Homer: "Saxomophone, saxomophone...."

Got up about 6:50. Had oats and made lunch, so was basically right on time for work.

Had training at 8:30, which right through to about 10:15, cos it was just us lowly accountant people from manager down (for most of it) - we were talking about Capital Allowances (that's ITAA 1997 Div 40, of course). Depreciation, for the rest of you. Yeah. Groovy.
Plus, the bit that made it really (actually) great was that they buy us a round of Miss Maude's coffee. Although Mogli reckoned it gave him severe gastro problems - and something, at least, was making me queasy; although that might've been the two pieces of chocolate cake (see below).

Then we discovered a bit after that that it was WAB?s birthday yesterday, so he went out to buy food. While he was out, got a delivery to sell stuff for Daffodil Day, even though its not for like 2.5 weeks. But we had all ordered these little yellow squishy soccer ball things for $6, so that was great.
Then WAB? came back and there was morning tea. Super!

And then an hour or two later it was lunch. But due to the food, etc, me and Mogli just played soccer in the boardroom for 15 minutes or so. Then had lunch.
Got a call at 1:45 from the windscreen repair people, who said they'd be there in 10 minutes. So went down in about 8 minutes and they weren't too late. Took about half an hour. Paid my $150 excess. Super. The guy was like super English accent type, and somehow knew my surname was from Cornwall. Woah....

Played a bit more soccer in the afternoon - it was really slow and boring. And now we like can't use the internet cos its being monitored like crazy nonsense. Sigh.....
Left at 5.

Tried playing more sax, for about another 15 minutes. Got from high F all the way down to G pretty easily, and could squeeze out low F and E on occasion, but no further. Still, tiring. And my lips are numb. But that means, in theory, I could play the main hook for Baker Street. Though Going Home is a still a long way off.....

Watched The Simpsons, then Futurama and two more Simpsons episodes. The first was based on 24, so while on the whole it wasn't very good, at least the presentation was interesting.

Then started watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. So far, its been just as wonderfully stupendous as all the others......
sigh.

Slept about 10:45.

Homer: "Lisa, may your new sax bring you years of...d'oh!"

Got up about 10. Which, yes, was way too late.

Went shopping at 10:30. Really wanted to buy Pods, but for some reason the Woolworths there no longer stocks them. Great.

Got back and rang my insurance company to get my windscreen fixed. They arranged to do it tomorrow at work between 12 and 3 - except that I need to arrange a downstairs parking spot.

Rang Mogli to get a weak latte from the coffee guy. But he never showed up.

Watched a bit more of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind while eating lunch.

Left for work around 12:30. Thus I got there 15 minutes early.

Was doing work the whole rest of the day, basically. Cos the people had answered my questions.
Left at 5.

Got home and almost immediately began trying to play my saxophone again. But I didn't do well - could manage G, A and B only. And even G took a bit of effort. So tried for about 15 minutes, but the new housemate guy was back and kept interrupting.

Watched The Simpsons, then made dinner. The Big Brother finale was on, which went from 7 to past 10. At 10 I got fed up and went and looked up the result on the internet instead.

So during it I finished watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and then watched some of my favourite songs from The Wall movie.

Slept just before 11.

Homer: "Thankyou, Bill Cosby; you saved the Simpsons!"

Got woken up at 9 by....myself. Cos I leave my briefcase at the end of my bed, and its usually open. So today - and I think its the first time - I touched it with my foot and thus, cos of gravity, it closed and went BANG. But then I knew that I was touching it with my foot, so I may've been half awake already, or something. Like yesterday.... Same time, some more. Freakishness.

Left about 9:50, which I knew would be too early, even though it was a little late.... Got to FCC at exactly 9:15, and found the new treasurer guy pretty much straight away. So then we went in at 9:20, signed the things at 9:25 and went out and that was it. So I was 35 minutes early....which was great. Had some really odd conversation with some kid, which interrupted my sleep.

Message was from old pastor guy. Gee, he hasn't changed a bit.

Went outside to get lunch, cos there was some sausage sizzle thing. Saw V, who was halfway through one already - he reckoned he was hungry, or something. What's up with that?
And, finally (after one whole week, as far as I know) saw Leo and managed to offload my old camera. So, that was nice.

So got home about 1:30. Started my ironing almost straight away, but had some breaks inbetween. Watched about four episodes of Seinfeld, which finished season 8. Then watched Thank God Your Here from 3 weeks ago (ie, the first one of this season) which I borrowed from Mogli. Then I kept ironing during a bit of Big Brother and a bit of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And, for some shirts, it seemed to be an almost completely pointless exercise.

Had another coffee somewhere in the middle there. Tried the fine grind, which seemed to make it a little better, actually. A bit too strong, even. Still not a great taste. And I used too much syrup.

Got dinner from MacDonalds - had the new homestyle burger meal, with a vanilla thickshake. Man, that's a nice burger. I still think they should name it the McYuck, or something - like, its so good we can name it something bad and people will still buy it. Sorta like reverse psychology.....

So watched part of the Big Brother eviction show, and then most of Rove in LA. Nothing special, either of them.

Slept about 11:30.

"And for those who prefer drama, there's sport" - Monty Python's Flying Circus

Got up at 9, cos Mogli rang me. Couldn't say if I was awake or not - I think so.
Had a shower and started downloading all those songs that I bought yesterday. Went over to his place at 10:15.

He decided sometime last night or something that he was going to buy a Wii. So we went to Target to get a catalogue so some other place could price match - and they didn't have any. So we had to wander around the store till we found one. They were also out of all Wiis and accessories.
Then went Harvey Norman and got more catalogues. But the Wii wasn't on special there, so left it and went off to JB Hi-Fi. And they were selling it for $388 with two games (although one was Resident Evil which Mogli didn't approve of). But he got it anyway. But he also wanted the Wiiplay with the bonus controller, and JB had it cheap but no stock. Also looked at Macbooks. Super. Saw 13 & o there - that was weird.
Then went down to Myer at Garden City. They had Wiiplay in stock, but the guy said they couldn't price match with JB cos JB had none in stock. So Mogli rang like four other JB places until he found one which had none but said their computer showed one other one had three, even though they themselves said they didn't have any. But he got the good price, anyway.
Went and got lunch at Jesters. It wasn't enough....

Watched a bit of Carlton v Saints. Somehow, I tipped Carlton - odd. They lost, of course.
Then played some Wii. Its kinda strange - not to mention fairly strenuous. Played like tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, boxing and then these weird shooting and aiming games, that weren't very good. Mogli was just going on and on the whole time about how much it was all costing....
Left about 2.

Saw on my footy tips today that I got the exact margin for the Eagles v Bulldogs game; should've bet....
And of course stoopid Fremantle lost by record amounts - how could anyone have seriously expected them to win?

So I spent basically the whole afternoon checking my itunes tunes that I downloaded. And like putting away my clothes from the past week and all that stuff from the previous three in Sydney. And throwing away all those receipts.

Then started watching Mr Smith Goes to Washington, since the version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire I had seemed to be in French. I was expecting Sidney Poitier to be in that film, for some reason, so was really thrown when it turned out to be that James Stewart guy from Its a Wonderful Life. Still, its alright so far.

Watched some Seinfeld and had a coffee, which meant I could finally use my Epic beans. And, it really didn't make any difference - still just tastes like quite bad and stuff. Sigh....

Went and got Hungry Jacks for dinner again. I once again wanted onion rings and a vanilla thickshake, but they never gave me the opportunity, so just got the standard bacon deluxe large meal. Oh well. Sickly type burger....

Watched Enemy at the Gates, but only cos it was on earlier - I ended up watching quite a bit of Stepford Wives cos I was changing during the ad breaks. And its a better film. Nyeh.

Slept about 12.

"I had a dream that a hamburger was eating me!" - Seinfeld

I had some dream sometime this week that I was walking around Sydney by myself - and it was a lot of walking. So when I finally arrived at this foodcourt, I was really hot, so I left my jacket and some incidental papers that I was carrying by the door (actually, it was some manhole) with some other guy's suitcase - donno who that was. Then I went walking around trying to find a place that sold icecream cos I was hot. I finally found one, when I happened to look at my stuff, which was fine, then I looked away for a second and it was gone. But I saw the guy (a real horror movie type villain) so I yelled after him and he turns around and throws my stuff back at me. Not that it was valuable, or nothing, but it would've been real inconvenient to lose it.
So what does that tell me? That I'm holiday-sick and bitten by the travel bug? Well, dur......

Got up a bit before 7. Made lunch - why not?

Got to work a bit before 8. At 8:15, me and Mogli began the fun, fun task of taking the archive boxes downstairs so they could be loaded into one of the partner's cars and driven down to the archive storage place in Subiaco. We did 3 stints of about 45 minutes each. Most tiring, etc. But at least it used up some time - cos I didn't really do any work the whole morning, except for half an hour right at the end.

Had lunch, then drove down to West Perth, cos it was just about beginning to rain. Somehow, managed to get nominated to also deposit stuff at Commonwealth and National. So we walked through the rain to do that. Then went to Epic. And, since it was raining, and since it was Friday, we sat down inside. I had a mocha - almost got a hot chocolate, but I had one of my own earlier to try and build up energy levels to cart the boxes.
Then Mogli needed to go to the chemist, so I waited for him on Ventnor. Then dropped him back at work and went home.

Spent a few hours going through iTunes and buying all this music that I had downloaded, since I didn't think it was on there, but now lots of stuff is - like Gangsta's Paradise, Cat Stevens and The Godfather soundtrack. Anyway, spent about $57.

Watched the weather, finally. It wasn't very exciting. They said something like we'd had 130mls compared to the July average of about 160. So that's not too shabby.
Then went to Hungry Jacks and got dinner. It wasn't easy ordering, since it had just started pouring with rain which flooded into the car with the window down. So I tried to get my fried changed to onion rings and the drink changed to a thickshake, but only the former got through.

So saw the end of The Simpsons. Then watched Seinfeld bloopers. Then it was about 6:50, so left with my washing to 13 & o's house.

They'd bought a new car, but I was focused on my washing not falling all over the place, so walked past it without realising.
Had cell and that. It was a nice small group. Great.
Then had espresso machine coffee, and some strange biscotti, cos it seemed to have a faint fishy flavour.

Slept about 11:30.

"Please, last this day. Stay one more day" - Dido

I was listening to that song in the car on the way to work this morning. Its off the 'new' Faithless album - but I only bought that song and the lead single 'Bombs'. Anyway, so I heard the chorus, and it was great, and Dido is always great with Faithless - donno, it just works. But, I guess I'd never really listened to the verses for some reason till today. And they are basically talking about some guy (or whatever) in a coma or something, who just lies there in a vegetable type state and does nothing, and, I assume, will probably never do nothing. Then she says 'but you mean the world to me, so please, last this day. Stay one more day'. In essence, please don't die. And then I remembered that she has delayed her latest album for a year and a half cos her father died... its very emotional stuff. Actually, it seems that since the album is called 'To all New Arrivals' that its probably talking about some like near-stillborn baby. Maybe.

Got up about 6:50. Almost didn't make lunch, cos it was really quite late. But I did. And got to work late. Oh, dang.

Stayed around till almost 9, then went off to the city client. I wasn't expecting it to be long.
Didn't do a lot of a while, then at about 10 someone suddenly decided there were lots of invoices that needed to be processed. So, it looked like I'd be there for a bit longer.
Had morning tea at 10:30. Had this chocolate slice that looked really rich, but, apart from it tasting a little strange (like it had alcohol or something in it), it was quite light. And drip brewed coffee (as in the non-percolated stuff).
Then there was putting in those invoices. Finished at 12, and had to wait almost an hour for the main guy to come back to he could authorise the payments. So didn't get back till about 1:20.

Went down with Mogli to Harbourtown - he wanted to get some CD from the Dirt Cheap CD store. So, since we were at Harbourtown, it was imperative that we go to Gloria Jeans. But, I strengthened my resolve and tried the standard normal latte. And, man, was it not good to the extreme. Why did I ever divert from my precious VVL?
Anyway, the store didn't have Mogli's CD. And then we (eventually) went to some health food shop, and they didn't have what he wanted there, neither. So we went back, paying $3 for parking for an almost complete failure of an expedition. At least I know not to get normal GJs coffee now....

Went back and I had lunch. Great.
Then searched for bonsai. Found a place in Perth that sells them for about $20, but my subsequent research on Wikipedia has pretty much confirmed that trying to grow one myself will be an exercise in futility. I should just go for a bird or something instead....

Didn't do much in the afternoon. There was a new job on my desk, for accounts and BAS, which I guess I did for most of the time. Super.
Left at 5:30.

Hmm, there was supposed to be SVU on tonight - they were advertising it right up till Monday, or something. Then they put on some Simpsons movie special - right....
Watched the normal Simpsons, then went and got dinner from KFC. Got a sweet chili twister and a small mashies, for like $8. Enough, I guess. Then ate my last Krispy Kreme donut....
So watched the Simpsons episode that they had - well, most of it. The ending of it is silly, so I turned it off about 7:20.

Then watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm doing this because, despite the Order of the Phoenix not being good, I thought maybe I didn't appreciate it enough cos I was missing too much info from the 3 films that I either hadn't seen or couldn't remember well. Anyway, its silly to have seen 1, 2 and 5 and not 3 and 4. So, there you go.
The film was, of course, long and boring and not good like the rest. They had this time travel bit, but even that was so obvious and........yeah.

Slept about 10:30.

"Well, I haven't seen it, so I couldn't tell you if it was good or if it really, really sucked." - Elaine, Seinfeld

Got up about 6:50, which was probably a bit too late. Didn't eat breakfast (mainly cos there's no time - like every other day, really), but made lunch.

Went down to City Toyota in Aberdeen street in Northbridge. Unfortunately, I forgot where I was going until I was at Roe street, but in the middle lane when I needed to turn. So went down to Newcastle street and went that way. Then I missed the turn to Aberdeen street so had to go down to James and then back up again. Then parked in the courtesy bus spot, cos there was noone else. And had to wait for another courtesy bus to come. So I didn't get to work till a bit past 8.

Was doing work, I guess. Yeah, the morning was OK.

Got a lift with WAB? down to the place at 1, after eating lunch. Mogli came too, so he came back with me. So I finally got to use my iTrip. It works pretty well - its a lot more instantaneous than the old one. And it has this weird thing where it plays at constant volume - it doesn't matter how loud the ipod is. Which is good and bad.

So we went and got coffee from Epic. Mogli paid this time, since I paid for his on Monday. I thought it was a little better - but it took a while for them to make it.

Had training about 3:15 on the new MYOB PDF manager and intranet. Didn't really learn anything useful. I guess some other people did, though. Finished about 4:45.

Stayed at work till 5:30. But I didn't do much. Pretty much out of work by that stage - waiting for queries.

Watched The Simpsons. Went and got Red Rooster - the chicken dinner thing - for dinner at 7:15. Still got back in time to see the end of Big Brother - well, the credits at least.
Then it was Thank God You're Here; thank God it's back. And it hasn't lost any of its appeal - except that there seemed to be less of the midweek segments what they put on in the middle of the proper scenarios. Which is unfortunate, cos I think those bits are usually the best.

Then watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - hence the quote. I actually have seen it, but I couldn't really remember it. Although what I remembered was better than it actually was. Yech....

Slept about 11.

"This isn't just plan 7 or 8 from outer space; this is plan 9....the one that really worked; the worst movie ever made!" - Seinfeld

Got up about 6:50. Cold and stuff.

Had oats for breakfast and made lunch. Still got to work really early. Mogli came in about 8 and we flew the helicopter around in the boardroom. Well, up and down in the boardroom, at least.

Had training. It was really boring, cos it was just like discussing general stuff type sorta thing. Lasted until 9:30.

Then went down to the city client. Only stayed one or two hours, cos they didn't have any money so couldn't pay anything or anything. Got back at 12.

The coffee guy didn't come. Not that it mattered, cos we were going to Epic - Mogli basically hadn't gone in the past 3 weeks cos I was away. So ate lunch and walked down to West Perth - and it didn't really rain, which was nice. Got small lattes. Its got such an interesting nutty flavour - super!

Came back and flew the helicopter some more. It eventually ran out of power, but still isn't really doing any more than up and down and wonky.

Kept doing work in the afternoon. That's great, huh?
Left at 5.

Came back and one housemate was there - cleaning. She was complaining that the internet was too slow, so I was just trying to change stuff like right up till 7:30. Then I just went and had dinner and watched Simpsons. And its the same anyway.

Then watched Plan 9 from Outer Space. Its supposed to be like 'so bad its good', but it wasn't - it was just bad. But not that bad, if you know what I mean.

Slept about 10:45.

Karl: "So does he still work here, or what?"

Mmmm, yes.

Got up about 8. Finally rang the internet people, and it turned out it was the login password that was the problem - an S instead of a 5. So that was a big waste of time, then.

So I spent a while uploading all my photos onto my blog for my holiday and doing other stuff like that. Had to construct some more panoramas in the meantime.

Finally had a shower about 10 and went down to the post office to get my parcels. It was some great stuff - I'm happy. Yay!

Then kept forgetting to ring the Toyota people, so finally did about 11:30 and booked it in for Wednesday to get my radio fixed. Again.

Then watched some more Seinfeld and ate lunch.

Then went back to good ol' work. Hardly anyone was there....

I got Mogli to get me a weak mocha from the coffee guy (actually his replacement, cos Greg is in Bali) - cos he comes in at 12. It really wasn't that bad. Mogli says he always puts an extra shot in for free, which is why it tastes so horribly bitter normally. So weak is actually normal.

Anyway, there was some stuff piled up. Not too much, but at least it kept me occupied for the day.

Got the mosquito helicopter, and my new Simpsons CD - finally! Decided to just take it home and sort it out there.
Left at 5.

Still raining off and on - my clothes will take a while to dry, I think.

Tried the helicopter - it took ages cos I had to get these tiny little screws off. And then it really didn't do nothing but go up and down - the left, right, forward and back doesn't seem to work very well at all.

Watched more Seinfeld while eating dinner. Then watched Big Brother from 8-8:30. No desire to watch any more.

Kept doing blog photo stuff after that. Slept about 11.

"Life. Oh, life. Ohhhh, life" etcetera....

Got up about 9:45 - 15 minutes after my alarm. Ah.

Tried to rip the final two songs from V's version of Fleetwood Mac, cos mine had all sorts of errors. But his did, too. Strange.

Left about 10:20, and went and got money. It was about to rain, it seemed. Again.

So got to church about 10 minutes early, which is way too early. Music was sounding quite tinny - donno if it was just cos of all that Hillsong stuff, or what.
I brought my old camera to give to Leo, but he wasn't around. For the whole day, apparently. Odd.
Waited around for V afterwards, but he was catching up with all his people, obviously. Took the traditional 'Sunday after his birthday' photo.

Went and got Jesters for lunch. Even though it was about 2:30 by then, there was like heaps of pies. So I got a Nutty Chook and a Spud Deluxe. Great. Had custard filled donut afterwards, cos it wasn't enough.

Then watched lots of Seinfeld while I did large amounts of ironing. I don't know why it was so much, really - and then I've got all my new shirts to do (5), but they are hanging out on the line, and probably won't be dry for a week.

Watched the eviction decisions from Big Brother, in the midst of eating dinner and watching more Seinfeld.
Then watched Rove (in New York), which they dragged on for two hours. Kind of ironically, it made me think of Sydney.....

Slept about 11. Which is kinda early, but, again, there's no internet.....

"Prison life consists of routine. And then more routine." - Red, The Shawshank Redemption

Just have a guess. Go on....

Got up about 9. Took my washing out from last night and put the next load in.
Internet still not working.
Wanted tea, but no milk. Eventually had green tea instead. It was OK. Had a donut with chocolate icing and sprinkles as well. Cos there was no other food....

Put all my photos on from my camera - that took ages. Then there was more ages spent collating some of my panoramas - only up to day 8. In the meantime, was ripping the songs from the CDs that I bought, which took longer than normal cos the internet wasn't working so there was no update thing. So I was updating my ipod, too.

Rang the iinet helpline, but there was some prerecorded message which said they were experiencing broadband problems in my area. Don't know how they could tell that from a mobile phone....

Went down to the post office about 11, cos I figured it might be one of those ones that close at 12. It wasn't - it obviously closes all day. So, great.

Went shopping at Broadway about 1:30. I think I managed to get all of the essentials, including toilet paper and dinner and lunch and stuff for next week. At least, part of next week. Wholly satisfying shopping expedition. The only thing I didn't get was hand soap, and that's cos I couldn't find it, not that I forgot. And its not that important....

Was waiting for my third load of washing, but it was still gonna be half an hour, so I just gave up and went over to 13's house to dry what I already had. He was watching football, so watched some of that - stoopid Dockers won. Then watched some rugby, where Australia lost rather convincingly. Then there was more football with Eagles doing well - well, Ben Cousins was, anyway. And then soccer, with Japan hopefully going to win.
Also ate some pizza and drank some tea. Left about 7:15.

Went over to V's house, cos we were going out for his birthday. Actually, it was just family and an aunt. But, anyway....
Went to Terrazza's in Applecross. I had the duet, which was OK, I guess. Also there was garlic bread and chips and then more chips and then I had someone else's chicken. V's dad kept ordering food and that....

Then went back to his house and I had coffee. Me and V talked to Ali for a bit about the trip - until 11 or so. Then went home.

Slept nearly straight away. I mean, the internet was still not working, so....

So ends Joe's sojourn in Sydney....

Drat. Back to the old, boring routines, then...

"And I realise - I'm going home" - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Happy birthday to V. Extra happy, cos we're never gonna have to spend another night in 'The Valley of Death', 'Sodom and Gomorrah', 'Gangsta's Paradise', etc.

Set my alarm for 8:30, so we could finish packing and get out of the room by 10. But I didn't sleep well - the saxophone guy finished early enough, I think, but I kept getting woken up by stuff; people's alarms (like, before 7) and various other stuff. Then when my alarm finally did go off, I dropped my phone so V had to try and get it off the floor.
So left about 9:30. Put the mountains of bags into storage - all pretty much jammed full. Got my key deposit back - yay!

Then got some more H2Go - back to lemon and lime - hooray! And walked down to the internet cafe, so V could use up his last hour. And I had 90c, plus V's final 20c, so I got an extra 26 minutes....

Then went down to the food court to have lunch. I got the chicken schnitzel with two vegetables again - good, wholesome stuff. With a Lipton green tea with citrus. And V got nachos again.

Then we were gonna go over to Point Piper and look at Australia's most expensive street - but it was way too far away and we were both having serious foot problems. So we decided to go and look at Russel Crowe's house, which was much closer.
Went through the botanical gardens. I saw fruit bats - or some relative, anyway. They were flying foxes, but grey not red. Also saw a whole bunch of sulfur crested cockatoos on the grass with pigeons - like seagulls. And I always thought they were kinda rare....

So came round the point there and saw a whole bunch of naval ships. V thought it was funny if Russell Crowe lived so close to such an industrial type zone - but he did. Cos V spotted the house - it looked like some restaurant, or something, to me. A whole lotta nothing, really.
So we sat down there for a while, cos it was a long walk. And while we were there, there was a minah which was jumping around for a bit. Then two magpies came right up to where we were sitting, and they both, straight after each other, stuck their beaks into the soil and pulled out worms. We sat there for a while trying to figure out how they did it, without success.

So then it was only 1, but we decided to walk back to the city - cos what else were we gonna do. And then it started raining, so we took shelter in the first place we could find - which just happened to be the art gallery. So we went in there, and there was all this stuff on display for free (well, donations aside). So went and looked at all this art - and, man, there was lots of art. Some of it was pretty crap, as you'd expect - but there was plenty of good stuff. Took a photo of about 4 paintings. Saw some Andy Warhol (though not his famous stuff). And Brett Whiteley (which was a big load of nothing) and that guy that does Ned Kelly in simple form. Plus a self portrait of Rubens.
Then we left and I wanted to donate some money to them, but I forgot.

So spent a few hours there, then went down to the Lindt cafe about 3:30. Got a proper hot chocolate this time. Pretty tasty....
Then went down to Borders. Read some books and stuff. But I couldn't buy anything, so that was that.

Left about 4:45. Went to the food court again, so V could get fruit salad. To calm his conscience, I think.
Went back. Bought train tickets from the station on the way, cos V figured it would be really inconvenient with all the bags and stuff. And I think he was pretty right about that.
So got all the bags and stuff and struggled down to the train. It was about 5:30 now, so rush hour, which really helped. Went down to Central and got off there. It was all going fine, on one level, and then a huge set of stairs up to the station which was pretty evil.
So got to the domestic airport, which was just escalator after escalator and all these tiny little gaps - at least 4 or 5 levels up.
And finally got to the check-in, which had a crazily long line. So waited around for ages. Our bags were over by like 5kgs per bag, so that's 10kgs per person, so that's 20kgs in total. Apparently. Oh well.

Then went over to the food court there to have dinner - it was about 7:15, so we still had plenty of time before 7:45. Had Red Rooster, which was great.
Then went over and bought krispy kreme. And water.

So then went and waited around for the boarding to start. V went off to the bathroom, and then it started. They were boarding all seats at once through both doors, and we went to the wrong one, so it was a big struggle getting down and getting the stuff in and sitting down and that. All very stressful. And it was pretty much full, unlike the flight over when we had an empty seat next to us. And it was like almost 5 hours. So I was crammed and my knees were getting really sore by the end.
Still, listened to my ipod, which is always nice. Super. And the guy sitting next to us was reading the book by Christine Caine what I just bought at the Hillsong Conference; coincidental......

Got in just before 11 (Perth time). As we were flying in and the city was below, I looked out the window and I couldn't recognise anything - it could've been any city at all. Still, somehow, it all felt so familiar.
Waited for our luggage for a while. V got one of his bags, and half the handle was missing. That was weird.
Then went outside and tried to find V's sisters, so walked up and down a bit.

Went back to 13's house, but he was trying to sleep, so just took my keys and left.
Drove home a bit shakily - I think I did most things on instinct. Really missing my radio - probably can't get it fixed for another week, or so. So I can't use my iTrip - dang!

Got home and all the mail was still in the box - that's three weeks worth. So there was some water damage....
Started some washing and did some minimal unpacking. The internet wasn't working.
Slept about 1.

"One day more!" - Les Miserables

Not that I want the holiday, in general, to end, of course - but it will be nice to sleep in my own comfy warm bed in my quiet little street. And have a decent shower. This King's Cross place....its a bit, just a little bit, y'know, dodgy and that. And tonight will be the last night. And, I have to say, I ain't gonna be missing it.

Got up about 9:20. Left a bit before 10, I guess.
Went straight to the internet cafe. Stayed there till about 11:30.

Went down to Chinatown, to Market City. Had Nandos. V thought that was pretty funny. For some reason, we both really struggled to finish. I actually had to save the last quarter of my Coke Zero, cos it was just too much.

Then went downstairs to the markets. Wandered around in there for quite a bit. But there wasn't nothing new.

Went over to the World square under the EY building, cos V wanted to buy more weird stuff from the Asian grocer. So, yeah.

Then went back to the Pitt street market. Went to Myer and had a bit of a look around there. V bought some jumper which was on sale. Went up and had a look at the floors up there. So a floor of Emo clothing. Then some DVDs which said they weer under $15. I saw XMen and thought, this is great - but it was actually $20. So I guess it just must've been select ones. Saw The One for $10, but V was going on about how stupid it was, and I really only wanted it for the last scene (where Jet Li fights himself), which isn't worth $10. Besides, I don't need to go spend anymore money.

So then went for a wander into a part of the city where we hadn't been - sortof north and west - though we haven't really been north and east, either. Anyway, didn't see much. I was on the lookout for Krispy Kreme, but didn't see that. Saw some Eiffel Tower like thing on the top of some building - I think it was just a transmitting tower. There was some kinda park nearby - but it wasn't very nice.

So then we were walking back and it was 2:45 and it was like 5 hours to dinner, so its like, why don't we go watch Harry Potter? And so we did.
Yes, well, we weren't expecting much from it, I don't think. And that's good, cos it really wasn't very good. At the start, nothing much happened. Then, later on, nothing really happened. Until the end, when nothing happened at all. So, yeah. A whole lot of nothing going on. Which is kinda weird, cos it doesn't look like it will be like that. Oh, well. Maybe I just didn't understand cos I haven't seen the two before this one. Or, maybe not.

Then it was only 6, so we went to Borders - good ol' late night shopping. I looked at some really good U2 books, but the best was like $60 - forget that!
Then went to find Jason and the Argonauts, which I did with the help of the service guy. Its by some Greek guy starting with A - Aristopolus; well, not that, but something along those lines. More ls. Anyway, the point is, its not Homer. Which has really confused me about O Brother, Where Art Thou? (coincidentally, perhaps, used in my last post), cos that's supposed to be (loosely) based on the Odyssey (though interpretively so, of cos - since its set in 1920s America. And its a comedy). But the only bit familiar to me was where they meet these women who are clearly supposed to be the Sirens - but those are in Jason and the Argonauts! Which is why I thought that story was called the Odyssey. But the Odyssey is about Odysseus returned to Greece from Troy - which is Homer's other work about the Trojan horse and Achilles and stuff - The Iliad. Ai.....
Anyway, so I was almost tempted to buy the Odyssey, just so I could try and work out what on earth is going on there. But I didn't. Cos its long and in poetry type form. As most of those old books are - not easy to read. Like Shakespeare.
Then I went back to the music section and found a book similar to the good-but-not-so-good U2 book (the story behind each song) for REM. So looked at Stand, Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People, Bad Day etc. Great.
Then it was 6:50, so we left.

But we were still really early, of course. So took the long way round by walking north on Pitt street for a while - I think V was trying to find a way down to walk along the harbour. But they were all wharves, and blocked with gates. So we had to go back down to King street and get to the wharf from there. Then walked down to I'm Angus and got there about 7:20.
So I had ribs - and, silly me, I should've got the half. Cos that was a pig and a half, seriously. I took a photo - V wanted me to put my hand next to it to show how big it was, but that didn't really work out. Anyway, I couldn't finish it all, of course. Left about 5 or so. Couldn't even finish all the mash. But V just got a 300g fillet, and he couldn't finish all that, either. I think it was the bread we had to start - but that was good bread.
Then I had an Irish coffee - but it was way too strong - both the coffee and the whiskey. That's probably how its supposed to be. Took me about an hour to finish it. Then it was 10, so we tried to leave in a hurry. But the bill has to go back and forth a few times.....oh well.

Then walked over to the internet cafe. Left about 11:00.

Slept about 12:30. Did a bit of packing, but there was someone sleeping again, so couldn't really test to see if everything will fit. V was looking a bit worried there....

"Oh, brothers, lets go down. Lets go down, come on down. Oh, brothers, lets go down; down to the river to pray" - O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Another song that popped into my head for no other reason, really, than that the beat seemed to match my walking. Oh, and we were going to Hillsong (again) at the time. It seemed appropriate, thus, I guess....

Got up about 9:50. I didn't think I stayed in bed so long after the alarm, but I guess time doesn't lie.
Left about 10:30. Got a sausage roll - it didn't seem as good as it had previously been...

Went down to the internet cafe. Got a white chocolate mocha from GJs, which was alright. There is thus only one more to try (the Irish nut creme), though I still haven't had a normal coffee. They have a triple hot chocolate, which looks pretty nice, but I'm there for the coffee. If I wanted hot chocolate I'd go to Lindt (cept that its like really inconveniently placed for us).

Then went down to the Harbour. On the way, popped into some comic book store. They had some Simpsons stuff, but it was pretty avex.

Went down to the Chinese Gardens. Took a few photos in their, but V wasn't happy cos it was the wrong time of day and he was trying to take photos of ponds in front of the Novotel and it wasn't working cos it was too bright.
Saw some people wandering around in traditional garb and assumed they were traditional like people. But then it turned out that anybody could take the clothes and take their own pictures all pretend like. And, more surprisingly, there were quite a lot of people doing it....
Saw some trees which looked like the cherry blossom trees, as seen on The Last Samurai (and others). But they were really small, so I could be completely wrong about that.
And, finally, cos I'd been hanging out for some since not seeing any in Chinatown and associated places - saw some Bonsai. And, man, it was some good Bonsai. They had the little versions for sale, the cheapest being $25, but transport would be impossible. And I'm sure that growing one would be next to impossible, but....I just can't resist miniature versions of huge trees.

Then went to McDonalds. I had the unnamed burger - which had a name. Like homestyle beef burger, or something. It actually wasn't that bad. And, finally, got a vanilla thickshake. Which tasted kinda weird. Great....

Walked through the Earth from Above exhibition again, then went to the wharf on the other side of Cockle Bay and sat there for a while. Then went up to the Maritime museum. Didn't go in, of cos, but saw the boats outside. Some sub, some destroyer and the good ol' Endeavour (junior). As I remember, I've seen it before when it was newly built before it went on its voyage to Sydney and across to England back in Fremantle (cos that's where they built it). Didn't go on it then - and didn't now, cos it was like $15. Amazes me how damn small it is.

Then went back to Earth from Above. I bought the big book for my mum. And man, she better appreciate it, cos it is so damn heavy. Not cheap either, but what do you expect. Unfortunately, its not in direct sync with the photos on display there. Cos my favourite (and it seems to fascinate most people there) is the World Trade Centre. Cos its on a great angle showing the huge expanse of New York - and, of course, its no longer there. But that was only available on the DVD. Too bad.... There is one of New York without the towers in the book, apparently. I didn't see it, tho. But my mum isn't fond of cityscapes anyway.

Then went over to Star City. Pretty unimpressive really - like Burswood, but smaller. Didn't go into the casino - once you've seen one you've seen them all, really. Besides, whats the point if I'm not gonna throw away some money; and I don't have any to spare. But it had a rather nice view, so took some more panoramas from up near the stop of the stairs. They should call it Stair City, in my opinion - I've had enough of all this climbing.

Then went back over to the proper Cockle Bay Wharf. Saw I'm Angus, so that's nice to know; that it exists, and that.

Then we walked back - that book was really heavy. And V had bought the little book, so he was in some pain, too.
Got back to KC about 5. Had a bit of a rest, which was nice. Then left again at 5:45.

Went down to the food court. Had Oporto - it only opened there late last week. And its one of the few places that stays open past about 6. Still had to wait a while for the chicken.

So went down to Redfern again, and over to the Hillsong city one. We heard on Friday that Powerhouse (which is 18-25 of the United bit) was changing to Wednesday nights at 7:30. So that was pretty momentous - cos it was a first for everyone. But, it turned out to be 8. Still, talked for a while to some guy from Grace Assembly in Malaysia. But he'd been over about 3 years, and been hanging around Australians, so didn't seem like it.

So the service bit was pretty similar to the United thing on Friday. It seemed a bit more cosy though, which was nice. Speaker, April Miller, was talking about how one can make a difference. But you need to break down barriers of insecurities which limit what you think you can do. Used the example of Gideon in Judges. But she said that Gideon defeated the Mideonites with a loaf of bread, which isn't really right (as I checked later on). It was just that one of the Mideonites dreamed that a loaf of bread knocked over one of their tents, and he was told by another that that represented Gideon of Israel who would defeat them. Then, when Gideon and his 300 (oooh, coincidence!) came down they got so scared and confused that they fought each other. Anyway....

Left about 9:30 and went back to King's Cross. Once again, people were in there sleeping already, even though it was only just after 10. But the saxophone guy was outside again....
Thus, slept about 11:30.

"Can't bear oceans" - Marvin, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Another coldest morning ever - this time in more than 20 years. 3.7, or something. Nyeh.

Got up a bit past the alarm at 9. Not cos I wasn't awake - but it was really freezing. Again.

Left a bit before 10. Went straight to the train station and went down to Bondi Junction. Had a bit of a walk around the Westfield complex there. It was big, but was all the same stuff as the city, really.
Went to Woolworths straight away and got water. Then went out and there was a Pie Face, so got a sausage roll - but they charged V 20c for sauce, unlike the one in King's Cross.

Then walked down to the beach. Surprisingly, I remembered where to go (from Google Maps) and found it without any trouble....
As I saw the ocean finally at the end of the road, it occurred to me that this is the first time I'm seeing the Pacific - outside of the plane, I suppose. My third ocean - how exciting! I thus resolved that we needed to meet more personally.

V said the beach was a lot smaller than he expected - like most things (he said that about the 3 Sisters, too). So we had a little look from a distance, but it was about 11:30 then, and he saw a Hungry Jacks, so we went and had lunch. I wanted a thickshake - the machine was broken. Ai.... Whenever I feel like icecream it just doesn't happen.

So then walked right around the beach on that raised platform thing. Took some photos from the viewing bit in the middle. Then went and sat near the tidal and kiddie pool on the rocks on the far side. Watched some surf class going on, or something.
Then, on the way back, walked about 3/4 of the beach. I was walking along the tidal line waiting for a wave so I could definitively step in the Pacific - but it took a while for a decent one.

As we were walking up away from it, saw some people filming something, or something. There was some guy using some huge piece of cardboard on a stick to block the sun for some other guy, with some more cardboard on the ground in front. It was kinda weird.
Then saw a truck from the Rossfreight company. I was gonna take a photo, but it drove away and that. Like trucks do....

Walked back to Bondi Junction, but there wasn't anything else to see there. Got a vanilla latte from some random place just outside the train station. They gave me a complimentary donut. The coffee was alright, y'know. I regretted getting the flavour, though. It wasn't what I felt like.

Went down to Town Hall. Walked over to the cinema to see when Transformers was on. It was like every hour on the half hour. So we walked back to the mall again. V got a fruit salad - it is health food Tuesday. Although all that fast food wouldn't suggest as much....
The Myer sale was still on, but we resisted. V had seen a Borders as we were leaving Bondi Junction, so I think he'd been thinking about that all day. So we went in there for quite a bit.

Then it was 5, so we went over and watch Transformers. Ah. Yes. It seemed really long to me. And not much happened. And all the jokes and stuff seemed really juvenile. And the action was all cliched and predictable and totally uncaptivating. But I guess if you like the cartoon, it might appeal. Which was possibly the point. It also seemed to be one huge advert for the American military. Though, what else could you expect, really?

So then it was a bit past 8. Went to KFC for dinner. Yep - health food Tuesday.

Then went to the internet cafe again. Stayed there till 10:30.

Slept about 11:30. Another person has moved in, and both of them were in bed already, so couldn't really stay up.

"Keep spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise" - Coolio

Cos V is obsessed with this 'walk through the valley of the shadow of death' thing (in relation to our accommodation locale) - and I think when we were at the 3 Sisters today the bus driver mentioned something about going down to the valley, so he started singing that line which is the first line to Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio. Like that Sony ad said - we are all connected. Sort of.

Got up with the alarm at 9:30. Apparently, it was Sydney's coldest night in 4 years - like 6 degrees, or something. Doesn't seem that bad.... Anyway, I don't deny that it wasn't cold - but no real different to any other night. And I was prepared....

So left about 10:10. Had breakfast at McDonalds - that place isn't so bad mid-morning. Not SO bad. Then got some more H2Go from the convenience store. Boysenberry; it was nowhere near as good. But still OK.
So then paid $44 for the Blue Mountain explorer and went off on the train. Had to change at Central, and it took us a while to find it - but it was a much nicer train. As you'd expect, I suppose. And they go like once an hour, but it was due out in 10 minutes, which was nice.

So took the 2 hour journey up. Listened to my ipod for a bit (V kept going on about how he forgot to bring his) and then read more Unfinished Tales. The scenery on the way up wasn't much - just a whole lotta trees, really.
So we got there about 1:15, and the bus wasn't leaving for half an hour - that's like at exactly the wrong time. Walked around trying to find snack bar type food along the main street - and there were just like 25 cafes (no exaggeration) and 5 bakeries - it all was a bit too upmarket for what we wanted. So we ended up just having to go to a bakery. I had a sausage roll and a shepherd's pie. Just like that day in North Sydney, really.

So then caught the hop on, hop off bus. Got off at some cascades - they were pretty average. Then took the walk train over to some falls, and found a lookout with a view of mountains - finally. That was what I wanted to see - groovy.
Came out near the supposed waterfall, but didn't see it. And that was the next stop along the way, so waited for the bus which was like 5 minutes late - V was getting pretty edgy.

Got off at Echo Point at about 2:45. I was scanning the horizon for the 3 Sisters, and then they just appeared on the left (behind that crowd of people). From all the photos I'd seen, I was expecting them to be far more off in the distance and inaccessible - and here they are at the end of some town with a viewing platform like.....I donno.....really close. And, apart from those, there was a much better (cos it was wider) view of the same mountains we'd seen from near the cascades. Hence we could see 'Scenic World' which was just off the left at the other place.

So got back on the bus at 3:15 and went down to some lookout. But it turned out there wasn't really a lookout there. Then we walked down to more cascades, which weren't much, so we kept going hoping to find some other waterfall. But we walked for a long time up and down along muddy paths, which were overgrown and steps which seemed to be missing some. And finally V decided (and I tended to agree - it was like 4:10 by then) that we were kinda lost, so walked up some ridiculously steep and seeming endless stairs - to finally arrive right outside the Toy Museum, which was stop 19 just down the road from the falls which were stop 18 (although further away). But the museum was like $22 entry, and you could forget it if I was gonna do any more walking down to some waterfall which was doubtless to be pretty lame anyway. So we just sat and waited for the 4:20 bus.
"Outta my way, nature!", as Marge said.

So got back to the train just before 5. V went and sat down and waited, but I was insanely dying of thirst, so went and got a regular latte and a Mountain Dew. It really was quite cold, and I knew the train wasn't leaving for another 20 minutes, so I figured I'd get the hot for now and the cold for later. Then got back to the station and the train had just arrived and V was getting on. It still didn't leave for 15 minutes, but at least it was really not cold. Still - good coffee.

Got back at 7:30 and went down to good ol' Eating World. Had satay beef - I saw satay sauce at Chick 2 Go yesterday, so I'd been wanting a good satay. And it wasn't a good satay - but OK lor...

Then went down to the internet cafe at 8:30. I have now paid off my Amex and Visa - about $4500. Oh well. Its not as bad as all that, really. Left about 10.

Slept about 11:45. Have decided, after that Blue Mountain dirtiness, to change to my new jeans tomorrow.

"Climbing up the walls" - Radiohead

Oh man.....one of those days.

Got up at 8:30, with the alarm. It was still a bit cold last night, so I resolved to buy some ratty jumper thing to wear to bed.
Left at 9:05, getting a sausage roll on the way. But we got to the corner of the Queen Victoria building just as the bus was leaving from the other end. So, no Hillsong.

Went to the internet cafe. Got a free VVL, which helped a bit. V found out they have a courtesy bus from the nearby station for their later service at 3:40 and again at 4:10. So we decided to wait until then and catch the train about 2:45 to get there. Stayed there until 12, so that gave us about 3 hours to kill.

Went and had lunch at the usual food court. I had an enchilada, cos I was feeling Mexican (and not that hungry. It was pretty OK - small, though. Lucky I wasn't that hungry, eh?
Then went up to Myer again, cos I wanted that jumper and V wanted to buy pants for sleeping cos of the cold. I found some $25 thing, that wasn't too unbearable. Actually, I might end up wearing that proper and sleep in the jumper I am currently wearing, cos its getting a bit dirty and stuff....

Then went down to the cheap CD place, so V could buy his Jimi Hendrix one that he forgot to get last time. And I ended up buying Arctic Monkeys, The Doors and INXS. Ai...
Then we went over and checked movie times. POTC 3 was once again on at 6:10 and 9 - and it would almost certainly be the 9 show, which meant not getting to sleep till after midnight, cos it was a 3 hour+ show, or so I heard.

Then went down to Martin Place cos I wanted to find the Lindt cafe. The first thing we saw was a Virgin megastore, so went in there. And I found Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for $10, so bought that. Then went up Martin Place and found the Lindt store, so I had to try the mocha. It was very similar to Epic's, but the coffee was more bitter. So, thus, its not as good. But not bad. And I suspect the sit-down one is better - but that's $5.50. I opted for the takeaway which was $4 - for a quite small.

And we were right next to the station, so went down about 2:45. Had to wait 15 minutes for a train. Then changed at Central and waited another 5 minutes.
Got to Seven Hills about 3:55, so we missed the first bus but were plenty in time for the second. Unfortunately, there's two sides to every station, and, though we kept watch on both sides, there was absolutely no sign of a bus. Waited around till 4:20, but nothing. So we had no choice but to take a train back to Town Hall.

Got back and looked for a pharmacy, cos I think my earplugs are losing their effectiveness. Passed a small one to go to the bigger one - but it was shut. Looked in Woolworths after, but they had nothing.
Went down to Chick 2 Go for dinner. Got the half chicken combo (with chips and drink) for $10. So its nice and cheap, but I don't think the flavour is anywhere near as good as Nandos. Anyway, so we didn't get the cinema till 6:10. But the line wasn't long, and we got in about 6:15, probably.
Anyway, so we saw the whole show (and most of the trailers). It was vastly superior to number 2, but number 2 was really quite bad. My main complaint was that it was too long, but still, nothing really much happened. Just a lot of back and forthness, really. Ah. Nevermind. Just wait for the inevitable number 4....

Then went back to the internet cafe. Left about 10:45.
Listened to some Hillsong songs back at the room. So that was something, I guess....
The saxophone guy started early tonight... But at least he finished early - like before 1, I guess.
Slept about 12:15.

I should point out as well that another reason I wanted to go to Hillsong was cos it was on a bus so I'd get a small taste of Sydney traffic. Too bad, eh?

"Something tells me its all happening at the zoo. I do believe it. I do believe its true" - Simon and Garfunkel

Wore trackie pants to bed last night - I finally succumbed to the colder nights. And I think it worked. Mostly.
V hardly got any sleep - there was some guy busking with a saxophone at 1AM, apparently. Anyway, so he took a while getting up.
Left about 10.

Walked down to the city. I had to draw money. Then found a convenience store, so I bought some H2Go water with a lemon and lime twist. It was $4, but, man, was it good.

Got the ferry zoopass and went over there. It was pretty kinda crowded...

Took lots of photos of the city. After seeing Noisy Minahs on the first day and then not since, suddenly they were everywhere. Along with Indian Mynas.

Saw some reptiles. Took photos of the star tortoise, which looked cool and was moving well, and the komodo dragon, which was insanely huge, but (or perhaps so) it was not moving at all.
Then saw giraffes and zebras and found the food place so had lunch.
Then saw some primates of some sort, then a cluster of fairy penguins - some good photo posing. Then saw some of the usual boring Australian animals.
Saw some crested pigeons in with the farm animals - don't think they were supposed to be there, but it was nice.
Went to the seals and there was a show just about to start. It looked pretty good, but we were right up the back standing behind the fence, so some of the stuff was a bit hard to see.
Then went down and saw gorillas - some big thing.
Then saw elephants, bears, lions and tigers. Tried to take a photo of a porcupine, but it was too dark. Got a good one of the meercats, though. And the snow leopard - I could only do a super close up, cos the mid shot focused on the bars instead.
Then kept going along and there was the bird show - I think it had only just started. But once again we were right up the back, so only got swooped once at the finale by a cockatoo, who's wing nearly touched my nose.
Then went looking for the platypus. Tried the nature walk thing first, but it wasn't there (to be seen). So went to the proper exhibit and there it was. Pretty much as I expected. And completely unphotographable.
Then went outside and saw an echidna. Also a quokka (like I ever needed to see one of them again) - but it looked a lot more healthy than the Rottnest ones.

So then we took the skylift back. There were heaps of people waiting for the ferry - luckily two came at once.
Got back and went up Pitt street. Went into the Adidas shop, but there wasn't nothing. So went into Myer again. And, as fate would have it, found some $30 (on sale) jeans. So....
Then went to the food court below, but most things were closed. So I had no real choice but to have a crepe, Mexican flavoured. It was alright - have to say the Fremantle ones are better - they're so much more substantial.

Then went over to the cinema with the idea of watching POTC 3. But it had started 10 minutes before, and there was a long line for tickets, so we decided to watch Fantastic Four instead.
It was very average. Some good movement scenes and special effects, I guess, and some of the jokes were OK - but it just seemed so formulaic, and they hardly used their powers except for comedic purposes and incidental tasks. Oh well....

Then went to Woolworths at 8:30. I got some more water (just plain - there was no flavoured stuff that I could see), deodorant and toothpaste (just in case).
Then went to the internet cafe till 10. I got a Caramellatte from GJs - I'm seriously wasting my money with these poor substitutes... The VVL kicks butt.

Incidentally, the Our Daily Bread for tonight was about z00keepers knowing that you shouldn't pick up snakes by their tails. So, there you go.
Slept about 11:45.

"You reign, you reign, over heaven and earth you reign. With power and justice divine, over heaven and earth you reign" - United Live

Friday the 13^th. Oooooohhhh!
They say its bad luck to be in King's Cross on Friday the 13^th....
....as opposed to every other day.
Ka-ching!

Got up a bit past 9. Was actually awake for a while and thought maybe I'd missed the alarm or something. Then it was way too cold. V also seemed very reluctant to get up.
Left about 9:50.
Got a sausage roll from the next door place - I was almost tempted to get one last night, but resisted, so this morning I was pretty hungry. And, damn, its so good. I realise I'm probably funding some underground (well, its mostly above ground over here) drug/porn ring, but I'd find it hard to care if someone said so. Yes.

Walked down to the new internet place - it was really freezing on the way, and I was doubtful the showers would hold out till 'late', when they were supposed to come.
Thus, I finally managed to update all my finances properly. At present, my net cash position is about $5k less than 2 months ago. But, people are behind in paying me their portion of rent etc, and I haven't got paid this month yet - should be early next week, I guess.
Tried to find out details for the United Live city thing tonight, without success. So V just took the number to ring them later on.

Went down to Market City. I was looking for a suitcase and found a $25 one like straight away. But I didn't buy it then. I did get a $5 glass paperweight thing instead. I saw some nice ones before (where they sell the rock mats) of the city and opera house and bridge, but they were like $50. This one was only of some sea cows, or something, but it looked pretty alright for $5.

Went across the road to Oporto for lunch, cos Mogli reckons its better than Nandos - though I knew V would be a hard sell on that front. I guess it was better - but only because it was slightly cheaper. V remained faithful to the latest find of Chick to Go being vastly superior.

Wandered around a bit more. Found a convenience store & I bought a latte kit-kat. It wasn't very good.
Then later on found another convenience store, and I bought a key ring which said 'I pray that God isn't too fussy'. It was about the only one with a G rating, so that was nice.
Went and had a look in Sony Central, then a $1 shop (although most things were more than that). Then V bought some weird fruit jelly cups from an Asian grocery store - which is like open to midnight. Right under the EY building all that stuff, too. Great.

Then we went back to the markets and got the case - she actually gave it to me for only $22, so that was nice. But then had to pull it all the way back to King's Cross. On the way, saw some busker playing guitar who had another balanced on his head - and that's like perpendicular, not horizontal. I should've given the guy money and taken a photo - but I just wanted to get back with that case.
Hence, as soon as we got back, V fell asleep.

Left at about 5:45 and walked back to the city.
Had Fullhouse (the Japanese place with the incredible chicken katsu) again. Got Ton Katsu, which is pork, but almost exactly the same as the chicken one. So, it was good. But not great - it was fairly early and I guess the chef wasn't totally warmed up, or something. But it still looked just as good, so I took a photo with my great food setting - pictures good enough to eat, etc.

Then went down to the station and caught any old train to Redfern.
Got to United Live when it was just starting. It was OK - praise was a bit nyeh but the worship was still good (I think cos we had Brooke Fraser) - except they sang that song from Mighty to Save (where its just that weird voice guy singing solo) which I think is one of their worst, then the above You Reign song, which was good but I'd never heard it before - if you can tell me where its from, I'll give you my everlasting gratitude (you don't even know what everlasting is. yes i do. so what does it mean? till i ask you again).
Then just before the speaker they sang How Great is Our God, which was nice - because I knew it (and so did everyone else).
The speaker was having his like first time as a new youth pastor. He was pretty OK - pretty funny and stuff I guess.
So there was a bit more singing after. Then left about 9:45.

Walked back to the station. Got water on the way. Was pretty quiet - but there seemed to be lots of police around, so maybe that's why.
Got back to King's Cross station at 10:30. Took the back way - man, its so much more peaceful.
Saw a guy being searched by police from out window. V tried to take a photo, but it was too dark (and, understandably, he didn't want to be using the flash).
Slept about 12.

"Its plain to see that your brains are very small if you think walking will be knocking down our wall" - Veggie Tales

I'm just having all these songs about walking and marching and stuff going on in my head. If you were here, you'd understand. Its hard not to get into some sort of rhythm with all this plodding along.

Got up at 9:30, with the alarm. Probably could've gotten up earlier....oh well. It felt really cold in the room, but at least the sun was shining brightly.
Left at a bit past 10 and walked down to the city. V wanted to go to the internet cafe first, so we went to the new, flashier one what we discovered on the wanderings last night. It was essentially the same rates, but only if at least $5 was purchased at a time. So he started that, and there was a GJs in the same building so I got....no, actually it was a mocha. Which was alright, I guess. Nyeh.
Then I bought some time for myself. And its really great, cos these computers have Excel and Word, so I used my USB - but then I realised that I'd left my first bit of paper of my spending back in the room, cos I figured that I'd never get this opportunity. So that kinda sucked. Did a bit of editing of my story, though.

Left about 11:30 and went to McDonalds. V had like a burger with nuggets and stuff, but I just got the ten nuggets. It was a little freaky, cos there were people wandering around with little electronic things, so that you could order while still in line. But not pay. Weird.
Then went down to Woolworths and I bought water. V was gonna get water too, and toothpaste (cos that's the next thing that he's lost), but decided to come back at the end of the day.

Then walked down to the harbour - specifically the Opera House. On the way, stopped to watch some street performer who stood on a bicycle on top of a pole and juggled a flaming torch, a knife and an apple and periodically took bites of the apple in the meantime. I gave him $10, cos, unfortunately, I didn't have a $5. Passed by that spot another two times and he was doing it again and again. Must be making a packet, that guy.
So walked around the Opera House and took a lot more photos. But the sun wasn't in the right place... Still, took photos of John Howard's house. I still think....

Then walked back around the other side near the bridge. Went to a souvenir shop, cos V wanted to buy a stone mat. They looked pretty cool. Then took some more photos around the bridge there. I again tried unsuccessfully to get some better perspective shots.
Then went back over to the Opera House side and walked around in the botanical gardens there. That is a lot more like Kings Park than Hyde Park is. Quite nice, really. But its only open 7-5. So we stayed there as the sun was going down, then left.

Walked back down Pitt street and then down George street and then ended up back at Pitt Street and went to the International Food Court. V had Mexican, which I was very tempted to get, but judging by the prices and descriptions I felt sure it wouldn't be enough cos I was starving. So I got the large chicken schnitzel plate from the place next door. Damn tasty stuff - but it still wasn't quite enough.
Then V wanted to go to Myer, but I was pretty sure it shut at 6 when we came down on Tuesday, and it was already past that. But it was still open - late night shopping day. Super! So he went and bought 2 more business shirts and ties and while he was trying the size again - I saw a Van Heusen in such a lovely blue colour, and it was only $45 - so I had to get that.
Then went to Giordano's again, though the one near the food court this time (again) and V got more clothing.
And then went to HMV, but all those CDs were too expensive compared to the $10 place.
Then V was looking at Borders, but we resisted and went to Angus and Robertson instead. And I found a nice small Crime and Punishment for $13 - so that was that then.

Then we went back to Woolworths, and V got his toothpaste and water.
Then went back to the Internet Cafe. Got there about 8 and left at 10.

There were people outside having a BBQ....I don't really want to know what they were cooking with.
Slept about 11:45.

"The ants went marching two by two. Hurrah! Hurrah!"

I've been humming that tune a lot lately as I've been walking around. It seems an appropriate commentary on the rush rush type society that is especially noticeable over here. Similarly to the Schindler's List train thing that V was talking about - that its all some strange, mechanical procession, with a somewhat military-esque feel.
Besides that, its a good tune. One of the reasons I think Die Hard with a Vengeance is the best one. And Die Hard 4.0 is coming out next month - so maybe its just some subconscious thing; cos I am pretty sure it will be a disappointment. Oh, well.
Incidentally, saw a bible on the bed of one of the new room guys (they're coming and going pretty fast nowadays). I mentioned to V that maybe he'd felt 'the call' to the streets of King's Cross. Man, how crazy would you have to be? Which is the point, I suppose....
And noticed that there's a Bada Bing just down the road. All I have to do is find a way to take a picture of it without getting myself killed. Ah hah. Hah.
How I wish I was being sarcastic....

Got up with my alarm at 9, after another satisfying nights sleep. My earplugs are working really well suddenly, or something.
Left about 9:30 and walked down to the city, as is the tradition. It was cloudy as nonsense out the window, and had obviously rained fairly heavy rather recently, so wore my jacket - which was still a bit wet from two days ago. Oh well - nothing you can do, really. But it didn't really rain the whole day. Bah!

Went to the discount store first off (after V got a sausage roll for breakfast, but I wasn't hungry) to look for another suitcase for me, cos I'm planning to buy more stuff and I'll need the space. Plus, then I can throw away the bag that I'm carrying around at the moment, cos its got quite a few holes, and use the smaller bag that I bought as a carry on to the plane (this is not till the journey back, you understand). Anyway, they had a quite OK one in quite an OK size for $45. V was saying that there won't be any cheaper than that, but I remember seeing some cheap ones in Chinatown so thought I should look there first. I don't need it until that last day, anyway.
Then went to Myer. I was looking for a pair of blue trousers and a black jacket for work. Found a black jacket, but with stripes - but it was $150. So I put that one my list. Also eventually found some blue pants for like less than $40, so that was good, too. But we decided to come back later and get them.
So then we walked out and discovered that we were right under the tower (as in, THE tower). And there were people with gates outside the lifts to the restaurant, but not the normal lift. So, we thought, here we go. But then we went up and there were separate tower lifts, with a long line that required tickets that were minimum $25 or something. So, said V, forget that. Too bad, I guess. I guess what they say isn't true - the best things in life you have to pay for.

So then went out and went across to the Apple store. I got a itrip for use in my car. It sources power straight from the ipod, so it might drain the battery a bit - but at least I should be safe from it destroying my radio fuse again. Besides, its so small and neat.....and a nice dark shiny black colour, like the ipod is.
Then we went back to the mall. V looked at the Sunglass Hut for, um, sunglasses. He tried on heaps of pairs and found some he liked - but they were almost $200. He says when he gets a job he'll go back and buy them.
Then we went into a jewellery store right next door. V reckoned it looked way to expensive, but they had heaps of watches, so I figured there must be a reasonably cheap one somewhere in the mix. So we went over to the Casio counter and I saw something that looked exactly like what I wanted. And it was water proof and had like this sapphire scratch resistant glass stuff. And it was only $150, which was a bit more than what I was looking for, but I couldn't stop staring at it, so decided to get it anyway.
After that walked down to the cheap CD place, cos V had all these ones in mind from before, apparently. Then I ended up getting 5 as well (for $10 each) - best of Crowded House, best of Fleetwood Mac, Emergency on Planet Earth by Jamiroquai, Around the Sun by REM and My Iron Lung by Radiohead. I also wanted a best of Cat Stevens, and V wanted the best of Midnight Oil - but in that we were disappointed.

So then it was about 1, so we went up to Fullhouse to eat Japanese. V had wanted to go there on Saturday, but it had been closed. We waited a while for the food - but, man, that was the best chicken katsu I've ever had - it was perfect. And only $9 for the set. Oh, Yuki, why can you not learn?
We left in kinda a hurry, cos it was crowded and people kept coming in. So we went down to Border's so we could keep on relaxing. Found some really great books - Steal This Book, which had all these tips about how to scam free stuff, set up pirate radio, vulnerable positions to hit people in fights and buy, sell and grow drugs. And, finally, Mein Kampf - but I don't want to buy that, lest my name go on some secret government list. Besides, reading just a small section further convinces me that its gonna be very difficult to swallow so much carp, and I am pretty sure I'm not gonna want it sitting around once I've read it once.
Then I went upstairs to the fiction section and looked more at Crime and Punishment. I managed to find the bit where he commits the crime - but hitting some old woman over the head with an axe twice. Fascinating book....but I still resisted the urge to buy it. Mainly cos the cheap copy was in rather bad shape. I guess that's my excuse, anyway....

Then we went back across the mall down into the international food court, cos V wanted to get a jacket from Giordanos. But that one didn't have it, so we walked down to George street to the one next to the cinema. And there were still plenty there. I tried on some jumper but, as I suspected, it is clothes made for people with more flattering proportions than mine. V got another jumper as well.
Then we walked back to Myer, so I could buy the aforementioned jacket, pants, and I got three ties for max $25 each. Odd colours, perhaps, but the shirts I got are odd colours too - so I'm sure there'll be some sort of combination that kinda goes, somewhere in there. I think the colours are pretty simple. We'll see, I suppose.
Then we went back down to the international food court, for no other reason than to sit, as this walking is a killer. There's a GJs down there (of cos - they're everywhere), so I got a VVL (one of these days, I'll try something different). V got a fruit salad; I think mainly to appease his health concerned conscience. That's what he said, anyway.

Then it was about 5, and we went back to the internet cafe, cos V needed it for job stuff, and we'd already decided to watch Zodiac at 9:15, so it was better to go do that now. Finished about 6:45.
So went looking for dinner, and found Chick to Go - which V wanted desperately to try, just cos of the name, I'm sure. Actually, it was called Ali Barber, I think; cos it was that kinda region styled chicken. And V just got chicken and chips - which included pocket bread (and he said it was even better than Nandos) -but I got a Greek lamb kebab. So who knows what was going on there, really.

Then it was only 7:30, and there was still 1.5 hours+ to go till the movie started. But we went and got tickets anyway - that wasted a little bit of time.
Then did some more 'walking the earth'. Ended up at Hyde Park and walked around (because it was closed) the ANZAC memorial. Saw a brushtail possum, which was nice, even though I'm sure they're really common around here - and just to prove me right, we ended up seeing another 5 or so that night. Also saw a few rats. Lovely. We tried to convince ourselves they were nice native bush rats. But I seriously doubt it.

So then we walked back. There were heaps of people around for Harry Potter - which V cannot bring himself to go watch.
We went into Zodiac 20 minutes early and there was noone there (dur Fred...). But eventually about 15 showed up.
It was almost a 3 hour show, based on a true story and they didn't catch the guy in the end (which V knew, so he was convinced it would suck). But the story moved along really well, and it didn't feel at all long to me. I really liked Robert Downey Jr. (cos he was so wacko - like Johnny Depp visa vie Captain Jack Sparrow) and the two main San Francisco detectives (always going on about animal crackers). Also noted the FBI agent from Heroes as a prison inmate - how ironic. And another Heroes connection I noted a bit later on, although of course it rang a bell at the time - its about a serial killer who takes his name from a brand of watch. Now, that cannot be coincidence....

So it finished at 12 and we walked back - still carrying all that stuff. Mainly the jacket was annoying, cos if you carry it by the hanger it swings and gets all this wind resistance, and if you don't there is no grip.
Set my alarm for 9:30 instead of 9 - for a bit of sleep in.
Slept at exactly 1. Super!