Hands Full

The Catling family threw a fabulous funeral for the late patriarch, full of laughter, tears, memories and 'The Blues Brothers'. How interesting to know of people's parents who have made something of themselves in their field - Mr Catling was in superannuation, Lee's dad in sound engineering (I remember that Robert said that Peter Barry recently lost his animator father) and then I see Paddy's dad in the Taronga Zoo calendar captioning a chameleon (perhaps the one he let me handle when I was at the zoo with Stuart last year). It made me think about my dad and what kinds of accolades he would receive if he were to pass suddenly (touch wood). Not sure how many of his ex-colleagues would turn up, how many old friends or even family members would show. Of course I'd be aggrieved because I am my father's daughter, as much as I love my mum, but how does the rest of the world perceive him? Worthy of a morning mourning? And then I started thinking about dying, you know that old teenage angst about no one coming to your funeral... We shan't go into that today but perhaps when I'm in a maudlin mood and there's nothing else going on.

Anyway, so I only had a couple of hours to see Stuart during the funeral and the wake, which is not an ideal time to openly display affection, and then I had to get home to pick up the car (air conditioner serviced). Met Jeannie, an old friend of Stuart's and a lot of other people's families who were there and also talked to Josh's mother when she kindly gave me a lift into the city. (Josh being the completely wasted one at Phil's NYE party).

Midweek was a bit humdrum, didn't really do too much except polish off the last bit of my business travel article and sent off a couple of 'reminder' emails re: some late invoices.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday was a bit frantic helping out at the free gigs going on Tumbalong Park. Started on at the kid's tent and was then scheduled to move on to the VIP marquee, which was basically sponsors' employees and their families, media and competition winners. Did wristbanding and pleb marshalling mainly, but always seemed to have my hands full. Only managed to get some food on Friday and Saturday night because Sunday was so chockers that we did more than our fair share of pleb marshalling (keeping the plebs out of the VIP area) and security had to stop more people from coming in. In amongst the constant drizzle I managed to say a brief 'hi' to Gail who was clutching Amelia because there was absolutely nowhere to sit but didn't find her afterwards so I still say we're cursed for the reunion. Also chatted briefly to Olga who I saw on Saturday, nice to catch up a little.

So annoyed when I found out that the Energy Australia tattoo affixing girls (who, like, had THE hardest job) were paid and we were not. They were a bit 'too cool for school' for me. Does it mean I'm old if I complain about 'the younger generation' and I mean people who are only a few years younger than me? Anna and I had a fairly in depth talk about the whole volunteer situation. She plans to tell the heads of department that the volunteers are great and Sydney Festival, in their non-appreciative manner, don't deserve us. We also talked about a few mutual friends, Sid and Matt (Matt being Skippy's ex) and how this small world of ours joins up.

Today I was a bit rushed getting prepared for my job interview while at the last minute realising that I hadn't sent off the eBay items I was supposed to send late last week. The interview was a bit weird. It was for a Japanese news service (in English) as a journalist/researcher. The bureau chief doesn't speak English very well (you would think they would get someone fluent in both languages) and spent half the time asking me my address and date of birth, two details I deliberately leave out on my CV to prevent any kind of discrimination, subconscious or otherwise. And when he finally did ask some pertinent questions regarding my current and previous roles, it took a while for him to understand what a freelance writer did, which I thought was strange. The clincher was the salary question. I ask after the salary and he turned it on me saying 'what are you looking for?' I said 'early $40K (plus super)', which I have no idea whether it is the right amount or not. I'm not going under $40K because then I'm never going to leave home but I don't want to go too high because I know that these kinds of positions don't attract a lot of money. Who knows? I walked out not necessarily feeling confident but that it might be a mixed blessing if I did get the job.

I quickly changed out of my shirt and stockings, though I'd forgotten to bring a spare pair of pants so I had to wear my 'work' skirt for the rest of the day. Wandered around the QVB and surrounds a bit while waiting for Stuart and then when he came we walked across the Pyrmont Bridge to the Maritime Museum to see the Viking exhibition which, to tell you the truth, wasn't all that great so I'm glad we didn't pay money to see it. Then we walked to Chinatown and had a slurpee and some lunch before hanging out at Hyde Park for a while. I'd walked my right heel raw and bloody, which is the latest in a list of ailments that includes a mysteriously sore right eyesocket and an early period (which meant I had to cancel my waxing appointment for the second week in a row). But it sure was great to hang out with him. I don't know what it is but I feel somewhat free, unburdened when I'm with Stuart. It isn't like he doesn't have his share of problems but unlike some of my friends' problems where I'm a fundamental part of their recovery? support? advice? process I don't feel any obligation to interfere with Stuart's life. Which is a good thing for both of us, I think.

Commuted home in peak hour and fell into old habits by falling asleep on the train, then had to stare longingly at the car as I waited for the bus - my environmental side let me know that it was healthier for me to leave it for Rachel instead of taking it home and then picking her up later. Will probably do the same when I rendezvous with Stuart again tomorrow, catch the bus to the train station, that is. There's a Sydney Festival volunteer meet & greet on in the evening so I should be able to come back with Rachel when she finishes her late shift. And then on Wednesday I'm hoping to finally get some rest (and clean my room).