Journal Entries
Several topics in search of a connection.
Posted Nov 21, 2011
Someone or other (EM Forster? Maybe, it doesn't really matter, all I can remember at the moment is that it was someone famous who is now dead) said, of writing stories, 'only connect'. I know what he was getting at; throw the reader back on their own resources once the facts are established and the story will live. At least that's what I think right now; there has been a bit of Bacardi this evening so I can't vouch for the commonsense levels in anything I write now.
But the fact is, sometimes the bits and pieces of life don't connect in any sense other than occurring to the same person on the same day.
Today I've spent many hours in an office, discussed funeral arrangements, planned a wardrobe revamp, consumed lashings of white rum, spoken at length to an old friend who wasn't having a drink because she was hungover, planned a trip to Sydney in January (the Dresden Dolls are playing, and they're not coming to Canberra), looked with horror at a power bill and purchased the new Kate Bush CD.
(That's not something one says often, 'new Kate Bush CD'. I'm happy about there being a new Kate Bush CD. I like it a lot, but then I'm a fanboy from ages back.)
Anyway. My point, such as it is, is that none of these events appear to be connected in any real sense. None of these events triggered any of the other events. The drinkies may yet cause me to fall over or trip over something, but that's unknowable at this stage. It's all just a piece of life, which doesn't have any discernable pattern or reason.
But mostly it's the basis of a journal entry I'll read again when I'm sober, and I will blush to see what tosh I've written just to make sure there's a journal entry from me today. 
Nine days to go!
Ivan.
*hic*
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Latest reply: Nov 21, 2011
Market day
Posted Nov 20, 2011
I dragged myself along to the Sunday markets today, for the first time in absolute ages. This entailed catching three buses and being rained on from time to time, but it was all good fun, especially listening to the two deaf old dears who were gossiping in very loud whispers about the purely personal habits of other people at their church. It was almost a pity to leave the bus at the markets because now I'll never know the full story of the scandal behind the 2009 church fete.
The markets were good, well up to their usual standard for handmade things and fresh local produce and secondhand books, but my favourite stalls weren't there this week so it wasn't all I'd hoped it would be. But never mind, I could still get some Ethiopian samosas (beef mince, coriander, spring onion, a hint of chili and a bit of something I can't identify in a thin crisp pastry) which always make everything better. (A lentil version is also available.)
I went outside to eat and looked across the lake to Mt Ainslie. It was very still, the clouds were low and the rain was gentle. Someone somewhere started playing didgeridoo, which added to the atmosphere. There's something about a didge, played by a competent person, that adds an extra dimension to a misty day.
I was standing there pondering on this and that, spilling bits of samosa down my shirt, when I was approached by a very nice man who has a hand in running the markets. He's very nice-looking, in fact. I've been distracted by him on many occasions, but I've never spoken to him before. I didn't really speak to him this time either because I was tongue-tied and had a mouthful of food and was trying to brush bits of food off me as well. Not that it mattered; he just wanted me to move three feet to the right so he could set up the 'No Dogs' sign at the side door.
Life really is a let-down sometimes.Ivan.
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Latest reply: Nov 20, 2011
Things that really get up my nose.
Posted Nov 19, 2011
It's nearly 3:45pm on a regrettably warm Spring day and I'm waiting for things to happen. One of my semi-esteemed colleagues, who I'll call Godot, is supposed to be coming around sometime after 9am this morning to pick something up. As you'll see from that, he appears to be running a bit late.
This is perfectly normal. He's routinely late on weekdays, in fact I've come to expect that, but when he's supposed to come and get something he needs I'd have thought he'd have organised things better. I mean, what's wrong with a quick text to let me know roughly when he thinks he'll be here?
I thought I'd do a bit of shopping once he'd been and gone. I'm running out of day. I guess it'll be my own personal Buy Nothing Day.
I put off cooking lunch until I couldn't stand it any more, hoping to avoid being interrupted while cooking. I wasn't interrupted by anyone, and certainly not by him.
To add insult to injury, once I was finally sitting down having lunch the second nosebleed of the day started. (Spring. Yay Spring. Yay pollen, and sneezing once a minute, and anti-sneeze pills that don't work as well as one would have hoped.) So here I am, somewhat unenthusiastic about lunch and unable to taste it with these wads of paper towel up my nose stemming the flow of blood.
Sometimes the glamour and excitement of my life are all too much for me.
Ivan.
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Latest reply: Nov 19, 2011
Sage advice
Posted Nov 18, 2011
It's lovely warm weather here and the garden's coming along nicely. The first cicadas of summer have started making their melodious noises. 
I've only had to kill off one poisonous creature so far; a trapdoor spider. It's best not to have these creatures lurking in the undergrowth, but I did feel awfully guilty as I did the deed.
For my next project, I've decided to clear out the lower part of the garden so I can see just how much room I have to play with.
I've planted out a few herbs; there's no herb garden as such, I'd rather just have them dotted about on equal terms with the ornamentals. There's already a clump of rosemary a large animal could hide in, so I've planted thyme and sage as edging plants and there's a bay tree that, unlike previous bay trees I've known, seems happy to be where I put it.
So far, so good. But I've never actually cooked with sage... What does one do with it?
And yes, I did write all this just so I could have a feeble punning title. Ivan.
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Latest reply: Nov 18, 2011
Ivan economises.
Posted Nov 17, 2011
I've been thinking lately that I really should cut down on my spending so I can get rid of this mortgage sooner. The mortgage has 29 years left to run, but if I'm cautious with my cash I might be able to shorten that a bit.
I was thinking about this at lunch today as I wandered around town looking at this and that. I'd taken my lunch with me from home, so there was a saving of about $10 already and I was feeling virtuous as I went into the bookshop. I felt even more virtuous when I escaped after buying only one book ($23). Pleased with my self-restraint, I then went on to buy a DVD ($30) - but only one, because I'm being careful with my money now.
So that's how easy it is to save $10. I must be economical again tomorrow. This weekend I'll go to the markets; there are serious savings to be made there...Ivan.
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Latest reply: Nov 17, 2011
Ivan the Terribly Average
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