my top 5

If anyone has seen High Fidelity, you will appreciate the importance of being able to list one's top 5.

So here goes. The best 5 things that have happened to me so far:

1. Driving through the Kalahari. Seated in the luxury of our rental car, this has to go down as one of the most memorable things I've ever done. To be in Africa and be able put in to perspective how incrementally small one's existence is amongst the vast plains of nothingness. Amazing.

2. Walking Annapurna in Nepal. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, chased down with double espressos and polished off with a Vodka Martini in the evening. The fact that I did this, and didn't drop down dead of a heart attack is a testament to the power of my stubborn nature. All of my much more active friends were very proud (i.e. surprised) I made it. (First over the finish line too, I might add!) I also got one of my nicknames whilst I was there; Didi. It means big sister in Nepalese. I am choosing to believe that I was christened so due to being fairly tall and not because I look older than my years.

3. Reading in my Nan's bedroom on a summer afternoon. I loved my grandmother with all that I am. She was beautiful, intelligent, feisty and a chocoholic. I spent hundreds of afternoons cuddled up with her in bed, watching the boats in the bay, munching on her chocolate supply and reading books. I will never, ever forget how safe and loved she made me feel.

4. Ciggies and wine on the terrace with my friends I have astoundingly wonderful friends. Sitting outside, with great food, wine, company and an assortment of musical instruments is how I've spent many, many a night.

5. Getting my heartbroken It's amazing how you can feel the happiest and the saddest at the same time.

love and other catastrophes

You would not believe it if you read about it. Well, perhaps you would, but...I've been struck by a cold again. The second in a month. This displeases me greatly and I've spent the last few days holed up in bed feeling very sore and sorry for myself. I am hoping that I am on the mend.

Well, I've been back in Australia for a little over a month. That actually astounds me. It seems as though a lifetime has passed over the last few weeks and I'm still in a little bit of a daze. I'm still in Brisvegas and whilst the original plan was to head back down to Sydney, now I'm not so sure. I have absolutely no idea what my plans are and that actually feels great. I'm doing some temp work with the Environmental Protection Agency to earn some cash, I'm hanging out with my friends and generally cavorting about town.

M & I have spoken twice over the last ten days. In the years we have been together, we had never previously gone longer than a day or two without speaking. I don't know what is happening to us. I know I'm getting stronger now, and I feel a little like I'm emerging from a cacoon that I created for myself whilst wrapped in my relationship. It feels good to have myself back.



Of course, I would not be me if I did not have some wild romantic fantasy going on and here is my latest. To quote the lovely Miss Apple, I'm "far too in love with inappropriate men to function"*

ten things i hate about you...

Delivered with some considerable delay, my first ever meme:

1. Emos.

I have posted on this before. I can't even stand the word, let alone the purported persona that is attached to these people. Yes, life is shit somtimes. Yes, the facists have fucked us all. But for god's sake, pull yourself together and get a bloody job.

2. Public Spitters.

I know most probably dislike this, but I find it utterly repulsive


3. Stupid Questions.

I have wonderful, fantastic & beautiful friends from all walks of life. For this fact I'm incredibly grateful. However, the other night at dinner when I was discussing the work that I had done with indigneous people in Africa, someone asked me: "No, but tell me, seriously...were you tempted to buy the diamonds?".

Oh, well of course, I only do the social justice stuff in order to ease my conscience when the light catches my latest 5 carat purchase.

4. Out of control binge drinkers.

No. I don't want to see your tits.

Yes. Running in to that hedge that covers a wrought iron fence is going to hurt.

5. Inconsiderate Cyclists.

Saving the environment: good. Running down innocent bystanders at pedestrian crossings: bad.

6. Accent shifts.

I have the most disturbing accent ever at the moment. I really hate it. I'm watching neighbours repeats to try and flush out my weird Australian/Southern England/Mancunian mess.

7. Liberal Party Campaigners

I was driving the other day and there were these two young blokes decked out in full party costuming (hats, caps, flags) waving at motorists, trying to drum up support. Has my homeland morphed in to the United States while I've been gone?

8. Bitchiness

Don't get me wrong, I like a good natter over a nice cup of tea. Tearing someone to shreds for something to do? Not cool.

9. Racists.

My heart goes out to the family of Murrinyi Domadagee.

10. Career Public Servants.

Don't get me one my sister works for the Art Gallery which is a government run body, but god, the attitude of some of these people is incredible. Their notion of work? Even more astounding.

If anyone is still reading this...I tag Frog, Cowboy, Chloe, Julia & Danielle.

drunk

I am drunk. I've also been neglecting my blog.

A lot has happened over the last few weeks but I am far too drunk to articulate. Will do so soon.

fear and loathing in bris vegas

I will start this post with an apology as I do not seem to be able to write with any degree of clarity at the moment..brief snippets below.

1. I am pleased to report that my self medication and a diet of tea and cigarettes has rocketed me back in to good health.


2. I arrived back in Australia a little over a week ago, and whilst the jet lag has now well and truly subsided, my cultural re-assimilation process is still ongoing.


3. My Aunt died last Saturday and so things have been a little emotional for the last few days. I am looking after my 15 year old cousin this week who had flown up to spend time with my sister and I.


4. I have not lived with my family in 15 years. Being back in the "family fold" is really a very strange feeling. I feel like I have momentarily regressed to a 13 year old who is sitting in my bedroom with the Britney Spears gem "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman", blaring through my boombox.


5. I really dislike Britney Spears.


6. When I was at Sydney Airport, the police officer patrolling the terminal was resting his bottle of evian on his gun holster. (Australia is so relaxed that we'd offer you a drink of water before wielding our weapons upon you. Unless your in Melbourne - they're a little more trigger happy down there).

7. If the Prime Minister of Australia gets voted in again at this year's federal election, I will NEVER reside in this country again.


8. Emotionally, I am still a bit all over the place at the moment, but I am feeling a lot more zen than I have in a while.

9. I've decided that I am going to go back to Uni and study French and Poltical Science via distance education. That way I can still do my law talkin thing, but I am furthering my education in things that I feel passionately about, too.

10. That's about it for now.

hong kong nights

Well, after a reasonably pleasant flight (considering I'm feeling horrendous with the flu), I've touched down in Hong Kong. It is absolutely boiling here, 32 degrees and 95% humidity.

It's now 5.50am Hong Kong time and I can't sleep. Forgive my disjointed sentences and poor prose, but what's a girl with the flu and a weird time zone induced delirium to do?

Last night, (I had to think for a minute, but yes, it was last night HK time) I wandered around the night markets of Kowloon and sampled the delicous street food. On my way back to the hotel I discovered a small pharmacy and it struck me that I best get some antibiotics to prevent this flu from turning in to a chest infection, which tends to happen when I get these things.

In my younger days, Asian pharmacies that dispensed drugs with abandon would send my heart soaring with joy! These over the counter goodies were bought with glee in Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi and various other Asian locales. However, it is a sign that I'm aging that when I got back to the hotel this evening, I sat myself at the computer and researched the brand name of the tablets of wellness that I was given and wondered if it was really a good idea. In the end, I decided, like the old saying goes, "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

Onwards and upwards.

Ce n'est pas possible

Ahh, I have a fucking cold! This is hardly what I need when I am about to embark on a 24 hour flight. Well, I do have an overnight stop in Hong Kong, but still. Yuk.

M is behaving like a twat. Sigh.

On to a more positive subject. I am in love with this man.

See below, for French cultural instruction classes.

Final customer service
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