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.