luckycanuck

I've been feeling rather odd recently, like I've not felt for quite a while.

There is a distinct possibility, and I want to be absolutely clear that this is not in any way a sure thing, that I might, possibly, in some way, be... happy.

Is that the right word?  Is that a word at all?

Let me go back a bit.

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Things have been going quite well recently, and I know that I can't always count on that being the case.  Circumstance won't always be my friend, and I think the gloom is still around and may return in force in the future, but for now it doesn't matter.  The trick will be figuring out how to ensure that remains the case.

Ma Cherie Zoologiste happened to be around my office today.  I miss having her to talk to, and it was nice to have a visitor.

I can't really explain why I avoided contacting her, but I'm often not all that great at anticipating reactions.  There's really no reason it should have been awkward but it was going to take some time before I believed it.  So now I've established to my satisfaction that it won't be awkward.

TW: 20 pushups, 1 jack knife... 1 pushup, 20 jack knives

My grandfather lived through the depression, and perhaps as such he was loath to throw anything away.

On Sunday we spent the day clearing scrap metal and bits of timber and assorted old stuff out of the garages in Collaroy.

Seats to a 1920's era Ford that have been half eaten away by moths? We have.

Two steering wheels (his and hers?) for a 1932 Morris? We have.

Dust? We have.

A kayak my uncle made by hand in 1953? We have.

We never would have been able to throw any of it away whilst granddad was alive, but out it went.



We filled the whole carport with assorted things that he thought would be useful oneday. The next day they hired a ute and hauled it to the tip. Though if you are interested in the kayak contact my uncle. They've kept that.

This week has been busy with work. Letters are pouring in from all manner of cranks and I'm getting much stricter on who gets a response.

Today there was a Christmas party for the Coalition staff complete with excellent canapes and the mango daquiris provided by Senator Scullion, who hauled 70kg of mangos down from the Northern Territory for the occasion. I had to break away at about 9pm to visit a friend for her birthday, but I returned and will shortly go on to appear briefly at the after party. Political types tend to get a bit loopy on Wednesdays of sitting weeks at times.

Tomorrow I'm getting up early to play soccer at 6:45... for Australia. Sort of. The federal parliament is playing the Italian embassy. Is there time for me to practice diving and rolling around in agony?

P.S. MCZ and I have reached a further rapprochement. We spoke last night and whatever enmity there may have been is long gone. I'm lucky I guess that splits never seem to be acrimonious for me.

Friday afternoon I drove up to Sydney after work and made it to a nice Italian place in Haberfield after Ma Cherie Zoologiste, CG, CG's "Houseguest" and a few others had ordered. Lucky I ate on the way up. I wouldn't have made it otherwise. Still, I was goaded into eating half of MCZ's tagliatelle.

Then it was off to the party where fun was had. MCZ and I didn't spend a lot of time together there and I spent most of my time talking to some of our mutual friends and meeting a few others including our hosts whom I had heard about plenty of times but never really spoken to. One girl there told me how her old school Italian grandmother gave her the birds and the bees talk that started by her being given a bowl of pasta. After one bite granny took it away and said "Once you let one man taste your pasta, no other man gonna wanna taste your pasta. More cheese?"

We made it back to MCZ's place where we didn't last long before turning in. I wouldn't have minded staying a bit longer but we were having an early start in the morning.

Early in the morning we were up ot Balmoral for brunch with dad. Eggs Benedict was consumed, a walk on the beach was had, and approvals were approved. I think MCZ is the type who is pretty easy to approve of, although she did point out that whilst my neuroses are pretty simple and relatively straightforward, hers are hidden. An odd thing to say perhaps? Dad knows a bit about our arrangement (i.e. the lack of expectation that it will progress to something long term) and only once mentioned her visiting Canada, and even that was done in an abstract rather than a specific way. Once mum invited a girl I was seeing fairly casually to Canada for Christmas a few months later. GAHHHHHHH! SHe remarked later on how uncomfortable that made her feel. It's probably best that mum wasn't there. Dad can generally be counted on not to get into anything personal. Mum will probably meet MCZ when she comes out in December/January but by then MCZ and I might be more accustomed to our arrangement. I don't think either of them really know the nuts and bolts of what we have or that they really understand the concept of being in a relationship you don't expect to develop, but then again, this concept is pretty new to me too.

Today's workout was a longer than average swim. I'm still mulling over whether or not I want to do the Bondi to Bronte swim in December. I've done a shorter ocean swim and finished late but without any drama. I may be better off waiting until such time as I can actually train. Last time I did a long distance ocean swim I lived in Sydney and had regular access to the beach. There will be plenty of people around at the event to take care of me and if I can take the time I still think I should be ok. Can I swim at least 40 lengths of an olympic pool without stopping? If I have enough time I think the answer is yes.

Also I found some old photos of the family. They might make an appearance in the near future. This place is like a museum!