After a very bumpy flight up to Darwin, I’ve been left a little bit wrecked today. I’ve got a bit of work done but not as much as I would’ve liked to. It’s hard when you’re really tired. Nothing that an early night won’t fix.
Anyway, here are some random observations from around Darwin today.
1) Chatty Cathy Award
I was sitting next to a colleague today with a plaque on his desk which read, ‘Chatty Cathy Award 2023.’ My colleague could easily talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles. They make me look like an amateur. I have never seen a better corporate award in my life.
2) Random Bogans
I like bogans. There is a simple honesty about them. Proper bogans, that is, not cashed up bogans. And I met some delightful ones in the pool tonight. I am known for talking to anybody in the swimming pool, and the two women I met this evening were refreshing. They came from somewhere outside of Albury/Wodonga. They were covered in tattoos. They were about my age and up in Darwin to watch a football match played by on of their sons.
And as much as I am somebody who likes the finer things in life, I can talk football and beer and Darwin and thongs with the best of them. Okay so I would never drink VB by choice. I like to think I have a little bit more class than that. But was actually refreshing to talk to these two women.
My colleagues joined me in the pool 10 minutes after we started talking. It was remarked that I will talk to absolutely anybody. Yeah, I know. And that's okay.
3) Iced VoVo Hot Cross buns.
What is it with these Frankenstein hot cross buns? Hot Cross buns should have currents and a little bit of spice and a white cross on top - and if you're my friend Bernie, you hunt out the ones with mixed peel - which is a bit of a polarising ingredient. I went into Coles tonight after work to get my supplies for the week and there on sale were not only iced VoVo hot cross buns, But Vegemite hot cross buns, caramilk hot cross buns, And Apple and spice hot cross buns.,,,, Sheesh!
I’m sorry, why do we need all of these flavours of hot Cross buns particularly as Easter is still a month away? It’s a little bit criminal. It used to be the case that you would get these wonderful tasty treats in the week before Easter and that was it. If you came from a really strict family, you only used to get them on Easter Sunday.
I’m not sure I agree with all of this.
Regardless, my curiosity got the best of me and I have a pack of four Iced VoVo hot cross buns in the fridge. I just wish they had a mixed pack of all the specialty ones so you didn’t have to buy the pack of four that way you could them all out as a single serve.
I'm curious and judgemental all at once. Sorry for paraphrasing Walt Whitman (and Ted Lasso).
4) Handling the Locals
Knuckey Street after dark can get a little hairy. We know about this, and as a rule of thumb, unless you're with others, be back home by 8 pm. I was walking home from doing my weekly shop at 7 pm. I wanted to be home for MAFS. With the brewing storms about the place, it felt dark out. There were few people around, which is a bit standard for the tail end of the Wet Season on a Monday night.
My groceries in hand, I made my way back.
I was greeted by a local outside of McDonalds.
"Hello there," was the greeting.
"Hello," I replied in my smiliest voice.
I didn't really want to engage, but isn't it easier to offer a moment of recognition before moving on? It seemed to work, as there was nothing more to the exchange that the greeting. I crossed over Smith Street, they stayed eating their chips.
It was a much more pleasant encounter that the next encounter with some pissed idiots I met at the next crossing who were walking three abreast, and very slowly, on the footpath.
What is that adage about wanting to smack slow walking dickheads who walk slowly in front of you.
Regardless, I made it back for MAFS, groceries, dignity and clean criminal record intact.
Today's song:
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