Train

Getting Paid To Be Nocturnal

I'm siiiiiickkk! Argh Fuck you!! So frustrating. I cant sleep. Plus this weather is tripping me out. Its gloomy, windy but its 29 degrees? This morning I was up at 6am, it was pitch blackness and a little windy. I check my phone to see the temperature outside, I knew it was going to be chilly, I wanna know how chilly? My phone says 21 degrees. What?? I dont believe it. I refresh it twice and after getting the same response I go outside in my undies and have a feel. Sure feels like 21 degrees. I walk out of the house in a thin dress.. I felt weird.. I felt I needed to bring a jacket for the sake of bringing a jacket.

It was 7/11 $1 day today. I met Jess at the 7/11 on Lonsdale/Swanston street. The poor guy was scanning up all the chip packets because Jess wanted to see which chips were $1. None. I bought a Mother and a block of Areo. $2 Thanks! I had three dim sims and an up&go for lunch consumed in 20 minutes. Woo. I was shattered that my not-so-boiled egg cracked all over my green grapes. Shit mangz.

We spent more than 3 hours Visual Merchandising the entire store today. It was fun and I'm more confident at it. At first I was afraid to play around, I was scared of critizism. Now I learn how to think like 'Jess' and ask her what she's thinking, why did you put that there and not there?

I finished at 12pm. Wow Again I was tripping out, this is the time some people are waking up. My ideal full time shifts would have to be a 7-3pm shift. Even though I had minimal sleep, fuck it. Being tired but finishing early is the SHIT.

I prefer to start at 7am and catch the 634am train. Its dark, quiet, no one's on the roads or trains.. I can almost do whatever the fuck I want. No one knows who I am. It feels like I am living a nocturnal life. Oww yeh.

I'm listening to this album that I am so glad I got. Erick Sermon Breath of Fresh Air. I judged it by the cover art and read reviews on a hip hop site. Then taste tested a few songs. They sounded right up my alley. This album is so good I cant help but gangsta lean in the shower when its playing.


Now here's a fucking gangsta beat.

Erick Sermon feat. 50 Cent & Keith Murray

Now That I'm Sober You Ain't That Fine

Success is when your no means no and your yes means yes

and you can stick to your word

I want everyone to get fucked up with me.

I've got 32 minutes before the battery of my laptop runs out. That means I have 32 minutes to blog. Today at work I was busy. Our 20 max box delivery turned out to be 35 boxes + the 12 box unexpected delivery from Spencer Street. I work continuously without a lunch break so I can leave just that little bit early. It's good leaving before 4pm because I dont hit peak hour trains. Although you do hit school kids on the train home.

A thought occurred to me at work today as I was shifting shoe boxes around. Something I said to vman before we became boyfriend and girlfriend but after we had already gotten together. I told him becoming boyfriend/girlfriend is pointless because the next stage of that process is to either get over each other and break up or get married. Both seemed like dead end options to me so why start something that was gonna hit a brick wall anyway? Vman was annoyed with my explanation. He gave the example of his brother and his girlfriend, they have been together for ~15 years and have three children together, and a house.

The idea of falling in love and staying in love with the same person for the rest of your life is difficult for me to grasp. Feelings and circumstances are always changing, how can you feel the same way about that person forever? You might feel that you can for a few moments, your heart will really believe that this is the truth. Give it a few years and see if your feelings are still strong. Its amazing how some couples can stay together happily ever after, its rare to see old couples still in love.

I'm not saying that unconditional love does not exist because I'm a lover not a hater. I am saying that unconditional love and staying happily in love with one person for years is an occurrence that happens maybe once in 100 couples. Or more.

Being the hopeful, ambitious and idealistic me, I am surprised at my pessimistic stance towards committed long term relationships. I suspect it takes root from past failed relationships where I was the one who was fully in love and dedicated and then devastatingly shut down. I hated it. I hate rejection after offering myself the way I did. I hated giving my time, effort.. everything they wanted because I loved them so much and have it come to an end because they wanted it to. Ugh. The way I see it, if I give them emotional significance, I am giving them a chance to stab me in the back and trusting them not to. Oh how I felt like shit when they betrayed me. Now in relationships I am the one who cares the least. I choose people who want me more than I want them, or if vice versa at least I won't show it. Never again because I'm scared of giving my all and getting fucked up again.

My Room's Not As Messy As It Used To Be

I had such a good weekend. I cant believe I partied two nights in a row, not that I'm saying I'm so hardcore.. I havent done that in YEARS. I felt good today.. I felt like I had something to talk about, something new about me, I felt happy at work but it weren't no specific reasons. I just had a good weekend and therefore a good start to the week.

I missed two trains today because the fucking myki machine hasnt been accepting money for 1 week now. No one's fixed it. I found that out today at peak hour. I'm so happy I'm w myki because the poor fuckers who line up at the Metcard machine put silent pressure on the person at the front to hurry the fuck up so they can all catch their train. Myself, being a myki user, just walks up to the myki machine and top up. I dont even have to do it that often. I can do it once a year if i wanted. But today the machine didnt work! I lined up at the Metcard machine and it wasnt taking anything that wasnt the exact change. I missed two trains because both ticket machines werent working. If i wanted to cause more hassle for myself, I couldve taken the train anyway and at the city loop barriers, just tell the guards the ticket machines werent working - its your fault so thats why i dont have a ticket.

But I'm not the confrontational type. I walk to the other side of the platform and top up there. I am only 10 minutes late for work because humans invented the Sydenham limited express train.

I'm beginning to stress over money because my hours are cut for this week. Its good news that I'm still considered an employee at Myer but they are also cutting back on hours or perhaps they''ve put me at the bottom of their ladder bcoz I fucked them over by not working Boxing Day. Last night I had my usual 4 hours sleep because I was up watching TV while online shopping. I spent $116 on Asos (for five pieces of clothing) and another ~$40 on nose piercing jewellery. Accessorise your nose. Hairhouse Warehouse kinda fucked me over by giving me a 23 gauge nose ring when I had a 18 gauge hole. I wasn't aware that my hole will close up and now I cant fit anything in. My 23 gauge ring at the moment is the smallest you get em so my options are next to none when it comes to changing my ring.

If i wanna make my hole bigger, I have to change the ring to something slightly bigger to stretch it. Then change, and change til it gets back to the regular 18 gauge. It's a long process because I've gotta wait for the piercing to heal around the new ring. I found this really cool site online which I bought three rings from, a 22 gauge silver ring with three beads on it, 20 gauge aqua 3.5mm crystal stud and lastly, to celebrate reaching the 18 gauge a 14K White Gold Trinity Cubic Zirconia Stone 3mm stud just like Tupac.

I cant wait.

Krusty Ass Stoned Trooper

Every time my sydenham train turns into another sydenham train at the city loop I feel like staying on it and riding it home again. Last night was VIP melbourne central shopping day where selected stores go on sale. We were 20% off store wide. We were mentioned on the radio. Weeeee, me me me!

It was crazy hectic. There were 24 girls working yesterday. Three or four of us getting/putting away stock and two girls on telephone sales. Two girls on register, two stair bitches and the rest on floor serving customers and making sure bogans dont steal shit. Poor floor girls, there were so many people it was difficult to know who was greeted, who was being served.. it was claustrophobic and you were breathing other peoples used air. This shit's craaaaay but it was fun because I like it when shit hits the fan. I was getting stock, I'm getting so much faster at it. They thanked me for my hard work and told me I was a gun.

I finished work at 8pm last night, got home at 930pm and was ready to crash. I had work at 8am today. But after I shower I feel so refreshed im ready to pump it for another three hours. I call Dave for a 11pm kebab run but he's at home eating fried rice. I came over his and he fed me, the little food beggar that I am because I dont know how to fend for myself. And when I do, I eat things like:

Plain BBH noodles

I got home at 12:30am and had 6 hours sleep. Waking up is always a bitch and I'm so adamant that after work I'm gonna come home and sleep for 8 hours. But its not so bad when you're actually up. I dont like taking showers in the morning because it just puts me to sleep again. Apples in the morning, however, are good.

Up til now, I've eaten an apple and pear. I dont have time to sit down for a meal. I wonder if I can survive on fruit for the rest of my life. Monkeys do it.

So I've finished my shift for today and I'm on my way home to hang out with vman. I was thinking to stay out and drink from 1-10pm but I've declined having dinner with vman three days in a row so today I should pull through. Except vman gets angry at me on the phone because I called him boring and plans are cancelled. I'm on my way home for nothing. I could have been getting smashed right now.

Also on my way home I realised I worked at the wrong place today and the wrong time! I did one job from 8am-1pm when I should have been at D doing 11-5pm god damnit. I'm on my way home at 1:30pm and I should still be at Myer!! Fuck. Thats why people at work were surprised that I was in. D didnt call me which means I couldn't have fucked up too bad.

Even though, I hate letting people down. I feel guilty. I hope this isnt a sign of my downhill spiral of forgetfulness, disorganisation, ... and other bad descriptive words as a result of my seemingly workaholic self. The last time I had a day off was 3 weeks ago when I called in sick for my house BBQ.

Mind, body and soul feel weak. I take nana naps but I still wake up feeling tired. What do I have to do?? I wanna cry because I dont know what else will make me feel better. I'll admit it. I feel defeated. Let me rest for a bit before I get back up again.

Full Moon Crazy Loco Time

my stupid bunny rabbit has been chewing on my electrical cords in my room. She started off on my Mac computer cord which shattered me because it was my fucking Mac computer, then started on my heater cord. For some reason she only chews these wires and not my others so I simply elevated these and sprayed some perfume on it hoping to deter her.

Just now I found her nibbling on my powerboard cord, she chewed on it so much that the inner wiring and copper wires are exposed! the copper wires are broken. She couldve electrocuted herself, short circuited the electricity, fucked up my Mac and other appliances that were plugged in the powerboard, and potentially set my house on fire. Stupid stupid rabbit. I need to do something about her.

Argh!!

I worked today. Shoe purchase numero duo. I got the Nasya Stone in size 5, the smallest they come in. My feet are tiny. Hehe. I like having small feet. Tonight for the VIP shopping night, we all had to wear black and red lipstick. There were 12 of us today all in black, red lipstick and matching shoes. We were an army, too bad we werent busy. I left 2 hours before my original finish time. I was putting things through the register today without help. I have unofficially upgraded from seller to register.

I realise people treat you with more respect if you dress nicely, and by nicely I mean corporately. Or even if your hair and make up is nice. They actually smile and make contact with you when you greet them in store. They value your opinion more because they assume you would know best, well, you ARE looking rather smart. I guess its common sense that people will respect you with the same amount that you respect yourself.

Tmrw is my 10 hour shift at my other job. I get to wear all my new clothes yay. Except I didnt buy any shoes to match, since most of the time I wear combat boots and that wont go with nice corporate wear. Unless i set my own trend...

I need to catch the 746am bus tmrw and then the 812am train from St. Albans. I set my alarm for 630am. I always so ambitious when I set my alarm. My alarm does a handy thing of telling me how many hours/minutes it is til the alarm goes off.

'6 hours and 37 minutes'

Fuck yoooooouuu.

Thank You Budda

What a fucking mission and a half. Drop myki card on the train tracks in between platform and train as I get on train. Considered not jumping on train to jump onto tracks to retrieve card, one day after a teenage girl got hit by a train and died a couple stations up. Realised if I missed this train id be late for work. Jump on train. Panic about train inspectors and not being able to get out at Melbourne central station without a ticket. If I tell em the truth theres still a chance ill get fine and this time, the third time, I may not be so lucky to get out of it. Panic. Research train times that go via city loop from norh meblorune. Don't want to be late for work, or fined. Get off north Melbourne to buy a train ticket. Fuck. Yes. Ticket purchased. Cost me $5.80 my myki card isn't going to be touched off so they will charge me again. I potentially saved myself from a $168 fine. My Melbourne central train leaves at 10:45 am. Get to Melbourne central 4 minutes after. Be there 5 minutes early for work. My colleages so never know what happened. Things work themselves out. The universe wants you to suceed.

__________________

I go to work. Its a pretty cruisy day. I deal with pleasant people. My feet only hurt a bit today. My least favourite work mate calls in sick today. I work with my favourite work mate. Woo hoo. I finish work in no time because I refuse to watch the time, I dont wear watches. I go to my other work to hand in my unavailabilites, I want sunday off to recover from the hang over I plan to have. Go to dymocks to order a favourite book. Get complimented on my makeup and talk about liquid eyeliner for a bit. Happy people make my day so much better.

Make my way to Flinders Street station and spoke to friendly Metro man about my lost Myki card who directed me to a friendly Myki customer service staff who then directed me to helpful Metro customer service staff at the Station Master's office through some intimidating doors.

Give them you're details, as much as I'd like to take your details,

and they will help you out

The staff at St. Albans train station will recover my card from the train tracks and give me a call if or if not they find it. I hope someone doesn't pick it up. Idiots.

I have a lady here who has dropped her Myki card onto the train tracks

and would like someone to get it for her

what a way to make me sound stupid. The first Metro staff member followed up my problem and I thanked him. After all that was done, my train would arrive in a few minutes. I got a seat on the train during peak hour. I opened up my book and read the whole way.

On the news, a 15 year old girl from CRC St. Albans was hit and killed by a V-Line train at Ginifer station. She had headphones in, pushed through the crowd, opened the barriers to make the train, not seeing the v-line train coming. People were shouting for her to stop but she didn't. As a result, the on-lookers, her friends, fellow school goers and pretty much anyone with a heart is traumatised. The V-line train driver will feel guilt, even though he did nothing wrong. This girl was so determine to catch this train that she pushed through all safety barriers, waiting crowds and ignored legal and safety regulations. Because of her stupidity, others will be blamed and effected. No one is to blame but herself. don't get me wrong, I'm not happy she died, but what could have been done to prevent this accident?? Underground crossings perhaps, but people just need brains.

On the news, they showed footage of people at Ginifer station today, still pushing past safety barriers running for trains. Don't they know what happened yesterday? Are people fucking stupid??

Frown. Frustrated but I shrug my shoulders and roll my eyes. If people wanna die, let 'em.

_____________________

I had a good day today. Simple things make me smile. Like seeing the time 12:34 when I turn my phone on. Or having to only wait 4 minutes for the next train. Or correctly estimating the time I will arrive at a train station. Other things that contribute to a good day:

• Waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to go
• Strangers compliment me
• When my I look good in my shoes but my feet dont hurt me (too much)
• Turning a page of a book
• Talking to my sister
• When my rabbit runs up to me so I can cuddle her
• When my bus comes on time
• When I get a good car parking
• When I have someone to meet straight after work (makes work go faster)
• My hair and makeup looks good
• Friendly customer service and conversations initiated by randoms

Tonight is a full moon. I like it when people go crazy.

Weekly plans:

Wedneseday

Work 1-9pm

The rosters changed without me knowing again! I was meant to finish at 630pm but they changed to 9pm and they didnt even tell me. VIP night for VIP shoppers, invites only. We are to wear all black with red lipstick. I'm wearing my Hurricanes tomorrow but judging from previous experiences, I wont last longer than 4 hours in them. Must change shoes before I pass out. I'm getting in Nasya in tmrw in a size 5 so I'll have to change into them. I'm excited and ready to welcome a new pair of shoes.

Thursday

Work 9-7pm

10 hour shifts at D arent bad at all. I like em actually. I like the multiple breaktimes. It doesnt even feel like I deserve them they come that often. Working in the shoes department is dangerous. I need to work at the Basement so I can find something else to spend my money on.

My baon for my 10hour

3 Sandwiches, chicken and veg stirfry, strawberries and avocado salad.

NOW who's jealous in the tea room??

Friday

Work 4-930pm

Jwow 930-close

I like 5 hour shifts. I also like starting late a Jwow because Im so over prepping. Go shopping, carry 15 kgs of shit, cut the fruit, squeeze the juices, set up both bars, set up the toilets, stock the fridge/wines/spirit/mixers, put down chairs... they give us 1 hour to do that, usually i do this alone but its not enough time. Coming in at 930pm is totally fine by me. I'll need to bring some shoes to change into though. Some 'real' shoes.

Saturday

Work 1-630pm

Usually my saturday shifts are done hung over or totally spaced out bc I'm so tired from finishing 5am the night before. I wish I lived in the city so I wouldnt worry about travel, train times and carrying sleep over shit with me. Hoepfully it wont be busy. Need to help phuong with her presenation. go home, change. Then off to Helen's House party, errrybody in the club getting tipsy.

Sunday

D 9-7pm but hopefully I can take this day off to party. I need a well needed day off..please.

Parking Cars

I illegally parked on the dirt patch at Keilor plains station. It was muddy and in even ground with a dip towards the rail roads. If your hand brake wasn't on then bye bye car. I did re arranged my car a few times to fit in with the rest of the cars. I felt my car was a four wheel drive. I wouldn't be brave enough to do this in a luxury car. Maybe I don't want a luxury car. If papa saw his car like that I'd get into trouble. I did a round of the legal parks but they are full at this time. As I wait for the train, I see a vacant car parking.. one at a golden location. Should I run and get my car? I stare at it for ages. Comon, someone take it soon so I won't be shattered.5 mins pass, I could've gotten my car and missed this train and it would all be worth it. The train came, I jumped on it. The only thing that occupied the park was a magpie.

Illegal

Training It To Train it

Do bus drivers get tired of waving to each other? I'm at Keilor plains train station waiting for the 12:11pm train. I have caught a train in ages. I'm also wearing lip gloss something which I haven't done in a while. I'm experiencing this familiar but annoying technique of pursing my lips so the wind don't blow my hair in my lips. It's a sunny 20 degree winter day. I like Melbourne because there is always the chance that winter won't feel like winter at all. I didn't bring my music player or reading material so I can soak up the full capacity of the sun.I'm on my way for a cocktail training at 1pm at Match Bar. I love alcohol training, not because I end up tipsy half way through but I like how its educational, entertaining and interactive at the time. plus last cocktail training we went to we received free stuff :). tmrw I have a trial at the retail joint from 9-12pm. I kinda cb coz I want to sleep in. I've gotten too comfortable being a bum. I can survive on jwow and centrelink money right? I've been living off $150 a week for so long now, I feel that any extra money will just go straight to my savings. I don't want to buy things that I normally wouldn't, just becoz I've got a little extra cash... that would mean I am living at higher standards. then I need more money to support ly high living standard. its a vicious cycle. I hate cycles. I'm wearing what other people may mistake as pjs. Tie dye leggings, long blue single to cover my bits and my oversized white knitted jumper. Courtforces on my feet, green and pink highlights. I feel cute. The train is here. Im paranoid ill drop my phone between the train and platform. I wish this train was roofless then it could be sunny in here.

I woke up full. Probably because I ate this last night:

Chicken Parma, chips and salad @ Lazy Moes

Thoughts on Train Journey No.7638201837478491

Just woke up in the morning gotta thank god says ice cube.

It's funny how music has an influence on ur thoughts. Just one lyric, no matter how relevant at the time, can trigger a chain of deep and meaningful thoughts. I remember the days wyen music was my life. Piano and guitar where the instruments I played. I almost always preferred classical music over POP. Classical music is forever, POP is a trend. Why would I want to learn something that won't be relevant in 20 years time?

It's so cold. I'm at Keilor plains station waiting for my train into the city for the 8473820380193th time in my 21 years of life. I love it. Public transport, weirdos drunkards and all. Being brought up in the western suburbs has exposed me to dangers of the real world. I learn to talk my way out of the attention of weirdo without sparking aggression from them. an angry face walking down the streets it Footscray is absolutely necessary. crossing the road without suspicion to avoid weirdos is absolutely necessary. I wear a ring on my right middle finger Incase I need to punch someone. or to make a rude finger gesture memorable. these boots are made for stomping. I write this I see a junkie couple breaking the law. teach + the ways of the west. I can take it.

take me away, its a beautiful day.

Phuong brought it to my attention that I have a strong urge to escape. perhaps. perhaps. today I look like Laura croft. Ahh ginifer station. year 8-10 memories and beyond. u remind me of a certain someone. how young and stupid I was. and I still have not learn from my mistakes. I wonder if your still that underweight junkie I knew u would be.

I guess u like being broke, living cheque to cheque.

the fatkids mixtape in ky ear spits out memorable lyrics. I write them as I notice them. now its that jays thinking song. what a name dropper. do u think that's cool? Americans - exaggerate. over the top. dramatic. label orientated materialistic. consuming. wasting. proud. loud. Australians -content. relaxed. casual. questioning authority. I remember when I was selling American express credit cards: Me: American express? Old man: nothing to do with America thanks. I see. train now approaching tottenham station. we are racing the cars on my right and were beating them all. suckers. childish? Child's imagination.

this is how we chill from ninety three til.

I should sit on the first carriage more often. no one jumps on and sits around me. radius of one seat empty . thank you.

9:48pm

Waiting for the last bus home. Staring at the drivers who stare as they pass. Playing connect the dots with the chewing gum stains at the 418 Keilor Plains bus stop.

Keilor Plains

1,000 Pound Bend

Melbourne was a glorious 27 degrees. that came out of now where.

Sun from my kitchen window

A pleasant surpise in the mail - the watch i bought on ebay for $1!

I had my 12 hour recovery sleep and headed into the city - the only direction in which i go. i met up with kylie, my bubbly energetic friend from high school, got tipsy at the rooftop (perfect day for it).

Rooftop relaxing - drinking wine out of a plastic tumbler?

We walked to 1,000 pound bend for a rip off bagette. but it was a very cool place with very cool people. I love their logo - Alex Trochut cudnt do a better job.

Our bagettes and view from the smoking area

Then off to my first exhibition at my uni!

London Paris Study Tour 2011

Maintenence

i saw a girl in a short dress with very hairy legs. i think to myself, why the fuck do i bother?

Summer Cleaning

I'm fucking tired. I only had 1hr sleep last night, i feel asleep just as my alarm went off to wake up. Full cleaning today at Jwow. It was like those TV shows where they turn a bomb stricken house into something brand spanking new. Floor boards look nice and since the wine's out, everything is so much more spacious. I was so tired i fell asleep on the State Library Lawns and got bitten by more mosquitos.

Mosquito Bite Tally: 009

I needed a ride home from Waterg's. I call mum who tells me to take the bus. What's the point in offering rides if you're just gonna tell me to take the bus??? I decide to go to vman's house which is closer than my house. It will take me about 20minutes to walk. The Bus leaves in 20minutes. So i decide to walk. Its 27 degrees, spitty with rain, humid, cloudy/gloomy but hot. My clothes are drenched in sweat. I keep looking behind me to see if any weirdos are following me. I'm so paranoid, I can't help it. I walk through a small alley way, the kind of alley way where girls get raped. This man is walking behind me. He takes the same turns as I do. I think he's following me, but I've got my phone in hand and I put away my ipod so I can hear his steps. He wolf whistles at me, I turn a corner. He disappears.

I walk past a house, there is a man smoking outside. He says 'Ni Hao', Mandarin for 'hello'. I ignore him. He says it louder as I pass 'Ni hao!'. Ignore.

I find out im walking around in circles. I got confused with Hume Drive and Kings Road they look the same, fucking. I found out I did a U-y around the train station, and another around Rose Hedge Park. I pass the same walker twice, except I wasn't walking for exercise, I was LOST!! What should've taken me 20 minutes took me 40. My tummy, chest and back are sweating. I get to vmans house, eat a large slice of lasagna, watch 1 eposoide of the Simpsons and Futurama ( I Love Leela) and conk out on vman's bed. I hate vman's bed. I wake up miserable with neck or back pains. I don't know how one can get used to it. I'll shut up with my complaining now that I've gotten it out. I got paid today, WOO. I downloaded my second movie. It's called Tais-Toi a french comedy about two people who escape from prison. I'm downloading a few other movies. One called Delicatessen (really looking forward to it). and I wanna watch City of Lost Children. These two movies have something in common:

black/dark comedy, surrealism, horror, fantasy, experimental

Check this song out, James played it at Jwow today. It's so smooth and sexy. Something you slow walk too down a pier on during a summer sunset in nothing but high heels, white bikini with shiny gold trimming, loosely covered with a white sarong that reveals sexy tanned skin with the gentle blow of the wind. Curren$y - Famous

Hip Hop Dancing

Yay, me and vman are back together :) i walked to his house on my way to watergardens station. he was lying on this bed, just woke up, hugging his pillow and pretending to be sick and tired. but it was obvious that he was happy to see me. he kept hiding his face in the pillow and when he peeked at me he was smiling, i could see it in his smiling eyes.

cute.

vman's so cute. i wish i couldve taken a photo to post up here. vman didnt want me to walk to the station so he dropped me off. it was raining.

my train was stopping at stations for 5 minutes at a time (it seemed). At Sunshine the train stopped because some idiot was smoking on the trains, the driver wanted to air out the smoke so the smoke detectors don't go off. At Tottenham, the police were called because some crazy lady was on the train tracks. we had to wait for the cops to arrive and that the lady was safely out of way. Then the train lights started flickering, i thought we were going to have a power-out. But we didn't. phew.

I had a weirdo on the train come up to. It's no where near the first time this has happened but i always thought weirdo's on the train were normal. Until you go to London, Paris and Dubai and notice that most commuters there are civilized and sober.

I see this small middle aged aussie walking down the carriage. I can hear the clinking of beer bottles in his plastic bag, he holds a Carlton Draught in his left hand. I'm listening to my ipod and pretending that whatevers outside the window is interesting. My heart starts to beat faster when he comes up to me out of all the people on the train.

Drunko: hello, do you want a boyfriend?

Me: No

Drunko: Do you already have a boyfriend?

Me: Yes

Drunko: Are you just saying that you have a boyfriend?

Me: No

Drunko sits down in front of me and my heart beats faster.

Drunko: Are you going to see him tonight?

Me: Yes

Drunko: In those leggings?

Me: Yes

Drunko: Does he think you look hot in leggings?

He looks at my outstretched legs and taps my knee with his right hand. I pull back my legs immediately.

Me: Excuse me. Don't touch me.

Drunko: Okay, I won't. Does he think you look hot in leggings?

Me: What??

Drunko: Does he think you look hot in leggings?

Me: I don't know. You'll have to ask him.

Drunko: Okay, well you have a good one darling.

Drunk walks away sensing I don't want to talk. I feel violated that he touched me, even if it was a tap. My knee feels hot and dirty. It feels like there was acid on his hands, and now my knee is burning from the acid. I can feel it now. yuck.

I meet up with Wandy at Flinders Street Station. We were going to Space Dance and Arts Centre in Prahran for a 1.5hr intermediate dance class. That shit is a fucking work out. I was already sweating after the stretches and the humidity in the room didnt help either. By the end of the thing my entire top was soaked in sweat (lucky it was a dark colour) and my BRA was soaked in sweat, especially the fabric around the wiring. Incredible.

We danced to 'Last Train to Paris' by Strobe Light feat. Lil Wayne - for some reason I can't find it on youtube.

Travel Accomplishments So Far

its my last weekend in london and ive lost my opportunity it to party. i want to get drunk and go clubbing but i dont think the people im with are down. today i drank 4 cups of mulled wine and 1 class of white wine and smoked the majority of the grape flavoured sheesha. here are some things ive accomplished during my london stay so far:

1. ride ontop of a double decker bus and sat right at the top/front
2. ride the london underground - gangsta
3. tried mexican, moroccan/lebanese, polish, turkish and GOOD italian food and mulled wine
4. kindaa picked up a 'slight' hint of the english accent - gangsta
5. shopped at Primark, ate at Prets (ham&mustard yumminess) and peeked into H&M (disappointed)
6. breathed through the crowds in Primark
7. Camden, Borough and Portobello Markets
8. interacted with the locals
9. listened to and purchased some London sounding music - Deep House he called it
10. Completed the Design Museum, British museum, Central St. Martins
11. survived the wind, drizzle, fog and cold - not yet snow
12. have not gotten lost (to an extent but never felt i was in a bad situation)
13. eaten out for dinner everyday (except for 1 which i slept through)
14. got along with my roomies
15. endured the trip without feeling homesick or even thought about home in a longing way
16. felt independent and went out on several occassions by myself, night and day - gangsta
17. felt comfortable and at home here
18. locals asking me for directions .. in their own city! ha!
19. taken a photo with jonny depp, russell brand and brad pitt - im so cool.

Melbourne International

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On my way to Camden Tottenham Court Road Station

They finally let me in Buckingham Palace

Camden Markets, I Love You

I have a new place to shop, its better than American Apparel. For those who know me nothing beats American Apparel and I've bought 4 colours in the same American Apparel jacket. This place is called camden markets and its massive. we took the train from Nottinghill Gate, to Tottenham Gate then another train to Camden Town. As soon as we got off we were greeted with open air markets bustling with hundreds and hundreds of people. it is mainly clothes and jewellery for sale. sometimes you would get london photography, shoes. there are plenty of hats, ear muffs and gloves. they are what is usually displayed outside the shops to lure people in.

Camden Town

the market is a combination of open air stalls, stalls inside halls and actual shops/buildings that you walk into. the buildings were decorated with whatever the store name was. so the Levi's building was painted denim blue with Levis in white and a red tag - just like the jeans. The converse store had massive sculptres of chuck Taylors comming out of the wall. and the asian resturant had a massive dragon.. its all very 3D.

Levis Store

i bought som much things. i was a kid in a candy store. i love markets for the hunt of a bargain and the feeling of never knowing what you might find. markets also serve for inspiration for designers or creative people. here are the things i bouht today:

• gold skull ring wearing sunglasses that you can flip on and off its face hehe
• sterling silver triangle earrings/studs (sterling silver is so fkn cheap)
• turquoise wooden ring
• wooden texture circle ring
• awesome brown fur russian style hat with ear flaps (im wearing now heh its fun to wear)
• gangsta typical timberland boots (nice looking, light weight and comfortable)
• and a few other things that are presents but i cannot say it here just incase they find out and it wont be a surprise!

london fashion is different. i new it from the start but i saw it with all the things they sell at the markets. my perception of is it still classy, neat, tailored, subtle but at the same time unique and interesting. its kinda fun wearing and buying al this winter stuff. i thought winter clothes were a bad thing, heavy clothes and multiple layers but now i see it as a good thing. more clothes = more potential for styling. accessorise with scraves, gloves, hats. its fun to choose different coats, jackets, boots.. and heels.. maybe winter is a good thing. it wasnt as cold as it was yesterday i didnt even need gloves and at a couple times today i actually sweated. we tried mulled wine for the first time today. i didntknow that wine could be so yummy!! mulled wine is red wine warmed up and mixed with sugar, spices and citrus fruits like orange and lemon. for london weather, mulled wine is perfect. we sipped our wine and browsed through the markets. it was soo good we got another cup. i willmake it at home when i get back hehe. the markets were also lined with foods from all over the world. indian, central american, west african, polish, japanese, mexican... thats when i realised london isso mulitcultural, australias got nothing compared to this! very large cookies were stacked up in coloumns of flavour, and after purchasing they will be warmed up and ready for eating. there were donut stands/carts. food is displayed as they were if they were sold to a customer. it was exposed and 'touchable' to the customer, one cud even pick at it and eat if they wanted. i felt it was unhygienic, but at the same time it made feel 'trusted' , it made me want to come closer for a look. food presentation is so pleasant and inviting! if i had a food stall back home id know exactly how to present now hehe.

Which donut would you like?

Seating

Talib Kweli

You're only scared of dying if you ain't living right wise words

Chancery Lane

Hello London - you are amazing

as i type this i am sitting on my bed at the Palace Court Holiday Apartments on corner Baystreet and Palace Courts, W2 London, England, UK. it took me about 24hours to fly here plus all the waiting time and delays and land transportation. this trip will cost me $5,400 plus meals (lunch and dinner) and spending money. it will be amazing. we spend about 1.5weeks here in london then we take the Eurostar train off to Paris for the remainder 1.5 weeks. this is all part of what Swinburne Uni calls a Study Tour. We travel to another country/city and visit art/design museums, design schools, councils, institutions and studios to see what design is like here, or how culture influences design. this tour is an academic unit of study but i take it more of a holiday. it really feels like it anyway, visiting galleries and design houses is fun! so everyday of the week, we have somewhere to be. we have to meet the group there at a specific time, after that we are required to visit another place that is design related by ourselves. after that, and the weekends included, we are free to explore - we can even take a trip outside our city providing we be back in time for the next scheduled occasion. its really independent and this is a good opportunity for me to learn about everything in general! this blog is a record of all the things i did on my trip. forgive me if this is not updated as i also have to record my experiences in a journal and id rather not repeat my experiences. Day 1: Breakfast - ceral + bread with REAL strawberry jam with chunks of strawberries made in FRANCE Walk through Kennsington and Hyde Parks Buckingham Palace Lunch - Carbonara pasta Go back home im so fkn tired Sleep and wake up now

The London Eye from afar

The massive 'bear' dog called Toots

Let's sit by Hyde Lake and admire the fog, shall we?

I'm so excited

We knew we were close to Buckingham Palace when we saw these babies. The Royal guards on horseback escorted by English policemen, they took up a whole lane on the road!

Really? You have Post Man Pat post boxes??

Buckingham Palace - so many tourists!

At the palace gates

it's almost 7am in Melbourne but 8pm here in london. the time differents is 13hours. i thought id be able to take the time variations seeing that i:

1. am a night owl and i sleep from 4am- 1pm
2. i am not restricted by the time and sleep/eat/do whatever i feel like when my body does
3. i think i have a strong mentality and control over my body through the power of the mind

but i was wrong. on the way here it slept at for about 6hours (in 24hours) and my first night here i feltso tired by 9pm. i woke up at 5am nd then fell sleepy at 10am, forced myself to wake up and cudnt take anymore. feel sleep by 1pm and went to sleep at 2pm. woke up about 7pm. sick.. we're going out for dinner. eveyrone seems to eat at pubs here. really? i want my asian resturants in st. albans. bringback $8.80 wonton and egg noodle soups!!! continued: we ate at a cosy italian resturant down the road. ihavent eaten much italian but it was the best italian food ive ever tasted. the pasta i had was cooked perfectly - it was a bit hard and therefore chewy mmmmmmmd texture unlike the mushy shit we do at home. i thught if it was undercooked like it was, that id get a sore stummy. but if thats they way the italians do it then iwill too. hehe. the sauce was very tomatoey, sweet but at the same time sour and the chicken pieces in it tasted like it absorbed all the tomato juices. mmmmmmmmm i was sucking out the juices as i waschewing the chicken. im normally a fast eater but for this meal i new i had to eat it slow. infact i was the last one to finish! i even ate the onions. i had a matching glass of merlot. my meal cost 13 pounds or about 20 dollars. not bad. after that we had a walk to the Tesco supermarket were we bought small nibbles. i was surpised to see they sold vegemite! i had to take a photo of this. who takes photos of food in the supermarket??? weirdos.

Vegemite in London

Marketing.

Sunny, 27degrees, light breeze was the weather today. got up quite early (9:15am) to catch the 10:09am train from watergardens. travelled to Glenferrie for my marketing lecture and class. got back my mid semester test results and found out i did really bad, and so did the rest of the class. yay. i got 18/30 thats 60% thats about a pass or credit.

the subject of marketing is annoying, there are so many terms with the most simplist definitions, it defeats the purpose of having terms! for example

Target Marketing Selection : process of choosing a market to target

Marketing Strategy Development : developing strategy

Marketing Intelligence : any everyday info about the marketing environment

Marketing Information System (MIS) : process used to gather information

it makes everything difficult to understand.

I applied for a bartending position. its gona be a very cool job, IF i get accepted. I handed my resume and personalised cover letter to this nice man named James, shooked his hand and everything. I hope it was a good impression, i told him it took me two days to write the cover letter. i told him not to forget me. tmrw ive gotta go to femme and notify kirra of my application and my intent to leave once i get accepted. i hate quitting, i cant find the right words to say, especially to kirra =(

Central Station, Sydney City