It was that overcast, grey, very light rainy, warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt weather, which I kind of like.

Rain dripped from the umbrellas we were sitting under, which is kind of melancholic and heart warming, dare I say a certain kind of romantic.

Jane has always been that kind of semi alternative, Northcote set, so they were the people present.

All lovely to be with.

Step son Jay has grown into quite a boy.

His girlfriend is some kind of goth chick with multiple face piercings and heavy black makeup. Not sure what Jay sees in that? But, I don't have to, do I?

Jay had some mates there, and they all went and played games halfway through the arvo.

Jane had her friends there too and we chatted house sales and life and reminisced.

There were a few guys at the venue in really awful clothes, and Jane was quick to tell me that now a days, the worse the clothes, the cooler they are considered.

Jules turned up towards the end, he'd been playing netball with his mob and was bruised and damaged.

We stayed until mid afternoon when we headed home when Jules did. I gave Jay a hug and wished him happy birthday. Oh, to be 22 again, happy to have made it through, hey.

Sunday Lunch

I'm going to go and have lunch with my step-daughter and my step-grandson. It's his birthday today, he must be turning, er, um, I should know this, 22?

It will be nie. I never see them enough.

It is a weird kind of day, muggy warm, overcast grey, with intermittent rain. You know, one of this days. Well, at least it isn't cold.

David called a few days ago. He invited us out for dinner with some mates.

"You know something, David, I'm already doing lunch with Jane, and you know something, that is enough people for me for one day."

"I completely understand," said David.

Sublime Saturday

We went out for lunch, it was a gorgeous day. We walked the dogs. Walking through the park was sublime. We ate Indonesian food. It was kind of quiet in Lygon Street.

How quickly the days pass and I am looking down Monday morning, again. Apparently, I am supposed to go ito the office. I'm still thinking about quitting my job, because I don't want to go back to the office. Yeah, I know, even I'm sick of hearing myself say it.

Why am I so scared to do it? Those go-getting type amongst us would just quit and go onto bigger & better things. Why aren't I one of those go-getting types?

The day drifted away. The sun shone in the lounge room window. I fell asleep for a while on the couch. Nice. A good way to spend a Saturday.

Sunny Friday

I watched The Empty Canvas. Otto and I lay on the couch together.

Brun heads upstairs straight after Sam heading upstairs to start work.

I thought about going to the gym, I truly did.

The sun is shining outside, it is a gorgeous day.

I must do something other than sitting on my arse all day. I must.

Tra la.

Then my favouirte, handsome, South African car YouTuber posted and that's me accounted for until lunch.

It's my ex's birthday, Happy Birthday Lauri.

The Empty Canvas

I got my converted VHS Bette Davis movie back. Horst Buchholz is magnificent and I have been fascinated with Bette Davis ever since I saw Whatever Happened To Baby Jane as an 8 year old.

I had to drive out to the northern suburbs, which I kind of know. $30 later and I am kind of disappointed with the result, although watchable, it is pretty poor.

Now, I wonder, if this is just this conversion, or is this as good as I can hope? I don't know?

Could someone do a better job of it? I wonder?

Old black and white movies really have to be good prints/versions for all that contrasting light and shadows to shine.

I might ask someone else if they can do a better job of it. There is a classic movie shop in the city, I might ask them. One day. No hurry. 

The empty canvas is the only one I can truly put my name to.

Now, I have to find and English language version of The Scientific Card Player. The other Italian movie Bette Davis made.

The rest of the day, I lay on the couch watching car reno shows on YouTube. Day off, why not.

I fell asleep in the afternoon. You have to love that. The sun shone outside, the day went on regardless.

I didn't go to the gym, much to Sam's chagrin. I must go to the gym. I must go tomorrow.

The Last Day of the Week

Boris is away sick.

It's been a busy day.

3pm. Fuck it, I'm knocking off to walk the dogs. I need to get away from work and get some intelligent conversation.

Just as I say that, I get emails from Fish Face and The Ponytail, at once. Jasus! I might need therapy after that.

Fish Face asked me for a breakdown of some figures. So, I sent her the breakdown of the required figures. She replied to my emial, still with my spreadsheet attached and said, You know what, I need a breadown of those figures. Dumb as a box of rocks. Shake of the head. 

The Ponytail starts her email with, May you provide me with this information. A very senior staff member uses bad grammar, oblivious. May I? I choose the may not option. If anything, it makes me laugh. 

Anyway, life is too short. It is just a curious time of year. 

I'm out of here, it is a gorgeous day outside, just lovely, now I'm off to enjoy it.

A Shit Show End Summer

It's a shit fight this time of the year. We do pay rises and promotions March 01st.

Of course, idiot me is involved in all the finances around the pay rises. It is that time of the year when I have to get up close and personal to HR, smelling their putrid breath and seeing the blood shot hue of their eyes.

Ha ha, I do all my work by email so as to avoid that very situation.

HR are popping their plugs all over the place, including Fat Tony, trying to get their incompetent work skills to produce results. Actually, Fat Tony is bailing, he's gone in a week. I'm guessing nobody will notice him gone.

That takes us back to an all female HR dept, and that's when they get really hard to deal with.

Yay. Looking forward to it.