Wednesday 22nd June 2011 - Day 128

Hey Friends,

Well, while my steak is cooking itself, I thought I'd throw in a quick diary entry.  All is well today (or will be when my stomach stops grumbling!).

Another day at work, this one beginning with PT, which was a walk towards the Opera House and back, my particular group made about a third of the way before turning around and heading back to work, which was a nice way to start the day.

Today was a bit of a taxing day in a lot of ways, but given that everything passes (ie: every workday ends), and it was hump day today, I can't really complain.

I made my Dry July team today, and managed to get my friend Deb sign up as my first member.  We're doing ok at the moment, Deb raised $190 in the first hour or so after she signed up, and I've raised $125 also, so our team total at the moment is $315, which isn't to bad for a couple of days of fund-raising.  I hope we can get a lot more team members and raise at least a couple of thousand dollars towards this cause.

Ok, my steak is almost cooked, so I'll sign off for tonight.  I felt like a cigarette today after a bit of work stress, but managed to get passed it and, of course, still haven't had a drink.

Have a great night friends, an (fundraising again), please donate anything you can towards my teams Dry July efforts,

Cheers,

Howie..

Tuesday 21st June 2011 - Day 127 - Nothing Much To Tell

G'day Friends,

Well, there really isn't much to tell today after a relatively non-eventful day at work, we closed out the day with an induction brief during which I nearly fell asleep about half a dozen times, before heading back to the ship, finishing off a bit of work and then being lightly rained on during my walk/run home (mainly walk haha).

As I was making myself a cuppa half an hour ago, I realised that there is nearly 2 litres of vodka on the top of my fridge, a bottle and a half of wine, and a bottle of champagne inside it.  I've managed to get myself into such a mindset, that I don't even notice it there unless there's someone here and I look to see what I've got that I can offer them.  I'm pretty happy with that, at least I haven't had to pour it all down the drain to avoid temptation.

On that note, I've managed to make it through another day without falling off the wagon, and I didn't even find myself thinking about smoking today (which I had been the past couple of days).

Annoyingly enough, I find myself clearing my throat a lot lately, which is a little frustrating.  You'd think that after 4 months, I'd be rid of that aggravation.  Granted, it is much milder than my former smokers cough, but it's still annoying nonetheless.

On a completely unrelated matter, my friend Shannon recommended Megan Washington (Singer) to me to have a listen to, and while checking out a bit of google information on her, I stumbled across Lissie (who some friends of mine have also mentioned) who is supporting her in some gigs, and I'm stoked that I now have two more awesome singer/songwriters in my collection.  Both of these girls have great voices and write their own stuff, which I think is the sign of a true musician (well Washington definitely does, and I assume Lissie does as well), so if you're looking for some nice folky music to listen to, check them both out, and Thanks to Shannon for turning me onto such great music.

Ok Friends, it's time for me to sign off again.  Til next time, have a ball.

Howie..

Monday 20th June 2001 - Day 126 - Participation in Dry July

Hi Friends,

I think I may have a charity bug.  I registered to participate in Dry July today, and I'm torn between two schools of thought regarding this.  On one hand, I've just harassed my friends and workmates into sponsoring me for the MS charity walk, so it's a bit much that I'm about to do the same for the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation; but on the other hand, I feel good about trying to raise money to help people in unfortunate situations.

Given that I have only very recently managed to quite smoking, cancer is something very close to my thoughts.  Even more so, as both my Mother and Sister continue to smoke, putting themselves in the path of so many forms of cancer.  I hope that the money that I raise can help someone else's Mother or Sister, or Father, Brother or Child for that matter.  And who knows, it may be a member of my family, or even me who is in years to come reaping the benefits of my (or others') fundraising efforts.

On a slight tangent, I am quite aware that it's a bit unfair also to expect people to sponsor me to do something that is a (small) part of something that I am already doing, but even if I can only raise a few dollars, at least I'm doing something good for someone apart from myself.

That makes me happy, as I consider myself to be quite a selfish person, so hopefully this can mitigate that selfishness.

Well, moving along:  today has been a moderately painful day, having returned to work after two weeks to find that a substantial amount of work that should have been done in my absence hasn't been done, and now I think I'll be working overtime to make up for this......oh well, I guess there is probably a lesson here that I need to learn.

In other news, it was good to return to work today as my friend Sass has started work on my ship again, which is a great thing.  I find myself marvelling at what a decent person she is, and thanking my lucky stars that she has been posted back to the ship.  She's also one of the more fun people to be around in the work arena, and can always bring a smile to my face.

For PT (physical training) today, she and I walked to the Botanic Gardens and back and Sass really is one of those people that it is so easy to talk to.  You never feel that the conversation is forced with her.

Here's a picture of the two of us in the Gardens today (as taken by a lovely lady who was walking past and observed me struggling to take the picture myself......thank you Random Act Of Kindness Lady)



Meanwhile, the more I see myself with no hair, the more I'm becoming truly comfortable with it.  I used to be horrified by the idea of going bald, but now I feel that it is a part of what has made me who I am, and I'm glad for it.


Well, I think that's enough from me for the moment friends.  In closing, if you want to sponsor me for Dry July, please do so at www.dryjuly.com.au/profiles/aaronhowearth .  Alternatively it would be fantastic if we could get a large group to register and do some fundraising en masse <insert meaningful stare here>.

Ok, have a great night friends and I hope that your working week is treating you well.

Howie..

Sunday 19th June 2011 - Day 125 - Archibald Prize

G'day Friends,

Well, it's time for another diary entry.  Today was a pretty good day, and capped off a full and entertaining weekend.  Weekend in full - Friday I caught up with my friend Sarah and went for a walk through Hyde Park to the Botanic Gardens with her before we stopped in the Mitchell Wing of the State Library of NSW where they had an exhibition that was mainly dedicated to aboriginal tree art within (predominantly) NSW.  I then walked Sarah to her hair appointment before having a few hours at home, then catching up with some mates (Turbo and Glen) at the pub.

Saturday was a great day hanging out with my friend Holly, which involved the Bondi to Bronte walk, breakfast, the walk back to Bondi, the little shopping trip, the visit to Double Bay, and then dinner with Casey.

Today was another good day, starting with an early wake up, and laying in bed for an extra hour enjoying the fact that I didn't have to get up for a while.  Then a relaxed breakfast and chat to Mum on the phone before heading out to meet Karen, the last member standing of our 'Archibald Prize Exhibition" expedition group.  She was shopping with Malia who also came along to the exhibition before we headed to Circular Quay for a spot of lunch at Ship Inn.

Wandering around the Art Gallery of NSW for the Archibald, Pullman and Wynne Prize Exhibition reminded me how amazing some people are when it comes to creating art.  Of particular note (to me) there were two portraits of older women, both of whom had such interesting faces, and expressions that I couldn't help but be captivated by the images of them.

Karen and I then had a bit of a wander around the general exhibits of more classical paintings, which are as always beautiful to me.  I don't consider myself to be much of an art critic, but I am thankful that I have been given the ability to appreciate much art (even if I fail spectacularly at most forms of art myself!).

At any rate, after our late lunch, I wandered back through the city where I couldn't help but stop by Elizabeth's Bookshop (second hand bookshop on Pitt St), and bought another couple of books.  Thankfully secondhand books are much cheaper than brand new books, otherwise I'd be blowing my fortnightly budget every time I visit that shop.

When I got home, I found out that an old friend, with whom I've not caught up in some time, was just around the corner from my building, so I had the pleasure of catching up with Lauren.  I'd like to pass on my congratulations to Lauren for winning best cupcakes in the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation Bake Off this afternoon for her budding business "Cupcakes by Lolli".......so if you want some novelty cupcakes made up for any reason (in the Sydney area), try checking out her facebook page of the same name, she really is very talented at it.

Well, that ends the adventure for this particular weekend.  I've been home for an hour or two now and am comfortably snuggled up under a blanket in tracksuit pants and beanie (I love comfy clothing).  I hope your weekends have been as fun and full as mine Friends, and I hope you all have a great week to come.

Of note, I think I should mention that I've been feeling a little bit like having a cigarette lately.  I wonder if it has something to do with being around Mum who smokes quite a lot, and now that I'm not around her, my body/mind is noticing the absence of that smoke, and giving me (very) mild cravings.

I also still find myself wanting a beer or glass of wine, but that's more of a thought that I want to drink rather than the "pull" inside my chest that I used to feel for cigarettes.  I still find myself "mourning the loss" of cigarettes from time to time.....before I catch myself doing it and metaphorically slapping myself.

OK, it's time I finished posting.  take care of yourselves friends,

Howie..

Saturday 18th June 2011 - Day 124 - Bondi to Bronte Walk, The Golden Sheaf and Indian for dinner

Good Evening Friends,

Today was a good (and busy) day, which started off with a run down to the opera house, then back through the botanic gardens, then via the domain and Hyde Park.  Such a great way to start the day........well to be honest, I did walk a little bit of it.......well the entire Botanic Gardens part of it, then a little bit through the domain.......then I took a bus to Bondi to catch up with Holly for a walk around the coast from Bondi to Bronte beach.  It was such a fantastic day, and apart from the wind being a bit fresh, such a worthwhile walk.  Here are a few pics from the walk:

Bondi Beach @ 9am

Bondi Beach again

Not 100% sure exactly what this is, but it looked great

Holly looking fantastic!

A very random giant rock sitting by the ocean near Bondi.

After we walked to Bronte, we stopped for a very filling breakfast, then walked back.  I then took a cab back into the city where after failing to make it into the CBD to find a scarf that I wanted, I wandered down Oxford st, and found the exact thing I was looking for, and at the budget price of $25! Oh Happy Day!

Then it was time for another bus trip, this time to Double Bay to have a look at the Golden Sheaf Hotel to see if it would be a good venue for Holly's going away drinks, and after 3 LLBs we decided that it would be a great venue for said drinks.

Then came time to head home again and get ready to see Casey for dinner, and to give her a break from studying (which is her whole plan for the weekend).  We wandered down Oxford St to Indian Palace who provided us with an outstanding dinner (at a reasonable price), which completely sated my hunger.

Well, that's the end of my day, apart from walking Casey home, checking facebook and posting here.....and changing into sweet tracksuit pants and hoodie to relax in.  I hope you're all having a great weekend.  Take care Friends..



Friday 17th June 2011 - Day 123 - The Toogoom House, The Pub With Mates and Tracksuits and Blankets.

Hello Friends,

Well, in the past week I've had a blast, in that I've travelled up to Queensland to help my Mum move into the house that we bought earlier this year.  The house is in a little town called Toogoom, which is a beach side town on the coast of Queensland opposite Fraser Island.  Our house is great: it's not too small and not too large, it is about 400m from the beach, but best of all it backs onto a small man-made lake, which is (as I told Mum repeatedly in the afternoons) "just lovely".  Now all I ask is that I suddenly come by an unexpected windfall, buy the block of land beside our house and extend our house.  Not asking too much am I? Below are a few photographs from the house and area.

Here was a couple of swans acting as welcoming party and swimming up to our back fence the afternoon that I arrived.

Here's Mum relaxing with a cool drink in the afternoon in our back yard.

This is the back of the house.  The Large window you can see is my bedroom window in the house, which has the awesome views out over the lake.

Our sweet patio which is outside the dining room and Mum's bedroom

Mum beside a lonely old tree in the middle of the beach.  I get the feeling that the tide comes up past this fellow.

The view down the lake from the left hand edge.

Our house as viewed from the other side of the lake (we're the house beside the trees in the centre of the picture).

Sailor - the pappillon that I bought Mum some years ago.......Man of the house.

PJ - The mitzu that Mum bought just before Christmas, and younger brother to Sailor.

Ego - My former pet, and the last of Mum's dependants/company in the house

The dining room/kitchen still half set up, but not with everything away yet......and a couple of coffee cups as testament to our many, many coffee breaks.

The sitting room.

Mum and I before I drove out of Toogoom yesterday afternoon.

We managed to get most of the house and yard set up for Mum while I was up there, with my brother Gary and his sons having come down from Townsville to lend a hand also.  All of the bedrooms have now been set up and it's just a matter of sweet Mumsy unpacking everything and placing it where she wants it.

I know understand why people don't move house terribly often.  It's such a big job!  Though having said that, I'm pretty sure that Mum worked harder than the rest of us, which is noteworthy given that she's at least 20 years older than her sons!

There was a little bit of torture with visiting Mum however in that she is a heavy smoker, and smokes in the house when at home, and in the car whilst driving.  The house was bad enough, but at least I could move away from the smoke, but in the car with her for hours at a time between Brisbane and Toogoom was excruciating.  Initially we thought we had a system that saw the smoke going out her window and not passing through the car, but that only seemed to work for the first two cigarettes (IE the first half an hour).  Unfortunately my mother is that kind of smoker that has convinced herself that she cannot survive without cigarettes, so that means that I had to passively smoke along with her.  Normally I would have been smoking along with her!

I managed to get through that, and through the time in the house with her smoking, and refrain from smoking myself, which really surprised me.  I hadn't prepared myself mentally for the amount of smoke I would be imbibing while there, and I was surprised how little it made me want a cigarette.

It is worth pointing out that I think I've managed to brainwash myself out of smoking, for the time being at least.....enough that my sinuses seemed to be blocked while I was there, which I'm certain was a psychosomatic reaction to smelling the smoke, as they have cleared right up since I have returned home.  I think it's funny how the human mind works, and how it can affect the body!......Mind over matter as it where.

Well, moving along, I just caught up with my mates Turbo and Chimpy at the pub across the road from my apartment building for a few lemon, lime and bitters, which was again not to hard.  I'm starting to get used to this socialising without alcohol.  I'm still finding myself a little bit awkward without a beer/bourbon/wine in my hand, and without the social and verbal lubrication that booze provides, but I thank whatever grand design there is, that I am able to hold a reasonable conversation regardless (at least, I think I can!)

Well I believe that I have tapped away on the keyboard enough for one evening, and I think I might grab my book and curl up under a blanket for the evening.  Have a great weekend Friends........and smile at a stranger........maybe it will make them smile as they look at someone else, and from there a domino affect will take place.....maybe........

Saturday 11th June 2011 - Day 116

G'day Friends,

Well, another fine Saturday is drawing to a close, and after a fairly late sleep in (I think my body was trying desperately to recover from the Cronulla walk yesterday), I managed to drag myself out of bed at about half past nine this morning, and then proceed to achieve nothing with the remainder of my morning, apart from fry up some bacon and eggs (at lunch time) and give my apartment a bit of a tidy up.  Well....I did the dishes anyway.

I also managed to catch up with a few of my awesome friends this afternoon.  I caught up with Touchy and Sass at the docks bar in Darling Harbour,

Touchy and Sass @ The Docks

where I drank a little too much red bull, so was a little bit hyperactive by the time I caught up with Casey for a cup of tea later in the afternoon.

Well, now I have the pleasure of being home and relaxing for the night before heading to Toogoom tomorrow to help Mum move into our new house.  I can't wait to see it for the fist time.  It's weird to have owned it for 4 months, but be seeing it for the first time tomorrow.  I'll have to post some pictures of it.  I more than a little bit excited about the fact that it sits on a little lake, and (even though it's winter) is only about 400m from the beach.
Well, I'm not sure if we'll have internet up and running while I'm at the new house, so take care Friends, and I'll post again when I get the chance.

Happy Long Weekend Friends,

Howie..

Walking from Sydney To Cronulla - Friday 10th June 2011 - Day 116

G'day Friends, well, I've not too long returned home after my mammoth walk to Cronulla this morning/afternoon.

I dragged my sorry backside out of bed at around 7:15 this morning, and after bumbling around the apartment having breakfast and such, I finally got myself into gear, and embarked on my pilgrimage at around 8:30am.

I got to Redfern at around 8:50 just as everyone appeared to be getting to work, and here's a bit of a pointless picture of the main street in Redfern (a street I also remember from the blur of a night which began innocently enough at an exhibition that Lishy and friends put on....and ended with my memory, a Pierre Cardin suit jacket and my camera lost in sacrifice to the gods of booze.

 This was a pretty great looking church in Redfern.....it looks much better in the picture than in reality because you can't see the skanky street that surrounded it, nor the graffiti on the side of it.

I'm not entirely sure what this was, but it was in between Redfern and Erskineville.  It looked like someone's living room built into someone's garage on the side of the road.

Here is a fine example of someone who needs to learn how to park properly!

A nice little picture of Sydney Park

The Tempe Sign.....as a marker of my travels

"Hock-A-Car".......well, it looks and sounds like such a high end business, how could you not!!

A nice little bay beside Tempe.

The park beside the bay in Tempe

Me! in front of the water in Tempe (I know, unbelievable isn't it!)

Talk about a fixer-upper!

And who, after a few beverages of the alcoholic variety, is not a fan of the Brothers Kebab.......?

This was just a really beautiful hotel/building....I love Art Deco.

Apparently it's now appropriate to try to scare away your customers....this was in front of a shop called "Home Brew".....obviously.

I thought city people were meant to be depraved, but at least we manage to keep our underwear on in the street!

I can hear you asking "Did Howie go through Sans Souci on his way to Cronulla".  The answer, of course, is no, I didn't..........

Just a pretty view as I was getting to the Taran Point bridge.

More pretty views from Taran Point bridge.

The Taran Point side of the bridge.

And finally around lunch time I reached Caringbah.

Then next (and last, prior to Cronulla) step in my game of suburban hop-scotch was Woolooware.

I think I need to buy a house in Woolooware on this street......who could forget my address then???

 Yip! Yah! Finally after about 4 3/4hrs I reached the limits of the city of Cronulla.  Hoorah!

 This is just a nice view as I was approaching the beach.

A nice view of the beach.

Another one of Cronulla Beach.

Oh Look! Me @ Cronulla Beach.......Who would have thought!

And there you have it, a pictorial testament to my 25km (ish) walk from the city of Sydney to Cronulla Beach.  Of note I was far more fascinated to find an awesome little second hand book shop called "The Best Little Bookshop In Town", which looked exactly like a used bookshop should......like they were running out of room and had just thrown the books wherever they could fit....including some stock blatantly being on the floor.  If you're in Cronulla, you can see it from the entry to the train station, and I will be taking myself back there, because the two copies of Black Beauty that I bought (one for my sister and I remember her loving the book when we were kids), and the copy of book 1&2 of paradise lost did not nearly sate my desire for book ownership!

Ok Friends, I hope you've enjoyed todays entry.  I hope that you've all had a great week and that you enjoy your weekends.  I will be helping Mumsy move into our new house in a couple of days, so once we get there, I'll post a bit about the trials of being with Mum and not following our usual habit of drinking wine in the evening.......This might be the real trial......I can't remember the last time Mum and I were together and didn't drink some wine in the evening!

Oh well, I guess you'll hear about it soon enough.  Have fun Friends..