A year older

Another Monday morning.

Had a fairly busy weekend, due to a combination of things. Was meant to be working Thursday afternoon and evening, then off until today, but one of my colleagues cried off sick for the night shift so I was asked to do that instead. Pain in the arse really as I don't get paid any more to do it, and I lose a day off (Friday) as I was working until 8am then slept for pretty much the whole day. Feel obliged to do these things occasionally though – the more you do, the more times you can ask for other days off or whatever.

It was my birthday on Saturday, and Liz and Greg had a party in the late afternoon and evening for me and Jack, who turned one on Sunday. Had a few beers and Greg opened a bottle of whisky (JW black label) that he's been hanging on to for a special occasion. For twenty years. Admirable self-control. Of course, a moment like that had to be captured on film so their camcorder packed in immediately prior. I managed to get it on my camera which does video clips, although the microphone on a still camera is not really production quality. Better than nothing though.


First birthday in Australia.

Sunday was another busy day, but this time because of Jen's band. Marching practice started at 9am, lasted for an hour or two, then a rehearsal then off to some Fete to play. Apparently last year's one was really busy, but someone forgot to send out the 5000 flyers this year so it was a bit empty. And the guy who was meant to hire a tent for the band was on holiday so they all had to squeeze into the shade beside a building to try and avoid the midday sun.

The weekend was hot. Have already warned the family about their plans to visit in January – Saturday was probably the most unpleasant temperature so far since I've been here. Only 31 degrees I think, but the breeze was hot too. Hot air in the face when you're trying to cool down is pretty shitty. Humid too, and later on Saturday there was a short thunderstorm which was a bit of a blessing.

Also saw a big bastard of a preying mantis.

Big bastard

Decided to take up residence in our garage. About a foot and a half long (apparently usually 6-8 inches), and it sat in the corner of the entrance for a day or so, then hung from the top, about 3 inches above your head if you walked out (didn't try to eat me when I did though), then finally died and dropped onto the ground where it is currently drying up and being eaten by ants.


Big ugly bastard

Recharged my camera at long last so some pictures for a change.

Some British weather

18th of October

Coffee inside this morning. It's pissing down with rain, has been since yesterday. Still fairly warm though. I think the locals are fairly pleased as it mens things get a bit greener, and having sun all year round sounds like a good idea only if you don't have sun all year round.

Been working at the weekend again, nothing too exciting. Out for a few beers last week with some people from work, for one of the chick's birthdays. She has to fly back to the UK for the last part of her professional exams at the end of this week, in paediatrics. Only back for about a week for it but she's on nights this week so is hoping not to be too jet-lagged as it'll be a similar time to daylight back home. Bit of a haul for an exam though.

Apparently there might be a storm later on today which should be fun. J's car has the worst windscreen wipers in the world. The back ones are the worst, they seem to be able to loudly scratch the glass without apparently touching it or removing any water. So with a bit of luck it'll be while I'm at work as then I might survive the journey there and back. Bad weather might keep the punters away as well, or it might just mean all the unaccustomed drivers rear-end each other and pitch up whining about their 'whiplash' (translates into wanting some cash from an insurance company, both in Oz and the UK).

Monday Morning

Have found myself out on the patio again drinking coffee. This morning it's black coffee as I found the milk had turned spectacularly. Not much that smells worse than off milk, except diabetic feet. Work has been fairly unexciting over the weekend, I think there's been some fairly juicy trauma that's come in (the natives were restless in Logan and started hacking lumps out of each other) but unfortunately nothing while I've been on, so mostly been seeing mad people and leaving each consultation entirely unenlightened as to what brought on their attendance.

Not working until noon but up early again after dropping the chick off at work. A few clouds today which is probably a good thing seeing as it was apparently 36 degrees the other day. I'm told it's now spring though (not sure when the distinction is as I haven't noticed any change in the weather since I've been here). Not off until Thursday and Friday, then working again this weekend. Will have cash though as I get paid on Wednesday, so will be able to do something for a change. Jen's working those days so will most probably stay in bed until the sun goes down.

The elections were held at the weekend, something which I can't claim to have any interest in whatsoever. The coalition won by a mile and are staying in power. Can't imagine Tony Blair will do so well after making such a throrough arse of the 'war'.

My politics attention span is over. I am being stared at by what looks like a rat on a lead, the end of which is attached to some dementing old bird with a purple rinse. Why on earth would anyone want a creature like that? It's tiny, yappy and has a flat face and mad, staring eyes. Pekingese or something. Fortunately it's already shat further up the street as I've been in the habit of collecting the mail barefoot. It's hard enough with biting ants and pebbles without having to dance around some mangy toy-dog's runny shite.

Got a text message from Ryan encouraging me to look at the Virgin Galactic web page (www.virgingalactic.com, surprisingly enough). All very interesting, this commercial space travel, but I didn't see any mention of cost. It won't be cheap, that's for sure. Ryan is all for it, but as he will have several mouths to feed by the time this happens and lives in a third-world country, I am not so sure it will be the most appropriate thing to spend his money on. The Terrorists will most probably hijack it on its maiden voyage and crash it into the moon or something, anyway.

Not much news other than that. No correspondence from anyone back home, though have been IM'ing Steven who's happily semi-cohabiting and back in his old job.

Time for another sugary black coffee.

Gone to collect the mail, which has to be done every day or two because of the enormous amount of junk that comes through. Today we have Mr Toy's Toy World Toy-zine ('They're not just toys to us!'), Pick'n'Pay Hypermarket 20 year birthday celebration ('1st Big Week'), Super A-Mart ('The price leaders since 1970'), Terry White Chemists ('Splash into Summer Savings'), Best and Less ('It just gets better'), Coles, Woolworths, Bi-Lo, KFC, and about four others I don't have the energy to type. We'll get pretty much the same again tomorrow, and the day after. Thinking about sticking a 'No Junk Mail' sticker up which works surprisingly well, as I doubt I'll ever make a purchasing decision based on the mail. Makes for acceptable toilet reading though, so will at least have to stockpile enough for a few months' variety first.

Another text from Ryan to say he'd just driven (or rather, been driven, in the light of him having a driver and being unable to drive himself) past a mangled car with a bleeding body on the verge beside it, on the toll road in Jakarta. Unattended to by medical services or samaritans, obviously, being Indo. I made the point that without equipment I'd be able to do very little. The Jakarta locals however are resourceful and quick-witted and will operate urgently on his wallet and valuables.

Until I take my camera out I'll have to make do with my cellphone.

Verandah, 3rd October 2004

Having a fairly quiet weekend – was working overnight on Friday so didn't get back home until about half nine yesterday morning. Time off after nights is always a bit crap as for the first day or two you sleep all the time. I usually try to stay up for the whole day after the last shift but it's only do-able if you've got something to keep you occupied. I was unable to count watching Jen straightening Liz's hair for a wedding as something to keep me occupied so fell asleep immediately.

Jen's sleeping on the sofa just now as she's picked up a bug of some sort and is feeling a bit under the weather. It's grand finals day in the NRL so the Roosters are playing the Bulldogs later on, the under-20s game's just finished a half hour or so ago. Rugby league's pretty big in these parts and it's watchable but I still prefer Union. Am fairly tempted to find a local club for a bit of a run-around and see if I can do my shoulder any more damage, but I suppose that would just be asking for trouble.

No real news of any interest – nights just involved working and sleeping. Still paying back the money I spent last month so will be fairly frugal for at least the next month or so then can get back to blowing all my salary on crap again. Not working until Thursday so will just potter about for a bit and take it easy.

Still not taken any more photos (other than a couple of baby Jack in the kilt Jen brought him back from Scotland, he was at the wedding with his folks yesterday, but not of any interest to anyone back home) so can't even put up any pictures to flesh out this entry. I keep meaning to go out with the camera and get some pictures of something interesting but I can't overcome the inertia and I have no desire to look like a dorky tourist, even if I am one. I suppose I can't do any worse than John, who sent a pic from his and (his) Jen's visit to Ireland, which seems in fact to be a picture of the top of a wall with the pair of them squeezing into the edge of the picture. I presume they've propped the camera on a wall and set the timer, but surely the thing about digital cameras is you can take another picture if you stuff up the first?

Work remains the same. I'm glad in a way to see there are just as many total wasters that come to A&E here as back home, but at the same time I'd rather not have to see them. You really just want to slap some of these idiots and tell them to piss off. Grown adults should not feel it necessary to go a department titled 'Emergency' when they've had a cold for two days and it's not getting better. The fact that they look affronted when told they should have gone to their GP and complain if told they aren't getting any free paracetamol and can just buy it themselves just adds to my desire to give some of them a thorough kicking. Some of them are sort of a charming-village-idiot type and you can't fault them so much as they clearly don't have the mental capacity for anything better, but a lot are just the malingering work-shy skiver types who just want a month's sick note for their runny nose.

Monday morning, having coffee on the patio.

Jen's off to work again. Job number two is working in the local hospital as an AIN, she just started last week and has the usual induction-type stuff today. I think it pays a bit better than the nursing home job and is more of a casual thing for when she has free time from uni, work number one and me being a pain in the arse.

Postman is just driving past on his scooter and the dog across the street is going mental.
It's a bit overcast today (80% blue sky). I only noticed because a cloud has covered the sun for the first time in the last hour or two, and the corrugated metal roof to the bus stop has started creaking while it cools. Pinking I think it's called. Although that might be something to do with leaded petrol.

Steven has given up with his attempts to like his new job and accepted the fact that it blows. Instead he's going to move back to Glasgow and his old job, which is a better idea from the point of view that there's no point sticking with a job he hates if there's a better offer, but a shame as he was wanting to stay in Edinburgh. Which means I have to find a new flatmate for Amy, which is no big deal as since I advertised that the room would be becoming available I've had loads of interest. It does mean, however, that I need to ring Gordon and ask him to do a few things to the flat, namely put the beading (pointless word for edging) round the new(ish) laminate floor, and clear out some bits and pieces like my filing cabinet which has all my bank statements and things. I can't imagine anyone would want to read them but I suppose if I'm getting in someone I don't know then I should move them. The second bedroom could do with a new bed too – the one that was there before was a bit temporary.

On the note of new furniture there are a few other bits and pieces that I might add to the flat over the next few months. The sofas are pretty crap, probably the best idea is to chuck out the crappest one and move the sofa-bed currently in Steven's room into the lounge to take its place, then stick a new bed and bedside table in there. Some sort of coffee table would be a good idea too. It'll depend mostly on what I can afford over the next few months, but it's a bit pointless having a nice poncy flat in a nice poncy area with shitty furniture.