A Mary Poppins clean

Well almost.. Mid-year I booked in a week's annual leave at this time to do whatever, and the general consensus was cleaning. This came in the form of one of those mega spring cleans, where I was moving furniture, desks, rearranging, sorting and yes, chucking out heaps of stuff. So much crap accumulates over time and it's been awesome beating the place back into shape.

And also had my first IKEA experience, cruising through the different sections, utterly convinced that every little knicknack was just the thing I was looking for. Was totally impressed by it all and loved some of the minimalist type furniture. Nothing better than clean lines, straight edges and good old plain common sense.

Dishes

I'm on strike with the dishes. Ugh. Gonna put a lot of them out in the shed so I can't use/dirty them. 2 of everything in the house, like Noah's Ark, and I'll be fine. I even have paper plates on the go. Today reached a funny crossroads where I caught myself going to make a coffee with some tongs. I said to myself "don't be crazy man, use a knife".

Perhaps a dishwasher is in order?

The Bluff

Had another good introduction to walking/exercise over the weekend. My grandparents rented a house down at Victor Harbour for 2½ weeks and my extended relatives came down in dribs and drabs. My visit coincided with some other of my cousins and it was fun catching up. We played chess, board games, ate food and went for a few walks.

I wasn't able to get anyone else to come with me, but shortly after breakfast on Saturday I jumped in the car and drove to the Bluff (Rosetta Head) where I went for a solitary walk and sit. I love being in the wind up there and it was fantastic sitting on a rocky outcrop looking out east over Encounter Bay and the glorious day. The wind was whipping around and was so nice to enjoy being outside in the wind in only shorts and t-shirt.

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera after racing down to Victor straight after work (and packing a few things as I passed by my house) I also missed out on taking a jumper, pillow and any food to contribute. Oops.

Was nice to take a night walk out to Granite Island too and see some fairy penguins. No whales though.

Mass marketing dream

Oh my goodness. Perhaps I shouldn't be wearing socks to bed! The new season must be slowly kicking in. I had another vivid dream although this time it involved a conversation and someone asked me what my favourite drinks were. I answered Coke, Coke and Coke.

Argh! I've drawn the line again and there is to be no more Coke in this body. I've had my fun with them (including those pissy little money orders/cheques I received from their drink machines being crap) and it's time to put my money towards a better cause. Lol!

Auntie Y, redemption is near!

Naked dream

Man, I haven't had a stuck outside being naked dream in ages. At least in this one I was wearing a shirt, which I remember I was trying to sort of pull down the corners of. I wonder if I was wearing shoes! lol

What made it a funny dream, and I was laughing at myself in the dream (from a 3rd person perspective), was that I was cruising through a souvenir store, casually trying to choose out some undies to wear on the way home in the train.

I'm laughing at myself right now! What a classic...

Guitar Hero - Mario Bros theme

For anyone who has played Guitar Hero and totally blown their mind. This one would be the ultimate, for nostalgia and RSI.

Death mask

I did have a thought when the National Treasures Exhibition was on tour and passed by here in Adelaide last year. I remarked at how queer it was to have a 'death mask', how utterly rock n roll it was, how macabre. Perhaps it was from the lack of picture evidence, to capture the cold killers face after it had been embraced by death, as if proving "this is the last you'll ever see of this man".... Check out the death mask of serial murderer Frederick Deeming, yet another killer who's fetish it was to bury bodies under the floor. Could have been from South Australia!

I also starting thinking how as a lasting tribute one might make a death mask with puckered lips, to be attached to a limber pose made of plaster, as a lasting water feature in the front garden of the family home. Awesome.

Check out the National Treasures of Australia.

'The Hobbit' graphic novel

The Hobbit

graphic novel (revised edition)

2006

This new edition of The Hobbit graphic novels includes more drawings and expanded text. I've been reading it in bed before going to sleep and finding that it's the best thing for me. If you're too tired to read, you can always just look at a picture for a few minutes and imagine...

The Hobbit is such a fantastic little tale and the perfect intro to Tolkien's larger body of works. I remember reading it for the first time (the novel) and noting how he wrote almost flippantly about fantastical events/people, whether they were small or epic. It is less bulky than Lord of the Rings, written for a much younger target audience (namely, his children), yet somehow captures a simplicity without being moralistic or much like a fable. I appreciate children's stories written 'just because', not to get across some underlying message.

I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit movie, whenever it comes out. There has been rumour of it being produced in the near future and fans/actors are starting to wonder whether Peter Jackson will direct or not. To tell you the truth, I don't even care. I loved Star Wars and Empire/Jedi weren't directed by Lucas and the hold my attention even more than the first. Here's hoping though it still captures that essence of Middle-Earth that Jackson and WETA were able to give us a glimpse of.

'Who Killed the Electric Car?'

Who Killed the Electric Car?

dvd

2006

An interesting documentary. Didn't get me too fired up which was strange because usually after a 'change the world' documentary I come out of it feeling like I should do something. This left me with a sick sort of feeling, the kind when it's completely out of your control.

It was a well developed and thought through piece of film-making. I enjoyed the rise and then demise of the EV1 car and concluded that I don't see quite to eye to eye on the whole electric car thing any more. There seemed to be a strange sort of logic behind it all, loosening our (Western countries) grip on petrol/oil reliant personal transportation in the hope that it will bring peace to the Middle East, and stop pollution and global warming. Well, burning coal like a total maniac to create electricity is harming the planet just as much as war so I don't see the solution there. It featured a tiny segment on the alternatives for producing electricity (solar/wind) although I would have been sold on the whole idea if this was more developed as part of their argument.

Overall, it was a good look at another fuel alternative for private inner-suburban automobile use although I wanted it to go further and really tackle the bigger issues. How can we source better/cleaner electricity? If (as the doco reports) Americans travel only 29 miles in the day, is there an actual need for a personal car or should resources be put into better public transport? Or even, would the US even give a rats about the environment if they didn't have to pay and bleed for their oil? Ouch.

'Invincible'

'Invincible'

dvd

2006

This was a perfect, feel-good weekend movie. A Walt Disney pictures recount of an NFL football player who rose from the streets of Philadelphia to play as a professional after the team's coach puts out a general invitation to new players in the hope of breaking their losing streak. Mark Wahlberg is not the best actor by far but I think it's all good fun. Worth a look if you want a punch in the air, feel-good emotional rollercoaster with a linear plot.

All Pottered Out

Well I gave it my best shot. Trying to knock off the 6 Harry Potter books before the new one came out. I only made it up to Order of the Phoenix (halfway through) and things sort of ground to a halt. It's a very interesting series and I'd imagine it'd be a breathtaking series for anyone from 10-15. I just can't take another unedited chapter from JK Rowling or another temper tantrum from Harry.

So it's books down for a little bit and onto something different for a while. Will get back into them once I give myself a chance to see what else is on offer.

Looking forward to Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead.

War of the Ring board game

Today I went into Game Quest to get my hands on a copy of War of the Ring, a Lord of the Rings based board game I played a few weekends ago with my cousin. I ended up buying the new offering from the Axis & Allies people: Battle of the Bulge. Yeah baby! And as I was in there talking with the guys I was thinking, these are my people. These are the guys that part of me connects with where it's not taboo to talk about plastic figures or rolling a bunch of dice. I had a good chat about nothing.

War of the Ring was a great adaptation of the LotR plot. It played out similar to those games from Axis & Allies (previously Milton and Bradley, now Avalon Hill). You could break out different members from the fellowship, move them covertly across the map, the whole time trying to outrun roving Nazgul which might give away your position at any stage. There was a desperate battle for Minas Tirith (which I lost, and in which Aragorn lost his life, hehe oops) and I had Meriadoc leading a band of rangers across the plains of Eriador.

You can focus on a military victory or getting the ring to Mount Doom, or both. It plays out very much like the book although there's more scope than you think as you're deciding on who goes where, what to attack etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and have lined up another round soon.

Yes, I am alive

I am breathing, I have the power of thought and speech. I'm just being a Mr Lazy Bum over the winter months, with nothing too much going on besides the hum-drum of every day. I've been watching a lot of movies, been on a few walks, and have bitten the bullet and got involved in Lord of the Rings Online. How can a nerd deny his genetic makeup? It's like telling a duck he now has to climb trees.

Before the end of the warm season I went on a massive hike along the Yurrebilla Trail and wrote up an awesome review of it. For some reason Internet Explorer decided to not work and then I lost it all. Now Blogger saves automatically as you go so that will save me some time in the future, although I honestly felt like putting my fist through the monitor. Half frustration about the computer world (and its never ending role in my life) and half from being pissed off with myself for setting my goals too high with my walking routine. It was bound to come down at some point and I let myself be disappointed.

I'm looking forward to getting back into it all again and aim to get in some winter walks, with nice hot showers after traipsing through long wet grass and boggy puddles.

Other news is that I may be able to do the Camino with my sister April, who thinks it's a good idea and I feel kinda relieved that I won't be facing the physical/social challenges alone. The plans are still in the pipeline. Haven't given up yet.

More reviews to come. Life is funny.

40 minutes later

Travelling on the bus can be fantastic. Zoning out after a long day it's easy to find your own corner and do your thing. It's 40 minutes minimum for me on the way home, and now that it's dark when I finish it's nice to have the option between a darkened seat or one near a light if I want to read.

40 minutes + is great if you want to read and you're getting into a book. I'm finishing off Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire so I wish the bus went longer some days. A few nights ago it wasn't the best 40 minutes ever spent, my legs twisted at all awkward angle from the stupidly designed seats in the back (the ones that face each other). The woman opposite me was sitting with her daintily pressed together and smooshed over to over side. Because I was directly facing her and I to do the same otherwise I'd have to get one leg either side of her, which could have easily been misconstrued! So risking a charlie horse I also sat daintily, basically knackering myself for 40 minutes while I tried to read one-handed one of JK Rowling's whopper 600 page beasts.

The other week was the icing on the cake. I'm not sure I've ever met a more annoying bus passenger. I was up the back of the bus near the engine so I didn't hear him when we took off but next stop I realise.. "is someone whistling?" 40 minutes later he was still belting out such out of tune whistling classics such as Downtown, Joni Mitchell and some songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I couldn't get over how offensive it was! lol I was tempted to tell him to shut up a few times but didn't want to be that person, you know the one, the one who does stuff on the bus, the thing everyone is thinking, but cos it's on public transport seems SO much more out there and confronting. I wanted to fart in his face on the way out and say "What, I'm enjoying myself aren't I? Deal with it!"

Personally I see whistling as a nervous thing. Something to show that you're feeling casual and light-hearted. Keep your eye out, you'll see what I mean.

'The Children of Húrin'

Review

The Children of Húrin

by JRR Tolkien

book

2007

I just love it how things are released after someone's death, in fact, a significant time after someone's death. It only goes to show how immortal their presence is, the long lasting imprint a person has made on society and culture. I'm sure there will be more Lennon tracks. Tolkien wrote so much, and in fact so many variations of his tales that I can't remember what's "official" and what's not. But when you're talking about The Children of Húrin, a tale taken from the First Age of Middle-Earth, it's kinda like trying to pick details out of Greek mythology.

This is my favourite tale taken from the Silmarillion. It nestles in amongst a few of the other grand tales, ones constantly referred to in Lord of the Rings as points of historical reference. In this version, Christopher Tolkien has published his father's piece as it was written, and flows like a more solid storyline rather than the Silmarillion's version which is a bit like the Old Testament. It's a tale of fate, destruction and the downfall of a family. It is epic in its scope and has the power of a Shakespeare/Bronte classic. Might be a gentler introduction into the Middle-Earth history rather than diving headfirst into the Silmarillion. I wasn't disappointed.

'Zodiac'

Review

Zodiac

2007

I went into this film not knowing anything about the story or whether it was based on a real case file or not. All that I knew was that it went for 2hrs and 37mins and I'd best plan my pre-movie toilet break wisely. This was a great film and I was captivated most of the time. Like most crime movies of the genre (you could really tell it was made by the same guy who did Se7en) you find things out slowly along the way, and the police act only as fast as our recognition skills can handle, so you feel like you're really solving it yourself. I'd pay $9 on tightarse Tuesday any week to feel like I'm an intelligent crime solver.

Packed with name actors and some memorable performances, I was really impressed with the overall feel of the movie. A bit gruesome in parts and they rely on tense scenes rather than people jumping out from behind doorways for cheap cinema thrills. The costumes/props of the period (60s and 70s mainly) was done really well, except for Jake Gyllenhaal's hairdo which didn't change over the course of 3 decades (kinda like mine!).

'28 Weeks Later'

Review

28 Weeks Later
aka 28 Panning Shots of an Empty London Later

2007

Zombie movies are fun. This wasn't exactly the follow-up film I was expecting but still had a bit of a laugh. It didn't have half the impact of 28 Days Later, and seemed to not be able to get past the empty London shots, scene after scene. Or replaying that successful track from the first film, 'Shrinking Universe' by Muse. It was cued in all the right spots and added the drama needed to let us know it was serious business going on, all this zombie killing.

An ok film but I doubt I'd ever watch it again.

Cheers Coke

In my break at work I've been having a Coke to myself, one of those little bottles (390ml?) for a nice $1.50 from the nearby drink machine. Pretty good price, who'd kick up a stink?

I must say that I did when I pulled my bottle out of the machine only to see it was one third full. Couldn't believe it. So I bought another one, wrote down the machine number and Coke hotline and trundled off to spend the rest of my break having a little chat with their representatives. The funny thing was it must happen all the time b/c the people on the phone were so willing to give me a refund I was informed a cheque would be out in the mail shortly.

To make it even more uncomfortable, another dropped from the machine a few days after that and it was about 60% full. This time I wasn't having such a good day and called up letting them know what crap machines they had, surely with all the money they make... etc etc. Hehe. Well, you're messing with a man's Coke here. Come on. lol

Last week I received 2 money orders (days apart) each for AUD$5.00 and a letter of the most sincerest apologies. The letters were so different from each other, making me think there was no template someone just signed and that these poor devils were forced to write a whole letter just to send me out $5 for my lil bottle of Coke. Imagine that.. "Yes sir, we understand you were frustrated by our vending machines...". Haha.

So $10 will get me a nice meal up at the Vietnamese takeaway with a few cold rolls for the next day. Thankyou!

Wordplay

Wordplay

dvd (2006)

I never thought I'd be on the edge of my seat watching a movie about crossword puzzles. And rocking on the edge of the couch scoffing into a jar of pickled onions I felt like my eccentricity paled in comparison to these fantastically minded wordsmiths. My goodness.

Wordplay is a film about about that aspect of our culture that sits somewhere in the Arts or TV section of the paper, that part of our lives that makes us want to fill in the blanks and nut something out. It's all about crossword puzzles and the interesting people who challenge themselves with them. And not only do they test their own minds but all compete in a championship, held the same time every year since the 70s.

I thought it was a brilliant film. It had me laughing and drawing closer to the endearing qualities of these full-minded individuals. It reminded me of Spellbound, the documentary about children who compete in spelling bees. I felt like the main focus of the film was that no matter who we are or what we do, when we're doing a crossword, we're all the same: bent over a piece of paper trying to fill in the boxes. Fantastic.

Close call on MMORPG

It's been a bit of masochistic exercise having a look at the latest MMORPG to sweep across the Western world. Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar could have been my next major addiction if it wasn't for the lessons learned with World of Warcraft. I have been checking out the open beta release, which is free until about 23-24 April. There's a level 15 cap but at the moment no need for subscription. Looks like an interesting game. Time for me to head for the hills! lol

'Fidel'

Review

Fidel

DVD [2002]

This was so obviously a tele-movie and I just had to keep giving it my full attention. A 3 hour movie about the rise of the revolution in Cuba under Fidel Castro and the involvement of other factions such as the Communist party, Soviets and the legendary Che Guevara.

I was particularly drawn to this film when I saw Gael Garcia Bernal was involved. He seems to be such an intense actor and I'm coming to appreciate the way he portrays raw characters full of conviction. It was also good to see a bit of the follow on from Motorcycle Diaries (although made in 2004) where we saw him develop his ideals and then they are acted out through the eyes of someone else. I loved it. I'm a sucker for progression.

The fight and speech scenes were a little disappointing, of course being a movie made for TV they skipped on the special effects and relied on stock footage to fill in the gaps. I did like the way it only tried to really dwell on Fidel's life and emphasis was only placed on various moments in time as to how it affected him rather than the nation or the communist/democratic world.

Worth a watch for a snippet into a piece of modern iconography.

Forever 4 eyes

I've given contacts a miss. I gave them a good try, wearing them to bed as I was meant to, putting all the drops in, blinking etc. (apparently that's something people forget to do). They were just collecting dust and particles, I was forever trying to get something out of my, and not just the contact. So laying in bed one night, trying to pretend they weren't there, my patience finally gave in and I took them out. What a relief! To rub your eyeballs like madness..

So I took them in to the optometrist and said I was going back to glasses. Beforehand it was like winding up for a break-up, thinking of the right words to say so you could both let them down easy and get across what you really meant to say. Haha. I was subconsciously practicing a fair bit, so much so that my first sentence sounded so well rehearsed it was like the opening of a speech. Will just let it slide now until either they make awesome contacts which can survive anything, or when I'm back from traveling maybe I'll save up and get the laser work done. Lasers, sweet. Pew, pew, pew!

I've also had a look at some other blogs on Blogger, especially the blogs of note. I must say it was like a locker room scene where my towel had fallen down and I was feeling rather inadequate. I'd love to change some of the settings and make it more me, so until then it's just putting up with a template. Net community stuff is fun.

Getting into backpacking/hiking

As funny as it sounds, getting into the next part of hiking is like a cross between internet dating and high level instances in World of Warcraft. Haha. Believe me! It is! I feel like I'm at the point where I have to just get out there and meet people who are interested in it too, so I can get in some practice and learn some really great tips before heading out. And it's like an instance (dungeon which requires 10-20 players to complete) in World of Warcraft because I was either waiting for friends to get to that level or getting frustrated cos we couldn't make the numbers. Yes, I am weird.

So I'm gonna have to take the plunge I think and get involved with a club, or maybe there are some people at church who'd be keen? Could you imagine them making an announcement at the end of the service "oh, and if anyone's into hiking, please talk to Simon.. he'll be up the back". I'm sure there are groups out there. Might even get involved in some forums - a gold mine for information and sharing ideas. I've heard of a group in Adelaide who do bushwalks but have been warned that the majority of them are over 50. At least it might make me feel fitter than I am!?

Also been having a look at gear guides, reviews, articles, tips on foot care, and the problematic situation re: water. I also bought a compass and tomorrow will be practicing getting proper bearings to walk in a triangle. Should be handy if I ever need to navigate my way around any treacherous triangle shaped areas. Haha.

I did find this short video on Youtube which shows the smaller version of the tent I just bought. It shows how it sits when set up (pretty much the same) the outer and inner walls and that little bit of ventilation I was talking about - you can see a bit of the outside ground area at the end of the clip. Will be interesting to see how that performs when it's pissing down with rain.

Outrun

Picked up the car this morning. Caught a taxi over to the mechanic, paid my bit then cruised in to work. It was exhilarating being on the road again, my heart elated, only to be even more so when a car in front of me is none other than a white convertible (Pontiac I think - no good with car models/makes) with a woman's blonde hair flailing in the breeze. It had my in stitches. I was trying to think of what game it was that it reminded me of. At first I thought it was Test Drive, the Amiga classic. The game that had everyone thinking they wanted a Porsche Spider, or a Lamborghini Countach. But after having a better look when I got home I realised... Outrun, the arcade gem and Sega forerunner. That blonde hair in the breeze was a memory trigger for all the hours I'd wasted on game consoles with crap graphics, and I was laughing my arse off.

Easter weekend

Full on. I'm only now coming up for air, a few days back into work and things are settling down. It's still an adventure without a car. I tell ya what, does wonders for your calf muscles! Might have the beast back soon.

Was desperate to try out the new tent and sleeping bag so I went down to Deep Creek with Jon. It was only a one-night escape even though I would have loved it to have been longer. It's hard just on the edge of fire ban season, especially when it's social camping where you just want to lounge around near a fire and cook stuff and chat.

After a 1½ walk down to the waterfall there (was surprised to see running water) we hopped back into the car to find our campsite. Deep Creek Conservation Park was like a refuge camp. All the camping sites were taken and being the fragile environment that South Australia is we had to move on, no exciting camping in any scrub.

We tried Rapid Bay but that was full too. It was really nice down there actually. There were heaps of people out on a glorious Saturday afternoon - walking dogs, fishing, chasing each other round, getting pissed with t-shirt turbans atop heads, people trying to find campsites...

Ended up in good ol Kuitpo forest, although this time were camped Rocky Creek campground near Jupiter Creek. It wasn't half bad! The place where we pitched the tents was softer that usual, with fallen pine needles as a thin layer of natural cushioning. Had to soccer punt quite a few roo droppings out the way though, and Rocky Creek was a slight depression in the ground, which would have been mayhem if there was any water in it.

Jon and I spent the hours after nightfall (total fire ban til April 30) seeing if we could get a spark or even a tiny bit of smoke from one of the bushcraft techniques. We were trying the fire plough method, where a hard stick in rubbed down a hard wooden trough to create fine powder which when hot enough creates embers. It was even funnier cos apart from the amount of exertion it took we also wanted a few more details so Jon, finding he had 1 bar of reception on his 3G work phone, tried to look something up on Wikipedia. It was pretty funny, you gotta laugh at yourself being stupid white guys. We will make fire! Ooooga boooga.

The new tent was sweet. I used it as a one person, my intention all along, and Jon used another 2 person tent I had stashed in the laundry. The outer fly doesn't quite go all the way to the ground and the inner is made of fly screen, not that thin cotton like material most tents have. So you feel pretty out there and it's nice to have a bit of a breeze. Ventilation won't be a problem as far as I can see, perhaps on really hot summer nights it might be a different story.

Sleeping bag held up. I was using a new Roman 500 down filled 3 season bag. My favourite bit was the inner draw-string you can bring the top of the bag tight around your shoulders. I can see me and the bag being very good friends. Until next time!

Easter Cat

Boy, was Cheyenne surprised this morning when she woke up to her little nest of Easter eggs.

I wouldn't let her have the eggs she really wanted: nearly hatched ones with bulbous eyed baby birds inside them, all soft boned and ready to play.

Reading list

Talk about a more lukewarm approach. What a crack up. Well I tried! I've now engrossed myself in all sorts of books about walking, hiking, backpacking, camping, orienteering, hillwalking, destinations and bushcraft. I'm striking up conversations and getting to know the salespeople in several camping shops on a first name basis. I've enquired about courses regarding bushcraft which have only led to Scout leading - a whole different kettle of fish. And every break I can conceive of I desperately long to get away from the city and walk over the windy slopes of some picturesque landscape.

If I break a leg and can't ever do it, at least I'm to be taken seriously! Hehe.

Here's the current reading list, complete with sample dewey numbers if you're interested in looking in these sections yourself (that's the librarian in me):

Beyond Backpacking - Ray Jardine
Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking
796.51 JAR

The Ultimate Hillwalking Skills Handbook
796.522 ULT

Bushcraft - Ray Mears
An inspirational guide to surviving the wilderness
613.69 MEA

The Complete Hiker - John Long and Michael Hodgson
Everything you'll need for a day or a month on the trail
796.51 LON

Walking and Orienteering - Peter G. Drake
How to cross hills, back country and rough terrain in safety and confidence
796.51 DRA

A Place to Walk - Eloise Napier
Unforgettable walking holidays from around the world
910.202 NAP

Fieldbook for Australian Scouting
The guide to outdoor adventure, challenge, resourcefulness and fun
369.4 FIE

Ancient Tracks - Des Hannigan
Walking through Historic Britain
914.1/210

Thru Hiker's Guide to America - E. Schlimmer
25 incredible trails you can hike in one to eight weeks
917.3 SCH

Classic Walks in Western Europe - Gillian & John Souter
914 SOU

Walking France - Gillian & John Souter
Exploring France's great towns and finest landscapes on foot
914.4 SOU

Walking in Italy (Lonely Planet)
914.5 WAL

Tramping in New Zealand - Jim DuFresne (Lonely Planet)
919.3 DUF

The Inca Trail - Richard Danbury
Cusco & Machu Picchu
918.537 DAN

369s - social sciences (associations)
613s - personal health and safety
796s - athletics and outdoor sports
910s - geography & travel
914s - geography of & travel in Europe
917s - geography of & travel in North America
918s - geography of & travel in South America
919s - geography of & travel in other places

There have been other books besides. The more I read over things the better the ideas become and it helps with the elimination process. I mean, it's hard to think otherwise, trying to weigh something up before even getting there. I'd hate for so much emphasis to be put on something only to find it was way out of my league or a complete cake walk.

If you know of any other really good books, let me know. At the moment I'm hunting for decent walking holidays in other parts of the world, incorporating in either history, something on the World Heritage List (could even be the trail/track itself) or an unforgettable journey.

Solution

Classic. Today I used solution as drops, thinking that it was a dual purpose sort of a deal. Ouch. I just thought I was being a wuss but when I called up the optometrist she said "oh you poor darling, get yourself an eye bath immediately!" Haha. So a bit of flexi and I was off to the chemist to grab some drops. Felt waaaay better after that.

I can see again! It was starting to feel a bit crusty, like my eyeballs were some kind of new wave lint remover.

Goggle eyes

They're still in! And on the front of my eye, not nestled on the back with all those veins and cables n things which go straight to your brain. From what I understand they're part glass, part water, so after 30 days they start to dissolve, like a lozenge. Again, the concept totally trips me out.

This whole experience (and blogging it) has reminded me of something Dylan Moran said last week, cracked me up cos it was right to the point. When you're in a couple or have kids your time is not your own. You have no idea what you like, you ask "do I like this?". But when you're single you think everyone is interested in what you have to say and you spend most of your life putting forward your opinions, as though anyone cared. "I like chamber music, I don't like olives, I think so and so has the mark of genius".

So yes, I am single. lol

We have contact

The day arrived and throwing caution to the wind I handed in my specs for new lenses. In the meantime I'm trying out contacts, which is a cross between being pissed and heaps knackered. I stacked it on the escalators coming up out of the David Jones food court, like a little mole coming out to fossick for morsels. Special thanks to Kath for helping me in Marion find some cheap sunnies - they came in handy!

It's been cool. Close work is kinda annoying, but distance is sweet. Outside things look so crisp. I got so used to looking through filmy glasses. Using a computer is still a bit confronting where things start to tear up after a while. I'm enjoying being able to put my head in my hands and not risk bending my frames. They're 30-day contacts so I can do everything in them. The TV ads for 30-day contacts would be fairly similar to women's hygiene product ads I would imagine. Women using Tampax taking over board rooms, abseiling off Niagara Falls, winning a gold medal. That's how I felt though. Skipping along after work I was trying to look people in the eye, to see if they noticed there was something new. Most probably they thought, where is that guy looking.. in both directions.. at the same time..? Haha.

And 30-day ones you can sleep with. The thought is kinda hard to imagine at first, but after an hour session in the optometrist of dragging my fingers all over my eyeballs practicing putting them in and taking them out, I'm happy to sleep with them in. How modern. I'm still waiting for vat-grown eyeballs.

Bed-time. Here goes.

Happy Birthday Mum

What a woman, my mum. It's her birthday today and I wish her all the best. She's been through a massive year and I'm so proud of her. I love you mum. And here's that picture of a monkey she drew for kindergarten classes. Scary for the kids!

My favourite is his little kiss-curl, and that banana had better have been on special. :)

Death to the slut?

The red slut, also known as Simon's car, is in a critical condition today as everyone wonders whether she will ride again. Limping her to the mechanic yesterday I had a few fond memories of her as I gazed upon her weather beaten dashboard, cracked and warped from sitting out in the sun.

It's probably moved about 10 different people, hauled unknown numbers of trailers (either to the dump or picking up furniture), gone off-road and only lost a tyre from it, and been in only one minor bingle where the only damage was my number-plate bending up. It's never been stolen although broken into a few times, nothing more than a mild inconvenience and a source of amusement. The upholstery is left wanting and the only self-pimped aspect of this car was the stereo I had put in, the cheapest CD player I could find, any excuse to be able to listen to Van Halen or Beck whenever I wanted.

The best bit now is having to walk 25 mins to the bus stop to and from home, plus the walk in town to work. It's a nice bit of walking each day, probably rounding off to a nice hour. I'm trying to get the heartrate up and making it worth my while.

The verdict is out on the red slut. Will she last the week? Otherwise, might have to invest in some new sneakers. :)

Misread

Kings of Convenience chill me out.

Here's the video for Misread, from Riot on an Empty Street. Reminds me of how the Picnic Society at uni was (at least inside my imagination).

Dylan Moran

The atmosphere was unmistakably Fringe. Employed troubadour singers engaging with the awaiting crowd. A packed foyer, an even more packed Thebby Theatre with seats so closely placed together I should have had a discount from sitting next to a fat bastard. I didn't actually realise how good the seats were which Wazza was able to obtain. Front row. I can't say I was excited when I suddenly realised we would be the prime targets for any form of audience participation, and being a zombie movie-goer I didn't think I'd be up for it. Luckily there were enough knobs in the audience to pique Moran's interest/disgust so we went under the radar. I did have a weird moment of direct eye contact, when I looked into those glazed eyes and had a connection. It was cool.

He didn't disappoint. His jokes were spot on, his descriptions as random as ever. It did strike me how truly, 100% pissed he was. I thought he was going to drop the bundle a couple of times, when he started to tell jokes he'd already done, or ramble over familiar territory then suddenly realise and say something obtuse. There was a distinct tone seeing him live, something very personal about his observations and social musings. It was almost derision, beyond humour. Then again, as the audience you're forced to not take it so seriously, if only it wasn't so thinly veiled. He had me laughing, but not as much as I thought he would. Maybe it's cos I don't drink anymore. Could be that I was exhausted. Overall, the giddy sensation I had when I walked back out onto Henley Beach Road was not from laughing too hard, more from the lack of oxygen in the place.

Happy to have been a part of it all. Long live Bernard.

The US of Nay?

I've been searching for some camping, hiking, day-walk options for my time in the USA next year and I was starting to get disillusioned. I mean, don't get me wrong, hiking in the USA brings up images of the Grand Canyon, Colorado mountains, evergreen forests and shivering in tents scared witless of bears. But I was looking for some middle range stuff, you know, a few days along a trail, a few hours out of a main or outlying city/town, somewhere it's relatively secluded but not real hyper survival wilderness stuff.

And my searches were coming up fruitless. They all seemed to be based around city walks (say, Boston or Washington DC) or the treks listed above, ones where you find skeletons along the way with backpacks on them. I was thinking maybe all Americans drive when they're hiking? Is there no middle range? They're either fat n lazy or extremists, dangling off rock faces, sleeping in a nook in a cliff. That's when GORP finally came along, which seems to be a site with actual information on it, not just those trick links that take you to pop-up heaven.

You'll have to register but it has some great links and information. The articles are written by people who actually go and a lot of the fact file type pages are great, like what I've just devoured about sleeping bags and what type to buy. That's the next thing on the agenda, to test out this Easter, a new bag. So reading through the guide, checking out what's what really helps when you go into the shop and the sales assistant's help (if they know their stuff) starts going over your head. At least with this I'm getting a heads up and can match what I read with what they tell me. The more accurate they are, the more I trust their judgement and more willing to get into open discussion about what's better etc.

Check it out.

'One Giant Leap'

Review

'One Giant Leap - 50 Years of Space Flight'

dvd


It felt so exciting to be watching the shuttle and space station crews floating around in zero gravity. Or being inside the cockpit when the shuttle's fuel ignited and it took off into the atmosphere. There's something about space flight and discovery that I really like and when I was little reading about the previous exploits of Chuck Yeager (speed testing) and the successful rocket missions I couldn't help but think what was out there, where does space fit in with our future?

The second disc of this series was the most enjoyable. There were several shuttle missions which were talked through by the crew as a sort of post-mission briefing, and every delicate technical issue came to light, as well as the endearing humour of these space adventurers. I loved some of the wild experiments they did after their main mission objectives were completed. Like spinning a globule of water in zero gravity and trying to cut it with dental floss. And then touching a tiny blob of orange juice and watch it cruise towards the larger blob of water only to collide and mix in a way that could only be described as psychedelic.

The bravery of these people, for whatever reasons space discovery is still being pursued, has to be admired. I really look forward to going through the Kennedy Space Center and spending as much time there as possible. To infinity, and beyond!

Happy Birthday

Wishing my lil sis a very happy birthday today. Enjoy yourself!

Bringin home the bacon

Yes! Walked out of the post office today (just made it before closing - bus took a crazy route home) with the biggest smile on my face. Just like the cat who got the cream. As she passed it over to me the first thought in my head was "gee, it really is light". It has that new product smell and the soft touch of the silicon fly beckons me to skip work tomorrow and set up somewhere to hide out for the week.

It'll be different sleeping in this one. I haven't slept in a small tent since the days when dad and I went camping in our blue archetype tent, one of those square ones with the peak ridge in the centre. I have a 3-room, 8+ person tent which has seen its days of party camping. Drunken stumbling from one mozzie door to the next. Or when a mate Frank and I went camping for 5 days and it rained non-stop. He had one room, I had another. I read American Psycho while he hammered away at his Gameboy until the batteries ran out. Frank, Lox and I used to make tarp tipis, massive poles encased in a truck tarp. They were cool. Many happy memories camping. Or in a tent embassy (the lazy version - just strapped to trees) when it was freezing. Dale was wrapped up in an orange sleeping bag from primary school he had to dislocate his shoulder to zip it up - totally looked like a bit of bung fritz. Freezing one morning, from the opened end of the tent embassy, Frank and I awoke in our sleeping bags nestled on either side of Dale, a heat generator. It was like that scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles. "Those aren't pillows!"

Happy days. And more to come! If you haven't been in the outdoors for a while, or can't remember the last time you went camping, get out there. I can't say it enough. I really feel like my life has changed since the moment I laced up my sneakers and had a heart attack up Mount Parker in HK. The best time is now. If you're thinking maybe next week or the night after next, do it tonight, ASAP. Go for a ½hr walk for starters and you'll really feel like you're taking life on your own terms. A great saying from our local pastor: "Excuses are the bricks with which you build your house of failure". Absolutely.

Busy lil Adelaide

Adelaide seems to be a little hub of activity at the moment. A culmination of events which have overrun the small city, bursting to breaking point. There's the start of the Fringe festival, now in full swing but with massive numbers converging on the city for the arts festival. I myself am looking forward to seeing Dylan Moran (from Black Books, How Do You Want Me) next week, counting off the days with manic obsession.

There's also the Fire and Police Games, something I'd never heard about. Imagine all the other kinds of games they must have about the place. And what events must they have at these games? Crowd control, random breath testing, fire hose rodeo... Could get worse but I'm not going to. :)

Traffic is pretty ordinary. I was 20 minutes late in the bus this morning and thought it was pretty exciting when the bus driver basically did a handbrake turn to change from driving (or shunting really) down South Road onto Goodwood Road. It was like the X-Lotto ad. I thought we were going to end up in Macclesfield or go strawberry picking or something.

Australia Post to the rescue

I called up my local post office outlet today. Just a friendly chat with Kathy there, trying to smooth talk her into some sort of after-hours arrangement. Apparently they're there until 6:30pm every day and I just need to knock on the window or the side door and they'll hand my parcel through. Awesome.

So it'll look dodgy but I'll be able to get around the hours restriction. I'm so pleased. Good on ya Kathy.

Looks a go for Easter.

Hubba Hubba

I didn't think I'd be this excited but I can barely contain myself. I'm only a post office visit away from picking up my new tent, ordered from the States and just arrived today. I'm never around to get to the post office during opening hours so it'll have to wait til this weekend.

The MSR Hubba Hubba (aka reh-reuowh, humma-na-humma-na, mmmmmm-MMMMMM - lol). This tent is a 2-person, 3-season job. A nice 2.1kg (including fly and footprint) it looks like something from some sort of lunar discovery mission. For me and my gear it'll be perfect and I can't wait to give it a test run.

I'm going to head down to a nearby caravan park and spend a night during an upcoming weekend, maybe even a couple of Easter! Thought it'd be best to try somewhere away from the inquisitive claws of my cat Cheyenne. Nothing like zipping yourself up into a tent on a chilly night. The smell of the tarp, the fresh air, an adventure full of possibilities. Well, perhaps not in the local caravan park. It's a start.

Health assessment

Well, having a free health assessment at work the other day was something I've been meaning to do for ages. It was good to come in thinking that I really did want to change some things in my diet and exercise but didn't know where to start.

I had blood pressure, cholesterol, basic eye test, height/weight, BMI, 15 mins on an exercise bike and dietary quiz. It was really interesting, and I'd suggest to anyone that it's a good idea to have one done. It gave me a ballpark goal to aim for, to lose 5 kilos and get my cholesterol down. There were even a few ways suggested how I might achieve this. Boiled down to:

Reducing fat/oil intake
Increasing fibre intake
Reducing body fat levels
Eating fish regularly
Exercising regularly

And it was reassuring to hear that the regular walks were good overall. What is required though is to go to the next level where I get puffed out, or in the zone, for 20-30 mins while exercising. I was in the zone for 15 secs the other day when I ran for the bus and my teenie man boobs told me a story. I was also in the zone scrubbing the shower alcove for the first time in months, although these things should really be easy.

So the nightly walks might now include some regular segments of running! It's a chain effect so by lowering my cholesterol and body weight I'm also reducing the chances of getting overly stressed, which in turn helps me remain healthier. Even though I'm into walks in the rain I'll have to skip the champagne and take the health food. lol

Ray Jardine special

Just about to launch into a book written by Ray Jardine called Beyond Backpacking. It's sort of extreme lightweight hiking, taken to the enth degree. One of his big pointers (and a controversial one at that, from what I've read amongst hiking/backpacking sites) is to skip the hiking boots and go with sneakers. This video summed it up for me, titled "The Ray Jardine special".

Brisbane airport

I've been in the Brisbane airport now for a few hours and already I feel like I've traveled somewhere new. lol, perhaps deprived for new locations at the moment. The muggy trip on the train from the international terminal to the domestic was far more exciting than the bumpy ride in the 767 from HK.

Here in Brisbane, knackered with only 2 hours sleep, I feel about as pale as some of these people are tanned. Classic. There's a sort of resort vibe and the feeling hit me like landing in Auckland last year. The international terminal is almost a carbon copy of Auckland, and I'm glad to have found the more intensely air-conditioned domestic. A bit of a shock from the 14-17deg maximums in HK these last few days.

The cool thing about airports is that you're allowed to look knackered, bedraggled and a bit lost. While I sip my $5 water and wait for my bowels to catch up with this time zone it gets me mighty excited to be somewhere completely new. In fact, less overwhelming than going somewhere new in an already familiar place, if you get my meaning.

Dare I try the airport snooze with hand luggage clutched to my gut as I get in an awkward 20 mins?

Genuine nerd

"I'm a genuine party nerd" as Toby calls himself in American Splendor. I am the owner of a Casio G-Shock watch - chunky, black, digital.

That's another pitfall of HK, spending money. I've been carefully researching things that will make my travel life easier and one was getting a less flashy watch (other than my Rolexy looking one) which also had a vibrating alarm. So scouring through websites, reading reviews (if you ever want to buy a watch, check out http://www.watchreport.com/) and then taking the plunge.

It's a flashback to primary school when so and so's dad went to Singapore and brought him/her back a digital watch with calculator on it. Seemed the ultimate to me at the time and when I finally bought one little did I know I was inching one step closer to social suicide. lol

But if you're thinking of sleeping with earplugs and wanting to wake up at some stage (other than have a sonic boom alarm) a vibration setting seemed most obvious. We have them on our phones, why not on watches. And when I'm on hikes I can loosen the strap, or count how long we've taken so far, or have silent alerts to myself for whatever justifiable reason I can muster.

I actually tried it out last night. Set the vibration alert to 3:50am (not eccentric at all) and woke up with a start. I used the illumination function, "Ah yes, 3:50". It was like someone invisible had shook me awake. I smiled a big Cheshire grin to myself and went back to my self-congratulatory dreams.

Go the Japanese! G-Shock, you rock.

Harry Potter

Ok ok, I'll read them. I've been putting off getting into this series for so long now and after a chat with Curtis I'm going to do it. After all, like he said, once the 7th and final book is out there will never again be a time when you can luxuriate in the mystery of what will happen in the final scene! True, very true. So now I've got 6 books to barrel through in the coming months. Feels like a read-a-thon from school again, where I traipse around the neighbourhood asking for people to sponsor me.

So I've bought the first 3 and on the bus I can't help but feel like I'm reading something I'm not meant to. Like that series about the pony club, or Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting a Girlfriend. lol - you know what I mean.

"That's not a knife..."

This is a knife! My new friend. It is also my very first Swiss Army knife and I am smitten. The 'Climber' seems to have everything I could have wanted, without going too far. Some of these knives even have USB sticks! Talk about keeping with the times. One was seriously 2 inches deep with every type of blade and mini multi-tool under the sun. Bet it doesn't have a backscratcher... oh wait... also doubles as a cliff clinger-on-erer.

I got a blue one instead of the red. Very nice.

Telling a friend about it I've already made it work for me:

1. Trimmed my fingernails - shot around like ricochet nail nunchucks

2. Tweezers - not strong enough for nose hairs, at least now I know

3. Hole punch - put a new notch in dad's belt, real handyman stuff that

... and just waiting to be in an accident so I can cut my own limb off!

Already almost paid for itself, specially with the punishment I have in store when I set about carving up my toenails. May need goggles.

GPS in HK

Scary. I've never been in a private car in Mong Kok on a Saturday night before. There were cars everywhere! People, trucks, taxis, scooters.. all doing their crazy stuff on Nathan Rd. We made it from Kowloon City to the other side of Lantau Island to Chek Lap Kok, the HK airport, unscathed. Nice work Mike, a friend of Curtis' who'd picked him up for a VIP trip. I was along for the ride, to jump out at the nearest MTR, but when the GPS started telling us conflicting information, I had to stay onboard for the adventure!

We only saw 2 near misses and a pimped out van that had blown a tyre along the Lantau highway, its tiny tyres wrapped around massive rims like icing on a donut.

Yet another reason not to trust this "dark city". I'm sure one or two of those prescribed turns were ones which were barricaded by council street cones and excavation machinery...

A dark city

Was great to see an old mate in HK again. Curtis and I grew up here and while he was over for a week we visited a few of the old haunts to relive old memories. What we found was renovation, reclamation and relocation. It really did drive home how much of an itinerant place this is, or highlighted the fact that it's over a decade since we ran around the busy streets, bursting with caffeine and sugar, prolonging the inevitable. I guess it's just noticeable, age that is, when you're away from a place for a while and then come back.

It's like the movie Dark City. While hunting around for hiking gear yesterday I found 2 places on the list (printed only 2 weeks ago) had relocated and one the building just wasn't there anymore. In the movie, one day there's a street and the next it's yet another high-rise. I love that movie, and not just cos of Jennifer Connelly.

Each time I come back I realise it's never the same but the only thing that remains is the coming and going of people I know. It might not be the same people each time, old friends from school or church, yet each one of them is coming back for the same reason as I am; visiting family and trying to find that missing chapter of life, the other home which makes no place really feel like home. It's the third culture kid experience, something I'd love to know more about.

Hong Kong home

It's incredible to be back in Hong Kong again. The complicated urban environment, efficient public transport, range of food, colours and smells. As busy as it is, this trip has reminded me of how HK also supports small interconnected communities, something you'd like to think would be more prevalent in an open, Western setting.

Whereas in Australia I have no idea what the people diagonally across the road from my place even look like, let alone their names or whether they'd gave me a hand if I was dying in the street. Not that here I know all the neighbours on the same floor, let alone on all floors in this tower of 7 to the housing estate. Such a concentrated mass of people, so undoubtedly the odds are going to be greater to be in each others' faces, talk in passing, help wherever necessary.

It must also have something to do with a society who still rely heavily on public transport. I could drive to and from work in Australia, avoid all contact with anyone other than work colleagues and the bare essentials when serving the public then head home, relatively untouched or confronted. Here they're in your armpits, shoving in front of you to get out of a train, sharing a claustro look as one more person squeezes into a lift, or amazing me when I'm still served with a smile 2000+ customers later, putting Western countries to shame.

In all this busyness everyone seems more relaxed than ever. Incredible. I will definitely take a piece of that back with me and apply it to my cushy Australian life. Really live out that creed of "no worries".

'C'est La Folie'

Review

C'est La Folie

by Michael Wright

2006

I haven't laughed out loud reading a book in a long time. I was so impressed with this piece of travel writing from Michael Wright, I have been telling everyone about, trying to relate the little adventures and funny anecdotes. They always fall short of reading the real thing though. As far as I'm concerned this should be a must-have on the bookshelf.

Michael moves from the UK to rural France to experience some "proper problems" and break away from feeling so "uncomfortably comfortable". If you're stuck in a rut or question your life in any given place, you'll totally understand where he's coming from. I was bursting to do the same!

So he introduces farm animals, run-down renovations to his eccentric new home, interacts with the community and comes head on with French life. He acts as my portal into a world I can only imagine, and his failings/concerns seem so close to my own I was cheering him on at every turn of the page. There are segments of conversation in French, often with no explanation as to what is taking place. In this way, a bit of guess work is necessary and it adds to the overall mystery of communicating in a language other than English, an adventure in itself full of funny mistakes and patchy (and often important!) details.

To laugh out loud on the bus is such a release. I can see this book being made into a movie, perhaps a more realistic (and less romantic) version of Under the Tuscan Sun. There were moments during C'est La Folie when I felt like crying, or felt utterly wretched on behalf of Michael and his predicament. To be that close to the highs and lows of life, not just the elaborate social trappings that we put around ourselves and call life.

Everyone should read this. It gave me a better appreciation for everything around me and reinvigorated my call to head off and see somewhere new.

Space delays

I plan to spend a little time in Florida, USA, waiting for a shuttle launch. This will be in 2008, of which there are no definite schedules yet. And seeing how Atlantis was delayed it could a whole month out of whack. I reckon I'll be using the tent a fair bit during that time, camping out and waiting.. waiting.. waiting.

The NASA website is pretty cool. As much of a waste of money as it is it still raises a few questions, and attempts at answering some of these re: space and its place in our future. I've always been a fan of space travel (I've only actually been in space in my mind) and for me it as inspiring as a wind swept field, snow-capped mountain range at sunset or early morning forest.

Space stations in the future were best described in Neuromancer by William Gibson. An upper strata of society reserved for science and the ridiculously wealthy. Young corporation heirs cruising around in solar sailships, non-stop parties on top of the world, while the actual screwed up planet was left for those who didn't have the means to get up and out.

Seeing a shuttle blast off will be a childhood dream come true, and another thing ticked off my lifelong wishlist.

Dear So and So..

My first letter of appreciation and thanks was never sent, as I finished up Lord of the Rings (a solitary discovery) in early high school and then found out Tolkien had died even before I was born.

It's almost taken me 15 years to get back into the swing of sending them and I am doing so before anyone else dies. During the break in HK over Christmas I sent a letter to Stephen R Lawhead the moment I read the closing pages of Hood.

You've gotta try it. Send a letter to someone or a group/company who do things just the way you like them. I was brought up on laughs and encouragement and to this day I find they are my fuel to keep going. It's easy to pick up a pen, sit down to an email or ring up if we have a problem with something. Not so easy is writing a letter of thanks for just doing what they do, or letting someone know that their service each day with your coffee is the best start to your morning. Mind you, I have done this and had it come across as a lame attempt at a pick up. lol

Letters I will be writing soon:
TransAdelaide (buses are always on time and get through peak hour)
Rosemary Mahoney (author of The Singular Pilgrim)
Michael Wright (author of C'est La Folie)
Donald P. Bellisario (writer/creator of Quantum Leap)

Go ahead and do it. You'll feel fantastic and know that the person receiving the compliments or praise will be feeling pretty darn good about things too.

'The First Casualty'

Review

The First Casualty
by Ben Elton

2005

I read this book in 3 days over the Christmas period and it was such a fast, easy read that I'd almost completely forgotten to write something about it. First off, what another brilliant literary offering from Elton. He really is one of my favourite authors and I've come to appreciate his intricate way of preparing a story.

Set during World War One, this book deals with the almost absurd notion of a murder investigation on the Western Front. There is death and carnage all around yet a London policeman, a conscious objector, is sent to unravel the mystery.

Ben Elton has a way of telling a story and involving every aspect of human interaction in amongst the drama and intrigue. There are no one fit stereotypes he likes to go with, they appear as believeable characters, with as much depth and human fault as in real life. His storytelling is aimed at everyone, not a select few, and for this you can see why his previous successes have been so well received (esp. the tv shows).

The twists and turns keep you reading on, ploughing through details which suddenly turn on their heel and happily lead you down the garden path before revealing their true outcome. I love being tricked when I'm reading, even in an age where we think we've seen it all before.

And the complex weave of human existence is ever present in his novels. Poor man alongside the rest, a seemingly insignificant character bumbling into the path of the main storyline. Even the actions and repercussions of a removed character, how they change the plot for better or worse. I love it.

Another great Elton book is High Society. Get into it!

'The Pilgrimage'

Review

The Pilgrimage
by Paulo Coelho

1995

It is with great discomfort that I report back poorly for the read that is The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. Having read The Alchemist, I turned around and borrowed this with great excitement, awaiting the juicy details which lay within, especially those regarding the trail I will set out on next year.

Maybe it is because The Alchemist was written on the success of its predecessor and reading them out of sequence has left a gap. It could be that the spiritual searching found within its pages are not the random kind that I'm looking for, having already discovered spiritual truths for myself. Or it could be that it reminds me of the mystical writings of Carlos Castaneda, a hybrid-reality style of writing that moves between reality and mysticism with no pointed direction or conclusion. A mixture of all these perhaps had me sighing within the first few chapters and finally putting it down saying "get over it mate".

It is yet another work for spiritual over acceptance, the kind which agree with everything and infringe on nothing. Very suitable in these times where to agree in a blanket sort of way is the politically correct way of believing in something more. This sort of belief, like Bahá'í, reminds me of putting all your favourite things in a blender, whipping it, and finding that it was always be brown. The fence-sitting colour, the shade of non-existent conviction.

But for an explored review into spirituality this may be just your thing.

Working in a library

It's an interesting cultural hub the ol public library. Not that at any stage does it feel 'cultured', rather the mish-mash of cultural phlegm that mingles there.

The public library acts as a drop-in centre against the elements, air con in summer and heating in winter. It's for people who come in for a chat, and then do the rounds of other hapless conversation victims (ie. anyone stuck behind a desk in customer service). Escaped loonies, conspiracy theorists, armchair politicians, intellectual wannabees. All provide equal measure of entertainment and occasionally, mild panic.

They are magnets for every tightarse under the sun, wanting everything for free (cos it is), demanding service and then being uppity about paying a $1.20 late fine. This free element does attract another crowd, who smell like bins, fish guts or week old sex. Drifters from interstate, stinky backpackers, ferals who demand service cos they fink we're part of the guv'nmint.

These institutions (every town should have one) try to connect the community but really only reach out to those listed above. Each community focused group session (course etc) will have a smattering of people usually led by a bossy resident who seems kinda miffed that they're only (again) dealing with the above.

Babies crying, parent's telling their kids what they do and don't like to read, young couples trying to get busy in darkened corners, the regular who complains every time he comes in but continues returning years on end... ahhh, the culture!

9 copies of the Da Vinci Code and old cds of IceHouse. Can't beat it.

Scorcher

A long walk in the Hills is off today. I just went for an hour local walk (the usual track) and even though it was from 8:30-9:30am, the sun was still kicking up a bit of a fuss. 40deg forecast today and it already feels like the gates of Hades have been left wide open.

In fact, it's like a mini heatwave this weekend so any form of a hike is off. It's research time though and I'll probably make my way out to some camping shops to check out lightweight tents, a decent sleeping bag and perhaps even buy a compass to get some practice in. Don't even know how to work the darn things although the knowledge alone (whether it's used to navigate or not) will be an invaluable tool for a situation that may arise. Never know!

Another trail I'm interested in is the Pennine Way which runs up the middle of England and crosses Hadrian's Wall, another place of interest for me. Good chance for some decent camping along it's route and long distance practice for the Camino.

Valentine's

I would love to say something sarcastic and/or sinister about Valentine's Day, but I won't. hehe Just once it would be nice to be with someone during this time of the year, or my birthday (or theirs), or at Christmas. I'm taking myself out to tea: takeaway Bongournos, a dripping steak with mushrooms and roasted veg. They know my regular anyway. Just walk in and say "the usual thanks". Bit more upmarket than my fish n chip shop usual. lol

Best of luck to everyone today. Enjoy.

Brownhill to Belair

What a beautiful day it was today. A lovely 26deg and patches of shade, a nice breeze - perfect. Poison and injury changed the order of the day although it turned into a nice recap on some area already covered. No-one has been poisoned. Put the phone down. Today's hike was meant to be Waterfall Gully to Lofty area but the track was closed due to poisoning so Frank and I turned around, back to good ol Brownhill Creek, the trusty setting off point.

With Kath out with a back injury from netball, Jon still sore with a twisted ankle and Tania working it was nice to hit the trail with Frank. We have future plans of doing the Kokoda Track, money/time permitting, so it's fitness a go-go in the meantime.

Today was 18km there and back along the tail end of the Yurrebilla Trail. We had some fantastic photo opportunities and it was exciting to see so much wildlife about the place today. Along with the usual scurries of lizards and flocks of birds we saw some well-built horses, friendly maggies, dragonflies with wings that clicked like claws on lino, and my favourite, a pazzed out koala in the nook of a gum tree limb. Bonus points to Frank for spotting that one.

The area is a welcome respite from the demands of city living. I cleared my lungs again, oxygen touching the bottom of them, a deep down place usually reserved for clear air and/or coughed out bong smoke (ancient history). We're so lucky to have an area that close to the city/suburbs which still boasts some sort of bush feel, where you can walk for 20+ minutes and not see a soul. Frank has an interest in conservation so it was interesting hearing about various flora diseases and the intermingling of natives and introduced species.

The trail cries out to be walked in its entirety. Keen to have that one under my belt. It feels right somehow, to discover my own city on foot before I venture out to walk/hike other places in the world.

Solitary

After finishing the Camino chapter in The Singular Pilgrim, it became clear to me my reason and purpose for taking on board that particular journey of solitude. It's almost an embodiment of my life, where I find myself ultimately following my feet down my own distinct path. No-one else is following me or walking alongside and I find I need to put my hope and trust in something greater than myself. And to take this step out there and actually physically put myself in a situation where I am truly alone then I will clearly be put to the test. I hope to succeed.

The realisation that I am still as solitary a creature as I was years ago is a bit of a life starter. I have often times waited around for others to follow, or for me to tag along. It really is time I beat my own path, to give a wave from my future direction and send a postcard with love to those I inevitably leave behind.

So the Camino for me will be an acknowledgement to myself that my direction is worth it and that's where you'll find me.

Female writer

So good to be actually enjoying a non-fiction book by a female author again. I am currently reading The Singular Pilgrim, by Rosemary Mahoney. It's all about the journeys a writer takes discovering belief in the essence of religion, and the pilgrimages around the world where people put this belief to the test. The chapters I am particularly focusing on are those on the Camino de Santiago and her trip to the holy land.

Her account of the Camino is of particular interest as I've been trying to find someone who's written on it who doesn't waffle on about the existential stuff and miss out on real details. Or the online writing (blogs, journals) where people seem to have justified the time spent on it and skip out parts which fall anything short of romantic or ideal.

I love her style of writing! The little caricatures she paints with each passing glimpse, and funny scenes played out in dark reality. Her observations on a morose Spanish pilgrim were the best. It had me laughing out loud, which looks kinda crazy on the bus. The description of how this woman's sneakers were hung on the outside of her pack, and how they swung crazily with each step.. and more, so many observations that had me smiling. :)

And it's a book by a woman who doesn't need to harp on all the time about the fact that she's a woman - that's why I like it. It's a story of a human traveller, not a triumph over gender bias. And for this my hat is off to you Mahoney.

Stick Cricket

Another obsession. While I'm on the phone, waiting for a sales representative to take my important call, or just killing time... stick cricket.

It's like that board game Test Match and how I wore out the mat with that one.

Find it here.

Brownhill to Waterfall Gully

Cue Lawrence of Arabia soundtrack, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Survivor. Today was a battle against the elements and the mind. Warning: do not walk on days above 30deg - today was 36deg and I'm sure we all almost died.

Kath and I were joined by 2 friends, Jon and Tania. It was easier to do a more grueling walk with more of us cos at least one person was likely to be upbeat and cheering us all along. It was the slog up 'the hill' first (Brown Hill) then along the Yurrebilla Trail to Waterfall Gully. Part of this segment included walked past the remains of buildings up at Eagle on the Hill, a flash back to an era before our new freeway. The monumental remains of the old BP were like something from Rome, left to weather the ages as a sign of former glory.

Water was a bit of a concern today and I went through 5+ltrs, luckily we made the stop at Waterfall Gully and were able to stock up on more fluids. It was a give and take situation, where if we hadn't walked that segment we would have made it back fine, but by doing the extra we gave ourselves a bit of a self-inflicted water crisis. It was the first time since school sports days that I've felt the real effects of dehydration, oncoming faint feeling and a sort of claustrophobic closeness about the clear, dry heat.

It reminded me of what it must have been like for early settlers coming here during a time where they would have worn woollen clothing, ties, girdles, itchy breeches, that sort of thing. What a glimpse at that perseverance and determination to survive.

The Hills have a fair bite in them during summer and when bushwalking make sure it's done early morning (and no later than mid-morning) or only on days of 30deg or below. Or, like us, read about it all you like but once you've experienced it realise that it's something you never want to come across again.

Approx. 19kms today. Ouch.

Belair to Brownhill

The hiking boots were dragged on yesterday for yet another walk along the Yurrebilla trail, this time to find the connecting path between Belair and Brownhill Creek.

Got up to Belair train station at about 7:45am and entered Belair National Park through a gateway that looked like a relic from the past. Some creatures (human variety) had pulled off all the Yurrebilla arrows off the posts so every time I came to a post (every 500m) I had to guess (from memory, as I'd forgotten a map) which way to head next. It was like an easter egg hunt, or orienteering for the terminal weekender. A few wrong turns, including walking all the way to the end of the National Park and then heading back, I found the trail again and make the connection.

Some highlights were:

Echo Tunnel - pitch black in the middle, was like something from a novel

Lower Waterfall - would have been awesome if there was some water in it, good view

Winding path into Brownhill - it was like walking down those platforms from Donkey Kong

All up I walked (inc. wrong direction) about 24kms, on par for what I'll need to do for the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Ate 2 metwurst/tomato sandwiches, 4 apples, 2 muesli bars and 2.2lt of water. It started to rain too so I was able to sample a bit of the spirit soaring nature connection there.

Will look at other bits of the Yurrebilla Trail bit by bit before planning to do it all in 2 days. Go those sore legs and butt cheeks!

Oh, and my car got broken into while it was sitting there at the Belair Railway Station. The Red Slut violated again! Little thieving bastards. I had to laugh though... only got my street directoy, a little torch and heaps of coins covered in sticky Coke. Haha. Suffer you little street urchins!