Bike riding and reading novels about music

Yesterday I lived the dream. We fitted our new kids bike seat to the back of Andy's bike and as a family, we caught the train to the beach and cycled up and down the esplanade. Bec, Ned & Gus joined us and we kept cycling past Fort Glanville and the surf club before returning to Noonies for mediocre milkshakes. 

But the outlook was great: beautiful ocean with the sheen of a sunny day and wave crests formed by the wind. Next time, we plan to get off the train even further north. I love the peninsula, it's quaint and slightly dated. Whilst Andy and the kid got their playground fix, I went and got our caffeine fix. After getting takeaway coffees, I visited the supermarket to get biscuits. Sitting outside were two "disaffected youths"-that being the term if I was an out of touch sub editor or the like. I've got "disaffected youths" on my mind, ever since reading "Girl" and it's sequel "Dream School" by Blake Nelson, who also authored "Paranoid Park" which was made into a film. What are disaffected youths, generally, other than some kids who want to hang out in public with other kids whilst wearing black? Anyway, as I checked out the disaffected youths sitting on the concrete, holding their skateboards, I recognised one: Ned's close friend from primary school. (The boys have gone their separate ways this year for secondary school). I yelled out hi, and got a gidday back. He's still the same sweet kid, into music and pop culture and with many friends, yet often "bored". Why do teenagers become bored? 

 Finished reading "The Exes" by Pagan Kennedy, which I ordered last month, in a frenzy of online shopping. All my book choices were from the Book Slut review of music themed fiction, eg books about being in a band (Gary Benchley Rock Star!, The Exes) or following a band (GIRL). I also ordered Square Pegs, which was Sarah Jessica Parker's first TV series, and has cameos from new wave/early 80s bands. So far I've seen The Waitresses perform. I would love to be able to see "Love is a Four Letter Word" again, the late 90s ABC TV series. I suspect it would be good and bad in equal measures, but I did love the location (The Australian is a great drinking spot), and it does provide a time capsule of some indie bands and a scene that as predicted, snuffed it with the expansion of pokie machines. I can remember thinking the Sydney music scene would be so gigantic compared to Adelaide, when I relocated there, but in reality the pub band scene was more contained to the inner west; and then there were a handful of larger venues where more established bands played. Probably my best night was a tribute/benefit session at the Newtown RSL, each band performing 2 songs, a tight in crowd of fans, friends and music lovers.

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