So this is Christmas...

Today is Christmas day.
Man, first christmas from home, and what a bloody christmas it was...
Jeez...
Ok, the story starts on Christmas eve. I'd just finished work, early, and had been invited to a friend's house. I was told to bring booze. So I went to a liquor shop and picked up a crate of Tiger, thinking that it would last me till Boxing day at least, because liquor shops would be closed on the 25th.
So I got a bus from there, carrying a crate of Tiger, and mananged to find my way to the house, a long way away.
They went out, and I went with, to get booze for them. And I thought, while I was there I might as well join, and bought a bottle of Jaiger.
I told my friends that I was planning to leave about 11pm, so I could get home, sleep and phone home on Skype in the morning.
Well.
I got drunk. I remember cracking open the Jaiger after about three or four beers, and then I remember waking up.
In a park. I had no idea where I was, if I was still in the same area as the house, what. I woke up on bark chips, under a tree, and it was freezing. I actually tried making a fire with what I had - the cardboard from a pack of chewing gum, two sticks and the bark chips.
Walking around, I found a public toilet, so I stole toilet paper to use as kindling for the fire I was still planning. It was so cold, and I was scared. Not drunk anymore, stone sober, but I was just alone and scared.
I walked around, and met some strangers, and asked them directions. They told me the road I knew, and I started walking back to the friend's house. When I got there it was about 5.00 am, and I was banging on the door, trying to get in. Apparently they were petrified, because I tried reaching in through the letter box to unlock it.
They did open the door, and apparently I was a wreck - shivering, white and my eyes were wide as could be. So scared.
But they calmed me down, warmed me up and I managed to get some sleep on their floor.
I woke up at 9am, and discovered I had no phone, keys or wallet. So I went back to the park, which I found out was about half an hour away.
Searched everywhere, but couldn't find anything. The area under the tree was so messed up, bark chips piled up from where I tried to set fire to them, a scuffed patch of dirt where I fell asleep... A mess. I was so unhappy, it was the worst christmas. No money, no way of letting anyone know I had no money, no ID, and my travelpass was there. I found a small pile of loose change, which must have fallen out. $5.50 I had in the world. My arms were covered in cuts and scratches, and bites. I wandered back to the house.
Well I tried to get on fine, not ruin anyone elses day.
Later, my friend got a call from a guy who was there the night before, who'd just gotten a call from MY phone, telling me that they'd picked up my phone and my stuff. I had to call them back after four, and could go pick it up.
Yes! It could be a good christmas after all.
So I helped tidy up, make breakfast and stuff, and actually had a good time. I pulled out the bottle of Jaiger, which was almost finished, and jokingly said "Ha! People have been pinching this, huh?"
And I was told that I had drank that much :S.
Anyway, people started arriving, and another party built up.
At four, I tried phoning my phone, but nobody picked up. This continued until 6, all the while I was getting depressed because my earlier worries came back. At 6 though, someone picked up, and told me where to pick up my phone and keys. No wallet.
But I went and picked them up anyway. Man, it was down back alleys and side streets, I don't know how I got there. But true enought, my phone and the house keys were there. I was so much happier, knowing I still had a room. I was supposed to get the key copied, but hadn't gotten round to it, so without keys I would have been locked out my room.
Had another look in the park, but no, definately no wallet.
Nevermind, nothing could be done about it. I had a phone and keys, it wasn't the end of the world.
Walked back to the house, got a text from my parents, saying "I'd been asleep and missed them trying to phone me on Skype." Haha, I was in the police station at that time, trying to claim my stuff back.
I left my friends, came home and got the end of the christmas dinner with the house people. Phoned my folks, that was really nice, and then went out with the house people to look at INSANELY decorated houses. It was like Vegas, the amount of effort people went to.
Then came back, opened presents and had a laugh. Now I'm winding down. So tired.
Tomorrow, off to the beach with the friends from the party. Should be fun. I blocked both the cards in my wallet, and I'll just have to carry my passport as ID. It's a bummer, but not as bad as I thought. Gives me a chance to buy a new wallet, instead of having one from Year 4. I'm thinking black leather, yeeeah.
I'm a bit worried, most of the bites are little, but there's this one bite on my left arm that is huge, and there's a raised circle around it. The skin is a bit firmer too. Apparently it was just a bigger bug, but I'll keep an eye on it, just in case.
Anyway!
I hope my fellow readers have a really great day. Don't eat too much, relax and just have a good time.
Lots of love.

Boxing day - Spent on the beach.
Man, is that weird. Even weirder was that my friends were playing christmas tunes. Frank Sinatra's "Let It Snow" will now always have a very different image, haha. Christmas day feels a week ago, it's so strange.
Weird...
Speak soon.

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." (Henry Miller)
"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." (Ashley Smith)

G'day folks.
It's Monday, I worked today. But my hours are getting less, and the work is running slower. However, on my way to the beach the other day, I came across a racing track, for horse races. The smell of horses reminded me of the good old days when my brother and I went riding, and we got pretty good at it for our age, so if I do get the boot and find myself looking for a job, I know where I'll look first. Even if it's just helping mucking out and feeding and stuff, that sounds quite appealing. I like horses. And maybe I could steal one and hide it in the landlady's back garden, say it's a high tech lawn piece.
I went to the bank today, took out a fat wad of cash. My bankcard will be replaced but due to the christmas break, it'll take about a week to reach me, so this money will hopefully keep me ticking over. And then on my way out of the shopping centre, I bought a new wallet with my fat wad of cash. I didn't mean to buy a brand name, but it's ""Bernini", apparently described as "Armani's cousin."
So yeah. All I know is, it's black and smells of leather... People give you strange looks as you walk past them, sniffing a wallet.
I'm about to cook the remainder of my spaghetti and sausages, and then chill out with a movie.
I got a facebook message from a person I didn't really want to speak to as well, that threw me off balance. Havn't spoken to them in a while, and now they pipe up. Gah.
Can't think of anything else to say.
Have a good one, peace out.

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." (Oscar Wilde

Monday 22nd December

Today I break my rule of a new post on the Friday, because the flaming enter button was playing up on that other post, and I couldn't be bothered to work out what it was.
It is indeed Monday! And it's now 11.50pm.
Work is definately slowing down, it was the first 10am start since the second week I started here. Will probably get fired soon, but I'm not too bothered really, it'd be nice to chill out.
I wanted to make up for my shockingly lazy day yesterday, so when I got home I planned on going out for a run. Well, when I got back in Ben (the landlady's son) and his girlfriend, and brother, and Michelle and Ken (the irish couple) were all going out to drink and do kareoke. I got invited, but I was desperate to run, so I had to politefully decline. I'm gonna try and hang with them this weekend, if possible.
Anyway, once that Motley Crue left, I changed into shorts and hooked my mp3 player into a pouch I made from Tubigrip, which I fixed to my upper left arm.
Then I actually managed to jog/run all the way to Maroubra beach, about two kilometres. I was dead chuffed, I've never managed to consistently keep up a fast pace for long.
When I got to the beach, I took off my shoes and socks, sat down in front of the waves and looked at the stars.
On the way back, it hit me - to everybody else, I was a jogger.
A jogger. Something I strived never to be, haha. The reason whenever I've gone running previously, I've always worn combats. But no, today I was a jogger. Nevermind, I'm happy, I'm aching all over. And I was reminded of the joys of stretching and warming up, when I got to the beach my legs were like "Tom! You fool! You should've stretched, we hurt!"
I said "Silence muscles, I own you. You will feel no pain while attached to me!"
But they are stubborn muscles, they continue to ache. I shall punish them soon, with more running.
And as I'm in healthy mode, when I got home I showered and ate three mangoes. Mangoes! They're delicious. And delightfully messy. And a good excuse to use a knife.
I also ate the remainder of the crisps, and some of the chocolate from yesterday. But that was just to get rid of it, I cannot just let food remain untouched. If it's there, it's going to be eaten, whether I want to or not.
But once it's finished, I'll try my darndest not to replace it.
Anyway folks, I shall leave you now. I might have an early night. I probably won't, but hey, at least I'm not lying to you.
Speak soon. Stay true to yourself.

"He looked down, at the outcrops jutting from the smooth wall. The wind pushed him towards the edge, but he resisted, instead letting his thoughts get blown away into the distance.
His gaze returned to the horizon. The shimmering expanse of water covered his view, falling away into the sky. Size was nothing to this vast ocean, nothing could remain great when surrounded by endless waves.
Somehow he knew, deep within himself, that his answers could be found on the other side. And he also knew that someday, he would reach that side, and find true happiness." (Excerpt from a story.)


Tuesday, late.
Not gonna write anything, just heard a good quote.
And then another.
Funnily enough, in the same film...
Could quote many, many more, but there are just too many.

"That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs. But what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is Freedom."
"Bring me that horizon..."
(Captain Jack Sparrow)

Sunday 20th of December

Hello fellow readers.
Today is Sunday, it's now 12.35 am.
Today has been an uncomplicated one, but one that deserves a writeup.
I awoke at about 10ish, after a night spent watching the new Batman film. It's better the second time, which I was amazed at.
I went and sent a package back, I'd ordered some clothes but they were too big, so I sent them to get exchanged. I seem to do this a lot, maybe learning from mistakes is something I should stop thinking about and start doing. What a fool.
Anyway, once that was done I went to the park for the last time, it was a good one. I hope I'll get back there after Christmas, there's much more I need to learn.
And today's great start was shattered by this evening. I got home at around six, and had to go back into the city to return Batman. Not a problem, it takes fifteen minutes to get there, so it should take maybe just over half an hour max, I could maybe get another movie, come home and relax.
Wrong.
Public transport should NEVER be taken for granted. When the buses you need don't show up, it can really ruin your day. I had to get a bus that went past where I needed to get to, walk back about 15 minutes to the Blockbuster, only to see the bus I needed to get home drive past as I walk up to the video shop.
Now this is the bus that never showed up, to get me into the city in the first place.
So I had to wait half an hour for the next bus to take me home, half an hour in which I spent choosing movies very slowly in Blockbuster. I got five out, at a cheaper price than the newly released Batman, so at least I have a few films to watch (A Beautiful Mind, Blow, The Man with Two Brains, Not Another Teen Movie and Pirates of the Caribbean 1).
The Pirates film was a nostalgic choice, reminds me of sitting on Dan's bed watching it with him.
Anyway, the half hour trip ended up taking maybe two or three hours. I was glowering on the bus, so damn annoyed.
But wound down with biscuits and crisps, "Comfort food." Comfort food that makes me annoyed at myself for having eaten. Food that makes me want to run.
I had KFC the other day for the first time since my stepbrother had found a chicken head in his box, and I'll be honest, I can't stand the stuff anymore. I was feeling proper upchucky the rest of the day. But on the flip side, I found out that my landlady's method of curing a poorly stomach is a healthy measure of peppermint liquor, haha, so I might be feeling sick more often.
Christmas is almost here, and apparently I could lose my job before then. There are too many temp people working there now, and the work is slowing down, so if I'm caught not looking busy I could get the boot.
Not as bothered as I was a month ago, I've saved up $3000 in me bank account. Yeeah, I'm rolling in the green down here. Doesn't mean I go wild, but it means I feel a bit more secure, so if I do go without a job I'm not as desperate to get another. I will, but just not as "Oh my god I can't afford rent." Which is a situation I don't want to be in again.
Plans for tomorrow? Do my laundry, and if it's nice I'll try a steady jog along the beach paths. I want to feel like I've burned off a weeks worth of bad food. I ate a whole cake the other day, not sure if I mentioned it. A whole cake! Sitting in ma bellay! That's gotta go. Along with KFC, biscuits, crisps and peanut butter. The stuff tastes good, but if I come back home with a pot belly I'll have let myself down.
Oh yeah! The landlady's friend, Antonio, the man I asked how long he'd been in Australia for and he replied "25 years" (not sure if I mentioned that either, sorry if I had) knows the way of Karate. AND he used to teach sword fighting, in a class. So if I'm very lucky, he might give me some tips, or even show me how to fight. That would be cool.
Well dear readers, I've run out of things I want to let you read. Christmas is almost upon us, I hope you all have a few days to wind down, and let yourselves really appreciate what you have. Think of things that you can smile about.
And if there's nothing, then go mad, and pretend you see things to laugh at.
All the best people.

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." (Allan K. Chalmers)

Yo Ho Ahoy me mateys, arrrr.

It's Monday, 2.05am.

Today was possibly the laziest day I've ever had. I woke up at 4.30, and watched a film. Then I went to the shops, bought chocolate and crisps and a takeaway, and came home and watched another film. And then I chilled out on the internet. Man, so damn lazy. It's great. Gonna do some exercise now, but then it's to my bed, haha. Woop! For some reason every time I hit the Enter button, it drops down a bigger gap than usual, so I can't be bothered to write much as it'll look strange.

Goodnight folks. All the best.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching."

Friday 12th December

Heya people.
It's currently 11.15pm, and I am in the mood to chill. I bought some minty biscuit things, and I have Jaigermeister left over, so I will spend my night watching Batman (1st one), drinking with the door locked, slowly munching my minty biscuits and popping M&Ms. This may not sound like the most sociable way to spend a Friday night, but I am socialed out, I just want to be alone for a while. Spent the day at work, then went back to the hostel to see old friends, who turned out mostly not there. And last night I was up til 1.30 with the Irish couple and Cook's son, watching Hancock (Will Smith superhero film) and drinking Heineken and eating pizza.
All this crap food is annoying me. Will TRY and go to the park tomorrow, haven't been in about three weeks. And apparently the weather tomorrow is gonna be great, so I'll try and go for a run along the beach.
Christmas has sprung upon me. I haven't been around much, and now there's decorations everywhere, bands playing carols in train stations... I don't know if I like it. It feels weird, it doesn't feel like it should be christmas. I've been thinking about the raisin and red onion and cinnamon stuff that the Robinson family has introduced into my life, haha, it's really good!
I've been reading. A previous roommate from the hostel gave me a book before he left, "A Confession" by Tolstoy. It's deep stuff. I've been reading more of this deep, deep stuff since I got out here, but not through my choice, but because people have recommended it in conversations, saying that I sound like the person who'd like it. Into The Wild was scarily close, at times, to how I have been thinking. Really changes the way things appear. I want to read Frankenstein again, I'm not sure if anything new will appear after this newfound knowledge.
It rained all day today. Heavy rain, rain that relaxes me. Still raining now, I can hear it against the window.
I'm thinking now. Gonna go and sort out rent stuff, then come back and watch my film.
Goodnight y'all.

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." (Ralph Emerson)
"It's not who I am, but what I do, that makes me." (Bruce Wayne, Batman Begins)
P.S - Just remembered, my nickname (one of them) at work is Batman, from the leather cuff I wear. My other nickname is Shakespeare, due to the way I speak and where I'm from. Similar to my Dad's nickname in the army, Prince Charles I think, from the way he speaks.
"And it all just happens again, Way down the line." (Way Down The Line, The Offspring)

G'day. It's Saturday, 10.30. I've just got back and gotten out the shower, having been gone since 3.30. I was planning on going to the park, but when I got up for my alarm I just had to get more sleep, I was dog tired. So when I eventually arose, I planned on not wasting my day, thinking about walking to the nearby Coogee Beach, apparently a good one.
Well, as I was getting a drink from the kitchen, my irish housemate Michelle came in, and asked if I had any plans. I told her, and she came up with the idea of getting a bus to Maroubra Beach, about 10 minutes away by bus. I could then walk from Maroubra to Coogee, and get a bit of sun, as it was a very nice sunny day.
I thought this was a good idea, but I thought as I'd be walking, I might as well shoot the moon.
So today, I have walked from my house to Maroubra, and then walked and climbed my way back up, past Coogee up to Bondi Beach. Man, I am now exhausted, but feeling good, apart from an intense, lack-of-water headache. I've been climbing the cliffs instead of going on the paths, I watched the sunset from a tall rock with the waves crashing around, I met some great strangers and I feel like I've been to the gym. Scratched and cut, I know it's been a productive day (or an unlucky one) when you see a bit of blood, haha. And also I surprised some sunbathers, haha. Topless sunbathing... You're never completely secluded, fools! Haha.
Only problem is I had lunch (a few minty biscuits and M&Ms from last night, and an apple) around 3.00pm, and I was planning on buying some veggies and tomato sauce and having a healthy dinner, but my headache was so bad I just had to get home. So I have some tuna strips and a loaf of bread. Tuna on toast, not the worst dinner, but definately not the best. I got some funny looks on the bus, eating bread from the bag.
I don't know what else to say.

"I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored. "
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
(David Attenborough)

Heya people, it's Monday 15th of Deciembre. I am hurting. Arms, legs, neck and ribs... I went to the park after work, was great. But there are only two more sessions this year, which sucks. On the plus side, I had a great conversation with the main man and there are places all over Oz, so I should be able to visit more parks during my stay here.
I went to the post office today, and sent off christmas cards. I can only hope they get home in time for the big day, but if they're a bit late I hope people understand. IT'S A LONG WAY TO FLY, PEOPLE.
And when I got home I found a card from the delivery service, saying a package was unable to be collected today. Which means my christmas pressie is on this continent, woop! I'll phone them tomorrow, giving instructions. I'm looking forward to opening it, not to get at what's inside but because I know it was packed by people I miss.
And I phoned Emma, just now. It turns out, I thought I had to get a train an hour away from the city, but apparently where I work isn't too far away from where they are, so she suggested maybe a visit after work. Sounds good, it'll be nice to talk to friendly people I know.
I don't really know what to say now. I've listed events, I can't be bothered to go into my meals of late (salmon, in case you're interested), and I havn't had any majorly violent mood shifts lately. I havn't been drunk lately, either... Hmm, that connection has before now, been unbreached...
My body is quitting on me though. On sunday, I was in agony, with stomach pains I havn't had in months. I stumbled around, seriously considering phoning a doctor, but then I found some strong painkillers in a cupboard. I took a few and went back to bed, awaking at 4pm feeling fine. I just wish I knew what sets this pain off, it's not a random thing. I hope exercise isn't the key. The day before, I had that seven hour walk, but that should hurt the legs, not the stomach, right? I need exercise, it is something that is now a basic necessity for me. I cannot go for a few days without feeling guilty and angry at myself for not having gone for a run, or done situps or weights. So if it is exercise that kicks off this stomach problem, I fear I'm going to have to stock up on pills and suck it up.
Oh yeah, and my face looks like hell. That's annoying. And ulcers are coming up. I'm breaking down, haha.
And I need to eat healthier. Okay, I'm now going into the food stuff, but hey. I had my recent pang for veggies yesterday. Walked ten minutes to the nearest supermarket, bought about six different types of vej, and a pack of salmon, and then cooked the salmon while chopping up all the vej and just boiling the lot. Stir frying can't be the best way to cook food, not everyday.
And just now I've had the remainder of the salmon, and three carrots. Yeeeaaaa.
So that is my food list of the last few days. I could be bothered, in the end.
I have this strange habit. I stay up into the wee hours of the morning, for no reason. I could easily be getting around nine hours of sleep a night, but no, I have to go to bed at around two, every night. And then I wonder why I'm tired. What a pleb.
Anyway, I'm rambling. It's coming up to midnight, and I have to spend the next two hours doing sweet F A.
Listening to my pirates playlist.
All the best.
"Hey, ho, We'll go, Anywhere the wind is blowing, Bold and brave and free, Sailing for adventure, On the deep blue seaaa!"
"The stars will be our compass, Wherever we may roam, And though we may put into port, the sea is always home!"
"We chase our dreams standing on our own, Over the horizon to the great unknown!"
(Sailing for Adventure, Muppet Treasure Island)

Tuesday, eight pm.
Not sure how many of you caught last nights post. My apologies, that shouldn't have happened.
I now have a headache, I was late for work and I'm down one bottle of Jaiger.
Speak soon.
"A man cannot free himself from the past more easily than he can from his own body." (André Maurois)
"Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart and his friends can only read the title. " (Virginia Woolf)

Thursday, 12.14am.
Heya people. I'm not going to lie to you, today was a good day.
I'm in a happy mood.
I realised several things today. One of them was that lately, I've been posting melancholic scripts about feeling low, and my thoughts and feelings, but I realised that nobody probably wants to read that. So today I'm posting good stuff. And luckily, today, as previously stated, was a good day.
It's the lamest reason, but basically I was able to put more than one item into a box, and save myself packing six boxes going to the same address, which always annoys me.
And then when I got home, a good song was playing, the sun was setting, it was great. And last night my laundry was done, which always makes me feel happier. And tomorrow is predicted to rain.
Yeah, I'm cruising on a high at the moment :).
And then I watched a film with dinner and cake. The film was "Wolf Creek", DO NOT WATCH IT UNLESS ALREADY HAVE DONE. It would only make you worry, especially due to my (proposed) Blue Mountains trip.
Oh yeah, I bagged a fecking huge cockroach in my room just now. I love it, it's trapped under the cake box lid. I turn in my swivel chair and practise my Tony Montana.
"You fuckin' cockaroach."
(Sorry gramparents, had to be done.)
I'll chuck it out a window before sleep hits, don't wanna kick the lid when I wake up.
I was planning on an early night, but I filled out half of what I've written tonight and the laptop crashed, had to try and remember what I'd written. I'm sure the first version was much wittier, with a few jokes and maybe the cure for cancer written in.
Oh well.
Time for me to hit the hay.
I'm out like a light.
Speak soon people,
PEACE OUT.
"You fuckin' cockaroach..."

"You fuckin' cockaroach." (Tony Montana, in Scarface)
"Who knows, Master Wayne. You start pretending to have fun, you might even have a little by accident." (Alfred, in Batman Begins)

Saturday 6th of December

Hey! I am currently typing this, at my new place of residence. Let me tell you the tale of how I came to be in this strange and magical place, a wondrous place...
It started on Thursday, a worrying day to be sure. For days before that, Tom had been starting to voice his concern over his near lack of residence to his old roommate, Melano, who was giving unhelpful advice like "You should have been doing this weeks ago."
Tom realised the blessing of hindsight, but this didn't aquire him a place to stay.
He told his boss at work of his plight, and the kind man let Tom have the fateful Thursday morning off, to look at a few houses he'd found on the internet. Tom was particularly hopeful of one place, which had three other people sharing the house, but a room to himself had been advertised.
On the morning of Thursday, Tom awoke early, using all three of his alarms. He quickly dressed, and ran out of his hostel, The Jolly Swagman, his home for the last eight weeks. He realised just how nice it was, once he was being ejected from it.
Visiting a house in the middle of the city, Tom inwardly chokes when being told the bond is $1000, and then rent each week is $300. He doesn't expect to pay that much, not when he still draws breath.
He leaves that rundown house, and sprints across the city to another possible place. This one is a whole apartment for $300 per week, and as the house Tom had just visited was shared by around five others and Tom had to share a room, this next place seemed amazing. An apartment to himself, overlooking the harbour and containing a pool and a gym. The couple who lived there were going on holiday for three weeks, and were renting out the place while they were gone. Tom was planning on booking into a hostel or motel in advance, once he'd settled into this apartment.
However, as Tom was running to the possible apartment, he was phoning the woman who lived there, as he'd written down the exact address at work and hadn't brought it home. But the woman never picked up! In desperation, Tom phoned a friend who was at work, and asked for the address. He got it! Rushing to the tower block, still phoning the lady, he was greeted by a porter who was friendly, but couldn't help our hero. Tom was left standing in the street until 15 minutes had passed since he was supposed to have been looking around the apartment. He was crushed. He needed a place to live, and chances of finding a place now were slim. He didn't want to have to pay $1000.
Spotting a convenience store on the corner of the road, with internet inside, he went in, glancing at the time. He was allowed until about 12 noon, then he had to start going to work.
Tom went on the computer, and went on Gumtree, a renowned site for apartments and rooms to share. Finding anything under $180 and fairly nearby would be perfect, he thought to himself.
Phoning up mobile numbers on possible places, Tom once again loses the flicker of hope that swells whenever a good find appears. In the end, at 12.30, he gives up. The best place so far has been a room to share, living in a house with five Thai people. Tom could only just understand the address he was given. Walking to the bus stop, and climbing on the bus, he collapsed onto a seat, wondering what he was going to do.
Sleep in a fire escape? Crash at friends places, until his wanderings led to a place?
A single tear escaped his eye. He was getting scared.
Jerking in his seat, Tom reached for his phone, which was vibrating in his pocket. An unknown number was on the screen.
"Hello?"
The responding voice was female, middle aged and asian. It told our friend that her name was Cook, and she was ringing him because he rang her about half an hour before. Tom explained that he had seen a place to rent, and she replied that she was indeed renting out a room, for $180, and it was available immediately.
"Available immediately?" Those words flashed in his vision.
Tom told her that he would be there tonight, after work, and thanked her immensely. She laughed, saying it was no problem, and that she would wait up for him.

Well readers, that's how I came to be here. I paid on the night, and moved in yesterday. I have a room to myself, with a surprisingly comfortable bed. The people here are quiet, like the neighbourhood, and it's a twenty minute bus ride into the city.
There are a few niggles. Things keep breaking, like the blinds, and the cockroach density mass is higher than the human mass. But I'm only here for nights, I'm working hard still. Just came home from my Saturday shift, even staying on an hour longer that was originally asked for. I can still see my friends at the hostel, I'm even going out tonight. And also, Coogee Beach (one of the best, apparently) is about twenty minutes away walking. I saw it on Google Maps, it seems to have nice cliffs, so I might go for a run tomorrow.


I can't think of much else to say. I think I'm losing a bit of weight, because I don't have the energy to cook when I get home, I just buy sushi on the trip back, or have nothing. But at work, Mcdonalds and fish and chips are a regular lunch and breakfast, so I need to burn that off. I hate eating it, but at work I'm always famished.

Starting to miss people now. I don't miss England, I don't want to come back yet, but I would love to see everyone. Friends and family. Oh well, facebook and Skype can settle that, slightly.
Well dear listeners, for fear of boring you I shall depart. All the best.
"Fear can hold you prisoner.
Hope can set you free."
(Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption)


Hey hey guys and dolls, hope you are all hunky dorey, funky as a monkey...
Today is Tuesday, it's about 11.45. I bought an external harddrive, and it arrived today, so I'm moving pretty much everything off my laptop onto the external. Hopefully will speed up the laptop. Turns out when you copy films from Blockbuster, there's a limit as to how many films, haha.
Anywho...
The house is now much nicer than it was when I arrived. I've settled in a bit, I've met the couple who rent the other room, a really nice Irish pair who are very friendly and good company. And the woman who owns the house, Cook, actually gave me dinner tonight, calamari and octopus in a spicy chinese sauce. So yeah, this place is growing on me. All I need is a fan for my room, and it'd be awesome.
Work is calming down now. Apparently tomorrow is going to be the last twelve hour shift, so if I'm lucky I may be able to reclaim the remnants of my social life. Only kidding, last Saturday I went out with loads of hostel chums, crashing the night at their place. The worst thing about my location is that buses don't run that late into the night, so if I go out with mates, it's either not for long or an all nighter. Nevermind...
Remember I mentioned buying a journal to write my thoughts in? Either I havn't had time, or my thoughts haven't been so melancholy lately, but I have yet to write in that book. That could be a good sign, I think.
Ah yes, possible news. There are some mountains outside the city, called The Blue Mountains. I am planning a trip, an excursion, hopefully some weekend. I will buy a second hand rucksack, a second hand tent, a knife and other essentials, get a train to near the bottom of the mountains and then walk up, taking however long it takes to get up there. Duke of Edinburgh award should come in handy here. I need to do something, I've been cooped up at work for too long, and this energy has been lying dormant, waiting for an outlet. So that is my plan.
I will try to stay off the main trails wherever possible, and will stay out of campsites unless unavoidable.
I hope the view at the top is worth it, I've been told it is.
So in the next few weeks, or maybe after Christmas when work slows down/stops, this might happen. I still need to see Emma, a friend of my mums. I tried seeing her ages ago but it didn't work out. Her place is further away than I thought, and not too easy to get to. I'll try phoning her soon, I'd like to see them before Christmas. Annoyed at myself for having let it take this long.
Starting to miss a few people. Not horrendously, but every now and then something pops up to remind me of someone.
I think I've run out of news. Nothing new is really happening lately.
Speak soon friends.

"I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return. In fact I mean not to."
(Bilbo Baggins, Lord Of The Rings)

1st week of December, maybe second month? Week nine?

Hello folks.
Tom here, reporting from his room at the Jolly Swagman Hostel.
Will shortly be moving out, I think Friday is my last day. Have been on the phone to a company called Furnished Property, that's the one my friend from work went to, and am waiting for a reply. Only problem is that they would rather I went to see the property, but as I'm out of my hostel from 7.45 until 9.30, and they're not available on weekends, it's a bit tricky. I might plan on splitting myself into two, and then checking places out, but then it gets tricky being listened to. Nobody wants to talk to half a person, that would be crazy.
Work is better now. The people there are calming down, I'm pretty certain that was just a bad patch. Working twelve hour shifts and Saturday again this week. But on the plus, I got paid $1,192 AFTER TAX for last week's shift, so at least I'm getting a bit of spending money :P.
Last saturday, I told you about the morning but then I didn't report on the evenings events. I was invited to the rock club at around 10pm, but at seven we had a storm, haha. So I went out to the bay, and sat on the sea wall, and watched it. Not the best I've seen, but was nice to get out from work and feel the weather again.
It's now getting hot. Hot hot. Like, my arm was tanning on the busride to work this morning. So heaven knows what it'll be like at Christmas, or when I go travelling (which I probably will) in January. I need to see Ayer's Rock, the Reef and the bush. And I would like to climb the Blue Mountains, which are a train ride from the city. Not crappy tourist walks, but I'd like to branch off the path and just walk up to the top, to see the unusual routes.
I bought a journal today, a blank book. After writing all that stuff on this blog and then deleting it a few weeks ago, I've been having pensieve moments, and I've been thinking maybe if I can see what I'm thinking, and have an outlet, it might be helpful. So whenever I get down, instead of just sitting there bottling it up, or drinking from a bottle (rarely) I'll note down what I think. See how it goes.
Anyway friends, it's now 10.55pm, and I'm off to make banana bread, haha. Needs must, eh?

"I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he did too much thinking. Sometimes he tried too hard to make sense of the world..."
(Quotation from "Into the Wild", by Jon Krakauer.)