Acting

So Lynn, the new DB editor lasted all of one week. She handed in her resignation on Monday saying that she couldn't cope because she "didn't have enough resources". Didn't have enough resources? She had a deputy editor and two staff writers as well as two designers and a budget for freelancers. Me? I do my magazine by myself with one designer. Not only that, she came in at one of the slowest parts of the cycle.

Anyway, on a good note, it means that she hasn't done too much damage. You should have seen how hostile everyone became when she insinuated to Colin that it was everyone else's fault. Especially about Melissa, the new deputy. Melissa kept asking her "can I help with anything?" and Lynn just told her "everything's fine, I've got it under control" and then she implied in her letter of resignation that she didn't think Melissa was able to cope!

Actually, the funniest thing (in hindsight) is that we had an editorial meeting on Friday at 2pm to go over what was outstanding for this issue and next and Colin finished with "Well, if that's all, I'm sure we can handle it and you can go now". Then she stayed for three hours! (Doing what? I have no idea). And then when she left, she didn't even say goodbye to him - just kind of said "I'm going now" to the editorial team and left. I had to announce her departure (to the relief of the design team) as we were having Friday afternoon snacks. If she hadn't left, I swear Nukte was going to lynch her.

Meanwhile, I've been 'promoted' to acting editor until we get someone new. Which is not ideal because my magazine starts up again on Monday, just as I'm trying to finish off the issue that Lynn screwed up. But so far everything looks do-able so it's a matter of getting the timing right. Whew!

In other matters I went on my gelato date with Chetan, which was pleasant. The weather was happily warm, the harbour looked stunning in the sunset light but he didn't really set my world on fire. Something tells me I need someone creative in my life as I'm surrounded by too many structured people. Che's an accountant for a stockbroking firm, so hardly what I'm after right now. He's nice enough, just not for me. I feel a strange compulsion to attend the next Live Poet's Society gig at the end of the month...

Last night, after the tumultuous week, I finally made it to the Red Oak Boutique Beer Cafe (where they have CHOCOLATE BEER) and met up with a gang mostly populated by ex-Red Apple people: Vanessa and Russell, Dina and Desiree, Lindsay and Prina, Jess and Tom (Corkie's ex-flatmate - they hooked up after Ness' anti-Christmas party last year) and Faun, as well as Ness' friend Maria, Assumpta and Gloria. Gla's EY friends made a brief appearance but wanted to try The Ivy again as they'd failed on sartorial grounds last week. Gla sensibly stayed with us.

I started with a Honey Ale and then had a vegetarian tasting plate (with matching beers), which was gazpacho jelly (organic Hefeweizen), corn fritter (Kolsch), mushroom tart (dark English mild ale - this was the best match) and pumpkin soup (organic pale ale). I then followed with the chocolate beer, which did actually taste like chocolate. And then, inevitably, we decided to go to karaoke. But, inevitably, wherever we went there was no room at the inn. So after traipsing around the city for the good part of 30 minutes, Ass and I ended up getting home at around 11 and Gla went to meet her EY friends who couldn't get into The Ivy and were at the Criterion instead.

Today Ass and I went to Chatswood and gave blood. Don't worry, no alcohol with the blood, that I made sure of that with plentiful water. They couldn't find a vein in my right arm so they had to take from my left. I walked out with two bandaged arms, which made carrying things a little awkward. Ass actually fainted after hers, she said because she saw the needle come out and for some reason her eyes didn't like that. They had to make the recliner tip right back to get blood rushing to her head.

We had second breakfast (because you must always eat before AND after donating) and then parted ways. I ended up at Bunnings to buy a dual-flush system and a flyscreen. The attendant was very helpful despite the fact that when I looked at him I thought he was too young to be legally working there, but they'd sold out of the dual-flush product so I walked out with just a portable flyscreen (now proudly sitting in my window defying flies).

I then decided I wanted to go to The Good Guys to get my new washing machine with the voucher I got from Jetstar, courtesy of my first Brisbane trip, but ended up wandering up and down Penshurst St for an hour trying to find it. (When I came home I found out the store was on Eastern Valley Way, which explains a lot).

Still haven't touched my TAFE assignment due on Tuesday. Oh dear.