Those of you who are acquainted with me on an interpersonal, real-space and time basis are probably already aware that Captain Man was demoted to private and dishonourably discharged from his duties as “My Main Squeeze From The Other Side Of The World” a short while ago. Captain Man is an awesome man, but ultimately, there was just some extra awesomeness that wasn’t there. I’m happy about my decision, but that didn’t stop me from getting embarrassingly drunk later in the week as a response to a relationship ending.

Thankfully, all those mind-map style, positive thinking, personal growth exercises I made myself do secretly at the start of my time in Helsinki actually worked in the long term: I trusted my gut feelings; was aware of my personal safety and confidence; was outspoken and strong about my needs; and I paid attention to my mother when I asked her for advice.

Sadly, one of the other skills i learnt in Finland, that of not eating enough and drinking as a response to life, the universe and everything was also put into play. Oh well…

Anyway, as they say, there are more fish in the sea, which in the future I shall have opportunity to discard or keep.

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Oh, it finally rained proper rain today. I pedalled home through puddles and drops and water pooled in the bottoms of my shoes. If only I had a tin roof then everything would sound amazing too.

Every time I hear a kookaburra laugh I smile.

When I hear the sound of rainbow lorikeets overhead I look up to see their bright colours flash by.

As I washed up earlier today I saw willy wagtails flirting in that cute tail wagging way.

They might not be indigenous to Australia, but I swear that the pigeons near my grandma’s have always cooed in a special way.

For those contemplating the scary world of unemployment, I can strongly suggest hanging out in the presence of Ianto Ware. All you need do is feed him occasionally and to nod and look interested while he tells you about the cobbled tracks of the Paris-Roubaix cycle race. Then, within weeks, I assure you, potential jobs will appear from everywhere.

In the past week I’ve had a few favourable employment opportunities present themselves, one of which would have meant a return to the sunny climes of Coffs Harbour. And that’s not even including design work that seems to be popping up from everywhere.

Luckily, I was able to secure a sweet teaching job, 4 hours a week plus marking. Right in the centre of the city. The only downside is that I have start work at 8.30 on Monday mornings. However, that leaves plenty of time for all the other important things in life such as design work, gardening, cooking, play and even another part time job.

Sweet.

And after 3 or so years away from tutoring, I’ll be able to find out whether that whole teaching game is something I want to do more of.

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If you happen to be DIYing or Zineing* for the Adelaide Fringe / Ministry of Zines Zine Fair this Saturday there’s going to be a last minute Collation Collation at my house this Friday evening from 6.30pm.

Not only is this an opportunity to celebrate in this year’s best ever piece of word play, but we can all share food and stories of paper cuts and freak stapling accidents. Also, as this is the last weekend of summer time, we should revel in the balmy evening.

If it isn’t too cold we’ll brave mosquitoes on the lawn, otherwise we’ll sit in the drawing room and glory at my late grandmother’s well chosen furniture.

Bring something to eat and drink, things to collate and paper cutters and long armed staplers.

If you don’t know where I live, send me an email (p i p s t a r [dot] b a t t l e c a t [at] g m a i l [dot] c o m) and i’ll give you the address.

* Maybe you’re just a huge fan of zine culture or remarkably well prepared attendee who doesn’t need to collate at the last minute. You can just help someone collate their works and worship at the feet of people such as me, or Ianto Ware.

i watched this chris ware video earlier today and it reminded me of the garden at my primary school. well, not the garden exactly, but the kinds of playing we’d do there.

i have strong memories of alex, who’d found a block of wood with a bit of twig coming off one side. he decided it was perfectly shaped for a camera. so alex would have his camera and usually tansy or kate would stand in front of the camera with a microphone made of a gumnut on a stick. i can’t remember what channel 6 news would actually report, but thank god there weren’t any fights like the ones in that video.

[crikey i'm tired. i'm sure i could have explained The Garden better, but you'll just have to wait for another time.]

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garden
pink and yellow
pink and green
friends
expectation
reality
strength
vintage
broadband internet access
design
screenprinting classes
keys
frocks
horses and carriage
something lent
memories
growing up
home

I’m restricting my kitchen stock-up as I have a tendency to hoard and forget about foods in my cupboard or fridge. So I’m pushing the ingredients I do have to the max rather than running out to spend money I don’t have.

Which meant that today I made a delicious sandwich.

Toasted turkish bread (from the freezer).
Avocado. Tomato. Mushrooms. Grated Carrot. Lettuce. Salt and Pepper.

None of which are particularly unusual.

But then I added some tofu I’d previously cooked up with sesame oil, tom yum paste and sweet chilli sauce to the pile. And spread “Happy” satay sauce on the top slice of bread.

The remaining ingredients are calling my name from the kitchen. But I have a C.V. I should be updating and dinner (Awesome Sandwich Part II) to eat in a couple of hours.

# kitkit Says:
March 5th, 2007 at 1:27 pm [edit]
Your boring now your home.

So, it seems that the world of public transport is not everyone’s cup of tea. In order to spice things up I shall return to one of my more popularly received topics. That of my heart. Though it’s been feeling better lately, so I can’t promise much until the next tragedy occurs.

Returning to Adelaide was always going to be a test of how much I’d gotten over things. I’d have preferred to return here single as there was going to be a new level of recovery to go through and quite frankly I don’t want CaptainMan to have to feel the effects of it wash down the phonelines and internet towards him on the other side of the world. But so it goes. He has his history and context and I have mine.

I’m noticing that returning to A-Town has put me into another stage of grieving / missing Dan. Suddenly I’m surrounded by mutual friends, streets and cafes and a market of memories. His old torn, softworn tshirts are still amongst my things, gifts he gave me are remembered. But I realise that it is just a stage to be lived and grown through. One day Dan will be back too and we’ll meet the other by accident. We’ll have to acknowledge each other and it will be weird but hopefully not too bad and that will be just another experience to step through too.

Of course, the return to Adelaide isn’t all sighs and sads.

I’m living again in my grandmother’s house and it’s weird to know that she’ll never visit there again in physical form, though I am still yet to see her ghost. As I clean up and sort through our collected material histories I cry out in wonder at her marvellous taste in costume jewellery and crockery.

Adelaide continues to get smaller. People I’ve met online introduce me to their offline friends only to discover that I already have met them. People from school, work and down the road come up to me. I guess that if I hadn’t been away I’d be sick of the two-degrees of separation, but at the moment I just adore it.

In fact, Adelaide is just awesome despite the bus issue which is no longer relevant as I’m back riding Salt. And if being back home makes me boring, that’s just fine with me.