My financial situation is dire, to say the least. How will you survive when you go back to the States? asked Dave the other Sunday when we were having our usual hangover-brunch, and I found myself sitting there wishing I was armed with a better answer than “I’m not sure”. After putting away money for rent, chiro, acupuncture and all other weekly / bi-weekly / monthly expenses that I’m trying to stay on top of, I’m making my allowance for food and anything else a measly $150 per week. Whatever is left after this division goes into the savings jar, and [View Full Entry]

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And then, all at once, summer came to Sydney. The timing of its first true appearance couldn’t have been better, as it chose to make it at the day of the Earthdance Festival. I went with Will, Dave and Judith, but because it was a festival, Dave and I had lost Will and Judith as soon as we set foot inside the festival area. Oh well, four is a crowd when it comes to these kind of events anyway. The weather was perfect, but whoever was in charge of the alcohol arrangements for this occasion should’ve done his math a bit [View Full Entry]

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Some things will never change, and my penchant for freebies and good deals is most likely one of those. When buying a soccer ball at Rebel Sport a few weeks back, I was offered a free trial week at a gym not too far from home. I took Wonga with me and headed over there, lied and said that she too had had one of these free passes but stupidly misplaced it, and voila, we were both given a free week. The gym was tiny but posh with tasteful décor, and with dressing rooms featuring IKEA-furniture it was impossible for me [View Full Entry]

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I came down with a malevolent flu for a few days of last week, and although some stubborn particles of it is still lounging around in my system, I feel pretty well recovered by now. My shin splint, however, is not getting better despite the joined efforts of my sportsmed and chiropractor. In short, it’s just costing me heaps of money and I see absolutely no improvement. Not being able to run is bringing me down, and the fact that I’m trapped in what feels like a permanent fat suit doesn’t help my gloomy disposition one bit. “Maybe it’s just age”, [View Full Entry]

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In a life where it’s all about being as amused as possible as often as possible, it helps to have great friends to assist you in that quest. I don’t know how I did it, but I’ve miraculously attached myself to some fantastic people here, and it’s effectively reminding me of the one drawback of an itinerant lifestyle like my own; all the people and places I’ll miss when I eventually leave. There’s a frustration in me of wanting to be everywhere at once, an impossible mission that I can’t seem to accept defeat of. Why can’t I have everyone I [View Full Entry]

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The anticipated perks from being chummy with the regulars are finally starting to roll in, and all I can say is chi-ching! One favorite regular moved to Melbourne last week, but first he held a going-away party at the Shakespeare Hotel. The party took place on Wednesday night, and because he mentioned that there would be an open bar I had no choice but to accept his invitation. When walking the three blocks to the pub in question I ran into no less than 5 regulars, and when I arrived I already knew essentially everyone, or at least their coffees. After [View Full Entry]

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I agreed to work for a few hours last Saturday morning, which helped me stay out of drunken doings on Friday night; instead of preparing for an all-nighter, at 8 pm I was in the locker room of the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre after an hour of swimming, and when I got home I practiced the guitar and replied to emails until I got tired enough to go to bed. Seeing how successfully I stayed out of trouble with that recipe, I tried repeating the routine for Saturday as well, and just as I thought I had managed to escape all [View Full Entry]

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The Pope is in town, but before you all start making logical yet inaccurate assumptions that he’s here to catch up with me, I should set you straight and give you the actual reason; World Youth Day. I had never heard of this before, and after having it explained to me it sounds nothing short of bizarre. Apparently it's a huge event, and every four year a new city is chosen to have the honor to host the Pope His Holiness and the thousands of pilgrims who stalk him. It’s quite similar to the Olympics in that sense, but there is [View Full Entry]

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Well, thank Buddha I didn’t go straight ahead and give Dario my number! I’m not one to be embarrassed easily, but considering that he has a girlfriend that could actually have been a bit uncomfortable, even for me. He is the second guy who has been flirting shamelessly with me despite being in a relationship. Remind me to never marry a construction worker, as this profession is the common denominator for these two hunky bastards. When Dario came in on Friday he greeted me with a “Ciao bella” which I thought was promising, and while I prepared his sandwich I casuall [View Full Entry]

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In one week I bought both a heater and a jacket; winter has now inarguably hit Sydney. The days are still warm and sunny, but mornings and nights are getting quite nippy, and although I was hoping to not have to cave in to electronically driven heating, it's nice to not have to shiver when in your own room. Work is still great, and the praise just keeps on coming. Kit claims it would be a complete waste of talent if I didn’t open my own coffee shop in the future, but I replied that I love what I'm doing purely [View Full Entry]

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