A couple of passages I copied into a notebook a while ago which I just dug up.
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"A real cloud soarer", said the Patriarch "can start early in the morning from the Northern Sea, cross the Eastern Sea, the Western Sea, and the Southern Sea, and land again at Ts'ang-wu. Ts'ang-wu means Ling-Ling in the Northern Sea. To do the round of all four seas in one day is true cloud soaring". "It sounds very difficult" said Monkey. "Nothing in the world is difficult", said the Patriarch, "it is only our thoughts that make things seem so."
Monkey (Ch'Eng-En Wu)
(Yes, it is from the novel Monkey Magic was based on.)
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As usual with decided characters, Bathsheba invariably provoked the criticism of individuals like Henery Fray. Her emblazoned fault was to be too pronounced in her objections, and not sufficiently overt in her likings. We learn that it is not the rays which bodies absorb, but those which they reject, that give them the colours they are known by; and in the same way people are specialized by their dislikes and antagonisms, whilst their goodwill is looked upon as no attribute at all.
Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
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WARNING: BOOKISH NERD STUFF BELOW
I didn't actually know where that last one came from (I knew it was a Hardy novel but not which one) so I googled some of the quoted text. Turns out my old uni has some "etexts" on line. I guess these are classics for which the copyright has long since expired!
Check out Adelaide Uni E-Texts. No the DaVinci code isn't there.
On the topic of ebooks also check out Project Gutenberg, or perhaps more interesting the most popular Gutenberg texts.
I don't know about e-texts. I don't think I could ever see myself scrolling all the way through War and Peace on a laptop! Sorry trees, your services are still required.
Plant Farewell
I gave away all my plants today (well almost - I kept one that I couldn't part with!). Now my verandah is as bare as my bedroom.
Bye plants ... I'm gonna miss you (and sorry to the ones over the years who did't make it this far).
I also sold my fridge today, which can only mean one thing, no more cold beer :-(. Damnation.
Still no word back from the Russian Embassy. Hopefully tomorrow, though Tuesday is more likely. Any later than that and it is really going to start screwing us over. I'm hoping it's a good sign. Surely if they were going to reject it we would have heard something already. Who knows. Aaaaargh. Next holiday is gonna be a 5* Maldives option !
Bye plants ... I'm gonna miss you (and sorry to the ones over the years who did't make it this far).
I also sold my fridge today, which can only mean one thing, no more cold beer :-(. Damnation.
Still no word back from the Russian Embassy. Hopefully tomorrow, though Tuesday is more likely. Any later than that and it is really going to start screwing us over. I'm hoping it's a good sign. Surely if they were going to reject it we would have heard something already. Who knows. Aaaaargh. Next holiday is gonna be a 5* Maldives option !
Spend Your Coins Wisely ...
A word to the wise ... DON'T save all your coin change. Especially not over a period of 4 years. It's a very stupid idea 'cause one day you are probably going to have to count it.
Flossing
After every time I go to the dentist for a checkup I always promise myself I will start flossing. Every time.
5 Hits
I had 5 hits today, and they were all me. Maybe I should get me some of those Google Ads and sell myself stuff. I'll be rich beyond my wildest dreeams.
"New" Bed
So this is where I will be sleeping tonight ... on the floor !!! Well, ok, on the sofa bed to be honest ... but that goes tomorrow, or Monday. Yes, I sold my bed. It is going to a nice house down south apparently. They tried to haggle me $100 (I wanted $400) but ended up $350 which is probably reasonable. What I don't get though is why people who just bought a freakin holiday house for god knows how much down south haggle over $50 bucks. Grrrrr. I just didn't want to end up with a bed on my hands so I caved. But it pisses me off. I loved that bed dammit!
Airport Musings
Some naff musings I found in a notebook while sorting through stuff. I wrote it in the Adelaide airport, a while ago now, waiting to fly back to Perth. It makes me laugh.
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Noone wants to be at an airport. They either want to be where they were, or where they're going. The anticipation of fun, exciting new adventures, reunions, or the return to everyday life casts a shadow over all thoughts. Taints all interactions. Or introspection for that matter.
She sits there awkwardly, twisted into the airport lounge chair, waiting for her departure. A travel bag, it's aluminium handle fully extended, sits in front of the chair next to her. A rigid travel companion contrasting her slumped stature. The Australian newspaper is spread out beside her, over three chairs. It's front pages consumed, she restlessly thumbs through the financial pages, then back to the front page. The sport section remains untouched. She uncrosses her legs, stretches and recrosses them. She doesn't want to be here either. She wants to be somewhere else, before she resorts to the sport's pages to distract her from the trial of waiting. She sits up suddenly and twists her head around looking for something. Nothing. She returns to the paper.
All time passes. Sometimes it crawls and sometimes its cruel in its swiftness. Remember your first day at school. What about your first kiss, your first day at work. Was it five years ago, ten, twenty or even thirty. I know its obvious. Everyone knows time passes but we rarely think about it. I have twenty minutes left before my plane boards. I can waste it with the best.
He stands at the internet terminal, a wry smile twisting the left side of his face. A typical IT boy probably. White undershirt with sensible short sleeved shirt over the top. Not that I can talk, I am of that ilk. His left foot taps - impatiently or to some unheard rhythm, its hard to tell. He starts typing, replying to the unseen sender, the smile is gone. He seems uncertain . An airport is no place to pen a quick reply. Too full of emotions. His travel companion comes up to him, speaks and then moves to another seat. He returns his concentration to the screen in front of him. He starts to type but stops, steps back and stretches, his arms fully extended resting either side of the terminal. The wry smile returns and he begins typing furiously. Perhaps his time here won't be wasted.
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Noone wants to be at an airport. They either want to be where they were, or where they're going. The anticipation of fun, exciting new adventures, reunions, or the return to everyday life casts a shadow over all thoughts. Taints all interactions. Or introspection for that matter.
She sits there awkwardly, twisted into the airport lounge chair, waiting for her departure. A travel bag, it's aluminium handle fully extended, sits in front of the chair next to her. A rigid travel companion contrasting her slumped stature. The Australian newspaper is spread out beside her, over three chairs. It's front pages consumed, she restlessly thumbs through the financial pages, then back to the front page. The sport section remains untouched. She uncrosses her legs, stretches and recrosses them. She doesn't want to be here either. She wants to be somewhere else, before she resorts to the sport's pages to distract her from the trial of waiting. She sits up suddenly and twists her head around looking for something. Nothing. She returns to the paper.
All time passes. Sometimes it crawls and sometimes its cruel in its swiftness. Remember your first day at school. What about your first kiss, your first day at work. Was it five years ago, ten, twenty or even thirty. I know its obvious. Everyone knows time passes but we rarely think about it. I have twenty minutes left before my plane boards. I can waste it with the best.
He stands at the internet terminal, a wry smile twisting the left side of his face. A typical IT boy probably. White undershirt with sensible short sleeved shirt over the top. Not that I can talk, I am of that ilk. His left foot taps - impatiently or to some unheard rhythm, its hard to tell. He starts typing, replying to the unseen sender, the smile is gone. He seems uncertain . An airport is no place to pen a quick reply. Too full of emotions. His travel companion comes up to him, speaks and then moves to another seat. He returns his concentration to the screen in front of him. He starts to type but stops, steps back and stretches, his arms fully extended resting either side of the terminal. The wry smile returns and he begins typing furiously. Perhaps his time here won't be wasted.
Bed Unconsolable
Well my poor bed has lost one of it's oldest buddies .... Chesty, my chest of drawers. They have spent the past eight years together, never far from one anothers' side.
They have been through good times and bad times, living in four different houses with perhaps their darkest hour being a year spent in storage.
And now Chestys gone, disappearing down my street in the back of a ute. Taken by a complete stranger whose wife told him she needed a chest of drawers.
Bye Chesty. Thanks for looking after my clothes for all those years. I'll miss ya.
(You know that you are too worried about selling furniture when you start anthropomorphizing it.)
They have been through good times and bad times, living in four different houses with perhaps their darkest hour being a year spent in storage.
And now Chestys gone, disappearing down my street in the back of a ute. Taken by a complete stranger whose wife told him she needed a chest of drawers.
Bye Chesty. Thanks for looking after my clothes for all those years. I'll miss ya.
(You know that you are too worried about selling furniture when you start anthropomorphizing it.)
Enough Text Already
Here are some photos taken in Kings Park this afternoon. Not particularly original but it was fun taking them (and it made a nice change from sorting through four years of paper work). I love that "looking for photos" frame of mind you get in, tuning in visually to your surrounds. I have to make more of an effort to take photos. I haven't felt particularly inspired of late when it comes to shooting, but hopefully the upcoming change of scenery should provide plenty of fodder.
Buy my stuff damn you
After the initial early awakening yesterday, the phone didn't exactly ring off the hook. The early caller ended up buying a coffee table for $20. Could've done with the extra sleep instead! It hasn't been a complete disaster though. Managed to sell my washing machine (so if I look scruffier than usual you know why), my video & TV (if I look more awake than normal you know why) and my microwave. Still got most of my big stuff though. Anyone want to buy a bed, chest of drawers or a fridge. No I can't email it to you, but you can still pay me if you want.
Had a farewell BBQ last night with my old team mates from work. It was great to see them again. Going to miss those guys and gals when I leave.
Have been trying to decide whether to travel with my digital camera (Nikon D70) or resort back to film (Nikon F80). Decisions, decisions. They are about the same size, it is digital storage which is the main concen. The colleagues from work bought me a cool storage device (40GB - sweet) for my digital photos, but I am having some trouble coming to trust it. All my photos on a rather fragile piece of electrical equipment!! I have a little time to put it through it's paces before I go though, so we may become friends yet.
Had a farewell BBQ last night with my old team mates from work. It was great to see them again. Going to miss those guys and gals when I leave.
Have been trying to decide whether to travel with my digital camera (Nikon D70) or resort back to film (Nikon F80). Decisions, decisions. They are about the same size, it is digital storage which is the main concen. The colleagues from work bought me a cool storage device (40GB - sweet) for my digital photos, but I am having some trouble coming to trust it. All my photos on a rather fragile piece of electrical equipment!! I have a little time to put it through it's paces before I go though, so we may become friends yet.
I am so glad I stayed up until 4 last night
Why did I go to bed at 4 in the morning when I knew (hoped) people would be ringing me to buy furniture? Admittedly I've only had one call, but my mobile right next to the bed is a heart starter. I'm going back to bed now after a quick tidy up to make the place look like someone who looks after their stuff !!! Let them call.
Sorry if you expected more
He he .... it's fun making out people read this, whereas the reality of it is ... well .... let me dream.
I did not have the most exciting day ever today, despite what people expect when you are a "man of leisure" (MOL). My sum total of accomplishments for the day were : placing classified ads to sell my furniture/white goods etc, having my eyes checked and falling asleep on the couch at about 3 in the arvo in front of Judge Judy. Wait, there is one more, I cleaned the fridge ready for selling. Fascinating stuff I tell you. Don't you too wish you could be a MOL.
Tomorrow should be a little more interesting. Off to the Chinese Embassy in the morning to pick up our passports, hopefully with a couple of Chinese Visas in them. Then I have to send our passports off to the Russian Embassy to get our Russian Visas. This makes me nervous for some reason. Grrrr. I'm sure it will be fine, but those Visa Requirements can be a little daunting/confusing.
Thought for the day: Why am selling everything I own when everyone else seems to be buying a house and settling down?
Goodnight.
I did not have the most exciting day ever today, despite what people expect when you are a "man of leisure" (MOL). My sum total of accomplishments for the day were : placing classified ads to sell my furniture/white goods etc, having my eyes checked and falling asleep on the couch at about 3 in the arvo in front of Judge Judy. Wait, there is one more, I cleaned the fridge ready for selling. Fascinating stuff I tell you. Don't you too wish you could be a MOL.
Tomorrow should be a little more interesting. Off to the Chinese Embassy in the morning to pick up our passports, hopefully with a couple of Chinese Visas in them. Then I have to send our passports off to the Russian Embassy to get our Russian Visas. This makes me nervous for some reason. Grrrr. I'm sure it will be fine, but those Visa Requirements can be a little daunting/confusing.
Thought for the day: Why am selling everything I own when everyone else seems to be buying a house and settling down?
Goodnight.
Crowded House on rage
They are showing all the Crowded House videos on rage at the moment. Very sad. I always forget how good they are. I wish I had had the chance to see them live before they called it a day way back when.
Moving Mess
It is getting to that point in time where I have to think about getting rid of all my "stuff". Actually, that point was probably reached a couple of weeks ago, but in the long tradition of making my life difficult I have put it off until now. To be honest though, it is kind of therapeutic going through some of the junk collected over the past few years and judging it : keep vs ditch.
On the upside we now have our Russian Visa Support .... things are coming together.
On the upside we now have our Russian Visa Support .... things are coming together.
My head hurts ...
... and I can barely form a sentence. Bring on the dot pointed list:
Yesterday we
Today we
I may elaborate later, but for now it is time for a Panadol and a lie down.
Yesterday we
- rang China
- rang Russia
- applied for Russian Visa Support
Today we
- applied for a Chinese Visa
- sent off our Trans Siberian itinerary and got it confirmed
- bought a plane ticket to Beijing (from Adelaide) via Singapore
- rang Russia
- hopefullly got our Russian Visa Support faxed to us .....
I may elaborate later, but for now it is time for a Panadol and a lie down.
Handy Hint #1 : Plan Ahead
Let me give you some history. The initial plan (i.e. Plan A) was to travel to South America for a couple of months before heading to the UK on a two year Working Holiday Visa. After a brief dalliance with Spanish Lessons at the local TAFE (don't ask me to say anything in Spanish. It will be embarassing for both of us.) we came to the decision that by the time we got to South America (around June) it would be too damn cold to go to Patagonia ... and if we couldn't go to Patagonia ... well we thought we would save it for another time. And to be honest, those Spanish lessons weren't going incredibly well ...
After several other plans were proposed (travel around Australia, lounge on a beach in Thailand for two months, etc) we decided on Plan J - The Trans Mongolian Ralway. (aka "The Three Visa Train"). Turns out you need Chinese, Mongolian and Russian visas ... which unfortunately don't rank up there in the Top 10 Easiest Visas list. This isn't necessarily all bad ... it's just that we didn't really leave ourselves enough time to organise the trip AND organise the visas. Aaargh ...
Anyway ... gotta go and get back to research. Don't get me wrong ... it is fun organising this stuff ... I just dug myself a hole by leaving it a bit late. Deep breath.
In summary : PLAN AHEAD
After several other plans were proposed (travel around Australia, lounge on a beach in Thailand for two months, etc) we decided on Plan J - The Trans Mongolian Ralway. (aka "The Three Visa Train"). Turns out you need Chinese, Mongolian and Russian visas ... which unfortunately don't rank up there in the Top 10 Easiest Visas list. This isn't necessarily all bad ... it's just that we didn't really leave ourselves enough time to organise the trip AND organise the visas. Aaargh ...
Anyway ... gotta go and get back to research. Don't get me wrong ... it is fun organising this stuff ... I just dug myself a hole by leaving it a bit late. Deep breath.
In summary : PLAN AHEAD
TAXI induced photos ...
... or lack thereof. After searching for a taxi for about 15minutes last night I decided to walk home. It's not a huge distance, 45 minutes or so, but over the past few years the novelty has worn off. I figured I might as well make the most of the "opportunity" and take a few photos along the way.
And ... well I thought this was funny. I was pretty tired - "Fame Parking Only"
And ... well I thought this was funny. I was pretty tired - "Fame Parking Only"
R.E.M.
Saw R.E.M. in Perth last night. They were amazing. Had fanclub tickets, fourth row, which helped. The Burswood Dome is a pretty average venue and the seating arrangements weren't exactly conducive to an electric atmosphere. That said, it was an awesome set and the guys seemed to be enjoying themselves up there on the stage. Good mix of old and new stuff. You can check out the setlist over at remhq
Expect Delays
Yet another blog is born. Yeah I know i am behind the times and it seems every other blog I visit says "Thats it, I'm over it, I'm outta here ...". But hey, you gotta do these things. Expect Delays is intended to be a travel journal of sorts. After leaving my job of 3 1/2 years yesterday and about to head off travelling, I thought it would be a reasonable way to keep in touch, rather than spam people's inboxes. We'll see how it goes. As far as update regularity goes, and as anyone who keeps email contact with me will know, delays are to be expected.
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