Niche

The last two weeks of March = dead

April = ghost town

May = some hope, still no gym though

First half of June = gym allowed during staffed hours, bars open if you want to sit at a table until 12am/1am closing

Work in general = onerous / shifty

June 20 - watched the footy at Toby’s with J&C in Lesmurdie, went back to J&C’s, drove out to Jolimont and then Uber to Leederville to see if Phase 3 COVID was worth pursuing. Sat down for one hour in Bill’s Bar in Leederville until it closed. Not very exciting. Expecting COVID Phase 3 to last until late August.

Sometime in the next week Perth entered Phase 4. This was unexpected.

July 4 - woke up feeling tired and a little hungover after copping a beat down (unwarranted) from my boss the night before at our in-house EOFY lunch. Officially on leave for the next 6 business days. Feeling so depressed.

I have a Saturday afternoon nap and wake up to missed msg and phone call from Kiel... he wants to go to Leederville, no sitting, can officially stand. I was depressed and uncommital, decided to go to the gym and take my phone with me just in case. Receive 20 messages from Kiel in total, get back from gym and decide that 20 messages is enough to convince me to go out. I drive and make it to Leederville around 2250, I line up for over an hour.

Stand in line by myself for at least 50 minutes, eventually I start talking to the guy next to me who was from Whitfords (now lives in Vic Park), he is also by himself and meeting a friend inside. I liked this guy, he was tall and worked as an occupational therapist in Fremantle Hospital and like me, he wasn’t quite sure where he was heading in life. He has never been to Niche before and he was now sober. After an hour, we both get to the front of the line, he doesn’t realise that you must pay $10 in cash to enter - non negotiable! He has no cash so I pay for him. 

We both get in. He insists on buying me a drink to repay the debt and I oblige. He buys a vodka and a G&T so I take the vodka. We part ways and head over to our respective friends. I finally get to see Jas & Kiel. I tell Jas that I copped a beat down from work the night before; he tells me that I should have walked off, I say “Yeah I should have”, I feel a lot better now. Niche was seriously busy and the music was good like always. I have a few drinks, talk to Jas & Kiel, we spend the remainder of the night with a group of other people, possibly KC will find a new partner? I say goodbye after about 2am to everyone, walk outside to my car and drive home. Was a good night and was so glad that I went.

July 18 - I didn’t want to go out but Kiel messages me around 2pm saying that he wants to go to Niche tonight to celebrate his Birthday on the 20th. The only condition is that I must be there by 930pm. I didn’t want to go out but I agree that it is important to celebrate the birthday so I oblige. I go to the gym early and catch an Uber into Leederville by 920pm, I told Kiel that he must not go in before letting me know as I didn’t want to line up solo. This didn’t happen, J&C arrive and make it into Niche at 935 after waiting 5 minutes. I’m annoyed and then I have to walk up the road to the atm to get cash for the door entry. I make it to the back of the line by 2145... it was now busy.

This was seriously hectic. The line was on the other side this week and it was not moving. The VIP line flowed much quicker but because of the “one in, one out” policy, it took until after 2300 before I made it in.

Held off drinking for a bit but eventually it was time to buy cocktails to celebrate KC’s birthday. A busy line at the bar and I ordered a vodka martini, an espresso martini and a mint, vodka cocktail (for Kiel)... the poor bartender. He obliged and after 5 - 10 mins of preparation our cocktails were ready. I was so thankful and tipped the bartender $10 (I always tip for cocktails because I have seen social media posts from a friend who is a bartender, saying bartender work can be hectic and a tip for a cocktail on a busy night will keep them from getting angry). 

Started to feel a little looser and eventually we head down next to the dance floor. Definitely a lot of nice, well dressed women around, a few approach etc, some enquire. Eventually one comes over and wants to dance and like usual, J&C direct the attention towards me. I didn’t want to dance but try not to be difficult. This woman is attractive. A song comes on that I like and I give in and start to relax and dance. Just for the record, I practice dancing a lot when I am at home, especially because I live by myself and have no one to really talk to. I decided to start learning around mid 2013 after going into Politix in the city after work at Mantra on Friday nights, one of the young salesman (he had been smoking weed) would be dancing. I would talk to him, he said that he had started learning because he wanted to get his confidence up but then he really started to like it. I decided that I liked music a lot and would try and learn myself. So I started. 

Her friend had left earlier in the night but she had opted to stay. I saw her at the bar ordering four vodka & sodas and when I realised they were for us, I was shocked. Anyway, I started dancing and we started dancing together. We danced together for literally 2 hours until closing. I started to like her but I wasn’t sure what her intentions were and I know I am very much not good at following up when I do get a number. I decided I would just wait and see how things would pan out. Niche was closing and we were all leaving, I motioned for her to come with us, she was behind and I wasn’t sure what she was doing. When we were waiting in the kebab shop around the corner she showed up, she was now wearing a jacket.

Five guys, one woman, after eating we all went our separate ways (the two other guys were our African friends). I later found out that she was a lawyer which was surprising because she was shifty like me.

I definitely regretted not getting her number, a classic mistake yet a tough one indeed. I am crafty though so hope is not lost. KC did get her friend’s number earlier in the night also, so her friends could make sure that she got home safely.

July 25 - I had been in Moora during the week and had been thinking (too much) about that encounter the week before. Kiel messages me, I didn’t want to go out but decided yes because Vesper was going to be there and also because I wanted to talk to Kiel & Jas about the weekend before. I received the message at 8pm so this was a late call up. Went to the gym, drove into Leederville around 1130. Lined up as it started to rain and didn’t make it in until 0040 which is probably my latest start to a night out ever! It’s safe to say that whilst most people were drunk / tipsy I was sober.

It seemed like it wasn’t as vibrant or busy as the previous two nights and maybe that was just because of the weather or maybe it was just me. Maybe another love interest for KC as I spent most of the night talking to Jas & Vesper. One of new friends was climbing up and dancing next to DJ table which was precarious but endearing also - out of control!!

Was a nice night but eventually I left at 230 as I couldn’t really drink. Was good to see everyone, walked to my car near the 24/7 IGA car park in Leederville and headed home. Jas told me that they went and got food and left soon after. Was a good night anyway.

Went out the next Saturday again. Went to Prince Lane in the city - ok but different crowd. Massive lines everywhere else in city / Northbridge so ended in Leederville. Leederville was busy again but there was this guy, like my height, who tried to steal a drink from Jas at the bar and we almost got into a fight with him. This guy almost got into a fight with the other Lesmurdie crew and even another group of guys. Eventually he gets kicked out, leaving a lot of angry people who wanted to fight him. This was still a good night but I this would be my last night out for a while as I low on energy and needed a break.

Saturday 14/03/20 - Tigerlils & Niche

I had been going out a fair bit this year with Jas & Kiel, usually between 4pm - 440pm on a Saturday I would receive a text from Kiel. This Saturday was no different and I really just wanted to sleep. It took me a while to commit (approx 730pm I think) but I thought that I might not even sleep that well if I stay home, so I might as well go out anyway. I got ready and walked to the train station at around 910pm.

I got to the train station but it was raining and I did not plan for this. Daglish train station was dead quiet like always and I was doing my best to keep my phone and wallet protected from the rain. Caught the train, got off at City West and had to move fast to find some cover from the rain! West Perth / Harold Boas Gardens we’re dead quiet and I ran into our office building to dry off. It was way too wet and I was questioning my decision to go out in the first place! I had committed so thought “so be it” and ordered an Uber to the city.

The city was quiet and it was March and raining pretty steadily. I finally made it to Tigerlil’s and saw J & C. I was so wet.

The vibe at Tigerlil’s was ok and it was not too busy but busy enough that the back section was open. It kind of felt like May or June because of the weather and the general vibe of the crowd and the city feeling so quiet. I would have honestly been happy to stay there for the rest of the night but Kiel had other plans. There was a Bruce Lee movie on one of the TVs too (Enter The Dragon) so I was feeling content. 

The consensus was that Marketgrounds would be too hectic which meant that we could only really go to Niche in Leederville. We left Tigerlil’s at 1130pm, jumped into a taxi asap as it was still raining and headed to Niche. 

We arrived at Niche, there was no line, we went in, the music was good but it was dead!!! A stark contrast to a few weeks earlier where it was so lively but you could feel that the COVID 19 virus was starting to impact many of the institutions which form a part of our lives... a sign of things to come.

I was a little tipsy at this stage so I was only drinking water. Jas tricked me again and bought me more vodka, bringing my total to six for the night. This was past my limit so I decided that I wouldn’t stay for too much longer. I said goodbye and then I headed outside to make my way home. I wasn’t sure how far I would walk but I crossed the freeway and headed down Cambridge Street. These walks on Saturday nights I like because they are so quiet and I can think clearly. I made it to Subiaco and decided to keep walking, the rain had stopped so it was just overcast. I finally made it home after about 50 minutes. During my walk home I had been thinking about making a comeback to league football, the irony being that two days later COVID 19 would bring a premature end to this dream and football in general. So strange. A strange but decent night nonetheless.

Was good to go out. SD

31/12/19 - New Year’s Eve

It was a Monday night, the night before the big day, I was trying to plan out logistics for the subsequent night which I expected to be a moderate outing. Trav messaged me and asked if I wanted to go to Preston Beach in the morning, I did but I didn’t really want to get up by 8am but I said yes anyway. I watched a few Survivor videos on YouTube and then went to bed.

Tuesday morning - the last YouTube vid I watched for 2019

Woke up the following morning (Tuesday the 31st), got ready and then headed south with Trav and his work friend (Carmiel). The drive was fair and eta at Preston Beach must have been around 12pm. Trekked the Ford Ranger through precarious sand tracks and then set up camp. About ten other cars on the beach but it was pretty good. I still wasn’t quite sure how the rest of the day would pan out but I resigned myself to whatever would happen, so be it.

The next couple of hours we just mucked around, ate food and I pondered that I felt pretty isolated being so far away from Perth and any action on what I thought was the final day of the decade (I still don’t know if this is correct or not 😂). I was low on energy and needed as much food as I could get. Unexpectedly, two other comrades of Trav rocked up. By this stage there were only a few cars left on the beach. We talked for quite a while and I was still unsure if I would make it out later on. Carmiel was going to Marketgrounds too, he had a ticket but it was still reassuring for me.

We talked for a little longer and you could tell it was afternoon by now, as the sun was a little lower and the wind was stronger. We went in for a swim, it was so warm and at this stage it was time to leave as it was nearing 1630. We made it off the beach without getting bogged and then headed north again. 

I was pretty hungry at this stage and was trying to determine how much time I would have until I had to head to the city to meet up with J&C and Jimmy etc. I wanted to go to the gym to so I was really cutting it fine. Made it back to Coogee just before 1800 and then I had to eat as much food as I could, organise my clothes and pay my CPA membership. Hadn’t had much food but locked up the house and headed north to Subi at around 1840.

I was pushing time pretty hard but wanted to go to the gym because I hadn’t been since Christmas (I had only been running and hadn’t really done any weights). The drive up there felt pretty weird, prob because I was so unorganised and running out of time. I spoke to KC and he said Vesper couldn’t make it so we had an extra ticket. It sounded like it was probably going to be a quiet night now and I was like “Ok whatever, no probs”. Finally arrived at the gym and it was fairly quiet.

The last night of the year and I was struggling to get much done at the gym, was low on energy but did some barbell stuff and watched the end of the Big Bash. The Strikers lost and broke their NYE tradition and I thought this may be symbolic of the rest of my night: anticlimactic. Made it back to my unit, got ready as fast as I could and then trained it into West Perth. 

West Perth looking suspect

Finally made it into Tigerlils and it must have been around 2140. TL was ok / decent but only the front part was open, was good to see Jimmy (gf was there too). The five of us had a few drinks and then headed elsewhere. 

Murray St didn’t seem that busy, The Aviary we couldn’t get into, so headed to Market Grounds. Market Grounds was definitely lively and there was a line to get in. I had a ticket now but it looked like I could have paid and still made it in. We lined up and got in, was questioned by bouncer but made it in anyway. Was getting close to 11pm at this stage and the atmosphere was far livelier than anywhere else we had been during the night. We stayed on the outskirts because the dance floor was hectic and started drinking. There must have been a few hundred people there.

Kept drinking etc and doing missions upstairs to get drinks and head back down. One of the few nights of the year where I thought if I drink more than five drinks tonight, not great but still ok. Jimmy and Anna sat down and the three of us stood there and decided to go upstairs to grab another drink as it was 1155 and nearly midnight. Bought our drinks and then quickly headed back downstairs. There was a lot of anxiety in the air as it was getting closer and closer to midnight so I was looking forward to getting this over and done with.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!” Thank god! Things loosened up and I felt relieved that all of the anticipation had finally passed. So relieved that it was time to go grab another drink.

After my next drink, KC bought three vodka sodas, Jimmy and Anna left (Anna was drunk) and all three drinks ended up with me. JC said “drink quick otherwise you’ll get kicked out for having too many drinks”, I knew this was dangerous but I didn’t really want to waste the drinks. I drank two and a half of the three and realised that I had almost reached my limit. It was time for water.

The whole place was busy and there were many attractive women. I stood there smashing down water as hard as I could. When Jas & Kiel were at the bar a lady approached me, she was slightly older than me and I could see where this was going. I remembered Jas’ advice that I needed to loosen up and not be so uptight. She leans in for a kiss so in my head I’m like “Ok, just let it go. No need to over think this”. I kind of liked her anyway. 

Anyway, she was drunk and needed to drink more water... she didn’t though. We talked for a while, I tried to keep her from falling over, tried to get her to hydrate. Time passes, soon it was 2am and closing time, it was starting to empty out. We left end headed into Northbridge, the lady soon falls over. This was when we had to depart ways (her friends took her home, I didn’t leave her on the side of the path, don’t worry).

I woke up the following morning in my unit, pretty fatigued and slightly hungover. This certainly would not be my last visit to Marketgrounds over the next few months.

SD

2010 - 2019: The Decade That Was - Part 2

I am going to try and keep this one a little shorter than the previous but I will see how I go.

2013

01/01/13 @ 00:01 - at East Perth foreshore party with the gang, reasonably drunk 
2013 started at the East Perth foreshore with the gang and finished in Stu’s house in Viveash, playing on my phone. In between these two pivotal events there was also a lot of important stuff going on. 

2013, the year of the ressies grand final and East Perth Mantra Hotel. Everyday drive to work in East Perth and then rush out to try and beat traffic so can make Crossfit and footy training on time - tough.

Every night was busy, except for maybe Friday when I walk into the city after work and look at clothes. This was probably my favourite part of the week.

I loved working in the city and commuting between the East Perth and Perth hotels via the Red CAT. I loved walking through the city on a Friday night, looking at clothes etc before going home. I never knew the city that well before I started working at Mantra but by the end of this period, I knew Hay St, Murray St and East Perth really well. There were also a lot of parts of fulltime worked that I really liked but my organisation, sleeping habits / exercise habits needed to be adjusted. Sometimes I drink too much on Saturday night and feel the effects on Monday. Too much vodka. One time I feel like I’m going to faint when I’m in the Murray St bathroom on overcast Monday afternoon. Nick and Sull drink a lot too and I cannot help myself. 

June long weekend go to Villa for What So Not on the Friday. Kiel and I are late so we miss the taxi... Kiel convinces me to drive. Night is good, I try not to drink too much but drink more than I want to... am with Kiel, Nick, Yakk & Sull. Kiel convinces me to drive home but I’m like “I’ve been drinking, I can’t drive”, Kiel say “You’re fine”. Kiel and I walk outside Villa, walk 50 metres to my car and head home - not good but make it home ok. This was also the weekend that Nick pressured the doctor to take his cast off so he could go out drinking #hectic.

Finding it hard to balance work with everything else so decided it was time to leave. Last day was Friday the 6th of September. Went out for a bit later but night was hijacked by two unnamed friends from footy and next I knew it was 2pm on Saturday and I had missed our third last training before our grand final. I felt so bad.

Grand final was memorable for all the wrong reasons. We should have won but we didn't. I had an eight week break between jobs, I didn't know if I would ever go back to accounting, I just didn't think I was made to be an accountant. Worked in a container yard in North Freo for the end of 2013, this was pretty outrageous too but so be it. And that was how 2013 ended: working and not knowing where I was heading.

Other points: CrossFit was still going well; missed both seasons of Survivor; had decent visibility with women through footy, CrossFit and work.


2014

01/01/14 @ 00:01 - on a bed at Stu’s Viveash house, playing on my phone, hiding from life
The year starts and things pick up. I am still at the container yard and they offer me fulltime. I get offered two other accounting jobs at the same time and not sure which to choose. I answer my phone on the walk back to my car on my lunch break and say yes to the West Perth accounting firm. We moved in May to Port Coogee - 18 months in High Wycombe. Kept playing A Grade ressies but no trainings. Got dropped to thirds because of this.

The feeling at this accounting firm was a lot different from the 2013 jobs. There was no shouting. I had a good mentor so this was very reassuring. The office was vibrant and there were many young people and also maybe 50 people in our office. I still found aspects of this job challenging but was not going to give up. Had to give up CrossFit because we moved; started going to Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club. I could write a lot about 2014 but I will keep it simple. Was doing intense CrossFit workouts at the gym to stay fit for footy; started doing CPA in July #hard ; had a good night in Subiaco for our Christmas party.

Other points: going to Ya-Ya's a lot; Ya-Ya's closing down in November :( ; started sleeping in my car after nights out in the city.


2015

01/01/15 @ 00:01 - upstairs in my Coogee bedroom, trying to sleep
Friends seemed to dissipate post Ya-Ya's closing down, Jas was seemingly the only one that still wanted to go out. I thought I would give up going out for good but I drove and met Jas a few times to give him company. I really thought this was the end of my going out days.

Found myself in Seduction, Phuket at the end of June / start of July, thought this was no longer a part of my life but then I heard a song which I hadn't heard before. The sound was unique. It made me realise how much I loved music and how I had lost touch with music a little in the last couple of years. I decided I wasn't going to give up on nightclubs.

2015 was a CPA year so I probably won't write too much. Other important points: stopped playing footy because it was too much; kept going to the empty Coogee Surf Lifesaving gym most nights; slept in my car many times.

2016

01/01/16 @ 00:01 - back area of Tigerlil’s with Sull, JC, KC, Vesper & Derek (if he hadn’t already left 😂)

Wrote blog about this New Year’s Eve. Start running at Kings Park on Fridays. Year just do two CPA units and lots of intense CrossFit workouts at Coogee Fitness Club by ownself. I still uptight because I studying and working and most night when I go out I being careful not to drink too much. Sleep in my car like 7 times in the first 6 months. I remember in 2016 being at Lost Society late on a Saturday night until the lights come on. 

2017

01/01/17 @ 00:01 - walking the streets of Mt Maunganui, lining up for nightclub 

A few weddings, engagement parties, JC has girlfriend now. Oscar & Ellie have now both moved on, I get told by psychic that I should move out. Do another CPA unit in second semester. Have good nights out.

2018

01/01/18 @ 00:01 - at Brisbane Hotel in Highgate/North Perth

Finally finish CPA. When get to June I am so fatigued I think I have put on some weight, I miss the gym sometimes because it close too early. In Sept I check out Goodlife, I like this one a lot, I make the switch, start going hard on the rower.

2019

01/01/19 @ 00:01 - on the roof at Sull’s house watching fireworks

2010 - 2019: The Decade That Was - Part 1

It is the 28th of December 2019, three days before the decade comes to the end, deciding if I should write a blog or not, on a decade which I liked a lot. In the words of TE (Trav) "Sometimes it's better to just post it. Pretend you are in an exam. You've got 30 mins. Do your best." Wise words.

2010

01/01/10 @ 00:01 - Deen dance floor with KC & JC
The decade started off with me on the dancefloor of The Deen with JC and KC. We had gone to JB's house in Wattle Grove to see in the new year but had soon departed after Jas and Kiel decided that there might be more action in Northbridge. A few days later I headed south to Southbound with a lively Wattle Grove crew + JH & BB. This was a long trip: departed Thursday night and arrived back Monday afternoon. We camped hard with three tents and drank a bit. I had my wristband confiscated shortly after arriving and subsequently had all of the alcohol in my shorts taken away from me - not a good start. Apart from that, this was a good trip.

2010 was one of my favourite years of the decade but it started off shaky and I was once again put on conditional standing at uni after I failed another two units. This was another wake up call - post grad was harder than I thought and I have attention from women which is new for me. My drinking was probably out of control too *shakes head, but young Scott was a loose unit. The real narrative of 2010 for many of us was that of redemption. Cougars had lost all three grand finals in footy the year before and we had entered all three of those matches as heavy favourites. In that hostile environment on that ground that I don’t really like, we lost and I felt that I had let the club down. 2010 looked to be a much tougher proposition than the previous year, as we were always going to have to beat Scarborough to make it up to B Grade and they were effectively an A Grade club.

Towards the end of July and during September, I remember trying to apply myself more at uni and thinking to keep taking footy one week at a time because I did not think we could beat Scarborough - I didn't see any point thinking too far into the future. I also remember going out to Rubix and Capitol most of these weekends and these were good nights.

Our last five matches went LOSS - Scarborough (big loss), LOSS - High Wycombe, WIN - High Wycombe, Loss - Scarborough (even bigger loss), WIN - High Wycombe (only by about a goal - I had only had 1.5 - 2 hrs of sleep before this game because of a uni mid sem test, so hectic) and then somehow we were in the Grand Final. This was going to be a big game. The lead up week to this match was pretty intense and I knew how much it meant to everyone. I was going into this match prepared to get hurt, just to redeem myself... intense. The day finally came and I rocked up half time of the ressies match as usual. It was overcast which I liked and this time colts had won and ressies were ahead at half time, which was a direct contrast to the year before. The pre-game addresses were pretty deep and very moving, you could see this meant a lot to everyone. There was no mucking around like usual and it was pretty intense.

Ressies won and our game was about to start - the pressure was on. If we won, we would go up to B Grade and if we lost we would stay in C Grade for out fifth straight year. The match started and we were just managing to hold on, this continued on during the second quarter. He were down at half time but nowhere near as bad as our previous two outings. I still didn't really think about winning or even that we could win, I just kept thinking about focusing on every single moment and just trying my best in every contest.

The third quarter things seemed to pick up a bit in our favour and people started to believe that we could match it with S'borough. This was the first time in the match that I felt some level of optimism. The fourth quarter came and it was pretty tight and we were still behind. I was now thinking that we were actually going to run out of time and we would end up losing by less than a goal but literally out of nowhere Merce kicked a goal from a throw in and for the first time in probably two months, the idea that we might actually win was possible. I nearly messed up again with only one or two minutes remaining, if things didn't go our way they would have taken the ball that went through my hands and ran 75 metres into an open goal... this would not have been good. Fittingly though, the god that is B Baker was behind me, he kicked it to Toby and then Toby kicked it to Cory. Cory literally marked right on the boundary 45 metres from goal and yet he still converted his kick to give up a seven point lead. The siren went and it was crazy! I was so cathartic and was trying to hide the fact that I was crying - I felt so relieved, like an enormous burden had been lifted off of my shoulders, one that I had been carrying with me for 12 months. This was the start of a good period for me, perhaps my favourite of the decade.

These celebrations went on for at least three days. I was trying to focus on uni but Kal Cup came, so did Parklife and a few nights out and then it was late October and we were going to Phuket. This Phuket trip was one of the most enjoyable trips of my life - I guess drinking every night wasn't ideal but it was pretty amazing listening to music every night, having zero worries (except uni for me) and spending time drinking with friends every day and night for eight nights, in such a vibrant environment.

This good energy continued on for the remainder of the year. It was a good year.


2011

01/01/11 @ 00:01 - at Black & White party on Crawley foreshore with Lesmurdie crew 
2011, interesting. My sleeping habits perhaps the most out of control of all time? Lots of winter Saturday nights at Capitol? Have good fortune, can housesit in Freo for four months. Footy not going well, I have groin injury and cannot play, my sleeping habits became the most extreme that they had ever been. The worst it got was when I went to bed at 11am in the morning, woke up at sunset i.e. 530pm, had an afternoon nap anytime between 12am - 3am and then went back to bed around 8am or so in the morning. Sleeping in a big, empty house by yourself I felt like I could forget about time, live in my own world, fall asleep whenever and watch 150 - 170 Naruto Shippuden episodes undisturbed at night, thanks to Goat’s internet. One time I even tried to walk home from Hip-E club to Freo in May but only made it to the Perth Zoo - so cold.

My 5.5 year tenure at Curtin University finally finishes - I will miss this place. Decide to go to Phuket again so book holiday. I was basically out of money and this is when I signed up to "The Brotherhood" (Toll). My first shift was with T-Man at a refrigerated warehouse in Welshpool, loading and unloading meat boxes into trailers at 5am in the morning. This went for five weeks, along with work for two other Toll employers and I was ready to leave but thankfully I was offered work at the Toll Ipec depot in Hazlemere, which is what I wanted all along. I will never forget my first shift there on a Friday afternoon, it was like a ray of light had come into my life. I will try not to make this post too lengthy so I will cut things short.

End of September = Phuket. Phuket quiet, lots of rain. Go to nightclub every night. Some NRL players there, Dustin Martin too? One night go to nightclub, maybe 8 people there, then go on Saturday, now more like 200 people there... this definitely rainy season. 

After Phuket I vowed that I would stop drinking as much. This was an end of old ways in some regards. NYE for 2011 was not as lively as the one prior also. Where 2010 ended with lots of excitement, 2011 not as much. 


2012

01/01/12 @ 00:01 - East Perth foreshore Nautical Party with Noonty, Bird, Will
Year starts, low on money so work at Toll and unload trailers every morning. 5am starts are tough, 5am used to be my bedtime. Do this for a few months until I pay off debt with mum. Sometimes I drive to Spanish lesson after Toll - I am so tired, I make sure I not crash. Start applying hard for accounting jobs on Seek. First interview I go to in West Perth I get offered the job. This is a tax job but I have to set up my own ABN to do this? I think job market must be good so I hold off until I get another job offer, hopefully no ABN either... bad move, next job does not come for a long time, I must wait.

One night, walking to my car after footy training with KC & Coote, here about Coote’s secret fitness class, I am not sure what to expect but I am def interested. I have been searching for this for awhile, I need to get stronger. This is when I met CrossFit - intense! I am hooked.

In footy I am playing back pocket every week, not much going on, our team too strong, I go for a run Saturday afternoon after I get home from footy to make sure I stay fit for CrossFit. CrossFit had become life and ressies was all about staying injury free until the finals.

Somehow get knocked out of finals in footy, must not ever let this happen again.

We go to Ginger a bit in 2012, I feel perhaps that I don’t belong but perhaps what I really feel is that I really want to focus on getting a serious job.

2012 about YaYa’s, Northbridge, becoming a super Saiyan with Crossfit, running 17km’s home from YaYa’s in October, being in Phuket one night eating dinner in restaurant, it’s rainy and lively, Gangnam Style comes on again and young aussie guy with parents, siblings on holiday, gets on outside stage and starts dancing. These nights always seem to be overcast, 2012 is weird too because world is coming to an end?

To end it all, we left our beloved house in Wattle Grove - this was tough. One night week after, I wake up with strong dream about 22 years of memories from this house, I cry #tough very intense dream.

2019

It is November and nearly the end of the year (and decade) so thought I should write something whilst I still have time. I’ll start from where I left off.

Came home from Singapore and arrived back in Perth very late on a Sunday night. Made it out through customs after over an hour and managed to navigate my way to Mum and Dad outside (ETA time of pickup = 1am). The drive home down Roe Hwy was pretty cold and very contrasting to the previous 5/6 days in Singapore. Played on my phone (Tinder & Bumble) and fell asleep. 

The rest of the week I spent in Coogee and mainly slept, watched YouTube (AGT videos) and some SBS World Movies. Watched one episode of The Walking Dead after a 18 month hiatus (was pretty traumatic), read a little, ran most nights, did weights, went in the pool around 10/11pm before bed and played on my phone. I wish I had stayed in Singapore longer but so be it. I still had a lot of new matches waiting for me on my phone (Tinder & Bumble) so I still felt connected.

First week back at work I was sent to Moora (I could have said no but decided against it). This disrupted my workflow so it put me behind from the start. I was there for nine lunchtimes - it was definitely hectic but the isolation in the country made it bearable. I was hanging out for 5pm every day where I could close the office, get some food from the Foodworks next door, drive to accommodation on an isolated cul-de-sac and then exercise outside in the cold every night (skipping, chin-ups and modified Karen) before eating dinner and watching Tour de France / SBS World Movies. The tv was big but the house was cold. Was still good though.

Saturday nights have been mainly spent playing Daytona and NBA at Palace Arcade in Northbridge. I haven’t been to Tigerlil’s since early June and have only been inside Niche once. This whole period has been a little weird and I have been going to job interviews during my lunch breaks too. Job interviews that I’m not sure that I want. Maybe I will just stay at my current job and start being more proactive and start doing my own study, who knows. I have been enjoying yoga though.

It is 1815 on a Saturday now so I must go to the gym 😂.

Stay tuned, SD.

Saturday 02/11/19: Races, Belmont Tavern & Casino

Was tired and low on energy (no surprise for a Saturday), ideally just wanted to sleep all day and go to the gym at night to muck around and do a CrossFit workout. The plan was to go to the races and I was behind schedule like usual. Did the dishes, finished getting ready and caught Uber to Ascot. By the time I arrived it was about 245 and because I was so late I didn’t have to pay to get in.

The one vodka that I had hit me hard and my Ascot experience seems like a blur (lol not really). Lost $70 without even really leaving my chair. I would have been happy losing / winning $0 but this was not to be (quaddies can be so dangerous). After this passed, we found ourselves in a familiar position (the one where we try to work out of Jas can actually make it back to Lesmurdie for dinner and make it back to Sull’s by 7-8). We are all optimistic but still somewhat wary.

Went back to Sull’s and then Sull, Sheme, Ro, Kath and myself headed to the Belmont Tav. The BT was decent, had dinner, watched the end of ENG vs SA RWC19 final, had a few drinks, rendezvoused with Jas and made it out alive (lucky). Next stop, the casino.

Drove to the casino, I went in the boot - this was peaceful and brought back memories i.e. 2010. Ro & Kath departed, the four of us remaining went to the cas. S&S were next to leave, Kiel inexplicably showed up shortly after, I was low on energy by this stage so just wanted to go home. J, K and myself caught a taxi to Leederville, I departed and walked to West Leederville station... an interesting walk. Was home by midnight.

I’m so tired 🤦🏼‍♂️

SD