dog sniffing

Sniffing Around at the Last Minute

All over for another year. Tick off 05 into history. All done, never to return. (blink and it will be 2105) I hardly get to mourn the loss and I have to be back at work… by the 04th, boo-hoo!

I decided that I wanted to go out and take drugs and dance for the night, without a care, swan song for the year passed. Swim on the breeze, groove mindlessly on the beat. Float - boom chicka, boom chicka. Sunrise.

I asked Tim if he could get me drugs. I knew it was too late, when I asked, but you never really know, if you don't ask. I hate people who ask at the last minute, so normally I wouldn't. But, what if Tim said that they only went in the afternoon to pick them up. What if he said he was just on his way? He could only say no too.

SMS. 9.51. (Tom) How are you miss? – Christian

SMS. 09.58. (Tim) I guess, you’ve already got stuff for tonight? – Christian

SMS. 10.09. We have… what did u need? – Tim

SMS. 10.15. I thought u probably would have… I just thought on the off chance if u hadn’t – Christian

SMS. 10.16. But… what were you after – Tim

SMS. 10.19. 3 e's – Christian

SMS. 10.20. What time will you be back? Will see if we can arrange it, but will need some money – Tim

SMS. 10.22 In an hour? – Christian

I can be any where in an hour, if party tricks are to be picked up.

SMS. 10.22. Ok will ask – Tim

SMS. 10.32. How hot is it down there? – Christian

SMS. 10.32. I haven’t left the house. Not game to – Tim

I drove down sometime around 11am. I decided that if I was going to do it, I should just get going. Leave... and hope.

I had just driven up to the roller door. I had, literally, just pushed the roller door button.

SMS. 11.35. Sorry can’t get on to anyone… think it might be a bit late – Tim

Ah! I just wanted to close the roller door again and drive back to Bolago before anyone saw me. What am I doing here without drugs? Bugger!

SMS. 11.47. Hi there, I am doing okay. How are you? – Tom

SMS. 11.52. Good. I could go to RawHide, if we’re not going to the Laird? – Christian

Sometime later… (I broke my own rule and called Guido at the last minute)

Pills got, tickets sorted, ready to go… and it is a million degrees down here, I think I’m going to die. Even dying my hair and having a shower hasn’t helped much. I feel like if I took drugs and danced in a confined club, I’d stop breathing.

Oo baby, it’s hot.

Then I got to thinking about being in Prahran for New Year's Eve… and the possibility of not being able to get home... when I wanted to, when I so chose. Taxi’s New Years Day?

I think I just want to take drugs and dance at The Peel. Close to home. All that return trip nonsense out of the way. I wanted to do the same thing, no matter where I was. Close my eyes and listen to the tunes.

I think I really want to go back to Bolago, where it will be gorgeous tonight.

And then I realised how awful I’d been, after Tom cancelled I just naturally went into drugs/dance mode, but Manny was coming to the Laird too. I just forgot about him. I guess, it’s, subconsciously, that I know he wouldn’t take drugs and go out dancing.

I just called him. Surely he isn’t at the gym, it’s 40 degrees.

I close my eyes and stop for a minute.

Just lying on my floating bed with Manny, listening to the cool, sounds of the forest... is, suddenly what I'd like to be doing. I hold that though, wonder why I didn't follow that idea. A boy’s entitled to change his mind, isn’t he? I try to convince myself.

Shake head. Open mouth, exhale and make uggling noise with my cheeks. Ah!

Just take the drugs, the club will be air-conditioned, dance till 7am, catch a tram, if you have to. Manny is, probably, not likely to even show up. You’ll, probably, get a taxi in the morning, wherever you are. You normally have taxi-hailing charm.

Oh, I don’t know what I want to do.

I'll send an email to Josh.

Nicholas went to Raw Hide

SMS. 20.10. Love you all, thanks 4 a great 05. Have a great night, see you in 2006 x – Leah and Stu

SMS. 20.25. B4 the sun sets on 2005, before the memories fade, B4 I get drunk and lose my phone may we wish you a happy & prosperous New Year – Tim

Tim and I went to the Peel, you know, like buddies do. Mates.

SMS. 23.18. May the New Year bring joy and delight darlings xxoo – He-who-shall-never-be-mentioned

night time drive

The Calm Before the Storm

SMS. 8.27. Not much happening in Melbourne anyway – Tom

SMS. 9.21. Lying on my bed reading. Life’s hard – Christian

SMS. 9.35 Yes thanks love! How about you? – Leah

SMS. 9.45. Big. Lots of family. Cooked for 30. And now it’s too damn hot! But it’s cooler in the country than the city – Christian

SMS. 9.52. So where r u? – Leah

SMS. 9.48. They are worried my transplant is failing – Tom

SMS. 10.23 Bolago… and it’s lovely – Christian

SMS. 10.24 (Tom) Fuck! – Christian

SMS. 10.24. They always say the worst thing first. We will see xxx – Tom

I called Tom, he was in the Alfred waiting room. He doesn’t know what’s going on. It is wait and see time, I guess.

SMS. 10.35. Might come down next weekend 2 c Wilma-Joan. R u around? – Leah

SMS. 10.45. Got a wedding next weekend – Christian

It’s hot. Too hot to lie on my island and read my book, even. My phone was out of space for new messages. Marina (Con and Lila) and Elaine (Marina’s sister) were out the front, in the garden, chatting to Luke, as I cursed, as I realised the message space problem. I had to fess up - to storing all of my sms' in my journal. But, as it turned out, Marina keeps a journal and does something similar, to me, recording her sms’ in her journal. Perhaps, I’m not completely alone in my madness, after all. It is comforting.

I retreated, in doors. Besides, it was coolest behind the computer in the office.

Con was the first Asian boy I really turned on to. (That's not entirely true, I had had sex with Asian boys at sex clubs) He's buff and he's strapping and he was the first Asian boy I really lusted after what-was-down-his-pants. You know, dirty, sweaty.... Just by the by...

SMS. 14.19. (He-who-shall-never-be-mentioned) Happy fucken Xmas – Christian

SMS. 14.24. (Shane) Did this good girl wish that bad girl happy Xmas? How remiss! I hope you and bad girl Mark W. survived it – Christian

I read Dead Europe on my bed for the afternoon, sweating to a nice, shiny sheen, until I had to strip my T-shirt off and chase a breeze. The garden was beautiful, in the evening. At the end of a long summer’s day, when the sun had gone down, feel the residual glow. Luke and I help Mark do some pruning and some plant removal.

I watched TV until late, the death of Marlyn Monroe until 1am, after Mark and Luke went to bed.

Then I got inspired and wrote some of my script until 3am, at which time it was still a warm summer’s night.

beach boy

It's Nice Lying Here

It was a gorgeous afternoon, the sun lay across the lawn beyond my window. I decided that I want a bed with windows around two sides; just glass as a bed head, just glass up against me as the day turns to night. So I can lay on my stomach and just gaze, unhindered, at the world all around. 180 degree view. Garden stretching away, as far as I can see.

I switched on my phone, it had been off for a day. Oops!

SMS. 16.02. Hey Christian, you want to go out for a drink tonight? Will be back in two hours – Tim

I had two messages from Nick. Ring me, ring me. Urgent!

SMS. 17.54. What? You’ve decided you’re gay? – Christian

I spoke to Nick. He’s good, coming out of his self-induced seclusion. It’s his New Year’s resolution. We spoke briefly about Silvia R.

Have I mentioned that Nick and Silvia Romero were seeing each other, quietly, for a time. Silvia was the first girl since Nick's post divorce seclusion. But I digress...

I said that Silvia had said nice things about him. But, when he asked me what, the only thing I could think of was that she had said that Nick had the most perfectly shaped penis. It just didn’t seem the thing to say, at that moment and really, I had nothing else. I must tell him that straight girls and gay boys do girl-talk… and about him. That’ll rattle him.

Of course, he wanted Guido’s phone number.

SMS. 18.05. (N) 040x 1xx 2xx – Christian

I spoke to Manny who told me that it was 37 degrees in Melbourne today, 36 yesterday, 38 Friday and 39 Saturday, ooo! There go my plans for going home tomorrow, I suspected. 23 Sunday… maybe I’ll go home Sunday.

SMS. 21.02. I’m @ Bolago in the, apparent, cool. How was the isle? – Christian

SMS. 21.03. Fantastic… I’m as red as a choir boy’s moisty… ps two messages from Manny. He wants to know where u r and your mobile no? – Tim

SMS. 21.29. I just spoke to him. Gave him my mobile no for the umpteenth time. Must come down and smack his arse. Prob see you tomorrow – Christian

SMS. 21.30. Ok. C U then. May come out with u New Years… I don’t want to go to Raw Hide, not my scene x – Tim

I tried calling Tom, but he wasn’t answering. I haven’t spoken to him for a week, despite him leaving a message, bad Christian.

SMS. 21.46. (Tom) Miss? – Christian

I lay in the cottage and smoked pot and lay on my bed with only one candle burning. Michael Jackson (Off the Wall) and then Roberta Flack lulled me to a relaxed place. I so wanted to gaze at the sky and the stars outside, but it was too dark.

SMS. 22.01. (Tom) Been writing script. Lovely and cool here. Was coming home tomorrow, but now Manny has told me the temps in Melbourne, maybe I’ll come home Saturday. I’ll see. Haven’t decided. Did want to come home tomorrow, but being a petal with no aircon, scared I might melt – Christian

Note to self, get your fucking aircon regassed!

SMS, 22.06. (Shelly) Did you hang tinsel on it? I did. 10 metres – Christian

SMS. 22.12. (Rachel) So that’s it then? – Christian

SMS. 22.14. (Leah) Did you have yourself a merry little Xmas? – Christian

SMS. 22.52. All over bar the shouting – Rachel

SMS. 22.57. To next year, then – Christian

SMS. 22.57. Off 2 Adelaide 2morrow but Fabio limped home with a hole in his side, guts protruding, so now we sit & wait 4 operation result – Rachel

SMS. 23.04. I’m lying in the cottage with one candle burning listening to Roberta Flack. Very chilled. Good luck with the cat – Christian

I sms’d Rachel, Leah, Shelly, but not Jill. Don’t know why?

SMS. 23.12. (Jill) Are you melting yet? – Christian

Because she never answers… that’s why. I can hear Josh Gale saying, Turn it up, luv. Or put a new battery in it. You... you do it. Jill explained why she doesn’t answer her calls, because her new blackberry/gizmo phone has such a soft ring that unless she has it by her ear, she can’t hear it. She's tired everything to find the volume control, to no avail. Techno Jill.

(Ed note – Jill tossed her fully loaded, super blackberry out of the car window in Kingsway, watching cars pulverise it to nothing, after she missed yet another call regarding work contracts, because of its, apparently non-adjustable, soft ring tone. She’s back, happily, using her old Nokia) 

Is it only Wednesday? Yes, Wednesday? It is Wednesday, isn’t it? Yes it is, Wednesday. Wednesday, it is. Only Wednesday. Wednesday, all day. How lovely.

The sky is blue, the sun is shinning brightly and the garden shimmies, in all its glory, fair sparkling in the hot summer sun. Colours to the sky.

And it's only Wednesday. Did you know? Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday. Only Wednesday. It's only Wednesday. How about that? Wednesday. Just turned. Middle of the week. That's all it is. Wednesday.

sausage in the sun

Drift

I want the days to drift. I was glad that I drove up here, last night. I could have spent these next days at home, on my own. I was feeling alone, already, as the day shifted yesterday afternoon. The first day? My tiny piece of earth, in view from the couch. Somehow it felt nothing but depressing, strangely. It never really felt that way, usually. Perhaps, it is the time of year; families and togetherness seeps into your psyche, almost unnoticed. Maybe? Who knows?

The country is so much nicer, in the heat. It is good honest heat, like a long, hot summer’s day should be…and at night, it is cool. It’s not repressed, contained, bitter heat, like the city.

Boxing Day

You know, Mark’s mum, Margaret, has treated me different for quite sometime... since Luke became Mark’s boyfriend. She never, now, kisses me hello or goodbye, although she does with Luke. She seems kinda uneasy around me now, seemingly never sure if I get her love or not. I don’t think she would have kissed me hello or good bye, Xmas day, if I hadn’t planted one on her, as they left.

It’s made me uncomfortable for quite some time. But then I thought, we are asking her to accept Mark having another boyfriend, while he still has me. Gay guys don't really get it, and I'm expecting a seventy-something woman to be cool with it.

It’s not that dissimilar to how (fat) Debbie, Mark’s bot-off-whoever-she-can-sponge-off cousin, treats me, although (fat) Debbie is more pointed about it. She made the fatal mistake of giving me orders like you would with the staff. When she got it, realised what she was doing, from my reaction,she just continued to treat me the same way. At which point, I took issue. We haven't, exactly, had the same relationship as we did before, since.

I think (fat) Deb has issues with me being at Bolago, getting waited on hand and foot, I think was the impression, where Maggie is just shedding brain cells. Poor luv.

Maggie said quietly to Mark, We’re not taking Lottie home, are we dear?

No, Christian is, said Mark.

Oh that’s good, dear. I don’t think Rich (Mark’s notoriously grumpy father) could have stood to listen to the story of her husband dying all the way home. (I'm wondering, just lately, if Maggie is cunningly using Rich, as the excuse, to get out of things she doesn't, actually, want to do?) There’s a grand Methodist attitude for you… and it’s Xmas. God luv 'em!

I’m sorry, but I just don’t think Maggie… Marg… whatever her name is… is the nice one, she is cracked up to be. Perhaps, it’s not Rich, after all, from who the three kids got their selfish streak.

Do you think... do I think, that Marg demonises Rich to further her own sainthood?

SMS. 15.32. (Nick) Happy Xmas big boy – Christian

Me, Mark, Luke, Jeff, Raymond, David and Nick Timms went to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe… and apparently it was half funded by the American Christian Right.

The beautiful Sebastian couldn’t have helped but notice me staring at the bulge in his pants, afterwards at Jeff and Raymond’s, when we were all sitting around talking. As we all departed, he was keen to get my number so he could come and stay for a few days. You know, that sparked off untold fantasies in my head. Sebastian's motive is only to save money, of course.

I fell down the back stairs, after coming home from buying papers for another joint. My be-sandaled feet became twisted in the hose across the stairs and splat, down I went on the ground. Face down, flat out. Like a pedestrian felled by a car. Caesar with all of those knives in his back. Britney Spears home from a night out. Mr MacGoo searching for a contact lens. Hugh Jackman waiting for John Travolta to stick it in his arse. Take your positions for the final moment of the Xmas weekend, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I laughed. This is what it's come to? This is always how it always finishes, more often than not. The crazy paving smelt salty. I licked it to prove that it was. Spit! It was.

SMS. 23.26. Its good girls who keep diaries… The bad girls never have time – Shane

SMS. 23.53. I never kept one in the nineties... when I became a bad girl – Christian

 

The Xmas Angel

Show us your sack, Xmas Angel

So This is Xmas

SMS. 00.16. Merry Xmas BB! Luv u – Shelly

SMS. 00.32. (Jill) Merry Xmas – Christian

SMS. 00.44. (Shelly) Yeah, Happy Xmas to you – Christian

SMS. 00.44. Thank u darling – Shelly

SMS. 00.44. (Rachel) Yeah. Wrapping fucking presents – Christian

SMS. 00.45. Me 2… thank God 4 alcohol. Fuck, where did all this shit come from & just how many kids do I have? Mince pies, yummy – Rachel

SMS. 00.47. (Shelly) Ho, ho, ho – Christian

SMS. 00.48. Ditto! – Shelly

SMS. 00.49. (Rachel) Merry Xmas – Christian

I woke in the cabin – cabin, cottage, it all depends on my mood – early, in my big bed, floating above the ground, that’s how it feels, like a Gilligan’s Island hovercraft, a floating – velour plush – island all of its own. My floating, sleep island.

So this is Christmas? Soft colours of the forest imbued my vision, until I'm sure my corneas had turned green. Oh yes, they are green. Silly me. Inside out… it’s like the bush inside out; being inside the cabin on Xmas morning. Wattle and gum trees.

I had no idea what time Mark and Luke had gone to sleep, I left them wrapping presents, in the house. I stood in the middle of the lounge, after wrapping my presents, watching them both busy and just felt tired. (shut down sequence had begun) My weeks were catching up to me, it was the night before Xmas, and I needed to sleep.

SMS. 8.29. Merry Christmas Christian xxxx – Tom

The masses would be arriving soon.

I was going to drive down to get mum, drive back, drive her home afterwards, then drive back up and then drive down again tomorrow. But Rich and Marg were, practically, driving right past Lottie’s door. But no, too hard. And then I got her to stay the night.

SMS. 11.19. Ho Ho Homosexual Xmas. Joy to you! Hope you have a great day. Love always Lauri and Leroy xx

Lunch was a family affair. Traditional family roast. Ham, pork, crackling, lamb, mint sauce, the usual fair. Roast potatoes cooked in the Aga. Yum! Plum Pudding, caramel sauce, ice cream and whipped cream.

I watched (niece) Kellie get short with mum – as I’d seen her do a number of times during the day – as they were leaving, as Kellie sat in the back of the car, as Kellie wanted the salt, at the table. Then I saw her face change and I watched her really make an effort. Gill turned to me and said, "I’ve explained to Kellie about being nice and about the inheritance." Gill beamed.

I was taken a back. Lost for words. "Well, you could just talk to her about being nice... for no reason."

Jasus! I thought.

SMS. 17.33. Merry Xmas to you too. Happy New year. Big hugs and kisses. Lots of love Christian

We watched Operatunity.

Of course, everybody sang. You can't be a true family memeber, if you can't sing.

SMS. 22.10. Merry Christmas and thanks for the birthday message – Jill 

Nothing Much

I lazed around, pretty much, and did nothing. I’m making allowances in my guilt, now a days, for working full time, when I’m not at Bolago. Working weekend functions. And for doing everything for nothing – in fact, often it costs me money. If I go to the shops for supplies, I’m the only fool who pays for it himself. So now, I can laze guilt free.

Mark, not so long ago, in a stressed moment, asked me what it was that I ever did for him, now? I was a bit taken aback. If anything, I thought I could quite legitimately being asking him the same question; when I come up and worked at his functions, often picking up supplies on the way, I'm working seven days a week.

Funny, that I don't usually think that way, as I enjoy it. I only think that way when I am challenged.

SMS. 20.59. Getting the Xmas spirit, making mince pies and drinking brandy. Ho, ho, ho – Rachel

What do I do? In fucken deed!

Yay!

the boy in the blue trunks

Gettin' Out of Town

The day just has to be over. Gone. Done. Extinguished. The last day of the work year. Yay! Yip, yip, yippee. No more salt mines for a couple of weeks. I’m going on holidays. My calloused tongue will have time to heal. Oh, what? That's life. Not work. Pity!

Kym

Merry Xmas to you miss... er... mrs... er... ms... and to all the rest of your (expanding) clan.

Christian

Kym’s daughter is now having a baby at sixteen. Oh well, like mother like daughter, I guess. I mean, Kym didn't have Saffy when she was sixteen. I'm talking about Max. You know, if mum can get pregnant, so can I.

How’s your day? - Christian

Average - Tim

Oh. I'm bored - Christian

Wanna go for a drink? - Tim

Gotta go shopping, last chance - Christian

Alcohol will make shopping easier and more enjoyable. Alcohol makes everything better - Tim

SMS. 14.46 (Rachel) I’m bored – Christian

It was still so hot, after work, that I did my shopping in fifteen minutes, I wasn’t mucking around. Too hot! I nearly had second thoughts, I nearly faultered. Then, I just thought fuck it, stop being a pussy.

Think it, do it. Don’t procrastinate.

I was sweating, just standing in my lounge room, once I got home. You know, when your clothes stick to you when you are standing still and the sweat is running down your face. I was going to wrap my presents, do the whole bit, wrapping paper, ribbon...

Then I thought to myself, it wouldn’t be like this in the country. There would be fresh air in the country. The car is air-conditioned, even. All I do is put the shopping bags in the car, don't unpack them. Grab my bag and lap-top, which are both packed and ready to go and just walk out the door.

Take it all up there.

Do it all up there.

I can take everything with me and leave Mark and Luke the mess. He, he.

I had packed up and left within fifteen minutes.

SMS. 19.41. I’m having a beer b4 heading to Southland – Rachel

SMS. 20.04. I’m in Bolago, where it is cool – Christian

SMS. 20.04. Cool! I am in Cheltenham where I don’t know what the temperature is ‘cos of the air-conditioning – Rachel

 

I Miss Shelley

SMS. 13.54. Have you got your moonie – you know, big red – decorated with tinsel? – Christian

SMS. 13.57. & coloured balls!! – Shelley

SMS. 13.58. Shot like ping-pong balls out of the red beaver, no doubt. – Christian

SMS. 14.06. & with six shooters! – Shelley

SMS. 14.01. Playing jingle bells as u walk, no doubt – Christian

SMS. 14.12 & an emu up a gum tree! – Shelley

SMS. 14.18. Happy fucking xmas Shell. May you get rogered good and proper over the holiday season – Christian

SMS. 14.31. Ditto! Merry Xmas. Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he… gay his life must be! xx – Shelley

I bought Luke’s remote control boat, after work. I got some of the chocolates too. The boat wasn’t heavy but it was large and awkward. I struggled home with it and the chocolates, in the fierce afternoon sun.

Nicholas, and I, were talking about him doing a la carte. He wants to learn how to do it properly, they are asking him to do it at work, but they have never trained him. He wants to ask for training. He’s too pretty to keep hidden away in the kitchen, apart from anything. Exploit his looks, you morons. If he can walk, he can carry a dish front of house. He would make a very handsome waiter. And he’s funny. And he’s really personable. He’s good with the sweet talk. He can talk to anyone. No theory of relativity, for our Nicholas, but then it doesn't have to be for everyone.

"Yes, ask for training, Nicholas," I said. "It may be as simple as they don't realise you have an on going interest in front of house."

I called Rachel for a few tips. She wasn’t answering. I left a message that I had a question. Then thought that was pointless, as I was only, really, interested in the answer in the immediate. I'll be picking at my arse, or blogging, when she finally calls back.

SMS. 23.07. And the question was? – Rachel

SMS. 23.10. What? – Christian

SMS. 23.50. U called 2 ask a question – Rachel

SMS. 23.54. Serve from the right, clear from the left? – Christian 

Happy Birthday

(Teddy)

Everything is well in my world… except for work. I’ve decided that, at any given time, 50% of the people we work with are totally incompetent and I should just accept the fact and move on. Now, the trick is to get to Xmas without killing someone.

I hope all is well with you

I did know that Haiku was a poem about nature… but… how many autumn leaves and sticks of blossom can one write about?

What’s senryu?

I kind of liked your idea about writing something everyday.

I thought I had the 5 syllables, 7 syllables, five syllables, any subject I wanted.

Merry xmas for Sunday. I’m not doing my bah-humbug routine this year. Just sweetness and light from me.

Christian

Ah, senryu has the same structure as haiku, but rather than being about nature, it's an observation of some kind. Haiku and nature is not fun. Much prefer the senryu form.

You nearly had a haiku there, but the word belch is only one syllable.

I've started a blog to keep myself writing. Like most blogs, it's self-indulgent crap, but it has me writing. Hopefully the first of the articles for the new mag will be requested next month. If you would like to have a look, my blogsite is www.xxxxxxxxxx.blogspot.com. I try and update a couple of time a week.

Off to Adelaide on Saturday. I got the worst of Xmas over early, and will go home to Mum's and talk to the cat for a few days. I've avoided a lot of Xmas this year - it's been good.

And like you I would gladly kill a few people at work – but thems the breaks.

Take care, talk soon,

x Teddy

Tom, Manny was great. So was I. Good night sweet Prince. Wasn't it hot? - Christian

I was quite comfy in my air conditioned Dingley, with the lovely Polly by my side.

Wish me a Happy Birthday Miss! - Tom

Oh yes, of course. I have remembered right up until yesterday. Honest. And now to forget at the last minute, how remiss.

Happy birthday miss. - Christian

SMS. 21.17. (Jill) Happy birthday miss – Christian

I'd kiss him, sure I would

Backpackers, Manny and Xmas

SMS. 8.14. Having fun yet? – Christian

SMS. 8.26. You’re joking – Rachel

SMS. 8.29. I want to know who ate all the raspberries in my fridge? No one of course – Rachel

SMS. 8.33. Fuckers! It should be the death penalty when caught! – Christian

SMS. 8.33. I’ve told them Xmas is cancelled. Been looking for an excuse! – Rachel

SMS. 8.40. It’s cancelled @ my place – Christian

SMS. 8.47. There must be more to life than this? Is there some great cosmic secret that I’m not privy to? – Christian

SMS. 8.53. I hear cosmic laughter d u? Is it Jill’s birthday tomorrow? – Rachel

SMS. 8.59. Yes to both. But mostly I hear laughing when I get out of the shower – Christian

SMS. 9.04. I hear gasps, followed by retching… life… ya gotta laugh – Rachel

SMS. 9.11. It was wolf-whistles once, but now its gagging and coughing and the shuffling of feet, as if they are all turning their backs – Christian

What's going on? It was a blondie that took my attention away again, this morning. The hot backpacker who was sitting back on one of those lean-up seats in the tram. Mostly, it was what the front of his jeans was doing, to be truthful. Sitting propped up there like that, just made the front of his jeans puff out into a big, enticing bulge. Worn, soft denim, delicate around the big lump he had there. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. One time, I look straight from his crotch to his face to see him staring back at me. He looked away and then wriggled his arse a bit in the seat, it was probably just a nervous reaction, but he looked sexy doing it. But still, blonde hair, blue eyes, a tan and a backpack. Woof.

Christian

The blond backpacker on the tram was so hot! I couldn’t help but gaze at the tasty bulge in the front of his jeans. It was of those lean up against the stand up seats, so it was beautifully on display, in old, soft like chamois, jeans. He was listening to a walkman and rolling his arse around to the beat, which had the effect of animating the lump in his jeans. Yum, yum, yum.

Gotta love that blonde blue-eyed tanned look...

Very Tamarama 1999.

I'm glad this newly acquired taste came upon you after my surf-acting time...

Well, it's Tuesday Hospital day today.

I get the results of my last bone marrow biopsy (hopefully) which will tell me that all is fine (hopefully) and then I can say BAH to them for at least a year.

I went to the eye clinic yesterday and I can actually see a little better than last time.

I am now one level above the legal minimum required for driving! They don't want to see me again either, unless something goes wrong. If I want a second opinion ("Second opinion??" he snorted incredulously) I can go to my GP and get a referral (spelling?).

Also, Polly arrives today.

She's meeting us at the hospital and we're taking it from their. Lunch at the Airport Diner tomorrow (that's Moorabbin Airport) and then off to Tullu again to drop Polly off by 8.15pm.

Wooosh.

Hope this finds you well Miss.

xxxx Tom

Busy, busy, miss.

I bet one level above the legal limit to drive sounded very good.

Christian

Yes it DID, actually.

AND I feel quite chirpy today – the vamp in me sleeps methinks.

AND my urine is the least bloody it's been for a few weeks too!

Lucky moi!

I hope your day is lucky too.

Tom

How much of a risk do you think my mouth would be today? (I know I'm asking you the unknowable, but give it your best shot)

Christian

SMS. 12.37. Has your stocking been filled or have u filled someone else’s? – Shelley

They nearly drove me mad today. Crap system, didn’t do as it was supposed.

Precious IT guys who didn’t like that I wrote "stupid damn system" in my help desk request. Thought I was calling them stupid, or something. They really are stupid then.

Oh, I hate my job. I feel stuck in it, mortgage payments, earn money, keep your nose to the grindstone, you have no choice. No wonder the suburbs are full of violence.

SMS. 16.01. (Jill) Do u feel the forty fiveness creeping up behind you? - Christian

SMS. 17.11. Yes big time, as I’m 45 tomorrow, yuk. Great to catch up – Jill

SMS. 17.16. No. (Shelley) But there is going to be some serious stuffing tonight! Drip. Drip – Christian

SMS. 17.42. Any side dishes? – Shelley

SMS. 18.03. No, just the meat – Christian

SMS. 18.12. I though you liked a bit on the side? – Shelley

SMS. 18.16. Why do I want it on the side, when I can have it on top – Christian

SMS. 18.40. Dominated! – Shelley

SMS. 19.11. No, just loved – Christian

Manny met me after work, 7 days it took to get him over to my place. Boy was he tory! I had to take him straight upstairs to give him some calming down. He was good… very good. My lips take the most pounding… red and grazed after a night with a Mediterranean. But, he is sooooo nice to kiss. Yum.

I drove Manny home. It was a hot, balmy night. I stopped off at the supermarket and bought ice-cream and jam for Nicholas, he said the other day that he wanted some.

Tim had the shits with Nicholas, again. According to Nicholas, it was because Nicholas suggested to Tim that he was going to sleep at his mum’s tonight. So, apparently, Tim went to Silvia R’s in retaliation – well, that’s how it looked to me.

They get kind of childish when they fight. It brings out the thirteen year old boys in both of them.

It’s not looking good for the two of them... if this is what it is?

Teddy, Is this Haiku?

Western Society

We belch fat as

many people die of zip

yet we want more

Close but not quite – it's nearly a form called senryu – which is an observation (strictly haiku is a poem about nature)

Also the form is normally 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.

But it is still really good.

Hope all is well in your world.

Sandy x Teddy 

Out For... Dinner

Miss! How are you?

I'm a bit lack lustre after my swanning around the city yesterday. I saw Amy and Paul in their new house and then hung out at Perry's for a while.

A very dishevelled He-who-should-never-be-mentioned arrived around 6pm, knocking over bottles and actually tripping over his own feet as he bent to kiss me hello.

It was most amusing.

But today, I'm a bit flat, and have to go off to the ophthalmologists at the Alfred this arvo – god I haven't got the energy.

And what of you Miss?

xT(om)

I stayed on the couch where you left me.

The only change was Tim being replaced with a snoring Nicholas on the adjacent couch, who I left there in the dark when I wandered off to bed.

Christian

You wouldn't want to be in Shane's body today, I suspect.

He replied twice to the single email I sent him on Friday, essentially saying the same things but in a different order.

Fuzzy!!

The word on the street is that the Laird for NYE is looking good.

xT(om)

SMS. 12.09. What happened to fun? – Christian

SMS. 14.32. Fucked if I know, things had better improve that’s all I know – Rachel

Okay... I'll give The Laird some thought. But maybe, just maybe, I might go up to Bolago. Not sure that I want to do that, though, so I am definitely open to offers.

Christian

And how lucky for some, to be able to wait until one's invitation drawer is full!

I'm scrambling to get back onto the D-list myself!

Tom

I don't care what "they" say, you'll always be on my A list.

Christian

back atcha Miss

Tom

SMS. 16.27. (Rachel) I agree. This is fucked – Christian

I stayed home all weekend lying on the couch watching TV, so the thought of doing it again tonight was too much. So, I called Jill and went out for dinner with her at Spargos in Bridge Road.

SMS. 18.40. (Jill) Have you left yet? – Christian

SMS. 18.41. (Rachel) What time? – Christian

SMS. 18.43. Beach, vodka, boys, in no particular order – Rachel

SMS. 18.52. Now now now fucking now! I am at Safeway my world is lonely and sad – Rachel

SMS. 19.11. Life is sad & lonely – Christian

SMS. 19.12. And yet, you should have been in Church Street to see the jogger I just saw. Genetically gifted – Christian

Of course, Jill was late. I watched her park her car and check the parking sign for an inordinate amount of time, from across the road.

Fuck me!

Talk about OCD!

Finally, I rang her and told her she was okay… and to get a fucking move on.

She looked around and smiled.

How long does it take to read a parking sign?

I was just making sure.

I got home about 10pm.

Kylie on the TV

Bad TV

Yers, well...

I'm afraid I'd be down on me knees too mate, too late to scraddle upwards on sand when some falafally but cut monster is being shuvved my way and don't mind if I do considering the patriotic thing to do – swallow doll just swallow and help everybody calm down a bit, you know cum on Aussie cum on. That in itself I recall outraged the primatives back in the 70s when I first heard the joke going around Dubbo South Primary, no it was Central West Kindy

"What's the nations's shame?" (that means what's so really bad all the adults get upset and start hitting each other... wanna come pig shootin' on the weekend or you just hangin' down by the river...? I've got some matches if ya goin' past school on ya Bmx...?) and the answer was "Cum on Aussie!" That's the worst thing...

Patriotism is the last refuge of the cowardly I heard.

Yeah well at least yez all gettin' in the papers eh? Lots of Germans pointing things out for me thank you very much. I'm just agreeing, moaning, just agreeing.

We had out Polish-German exchange (some beautiful big whoppers in the group thank St Stanislav) and last Staff party and Uli's in Spain and I'm off to Clausies tonight. Methinks I might want some cock old fello.

YES JOHN HOWARD IS REVOLTING. Has anyone beein doing the un-Australian number?

Hooroo Mahomed!

Mechmet van Mank

(Josh)

You would have needed a lot of pot to get through yesterday's television offerings Miss!!

I had the family over for a lovely sausage sizzle, and kicked 'em all out by 6.

I watched most of Godzilla too – went to bed at 10pm, just couldn't bear it any longer.

Are you around the happy home today?

xT(om)

Tom came to visit. He looks like a skeleton. Terrible. Sick. I can't believe after what he has been through... mustn't even think like that. Powers for good, powers for good!

 

Sunrise

Sunrise

Some Brand of Sunshine

 (Josh)

You have Anglo Saxon middlish class Australia, who are privileged enough to live by the beach, deciding that they don’t want the working class dago kids from somewhere else coming into their suburb to use their beach?

Where in the universe would they have got an idea like that? Not liking people who are different?

We lock them up if they are from somewhere else and in need. We’re in favour of war. We passed draconian laws specifically targeting a certain part of the community. We have eroded human rights in the rush to pass protection laws. The media keeps us in a constant state of threat.

Do you know the baying riot crowds chanted Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi, as they caved in the Arabic kids face. Do you know that they bashed an Italian boy because they couldn’t tell the difference between the nationalities they hated and the nationalities they didn’t. Do you know that the whitey kids, more often than not, draped themselves in the Australian flag as they bashed the wogs, usually as a victory statement afterwards?

Who was it who said, Patriotism is the last bastion of the stupid?

Do you know what John Howard said when he was asked to comment on the use of flag draping at the riots? Look, I would never condemn people for being proud of the Australian flag. I would never condemn people for being proud.

I reckon this is the logical conclusion to the poison Pauline Hanson dared to belch. That gave Howard the mandate. Conservative politics, it’s almost clichéd.

Did you know a few nights later, a car load of Lebanese boys arrived in Cronulla with their noonas baklava, which they handed out as a peace offering and in way of an apology? That, funnily enough, wasn’t covered on the 6pm news.

(Christian)

(Josh)

A beach full of Lebanese boys, I’d never be off me fucken knees, mate.

Christian

Nicholas was asleep on the couch in a towel, when I got up to make a cup of tea. He woke up to say that Tim had said to him, at the Peel, I know you and Jimmy want to dump me. Nicholas said it was all just weird Tim shit. He had a bong and went to bed.

(Tom)

Ah what a glorious sunrise, orange and mauve, painted in huge bush strokes. As I lay in bed and enjoyed the morning glow, I was reminded of ourselves, from what seems like a distant time, as I watched the kids come home over the road, at day break, obviously way out of it. Bless their straight little hearts, that their time in the light ended in punch-ups and blood noses and shirts being torn from their backs, and reconciliation's and recriminations and the threats of the police being called... and the guilty party returning with a rock and trying to kick the door in. It was all done remarkably quietly, well, for the most part. Kind of nice kids turned bad. You gotta love that alcohol.

But, if you took the violence away and replaced it with laughter and naughtiness, it was kind of like the same comings and goings as... ah, it did take me back. I think I rolled two joints as I plumped the pillows and watched. The boy who had his shirt ripped off was hot.

When I came down to make tea, I found Nicholas sitting upright on the couch, asleep. He heard the kettle and had a bong and staggered off to bed, looking very much the worse for wear.

When I went back up stairs, three houses to the left, the drugged out twenty year olds were home. They were hanging over the balcony in a dazed state, smoking pot, playing ambient chill out.

Just a normal Saturday morning in Fitzroy. How's Ding?

Christian


(Tom)


All the comedians have died this year.
Richard Prior, Anne Bancroft, Bob Denver, Eddie Albert, Graham Kennedy, Ronnie Barker, Campbell McComas... Rosa Parks.


Christain



As soon as I had sent that last email, I pondered my mental state.


I’m reading the sun, smoking pot.


I’d started with the joints at 7am. I headed back to bed for a nap – and for some skanky American boys doing it to each other and DVD.



SMS. 10.07. Ho hum, ho hum, ho hum – Christian


SMS. 11.07. Fuck yeah! I am so over this stuff – Rachel


SMS. 11.13. Do you want to go to Portugal? Buy a 2CV… – Christian


SMS. 11.16. I just fainted. Can we go 2 Turkey after? No pun intended, but I have this need 2 C Turkey and Morocco – Rachel


SMS. 11.20. Would I like Turkish men? – Christian


SMS. 11.24. Dark and swarthy with a dick? You tell me – Rachel


SMS. 11.26. I’d love Turkey – Christian


Well, that certainly sounds like a cosmopolitan beginning to the day.

Rest assured we have no such shenanigans (or expression, individuality etc) in Dingley Village.

The Court "family" is way too old for that, though there are a couple of teenage boys across the road, 15 and 18, who seem to do their goings on without attracting undue attention.

They are both tall, skinny and with bucked teeth, the prodigy of two remarkably ugly (physically, I mean) people.

The older one IS in a band though, so I hope for his sake he does get into his patch of sunshine a bit.

We had our day Christian, and it was a long and glorious one. And we had our share of police too, if I remember correctly - at least you did anyway, Miss.

We were lucky to live in such a time and place and have all those dreamy Sunday mornings, popping eckys and trips like they were vitamin tablets.

But now we're older and even wiser, and the world is not such a new and shining place, and there are costs to be weighed from boosting oneself's in a vain attempt to reclaim the giddy heights of yesteryear.

I think retiring with a gorgeous tan to remind myself of all that sunshine is a graceful way to live.

So, what are you up to this weekend?

I have the family coming over for my birthday, just a few snags on the barbie, nothing too glam or exciting.

Then tomorrow I'm hoping I'm perky enough to go into the inner city and spread some love around.

The Dingley brand of sunshine seems to have been a bit short of late (or so the grapevine tells me) and I want to go a-visiting and give my friends the chance to see that my life crisis is over and we can get back to being normal, with drop ins and laughter and quick exits.

I've found I work best that way.

So, are you gunna be around the home tomorrow?

It would be a joy to drop casually by and share perhaps a coffee with you, and I could even pop my bed linen in the washing machine!

Anyway, that's the plan at the mo'.

Whaddya say?

xxxx

Tom

Been smoking pot all day. Been laying on the couch watching TV all afternoon. Godzilla has just finished and Head On is about to start.

Life's good

Christian

I lay on the couch all afternoon and made short work of my eighth j.

I watched The Human Body.

I watched Godzilla.

I watched Head On, speaking of human bodies. I know who I want my next boyfriend to be... and his name could be Alex, it’s a good boyfriend name. “Me and Alex will be over soon.”

(Of course, I’ve had an Alex, but, before I even knew what a boyfriend was)

Tim went to bed. Nicholas lay comatose on the couch.

Culture of Fear

Hmmm... might just do something about that when i have my week off at Christmas!

PS should I call you my muse?

Kym

Well, someone had to do something to get the bitch out of bed.

Just call me the merry muse.

Christian

Hey Miss,

Hope this finds you well.

I'm a bit breathless today – low haemoglobin I reckon. This bleeding bladder is really getting to me.

Everything else is going so well, and I'd just hate to have to go back "inside" at this late stage...

Anyway, I'm off to the Alfred to get topped up today, so hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

Love ya

Tom

xxxx

Miss, I hope you are breathing more easily this arvo.

Christian

There was a big rally, in Bourke Street Mall, protesting about Howard’s racist laws and his pandering to big business mates, – George Bush and Guntanamo Bay being high on the list – at the expense of working class men who are then swept up in the whole racist expression of protest against people coming to this country and stealing their jobs.

It was also a protest against the poisonous media and the culture of fear.

It was good to see.

Miss.

Two bags of blood and I'm firing on all cylinders.

What are you up to this weekend?

Any thoughts for NYE? I can't bear the idea of being stuck in Dingley. Are you up to doing anything?

Tom

xxxx

I’m stuffed!

I’m not going out tonight. I might just watch TV with my bag of pot until something gives. 5am on the couch, here I come.

I haven’t thought about New Years Eve, as yet.

Christian

I just didn’t want to go out and take drugs and dance with a huge wound in my gum. It didn’t make me feel good, when I thought about it. It made me feel tired and it made my jaw pulse, which just could have meant that I was thinking about it.

So, I took myself off to bed and watched Jerry McGuire. Tom Cruise is such a crap actor; wooden, emotionless. Once he loses his looks altogether, it will be all over for that boy. I guess there will, of course, be plastic surgery.

I hid away from the world in my bed. Just me and my lovely TV. Just me and my lovely pot. It just seemed so unfair that when I had an opportunity to go out and have fun, I couldn’t, yet again.

I think I sulked after that thought and decided that I should stop writing my journal, it was time to go out and live rather than just staying home and writing about it.

You know, I’m so stupid. If I lived here on my own, I’ve got the ideal love nest for a new beau. No really, I do. I’ve never thought about that before, living here on my own and getting lost in a new romance, which could take me… any where, internal or external.

I want someone I can have unsafe sex with. True.

I want a smart Manny, there, I've said it.

I should just write fiction, not journal.

No Sex, I'm Bleeding

(Kym)

Ok, keep on writing...

Here's a writing exercise for you, I want you to put an actual bomb under Stormy's bed. (liberal interpretation of bomb is allowed)

Around midday – There is less of me today than there was of me yesterday. Every little piece gone diminishes each of us in some way. Graham, the dentist, decided halfway through the root canal that it was no good and the tooth had to come out. So out she came.

When he took me around to the receptionist he said, “I don’t want you to charge Christian, I should have taken it out last time he was here, I’ve just wasted his time today.”

Christian

Morning (Tom)

Lovely, sunny, gorgeous day.

I sat opposite the most beautiful man on the tram this morning. Browny olive skin, dark-blond hair, that was still wet from the shower and amazing blue eyes. He kept closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep, so I could just sit and gaze at him. Then he'd slowly open his eyes and look so divinely sleepy. Just beautiful.

Ah, be still my beating heart.

Christian

(Tom)

It's official, I'm now a toothless old hag.

Christian

Join the club!

Hey – I thought they were fixing, not pulling out!!

And you developing a penchant for blondes, dark or otherwise, is most encouraging.

Will type more later, Judge Judy is on.

Tom

Halfway through, he said it was hopeless and got out his pliers and hoiked it out.

He said to the receptionist, I don’t want you to charge Christian, I should have taken the tooth out last time he was here, I feel like I have wasted his time today.

So that was nice.

Christian

The boy on the tram was gobsmackingly beautiful. (dark) Blond hair, blue eyes.

Christian

Gee I wish they had an Australian version of Judge Judy, it would be so funny...

The people on the US show are sooo stupid!!! It's hysterical!

Sorry to hear about your tooth, though one tooth gone is hardly toothless. Just remember, no matter how much Bongo poisons you, you should floss once and brush twice a day.

Save those fangs Miss – they're the only set you get!

How are you feeling, anyway? Sore?

Is your tap fixed or are you going to be reported to the water board?

Going out on Friday night sounds like fun. A snort, a smile, a dance... and a reserved chair, close to the dance floor.

Such loveliness...

xxxx Tom

Manny was on a promise – I was on a promise – so I called him and gave him the bad news, but he wasn’t answering.

One of the things about having an HIV+ boyfriend.

I got myself to the plumbing shop to get a replacement part for the kitchen tap, which has not been able to be turned off for three days. Of course, they didn’t have exactly the same part as I wanted, so I had to get a slightly different part, resplendent with a silver handle – why I didn’t ask him if he had them in gold I’ll never know.

I called Loli, while I was in North Fitzroy, to go and visit, but she wasn’t answering her phone. I don't see her nearly enough.

I bought cat food and did a once around of the second hand bookshop, in Brunswick Street, before I came home.

Loli called, just as I drove into the back yard, to say she was home and that she had her phone on silent. Manny called back while I was talking to Lol.

Mark called to say he was going to an intervention with his parents at 4pm, as his mum wants to leave his dad. Poor Mark, it won’t be nice at all.

I called Manny back but he said he’d have to call me back.

Still waiting, boyo!

I’m home and I can have a… well, you know what I can have. He, he.

Christian

Ha ha ha haha hahhah... Party on!! – I think the boy will be home before 4.

Tim

I’m now a toothless old hag… out it came, boo-hoo!

Christian

Which one!!!...... Now we can call you gummy bear!!

Tim

The very back one which I've been having the work on. Half way through today the dentist said, It's no good, we're just going to have to take it out. I've practically got no back teeth now.

Christian

after you paid all that money!!

Tim

He didn't make me pay today. He said to the receptionist, I don't want you to charge Christian, I should have taken the tooth out last time he was here, I feel like I have wasted his time today. So that was nice.

Christian

i will give you that $40 when I get home.... Tony needs it tomorrow night... Nicholas doesn’t want me getting any stuff for anyone... so this way..... I don’t have to lie and everyone is happy... he he he he....

Thanks

Tim

When do I ask him? When he gets home?

Christian

Yep – or later tonight... I have Tony's 40.....

Tim

SMS. 16.30. Off 2 carols at school. Who the hell is responsible 4 fucking carol singing anyway? I want them hung and drawn – Rachel

SMS. 16.31. Too good for them, they should be pissed on from a great height – Christian

SMS. 16.31. Is the hand/dick ratio true – Rachel

SMS. 16.36. Apparently, yes – Christian

SMS. 16.36. Hmmm. My boss has the biggest hands. It’s probably not true, I’ve seen him in lycra – Rachel

Tim - Can u please pass over Guido's mobile number again. Lost phone on the weekend.

Plus Christian's

Hope u are well

Thanks - Nick

Nick - Christian F... 04xx7xx8xx Sounds like you need a PA - perhaps you should go hire one....

Tim

Tim - Guido’s? thanks! - Nick

Nick - Don't have it - Tim

Tim - Yes, you do. You gave to me about 3 weeks earlier - Nick

Nick - I rang Christian to get it... Perhaps you should give him a call and get it… Sorry I'm busy - Tim

Tim - whatever - Nick

Christian - Read this.... Perhaps you may like to send him Guido’s number - Tim

I went and slept for the afternoon. Nick called just as I was going to bed, but of course, he only wanted Guido’s mobile number. Of course.

SMS. 16.38. 04xx 1xx 2xx – Christian

I woke up when it was dark.

Nicholas so often, these days, comes alive after Tim goes to bed, after, seemingly, being stoned out on the couch. And he, so often, says that either he, or Tim is pissed off. It seems to be a developing into nightly habit.

I lay on the couch and watched TV.

SMS. 22.54. Lycra smycra, u can’t tell until u tug it about a bit – Christian

blue guy on the nude beach

Crisis Over, Bring on the Lebanese Boys on the Beach

 (Tim)

Can you tell Nicholas that I didn't pull the tap apart for him to take it to the plumber? He was going to take it after work.

I'll go and do it in the morning. We'll just have to put up with it for another night.

Christian

Ok – I will.... I turned the water off before I left.... have a great day

Tim

Morning Miss,

Hope this finds you just dandy.

Today I'm off to renew my driver's licence – what fun! God I hope they don't do an eye test!!!!!!!!

Will get back to you laters.

xxxx Tom

PS I think it was a good drop of blood I got yesterday

My day? AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christian

Oooh sorry to hear that. I thought your busiest day was over? Hmmm. The 14th – maybe it's today?

I am now licensed until 2015 Miss.

Gee I Have luck with me sometimes, I tells ya!

Dingaling!

Tom

It’s today.

Christian

I shall leave you to it Miss.

Good luck!

Tom

Big hugs to you.

And my boss has pulled my meeting with him back by two hours, because he wants to go out for lunch. They just don't get!

Christian

(Tom)

Did I scream this morning?

Well, that was nothing to now!

Never believe it can't get any worse.

Christian

It was the busiest day of the year, all deadlines were for today. And we’d done it and it was 3pm and despite working two ten hour days it was over. Final payments were going out; including 100’s of million dollars in Trust payments that have to be paid to the cent and within a strict time frame. One partner had come down and authorised and the second one was due; we would have sent the payments, if he had come down when he was scheduled. A P.A. called from Queensland and questioned why she didn’t have her settlements on the pre-send schedules. (Anally retentive, the only person in the place who reads those reports... thankfully) We discovered that the data base was corrupt and that all the payments had reset back to last month’s figures.

In the end, when it looked like a six hour restore by Attar, the Attar Help Desk guy said he was going to the doctor and that we were on our own for two hours.

Attar did ascertain that the data base was corrupt, it was as though a new month had been opened, but not really. Started but somehow didn’t go through with its operation. When you open a new month, all variable data is cleared, hence everyone was getting paid last month’s payments. It was as though nothing had been entered.

SMS. 17.55. Has your crisis passed? – Leah

We had to restore back to last night and check it all. Make sure two partners would be available at 7pm. We were in constant contact with Christina, the CEO, who was on her phone at a cocktail party. Will, National Finance Director, buggered off, something about it being Attar’s problem, and having to look after his kids, which he had to pick up from school. I don’t think he gets it yet. And then he was gone.

But to be fare, Mal and Soto and Anna Papas all stayed until it was right.

Our IT Department restored the whole thing in thirty minutes, we have hourly backups.

The partners made themselves available till 7pm.

Christina had to tell each partner to go ahead and authorise, despite none of the figures matching what she had authorised earlier in the day, despite us being out by five million. They’d do it on her say so, she’s a powerful lady. She has a formidable reputation. Funny, I’ve never found Christina to be anything other than witty, almost charming in her manner, supportive and concerned and able to be depended upon in a crisis. Able to be depended upon, and she is way busier than any of us will ever be.

Beck and I crack each other up, even in a crisis, so we get through it okay. And we know what we are doing. We’d worked out that it all balance, before we left. I was home by 8.30.

wicked man you are mr fletcher. wicked.

i think indeed we should have a character modelled on you. indeed.

touch Tino's cock. Farley'll cack at that fer sure :)

xx Aby

SMS. 22.16. Fa la la la la la la la la – Rachel

SMS. 22.18. AAAAHHHHHH!!!! – Christian

SMS. 22.19. He, he, he xxx – Rachel

SMS. 22.23. Grrr!!! – Christian

SMS. 22.24. We wish u a merry xmas, we wish u a merry xmas would u like 2 come 2 primary schools carols night 2morrow? – Rachel

SMS. 22.29. You are just bating me, I’m not buying it – Christian

SMS. 22.28. Yr no fun! Why do I have 2 suffer? ALONE… – Rachel

SMS. 22.34. I am fucked ni night. Fucked figuratively not physically. We need 2 do b/d dinner 4 Jill next week – Rachel

SMS. 23.02. Do u want to go down to St Kilda? A beach full of Lebanese and Arabic boys sounds all right to me – Christian