Feck off

To patronise is to totally showcase one's own insecurities.

It's true though isn't it. Its complete and utter abhorrent behaviour. A right scandal.

- "Aw sweety"

- "Ah bless"

- "Aw how are we today then champ?"

Of course the above would need to be put into context to be properly classified as patronising behaviour. I really can't stand it. I used to let it all slide... thinking "I am the bigger person by not making a point of it" - but you know what? SOD it.. If someone has the bloody nerve to *attempt* to patronise me, I now let them know I don't appreciate it.. I mean.. what-EVER! We can't have people strutting about thinking they are somehow "better" than me, and even worse, *daring* to patronise me to try to make their fickle little point?

Heheheh.. How psycho and repressed-feeling-nutcase must I be sounding right now...

But its true... you've got to understand... I'm of the idealism that people should all be nice and civil to each other... Don't waste my time with petty attempts to "distinguish" yourself by trying put others down! What the hell?! the GALL of some people?!!! hahaha its outrageous! Like, as if it's even *possible* to patronise *meeee* LOL

I've learned a lot of things along the way... moving to a new country and fending completely for myself has been a real good eye opener and it really teaches you to take no shit from anyone. I'm loving my new fuck off attitude.. I wish I had it years ago as I would have done some things MUCH more differently... although I can't say I have any regrets either :) - its actually an extension of my professional persona... At work, when I'm negotiating a contract or trying to sell myself or mingle with potential clients - I *tend* to turn into this fuck-off-robot because I know I have a mandate to get a result... In my personal life, I've realised now that I've needed to give *myself* such a mandate, and voila! Getting my way and loving it heheh.

Some people can be so bubbly and full of charisma and charm, yet deep down be completely insecure.. Others are quiet and unremarkably humour-less but then fight to be heard when it counts. There are so many permutations and combinations of personalities out there that we have to deal with on a daily basis... makes life interesting I suppose, but as I get older, I'm starting to see that I can cope with most of them... in fact, its kind of fun!

Enough of bla bla... Hopefully something cool will happen soon so I can write about it, instead of this twisted D&M shite...

Yeh feck off init.

;0)

Fram! (but watch out for the black cabs!)

I wasn't quite sure what to expect walking along the river, and then Embankment Bridge towards the National Theatre... I had been far too preoccupied along the way in taking vigil over my companion who seems to jump in front of cars with no hesitation as she crosses the road... Many a waspey exchange have we had in the past wherein I've been squarely put in my place, assured that there is method behind her road-crossing madness... I accept the explication but tell myself it wont stop me bellowing out at her if I think she's not looked where she was going - goes without saying right?

She's taking me to see "Fram"... "Forward" in the Norweigan tongue. "It's about Fridtjof Nansen" she says. Who? "It will be great she says". OK. Later on (3 hours later to be precise) as we leave the theatre under cover of moonlight, I would be doubly thankful for the last minute invitation to use her spare ticket.

It's been a while since I had to sit through something that made me seriously think. (OK a week or so before I had been to see Pere Ubu's rendition of Alfred Jarry's "Ubu Roi" - the play which inspired the band's name - expressionist rock? Indeed... very trippy to the point where I've not even managed to digest the performance yet) - Anyway I digress... Fram is a play so craftily put together that the most extreme of the culturally ignorant (aka me) are given the opportunity to revel in cathartic splendour like the best of 'em. Recounting Nansen's life as Arctic explorer, scientist, social activist and utopian dreamer, the play starts off in the crypts of Westminster Abbey, where the ghost of Australian translator Gilbert Murray resurrects actress Sybil Thorndike to star in Murray's new play about Nansen entitled "Fram". Uncontroversially a play within a play, Murray narrates most of the story, visibly crossing the Thames with Thorndike into the National Theatre and then unravelling Nansen's amazing feats and achievements both as explorer, and crusader for the poor during the Russian famine. Despite all of Nansen's notable efforts... one cannot help but leave the theatre feeling his quest for idealism was monstruously futile... but you're still left with awe and inspiration for this man....

The weather in London has been absolutely incredible lately. Right now in fact, I am sitting on my balcony making full use of the wireless connection, enjoying the fresh air, forgetting the stresses of work and listening to the radio. Totally peaceful (even the cars on Tower Bridge Road aren't bothering me) - nor the trains chugging into London Bridge station... Urban, serene bliss.

woop woop!

ONE NEW YORK

Words can't decribe the degree of nervous anticipation I feel about my impending trip to Manhattan.

Its funny. I never really thought about it before. Shamefully, the thing that tipped me over the "edge" and made me book a ticket, was being sick of everyone around me talking about what they had got up to in "SoHo" or the "East Village" or "Central Park" - it made me feel so provincial and ignorant not having ever been to NYC - which is quite silly really LOL.. but there you go, for good or bad reasons, I am GOING! and I am really, really excited.

I'm going to be staying in a pretty lush hotel too: http://www.60thompson.com/ - and the best thing is, it just so happens my favourite musical of ALL TIME is actually playing there!



Ever since I was a little kid (about 5 or 6), I used to love the movie "A Chorus Line" based on the musical of the same name and starring Michael Douglas as Zach - although I think the on-stage version is different.. (ie, the move was doctored a bit)... Anyway.. I am totally thrilled it is showing in New York and in a way, it is a dream come true.. to see this musical performed on Broadway! woohoo!

Other things I will indulge in will be wandering around the streets of Chelsea and SoHo (which won't be hard as my hotel will be in the thick of it!) - Finally see the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, the Rockefeller Centre, the Guggenheim.. and everything else!!! I am so stoked :)

**happy sighs**

Lazy lazy lazy

Lazy (pictured) is the name of one of my local pubs (just up Tooley Street in Bermondsey) - but it also describes my existence for the last month or so. Too lazy to update my blog, too lazy to go out, too lazy to get my hair cut, too lazy to do my laundry (thankfully get someone to do that for me in times of lazy-crisis), too lazy to walk to work, too lazy to bother with anything really.... At least, this is how I have *felt*.

However, on reflection, I've actually done shite-loads since my last blog - even some of those things I listed above as being too lazy to do... this doesn't make any sense! but:

1. Played hockey a few times with my new team-mates;

2. Gone out pubbing and clubbing at new and different locations, meeting loads of Londoners and tourists (and rediscovering the wonders of dancing-for-exercise!)

3. Travelled loads over consecutive weekends (France: skiing at Serre Chevallier was bloody awesome; Birmingam: Getting to know the friendly brummies was well worth it; and Barcelona: Meeting up with my euro-cousins at one of their weddings was very cool)

4. Spent a few hi NRG sessions in the gym;

5. Went to the Ballet to see the Nederlands Dans Theater perform in charming Islington;

6. The day after ballet I donned my best grungy look (surprisingly not difficult when you consider the state of my current wardrobe) to see Glaswegian indie band Parka at the Metro live!

7. Finished writing the chapter for a law book soon to the published; and

8. I actually *did* get a hair cut!

So I ask myself, why do I *feel* so lazy and underwhelmed? I really am at a loss. I mean, I've done loads! I kind of know I've had fun and stuff when I think back specifically on the more leisurely activities I've done... but all things being equal, if asked now how I felt I'd say "demotivated, lazy and ho hum"... WHY?!!!

- Am I mildly autistic?

- Do I have a mild case of A.D.D.?

- Is there something about my genetic make-up that means adrenalin or whatever chemical balance that give you a "high" is suppressed?

LOL

I don't know....

Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly happy... For example, I am recently totally excited about booking a trip to New York where I'll be staying at a totally chichi hotel in SoHo, and soon to book my tickets to Oz for later in the year which will hopefully be business class as I have accumulated lots and lots of frequent flyer points! I'm also really happy generally as I don't feel like a complete muppet in London anymore... I've completely settled in and its great...

I suppose I feel *lazy* all the time because I must have some inherent "condition" which means doing anything out of routine is an effort. My brain must process everything like as if it is a complete up-hill marathon to take the initiative to do stuff and I spend much of my free time trying to rationalise or convince myself why I should bother doing things... This rather unproductive use of my energy must take its toll emotionally therefore fooling me into thinking I am lazy.. when I am in truth, NOT! Its like going to the gym after a long break.. You kind of have to force yourself even though you know full well you will feel great afterwards... If you keep dwelling on how hard it is to get motivated to go... you're bound to feel lazy.. no?!

Gawd now wasn't that just a huge dump of verbal diahorrea if you ever did see it! hahah... love it :o)

Blogs: Tear your hair out? or not be bovvered?

I read lots of blogs on the internet. Some of them belong to people I know or knew... others are random blogs which consistently have interesting posts worth reading as I munch on my lunch or whatever...

People can say and publish whatever they wish in their blogs - complete carte blanche. This can be a rather frightening proposition because one never really knows *who* is reading. Depending on the blogger and the 'subject' at the receiving end, at its most serious, allegations of defamation could ensue... or a blogger could be sacked on the basis that he or she wasn't in fact sick but in Barbados those three days claimed as sick leave!

Imagine my amusement recently as I read a comment in a blog which by inference, referred to me as being part of a certain "class" (in the statistical sense) of people and again by inference, referring to me as being of a sub-class (again, statistically) of people that allegedly lack a sense of humour. As a result, myself (of course, as part of this class/sub-class of people I must stress) am responsible for certain relationships "failing" with this particular blogger because people within this class are allegedly boring.

Notwithstanding that this comment was probably made light-heartedly, instinctively my reaction was to somehow retaliate (if you like melodrama, refer now to the picture of the poor lass at the computer); demand a right of reply. Indeed, relationships fail and people fail to get along for a plethora of reasons and to isolate one apparent reason, (no matter how misguided as in this case) is myopic in the extreme... to attribute fault based on this flawed assertion, disturbingly more so... My instinct was to somehow point to the multitude of indisputable facts which (I would argue) challenge and contradict the blogger's statement...But then it occurred to me - to feel, and further still, *act* on this instinct would be highly hypocritical...

WHY?

Well, as a blogger myself, I know well enough that what I write, I write principally for myself. That's the whole point of the blog movement isn't it? Sure, its nice to have friends read your rants as somehow it brings mates together outside of blogland and lets people see you for who you are in a dimension not possible by face-to-face contact. Its a complementary mode of communication which, I think, is mainly for the benefit of the blogger. Sometimes random people you don't know read your blog too... The point is, generally, on any given day, I do not necessarily picture any one person as I write my rants, nor do I expect any given person to read my blog. Why should I? What do I care? This blog is my chance to express myself candidly and I'll be damned if I'm ever going to be censured. This same courtesy then I extend to this, and any other blogger who writes something I don't quite agree with. I would go so far as to say that if anyone took issue with anything I said which by generalising or describing "classes" of people caused offence, they would be disentitled to take any issue... I mean, no one is forcing them to keep reading the blog right? So, I will take my own advice.

On the other hand, writing unfair negative things about *specifically identified* people would be poor form (or systematically making it completely obvious to the planet who you are writing about in this way). Short of that, who cares what people say in their blogs? In fact, why should you care about what I am writing now? You shouldn't!

Have I ever contradicted myself online? Probably. Am I allowed to? Yes. Simple! Blogs are all "me me me" anyway and potentially, a powerful and therapeutic instrument of the emotionally vain. I'm prepared to accept this drives many bloggers. Me? I don't quite think this was my motivation. I called this blog "Eurojoe" to be a diary of my life in the UK and distinguish between my life in Oz. I think so far its on the money... although I won't deny there is a bit of an exhibitionist in me (giggle).... oh alright I'm not immune from some emotional vanity either :)

The question one must ask themselves (and I include myself) is simple... "aks me.. am I bovvered? go on, aks me" (refer now to the picture below) :)

Fill in the form

Okay so it looks like I can squeeze in another rant before I actually turn 28.

There are so many things I feel like talking about... the wonderful Kevin Rudd and his early achievements as Prime Minister of Australia... the sadness that one of my colleagues is being made redundant... the solemn experience of attending my bosses wife's funeral and the chilling noise of the bagpipes leading the procession of the casket... the excitement I've recently experienced by actually achieving a work-life balance by going out and meeting new people and doing some interesting things outside of the office...

Instead I will rant about bureaucracy. Its bloody everywhere... Its inherent in life (indeed it begins at birth when we're registered with the relevant department and issued with a certificate). Its particularly been a right pain in the bum in London - opening bank accounts, having mobile phone contracts refused for lack of credit history, going to the doctor, getting a prescription drug, changing addresses, getting through airport immigration unscathed... all of these have been real challenges for me as there is ALWAYS some problem, delay, hindrance or issue which causes me grief.

Of course such complaints are not unique to Londoners... But as an aussie from the dinky di, true blue and care free land of wombat stew, these complexities really get my goat... Perhaps more so than others.. Maybe I am just a wuss.

Anyway, imagine my delight as I get home to see two letters waiting for me on the dining table. One contains a pin number (I let out a gleeful mini-shriek)... The other contains my new Barclays Breathe card! Hooray I have finally been approved credit! I applied for the credit card online about a week ago. The cool thing about the card is that half of the profits Barclays makes from the product go to climate change saving initiatives. I also get discounts on renewable energy, and other environmental healthy products and services. The cynic in me acknowledges this is just all a deceitful marketing ploy designed to dupe unsuspecting, altruistic and naive cutomers into thinking they can get credit AND save the environment. I figure what the hell... its a card, and at least it will do some good, even if it isn't all that its cracked up to be. So I am happy - finally integrating into British society and finally getting closer to that ultimate goal - to get a mortgage to buy a nice flat in London town to call my own...

But with the good comes the bad. Today I found out the body that regulates Solicitors here in England and Wales has not received my application for admission which I had COURIERED to them at the end of January, just in time for an expected admission date in early March. Bloody hell... Now I will have to wait until April to get admitted here. But hey, What is a month? The annoying thing is the mega bureaucratic process in even being *able* to send in the application. I had to get criminal records checks in Australia and the UK, I had to pass a bloody conversion test (which I kinda aced actually HAHA), I had to get references and cheques and any number of bloody things. Anyway... I am looking forward to being finally qualified to practice here... forget the fact I've been doing it anyway since January 2007... well... "supervised" of course.

The truth is, this is my 6th year as a practising solicitor.. I can't believe how time has flown. I still remember being a grad, ghost writing advices for my superiors and sticking post-it notes on bundles and bundles of documents. Things have thankfully changed... although sometimes I do still find myself trawling through pages of dry prose. Comes with the job I suppose. Anyway, I digress.

Bring on the bureaucracy I say... its here to stay and one can only embrace it. In fact, if you think about it, everything is a bureaucracy.... walking to work, negotiating traffic, agreeing on where to go for lunch, trying to duck out of work early, meeting a mate for a drink or whatever... maybe we're all better prepared for this than I've given credit for!

Hasta la proxima!

J ;o)

Almost 28

So, I thought I'd quickly pop in for a virtual soliloquy before I turned 28. I can't believe how young I am actually (teehee) - maybe its just brought to the fore because the company I tend to keep, tends to be just *that* much older... Mind you, I have a theory that once people (who don't marry) turn 30, they automatically regress into a desperate "oh my god, my 20s are over, I need to do something WILD" phase. This phase is characterised by numerous late nights, drinking, dancing, shagging, socialising and so on... coupled with significant doses of irresponsibility (one ideally should to be sober when arriving at the office), egoism (its aaalll about me) and insecurity (it is all about me right?) heheheh.

My observations also show that this phase can last right up to the early 40s. I've seen it happen... People I knew in Australia are going through this phase right now (OK, some people have always been that way :). People I know in London equally so, although in varying degrees of intensity. The phase does not discriminate on the basis of geography or anything else... The phase, just is.

Thankfully I am just over 2 years from the phase. I am safe.

I think as I get older, I find myself having much less patience for people that irritate me. I used to have an enormous tolerance for dealing with completely absent minded, imbecillic, selfish, insecure and annoying people. No longer. Life is too short - these people can bugger off (and many of them have)! Thankfully I've not encountered many of these recently!

No I don't own a pedastle nor a horse.... I don't purport to be perfect, no.... but the time which accumulates as one gets older is really handy to better acquiant oneself with oneself... which in turn informs how we see, perceive and deal with others.. that's the extent of the rub!

As I reflect on this time last year, living in a manky little house in Pimlico, virtually not knowing anyone in London and wondering why I had decided to leave an existence which was clearly on its way to leading to much personal happiness, I understand now that my life in Sydney since just before graduating was really just that: an "existence". Hey, I don't know what to say... it was a necessary existence for sure, as I learned a lot about people, personalities and work... (dealt with some idiots, sure... but in the main met loads of amazing people) but being here now, amongst friends, with a cool job and a chronic affliction of wanderlust, I think I'm happy :)

I wonder how the phase will affect *me* when it comes?