Saturday 26

Hello. This is my first entry on my new laptop.
:D
It's tiny! A Toshiba Portege, bought from a second hand laptop shop. I've got three weeks to see if I like it enough to keep, otherwise I can trade it back for another type. But to be honest, it's pretty good. Dinky. The old one was huge, heavy, loud, missing keys, overheating, and very difficult to replace. This one's small, light, silent and seems to be working pretty good.
The old one had a blooming good run though. I got it from Jo, and after many, many months of being battered, dropped and other kinds of torture, it's only really died now because the cable's been stretched. Bit of a bummer, I wasn't able to get software from the old one. My DVD ripper is still on there, and I paid good money for that, I'll see what I can do.
So yeah! I'm basically just mucking about, downloading the essentials (firefox, that kinda stuff). I'm going to see Scott at two, in hospital, to get an idea of the layout and see what it's like. And to see him, of course. A city is a lonely place without money or someone to talk to.
I have decided that everyone needs to be poor, at least once in their life. To learn how to live off the basics is something you can't just be told about. When I first got to Oz, I was buying expensive stuff, because that's what I'd been used to. Now I can appreciate the little I've got. Man, instant noodles are a lifesaver. $1.09 for a pack of five! I've spent days now, where I wake up late (so I'm not as hungry for as long) eaten a pack of noodles, and that's been it until about seven at night, where I have another pack and maybe an apple if I have any left.
This means that I can spend a dollar, and then last about two or three days without having to spend any money. Champion.
And you start looking at better deals as well. $5 meals, cheap buffets, these things are invaluable to a tightass. See, learning life's lessons :).
And bookshops are great. I've spent the last two days in Border's, reading my way through Dostoyefsky's (?) "Crime and Punishment", because it was free, a good way to escape for an hour or three, and maybe intellectual too. I'm on Part Two, haha.
So yes. People need to be poor sometimes. I pity those fools who've led a sheltered life, away from the harsh realities of life. Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near knowing everything, hell no. But I'm trying :).
I'm exhausted. Lack of sleep. Reason 1: General inability to sleep. Reason 2: People SNORING. Geez, there should be a law, allowing snorers to be tasered. I know I snore sometimes, but God, send a few thousand volts through them and people learn! And Reason 3: When almost asleep, one drunken guy comes back, keeps punching things (door, wall), shouting and almost falling out of bed. What a jackass.
So yeah, pretty tired. Oh yeah, lack of caffeine too. It's not a habit, more a little treat I've gotten myself into. Cookies are on offer, you can get a box for 2.50. And I would get a box, chill out. But no, no caffeine allowed, and so no chocolate. So no cookies. That hurt slightly, but might help me get into shape. I keep feeling I'm getting pudgy again, I need exercise.
This blog was partly an excuse to get used to the tiny keyboard on this thing, and it's worked. Making less mistakes. I like it.
Ok, I've run out of topics. I will close this conversation down, with a nice quotation, standard procedure.
Wait, a quick update. I managed to get the DVD thing from my old computer, that was fine. And I just went to see Scott, the place looks great. I'm looking forward to going to hospital.

"Somewhere out there, there's a bullet with your name on it. The trick is, to die before it finds you." (Captain Mal, Firefly.)

Sunday.
Ok, I know I keep going on about this, but it's becoming a problem now. I lay in bed until the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep, and then when I do nod off I do so until about five in the afternoon. It truly is a bummer. I'm hoping that the regular hours in hosptial and the early hours they wake you at will sort me out. Going to the gym until three in the morning was fun because it was empty, but I now know why nobody else was in there; they were rightfully asleep.
On a happier note, I am currently downloading Conker's Bad Fur Day! Yes, reinstalled the software that let me play N64 games, and in hospital I shall be guiding that cute little squirrel around, shooting off the heads of the evil Teddiz. Those who don't know what I'm on about, I apologise. Those who do, and I know who you are :P, imagine me laughing while controlling Conker, running around with a samurai sword. I'm also REsorting all my music files, completely. It's taking - a while.
I'm not sure if it's me, because my diet hasn't been the most impressive as of late, but Melbourne is getting really cold in the afternoons. I'm sat in Federation Square, which is probably the most modern place in this city, as it's got free internet, and I'm wearing my hoody and still shivering. Tres bizarre.
Ok, this is the plan as of yet. Me and Scott had a massive brainsesh in the hospital, and this is the end result. Be nice, it's not complete yet, but the general outline is thus:
I go into hospital tomorrow afternoon, and Scott will use my bed in the hostel, saving the trouble of checking in and out. I'll leave my stuff with him, all locked up. He's going to take mine and his stuff to his old school friend, and it'll be safe there. Scott is then going somewhere, to see friends (either Sydney or Adelaide), and he'll return near the end of the week, by then his cheque will have gone through. He'll pay me back my money, which means I can come out of hospital and then have enough to go into a hostel. Then we're either going to Adelaide on a road trip, or going back to Sydney, where there are JOBS, saving up a bit of cash, then doing a road trip up the east coast.
Either way, a road trip is happening. We even thought of going to Alice Springs and Uluru in a van, that'll be a hefty one.
But as soon as my cheques gone through, we're having a big meal. To celebrate getting through the most difficult month we've both ever had.
YEAH! Haha, the troubles are coming to an end. The light at the tunnel's end is warming my face.
Been thinking about future's as well. Big questions, but I won't put those down. Need to think about things more.
Ah, just checked, and the UCAS application has now been checked by Mr Sorel-Cameron, just need to wait for it to go through to the university. The cogs are moving again. Hey, today seems to be a pretty good one, huh.
I've run out of convo again, this keeps happening.
I bought a celebratory pizza earlier, now I have four dollars left :). But it's cool, I need two to get the tram to hospital, and then I need nothing for a week. It was good pizza too, whCh is always nice.
Ok, speak soon everyone. All the best.

"Mr Ghandi, what do you about civilization in the West?"
"I think it would be a good idea." (Mohamdas Karamcha Ghandi)

Hello people. I'm in hospital, and it's the first morning. I had a needle sticking out my arm for a good few hours today, but they have TVs on the beds, and I have a fair bit of stuff to read, so I'm not too bored yet. The facilities are nice, the nurses and doctors are all really friendly, and I'm having a whale of a time. I also had a nice sleep! Comfy beds, plus I was up all night on Sunday night, so was just exhausted from that. Also they have healthy food here! Vegetables!
So I'm pretty happy.

Not much to say, except that graphic novels are a lot, lot cooler than I thought they were. Scott is a geek, but a cool geek, the kind that appreciates the geeky things but is still a fun guy. Anyway, he brought a Batman comic from England, which he let me borrow. And the when he went to see his friend in another city a week or so ago, he came back pretty depressed, so as a present I bought him another Batman, which he let me borrow for here.
They're both really good! Yeah, might have to look out for a few more, maybe.
Alright, speak soon, stay cool.
Byee

"But you must be mad, or else why would you be here?" (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

Heya folks. I think it's Wednesday afternoon, 4.20. Things are ok, going a bit slowly but can't complain too much. The things I can complain about, aren't to do with the hospital jobby.
The new laptop I bought, it's still working but it won't play DVDs. I borrowed a whole bunch of them, series, but only ONE disk out of about eight or nine can be played. It's very frustrating. And even then, that working disk works only half the time, so I don't know if any of the other disks do work on it and just havn't done so yet, or if they're just not playable. Quite frustrating.
Anyway, the mornings here aren't so bad. Early rising, but they put tubes in and stuff, and so the morning is broken up, and before you know it it's time for breakfast, around half one in the afternoon.
I've realised I'm craving two things: Southern Comfort, and cinnamon swirls, those oh-so-tasty danishes. I've actually hunted for them, in bakeries and supermarkets, but I havn't seen a cinnamon swirl since I left England. For shame... And the SoCo, I remembered it the other day. Since having had no alcohol for a good two or three weeks now, and after having spent the last few months drinking cheap box wine (Goon, it's called), I remembered the refreshing, delicious taste of a double southern comfort on ice.
Daim...
Scott's apparently having a bit of trouble, the cheque goes through tomorrow but he's low on the dough, so he's keeping busy with that. Should be ok tomorrow.
Not much else to report on really. It's quite funny sometimes, people around me go dizzy now and then, or feel sick from the blood and needles, but whenever it's my turn I'm eager to watch what happens. Not sure if it's cus I'm well ard, but I just enjoy seeing science take place. Watching the people in the lab work on the blood, it's brilliant.
And the food, though not in the amounts I'm used to, is healthy and yummy. So I'm not complaining, haha.
Alright folks, speak soon.
Oh yeah, I also had a craving for Pirates of the Caribbean again the other day. I couldn't get those onto my computer, so I don't have them in my collection. It's been a while.
See ya!

Heya, still Wednesday. I just scored a heartrate of 46 bpm. :D

"What you lookin' at? You all a bunch of f-----g assholes. You know why? You don't have the guts to be what you wanna be? You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!" (Tony Montana, Scarface)

Monday 23rd

Heya guys.
I just checked my UCAS, I got bored of waiting around. It tells me that my application still hasn't been checked by the referee. I'm a little annoyed, as I sent two emails to my old teacher, the second reminding him of the first, and he said he'd get to Mr Sorel-Cameron, my referee last year. I even sent them the reference, so they didn't have to find it themselves. Oh well, I'm about to send them another email, asking for a bit more haste.
My friend Scott goes into hospital this afternoon, I go in next Monday. Exciting times, simply because it'll be a change of scene. Plus, my money is dwindling. And I have to move out of the nice hostel this Wednesday. Their booking system is shockingly bad. On the plus, I found a decent hostel to move into, above a pub. The downside? I'm not allowed to drink alcohol from now until I go in. So the pub could be annoying, haha.
Not allowed to drink, exercise, take ANY kind of pills (paracetamol, aspirin, cod liver oil, nothing), sunbathe, eat grapefruit containing products... My body shall be pure. Should be good for saving money, anyway. That was the reason I hit the gym so hard, because I can't from now on. I watched 300 the other night, on the treadmill. Me and Scott went to see his old schoolfriend, we chilled out, had a few drinks (not Scott). But yeah, the treadmill is twice as fun when you're drunk. You gotta run forward, and keep in a straight line. Cue Jack Sparrow run, woop!
Everything seems to be breaking at the same time. My laptop is dying, it keeps shorting out, overheating, the cables are stretching... My iPod got water damage, and I took it to get repaired to find the insides had completely rusted... Yup. The good news, there is a shop nearby that sells second hand laptops, very cheap. Most of my stuff is on the external harddrive I bought before Christmas, so that shouldn't be tooo much of a problem. But the iPod, well, I might buy a cheap, older style one. The Touch was fancy, but I can make do without the gadgets. So yeah, when I come out of hospital in two Sundays time, I'll be able to listen to music again.
Can't think of much else.
Will update soon :).
Speak soon PEOPLE. GOODNIGHT.

It's Wednesday, 3.49am. Can't sleep. Moving hostel tomorrow morning, so I can't go and pass out in the TV room, watching whatever's on.
Got annoyed of turning over and over, so I thought I'd write about it! Hey ho.
Would like a drink. No, I want to exercise more, physically knacker myself out. But can't.
Bugger it.

"Grab your carotoid bunch and pinch it until you pass out then!" (James Robinson's method of solving my sleep deprivation.)

Wednesday, 10.45pm.
I'm in an internet cafe, just checking up on events. My laptop has finally rolled over and died. Basically, it has half an hour battery, so I gotta keep it hooked up to the power. But now the power cable has conked out, so I have a laptop that works, but nothing in Melbourne that can power it up. I lie, there is a shop that I could buy a replacement adaptor, for $125. And I don't have that much money, haha!
But I have a guardian angel in the form of mummy. She is hopefully able to send over some money from my bank account, and I'm gonna try and buy a cheap second hand laptop. Was contemplating getting a new one, but it's just not economical. And I've found out just how far a few hundred dollars can stretch, which is very nice to know.
I changed hostels this morning, wasn't easy. Lugging my friend's baggage, then mine across town, because he's in hospital and I'm holding his big bag for him. He'll do the same when I'm in there. He's having a great time, they have PS3's and Xboxes, tv's at the end of the bed, big meals... And the testing is going down no problem, no problems at all. So I can't wait!
So I'm basically bumming around, because I can't sleep. I fell asleep at three in the afternoon earlier, and now I'm wired. I think I just somehow changed my body clock back to English time by mistake.
Can't think of anything else. Will come back online when I can, will tell you fine fellows how things turn out. But I know for certain, I have a roof over my head until I go into hospital, which is a huge comfort. So no sleeping on streets for this young lad :).
Ok, speak soon guys. All the best.

"Do you want to exercise to build strength, or to build up your endurance?"
"I just want to look good naked!" (American Beauty)

Sunday 15th

Hello Hello, my good friends and avid readers.
It is indeed Sunday, the day of rest. I took advantage of this by getting up at 2pm, haha.
Basically, I'm trying to get to the gym as often as possible. I've gone in three times in four nights. And my legs, when I woke up this afternoon, felt like they weren't there, until I tried to move them. Then I quickly realised their presence, as they hurt.
But I feel good. I'm eating healthily, omitting carbohydrates in the form of bread, stuff like that. I have these cravings though. Like, I've discovered stem ginger and chocolate cookies, which are made perfectly, so they're not crunchy... And I found these chocolates, I call them DeathSquares. They call themselves Peanut Chocolates bites, but its basically peanuts moulded together with toffee, and then covered in chocolate. I didn't realise they would be THAT bad, but it certainly makes you want to burn them off.
My money troubles are over. I decided to omit these details before, because I wasn't sure if I had been signed up, but me and my friend have signed up for medical trials. Basically, we go into hospital for a week, they give us some pills and measure the effects. The pills are anti-inflammatory jobbies, similar to another pill that's a steroid. They've already been tested on another group of people, I'm just a week behind them. The risk is very small :). But the outcome is muy grandé: I get $2050 upon leaving hospital.
My friend is getting the same treatment, and the same amount. This will possibly help us fund the roadtrip, if it's still on. Scott is in Canberra seeing a friend, but he tells me it's not as fun as he thought it would be. So who knows.
More good news, some roommates left this morning, for the same reason I did; they didn't book another week quickly enough. So I sneakily grabbed the bottom bunk, hoo-harrrr. Sho shneaky.
Not much else to report on really. Making friends, I have a cool Canadian roommate to chat to.
Alright mateys, next report coming in a few days.
All the best.
Byeeeee

"What?!"
"I want you to hit me, as hard as you can." (Tyler Durden, Fight Club)

"But where is the food, the shade, the rum?"
"The rum is gone!"
"But why is the rum gone?!" (Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann, from Pirates OT Caribbean)

Tuesday, 18th.
Scott is back from his mini travels, all is well. The road trip is still on, so that's something to look forward to. I'm still trying to get by as smoothly as possible. No more DeathSquares. Watched Snatch last night in the gym, all for that final fight scene. Burnt off 1,000 calories. Woop! Was on there for an hour forty minutes, haha. My legs hurt.
I've discovered that humans live for distraction. What we really want, all we need, is to get by, trying to find something to keep us from boredom. I say humans, but I really mean I was walking the streets the other day, trying to think of something to do. And the other day I had a lazy day, something I hadn't had in a while. I basically sat on my bed, watching series my friend had left behind with me, while eating milk and cookies. Beautiful! I plan on doing it again sometime, it truly was amazing.
Not much else to say really.
Umm...
The weather's still nice. I discovered quite a severe tan line on my arm, where the Tshirt ends. My body is still pale as milk, haha, need to get that sorted.
Nope, I'm out.
See ya...
Oh yeah, plan on sending Emma's pressie soon. Anti nag, anti nag...
Bye

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long." (Blade Runner)

Ello ello people. Not much to report on, just popped in to say a friendy "Ello ello."
Melbourne is sunny again, it's nice. People are all cool, have been invited to a barbeque on Saturday, and some friends from the Jolly Swagman are coming down here tomorrow, so that could be exciting.
Anyway, low battery. Keep smiling everyone :). And if there's nothing to smile about, remember something that made you laugh. Don't be ashamed to laugh out loud at that thought, who cares what other people think. Treasure those happy moments :).
Alright people, gotta go.
See ya.

"I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday." (Lester Burnham, American Beauty)

Friday 6th

Hello people.
Ok, still no job. Turns out now is the time when uni students are on holiday, so all the available jobs are filled by them. But they should be gone in a few weeks, so remaining hopeful.
But me and my friend are doing our little things to keep the money we got. Eating spaghetti on toast for dinner, getting the free breakfast, stretches out the pennies.
We got removed from the kickass hostel. Basically we didn't book another week quickly enough, and they booked our beds for other people, so we had to move hostel. Now in a dingy, horrible place, so we're staying out of there as much as possible in the day.
But I've booked us back in for next week, so there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Battery's about to die, so hope you're all ok.
Speak soon.
x

"The world's getting smaller Jack."
"No. There's just - less in it." (Barbossa and Jack Sparrow, At World's End)

Saturday 6th,
Not feeling great. Me and my friend discovered a DVD room in the crappy hostel, which has raised it's standards slightly. We still try and avoid it throughout the day, but at least there's somewhere to chill.
Anyway, last night we watched The Dark Knight. With goon (cheap box wine). And I drank a lot. Like three litres of the stuff. Embarrased myself slightly, apparently. But not unrecoverably. Like, I was funny.
But gotta limit the stuff.
I'm reading a book, I can't remember the name, but it's about a man who took meladin (?), a drug, and got someone to record how he behaved and what he said while going on this inner trip. And basically, I've read that throughout history, mankind has been on a voyage, trying to escape this world and mentality by taking drugs, and drinking alcohol. It's a deep, very human need, to escape this world, and people do it by taking drugs and drinking.
I find it a very interesting read. The fact that this universe is not enough for a lot of people.
Strange, huh?
Anyway, I'm beginning to ramble.
It's 45 degrees outside. People have died across Australia, it's insanely hot. Like, you pray for a breeze, and then the wind hits, and it's EVEN HOTTER.
Not fair.
Speak soon, all the best people.
See yaaaa...

"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." (Oprah Winfrey.)
"It's hard to let go, isn't it?" (William Parish, at the end of Meet Joe Black.)

Sunday 8th.
Good day peeps. I'm having trouble sleeping. It's been happening for a few weeks now, but I just lie there, for hours.
And then when I finally hit the hay last night, I dreamt of people back home. Woke up troubled.
Maybe tonight it'll be different, but today will not be the best.
Anyway, on a happier note, me and Scott have plans! Basically, he found out it's cheaper to live in Adelaide, and he's got a really good friend there. And he found out the cheapest way to get there is to rent a campervan, and have a road trip, which will be AWESOME. So we're looking into that.
Speak soon, anyway. I try to update whenever I can, but I might go for a few days, maybe even a week, without being able to get to an internet spot.
See ya.
"Don't let today's disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow's dreams." (Unknown)
"As soon as you start to pursue a dream, your life wakes up and everything has meaning." (Barbara Sher)



Hello there everyone.
Not too much excitement to report on really. Booked back into the nice hostel, woop. Will buy a pillow today, see if that helps me sleep. The ones at the hostel aren't great.
My friend leaves tomorrow for a few days, he's off to see his friend in the next city. I'm staying here, so I'll try and get into the gym as often as possible and run myself into the ground.
Yeah, I really don't have much to say at all. Sorry.
Just worrying over this UCAS situation, nobody's responding to emails.
Speak soon, anyway.
The Amazingly Fantastical Tompalompalous

"Hey, you heard of this guy, The Amazingly Fantastical Tompalompalous?"
"Course I have, he's the bomb!"
"I know!" (Inner conversation in my head)