Friday 20/12/24 - Murray St Mall & Aviary

130am - 135am - I get back to my unit and feel pretty cooked.

115am - I get on the train at Perth Station and I have not been enjoying the wait.

Saturday 21/12/24, 1245am - We walk down along Williams St and it is a lot quieter now but lots of dubious characters sitting along Murray St Mall. We go to Macca’s.

830pm - 1230am - The whole night we stand around the plant box talking and drinking, kind of like in June 2018 at Malt Bar in Mt Lawley where Sull, Jas & I (and briefly Rohan) just stood there drinking and watching the best part of three FIFA World Cup matches whilst Sheme etc were trying to get us to interact with everyone else but we did not budge. I have four drinks and then just drink water because I’m pretty tired, Jas keeps drinking as he is relaxed as always and not as uptight as me. Jas mentions that I should commit to three principles for 2025 that will improve my life (similar to Dean Mann’s three non-negotiables from Kala Ressies days), so we decide on the following for me: meet up for a social activity (bowling, Timezone, drinks) once every quarter (golf may or may not be included); play a couple of games of football for socialising and fitness (and purpose); look to buy a bigger place to live. I confirm that I will commit to these and I actually think this is a good idea as my life has become very questionable (just working, going to the gym, sleeping on the couch and watching tv - pretty much every single week without a break)… practical but good advice.

Jas keeps mentioning that some women keep looking at us because they might be interested. There is a brown skinned woman with a red top who Jas thinks is South American who keeps coming back near us. I don’t take any action as I can’t decide who I’m most interested in. Jas keeps spotting her throughout the night and sees many men approach her and her friend etc and he shakes his head is disapproval as he does not rate many of these guys/men.

There is a half African half Asian woman and she is very pretty, I don’t think I’ve seen this combination before.

A young blonde haired lady who Jas had pointed out earlier as one of these people who kept looking at us dances in front of us with her older friend. The older lady grabs my hand and puts it on the blonde woman’s hand for us to dance but I fumble this badly as I’m not switched on or keen to dance. I instantly regret this and Jas shakes his head and quietly says “Dutchy, Dutchy, Dutchy…”.

It is midnight now and I change to Kiel Currie mode for a bit and plan to stay out late and keep drinking, to increase my chances. Jas tricks me and buys me a few more drinks which I don’t drink and yeah I definitely owe Jas a decent amount of money for these drinks over last few years. My energy starts to fade and probably good time to leave as Jas has had a good amount to drink. We head downstairs.

8pm - We go to the bar and I get the usual vodka & soda and Jas gets a pint of Swan Draught. It is pretty busy and lively, there is a birthday or Christmas function near the stairs and the rest of the venue is really busy. We locate a big square pot plant thing for plants and go and stand around there. There are a lot of younger people but also some older people too and as Jas says “There are a few nerds around”… Jas shakes his head in disapproval.

738pm - Jas walks across Williams St as he is on the phone from me so crisis averted. He walked down from Watertown. We line up in the short Aviary line and head upstairs. First time here since March 2023.

731pm - Jas messages to check my ETA, I worry now that he has been in Aviary for half an hour and was waiting for me to msg him but I never did and have been sitting on Murray St Mall watching this Spanish musician for 30 mins now. I call Jas up.

7pm - I’m sitting on the bench next to some older women whilst I wait for Jas, it so busy and lots of Christmas decorations - probably the most lively Friday night of the year and there are people and police everywhere! I watch this Spanish man play the saxophone and sing in Spanish, he is very good.

645pm - I get to about 100 metres of the Daglish train platform and see a train pull up but I refuse to run so I let it go. When I get to the platform there’s pretty much no one there except for security and because of the new Airport line I only have to wait about 5 mins for another train to come… this new airport line has been very good for me. 

Jas messages the group to say he is just leaving now which is surprising because he is always on time and we were aiming to get there by about 7… I don’t mind though because it means I don’t have to rush. I’m on the train on the front carriage and it’s pretty peaceful because there’s no one on it, when we pull up to West Leederville station I see a guy and a woman there, about my age but slightly older. I am looking at the woman, she is decent looking, I notice though that she looks like this person who liked me on Bumble back in June and I recently went to swipe yes back on her but she had since disappeared. She was also no longer showing on my old Facebook account as a friend (we had talked on Bumble before in the past and she had added me as a friend), I had been thinking maybe I should have swiped yes on her. Anyway the train arrives in the city and I get off and start walking towards the underground walkway and the aforementioned man and woman get off the train and they are walking the same way as me and are about 5 - 10 metres in front of me. It is really lively and we walk through the underground labyrinth to the Murray St mall underground train entrance and I am getting closer and closer to them as I am walking faster, eventually we get to the escalators and we are side by side but a few metres separate us but I get onto one of the other escalators and we part ways. Walking behind this person I think that she is more attractive than I thought, so perhaps I should have said yes but I struggle when it comes to making a decision on online dating. Anyway the man she is with is tall and looks a couple of years older than me and looks like a good match for her - another dating prospect bites the dust. I make it outside onto Murray St Mall and sit down on a bench as I wait for an update from Jas.

Friday 20/12/24, 520pm - I leave work slightly earlier than normal for a Friday, to make sure that I’m not late to meet up with Jas, Trav maybe but unlikely. It is pretty hot and I make it home at around 545pm. I spend some time trying to decide what to wear because I haven’t been out much in the last few years but decide to go for a long sleeve shirt as I am fatigued and low on energy. Feel more comfortable in this shirt than a T-shirt for now. After 40 mins or so I head out on foot to the Daglish Train Station, it is still very light as tomorrow is the longest day of the year.

November Sat 23rd @ 210pm - Jas messages to go out later in the night but I am asleep. I wake up after 5pm and take awhile to message back so Aviary drinks do not go ahead.

October Sat 19th @ 8pm - I’m been to the gym, have had a shower and am about to go to the train station to meet up with Jas at Aviary but we decide to postpone at the last minute.

Friday 2nd of August - Friday Transit Mission

My car was getting serviced so I had to choose another way to get to work. Normally by car I can get to work in 15 mins but I had a feeling it might take a lot longer today. I decided I would wing it like usual. Caught the train then the Green CAT then the Joondalup train to Glendalough and was making ok time but then I realized I had no idea where to catch the next bus. I was getting annoyed and ended up walking to Main St and catching the bus that goes up this road, by the time I got to work it had been a whole hour since I left home, not cool.

The day was ok but a bit hectic because someone was leaving (temporarily at least) so was a bit disjointed. The work day ends and I hung around until 6 just trying to get stuff done. I locked the office and headed to the bus stop on Main St which is pretty close, maybe only 100 metres away. It is dark by this stage and the bus is taking a long time to get here so I had to check the live times and these were not good. Perhaps I should’ve checked the times before I left the office but I always like winging things and taking that risk. Maybe 15 mins pass and finally the bus arrives, I jump on and get off at the Glendalough Station. I go upstairs, wait for the train and jump on. Some Eagles fans onboard and I am desperately wanting to get home to watch this WCE vs ESS match - could be close. I get off at the Leederville Station and walk over the walkway and see the Green CAT waiting to leave but I decide that I will walk to the Freo train line instead. 

I have walked this path many times before, mostly when I would walk home from Niche on Saturday nights. This takes so long as I am in work clothes and am fatigued. I regret now not catching the CAT before and by the time I get to W Leederville Station an hour has passed since I left the office. Bad move Doitcha.

I catch the train and then walk home from the Daglish Station. By the time I get home 75 mins have passed since I left the office. It is about 730 now, I watch the footy till the end and it is a good game. It is close to 9pm now and my head is a mess, I am tired and indecisive until maybe 11pm and then decide that the gym is no longer a practical option… disappointing. I delay my workout until the following night and then tap out towards the end because I’m not that interested.

Bless

Sat 10/08/24 - Collier Park

So drowsy from my nap, want to keep sleeping but cannot do. Check phone and Eagles are getting belted by NM - not good. I push through and have a shower, somehow West Coast come back and win. I am short on time so now face the Uni Student’s Dilemma but with slightly different options: sleep, food & golf - you can only choose two. I go for sleep and golf, therefore I head down to Coogee feeling pretty hungry.

Arrive in Coogee to pick up my clubs, it is about 3:30 and Trav now tells me that tee off is 4:16 and not 4:24, I am feeling under the pump. I leave about 3:45 and make good time using Manning Rd route. Get to the tee off about 4:24, just in time, the people in front are slow so I’m lucky about the delay. The game starts.

We play until about 6, it is getting dark and we’ve only played 6 holes. The young guys in front of us are so slow so JC and Trav say let’s finish up. We have a drink, it’s pretty lively with people still on the driving range because of the big lights. After one drink we hit the road. I cut through South Perth and then onto the freeway, it is so lively tonight with lots of people on the road and out at restaurants. It is a good vibe.

Fri 12th July - Royal & Palace Arcade

5pm on a Friday and still haven’t planned what we’re doing. Not unfamiliar for me but for Jas and Trav perhaps a little bit. I push for the Royal as opposed to Vic Park and the other parties agree. I leave work about 540 and head to the old stomping ground. Lots of nice trees in East Perth but parking is a bit tight, I get annoyed and then drive up to the graveyard and park there. I am playing Pokémon and take the long route along the Yellow CAT road between the graveyard and the river. This place is quiet and feels a little shifty, the walk takes at least 10 mins and then I am back where I was about 15 mins earlier when I was looking for somewhere to park. Very peaceful, I get lost trying to find how to get down to the East Perth Water Front but eventually find the stairs, head down there and across to the Royal. I walk in, can’t see Trav, eventually find him sitting by himself outside. Not too busy and the cross section of the crowd is very broad, from young mid 20’s/30 year olds to 60 year old men. We watch as a bandicoot causes some commotion and casually runs back to the bush by going under everyone’s feet. Very interesting. It is getting close to 640 now and JC is still walking over the river from The Camfield. Eventually he makes it.

JC is just back from Mediterranean holiday so we discuss the details. I have vodka soda with lemon lime and bitters and it is good. The DJ is playing 80’s / 90’s stuff which is ok but not my fav. We have some pizzas, I have about 1 or 2% of these, JC and Trav hit a few more drinks. JC points out several times that this is an interesting crowd and I’m like “it’s winter and pretty cold so prob not the most enticing weather”. Trav has switched between beer, vodka and now rum & coke - nothing unusual. We watched Collingwood get overpowered by Geelong, it’s a good vibe but we are aware that once the footy finishes it will get quiet. It is about 9pm now and we decide that we will go to Palace Arcade for a bit to finish the night off. I have only had two drinks so am good to drive. We head back up the hill to the graveyard.

We’re driving through Northbridge and there are police officers doing breath tests so I casually turn to the right and slowly drive away from them. I should be under the limit but don’t want to deal with them. Quite the commotion. Northbridge is a bit busier and we park just across from The Court. We walk past and head into Palace Arcade. It is not that busy and they have removed a lot of the Arcade games which they used to have back between July - October 2019, when Jas, Kiel and myself used to come here a lot. I feel sad that it is not that busy but then again it is a Friday night and not a Saturday, also I am very fatigued so it is easier to feel sad and reminiscent. It is still nice to be here though. Trav and Jas have a few more drinks and we stay here for about an hour playing Daytona and NBA. Around 10pm we leave and I drop the squad off in Kensington / Bentley and then I head up the freeway back to Jolimont. JC was def a little drunk as he had been drinking for work at The Camfield from about 4pm. The freeway drive is nice, I make it home a little bit before 11 and procrastinate until about 1230 when I finally decide that the gym is not really a viable option for tonight. Was a good night.

Saturday 06/07/24 - Stories

I walk to the train station at about 415 after taking a nap, was planning to get there by 4pm so am a little late. It’s pretty overcast and the train doesn’t pick me up for awhile. When I get to the city I’m trying to work out how to get to Yagan Square and get past all the blocked exits because I am already late but this is not easy. When I make it to The Shoe I’m trying to work out how to get to Stories but is a bit of a maze, this place has changed since I came here last. When I get up to the third storey I look for Stu, eventually I see him wearing a Christmas jumper so I say hi, by this stage it’s starting to get cold. I put on my Christmas jumper.

During the next four hours I have about four vodkas and a pizza, a few waters too - intense! It is so wet and cold but the place is buzzing! Was good to be out, these opportunities are very few and far between.

I decide to leave about 9pm, everyone is pretty loose by now and maybe half have gone home. Stu keeps drinking, I say goodbye to people and then try to make my way out but this takes again like 10 minutes as this place is a serious labyrinth. I make it out to Yagan Square and then catch the train home. Was a decent night.

01/01/24 - 3am

This blog and the next few blogs are in honour of the first 6 or 7 posts that I did all the way back in 2015. Short and sharp.

3am 01/01/24 - I thought yes, let’s play one more game of Uno so when I drive back to Jas’ it might be lighter and much safer to drive… really not keen on driving at 3am through Byford and Albany Hwy where possibly drunk drivers and kangaroos… am worried. Karis finishes first in Uno about 315. At 340 Karis is still the only one to have finished. A few minutes pass then Kristin Uno, Paige Uno, Jas Uno, Kiel Uno, Scott Uno, the ladies scream, the kids get woken up - so crazy!! Such a slow build up, just like watching cycling or a Japanese movie. Next turn Kiel is out and then me - only 3 left. Not too long after the marathon game is over, time to hit the road and leave GTA V and the other PlayStation games behind. 

It’s like 4am, we leave Byford, it is still dark but some light is appearing from behind the hills. Jas directs me west instead of east and we discover the very start of Tonkin Hwy, which I didn’t know existed. Keep going then head towards the city, cut through many unfamiliar suburbs but I later realise its Canning Vale, Riverton, Leach Hwy - nice. Kristin has been asleep the whole time, it is light now and finally reach JC’s place. I drop them off and head to Coogee, arrive just after 5, I go to bed and do not sleep well. Classic New Year’s Day.

Last Day of the Year (No More 2023)

It is the last morning of 2023 and I am sleeping on a towel on the ground like usual. Can’t believe 2023 will be over soon, December is always so busy and I never properly get time to slow down until the last couple of days.

2023 was a weird year but not necessarily a bad one. It started off with me watching Alone from Jan till April and then between May till September I played a fair bit of Zelda. Also have finally sorted out my sleep on Saturdays so I’m not lying awake at 3am wondering what I am doing with my life. 

Tonight maybe am going out to the city for a little bit or maybe am going to Byfords to Kiel’s. A stark contrast. Would like to get dressed up though.

My last workout for 2023