Speed Trials

June 28, 2006 – 11:20am

It’s amazing what being away for a few days can do. I have fallen in love with Melbourne, and it took an affair with Sydney to make me realize it. The weather yesterday was bleak and grey, and so I decided to take a tour of the bleak and grey parts of the city.
I started with the Queen Victoria Market, which is grungy and bustling, and the smells of fish, sausage, cheese and olives intermingle to create the most potent sense-memory of the hippy urbanite lifestyle. I had lunch there, amongst the pigeons and the vendors, unsure of which group was louder. I then made my way down to the Docklands, which would have been a disappointment (especially after seeing the Sydney Harbour the day before) had the weather been any better. But it being overcast, and with everyone I passed bundled in scarves and sweaters, it was the perfect background for this brisk fall day. The Docklands is the quickest growing development in Melbourne, and so in the far off distance I could here the sounds of steel on steel, as construction plowed through.
I then hopped a tram to Footscray, which took me through the heart of North Melbourne, arguably the “coolest” part of the city. I smiled meekly at the thin Indie Rawk boys who sat opposite me, and they smiled meekly back, and it reinforced the notion that I DO fit in. I DO belong. Footscray ended up being a perfect getaway from the rest of the city: its streets are lined with discount stores and African Cafes, and I was certainly the minority in this community.

Picture all of this whilst Hayden’s Elk Lake Serenade loops in my earphones, and it becomes clear how my infatuation of the last two weeks has turned into a deep, unconditional love!

So Andrew and I had our “talk” as we sat on the Ferry to Manly. It was really good to clear the air, and to have things said aloud. Basically things are good. We’re both very much on the same page about “us” and we’re both hopeful and patient. I am returning home as scheduled, so no worries there, and I am truly happy that he is in my life.

Also, as I expected, we’ve both benefited most from the other acting as a sounding board, working out plans and directions, and sorting each other’s shit out. Seeing as we’re so similar, and share a lot of the same ideologies, we found instant trust in each other. I know that what he’s saying to me is in my best interest, and vice versa.

There was a definite lightness after we talked it out, and we’re still absolutely enjoying each other’s company. He’s such a flirt, and has such a way with words, I’m still blown away that I’m the one who’s captured his fancy. How the hell did that happen???

26 June 2006 – 12:30pm

My first two days in Sydney showed me a completely different culture… That of the corporate meeting world! On the first day, after I checked in to the hostel and wandered around the city for a bit, I met up with Andrew and Simon for lunch, and we sort of decided, spur of the moment, that I should tag along to their next meeting. It went very well, and so the next day I went with them to their first three of the morning. It was so great to see them interact with these people, and with each other. I made a few well-placed comments, speaking as THE authority on high art in Canada, and I think overall I helped in the schmoozing. It’s a completely different world than the one I know, and I really loved every minute of it.

So then on Saturday Andrew took me via ferry to Manly, which is a beachy resort suburb, and it was very lovely. Though it’s winter here, the weather was balmy, and we walked around in just our short sleeves. We partied pretty hard on Saturday night, ending up in a karaoke booth in Surry Hills at some ungawdly hour, and Andrew threw up on a Hyundai. Good times. Sunday morning we rose at around 9:30am, checked out of our place, and made our way down to Bondi Beach, and walked along the cliffside to Bronte. Both places are take-your-breath-away beautiful, and we had the best lunch yet at an unassuming cafe along the beach. It was great.

We parted ways on Sunday evening, Andrew returning to Melbourne (where the weekly grind began again this morning) and I stayed on an extra day in Sydney. I met up with Janet, who took me out for the quintassential Sydney meal: the $5 steak. I met a few of her childhood friends, we all gabbed about work and boys, and then returned to her very sharp flat in North Sydney. I woke up this morning to the best view of the Opera House.

I’m spending the day wandering around the downtown core of Sydney, I’ll take the monorail, and sit in the Botanic Gardens for a couple of hours and think about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.

22 June 2006 – 12:00pm

Well, after the weekend’s endless parties, it was a little disappointing to go back to solo wandering on Monday. I made a conscious move to talk to more people, realizing that I was pretty much keeping to myself. On Tuesday I called Geoff, and we spent three hours bumming around the city together. It was great. I had sort of kept away from the inner city, thinking that I would get a much better Melbournian experience by visiting the suburbs, but in the end, the downtown core is tons of fun.

After I left Geoff I went to this shoe store that was recommended to me, and the server was a guy I had met at a party three days earlier. Already the integration is starting to happen!!! I bought some wonderful boots (Campers) and instantly felt better.

So this morning we got up at 6am, dragged our sorry asses out of bed and catapolted ourselves towards the airport. We landed in Sydney not too long ago, and of course Andrew and Simon had to rush off to a meeting, leaving me with the luggage to check into our hostel. I sat up front with the shuttle driver, flirting shamelessly, and by the time we got to the place, he offered to take me into the city (to avoid having to get a cab or bus). Very nice. So that’s where I’m at now, in the heart of Sydney, with nary a map or direction, and fell on this internet cafe. Things are good, I’m looking forward to seeing the Opera House, Darling Harbour, the Bridge, and all the other touristy things Sydney has to offer.

I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking… I’m planning on storming the Australia Council for the Arts this afternoon. I’ll let you know how that goes…

Sigh. Oh, the weather is terrible, big fat rain has been continueously falling since my arrival in Sydney. It’s supposed to last for three days.

Another interesting note: the suburb we’re staying in is called Glebe. Just when you thought you were far from home…

Ah, the weekend. So good. We went out on Saturday night to see a band called The Dirty Three, and they were sooooo so good. Instrumental, ambient, full wall of sound that just glades over you and takes you up in its momentum. I would close my eyes and realize that I was dancing, subconsciously moving to the rhythm of it. Really, really good. That’s the bottom line, really, I feel completely at home at a good show. I felt the same way seeing Ukrania and Fiftymen two days before I left. Anyway, The Dirty Three played at this place called the Forum, which I guess is akin to Barrymore’s, with ornate mouldings and tiered layout. The ceiling was painted a dark blue, and it looked like an open-aired theatre. Nice effect. I had a really good time.

Then Sunday morning Andrew got up at some ungodly hour to run a half marathon (!). I met up with him at the finish line, and I was so proud. We spent the rest of the day sitting in cafes and clothes shopping. Ugh. What a disappointment. Nothing seems to fit right, and I ended up buying a $300 dress that I know I will never wear. Or maybe this is the new leaf I need to turn over… I will start to wear nothing but high end designer fashions… Somehow it doesn’t fit into the whole Aloha scene…

So as you can see, these days it’s all about grappling with a new scene and not willing to shed an old skin. Or maybe it’s just a fear of losing that old skin because it’s comfortable, but really the new one is just the natural progression of things…? Hm, is that sufficiently vague for everyone???