To a Tea

Too much work on, but I'm seeing the end of it. Just 1,200 words to go. Then I start the next magazine...

Best thing to happen work-wise this week was that I finally got my boss excited about Young Achievement and some of the ways in which our mag could support it. I spoke to the sponsorship manager last year. She basically just wants some recognition for the program but my boss went nuts and thought up a whole program of things we could do (which would genuinely help the businesses as well as drive loads of web traffic to our site). We're meeting with the sponsorship manager together tomorrow.

Worst thing to happen work-wise was the crick in my neck and the ache in my eyes from spending almost every spare moment at the weekend meeting this deadline. I did have a talk to my editor about it last week and it is set to change, just not yet.

Went and saw Monsieur Camembert at The Vanguard on Saturday night. Ass was supposed to come but called me in the afternoon to pike due to food poisoning (or so she thinks). Her replacement was Jo. I don't know whether I've mentioned Jo before, but she's one of Ass' sister's best friends. I also happen to know her because we used to have the same violin teacher and we both did journalism at uni (she at UTS, me at Mac). She finished high school the year after me, but she's actually eight days older. Weird huh?

Anyway, I was not happy with Ass because the only reason I booked for Mr Cheese in March was because she'd never seen them before and they didn't seem to be playing very regularly this year. I had so much to do. But then I was glad I did get out because it would have been a very boring weekend otherwise. Plus Jo is always doing something interesting. When she's not interviewing my editor for MediaConnect, she starting a burlesque magazine.

The next morning was breakfast at Cafe Ish in Surry Hills with some high school friends. I went around to Alg and Gla's place beforehand to give Alg and Matt their wedding present (despite poor wrapping - in my opinion - the hand-painted dish went down really well, either that or Alg was good at pretending it did) and Alg and Gla their birthday presents (Gla got the new Cat Empire live album; Alg got the War Child covers album and both were pleased).

At Ish I hunkered down on a bowl of wattleseed mochacino, soft shell crab eggs benedict, rose grey tea and a wattleseed custard tart with ice cream and forgot to purchase a post-Mardi Gras gingerbread gimp. Realised I hadn't eaten a proper meal since Tuesday lunch for various reasons (mostly weather related). Satisfaction at last. Couldn't even try/buy cheese at the specialty cheeserie up the road.

The chit-chat didn't really go anywhere but Manda did bring her daughter Sophie, who is adorable and very well socialised, so we spent a lot of the time amusing her. I can see a lot of my friends are clucky and feel weird that I'm not. I don't have a problem with kids, I just don't want any right now.

Went back home. Did more work. Woke up to an orchestra of power tools this morning and my ears fought them for several long minutes. Went and did work at actual workplace.

At 3pm I got to go to an event at The Hilton - Dilmah tea celebrating 21 years in Australia (see pic above). Apparently this is where the Fernando family first launched the brand. The event was heavy in information, both historic and tea-related, which I really liked but I could tell some people weren't all that interested. Some tea and fine food accompaniments later and I was sated. Also spoke to Merrill and Dilhan Fernando, which means I have spoken to three people in tea dynasties (that is, plus Stephen Twining).

Went home with a large goodie bag of tea. Did more work. Lamented about state of Australia vs South Africa match (they're clawing back). Debated for and against buying a new camera when I am in Japan (yes). Listened to Matthew Ottignon, the cute saxophonist from Mr Cheese. Failed once again to go to bed before 1 am.

It's 1:05am. See you next week.