The Final Chapter

Hello readers.
I've been going on lately about how nothing's going on, and how I'm just ticking over.
Haha, not so much now.
I went out on Friday night, to the rock club, and then on Saturday I had been invited out by some of the people from the department store I used to work in. That was great, except I was still hungover from the night before.
Anyway, when I got back from the meal, I didn't want to do anything except chill out, maybe even go to bed. But I checked my email first.
Turns out my stepmum and my dad, who are at the moment living in Saudi Arabia, are going back to New Zealand for a couple of weeks, for a skiing trip. And I have been invited!
This is my break, the best way to get out of Sydney. Ha, leaving the country wasn't my first plan, but dammit, it's one of the best that could have sprung on me. It's been a good few months since I saw Dad, and even longer since I've seen Sue. And New Zealand has been a destination I've been aiming for, but I just never thought I'd actually get the chance to make the first move.
Well that move's been made. I just finished sending off the Working Visa application, and I'm pretty syched.
I have two weeks of work left in Sydney, and then I have to claim my taxback. Luckily I was told of a good company to go through, and I'm going to phone them tomorrow, make arrangements. They can fill out the paperwork and then, once I finish working, I send one more docket in and they do the rest.
The flights I'll book once the visa's been approved; I hope it's as quick as the Aussy one was, I want to get a flight fairly close to this date, and as they're cheap (due to the recession) there may not be many seats soon.
A backpack is hopefully being picked up from this friend in the next few days, so that's cool.
And I'm waiting for my birth certificate to be sent, as I need a secondary piece of identification, and because I lost my drivers license, Mum had to help me out. What a lej.
So yeah! The future's brightened considerably.
A small annoyance is of how little of Australia I've seen, but as Abi said to me, there's more time in the world. And as I realised, the beautiful sights aren't nearly as beautiful in winter.
However in NZ, there is real cold. I like the cold :).
And I get to see Fraser again, it's been frikkin ages.
And I was talking to a kiwi guy at work, a good guy, and I was talking of what was available that was more dangerous than a bungee jump. Dan bungeed, and I've been determined to beat him. Turns out skydiving isn't as scary, because you don't push yourself out, you're harnessed to a pro, and you just hang onto him. With a bungee, you have to jump off.
There's a thing called Nemesis, or something. It's a bungee, but instead of off a bridge, it's off a cliff. Or something.
I might just try and fight a Maori... That's gotta be pretty intense.
YEAH. Oh yeah, my pops mentioned an excursion he did to Mt Aspiring. I checked it out on t'internet, and I figured if I want to go camping somewhere, might as well go around A HUGE MOUNTAIN. That'd be cool.
Lots to think about, lots to get done.
Speak soon.
x
Oh yeah, and I finally replaced my Ipod Touch. With a much, much cheaper version. The Touch is $530 here, the one I got is about $12o. Haha. I havn't got it yet, but I'm looking forward to it's arrival.

Heya everyone. I'd posted an update yesterday, but the internet is so FRIKKIN terrible, the computer shut down. So I lost it all. Anywhoo, I tried something new, I tried putting videos up. I'll try again, they explain shizzle. Here we go.
This was the first attempt. It wasn't a success.




And here was the next, slightly better version.



Next step, BBC newsman, chyeaaaaa...
Might try and do more of them in the future, this was a warm up.
But, as I'm finding out, it takes a long, long time to upload. I'm sitting in Mcdonalds, waiting for the damn thing to finish, while hobos tramps and general hoodlums are walking around me.
Vunerable much?
I hope they don't read what I just put though, or I'll be in trouble.
I went to the beach today, the famous Bondi Beach. Not that great, but some friends were going, and once I finished sending the mp4 player back (oh yeah, it was so terrible I had to send it back) I joined them. Just sat on the beach, watching people and digging a huge hole. Then we buried one of the mates. Good laugh.
I was planning on going to the Blue Mountains before I leave, but I don't think that's going to happen now. This evening I'm off to see some friends, hopefully pick up the backpack, and then tomorrow I'm meeting a friend from the place I was working at last week, and we're gonna just hang out somewhere or some hostel people might go to see Transformers 2 at the IMAX, that should be cool. Then it'll be Wednesday, and it's my last night, so there'll be celebrations and whatnot, and then Thursday it'll be packing up. Not nearly as much time as previously thought.
OK, my friend Scotty is a comic book fan, a fan of "graphic novels". I've read some of his, some Batman comics, and they're awesome. Really, really good. And the other day I got one, Watchmen, it's the one that they made into a film recently. Man! So damn good.
I'm wafting, trying to fill in the time. The video's still uploading, and it doesn't have a bar to show how much has been done, so I'm here for an indefinate time, and I don't want to just sit here doing nothing, might as well be typing.
But what ho, I think it's done. Whoop!
I don't believe it, the damn Mcdonalds wifi just booted me off halfway through the DAMNED UPLOAD. Will try again in near future, if I can.
See ya...

Heya everyone. It's Thursday, last full day in Australia. I'm doing my laundry and uploading the videos. Go to Youtube.com and type in Flobbyblobby, and my smiling face will greet you.
Not much else to say really. For my last night, I'll be having a steak in the local, and then me, Scotty and two other guys are gonna go see Transformers 2, at the Imax no less. Looking forward to that. Then coming back, getting a few beers and chilling out, watching movies. If people wanna go out, they can, but I'm gonna kick back. Nice...
Oh yeah, I got the backpack! And a beast it is too. Now the main problem is getting as much stuff as I need, without going over the 20kg limit for airport check in. I look forward to that challenge, considering I have a cooking stove and pots and pans. Haha, might have to leave those. The tent and sleeping bag are priority.
Ok then fellow humanoids, this has been a good blog. I will either start up a New Zealand version, or go to writing in a journal, which I will send home when it's finished/the adventure ends. I'll see what happens. Looking forward to not knowing what happens next. And the mountains. More outdoor dreams last night, thinking of everything that could happen. :D
Speak soon. See you on youtube.

"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story." Orson Wells
"Every end is a new beginning."

See ya.

Tuesday 9th

Hello everybody.
I'm still at the Swagman, still doing nothing. Not living at the moment, just ticking over.
But Scotty might have found a slightly cheaper place, so a move might be in the books.
Really nothing else to say.
Hope you're all well and happy.

:D

"In these last days of time
As the earth spin faster
I often fantasise about the afterlife and here-after
Paradise, the afterlife, land of the pleasant
I dream of how my life will be when I get to heaven
I don't embrace the taste of death
But I don't fear it...
Visions of heaven draw me near it
Everlasting life as a spirit
I obey the commandments, Universal laws
I prophesize about heaven
This is what I saw...
I was placent in the land of milk and honey, fascination
I was given powers beyond the average imagination
But peep this, what I saw next left me speechless
in heaven, everyone had the same level of uniqueness
in heaven, theres no greed, no need for worldly things
no diamond studded rings, peasants become kings
I don't know about you all
But this is were I got to live
Where men and women don't have to be so provocative
And live as true kings
See in the way we do things
Intoxicate your minds without that gin and juice that snoop brings
By far in the heaven the world is ours
No more drugs, money and cars
Just suns moons and stars
Reunited In the universal family
The man in me cant wait for heaven to fulfil my wildest fantasies
As I search for better days and praise the number seven
When I get to heaven...

So fresh, (so fresh)
So fly (so fly)
My life in paradise

So fresh, (so fresh)
So fly (so fly)
My life in paradise

Once again it's the Last Emp the raw
These lyrics wont leave you gassed
In heaven I encounter famous spirits from the past
I crack jokes with black folks
Like robin Harris and Red Fox
Loungin' with Bob Marley, giving me tips on my dreadlocks
To put it loosely, an angel will introduce me
To all these famous people I'll learn kung fu Bruce Lee
The best rhymes on the best labels
Doin shows with ??? and Prince Messiah on the tables
Discussing politics with ??? and Malcolm
By chance Queen latifah brother Lance will do production on my album
Heaven tracks with heavenly rhyming
Jimmi Hendrix on guitar vocals by Phillis Hymen
Yes in my heaven my album will be a smash
Generating cash, serving rappers like off the ash
Flippin' in the sense of free voice, I can rejoice
Look over there its Heavy D's boy, Trouble T Roy!!
Hes kickin' dead stuff with Sammy Davis Junior
If I known heaven was Gonna be like this Ida been here sooner
Where heavenly emcees can be
No robbery, no thievery...
No police brutality for Eazy E
And all our love ones that passed away
Take it from me, some day we can all be free like Donnie Hathaway
I make the world feel my presence
Until I'm called back to the essence.
When I get to heaven....

Chorus

Its one for the physical
Its two for the spirit
Three for hip hop
That makes ya heads bob when you hear it
My minds in heaven and im lovin' it
No politicians, no government
No democrats, no republicans
And in the other men might create a civilisation
Where hip hop rules
The Emp the Raw rocks the nation
There's no stress in heaven we all relax
And real lyricists sign record contracts
Not these gun toting, blunt smoking
Cross over acts, lying on wax
Claiming they drop facts
Imagine possibly no animosity
or malice, where your home is a palace
Sippin' wine from a golden chalice
Just loungin' and living lovely
No one above me, the very thought of it drugs me
Just like this track does me
In heaven people live there lives how they happen to live'em
No longer trapped in a prison
None of this capitalism, no need to boast squad
Even try to pose high, just give thanks and praise to the most high
And maybe we can all make it
And take it right back to the essence
When I get to heaven..." (The Last Emperor, Heaven)

Friday 23 May

Hello hello.
Things aren't too bad here. Still working as often as possible, and because of a very generous donation I haven't had to spend any of my earned money this week on transport or food, so saving is easier. Also grabbing all the free stuff I can, it helps.
I have just finished reading Twilight. Ha, it's brilliant. It took a day and a half, and I have the second one, ready for tomorrow. Thanks to Abi and Cat, it was as good as you said.
I had a reply for the cattle ranch job, and there's not much work at the moment. I shall wait.
And also, a friend is looking to get rid of her backpack, and she was eying up my suitcase, so another swapsies could be imminent.
And also, I've planned where to travel. West of the city are the Blue Mountains; I was planning a camp a few months ago, and I may try it. That's my latest plan. I'm very aware that I've made a few of these plans, and none have come to completion, and so if this one never starts I will be very, very annoyed.
All it takes is the first step out the door. The rest is easy.

Dan, nice one about exams, you have any plans for free time? Thanks for that hat advice, I was toying with getting a cheap one from a tourist shop, but if it's a long time I'll be using it, the extra spendage will be payed off in quality.
Say heydeehey to Cat and folks, and speak soon man! Oh jeez, I'm not sure why but lately I've been having serious urges to play Skies of Arcadia. No idea what started it, but I need to play that game again, haha.
Abi, I'm planning on keeping a journal, and I'm gonna try and make some video diaries when I can, and then post them on the web when I get back.
And Ma, thanks for that, I've heard good stuff about it. Just need to get a job there, haha.

Right, I have work tomorrow, and it's late. Must be off, toodlepip.

"I like the dark, it's when you can see the stars." (Bella, from Twilight)

Hi everyone.
I'm not happy. In fact, I'm gutted, and annoyed. I got a phonecall today, from my job agency. My old job, the good paying one, has a free place, and I was asked to fill it. The cinch? I have to stay in Sydney for another four or five weeks.
I took the job, because I need money, and this is a certain chance to get it. But I'm so, so damn annoyed. I was looking forward to being called and told that there was no work left at the department store, because then I could have finally had the boost to go camping. I had a dream last night of just that, and I woke up really psyched up for it. The dream was great, actually, it was of Dan and me, and we were living in this little hut in the tiniest of villages, and we had to catch fish and hunt animals, and it was awesome.
But because I now have to stay in Sydney for another month, it means that when I'm free, I'll have about six days to start the cattle ranching job, in order to complete the full three months for a second year visa. If I do manage to get a job after those six days, I'm pretty sure the farmer would sign for the visa anyway (there are so many ways of skipping through the legal requirements, apparently only one out of fifty written applications get checked). But it's just so frustrating.
And the most annoying part? I remember writing not so long ago, saying how I make all these plans that never happen. This was the closest I'd come to going through with a plan, and now it's bogus.
But.
Now I've had a chance to work stuff out, plans may have changed. What I'm thinking of doing now, is working these four or five weeks, in that time getting my tax back (end of the tax year). This will leave me, I'm guessing, with around maybe $5,000, maybe more if I save and am lucky. That will then let me get a New Zealand visa. I can then do my camping, going up the coast to see a bit of sand, a bit of the East coast. And then around September, I trot over to New Zealand, and then I would like to get serious. I want mountains, I want real wild. I prefer forest to jungle, and New Zealand has that kind of terrain. I want to walk through some of the places seen on Lord of the Rings.
So that is what's forming in my mind. Disappointed about the way it's worked, but needs can overule wants. Gotta look for that silver lining.
On the plus side, me and Scott have found a cheaper place, literally across the road from the hostel. There's nothing keeping us here now; almost everyone has moved out, and the place is overrun by new people, making the oldies the outcasts. So saving could be slightly easier. And also, by starting this old job again, I might try and go to the classes I haven't been to in a while. I need to lose weight, I've seriously plumped up, because I was planning on burning it off on this ex-camp. So yeah, throw out the pies, in with the veg.
So many annoying niggles.
And I finished the second Twilight book a few days ago, I'm now waiting for the third one, that's circling the hostel. Can't wait.
Ok everyone, it's late and I need to grab some sleep. All the best, hope everyone's ok. Good luck to those hunting for jobs, and for those finishing exams, keep at it, the end of the tunnel's in sight.

Saturday 17th May

Heya everyone.
I know I haven't updated in a while, I apologize. Life is moving slower than I like at the moment. I wanted to move out of Sydney a month ago, but sometimes what you want isn't easy.
I've now officially applied for cattle ranch agencies, I'm expecting a call back any day now. Meanwhile (luckily) I'm still getting hours at this huge convenience store, and I'm on a mission to spend as little money as possible other than obvious expenses, ie rent. Food is now something to be rationed. I don't drink at the moment, I don't go out. Not that I did before, heh, but now I have a better reason for it.
Oh yeah! Something awesome happened yesterday. I was working at the department store, and I got invited out for drinks after work. I have been accepted in society! Man, it was such a frikking good feeling, having a laugh with people completely unrelated to the hostel. And now I know more people at the job, it makes it more fun. I'm already meeting loads of them, and I get a smile and a wave from some of the nicer ones. Man, I love it. And also, nobody there thinks I'm under 25, haha. Every time they realise, it's the same response. It's good. It's goooood.
Heh.
On a downer, I'm ill again. Was throwing up last night, haven't eaten a meal comfortably since. I'm sure it'll be ok, it's just annoying. Everyone is sneezing and coughing. This flu epidemic is really serious, I passed a bus while walking down the street and a lot of people on it were wearing masks, covering their mouth and nose. Because Australia is so close to Asia, it's a lot more paranoid. But I think, I think, that there haven't been any confirmed cases. Yet.
I'm still planning my camping trip. All I need (still), is a backpack, which I can get because Scotty owes me a bit of money, and can pay back whenever, I need some iodine tablets, some filter paper and I need a trip to a hardware store to get some copper or aluminium piping, with which I hope to make a blowgun. I plan to go out with some big bags of rice, and then I'll hunt for meat. Probably birds. Scatter a bit of rice, get the birds or animal close, and then pfft. A meal. I have everything else I need. Oh yeah, and a map.
The knife I bought has some fishing line inside, so I can find a small river and then snaffle a worm, or a gecko. Spook a gecko and it's tail gets detached, and riggles. Stick that on a hook, and just wait for a fishy to bite. The knife also has a compass, so that'll be good.
The cattle ranch job sounds awesome. I read some details, and it involves horse riding, wild camping, cooking, cattle catching and branding, fence building and mending, possibly tutoring kids... Everything. Which is great! I've put up fences, I've helped kids with homework (Tom Elliot and Daisy, I'm looking at you), I like camping and I'm looking forward to getting back on a horse. And I've told myself that if I get a job, I'm gonna buy the classic Ozzy hat. And maybe some boots. If I can afford it.
Right, I'm outta material. I hope this long post covers part the lack of postings. Good luck to exam peoples, all of you guys, and everyone else, keep smiling. Think of rainbows, the rays of light through a raincloud, and sunrises.
Haha.
All the best.
Tom

Friday 9th

Hey everyone.
Just letting you know I'm still here, still breathing.
I want to get out of Sydney. I want to go camping, and just live outside of cities for a while. I would like a bit of breathing space.
However, I need more money to get this started, and I need to start fruitpicking soon to get the three months needed in. So I'm still grabbing all the hours I can for this rubbish-payed department store job, but it doesn't really save money, it just keeps the balance even.
I found that I have about $4000 in tax money, which I can claim back, it's just difficult. I'll look into it, because that would really, really help.
Not much more to say.
Speak soon.

"Not all who wander are lost."

Friday 1 May

Hi everyone.
Man, this week has been a bit more exciting than usual. I have worked since Tuesday, and I have more work this Sunday and all next week, at the huge supermarket place. Damn, it's so much better than the Co-op, haha. Great people, a nice atmosphere. And the pay is nice too, fnar.
So I'm happy with that.
And two oldies have come back! Marta and Giovanni, two awesome people who were in the Swagman when I arrived and through my first stay in Sydney, have come back. They're leaving soon, to go fruit picking, so this means that if they find a place, I can phone them and join them, and have a kickass three months. Looking forward to it so much more now.
So yeah. Working most days for a week, that should help get me by. It's because lots of people are ill, and there's been some people quitting. Man, an economic crisis and a pandemic - not a fun mix, at all. This country is scared, the danger level for this swine flu has jumped up to level 5, out of six levels. The world is burning, for some reason.
Anyway, gotta go. A drunk has sat next to me (I'm in Maccy's) and I don't trust him.
Oh, I'm eating healthily again now. I know I keep saying this, but it's on my mind at the moment.
I'll upload some photos when I can, I took them just for you persistent fools. But the hostel internet has crashed again.
Speak soon, all the best.

Oh yeah, to Cat's message. A friend of mine has the books, so I might try and steal them from him. I've heard from lots of people now that the books are much better, so I look forward to a possibly good read. :)

Friday 24th

Heya people.
I'm sorry for lack of update, I've been unable to get online in a while.
Ok, the last three days I managed to find work, I was taking down and putting up a fence. Hard work but good fun, I was using power tools. Three days use of circular saws and nail guns, and no injuries! Man, that surprised me, and it feels good.
So I can pay for another week. And the money from home arrived, so I'll go to the airport tomorrow and pay for the flight change.
I have to get out of here. And luckily, a friend from the hostel has given me a number of a farm that I could be going to, in Cairns. If I get work there, I'll be so happy... A change of scene, a chance to save up money... I see no downsides there. Plus I'll have a country to live in for another year if I work hard enough, and there is work available. Banana picking. I like bananas.
I still haven't been drunk since the last time I got wasted, it must have been a month now, probably more. I don't feel the need to anymore. I don't actually want to - I'm surrounded by people who pull out the box wine, for no reason. I don't want that.
So yeah. I'm selling some stuff, I'm trying to get a backpack. I found a cable for the camera too, so I might be able to take pics and put them on here.
I hear your country is warming up now, eh? Ha, over here it's still warm in the day, but it gets dark about 5.30, and last night it got so cold I had to put a coat and jacket over myself while sleeping. Was lovely.
I'm still ill! This cold won't go, I still have a cough... And the second day of this fence work, I had that recurring problem, my stomach/belly area was excruciating. It was so bad this time that I stumbled to the nearest shop at four thirty in the morning, and spent $2o on painkillers. I thought it might have been bad indigestion, but after taking the right stuff it didn't go. So I managed to get to work, throwing up on the way there, when I got there. It wasn't fun, but I was ok once I started working, and I got a day's pay, which I needed.
Not fun.
I hope you guys are all ok? Working hard, staying healthy?
Not sure what else to say really. Still miss most of you. Haha, I'm kidding, I miss you all. Trying to stay on top of birthdays, if people don't get theirs then just wait a few days, it should get there.
Right, gonna head off. Spaghetti, tomato sauce and sausage meatballs are waiting to be made.

"All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I ---- like you wanna ----, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not. " (Tyler Durden, Fight Club)

"I'm going nuts, man. I can't be someone else every day. It's been a year of this. I've had enough of this!"
Dignam: "Calm down, alright? Most people in the world do it every day. What's the big deal?" (Dignam, The Departed)

Heya everyone.
Today is Thursday 29. I've been at work, and then I watched "Twilight", the new film about vampires. I'm guessing it's been around in England for a while now, but nevertheless, if you haven't seen it, I think you should. It's a good film. Lots of emotions.
I bought a bottle of rum the other day, Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum. It's nearly gone now, but I hope it'll last a few nights longer.
Not much to report on really. Same as always. Basically, in a nutshell:
Always looking for work, therefore money,
Working as much as possible,
Trying to pay for rent.
I'm working at David Jones, a huge supermarket. And in my hour long lunchbreaks, I've developed a habit. I go up to the foodcourt, get a cheap sandwich to takeaway, go down to the bookshop and then sit and read "Splinter Cell". It's a book by Tom Clancy, about Sam Fisher, a man who few of you will recognize. The few who do, should read these books: they're pretty good, the description is a bit weak, but the action sequences are very detailed, and it feels like you're watching the actions take place on a big screen.
Enough said really. Speak soon, not much to say. Miss a lot of you, loads.
Tom