More in a physical sense than philosophical, or emotional. BAM!! It hit me this evening as I walked back to my bedsit; after spending a pleasant day with friends (Keith and Lyn from UK), it’s simple too! I looked up at the clear night sky, and saw stars which didn’t look familiar, I couldn’t make out little ‘Casseopia’ or ‘The Plough’ all the stars and constellations were alien to me…it was nearly enough to give me that vertigo feeling too! First time I’ve properly looked at the night sky without the clouds to obstruct my view…and you know what? I saw ‘my’ starsign - Saggitarius proudly dominating the sky for the first time in my life! This kinda made things ok again for me

Whilst I feel settled, and enjoy it here, it’s the little things like this that often remind me ‘I’m not in Kansas any more’; course I’ve never been to Kansas either…possibly flown over it maybe? But hey!! It’s a figure of speech, so I’ll stick with it.

We went for a meal last night with ’said’ friends and I tried ‘Kangaroo’ for the first time, which is presented like steak - right down to the peppercorn sauce! I must admit despite having a usual aversion to liver, this was ok! It was like eating liver without the liver texture that always puts me off? I’m amazed I remember as much, because we managed to drink a fair bit of alcohol, and I only just made the last train back from town to suburbia…

Got one more day off work tomorrow, so I intend to use it as productivly as I can, gonna ring the band hall (UK band and surprise em all) and say hi, then once I’ve sorted some water out, and my backpack I’m gonna break in my new walking shoes (Gortex Treksta’s) by heading up to Lowry Lookout again it should be a good day weather wise too, then I’ll head back chill out and go to band practice.

I’ve spent years and years “thinking” I knew how to play the cornet. When in fact I didn’t really ‘get’ the finer points, luckilly the crowd I’m in with now at Wellington Brass Band are helping me to step up; and it’s a steep learning curve! Having to ‘unlearn’ years of bad practise and habit, and replace it with the new and improved version…. In part I guess I know a little of Vista’s pain now, but that still doesn’t make me wanna go out and buy a copy!! I’ve got a LOT of hard work to get myself ready for the Australian Nationals, we’ve got two pieces and two marches to get perfect, and they are not the easiest pieces on the planet - she’ll be right though

Sigh…Keith should be in Welly (pet name for Wellington - duh!!) tomorrow, and so I’ll be out forcing myself to have a good time, and drink copious amounts of alcohol. I must admit I have been extremly tame since I arrived in NZ. I haven’t even gone out for that sake of going out?! Well, no excuses tomorrow I’m on a mission…who knows? I might even get noticed?!

In other news? Nothing much goin on…

Well all the usual stuff to begin with, got up raced for train to work etc…

One of our suppliers was in today showing us how to install some software, anyways to cut a long story short, and so not incriminate myself or any vendors out there, it failed miserably… well not entirely miserably, because we managed to get the supplier to shout us for morning-tea twice AND lunch, so with my savings today I think I’ll head into town tonight and watch the premiere of “Jumper” - Looks like an absolutley AWESOME flick

Oh yeah baby!! Brisbane? Watch out, I’m headed your way! This Easter the band I joined (Wellington Brass Band) will be going over there to compete in Australian Nationals, coz we’re like the best band in the whole world or something….well I believe it?! (second only to Frodsham Silver Band of course - how could I forget you guys?!) Anyhoo…after all the blowing, and the wind, and marching and stuff, I’ll be heading down to the Gold Coast for a week…general debauchery etc…pubs, clubs…beaches (with pubs, clubs)….hotel/bungalows (near pubs, clubs)…

So….Perfect time for me to sort my self out! If you get my meaning, and try my hand at some good harmless dating fun! My biggest task, and goal in all of this, is to learn how to laugh at myself and actually mean it! I hate taking myself and life so seriously (it’s like my work life persona has invaded my own).

As you guessed, I am on the upbeat, but that’s also because I have some time off soon, Keith (ex-colleague from UK) is over with his wife, and they hit Wellington in a couple of days, I of course with a little forsight have booked the time off, so I can meet up with them and generally behave like a two year old (who’s allowed alcohol)….

In other news on a more serious and scientific note, for all you guys in the UK, I will test whether or not the water really does spin the ‘other way’ when going down the plug-hole in Oz!

You know? I had this whole post about the word celebrity; but it turned out to be a load of waffle; so I decided not to post it. Instead - I just hit the delete button, and started this post. I exercised my choice as a humanitarian :loopy: to save you all from having to read more dross!

In other news, I went and had a hair cut today; from my favourite hairdresser - Ellen! Cute, smart, funny - all the right stuff! If only I was just a couple of years younger, I’d ask her out in a snap! Guess I’m beginning to feel my age after all. My biggest problem with dating is; I like to play it safe all the time, I’m too guarded to take any risks. So - if I come across someone, who I flirt with (because I like them) and they flirt back. I still don’t ask them out; we continue to flirt until eventually it’s just friends… Whilst I am aware of the complexities involved in the whole human mating ritual (I’ve done a little research). I still don’t know (or rather ‘get’) the steps.

I’ve been winging it ever since I left school; I never let myself get close to anyone - not properly, not unconditionally… it’s proving a bit of a distraction of late, and given the change in family dynamics recently, I’ve been given cause to re-evaluate myself. I really need to get a handle on this, otherwise I’m going to continue drifting from one insignificant or doomed relationship to the next. My biggest handicap? I’m just too ‘nice’…

….hmmm, think I’ll pen my letter to Santa for Christmas now….

“Dear Santa, Please can I have a set of balls for Christmas, with a dose of hard-faced guts. Thanks in advance!”

yes, ‘Hallmark Day’ is nearly upon us once again, that time of the year when all the attached blokes of the world rush round in a mad commercial panic to buy something soppy, pink and/or expensive for their missus in the vein hope of getting some action… just like Christmas - ‘Hallmark Day’ (aka Valentine’s Day) is way over commercialised.

The only card I am expecting that day, is an overdue card from the local library - gee fanks! I never knew they cared?

Seriously though - if I was in a relationship; I wouldn’t wait for one specific day to do something spontaneous and romantic!? I mean you can’t be more un-spontaneous by doing something on ‘Hallmark Day’ go on fella’s!! Do something unpredictable to spice up your relationships, and do ‘NOTHING’ for Valentines! If nothing else it will test just how serious she is…

so…

who’ll be my ‘anti-valentine’ this year?

….soooooo close!! I’m nearly at the 15 Stone something point, actually I’m bang on 16 Stone, not bad considering 4 months ago I was 18 Stone! I’ll stop trying to lose weight when I hit about 13.5 to 14 Stone so I guess another 4 months to go! ;P

Yesterday was fairly eventful - had my brass lesson at 9am, followed by a nice ridgeline tramp up to Lowry lookout and back, I really pushed myself too, did it in less than 2 hours which is all part of my master plan; on the downside, I need some proper walking shoes as my old trainers managed to inflict a couple of blisters on me. I wandered into town after I got back, grabbed a new belt (I’ve lost so much weight I needed to!)… Oh and I treated myself to an electronic (KORG) metronome - I could use my PC but then that’s not quite so portable - for when I practice my fingering exercises and test pieces.

Today - LAZED in the morning till about lunch; then went to collect my laundry which I dropped off at some point yesterday… came back chilled whilst merrily breaking my PC using Partition Magic 7 (so I can dual boot Linux again) then managed to be late for band rehersal through an intricate series of txt chinese whispers! Managed to beat Andrew Weir there though who was the source of mis-information lol! Had a good blow, but I know I could have played better - my head wasn’t really ‘there’ tonight having just broken my PC…(now fixed btw!)….sigh, and now I’m gonna end the evening by chilling out watching the Robert Redford/Dan Akroyd/Ben Kingsley; Classic - “Sneakers”

Ah the joy…. :happy:

T’Is the Year of the Rat….HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my Chinese friends (Jessica especially) =p