Notes from the Tropics

There In The Hell!
I'm in Sydney - flying back to Melbourne on Monday! I'm here for a wedding. Not mine, you scurrilous gossips - or at least, not that I'm aware of ...

Cloud and Clear!
Gosh, I like flying. There was a gorgeous cloudbank folding over Melbourne when my plane flew out from Avalon; there was about two minutes when we were absolutely surrounded by white heavy clouds. Then we came out and actually had the opportunity to look at these mounds of gas - from on top. You could see how the clouds made shadows on the land, and the shape those shadows took.
It was very cool.

A Groom With a Crew
Went out on the town last night with A., the husband to be, and a few of his family and mates. Started out at a place called 'The Slip Inn'. I didn't even realise it was a pun until I spoke it out loud. Completely by coincidence, when I was looking for the folks at the pub, I thought up the name of a possible McSweeney's article: "Conversations held in a pub where the music is so loud that no-one can hear anyone else talk."

Look Back Lacks Books!
Hit the bookstores this morning and late this afternoon. The cool second-hand poetry bookstore on Norton Street is gone. Neither of the two swanky stores remaining had P J O'Rourke's new book in (apparently the publishers delayed printing). On Glebe Point Road, Sappho books and Da Capo Music have both moved and merged into one store, in the process attracting a cafe. (The Valhalla is also closed). And the Cornstalk seems to be perpetually closing. When I looked in, half of the shelves were empty (a few more than last time I looked in). Also had this conversation with the guy playing Solitaire at the computer.

TIM: Hi.

GUY: Hi.

TIM: Got any S J Perelman?

GUY: No.

TIM: That's rather deflating.

GUY: That's life.

TIM: Oh well. I guess I'll just keep on looking. I might find something amongst all these ... books.

I said 'bye' to him when I left. He actually waited until I walked out of the store, then looked up and said 'bye' while I was passing by the window. Guess he just wanted to check that I wasn't having him on.

Sines and Wanders
"Doctor. Specialising in sleep disorder and chest pains."

Specialising in taking it away, or giving it out?

"The Leichardt Council Does Not Support the Howard Government's Workplace Anti-Union Agenda."

That's nice.

I Spent a Month There One Saturday Afternoon
Saw my brother this afternoon. Disappointing? Well, disappointing is his favourite word. He grumbles about perpetually painting his house. He sighs about the shopping centre not having a bookshop. He makes sandwiches for lunch and when I make a silly joke chides me for being 'smart'. I retort huffily that I try to be honest. He says in a singsong voice that being diplomatic is the key to civilisation or similar. I make a joke about how his dog is similar to our old dog, Bella. He immediately closes the conversation by saying 'That's different' and talking about the weather. He's sad but he doesn't want to say it.

Later, he shows me where the books are. Inexplicably, he starts painting again for two minutes, then stops. He shows me an old organ where most of the keys don't work in the garage. "It seemed a pity to throw it out," he says.

On the car back to the train stop, he starts yawning. I start yawning. "Tired?" I say. "I'm always tired," he sighs.

When I get on the train, I ask him about the pipe band competition he's in tomorrow. He immediately cheers up.

"It was good to see you," I say.

Training
Get a ticket to Carlingford. Catch the train to Liverpool. Stop. Get off. Catch the train back to Granville. Stop. Get on the train to Clyde. Stop. Get off at Clyde. Get on the train to Carlingford. Realise that the train to Carlingford is actually filled with pretty girls with silly hats. Hear the voice saying 'This train stops at Rosehill Racecourse" Get off the train to Rosehill Racecourse. Look at the timetable for the train to Carlingford. Realise that the train to Carlingford doesn't come in for another hour. Wait. Get on the train to Carlingford.

Visit your brother.

Get back on the train to Clyde. Repeat, in reverse order ...*

Yawn, Yawn, Here Cometh The Dawn
I'm beginning to think it may have been a mistake to stay in a hotel on Paramatta Road!

*I'm working on an article entitled "Train stops I have known."