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First thing this morning I noticed a job posting through an agency that I thought suited me.  I rang them, and they almost immediately asked if I could come in for a chat.

Then within half an hour, a package arrived.  It was my new suit, which had just arrived from Hong Kong.


With a waistcoat and all.  Suit therapy is very helpful, in the short term at least.

I felt much better with a job interview set up and wearing a new bulletproof suit for the first time.

Then, just before heading out, I got some bad news that brought me right down.  I was on the phone with Canada, and my father told me they are planning to sell the Collaroy Castle.  That knocked everything else out of my head.  I wasn't able to articulate an answer to anything he asked after that.

It makes sense.  It's owned by two men aged 67 and 72, neither of whom live on the same continent as the house.  I am the only one of my cousins who lives anywhere nearby, and holding on to it benefits me far more than anyone else.  I suppose there is the option of buying everyone else out, but that would mean going into a huge pile of debt bigger than I am likely to be able to get out of.

I've been in Australia for six years and the house probably won't go for a couple of years.  It means a lot of other things besides losing a beachside pad.  In a manner of speaking, I will be homeless.  My car is registered there.  I am on the electoral roll there.  That is where I officially live and it is where I first lived when moving to Australia.  I've bounced around plenty of places in Canberra and one place in inner Sydney in my first year, but the Collaroy Castle was always an anchor.  Most people my age have a place like that, and in a couple of years I won't.  After being in the family for nearly a century, the property will be a place where someone else lives.  No more anchor for Luckycanuck.  I have no family in Australia.  I've adjusted to that and I'm fine.  This house is the closest thing I have to family and it's going away.

I also wonder if my parents will come by Australia now that there isn't a place to stay.  It had been proposed that if I settled down with a family they might come out to live once in a while so they could help me out like they helped my sister.  I guess that is off (perhaps on account of my telling them a family is hard for me to imagine.)  Is this a way of encouraging me to buy a property of my own as they have frequently encouraged me?  (Almost certainly not.)  Where will I stay when I go to Sydney.  Will this prompt me to leave Australia now that there isn't somewhere I can always go?  Will I move back to Sydney to get more Collaroy time in while I can?

And as evidence that I'm probably the son of an aspie spectrum type, dad hit me with this news just after I told him I was going to see a psychologist for depression.

So I had my stunned and vacant expression on my face as I left the office to go to my interview.  Luckily, it went well.  I feel like I hit it for six.  They are going to pass on my CV to the Food and Grocery Council, and they have plenty of contract work that would suit me.  It buoyed me up after the Collaroy Castle shock.

I haven't been to Sydney for a while and I was planning on going this weekend but the week has taken its toll.  Once rugby was cancelled I felt that the trip was becoming less necessary (despite my desire to spend time in Collaroy) especially when I have to head right back into another full on sitting week.  I've had a tough time making decisions and deciding to take a trip was always going to be tough.  I can plan further ahead to next weekend now and be calm.

I did meet Helga's new guy and drove Roxy to a Harry Potter party to spare her from having to take public transport while dressed as the Golden Snitch.


Date: 2011-06-17 05:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yurusumaji.livejournal.com
Good luck with the job!

Hopefully the Collaroy Castle will take a fair amount of time to sell so you can give it a proper farewell and wrap your head firmly around what is happening and how you are going to deal with the ways it will affect you.

I would have loved to see Roxy dressed as the Golden Snitch.

Date: 2011-06-18 05:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
I forgot to take photos. Damn!

As for Collaroy, I'm not sure what will happen but I'm not happy about it. 95 years that patch of dirt has been in the family since my great grandfather bought it, and now the only permanent thing I have in this country will be gone.

The job I have good feelings about.

Date: 2011-06-18 04:08 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Oh, dear - I am sorry to hear that. It's completely out of reach to take on the house?

You look very fine in that suit. Foxy, even (or is that one of those Australian words that means something different than what I think it means?).

Heather

Date: 2011-06-18 05:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
It's not practical for me. Even if I was given one quarter of the equity in the place (half of my dad's half) it would still mean going into huge debt. I'm just confused as there isn't any deep financial need to sell or they would be selling it now.

Foxy still has the same meaning in Australia. It certainly sounds better than dingoesque.

Date: 2011-06-18 09:02 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
You need a pocket watch now, you know. And a little scarlet handkerchief for the pocket.

Heather

Date: 2011-06-18 11:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
I do like the old timey look. Someone told me I could look like Don Draper from Mad Men.

Date: 2011-06-18 05:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] displacedtexan.livejournal.com
Congratulations on the job interview. That’s some nice turnaround from query to interview. (From what does “hit it for six” come? Cricket?) And, you’re looking very, very dapper in the new suit. It must be the height of luxury to put on a bespoke, custom fitted, set of clothes.

I’m sorry to see that about Collaroy Castle, though. It’ll be tough losing that touchpoint. I hope after a few days of letting the news sink in you’ll be better with it.

Date: 2011-06-18 11:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
Hit for six is a cricket reference, equivalent to "hitting it out of the park." If you hit the ball over the boundary on the full, you get six runs. If it bounces first you get four.

The Collaroy news doesn't sit any better yet.

Mitzi adds ...

Date: 2011-06-18 11:29 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Fantastic final sentence to a roller coaster post. One day a few of us can put in together for a shack on the beach at Broulee. The suit is brilliant!

Re: Mitzi adds ...

Date: 2011-06-18 11:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
That's an idea. Maybe I can just find someone to pitch in with me.

Oh to be a millionaire!

Date: 2011-06-22 02:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lozenge-of-love.livejournal.com
the suit looks sharp!

Date: 2011-06-22 04:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luckycanuck.livejournal.com
Thanks. I really like it.

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