Catherine’s Blog

54/365 i have a head ache

Originally uploaded by LPM

Well, I start with large retail company (LRC) today, this is what they will be called as i have signed stuff saying I won’t talk about them on the internet.   Also I think the secret squirrels of LRC may read this.  You never know, well I do and hence being on good behaviour.
I am exhausted, i still hate full on data entry as it is guaranteed to give me a head ache and I make mistakes and there are no red lines. That is possibly a Gin in the background to help sooth my nerves.  I know this is training and it will change thankfully.
So the last few days in pictures:

Yesterday job and house hunting, really depressing. I went out for dinner.

With Catherine whom I went to High School with. High school, for me was not a very happy time of my life and my first year out of school was up until last year the horrible year from hell. Catherine and I had a great summer 1993 to 1994 and we rocked it country girl style. Since then lots of things have happened and we lead busy lives, we have now an agreement of catching up every three weeks for dinner and and seeing how awesome stuff is.

I have done a little pattern drafting but am finding it hard to settle, just a lot of stuff in my head. I will be okay once I have some space.

Rikard is in Sweden, we are not communicating that much which is very strange, I miss him but he is taking photos, stunning ones with his camera phone. I can not wait to see what he does with film!

Ice cube soup,
originally uploaded by anglerud.

He has a lovely eye and although he is unsure of himself he seems to have that in built geek talent for photos.

I have also had the most flattering photo job offer of my life as well, but more on that possibly much, much later.

Tomorrow i pick up the camera and send it off to the insurers.

I am appear to be sitting at the bar of the oldest pub in Sydney, with the lap top and a schonner of Carlton Draft beer with the condensation condensing into little rivers of liquid. The pub is tiny, there is a leaning towards men seated around the rectangle shaped bar. The lines are Victoria with the tiles on the wall showing their age as well as the local trade in yesteryear. (Front bars were tiled high due to men peeing in the pub during the six o’clock swill.)

I am in Sydney for Ed’s 30^th round the world celebration. More on that later, time to catch whilst looking like a dork in a fairly old school once filled with dock workers pub with a lap top on the bar.

The last week or so have been a little round about like some quite depressing times and some great times.

Friday last I had job interview that I suspect went badly as I have not heard anything yet, I would have liked the job but I doubt if I am qualified enough. Cataloguing would be a skill I would have liked to hone a bit. Oh well, those are the breaks.

After the interview I headed out to visit Adrienne and Bill in Kyneton. Driving there I had to contrate on watching for kangaroos. Bill cooked up a lovely meal, stir fried beef. Adrienne and I then hit the gin and tonic and generally chatted about very little but also a lot. We spent a bit of time wandering around the property both in the dark as well as in the light. Bill is into short wave radio in a big way and has an array of boxes and wires that look a touch arcane and are attach to large antennae outside the home.

I headed back to Melton on Saturday morning, managing not hit any kangaroos again. Driving early morning and evening is a little fraught when you are unused to watching for kamikaze kangaroos.

I pottered around the house Saturday, sending the roomba around and doing a bit of washing. Saturday night I dressed up in my new skirt from Japan and headed off to Toby’s house warming.

Toby’s house is modern and in Brunswick West, very nice. I am quite jealous. I chatted to Toby and some of his guests. It was very odd only knowing Toby and I appear to have lost a little socialising knack. I suspect this is from generally feeling down. I was missing London, mainly the fact that socially London was just easier. There was more on and I knew what was on. I have very uncomfortable feeling of being homesick for a town I spent time being homesick in! I am sure this limbo will right its self.

I general I spent most of those days feeling quite down, the combination of fish out of water with the interview and Toby’s party as well as having to mess about on public transport and negotiating use of a car taking its toll.

Sunday I popped down to visit Adrienne’s house in Faulkner and helped her pack some books and admire her home. It is lovely, a slice of time warp of kitsch and scientist.

I was in need of a little not down time but brain reorganisation. There were a number of things poking in my brain and not helping with my mood. I need to sort out some stuff and called Rikard in London (I think this is the first time this blog has heard of Rikard, I knew him in London and when he discovered I was leaving and the circumstances for the departure he decided to act on the feelings he has had for me for a long time.). We chatted about many things including travel plans, up until now his coming trip to Melbourne had been couched in terms of if and now it is when. We both have our reservations. I really need to settle and adjust to my failed marriage status. I still miss Anthony terribly but recent circumstances have hardened my heart and it is time to recover and go forward. This very long discussion was much needed we talked about many things and sorted out a number of things. It was really good, and a weight I had realised I was carrying was lifted. I gather he was very happy as well.

Monday saw me sewing, a lot, aprons. We contacted a craft market for the Thursday and were hoping to do it but need to build up stock.

Tuesday was fabric shopping followed going out to visit Jack and Tracey. I am going to admit to avoiding this meeting, I knew it would be tough. Jack has grown so much, he is now 2 cm shorter than me. His body shape is changing and is going to be fairly stocky. He thought I was going back to England even though he knew about Anthony. His response to it all was, I am really sorry to hear that. Frankly the best response anyone can give, heart felt and to the point. He had not realised that I was here to stay and declared my return the best present ever. I may have done very well not to cry at that point.

Tracey I caught up over pizza and wine, it was lovely to chat and generally catch up. Tracey and I seem to fall back in the old patterns pretty quickly and that was comforting.

I ended up on the last train the Melton (9.55pm), an enlightening journey. I now suggest people who use TfL and complain should try Melbourne for a bit.

Wednesday was again sewing and more sewing. We had a craft market for Thursday and we had to prepare for that. Arnie dropped over some of his had turned pens to sell as well.

Thursday was an early start and heading to Bacchus March Village for the craft market. I set up and waited, Nat bought down some plastic bags we had forgotten and I waited. I sold a pen. I waited more, people admired the aprons. Some stall holders to a point of sketching our design in plain sight of me. Not impressed and annoyed I did not say anything at the time.

All in all the market was an experiment and we know now to scope the market before hand. The goods we were competing against were made by people doing it for a hobby and therefore not out to make a profit. Also the market was a little old style and there really was not enough people coming through. I am glad that we did take Dad’s pens because they saved us. We sold 5 of them for more than Dad normally sells them. It was a step learning curve and although disappointing we know what went wrong.

Thursday night I visited Dave for a very important job, to buy underwear. Dave is on night shift and because I am not working then shopping trips to the 24hour K-mart are only moderately insane. We pottered around a bit before I went to sleep, leaving Dave to do the nocturnal thing. I got up in the morning as he went to bed and after a little friendly housework headed back to Melbourne to pack for Sydney.

This weekend has been surrounded by a different type of family. I had a transport fail with spending time with the Duggans, if I had a car that was mine it would be a different story. I am hoping December will bring transport and bit more freedom. Having travelled via public transport to see Dave in Oak Park from Melton and it took forever. Metropolitan trains that runs only every half an hour off peak! Although having a car is expensive it is a necessary evil. So, a fail for one family but a huge welcome from another. My sister in law is Maltese Australian and comes from a large extended family. Saturday night when it was discovered I was not visiting the Duggans I was invited for dinner at Natalie’s parents house. So I ended up sitting a large table with small children, brothers and sister, parents and grandparents. There was BBQ food and lots of banter and the most divine potato salad. It was a very pleasant evening. Today we headed out to spend time with Jade, Natalie’s cousin. Again, lots of food and chat. Jade decided that champagne was required but she is breast feeding. So she had a glass, I may have drunk the rest. Natalie’s brother, wife and son visited as well. I am currently in Oak Park at Dave’s, staying over for an early start to take photos of Parks Radio Telescope. ROAD TRIP. Nine hours. Whhheeeee.

Leaving

Originally uploaded by LPM

I have been very busy and stressed the past while. The lack of posts possibly says that all really.
When I last wrote Michael’s family where heading off to the lakes district to see pencils, and the land of two Potters, Beatrix and Harry.
They came back tired but pleased on the Friday (25th September), we celebrated their return with Pizza and chilling around the house. Natalie and I hit the supermarkets for Halloween goodies to take home with us, we had a ball!
Saturday saw Michael entertaining the boys and Natalie and I heading off to hit the shops for relaxation. We began the epic journey on Tottenham Court Road, hitting habitat, Heal’s and Paperchase. Then it was Oxford Street for on sale runners for all then just meandering down Oxford Street. The crowds were not too bad which made for an only moderately mad time. Natalie found a cute bra and knickers set in Marks and Spencer’s. By this stage we were starving so we set out for Carnaby Street, somewhere I am not that familiar with. This became more apparent as the realisation the Carnaby Street stretches further than the street and into the lanes beside it. We found a Chinese restaurant in the style of Wagamama ate and then it was back to pounding the pavements. We headed to Camden and trawled our way through the markets and dodged the tourist hordes. We finished our grand shop at Cyberdog. There we both bought a number of t-shirts.
Then it was home for dinner and catch up with the boys.
Later that night I headed out to the club night, Vagabonds, a night I enjoy a lot and was sad it was my last night.

Sunday was sort of a day of rest, I started late due to being home late. The sun was shining so we piled into the car to sit in it for an age to go to Hampton Court Palace. Once there we spent time looking at the gardens from a horse drawn tour bus and marvelling at the great hall. We then got lost in the maze to be guided out by the turn choices of a three year old. Fergus really enjoyed the Tudor kitchens, playing with the pretend food and cooking up a storm.

Monday was an interesting day for me as Natalie and Michael headed off to Paris for the day. The boys got to spend the day with me. We started slow with a journey of Covent Garden on the tube. The buskers were out in force and the fellow dressed in plastic bottles seemed to appeal greatly. We then found a juggling man and we settled in to watch him. At one point he asked Fergus if he wanted to join in, Fergus declined but Ewan volunteered himself and me. This caught the street performer by surprise. We stood up on a carpet whilst Fergus took photos like a professional. During this, Ellie and Rod arrived and Rod joined us on stage. The performer requested we all lie down. Ewan seemed to be in his element and lay down, allowing me to return to Fergus and Ellie. I was pretty sure if Ewan made a dash for it Rod’s six nine frame could handle it. Ewan must have laid there for 15 minutes, possibly having a snooze and was then very still as the street performer walked on his hands over the prostrate bodies.

Then it was lunch which included Ewan and Fergus getting air plane rides over the table. They were restless at the end of lunch and rod joined in the fun which included running around, being tossed around and running under rod’s legs. At one point Ellie and I were wondering who the children were when all three of them had their jumpers over their heads and were running around with their bellies showing.

Then it was the London transport museum, a museum that gets top marks for its displays for children. Interactive and engaging. The boys really liked being able to ‘drive’ the buses and the things they could push and pull as well as dressing up as bus conductors. The hardest part was getting them out of the museum they were having too much fun.

Then it was home, dinner, bed and me collapsing! It was fun but very tiring.
Michael and Natalie came home quite late, exhausted but pumped abut their time in Paris.

On Tuesday Michael went off to explore the bits of London he had missed like the houses of parliament among other bits. Natalie and I headed out of London to the Roland Dahl Museum which again was another well design space for children, the boys really enjoyed themselves. I would have liked to see more on the stories, rooms dedicated the ins and outs of some of the big names would have been cool.
We were home early and there was a lot of napping and Fergus and I played on the Wii.
The last day in London was meant to be laid back because everyone was tired. We did some shopping, playing in the park and relaxing. Then it was packing and Michael and I headed out to take photos of London at night. This was followed by late night, midnight shopping with Natalie picking up last minute presents.
The next morning, Thursday, we were all up early catching a cab to the airport. The boys excited with the prospect of robots and noodles in Japan.
Coming back to the house was a little sad, having it filled with life was really nice. I had a house viewing that night so it was a mad dash of cleaning and tidying to make the place respectable. It was good being able to send the roomba around whilst I did other stuff.
The rest of my time has been involved in trying to sort out movers, household belongings and communicating with lawyers. Some of this has been very hard and depressing. Having said that I think I will always be very grateful to all the people that have helped me out with hard moments. Fran with sorting out stuff and Miko for help with Japan and feeding me with mead when the movers came. I have had all my worldly goods packed into twenty nine boxes. It is a small amount to show for five years in the company of one man and living in a foreign country. There were a lot of tears she in the process.
There have been some great times as well. I have bought myself a tiny laptop and am using that whilst I without my main PC. There was the socially busy long weekend that started on the Thursday with a dive bar in Soho, moving to Friday and the Goth night, followed by Saturday and one of the best birthday club nights for CJ and Fran and finished off with Ed’s 30th quiet dinner night. I had the lovely Ed turn up on my doorstep the following Friday, helping set out up the laptop and generally eat, drink and talk about anything and everything, there was also ice cream. There was the HUGE farewell party last weekend, we filled a room in the Shaftesbury pub and lots of people came to say hello. It was a grand night, many friends, lots of gin and fun moments. It made realise I am going to miss the people the most in London,the warmth and love was something I have never really experienced from a group of people before.
This week the packers came and moved me and I have tried to get organised for Japan as well as tying my life up here in the UK. It has been incredibly stressful. I have sort of bimbled through and had a lovely stress release with the London Goth Sluts. We met in the Flask in Highgate and a whole bunch of people who don’t always turn up came.
Of course through out all these social bits and pieces I have had the camera so have taken lots of photos. Unfortunately I have not had the time to up load many, life in general has got in the way. I think some time in Australia locked up with the computer and possibly photoshop. I have also began a new 52 week project, things are going to change a lot, I think a self portrait is a good way to document it all.
So, I have about 12 hours left in the country, lots to think about.

Okay, update long time.
The waistcoat of doom finally can together, it sits a little funny but other than that it is not bad.  I have hung it up for a bit and if it won’t settle I will get s professional to steam it into submission.
The weekend was social.  We headed out Friday to join Sue for her 40th Birthday celebrations.  We had a Japanese style banquet with Waaaayyyyy too much food.  It was very nice, I did not order saki, I should have.  Then it was Garlic and Shots for a swift gin and tonic before going home.
I had spent most of the week feeling ill, I had aching joints, a sore throat and was just so tired.  Cue calling the doctor, doctor refusing to see me because of flu like symptoms and NHS direct phone line refusing confirm or deny Piggy Death Flu because they can not see me.  I may have cried at that point.
Saturday was pottering until setting off out to Sidcup to Ara’s party. It was a lovely, way too much food.  I really like tescos finest caramelised onion and pork sausages.  Ara and G have recently purchased a smoker, OH my goodness, the steak, warm, smoky, fat melty and just…. Wibble.  All this was accompanied by good people, a small helping of vodka and tonic, and Goths singing to a ukulele.
Unfortunately I managed to forget Graeme was staying with us, I suck.  I am concerned with this memory lapse.  It is not like me at all.  I drove home, in the rain and London traffic, which had its moments but we had a full car of people to justify the fact I was not driving like an idiot they were.
Graeme stayed over and we chatted a bit in the morning before he headed off to have lunch with Ela.
The rest of Sunday was sewing, gym, cooking delish cambert tarts and relaxing until Linda, sister in law, rang.  Late Sunday night.
Aunt B, Anthony’s aunt, has had a massive stroke and heart attack.  She is 83 and currently in ICU in a Cape Town Hospital.
After a lot of angst and stress we managed to get Anthony flights to Cape Town to fly out yesterday and he landed this morning.  At the moment we are waiting for the swelling in her brain to settle down to see what happens.
Not really a good end to the weekend.
I am waiting, if something bad happens I am going to Cape Town.  I just don’t know if it would be bad if the stroke seems as serious as it does now.

Last night I attended the launch of the much anticipated magazine “Filament”, a new erotic magazine aimed at women without celebrity gossip and other crazy stuff.  I have known about this project for a long time and feel Surya’s determination to crack a market that is full of crap and put some substance with nude men is more than a little admirable.
The launch itself was a lovely gathering with people from all walks of life from alternative times to suited business types.  The atmosphere was of genteel conversation with a distinct of overtone of celebrating the male form in an erotic context.

The entertainment was quirky and erotic.  Boy burlesque from the delightful Cherry Loco, a very dashing Scottish fellow who performed with fans and in hot pants.  His power and movement with the fans was a delight to watch as he pouted and sizzled at the audience.  With beautifully applied man make up (make up that is not drag but is make up, theatrically) that put my slap applying to shame, he shimmied and flounced through a very entertaining act.
Suryra produced one of the most memorable speeches, using a spoken word performance, accompanied by a saw playing siren.
The final act of the night, before the DJ’s, did leave me a little more than breathless, a dynamic display of male strength and beauty.  Taking on the diet coke ads, this delightfully muscled performer, Edd Muir, used his strength on the Chinese pole in a display that that was sensual, erotic and beautiful.  His cheeky demeanour as well as focus made a very engaging and ummm, lusty performance.
There was also performances by the group Kiss Mummy Goodnight as well as life drawing upstairs.

My personal highlights, including Edd Muir, was also meeting some women from the British Porn Industry.  I am sorry I can not remember their names, they were all doubled barrelled.  There followed some wonderfully conversation about the rights and wrongs of mainstream porn.  Also Surya asking me to write recipe of the next Filament magazine, involving lemons, I will be undertaking this with Ela.   This was really exciting!
The launch embodied what Filament is all about making you think whilst displaying luscious men for perusal.

50/52 Son-in-law.

Originally uploaded by LPM

See the shadows under my eyes? That translates as too much fun being had in the Steele household.
I collect Joyce and Arnie from the airport over a week ago, and since then it has been full tilt. We mooched around the house Sunday generally catching up and relaxing. Arnie got out and helped Anthony and our next door neighbour mow the grass. It was quite funny. The photo is of Arnie and Anthony inspecting the underside of the mower, very serious stuff.
I had taken the whole week off to spend with the parental units. Monday was a slow getting started day. I was booked in for a hair cut and colour and Joyce and Arnie went off to Kenwoood house.
We cooked a yummy meal of bean burritos and generally chilled. I did introduce the parents to the Wii. You have never seen something so funny as my parents disagreeing over duck shooting on the Wii!
Tuesday we were up early and off to catch a train to Durham. I sewed on the train and it was very relaxing, much more so than driving. We got off the train and explored the city and found lunch before climbing the hill to the Cathedral.
The Cathedral was lovely, huge and Norma! The Romanesque columns were stunning and the general state of it was just lovely. Joyce and I went on a tour and that was very informative. After that I went a tour of the Castle which is a hall of residence, the student guide was informative and it was interesting to see a building that once was a castle then transformed into a palace for the Prince Bishops and now is university building. I found the most astounding thing was the kitchen, it has been in use for over 900 years, continually. The huge inglenook fire places have modern cool rooms in them, brilliant. The Great pity was the fact I was not allowed to take photos.
We had a lovely meal in Durham before catching the train back to London. The train ride was interesting as Arnie had consumed a reasonable amount of red wine and almost had a heart attack as a train went back in the opposite direction which was really funny and sent Joyce and me into giggles!
Wednesday was another slow start with pottering, shopping and going into every Charity shop along Golders Green Rd, there are a lot of them.
Joyce and I left Arnie at the flat and we drove across London, with Joyce in charge of the Sat Nav to Eltham palace. This was Henry the eighths first palace and something I have wanted to visit for a long time. A family that made it’s money from Nylon loaned/rented or leased the land built an art deco mansion there. With the Great hall attached to it! It was really astounding, the outside in sympathetic to the medieval great hall, timeless almost but the shape of the wings is not classical. The inside was more Spartan that I would have imagined but beautifully appointed. Joyce and I really enjoyed wandering around and checking it all out. We then ambled through the gardens and headed home into the traffic, which was surprisingly light for that time of day.
Thursday morning was Joyce and Arnie packing for France and getting ready, whilst I threw myself into Whitby organisation.
I sent them off to catch the train to Dover and I madly packed a lot of goth clothes and played tertris with the packing of the car.
Then it was driving to Whitby!

I have missed my parents a lot and it was wonderful to spend time with them, especially since the weather has been so pleasant!

Yesterday was a flurry of baking; yo yo biscuits and cheese straws as well as the famous curried cashew nut dip.  We then went deepest darkest south London for Eva’s birthday.  There was a lot of cake, a lot.  Later at Vagabonds there were lots of friends and gin.  It was a good night.

Today will be cleaning and popping down to Camden to chat about photos.

Joyce and Arnie are getting excited about coming.

28/52 Surprise

Originally uploaded by LPM

The last weekend has been quite frenetic followed by a small collapses of huddled snotty mess.
I have been very secretly planning a birthday party for Anthony. You see, he was not sure what he wanted to do for his birthday and I got the impression that we has not really looking forward to turning 39. I figured a bit of a party was called for. A surprise party to boot, so with the help of Ela and Andrew, we hatched a plan.
Andrew had conspired to get Anthony to take him to Ikea and Anthony, oddly enough agreed and was not worried when I said I would not be coming. Frankly, I had been out of the house so much I really needed to be home anyway. Once Anthony was gone it was action stations. I had been tidying during the week and apparently this sent off alarm bells that I was up to something. Not sure why, I am a little concerned this means I don’t clean enough!
So Ela arrived with the cake and I made dips and cut up loads of vegetables. Then there was a mad rush to get ready. Phil arrived on time and helped put up the wall of Anthony, every photo I have taken of him so far for his year of portraits!
Then more guests came in and we did start to wonder where Anthony was, he was still at Ikea! I even had a phone call from him whilst the house was heaving with guests about bookshelves and drawers!! Ack!
We finally got a two minute text and all crowded into the lounge room and waited, with a bit of giggling and carry on! I had shut the lounge door and when he opened it we all sang happy birthday! He seemed very pleased and there were some surprise guests that he was pleased to see.
It was a great night, the cake was beautiful, we only ran out of food once and there were E2 noders, goths, librarians and South Africans all mingling and chatting. It was a relative early night with the last guests leaving about 12 for the final tubes home.

Anthony said he thought I was up to something but not sure what, so alothough he knew something was amiss, what it was a mystery.
Unfortunately, I had a sore throat Friday and Saturday and by Sunday it had developed into a nasty cold accompanied with a nasty cough. I took Monday off but I am at work today. Cough and hacking for the 12 hours of my day. Blurgh. Only 3 ½ hour tomorrow!

This weekend was quite busy but strangely relaxing.
Ela and I flew out of London city Airport on Friday afternoon, I think I can now say I have flown out of all of London’s commercial airports.  We arrived to be meet by Graham who told us we were the first to arrive only to find Tal in the flat having stealthed in under the radar via an obliging house mate.
As I have already said, then we killed some brandy bottles with Katie and Snarl and got up bleary eyed in the morning.  It was very good see them and just talk, and talk.
Tal and I went out to shop early and only got slightly distracted by shiny things and finished the supplies we would need for the ensuing craziness.
Ela and I baked and cooked our arses off, we made cakes to cater for all and enough food feed thousands.
In the middle of all that Graeme and I quickly ducked out to visit Dot and call and the bean which is officially named Sam.  Dot looked pretty darn good for a new Mum.  Sam was snuffly but lovely and Call was doing Dad stuff whilst we were there.
Then it was back to the ravening hordes and Gin.  The people were feed, lots of drink was consumed, people talked and cake was eaten.  Then sleep!
Sunday was a slow start but I managed a bit of fabric shopping before we caught the plane home.  Another successful nodermeet.
I was stopped in security for a hip flask in my bag, the one that had been there though out my trip, since Whitby in fact.  The one that had been missed at London Airport!  I thought it was odd at the airport because I had forgotten to take out my toiletries and they did not pull me up then, was the x-ray man asleep?
Any way, it was a little exciting getting back with closures on the DRL and no signage letting us know where the replacement bus service was.
Home again to a rested Anthony who had pottered at home one his own for the weekend and seemed to be very relaxed for doing so.
Monday was slightly manic as I went to work, quite tired but relaxed from the trip away and the fact I had not bought too much washing home with me.
I had promised to go photograph a gig for Ed Flay, Flay and DeVille’s Circus of Marvels on Monday night.  Anthony and I ate at Satsuma which we have decided we won’t eat at any more as the veggie range is minimal now and we would rather eat proper Japanese for the Price they were charging for okay food.
Once I had feel for the light and was comfortable with it all I was ready to shoot my first time in RAW format.  I think I went okay, and there seems to be a number of good photos in them all.  I need to come up with a formally worded but simple photo policy for such things.  There were some very good acts but I was a little disappointed that many of the women, bar one belly dancer seemed to take off a lot of clothing.  I know burlesque is meant to be quite popular but this seemed a little excessive to me.  I would have like to see a female magician or comedian or something.
Today is my long day at work and I am a little tired from getting in bed at one this morning.
Tomorrow manual handling, with the bonus I don’t have to come into work as it is at Harrow and I have my time off in the afternoon.