on. Some good, some not so good. When I've worked it all out, there'll be a full update. Meantime I'm off home from work to a public holiday tomorrow.

Happy Australia Day!

Twas two days before Xmas and all through the office,
Nothing was stirring.. not even ...er.. can't think of anything to rhyme!

Winding down now to 2 whole weeks off. I can't wait! Neither Craig nor I have had any time off since May, so it's long overdue. We're going to eat well, gym, go to the beach, do odd jobs around the house and generally just relax. We've got a relatively quiet Xmas and Boxing Day, and then may head up the coast to Newcastle for a couple of days. Then we'll do the big NYE party - this year called Fantasy. That'll get us into 2006 - and then best of all, we're not back at work until 9Jan. Woohoo!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a minkered New Year! x

A second post for December - surely not? And we're only just half way through the month.

Having said that, there's not a great deal to report again. Still not going out a great deal; still trying to gym; movies; the odd meal out; DVDs etc. Cheap is good. The work Christmas party was OK - the crown green bowling was fun. I was fine in theory but not quite as good in practice sadly...

Not much on for this weekend, save drinks tomorrow night and a meal. So looking forward to having two weeks off - I finish work on 23Dec and don't go back until 9Jan... Joy!

More soon...

Well this will at least make sure I post at least something for December. That makes one a month since July. Go Davie!

Er, yes. Reportage: actually same old stuff which is good. Not so much going out; gym stuff on a semi-regular basis; eating out a bit; catching up with some friends; movies; DVDs and generally doing things that don't cost a great deal of cash!

We did go out with Craig's workmates for Marilyn's birthday. We did head over to Tamarama for Gary's birthday beers and pizza. I did get horribly hungover from drinking too much at my work department do - and it's the bigger full on one on Saturday. We're going crown green bowling which should be fun. I'll let you know how I get on. Until then, presume not much has changed...

Remember remember, the 5th of November - gunpowder, treason and plot.

Except of course it's now the 16th and I can't remember what happened on the 5th. I should of course remind all those UK types that Bonfire Night is a peculiarly local thing and so there's no celebration or fireworks here down under.

Actually the weekend of the 5/6th we went out with Adrian, David and Jason - and had a hoot. Up early Sunday morning and out - haven't done that in a bit and it was good. Originally we'd said we'd do the Pheonix, but no one was there so Manacle saved the day. We fell home sometime in the mid afternoon. Zzzzzzzz........

Last weekend was the Newtown Festival. We didn't so much go to it as it came to us - it's held in the park across the road from the house. We pottered through early in the day and it was just kicking off. Instead of loitering though we hit the beach, which was great - and that put us in a good mood to rejoin the festivities on our return with Bobby. Fun. A few drinks, some live music and then watching the world go by from the front porch - whilst eating a full Sunday roast. Cool. We could have made a fortune had we rented out the loo... On to the Newtown for beers to round off the night. Fun.

Otherwise things continue as normal. Both Craig and me have been busy with work so we've not done too much else. Gym, movies, the odd meal - standard stuff. Movie recommendation is Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - a real old style romp and one of the most intelligently scripted things I've seen in a while.

OK - that's it for now. Time to head home for the night. Not much happening I hope. A lazy night!

Well that'll be October almost over then. I really don't know how I'm managing to NOT to blog so much. It's not like I'm doing anything that's taking over my whole life. Apart from possibly having one :o)

The house is coming along nicely. Work is still busy but bearable. Most free time is spent enjoying the new place watching DVDs or going to the movies. Or the gym. Or for a run. These are the main things outside of work of late. We've had some friends for dinner, and pottered around to see other mates. We've been cooking more, out for drinks here and there and the odd game of pool.

Life goes on at a more leisurely pace. I like it.

OK. Long overdue as seems to be the way these days. In brief: we've moved into the house and have pretty much settled in. Very glad to be there and having fun getting it sorted. Work's been really busy lately and that's put a bit of a kibosh on regular updating of this thing. Not too much to report otherwise - trying to gym and run (though that fell a bit by the wayside during the relocation); keeping ourselves nice and having quieter times.

Once I get back into some sort of proper routine then hopefully this will be updated on a more regular basis. More soon...

Hello! Just in case you were all wondering, I am alive and well. Just a bit busy...

We move into the new house on Friday. The last couple of weeks have had every spare moment taken up with packing; sorting; painting etc. However we're almost there!

We had a good night for Craig's birthday, though nothing too outrageous in the end. Since then we also took our fetish clad tushes to the Rubber Ball - fun if a little cold. Not much going out or much of anything until Sleaze probably - we've got a house to move, unpack and settle into. It's going to be great having that bit more space, the spare room and the incredibly handy location. 3 more days of work and then 4 days off the aid our relocation. Yay!

It's Friday afternoon, though sadly not quite time for Crackerjack.

Either way to be honest there's not much to update you on! Work continues to be a bit busy without being startlingly rewarding. Things with the house progress a little more quickly - more work has been done (we've got no floors!) but if I began to tell you the hassle I've had with financial institutions you'd be asleep in a nanosecond.

Otherwise last weekend was good - pretty chilled with nights in, nights out, movies (Sin City - excellent!), good food and gym. This week's been a bit slower - good meals most nights and then a performance at the Opera House last night of Boomerang by the Bangarra Dance Theatre. Really cool. This weekend is Craig's birthday weekend (the day is Monday) so there's drinks and meals and stuff. Best news of all though is that we have Monday off to spend together. Woohoo!

Another weekend is upon us. I'm winding down at work at 4.45pm, trying desperately to look busy...

Nothing much to report really. Things still moving slowly house-wise but should kick in properly next week, when I can actually pay the guy!

Work is kind of ongoing. Yawn. And it's been busy, which so isn't right.

Otherwise it's exercise where possible; the odd movie; the odd dinner and nights in. This weekend will be gym and running; and just chilling out. Great.

Another few weeks passes and I've not really blogged again. As you may (or not) have noticed...

Things move on slowly in terms of house stuff. Builder is appointed and scope of work and price agreed - woohoo! All we have to do now is wait for it all to be done so we can move in and actually enjoy the place. Will keep you informed, but it probably won't be much before the end of August.

Work is kind of ongoing. Yawn.

Things with Craig are good - we're trying to eat healthily, keep fit and generally have fun with one another. So far, great!

Not much else to report. No going out partying, not much other socialising either. Money needs saving at this point. Lots of DVDs and movies.

The weather's been pretty good considering it's winter - for example went for a run today at lunch in glorious 20C sunshine. Marvellous! More soon.

Contrary to popular belief, I am in fact alive and well and living happily in Sydney. Some things I've done since I last updated this thing are...

1. Sold a house here in Redfern
2. Bought a house here in Newtown
3. Visited the UK for a three week period (apologies to those I didn't get chance to catch up with - particularly Pilar, Nelse and Garry). Many thanks to Jonathan, David Perry and Stevie P for allowing us to crash at their respective places
4. Went to Spain with my Dad for a week (not that much fun)
5. Went to Berlin with Craig for three days (much more like it)
6. Had the braces off my teeth
7. Had my eyes lasered
8. Had my PC get very sick and although it's in theory recovered, I've still not got it all up and running again yet.

There will be more soon. No, really. Don't give up on me just yet!!

Well that was the birthday weekend that was... and it was great!! Friday was my actual birthday and although I was at work there were various things to help smooth the day. First was breakfast with Craig in Glebe beforehand, and then there was cake for morning tea and then Allan took me out for lunch to Waterloo. All good. Didn't stay too late and headed home for a quiet night with Craig as we'd both had quite a busy week.
Saturday we were up and off to Leichardt for brekky and Craig pick up cakes for me and Aaron for the meal later that night. Then it was off to do the Harbour Bridge Climb. It was a glorious day and soon we were we suited up and had been through the safety stuff and we were off. Magnificent!! The views were great and we couldn't have had a better day. Many thanks to Craig...
Some 3½ hours later we hit the fish markets for lunch - beer and sashimi for me! We then chilled for the afternoon before heading up for dinner and drinks with Gary and Pete; Bobby; Aaron; Patrick and Robert. Great fun - thanks to those that came along. Home around midnight, a little drunk...
Sunday was pottering around Newtown as Craig was off meeting friends. I viewed a house that was too small and had brekky alone as I was stood up for a potential brunch! Craig came back and we pottered some more before home and chill. I made dinner and we watched DVDs. All was right in the world.
I am now 40. And very happy with it! :oP

And lo and behold Davie hits 40... quiet please! Hopefully no-one will notice...

It's probably one of the longest times between posts ever. No excuses, just stating the (somewhat) obvious. It's not even that there's been huge amounts going on - rather more settling into a status quo and not leaving myself time for quality blogging. Or even low quality blogging.
It seems a bit like a treading water time at the moment. Some good news in that the UK flat completed OK and that's a weight off my mind. And a bonus to the bank balance. However, the Australian house didn't sell at auction at the weekend and so that's still hanging over me a bit... We'll wait and see what happens this week in terms of further talks with prospective buyers. Work is still dull, but I've really got to hang in here until the houses are all sorted out (and that means potentially until this one sells and a further one is found and bought - I'm aiming high!). Things with Craig are good though we'd like to move from the place we're currently living in - but a lot hangs on the other property outcomes. Only 6 weeks until I'm back in the UK for 3 or so weeks - so hoping to catch up with as many people as possible.
Finally seem to have shaken the chest infection that knocked me down after Mardi Gras - and it wasn't due to overdoing things either! Good to catch up with Jonathan and Mark, and looking forward to catching up with them again at the end of April.
Birthday coming very soon - the big 4-0. Don't really care either way, but not doing anything big to celebrate. Very low key. Meal with Craig on the actual day, and probably beers the night after as it's a Saturday. I'll celebrate more when other stuff is a bit more sorted out! OK, back to work a while. More news as it happens...