I have so much to do and haven’t even done my Christmas shopping yet. Find out that COVID restrictions are back in place only a few hours earlier and this is all too much, decide to just go to the gym to clear my mind. Arrive at the gym very late, like close to 11pm, about four other people there and they are barely wearing a mask like me. Stay at the gym until close to midnight and then head home. Decide that I will sleep in tomorrow, decide what I’m going to do with Christmas presents and then deal with work later.
The next day I just sleep, do housework, miss the half day of work and then drive to Claremont about 530pm for Christmas shopping. Claremont Quarters is almost a ghost town and some shops still open, some not. Car parks empty and very few people there. I try to do some shopping, run out of time a bit and just play on my phone to see what stores are actually open. Eventually it is after 630pm and I have to cut my losses and head to Coogee for dinner. The drive down in the evening is probably the most relaxing drive of 2021 as the roads are almost empty.
The next couple of hours we have dinner with F&A and drink etc and presents until 11, 1130pm or so and then everyone goes to bed - there is so much food in the house. This is perhaps the first time in December I feel like I can actually relax... classic December.
The next six days I slowly relax and try my best not to think about starting new job. I sleep on the floor of the Games Room and watch YouTube on this very nice tv, play Animal Crossing, play on my phone, go to Goodlife in Bibra Lake, watch cricket, watch movies, suss out the beach and eat food. Time continues on.
Friday December 31 - New Year’s Eve
The Dec 24 snap lockdown really messed things up. JC and I decide that we will still go to Marketgrounds even though we can only sit. I also think “Damn, I should have gone out more since my last city Sat night mission back at the start of October”, anyway must move on.
I go to doctor’s late in afternoon to get my ears cleaned because I have not been able to hear for maybe six weeks now. When I get home, parents tell me that the last week I have been watching YouTube and fighting movies at midnight on extremely high volume that can be heard throughout the neighbourhood, they have not told me until now because they not want to ruin it for me. Now I know why dad come downstairs at night, because he think there is big fight going on but it is me watching violent movie on high volume because I’ve been practically deaf.
I cannot get much gym work in, I have to drive up to Jolimont as it is already 730pm. I go to my unit, get dressed etc and head into the city. By the time I arrive it’s close to 920pm. The crew is JC, LV & MB and the outside venue is busy but must sit down, can only stand up when go inside to bar to get drinks. Not amazing but better than staying home I guess. The fireworks are good, English and Argentina woman talk for a bit, we at MG until closing at 2am, we walk through Northbridge and it so quiet and shifty... feels like a Sunday night of a long weekend - so quiet. I say goodbye and head home via the train.
Kind of a weird night. Lots of stuff going on Facebook etc, crazy. I stay on the couch until maybe 6pm and then head south again. Strange circumstances all round.
