Meus Parem Locus

Time is a wretched thief of..er.. time.  How does it get away so easily?  Sitting at the new IKEA desk purchased last weekend, I felt compelled to be creative and update such great life events on my blog. 

Actually, I felt a bit more inspired (if that can be used in a sad sense) by the current and upcoming range of friend-departures to overseas lives that are happening just now.  It seems a lot of people are moving on to pastures new.  Some are taking calculated risks (eg back in a year) others going potentially not to return.  I'm a little jealous but mostly sad. 

Winter is a gloomy time in many ways in Sydney.  People stay indoors.  It's dark by 4:30.  And, by July, it's bloody cold.  Although I adore the colours of the winter sky on a clear evening at sunset, or the cold morning mist that hangs in sheltered spaces as I trudge up towards the train station at 7am, the desire to do much more than work,home,eat,bed of a weekday is hard to muster.  

So I've signed up with TAFE to do a six week (all day Saturdays) Introduction to Graphic Design course, starting early August.  It's something I have always wanted to do, and with the Design Centre just around the corner from where I live it's a compelling proposition.   It's also a bit of a toe-dipping exercise into this arena - I've always been fascinated with graphical design and animated graphics in particular (who else can boast hundreds of downloaded clips of tv graphical idents from yesteryear and today?  Actually, would anyone want to boast that...) and I realised not so long ago that, all else being equal, if I followed my heart as a young bloke fresh out of school and going to Uni, I would never have done a Commerce degree but into Design and Engineering focused areas.

So if this pushes my buttons it could lead me on to a different direction in the future.... :-)  I'm very excited, because I have never before formally studied anything I was actually interested in before...

SPAIN: leg 2

Well it's not really all of Spain, just Barcelona this time.  But then Barcelona can encompass so much for the occasional visitor.

Arriving at Barcelona's lovely airport (they're building another one beside it - why?) after a smooth flight from Dublin.   A cab took us to our Hotel in L'Eixample where we were greeted with another twin room instead of the double I had requested (This happened in every hotel during the trip.  Clearly the reservation staff had problems with 2 men requesting a double bed, and thought we must surely have made an error in the booking.  Most irritating).  Dumping our bags and having a quick shower (it was about 10pm) we hit the streets in search of a drink.  

Having been there before we managed to find our way to the Punto Bar - a lively and mixed bar that has a generally good mood and non sleazy crowd with good music.  We only lasted a few drinks there however, as the smoke got a bit noxious after a while (EVERYONE was smoking inside - I wonder how long that will last) and the lighting (bright bright BRIGHT) gave a feeling of impending closure for the evening.   We did however check one of the local fag rags for other venues nearby.   So we ended up next at Bacon Bear :-)

The night got a bit more hazy from here - the bar is as expected (and remembered) - dark, musty, cruisey and little dangerous feeling.   So of course we settled right in and soon enough J had an interested party.  He was standing next to us for a while, and I had noticed him trying to get J's attention.  So had J, and he was craning his neck to pretend to be interested in the wall in the opposite direction.    The admirer made his move...
"Can I ask you something?" he said to J.   American accent.  Glasses.  Dressed like a writer.  Out of place but trying to fit in.
"Um yes"
"Are you from the Dominican Republic?"
I chuckled to myself.  J gets this sort of thing all the time - people can see he is dark skinned, he's vaguely exotic looking but doesn't fit the hispanic/negro/indian/asian genres although he can have elements of each.
"No I'm Kiwi"   Blank look   "I'm from New Zealand"
"Ohhhhh! Okay" he says trying to be by-the-by in his response but really you could see he was think "now where is that again?"

The hazy night got hazier from here.  The writer went off in a different direction after we made it clear we were a couple, and after a few more beers we went on elsewhere. 

I know we got back to the hotel sometime around 3.30, just when locals start coming out in force....

***

Collected by my brother B the following afternoon, we headed to his house South of the city.   It's a BIG house with a pool, tennis court and stunning views across the vineyards to the sea.   I was dying to see my little nephew C who had just turned 1 and I knew he would be there when we arrived.  Sure enough there he was, all happy and smiling just the way I remembered from the year before and the multiple photos sent by B ever since.   We said our Hellos and greeted my sister in law and headed fro some local tapas.  Laughing and catching up over late lunch I of course had to tip a full glass of vino tinto over everyone, which I think brought things to a close fairly rapidly :-/

The remainder of our time in Barcelona was spent here - lazy & sunny & warm.  B had taken time off work so we were able to do many things together.  A highlight was the Bus Turistic tour which took us up to the 1992 Olympic site with fantastic views over the city.   A plan to visit the Joan Miro museum (I have been wanting to see this every time I've been in Barcelona and was really excited to finally get the opportunity) was unfortunately not to be as it was closed on Mondays AGH!  But after a top class lunch and some more vino tinto I was fine again :-)

The last day we had the place to ourselves until our flight in the evening (except of course for nephew and rather shy but amazing Spanish Omelette maker Nanny).   I was able to play with C on my own - we walked around the house for hours - him leading me and kicking the football - getting frustrated when it went under a table (Uncle Kev had to fix that) and downright grumpy when I led him back to the couch and stretched my aching back!   Holding him on my knee and bouncing him up and down was more fun than I could have ever imagined (I have NO experience with babies) and when he stared with his big brown eyes into mine and smiled I nearly burst into tears like a big sop.  Who would have thought...

J enjoying some of the local tapas

Siesta time in the local streets

My gorgeous nephew in his Irish Rugby jersey.   I brought him a little Wallabies one to grow into :-)

 
The pool and the view (sorry for someone blocking part of it)

My sister in law only weeds the garden in designer clothes.  Barcelona is very fashionable :-)

It was a big lamp.  I simply couldn't walk past it!

Melted....

***

At 3pm S picked us up in his cab and off we went to the aeropuerto once again.   London calling...

IRELAND: Leg 1

It all goes past so quickly.  As myself and J put it during the holiday, we had many "legs" each with their own distinct flavour.  I'm a chronological type person (yes, it's true) so I want to give each leg it's own time and space over the next few entries.  Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place, I hear)

IRELAND

Checking our bags straight through to Dublin was indeed a boon.  Arriving relatively fresh and ready to commence the fun, the first "oh" moment came when collecting the hire car at Dublin Airport. 
"Howya.  D'ya have a car booo-ked already?"
I hand her the reservation.
"Grand - I need your credit card and loysence"
I hand her both.
"Soyen here, here and initial here tanks"
I do as requested
"Righ'.  Here's de keys, you're in space 321. Get de curtessi bus outsye-yed to yer car"
I look at the bill.  I reserved the littlest car for 8 days before leaving Australia and was quoted about Euro 160.  The bill was for Euro 470.  I nearly choked.
"Next plee-az"
Ireland may be in a deep recession, but deflation is one thing that has not yet hit home

After a night out in Dublin and a stay at the lovely and much better value Bewleys Hotel (Euro59 per night - can't go wrong) , we drove down to my parents house in the South East.

Highlights of the Ireland trip for me include our trip to Glendalough, a national park in County Wicklow and the scene of many happy childhood memories of family picnics taken there many moons ago.

Glendalough is an ancient monastic site where Saint Kevin (teehee) set up many buildings including the very impressive (and still completely useable although not accessible) round tower in the background in the picture below, which was built to protect the monks and scholars from Viking invasion over a thousand years ago.  It's also an ancient graveyard full of lovely celtic crosses.   And it's kind of creepy too...

My uncle P and aunt B threw a little soireé at their place to celebrate our recent wedding, which a lot of my family attended - this was a fantastic night :-)

One night in Dublin we went out for Chinese with V, got very drunk and laughed our way through the Peking Duck...

In Dublin I caught up with a longtime friend Noel, who has kindly offered us a week in his villa in Tuscany next year - so kind :-)

We wrapped up in Ireland a after a week and a fantastic lunch at my Aunt B's cottage.  The weather may have been cold but the sun shone almost every day and my family and friends made it so much fun and memorable.  

¡Vamos a Barcelona!

Finally

It's been so long I barely know where to begin.  I think any fellow bloggers will recognise there come times when the urge to express and note your thoughts backs off somewhat.  This was definitely how it was for me. I had a lot of things going on.  But I'm back now

Anyhoo, what a month it has been.   To able to, not only be part of an event like last Saturday, but to actually be part of the reason for the event in the first place, still overwhelms me.   My speech at the reception was begun and abandoned many times until I hit the right note - and truly it was - I never, ever, EVER expected to be doing this.   As a gay man I had written the idea off many years ago - marriage was for straight people only.   Any amount of commitment ceremonies could not break through the meaning of the word.  How wrong I was.

All of the stress of organisation left me on the morning.  I entered a happy little cloud and any nerves I had leading up to the day had disappeared.  It was completely natural for me to do this and I couldn't think of any other way I could have been happier. 

A few people had given me advice before the big day.  "Just be in the moment" said one.  "It all happens so fast" said another.    At the time I couldn't see that this was true but a week later I understand a lot better - it DID fly past so quick - I remember feeling pain in my temples from smiling so much.   I remember so many hugs and tears of congratulation.  I remember desperately seeking out a meat pie to eat at the reception.  I remeber J's face when I looked at him for the first time when we came together at the ceremony, the look in our celebrant's eyes when he asked if we were ok and should begin, the flashes of faces in the crowd - some smiling, some teary, all with support. 

I remember my heart thumping in my chest as J spoke his vows to me.  And I remember my throat seizing with anticipation when I started to say mine.  

I've always thought of myself as a horrendously lucky bastard in life.   Maybe I bitch, groan and drama about little things, but how lucky a soul am I to have the life I do - now to share it with the man I love for all our future. 

Yes I'm having an indulgent moment here but I there has to be one sometime :-)

Stress

Bad news today that the jobsworth that booked our reception hall for the wedding managed to f*ck it up and book the weekend before. He claims to have emailed this but there's no record at my end except and email trail confirming the correct date. In other words, he's stuffed up and now we have wrong info on all the printed invitations.

Still trying to see what other options are available but this was the last thing we needed. Beware dealing with people from City of Sydney Council...

I really don't know what we're going to do now... :-(

I challenge readers to find something more revolting than the catholic church response to the 9 year old Brazilian girl, pregnant from her stepfathers rape.   She is nine f*cking years old.   And these bigoted self appointed nobodies living in their huge state-sponsored palace who haven't ANY right to judge ANYONE can come out and make statements like this based on NO F*CKING EVIDENCE, BASIS IN FACT or MORAL AUTHORITY whatsoever.

Organised religion has brought so much pain and hatred to this world, but these people are truly sick individuals.  To think I was once indoctrinated into this cult repels me to the core.

Some news late last night about my mum sent me into a bit of a head spin.  A rather maudlin sounding voicemail from my brother didn't tell me much, but I got a feeling of dread from the moment the first word was spoken.  Waiting for him to call me again (even tho it was only for about 5 minutes) was agonising - I had no idea what was coming but felt in my gut that it wasn't going to be good.  

Anyway, it turns out my mum was taken into hospital back home for some tests after a few dizzy spells.  She's fine - all tucked up in her own room and very comfortable.  The issue at hand seems to be under control and no panic is appropriate, thank the gods.  

But it's these things that, when they happen, hit me hard as I realise the sheer distance between us.  Making quick calls on mobiles, time shifts, bad reception, filtered information to avoid any panic from me....  I didn't sleep well last night
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My close friend V, who stayed with us over the Christmas, rang me during the week to say she would be coming out again next month for our wedding.  We're thrilled to hear the news as we'll be able to do some of the things that were missed last time.   My big mission tomorrow is to finalise the invitations, get them printed and GET THEM OUT.   We only have ourselves to blame.   I can't believe it's only 5 weeks away.   Excitement and anxiety commence now!!
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It's not that I don't like having a good time.  It's just that, unlike almost my entire social circle, I don't really like the dance party scene.  Large crowds have always been a bit of a struggle for me, and loud, thumping, obscure rave music does not entice a dance.  I can bop along with anyone, but I'm a bit old fashioned, and am much happier dancing to something I can sort of la-la-la along to, or belt out if I know the words (on the dancefloor it doesn't really matter :-)

So another year, another Mardi Gras, and another self-inflicted isolation from the carnival.  I've been asked to a few different events, but really I'm happier taking a back seat from the intensity of it all and go for a few local beers tonight with A.  I'll be out tomorrow night for sure so will hear all the stories then.  
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I am SOOOOOOOO sick of seeing Peter Costello's self-satisfied smirk in the papers and on tv.  Let's face it - if it wasn't for The Australian newspaper he would be a political has-been anyway - but the man can curdle fresh milk from 10 paces with his monumentally visible ego and oh-so-knowing tones when he speaks about the economy.  On Q&A on the ABC this week he started twittering on about Kevin Rudd's essay which he claimed to have read - maybe with as much care and attention as the papers he and his fellow ex-cabinet colleagues about the AWM rort with Iraq or the children overboard farce by the way he chose his clihe rantings.   Although I can feel the same about Paul Keating at least he sometimes has something relevant to say, even if I don't always agree with him.  But Costello should move on - he had 11 years to make his move and failed.  His credibililty as anyone in a position of authority is gone.  Next please...

Myself and A went shopping at Westfields Eastgardens today.   I've recently discovered this shopping mall - it's huge, quite close by, easy to get to and (most importantly) EASY TO GET PARKING.  And has good shops. Geez listen to me....

ANYhoo - walking around the shops I was struck by just how cheap everything is at the moment.  Retailers are doing it tough in these trying times, but it's impossible to know just what the end price of some things will be there are discounts added to specials added to once off offers and twoforthepriceofone type deals.  I bought a new mattress protector and 2 pillows and it came to about $50 for the lot - normal price about $120.  

Watching tv this evening and Flight Centre have deals for 5 nights accommodation, return airfares and tickets to whatnot ex Sydney to LA for less than $1500.  This time last year the best deal would be almost double that.   It's extraordinary.   Will I take it up?  No.  Because I (like everyone else) am hearing that little voice of insecurity about my job, my future and my finances.  The conflicting media statements about where it will all end.  The continuing stories of plummeting markets, government bailouts and bank failures.   And it's arbitrary, because unless people like myself go out there and spend despite our fears, we're doing nothing but inevitably prolonging the situation - or making it worse. 

Pillows and mattress protectors I'll invest in.  But little more than that at the moment.

Keep up to date!

So the Simpsons has a new beginning after twenty years.... 

In other news, people were saddened today to hear the news that a fellow blogger, one Colin (Thoroughly Modern) has decided to depart the blogosphere for other creative pastures.   For many of you, like myself, are accustomed to reading the regular updates with your morning coffee and muffin sitting at your desk whilst trying to look like you are doing work, this will be sad news indeed.  His last post (and we hope not THE last post) can be seen here .  Go see it while it's still up!

The forecast for this evening is for more rain.  It's raining a lot these days.   Did you know you can see a very helpful little gadget on the Bureau of Meteorology website - the Sydney Rain Radar?  

Yes I'm full of helpful hints and news today! Speaking of which - haven't you ever really wondered what the difference is between a cake and a biscuit...?

Spoke too soon

Just got email saying Graphic Design course fully booked. Even tho webpage says available. Totally f*cked off