Tell me why I don't like Monday
02.23.04 (6:47 am) [edit][b]Day 80[/b]
The crescendo of the weekend once again crashes into Monday morning. I stumble the 20 min walk into work, still tired, as sleep was once again fitful due to the wind and rain of the small storm that washed over the city last night, the remnants of which still hang in the air.
I have that dislocated feeling that yet another weekend of hedonism leaves behind. I check my phone to be informed that Liverpool have been beaten in the Cup and all domestic joy has been lost again for this season.
It is going to be one of those days.
The weekend was a long farewell bash for newly acquired friends; the fundamental problem with hanging around with Backpackers is that someone is always leaving, to be replaced by someone new in town. Friendships can be brief, but everyone leaves with a promise of finding someway to return here.
I arrive in work early, a chance to check my email and the thoughts and wisdom of you, my loyal blog readers…
oh my god McFarlane is in town!
( Mike: I thought "Shit!" was a bit of an understatement )
It definitely is one of those days.
Now, how much to tell you about my darling ex…
..well I know most of you know the story and some of you were lucky enough to witness firsthand the mess I got myself in to afterwards.... so I won’t bore you all with the gory details. Suffice to say I don't think we'll be inviting each other out for cocktails on the beach.
In fact im still hoping that one of you is winding me up big time and that I can have a big laugh about it later?
Matty
Private Pile
02.17.04 (2:27 pm) [edit][b]Day 73[/b]
So the weekend was a laugh! We were all dressed up really mad!
( i wore the that mad shirt from my birthday train ride/pub crawl bash!)
About 25 of us and a blue hat (long story!) hit the Retro and later "the cross" .. another mad night with too many stories to tell but they included Fruit bats, mad irishmen and a long walk home...
So anyway im really enjoying my life here now ( regular cash really does help!) But still need a flat!
The only thing i wish for is that the barber's could understand my accent and what "number 2 round the back and sides, please!" means then maybe I wouldn't have my GI joe hair cut!
(OK its not that bad but close!)
Matty
36!!
02.13.04 (9:27 am) [edit][b]Day 69 [/b]
I survived the first week back in work. I was glad to be stuck in the office because it got up to 41C this week and at least the office is air conditioned... unlike the bleedin' hostel! It’s really muggy at night and you just can't sleep.
But the heat does create the most fantastic storms! Wednesday night I stayed on the roof with a few other inmates watching the storm over Sydney city centre... it was amazing... the lightning flashes were huge one massive one every 30 secs... like being at some massive rave!
We won the Quiz in the RSL! Which entitled us to a bonus question to win $2600...
How old was Napoleon when he died?
46 said one of the lads
46 said one of the girls
So we write 46, then at the last minute some said "No, 36!"
So the bleedin' idiot with the pen changes the answer to 36
Wrong answer!! 46 is right! We were gutted!
Spent last night in Darling Harbour singing Irish songs with a group of lads and girls from Cork.... as you do. (Having a few drinks is the only way you can sleep! I just pass out...)
Tomorrow is Retro! Which sounds like the Grafton by what ive been told. It Valentine Singles Night!! and we have all been told to dress 80's style! Which is my style anyway so no problem there....
Right got to go.. off to watch Stuck On You tonight.
Matty
ps 4th place for the Reds 39 points.. a draw and we are safe from relegation. What all this booing ive been reading about?? Booing the team? and did the boo they old Spice boys?
As for you Blues back to the good old days of relegation dog fight, keeps the season interesting!
Working Down Under!
02.10.04 (7:01 am) [edit][b]Day 66 me thinks[/b]
So im back in work.. well actually im not!
Ive started my own business!
Im a freelance tele marketer, because basically every friday i have to write them an invoice for x amount and they give me a cheque!
Happy Days!
Gello plc is on a roll...
Im think im earning about $25 an hour so that about $875 a week! im the richest backpacker in the world... sorry im not a backpacker im a free marketeer!
Basically my job consists of phoning companies up and try to get sales leads for the rep. Easy. People either want computer software or they don't, so theres no hard sell. You just have to ring a lot of people and try to find someone who does! They seem to think im doing ok so all's well.
Will defo be finding somewhere to live thats not a hostel very soon (my current one is just too expensive!)
Right got to go, meeting the lads at the RSL quiz night with Pommy Andy.
Having Fun
Matty plc
Im going to take you to a Gay Bar!
02.08.04 (11:02 am) [edit][b]Day 64[/b]
India are really crap at cricket! All summer ive been supporting them in the hope that they might beat the Aussies (If we can't beat them, support the country you thik can!) but ive just had to witness them get battered in the 1 day final made all the worse for having to watch it with a hangover.
Hangover was thanks to a trip in to Sydney last night with the usual crew. Which was supposed to be a few cheap drinks in the Rocks, but turned into a trawl around the City and Kingscross.
"The Cross" is Sydneys red light district and very eye opening it was too, 50 year old hookers on the street corners, young lads fighting on the Streets, strange pools of blood on the floor, and people trying literally to drag you into the "HOT! XXX action" clubs. I liked it...
The place was heaving! Queues to get in everywhere and this was at 2.30am. There being more than 10 of us, there was lots of arguements about where to go of the " im not queuing to get into that shithole!" type! So we wandered alot..
In the end when people started to realise that they hadn't drank for nearly 10 whole minutes! We picked the nearest place without a line which turned out to be a big Gay Club! The people inside where camper than a row of tents, it was so funny, especially when big hairy men in tight vests start handing out fashion tips to the girls.
A few more pubs and bars we finally gave up drinking at 4.30am
So today im getting myself ready for my job which starts tomorrow at 9.30am, trying to remember what hard work was like it been such a long time since ive actually done any. ( Some might say Ive never actually done any!)
Matty
The Toxteth
02.06.04 (1:34 am) [edit][b]Day 62 [/b]
So its been 2 months since ive been away, seems much longer.. ive done and seen so much.
But anyway ive left my Beach Bum days behind and moved into the Big City. A place called Glebe which is close to my new job.(Oh i got the job by the way!) but once again im living in a hostel but its a nice one (if not a touch expensive) run by the YHA, so its got everything I need until i find my feet in work and look for a room somewhere.
Glebe is the student area of Sydney right next to the Uni , reminds me of Wavertree in away ( but alot nicer and sunnier) loads of little cafes, restaurants, bookshops, kebab houses, pubs, parks etc (actually reading that besides the boozers and the greasy takeaways its nothing like Wavertree..but its got that city/student feel.. l like it anyway)
Talking of boozers the nearest pub to the hostel is called The Toxteth! How cool is that, going in later to check it out.(might be full of pimps and gangster a bit like The Lamb... talking of which Sydney's gangsters keep killing each other all the time, everytime you switch on the news another gangland attack has taken place... it making me homesick!)
Spent this morning arguing with Bank staff about opening an account, I didn't have enough ID points on me (so therefore i could be into international money laundry!) i had to lie in the end said i still worked for the Civil Service and showed them my old pass ( "We use to run this country you know! and i'll be having serious words with Whitehall about taking it back!!)
But it worked.
So im all ready for my new job on Monday, well almost ready got to find the place again. Its around here somewhere... so im going to get lost in my bid to find it again.
Matty
Glebe bound
02.02.04 (2:37 am) [edit][b]Day 58[/b]
First things first! The Derby. It was on live here, on normal telly, which was pretty cool, kick off 2am. I was out with the people I met last week on the pub crawl. It was someones birthday or something.
Anyway
Everton were as hammered as I was by the end of the game! We controlled everything, how we didn't score God only knows! Bloody Martyn. Worse thing is Bolton beat Charton. By the looks of the league that 4th place spot is going to be a tight race.
So I'm the only Gelling left in Oz as my eldest sister has just followed my other sister to South America, Julie's in Lima, Peru and Anna is in Santiago, Chile.
(We might get a two for the price of one deal if they are kidnapped by the Shining Path!)
But before she left, she set me up with a job interview with her husband's old boss, which went really well! He more or less offered me a job finding sales leads for mapping software. So im waiting to hear from him today to confirm everything. So if this all goes well I get to stay out here and more importantly move out of the hostel. ( Its really starting to get on my nerves living there! )
So i get to go room hunting... which should be fun trawling around Sydney trying to find some normal people to share with.
Im thinking now that i'll work for this company for as long as possible, save some money for Thailand and around (depending on whether everyone is dying of Bird Flu or not!) and be back in the UK in the summer. ( I mean it will be worth it to see the fear in McKane's eyes when he says "I do" ;o)
Right off to do some touristy things before someone asks me to work!
Matty
