Melbourne

I'm staying here on King Street right in the middle of the CBD - central business district. King Street is all about wide paths, trams, leafy tall trees and nudie bars. And don't forget the 7 eleven where I get my cup of tea each night. Funny how being upside down makes you revert to classic Irish behaviour. I don't drink a lot of tea at home in Dublin but now I crave one before I go to bed each night.
Melbourne is unbelieveably chilled out. I was awake at 6 am on Monday so I took a stroll around and watched everyone on their way to work. Yes it is a joy knowing I don't face that for another month. Mostly though it struck me how relaxed these workers are in comparison to Dublin people with their pinched panicked faces rusing to sit in their Dilberts for the next ten hours of the day.
I suppose the heavy debts will do that to a person. Maybe the mortages just aren't the sames over here. Whatever it is though the atmosphere is lighter and a good deal more tolerant.

I like Melbourne in general and I'd say it would be a great place to live. The bars are pretty cool (I loved Bimbos) and everyone is fairly laid back.

They are really into tourists and have plenty of free stuff to experience here.
There is a tram and a shuttle bus that brings you around to tourist things for free. I popped in to a free Nick Cave exhibit earlier down by the river and on to the modern art exhibit later.

Still it is not a city to spend too long in as there are no great wow factors - I'd say a week is more than enough.

Tomorrow I go to Queenscliff and wedding fun for the rest of the week.

Query

What I guess I'm asking is....
Is it a sign of madness to clean the kitchen in ones underwear?

I read about it in a book once.....so I thought I would try it.

So the verdict is

well it is kinda cold. And if the other half happens to walk in well they may just think you've finally lost it.

Done

PACKED - pretty much.

Possibly forgotten everything important but at least my bag is light.

Ah feck

I have to pack.

I wish someone could pack for me - it is such a chore.

Also there is a lot of pressure to get it right becasue I am away for a month.

The other half has packed two weeks worth of underwear - total madness. Just wash em in the sink and dry them over night. I am bringing 5 days worth.

Oh jeez now we have competitive packing time.

sniffles

I woke up this morning with a raging sore throat and ears.
My ears trouble me a fair bit in winter - that is why I have a lot of hats with ear covers for the bike.

Anyway I have been gargling with solpedine - then swallowing of course (no wasting).
No plague drink for me thank you very much.
Now I am now just slightly stuffed up with a minor throat ache. Which suits me fine cause I am off to Australia on Saturday and I do not want to be weakened going on a plane.
Planes are much worse than Dublin buses even. You know the way buses are filled with disease ridden flea bags (including yourself). They are just waiting to breathe on you and attack your immune system with their nasties. Yeah well planes are that by a hundred. Maybe I should bring a mask. Except I'd never get to Australia. I'd get arrested in Heathrow for wearing a mask or shot. And Australian customs will think I've got something to hide and arrest me again there. They will send me straight home, I know I have seen the tv programme.
OK so no mask. And I should really stop worrying so much about the lack of recycled air, take a sleeping tablet on the plane and miss all the disease madness.
For now just sniffles.

Cups

Does anyone else experience the great CUP issues in work that we do?
There are signs up and dictation from on high re these cups. We have gone through 6 cup changes since I have worked here. Most of these
in the last two years. First rule was no cups of tea at the desk – but our kitchen does not
hold the 300 staff we have so we need to drink beverages somewhere. We have had several changes of metal travel cups – apparently we need lids on our cups. Anyway after many tries with cling film over cups and the like the latest incarnation is a small metal mug with a plastic lid on it. We need to wash these and look after them ourselves – fine whatever about
the washing but why metal cups? I am not camping at work.
Mind you – the cup issues are nothing compared to the parking problems.

my sister is on the radio

Well college radio but still the airwaves. How cool is that.
She sounds posh but well spoken. You know kind of sexy and definately clear. Quite commanding really.

Yay

drifting thoughts

The vision of you on the chair in the kitchen that night.

It just brings me a rush.

You looked so ice cream.

If it gets too hot

You just start taking your clothes off...right?
I am a peeler. If it gets too hot the jumper comes off.

The others in the house are are not so sure about the peeling but I have clean underwear on.

I think thats ok then.

Is it this time again?

I think it is time to take out the uniform and do some naughty nursing again.

Excellent.

Bon Ga

Well I've been there a couple of times now.
The food is great - freshly cooked there in front of you and tasty.
You need a good slow eating pace and some cold cans to drink.
Well
Last night there was a large group of black t-shirt wearing semi-rocker types at the table across from us. One of them would occasionally get up and crotch thrust dance around another one when the birthday music came on. Bon Ga do this whole thing where they flash lights, put on crazy music, bring out a cake and a big sword to cut it. Everyone in the place claps and hollers along with the music.
Anyway the crotch thruster thought he would organise a cake for his silver chained black t-shirt wearing mate. All the cake fuss went on, the silver chain guy throws a major tantrum and storms out. A pony tail guy hot foots it after him and the rest of the table squirms. Then crotch thruster goes outside to sort it out. A lot of shouting and pointing in the air goes on which is visible to everyone in the restaurant through the large front window.
Crotch dude comes back in with head low and baldy never returns. The cake sits there looking lonely for the rest of the night. Hilarious.
Seriously good alue for 22 euro all you can eat.

flliberty jibbet

why to do I miss so
why do I fret so
why do I remember so
why do I feel so
why do I bite my lip so
why do I falter so
why do I exhaust so
why do I bolt so
why so I jitter so
why do I shiver so

nmnmnmn

On the way home the house are flying past my eyes but the clouds are sticking with my pupils.

Greetings

HI TOM

Food Thoughts

my current favourite dinner - baked potato with blue cheese mashed

my favourite mammy dinner - shepards pie

my favourite takeout - dry special fried rice and bbq spare ribs

my favourite friends dinner - lebanese food - mezze

my favourite couple dinner - sushi and some sake cocktails

Cheats Curry

forget grinding up spices,chopping veg and waiting hours for the curry on a Friday night.
And forget that horrible endless night on the jacks after a bad take out - here is a decent quick tasty curry.

Bag of chopped veggies - carrotts, broccoli, asparagus, butternut squash.
Chicken breast chopped
Onion and Garlic chopped
Jar of curry sauce - i prefer M&S stuff if I am going the jar way
Tabasco sauce/ chillis chopped
Basmati Rice - in a packet if you are really lazy

Throw onion and chicken into pan with a bit of olive oil - fry up until chicken is cooked
Add in the veggies and garlic and cook for around ten minutes
Add in jar of sauce
Add tabasco/chillis to taste
cook basmati
add together - enjoy bowl of curry

mind you i reckon you could just buy some cooked chicken, add jar of curry and add basmati rice.

I am full of curry at the moment...mmmmm

chilly Friday Night

earlier i wanted a beer in a pub
Now I am sitting in front of the fire. My homemade chicken curry is almost ready.
The Daily Show is on and my feet are up.

No beer just fire