Older
So I've had my birthday. As my older-by-11-days-former-housemate said, welcome to the mid 30s.
Thinking of former housemates, I was thinking of a temporary housemate called Martin. He moved in as a replacement for one housemate who was travelling the US, and whilst the other housemate (who already knew him) was on holidays. So it was just me and him rattling around in a large 3 bedroom place, me who was totally green and didn't know anything about Sydney/starting a professional life, and him who talked big.
Examples? He convinced me that his times for swimming 50 metres were equivalent to female Olympians and that he could run 100metres only 2 seconds slower than Olympians, due to extensive participation in triathlon training during his years at a prestigious (but unknown to me) Sydney school. Just think of those born-to-rule Chaser boys without the humour. Unfortunately I can't remember his last name and can't google him to see what he is up to now, only can remember my friend H, on listening to me repeat his legendary stories, suggest that he might be full of crap. He did manage to entertain me once, when he returned home on a Sunday after having been AWOL since Thursday. He was a little concerned that I was worried about him (I don't think I was; and wouldn't have known anyone to alert anyway; plus this was the day of lower mobile phone penetration so neither of us had mobiles) and so he gave me a lengthy explanation of his 60 hours away from our lower north shore flat. It began with him heading off to his UNSW lab on Thursday morning on public transport; having such a long work day that he couldn't be bothered catching public transport home again; inspecting a room for rent that was only the size of a cupboard and was a big waste of time (I think this also sabotaged his public transport home plans); spending up big on cheap drinks and raffle tickets at the Randwick or Coogee RSL; winning the meat tray; giving away the meat tray because he didn't want to travel with it on public transport; winning a tape recorder; sleeping in his office again; travelling home hungover to our flat.
Then he tried to sell me the tape recorder for $50. When I wouldn't buy it, I think he tried to give it to me and still I wouldn't bite. It was pink. It was the era of CDs. Neither of us wanted it.
I was looking for a new place to live and was only halfheartedly keeping this secret from him when I had phone conversations with H, who was probably the only friend I'd made in Sydney by that stage; he only halfheartedly pretended not to listen to my phone conversations and teased me for speculating about whether a work couple really were "on". Then my housemate returned from her holiday, we all had a fantastic late night at a cafe together, I decided they weren't so bad, and told them I was moving out. Even though the next place wasn't much better and was an inferior flat, it was the right decision-the other housemate was toxic for my self esteem.
Anyhoo, mid 30s. It is funny how sustaining it is to now have my own flat and family life. My flat is cosy and mine, decorated (mostly) the way I like it, it will be a tidy trade in for the eventual house we try to get. And in the meantime it is convenient to the inner city for friends to drop in, easy to venture out to the park on weekends. I like it. Family life-I have always been sensitive to not gush too much, mindful of what it is like to be childless not by choice, and fearful of how precious things can be shortlived, but I love it. My boy is lovely to have around. Today he kept touching and stroking my hands, tried to pull at my fingers, gripped my hair, arched his back to get out of his chair, constantly wriggled and twisted on his toy mat. Growing so fast and I am enjoying having the time to watch him. When I have to go back, I'm glad I've kept the 2 days home and think I can manage the budget like that. Looking for the next job will be a pain, I only want the sort of professionally tiered job that is normally full time, but I guess that's negotiation for you!
Birthday was alright-low key, didn't tell friends because it just seemed too narcissitic. Husband arsed it up and didn't get me a card or present and had to be directed, on the day, to take me to brunch and birthday shopping, without any original suggestions of his own. He belatedly realises that he "failed". I said I was most disappointed by the absence of a card-that's all I really need nowadays. And shoes. However I did get some lino and good paper and we dug up my lino print tools and inks and then we got some books and he is edging closer to sorting out our spare room which I want to be a babies room/art room and he wants to be a study/space for him. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be happy? Did have grand plans to make it to Scammell's auction house to get a feel for prices but was enjoying lounging too much, watching Veronica Mars. Which is what triggered the family life comment-one of the themes is class warfare, particularly how the rich people keep "buying" marks/college entries/futures for their children, so that their future prospects exceed what they might "deserve" on their own merits. So very eastern suburbs.
Thinking of former housemates, I was thinking of a temporary housemate called Martin. He moved in as a replacement for one housemate who was travelling the US, and whilst the other housemate (who already knew him) was on holidays. So it was just me and him rattling around in a large 3 bedroom place, me who was totally green and didn't know anything about Sydney/starting a professional life, and him who talked big.
Examples? He convinced me that his times for swimming 50 metres were equivalent to female Olympians and that he could run 100metres only 2 seconds slower than Olympians, due to extensive participation in triathlon training during his years at a prestigious (but unknown to me) Sydney school. Just think of those born-to-rule Chaser boys without the humour. Unfortunately I can't remember his last name and can't google him to see what he is up to now, only can remember my friend H, on listening to me repeat his legendary stories, suggest that he might be full of crap. He did manage to entertain me once, when he returned home on a Sunday after having been AWOL since Thursday. He was a little concerned that I was worried about him (I don't think I was; and wouldn't have known anyone to alert anyway; plus this was the day of lower mobile phone penetration so neither of us had mobiles) and so he gave me a lengthy explanation of his 60 hours away from our lower north shore flat. It began with him heading off to his UNSW lab on Thursday morning on public transport; having such a long work day that he couldn't be bothered catching public transport home again; inspecting a room for rent that was only the size of a cupboard and was a big waste of time (I think this also sabotaged his public transport home plans); spending up big on cheap drinks and raffle tickets at the Randwick or Coogee RSL; winning the meat tray; giving away the meat tray because he didn't want to travel with it on public transport; winning a tape recorder; sleeping in his office again; travelling home hungover to our flat.
Then he tried to sell me the tape recorder for $50. When I wouldn't buy it, I think he tried to give it to me and still I wouldn't bite. It was pink. It was the era of CDs. Neither of us wanted it.
I was looking for a new place to live and was only halfheartedly keeping this secret from him when I had phone conversations with H, who was probably the only friend I'd made in Sydney by that stage; he only halfheartedly pretended not to listen to my phone conversations and teased me for speculating about whether a work couple really were "on". Then my housemate returned from her holiday, we all had a fantastic late night at a cafe together, I decided they weren't so bad, and told them I was moving out. Even though the next place wasn't much better and was an inferior flat, it was the right decision-the other housemate was toxic for my self esteem.
Anyhoo, mid 30s. It is funny how sustaining it is to now have my own flat and family life. My flat is cosy and mine, decorated (mostly) the way I like it, it will be a tidy trade in for the eventual house we try to get. And in the meantime it is convenient to the inner city for friends to drop in, easy to venture out to the park on weekends. I like it. Family life-I have always been sensitive to not gush too much, mindful of what it is like to be childless not by choice, and fearful of how precious things can be shortlived, but I love it. My boy is lovely to have around. Today he kept touching and stroking my hands, tried to pull at my fingers, gripped my hair, arched his back to get out of his chair, constantly wriggled and twisted on his toy mat. Growing so fast and I am enjoying having the time to watch him. When I have to go back, I'm glad I've kept the 2 days home and think I can manage the budget like that. Looking for the next job will be a pain, I only want the sort of professionally tiered job that is normally full time, but I guess that's negotiation for you!
Birthday was alright-low key, didn't tell friends because it just seemed too narcissitic. Husband arsed it up and didn't get me a card or present and had to be directed, on the day, to take me to brunch and birthday shopping, without any original suggestions of his own. He belatedly realises that he "failed". I said I was most disappointed by the absence of a card-that's all I really need nowadays. And shoes. However I did get some lino and good paper and we dug up my lino print tools and inks and then we got some books and he is edging closer to sorting out our spare room which I want to be a babies room/art room and he wants to be a study/space for him. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be happy? Did have grand plans to make it to Scammell's auction house to get a feel for prices but was enjoying lounging too much, watching Veronica Mars. Which is what triggered the family life comment-one of the themes is class warfare, particularly how the rich people keep "buying" marks/college entries/futures for their children, so that their future prospects exceed what they might "deserve" on their own merits. So very eastern suburbs.
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