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Year View| Summary| Highlights| October 2007 (Month View)

01.10.2007Monday 1 October – Eating

Not working today. Instead, I’m eating. I had expensive nachos with Stella for lunch, spent the afternoon with Maz, and followed that up with expensive curry.

02.10.2007Tuesday 2 October – Fines

Sometime ago, I got towed for parking in a clearway. It cost me $180 to get my car back. At the time, I thought this was a $120 penalty, and $60 towing charges. I thought that was fair—parking in a clearway is rather stupid, and very inconvenient to others, so should be penalised fairly heavily, and $60 towing seemed a fair price for the couple of kilometres and 15 minutes it would have taken them to do it. However, today I receive a notice that my unpaid $120 fine, now increased to $127.50, will be sent to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry. It turns out it’s $180 to retrieve a towed car, plus a $120 fine. This is, I believe, unreasonable, and equivalent to being fined twice for the same offence. Fairly obviously, there’s no point me arguing that it’s unreasonable, as I’m sure everyone else feels the same way and presumably haven’t managed to successfully argue that yet, so I suppose I’m left no choice but to pay it. I am, however, going to make a point of rorting Brisbane City at every available opportunity, seeing as they, legally, do it to me.
Midday
In other news, while America continues its War on Peace, I have begun my own battle—the War on Ants. It used to be that we had to worry about reds under the bed—now it’s ants. They are even on my desk. It’s totally unacceptable.
The Rest of the Day
Work.

03.10.2007Wednesday 3 October – Up Late

3pm
Hi-ho, it’s a-working we go. Ian left halfway through his shift due to nasal congestion, leaving me without a backup.
Night
Stayed up late, doing things and building hardanswers.net
6am
Went to bed.

04.10.2007Thursday 4 October – Felafel

3pm
Working.
Night
Drove back from work, via South Bank to pick up Stella, and out to the Ville where we met Raymond, and had half a felafel kebab.

05.10.2007Friday 5 October – The Kingdom

Midday
Working 12 to 8. Very, very sleepy.
8pm
Rushed off to West End, where I had a Vietnamese curry with Bronwen, before seeing “The Kingdom” at South Bank. It was what might have been a hard-hitting, almost meaningful movie, but unfortunately the typical American stereotypes ruined that—though I still enjoyed it.

06.10.2007Saturday 6 October – Not Working

Morning
Someone from Origin phoned up and, as far as I can tell, I’ve agreed to twelve months of free green energy and some energy efficient light bulbs, though it was quite hard to tell through the accent. In other news, I received over a thousand spam emails last night.
Evening
I spent a relatively wasted day-off doing things inside, before Bronwen arrived back from fixing things at her place.
Night
Bronwen and I had a lovely pasta dinner at her parent’s place.

07.10.2007Sunday 7 October – Work

Here am I, at EB, working until near midnight; not overly happy with this roster.

08.10.2007Monday 8 October – Lightning, Dancefest & The Dark

3pm
Here be I, work as usual. What a drag.
Evening
There be much lightning. It be very close.
7pm
I temporarily exit work, to find why home is powerless and for Dancefest at UQ. Many of my area are powerless. It be very dark. King’s won Dancefest.
9pm
I be back at work.
Midnight
Stella and I find that there’s 10 minute parking near Hungry Jack’s in the city, and consume veggie baguettes.

09.10.2007Tuesday 9 October – Pancakes & The Miraculous Traffic Lights

3pm
Work was as work is. Enough said.
Midnight
I had every light green from EB to home. Amazing. Possibly miraculous.
Even Later
Stella, Raymond and I drove to Pancakes, parked in a taxi zone, and engorged.

10.10.2007Wednesday 10 October – Evil Spirits, Snow & Lightning-less Curry

Morning
There was a bit of a storm—rain and lighting. I have unusual dreams. I was walking to Annette’s, as one does. Never mind that I haven’t lived in that area for over ten years. And it was amazingly scenic—mountains covered in mist, and when I went around a bend, a snow covered mountain that’d take your breath away—but I didn’t have my camera with me. So I rushed home to get my camera, only to get caught up with an evil spirit that ate my mother and sister. I never did get to take any scenic photos, nor did I ever manage to exorcise or entirely remove the fear that the creature may get me. I did, however, eventually wake up.
Afternoon
I’ve today off, and a rather average day it has proved to be. I drove to Indooroopilly with Stella, to do some shopping and get something to eat, but on the way Bronwen called, so I had to rush, skipping food and buying a slice from Michel’s Patisserie, and rush to Bronwen’s. When I go there, I found the cream in my slice was sour. After spending some time at Bronwen’s, and getting very hungry, we drove back to my place, via Hungry Jack’s for a combined breakfast and lunch.
Evening
Just as we were about to go and get curry, there was lightning, so we rushed to Maz’s, and up to Mount Coot-Tha, where it rained but didn’t lightning, so we rushed back to Halim’s Indian Taj for an amazing curry.

11.10.2007Thursday 11 October – The Day Which Was

Upon which Ned, finding that he is awake, prepares for work and attends same.

12.10.2007Friday 12 October – Working, not Washing

The Heat of the Day
I slept in as long as I could, finally woken by it being too hot to stay in bed any longer, to find that the washing machine doesn’t wash anymore, having been fried by the recent lighting. I left for work about the same time as the washing machine man arrived, to tell us that he hasn’t got any power boards in stock for the washing machine so it’ll be Monday before it’s fixed. Work was its usual self, though nicely air-conditioned—almost on the too-cold side. I remembered to take my leftover curry this time, and it made a very nice lunch—good enough that I didn’t need dinner, though I did eat quite a few jellybeans and liquorice allsorts.
The Cool of the Night
I didn’t go to bed, nor did I sleep. Instead I stayed up, prowling, wasting lots of time building the new public section of my site.

13.10.2007Saturday 13 October – The Red Hat

I picked Bronwen up, dressed for a party, dropped her at her parents, and headed to work. Having not slept last night, I thought work was going to be terrible, but it turned out quite well.

14.10.2007Sunday 14 October – Multicultural Festival

Bronwen and I slept in, then wandered around the Multicultural Festival at Roma Street Parklands for most of the day, before having a lovely curry with Raymond and Stella.

15.10.2007Monday 15 October – Work, Nachos & McDonald’s

Day
Sadly, today I’m back at work. Nachos for breakfast/lunch helped a little though.
Night
Raymond, Stella and I attended McDonald’s, and the crazy park near here.

16.10.2007Tuesday 16 October – Pancakes

Midday
I heard the rubbish truck drive past, but didn’t have the energy to jump up and rush the bins out. A few hours later, when it began to get too hot to lie there any longer, I got out of bed and dragged myself to the shower. Once showered, I made the mistake of trying to eat months-old ice cream with custard and cream. It wasn’t good, and ended up down the drain. Breakfast over, I drove to work, managed to find parking, got told by my manager that, despite being effective when other methods had failed, I should not threaten other departments with dire consequences for failing to rectify horribly annoying problems late at night. Agreeing that that was a good advice, I embarked upon my day’s work—making people happy, making computers happy, complaining lots, eating liquorice allsorts and jellybeans.
Midnight
I realised I’d forgot to eat dinner, so had a pancake (with extra ice cream) from the Pancake Manor. It was fantabulous (which is, to my surprise, in the Oxford dictionary).

17.10.2007Wednesday 17 October – Sick & Hunting Expensive Glass

Called in sick. Went to Indooroopilly and Photo Continental with Maz, looking at expensive camera lenses. Had curry with Stella for dinner.

18.10.2007Thursday 18 October – Sick, Expensive Glass & Michael Clayton

Morning
Called in sick again. A man came to look at the hole in Nandini’s wall. Maz and I bought some camera lenses—I got a rather expensive Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, which should be nice.
Evening
Bronwen caught bus to city, ran from city as had forgot phone so couldn’t tell me was late, we drove to South Bank, saw “Michael Clayton”, then had dinner at Hungry Jack’s.

19.10.2007Friday 19 October – The War on TNT

Morning
Drive early to mechanic’s, leaving car there. Train home. Help Brinda move out. Advised by TNT that lenses not coming until Monday. Threaten to cancel order. Decide not to cancel. Pick up car probably after lunch tomorrow. Not happy.
Afternoon
I catch the bus to work, and begin my fight against TNT. They advise that, due to their freight delays, my “overnight” order from Sydney won’t arrive until Monday. I advise the camera place that I require a full refund, as the lenses were bought conditional on delivery prior to Sunday. The camera place advises that TNT Sydney advised them they’d be delivered by the afternoon. I contact TNT Brisbane, who advises me that they are unlikely to be delivered before Monday. Repeat several times, until I’m thoroughly sick of TNT, at which point the camera place agrees to refund my full purchase if it doesn’t arrive, and TNT agree to find my package and send it to their next-day pickup counter at the airport, where I can pick it up between nine and four on Saturday.
  Unfortunately, this takes them until five o’clock to do, at which point TNT Brisbane closes. I contact TNT Sydney for further details, and am advised that TNT Brisbane will not open until Monday morning, and that there’s no way anyone can find my package. This doesn’t really impress me. I demand to speak to a manager, who isn’t very helpful, and then their manager, who does her best to tell me there’s no possible way anyone can access my package in a closed depot until it reopens Monday morning. After threatening TNT with everything possible, I finally manage to get my lens delivered to Maz’s door, free of charge, just after 9 PM. It shouldn’t take twenty phone calls and two managers to get something overnight from Sydney.
Night
I met Maz and Smeagol at Kangaroo Point, drove back to Maz’s, picked up my lens and UV filter, and walked home. Carrying a tripod, camera, and obviously large lens past the Regatta just as it closes is not something I’d recommend, in retrospect.

20.10.2007Saturday 20 October – Relaxing

Afternoon
Head to city with Bronwen, meet Stella, eat food, and try out my new lens at South Bank.
Evening
Drive Bronwen to her place then to her parent’s place as she’s off to a party.
Night
Curry at Halim’s Indian Taj with Maz.
Later Night
Wander Kangaroo Point with Maz and cameras.

21.10.2007Sunday 21 October – Burleigh Heads, Rogue Assassins & Pancakes

Morning
Drove to motocross with Bronwen and Stella, then on to Burleigh Heads. Swim. Surf. Injure leg by kicking hard into water flowing the same speed as my kick.
Night
Pizza at Mount Coot-Tha with Bronwen, and then “Rogue Assassin” at Indooroopilly, combining Jet Li, as his usual miraculously better-than-everyone-else-yet-indifferent self, and the crazy guy out of Crank in his usual invincible action-hero mode—a combination that can’t go wrong.
Midnight
Went to the Pancake Manor with Bronwen.

22.10.2007Monday 22 October – Milk Crates & Chocolate

I’ve today off, so I bought mint-flavoured chocolate, messed around with my new lens, and caught some milk crates with Maz. I also drove Raymond and Stella to McDonald’s and The Ville, respectively.
4am
Uhoh, late. Must sleep.

23.10.2007Tuesday 23 October – Night Watch

5:45am
Got not much more than an hour’s sleep last night, then up to get ready for work. Not the ideal way of doing it.
Afternoon
Maz and I wandered around UQ, playing with our new lenses.
Night
Have curry with Bronwen, then go all moody, then watch “Night Watch” on DVD. Sleep deprivation affects my normally nicely stabilised mood centre!

24.10.2007Wednesday 24 October – Day Watch

Day
Worked. Photographed scary women.
Night
Drove to the Ville, had Chez Tessa stuff for dinner, then saw “Day Watch” with Bronwen at South Bank.

25.10.2007Thursday 25 October – Monopods & Insane Traffic

Morning
I slept in, arriving at work late.
Evening
Today must be the day for stupid drivers. Driving to South Bank, down Coronation Drive, on our way to get a Cold Rock Supershake and then on to Photo Continental to buy a monopod, Maz and I were wondering why traffic was flowing so slowly—cars had taken over one of the outbound lanes and were using it to drive into the city, despite being blatantly illegal to do so. This meant cars heading out of the city had to merge back into themselves when they all of a sudden found a lane of traffic heading towards themselves, and had a lot of difficulty turning right as they had to try and sneak a spot in amongst cars going the other way.
  Then, later, after a huge downpour, some lightning, dinner at McDonald’s with Maz, and shortly after driving through a puddle large enough to drown a car in, I found myself driving into a car driving the wrong way down a one-way street at me. Fortunately they pulled into a parking area before being squashed.

26.10.2007Friday 26 October – Stardust

Day
Work. Very sleepy.
Night
A quick snooze, followed by curry and then “Stardust” at Indooroopilly with Stella.

27.10.2007Saturday 27 October – Vagina Monologues

Morning
Work at EB.
Afternoon
South Bank with Stella, a lizard, some ducklings and a goose. Vagina Monologues at UQ with Bronwen—disturbing, biased, but interesting. Followed by Pancakes with Stella, Bronwen, Raymond.

28.10.2007Sunday 28 October – Burleigh Heads

Day
Bronwen, Stella and I drove to Burleigh Heads, where we swam in a thick soup of broken seaweed.
Night
Bronwen, Stella and I enjoyed an always-fabulous curry from Halim’s Indian Taj.

29.10.2007Monday 29 October – 24 Hours of Work

5:45am
I got up.
7am
I worked in the Valley.
11pm
After a KFC and Hungry Jack’s dinner with Maz and Bronwen, I dropped Bronwen back at her place and headed back to work at EB to cover for someone who had called in sick.
8am
I drove home from work, very tired.

30.10.2007Tuesday 30 October – Deathly Sleepy

8am
Unfortunately, driving home coincided with both peak hour and that part of night when the sugar high has entirely gone, all energy has been drained, and you’re barely able to stay awake. I fell asleep a few times at red lights, of which there were lots. Heading through the city wasn’t going to work—traffic was barely flowing. Heading out of the city, I impressed myself by managing to find a circuitous route through South Brisbane that entirely avoided all the congestion, got me back onto my side of the river, and home, where I went to sleep.
2pm
Woke up. It is very hot.
Night
Wandered around South Bank. Dropped ropes off for Bronwen at Kangaroo Point. Had Chez Tessa for dinner with Maz, Stella, Loki.

31.10.2007Wednesday 31 October – Relaxing

I’ve the day off today, from working Monday night. Bronwen and I wandered around the city, having dinner at Govinda’s, finding a fun run, and discovering that Bronwen is quite useless at licking her nose.

Year View| Summary| Highlights| October 2007 (Month View)

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