Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sez's new healthy obsession: her fisheye camera.
(photo courtesy of Sarah Keogh, taken 02-Mar-07, Kent Street, Collingwood)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wednesday, 21 March 2007.
After a simply magical night with AB at the ballet, I had the worst cab ride home EVER.
Now I know I should never fight my instinct to catch a tram.
This is how it went down:
AB and I leave the ballet and walk down to Flinders Street Station where I hop into the next available cab. The following conversation ensued (this might make more sense if you live in Melbourne and know it well):
Me: Hi, how are you? Can you take me to Abbotsford please?
Cab driver: Abbotsford?
M: Yes, near Collingwood, off Hoddle.
CD: Hoddle?
M: Hoddle.
CD: You show me which way you prefer to go?
M: Ok. Drive down there and turn right.
CD: Right?
M: Yes.
We get to Flinders Street and he turns right. At every intersection, he asks if I want him to turn. Finally, I tell him to turn left at Spring Street.
CD: Left?
M: YES.
We near Victoria Street and I tell him to turn right.
CD: Ah yes, right onto Hoddle.
M: That's Victoria Parade. Do you even know where Hoddle Street is?
CD: To be honest, I just arrived. This is my first time driving.
M: *rolls eyes*
CD: You come from home or work?
M: The ballet.
CD: Ballarat?
M: No, the ballet... at The Arts Centre.
CD: What's ballet?
M: It's a type of dance.
CD: What kind?
M: Classical.
CD: You teach or student?
M: It was a performance.
Somehow, we eventually make it to my house. I say somehow because there were a few near death experiences and also, he thought it was fun to drive alongside a fellow cab driver and have a conversation. I ask him to stop, he drives another 10 metres. I give him a $20 and he tells me he has no change. This was the final straw.
M: How can you have no change?
CD: I just filled up with gas.
M: And you have no change... you're driving a cab!
CD: Do you have a credit card?
M: I'm not paying by credit card and getting charged EXTRA because you didn't bring any change with you.
CD: We don't charge you extra, the credit card company does.
M: I'm paying by cash... Why would I pay with credit when I have cash? How did you expect your customers to pay tonight?
CD: But I don't have any change?
M: And whose fault is that?
CD: What are we going to do?
M: What are YOU going to do? You drive a cab, you should have some change!
Some police drive by and tell the driver to move because he's blocking the road. The cop says, 'It's no standing, mate... you can't stop here.' So the cab driver starts to drive away.
M: You're taking me away from my house.
CD: Calm down, I'll just drive around the block.
M: Give me my money and I'll go inside and get you some change.
He continues to drive me AWAY from my house.
CD: They said 'No standing' so I can't stop.
M: We wouldn't be 'standing' if you had some change.
Eventually, he got me back to my house and I went and got him the fare. In retrospect, I should have given him my jar of 20 cents. He would have made a tip then.
As I shoved the money in his hand, I said, 'You might want to THINK before you drive a cab next time, you idiot.'
There was a lot more swearing but I thought I'd keep it nice. Normally I'm quite patient with cab drivers but this guy just took the cake. I should have taken down his number. One day I will officially make a complaint. Thank goodness I had my BP checked last week.
Now I know I should never fight my instinct to catch a tram.
This is how it went down:
AB and I leave the ballet and walk down to Flinders Street Station where I hop into the next available cab. The following conversation ensued (this might make more sense if you live in Melbourne and know it well):
Me: Hi, how are you? Can you take me to Abbotsford please?
Cab driver: Abbotsford?
M: Yes, near Collingwood, off Hoddle.
CD: Hoddle?
M: Hoddle.
CD: You show me which way you prefer to go?
M: Ok. Drive down there and turn right.
CD: Right?
M: Yes.
We get to Flinders Street and he turns right. At every intersection, he asks if I want him to turn. Finally, I tell him to turn left at Spring Street.
CD: Left?
M: YES.
We near Victoria Street and I tell him to turn right.
CD: Ah yes, right onto Hoddle.
M: That's Victoria Parade. Do you even know where Hoddle Street is?
CD: To be honest, I just arrived. This is my first time driving.
M: *rolls eyes*
CD: You come from home or work?
M: The ballet.
CD: Ballarat?
M: No, the ballet... at The Arts Centre.
CD: What's ballet?
M: It's a type of dance.
CD: What kind?
M: Classical.
CD: You teach or student?
M: It was a performance.
Somehow, we eventually make it to my house. I say somehow because there were a few near death experiences and also, he thought it was fun to drive alongside a fellow cab driver and have a conversation. I ask him to stop, he drives another 10 metres. I give him a $20 and he tells me he has no change. This was the final straw.
M: How can you have no change?
CD: I just filled up with gas.
M: And you have no change... you're driving a cab!
CD: Do you have a credit card?
M: I'm not paying by credit card and getting charged EXTRA because you didn't bring any change with you.
CD: We don't charge you extra, the credit card company does.
M: I'm paying by cash... Why would I pay with credit when I have cash? How did you expect your customers to pay tonight?
CD: But I don't have any change?
M: And whose fault is that?
CD: What are we going to do?
M: What are YOU going to do? You drive a cab, you should have some change!
Some police drive by and tell the driver to move because he's blocking the road. The cop says, 'It's no standing, mate... you can't stop here.' So the cab driver starts to drive away.
M: You're taking me away from my house.
CD: Calm down, I'll just drive around the block.
M: Give me my money and I'll go inside and get you some change.
He continues to drive me AWAY from my house.
CD: They said 'No standing' so I can't stop.
M: We wouldn't be 'standing' if you had some change.
Eventually, he got me back to my house and I went and got him the fare. In retrospect, I should have given him my jar of 20 cents. He would have made a tip then.
As I shoved the money in his hand, I said, 'You might want to THINK before you drive a cab next time, you idiot.'
There was a lot more swearing but I thought I'd keep it nice. Normally I'm quite patient with cab drivers but this guy just took the cake. I should have taken down his number. One day I will officially make a complaint. Thank goodness I had my BP checked last week.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tonight
Technically, it began last week but for me, the Australian Ballet's Melbourne season begins tonight and AB and I are off to see 'Don Quixote'.
Woohoo!
Woohoo!
Monday, March 19, 2007
How I spent my Saturday.
On Saturday morning, I woke up at 7am as I had a scheduled delivery time for 7 - 11am.
At 7:30, I heard a truck approaching so I scampered downstairs to find Ray and his mate ready to delivery all my stuff.
Big thanks to the House of Sticks for being so understanding with all the noise between 7:30 and 8am.
Bed in progress.
Bed on completion.
At 7:30, I heard a truck approaching so I scampered downstairs to find Ray and his mate ready to delivery all my stuff.
Big thanks to the House of Sticks for being so understanding with all the noise between 7:30 and 8am.
So many boxes.
The bedside tables.
The 4-drawer chests of drawers.
Slats and rails.
Bed in progress.Bed on completion.Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Finally.
Freedom rang on Saturday morning (this can be taken both literally and figuratively).
My furniture hath arriveth.
I will be arranging a delivery for this Saturday.
Yesterday, I cleared out some clothing and tried to work out where everything is going to go.
I don't think anyone understands how much I can't wait to throw out my current bed frame and how much I long for underbed storage.
Look forward to next week's blog on putting together my furniture. And maybe even some accompanying photographs.
My furniture hath arriveth.
I will be arranging a delivery for this Saturday.
Yesterday, I cleared out some clothing and tried to work out where everything is going to go.
I don't think anyone understands how much I can't wait to throw out my current bed frame and how much I long for underbed storage.
Look forward to next week's blog on putting together my furniture. And maybe even some accompanying photographs.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Mental Health Week
Been wondering where I've been? Perhaps you thought I went postal after that last blog?
Well, I've had most of the past week off in order to refresh and recuperate my brain. I've also had one of the best weeks EVER!
On Saturday, BM and I went shopping in the city. I visited my (now) favourite store in the world and walked out a little depleted financially but very happy with my new shirts and cufflinks. I also bought a new pair of jeans. I quite enjoyed buying clothes in person.
Sunday. Sunday was a very good day indeed. Yes.
Monday, went to work and cleared my desk.
On Tuesday, BM and I got on our bikes and visited my old stomping ground, Coles at Richmond Plaza. Then we went into town and strolled around. I picked up 'Hip Hotels Atlas' by Herbert Ypma. One day I will have ALL of this series.
Tuesday night, BM, LDR and I convened at Melbourne Museum for roller derby training. Joining us were Miss Minx, Betty Bamalam, Miss Malice, Hidden Magenta, Ket and Cherry Rockette. We were meant to be meeting Otto and Lisa from the US but they didn't turn up until after we left.
Wednesday, CT and I ventured into the city where I had my passport photos done. We had a spot of lunch then returned home. I headed back to the museum that night and met up with Betty, Cherry, Otto and Lisa and we had a skate around. I asked Lisa to teach me to cross-step but seeing as balance has never been my friend, I decided to have a go at the double knee, single knee and 180 degree knee slides.
Can I just say how much I enjoy falling down on my skates and scrambling up... I must have thrown myself down 50 times. My pads are scuffed, my skates are scuffed... I love it!
Thursday night we went to Caribbean Gardens Rollerama and met more future rollergirls including Jo No Mercy, Miss Mayhem, Denim Destroyer, Hetty Machete, Jess and Lex, and had a social skate. Scoresby is an interesting place. Power-sliding on a rink is a lot safer than on concrete pavers.
Friday morning I headed off to VicRoads and got my driving learner's permit. I now have photo ID! Then I went to the local cop shop to have a stat dec signed and then sent off my passport renewal forms. The rest of Friday was a blur as there was much celebrating going on and general booziness.
Today is a rest day. Tomorrow we have skate training. Betty, Minx and Magenta have gone to Brisbane for the Australian Roller Derby Association Launch Night and Demonstration. Tuesday we'll be starting regimented training.
One day... one day I'll be able to cross-step turn.
Well, I've had most of the past week off in order to refresh and recuperate my brain. I've also had one of the best weeks EVER!
On Saturday, BM and I went shopping in the city. I visited my (now) favourite store in the world and walked out a little depleted financially but very happy with my new shirts and cufflinks. I also bought a new pair of jeans. I quite enjoyed buying clothes in person.
Sunday. Sunday was a very good day indeed. Yes.
Monday, went to work and cleared my desk.
On Tuesday, BM and I got on our bikes and visited my old stomping ground, Coles at Richmond Plaza. Then we went into town and strolled around. I picked up 'Hip Hotels Atlas' by Herbert Ypma. One day I will have ALL of this series.
Tuesday night, BM, LDR and I convened at Melbourne Museum for roller derby training. Joining us were Miss Minx, Betty Bamalam, Miss Malice, Hidden Magenta, Ket and Cherry Rockette. We were meant to be meeting Otto and Lisa from the US but they didn't turn up until after we left.
Wednesday, CT and I ventured into the city where I had my passport photos done. We had a spot of lunch then returned home. I headed back to the museum that night and met up with Betty, Cherry, Otto and Lisa and we had a skate around. I asked Lisa to teach me to cross-step but seeing as balance has never been my friend, I decided to have a go at the double knee, single knee and 180 degree knee slides.
Can I just say how much I enjoy falling down on my skates and scrambling up... I must have thrown myself down 50 times. My pads are scuffed, my skates are scuffed... I love it!
Thursday night we went to Caribbean Gardens Rollerama and met more future rollergirls including Jo No Mercy, Miss Mayhem, Denim Destroyer, Hetty Machete, Jess and Lex, and had a social skate. Scoresby is an interesting place. Power-sliding on a rink is a lot safer than on concrete pavers.
Friday morning I headed off to VicRoads and got my driving learner's permit. I now have photo ID! Then I went to the local cop shop to have a stat dec signed and then sent off my passport renewal forms. The rest of Friday was a blur as there was much celebrating going on and general booziness.
Today is a rest day. Tomorrow we have skate training. Betty, Minx and Magenta have gone to Brisbane for the Australian Roller Derby Association Launch Night and Demonstration. Tuesday we'll be starting regimented training.
One day... one day I'll be able to cross-step turn.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
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