2019 - The First Day

Last night was the last night of 2018 and I drank more than I anticipated. That is always the danger with vodka as the quantity can fluctuate as per the pourer’s discretion. It hit me hard and the train ride from Meltham to Fremantle was a challenging one. The 0315 fun run from Freo station to North Coogee was even tougher. Safe to say that I woke up today fairly dehydrated.

The good news is that everything seems quiet now that the Xmas -> NYE festivities are finally over... I can finally sleep in peace. This is the peace that I’ve been seeking for so long. The last few months of 2018 seemed like a never-ending loop of work and trying to catch up on sleep on the weekends, so in some regards I’m glad that they are over.

I was sad when the final few seconds of 2018 were being counted down, I’m sure there were plenty of reasons why but I didn’t really have time to think about these... I will miss you 2018! There were a few blogs too that I didn’t finish but this is nothing new. Maybe I will finish these in the future, maybe I won’t (I will prob finish one of them though - a Phuket one). Anyway, I will probably stop running at night after I’ve been drinking - the dehydration is just too much! I may start using my bike though.

Perth was pretty hectic last night, but that’s all in the past. Hope everyone had a good night. 

SD

Kings Square with Jas

LS and TE were both away with work so I was preparing for a quiet weekend. That changed when JC msgd me to go out to Market Grounds in Kings Square. Was expecting to have 3 quiet drinks but ended up having 7. It was busy and what could be labeled as an “LS Crowd” (Lost Society crowd); this is the type of crowd that you would normally see in Lost Society. Characteristics are: young-ish (this is not necessary though); a little edgy; pride themselves on appearance; can be in big groups (i.e 5 women or 5+ guys); possibly popular or influential; like attention; and will get angry if you try and push through them... you have to be wary.

We were there by 9, which is early for us. This was good because it meant I could stay out for a few hours and still be home by 12am. I was tired like usual, Jas just wanted to relax and enjoy the liberation of a Saturday night. Like I said, it was pretty busy and hard to get to the bathrooms on the other side of the building as the dance floor in between was fairly packed. Sometimes in these situations you just have to drink as there is not much room for anything else and you just need to relax so you don’t get into any fights.

I had 7 vodkas; Jas, similar. Jas wanted to stay out but we eventually called it a night around 1130. Market Grounds was pretty cool but I don’t know if it will last long as new venues in Perth always have trouble once the initial hype wears off. Nonetheless, Yagan Square and Kings Square (also the bus depot which is pretty cool), have definitely created an amiable integration between clean, respectful Perth and dodgy, nightclub Northbridge. 

Still can’t believe it’s November. SD.

The walk home

Saturday 27/10/18 - The Races, Belmont & Merrywell

Woke up tired (no surprise for a Saturday), knew the game plan but wasn’t sure what to wear. This took some time for me to decide on; a decision I didn’t really feel like making. The agreed ETA was 1230 but I was running late so the usual walk / train / bus combo had to be thrown out of the window. It had hit 12 so I had to order an Uber. The weather was nice and I was looking forward to socialising with the usual suspects (JC, LS etc), the drive from Jolimont was quite relaxing and I soon arrived on the highway.

Stayed at Sull’s for a bit; Jas and Sull were already gambling which is no real surprise. Soon we headed north-west and crossed the highway to Ascot. It was Irish Day so it was pretty busy but definitely a good atmosphere. I was looking forward to having a few drinks (vodka) and relaxing but I have no idea on any of the horses so I hadn’t really planned to bet. Betting would be easier if they accepted PayPass but that technology has not yet been utilised by the gaming industry.

Definitely good weather and a good place to be. Joona was there too and I had not seen him for 5 years! The last encounter was, if memory serves me correctly, during my last visit to the infamous Red Sea nightclub, back in the days when I was a clerk in East Perth. Times certainly have changed since then, a little I guess anyway.

It happened: LS, JC and myself put down $50 each in a quaddie, engineered by Jas’ ill-placed enthusiasm and this would be a make or break moment for us. My first bet of the day which would turnout to be my last as we were knocked out of contention after the first race was completed. Tough times.

Distraught and dejected, we headed back to Sull’s. Sheme and Kath were feeling the heat from their champagne and time in the sun, LS, JC and myself were feeling okay. Kath was feeling tired so had to leave, we received a timely replacement in Louise (sober too), and transport to Crown was inherent with Louise’s arrival.

Merrywell and crown were fairly busy. We had a few drinks and eventually called it a night. I caught the train from Burswood Station, which in my experience, is a very, very ominous train stop. Always have to be enguard in this area. Made it home, went to bed and played in my phone. Was good to be home.

Life In The Fast Lane

Not sure what to write so might use hashtags or dot points:

- CPA = over

- Ran home last night down Hay Street. Took shoes off and carried them. Arrival time, approx 0215 (verified by phone message).

- Have gone out twice this financial year, both times in August, both times I drank more than I wanted to and both times I travelled home by foot from area near Voodoo Lounge to Jolimont via Hay Street.

- Finally kicked a football (first time since Feb 2017?). Kicked with G&T @ Kostera, Kalamunda. Was so happy that I nearly cried!

- Finally updated Zelda BOTW. I don’t have internet at home so I had to be creative.

- Have been enjoying the rain. I hope I will get to see more of it before the year is over. 

- LS and NP both officially married. Bucks and weddings fairly hectic but controlled. Who will get married next?

- Really, really glad that my studies are finally over. Have been crying a lot but sleeping well.

- No internet at Mum and Dad’s house in Coogee since early June. I really miss YouTube and non free-to-air TV. This week may be the week that the problem will be rectified, fingers crossed.

- Have been looking for a wife. Have been doing this most of my life. 2018 could be the year. Time will tell.

Stay tuned, SD.

A long time between drinks

It's been a long time between posts as the title suggests, mainly because of the usual work / study combination. CPA has been one of the hardest things that I have ever done and it has used up so much of my energy. Most weekends I've tried my best to catch up on sleep... sometimes I sleep at work too but only briefly.

I had an exam two weeks ago and it was pretty tough. If I passed this unit then I will only have one left and I will probably use some of my leave up during the semester so I can catch up on study before the big day. After April I will be a free man and may never study again! Some say "You won't know what to do with your free time" but I do: I will get a life.

2017 has definitely been an interesting year. It started off in New Zealand in my bedroom in the attic. I liked this bedroom a lot and enjoyed sleeping on a mattress again on the floor and spending my time reading and checking the soccer scores every morning on my phone. I did a lot of push ups in this room too. It was my first time in NZ and I would like to go back again as it is a very unique and interesting place.

A new console Zelda game finally came out in March this year after a 5+ year wait but it was worth it! Aus vs India cricket and Zelda probably got me through the tough early months of the year where I was constantly debating in my head what the hell I was doing with life and football. Oscar also said his final goodbye too so this was a difficult period.

I kept pushing on and when I awoke slightly hungover on the first day of the new financial year, Mum told me that she had found a place that I might be interested in. This was exactly what I was looking for so I made an offer and it was accepted. 29.5 years I lasted at home and up until a few months earlier, I had barely thought about the inevitable. It was a cloudy road but eventually I was able to see what was in front of my eyes all along. Maybe I was too preoccupied with work and study but I got there in the end. I certainly was having some weird dreams before this as well but they have since passed.

Now it is late November and overcast outside which is unusual. Only four more weeks of work for the year and five until NYE. It's crazy how fast a year goes sometime; life certainly is interesting.

2016 - wrap up

2016 seemed to go quite fast. I guess that's what happens when you spend much of your time at work and thinking about studying - a lesson learnt.

October
A pretty simple equation: study, cheat or fail. CPA is pretty hard to cheat so I spent most of my free time studying until my tax exam which fell somewhere during the last 10 days of the month. This period of study was intense but my concentration levels were impressive. I didn't quite get to finish the exam but was fairly happy that I had done enough to pass.

The week before my exam I had gone for a run in Kings Park after work and subsequently went looking for Pokémon. There were barely any people there and not many Pokémon either and I left feeling demoralised. I ended up there two nights later: Saturday @ midnight - I couldn't decide if I wanted to go out or if I should stay home and study so I went halfway in between and parked in Kings Park. Similar situation, not many people or Pokémon; I considered giving up for good.

The whole game went nuts over Halloween and my interest was restored.

November
Stu had his bucks party one Saturday. Another Saturday I went out with Jas & Kiel to Leederville and missed the last train back to Fremantle. I was picked up by Mum that night. The remaining weekends I don't think I did a lot really because I may have been tired.           

December
December is always the interesting one. You only get to experience this month once a year. Sometimes you think the whole month is going to be a breeze, other times it is a little more intensive and the atmosphere isn't as relaxed. The weather was slightly cooler than
normal and the West Perth food court was still busy for the whole three or so weeks. Everyone was obviously still working and trying to stay in the good books in these tumultuous times. Even the drive to work in the morning was still fairly busy and unnecessarily stressful. It was just weird.

Aside from doing my best at work, the month was fairly occupied. I went out most weekends with JC and LS (even KC too) and spent some time running in Coogee and Kings Park.

Sometimes time goes so quick so you have to slow down otherwise you will get lost. 2016 was a good year but quite full on and also challenging. I had a lot of confronting dreams as well #Jesus.

The last night for 2016 - New Zealand

A quick update

Usual busy work / CPA study combination, some of the highlights:
- Going to Eagles v Bulldogs Thursday night elimination special (a bad result so debatable to whether a highlight or disappointment, but a memorable experience nonetheless).
- Going to the casino the following Friday night to watch the Hawthorn v Bulldogs semi-final; a good match and a few vodkas too.
- Weather improving and hitting level 22 in Pokémon.
- Other usual weekly highlights (exercising, Survivor, watching Geordie Shore marathons and other general).

Other points of interest:
- I've been studying reasonably diligently and my exam is less than three weeks away.
- If I pass this exam then I am taking a break next semester.
- Went to Tigerlil's and Lost after watching the AFL GF last Saturday. I was reasonably drunk (not common for me) and slept on Sull's couch with my dressing gown. Spent the next day sleeping and restoring my energy. First time at Tigerlil's for quite some time; LS crowded like usual.
- Looking forward to go looking for river sharks with Trav after my study is over.
- An expedition to Hidden Creek and a kicking the footy afternoon at a new venue is on the cards.
- Still going for late-night runs and looking forward to running in West Perth again.

As mentioned earlier, I am planning to take next semester off for CPA so I will have more free time. I am looking at going on a holiday as well. Planning on running most Friday nights around West Perth / Kings Park and leaving the house more on the weekends. This is all positive. I have a few blogs to catch up on as well which I've been putting off for a while. I expect much more activity on here for the remainder of 2016.

Dutchman