It’s Saturday afternoon and it’s another warm day in Sydney. As you walk around outside, the sun beats down, so it’s nice to be indoors with the fan blowing. Since I last wrote I’ve been a busy little beaver, both with work and attending a few Sydney Festival events and going to the movies (although I have to admit it was the same movie I saw twice!)
My niece, Michelle came down from Lismore for a doctor’s visit. I met her at the airport and, ahead of the appointment at 1.30, took her for a tour around Sydney. We paid a visit to the Opera House, The Rocks (where we had lunch at The Orient), the City and to the set of Channel 7’s Sunrise. At the Opera House, I took this especially good photograph of Michele in front of the Harbour Bridge. I also travelled on Wednesday, I travelled to Rooty Hill for the funeral of a work colleague’s mother. I’ve never been to Rooty Hill before and I can tell you, there’s not a lot there. It was also stinking hot until the torrential rain hit.
Perhaps it’s a trick of memory, but I vividly recall enjoying live music on the Paris Metro. Or maybe it was Madrid? Or Maybe both? It adds a certain vibrancy that’s missing from Sydney’s otherwise excellent system. Here, stepping onto a train is like entering a sea of bowed heads, illuminated by the cold glow of smartphone screens.
Now, I’m as guilty as anyone of using my phone on public transport – for reading, music, podcasts, you name it. But I also make an effort to engage with the world around me, to offer a smile or a friendly nod. What I observe, however, is a pervasive sense of detachment and unhappiness. When I mentioned this on Facebook, a friend suggested people might be engrossed in books. But if they are, they must be truly depressing reads, judging by the expressions I see!
Sydney Metro
This worries me. Are we becoming a nation of individuals so absorbed in our digital worlds that we shut out everything else? It’s particularly noticeable for someone like me, who lives with a disability. I often rely on the designated seating, but people rarely look up from their phones, oblivious to those around them. Countless times I’ve had to ask someone to vacate a seat. Often, they’ll glance up, register the situation, but then hesitate, hoping someone else will take action.
Just today, an elderly man boarded the light rail, and I instinctively offered him my seat. The passengers around me simply observed, seemingly without a twinge of conscience. This lack of awareness and social responsibility is baffling.
Amidst the sea of somber faces on the metro today, I witnessed a heartwarming scene that instantly lifted my spirits. A mother held her young son up to peer out the front window of the train. Their faces were lit up with pure joy, their smiles stretching from ear to ear. It was a beautiful contrast to the pervasive gloom, a reminder of the simple pleasures that can brighten even the most mundane commute.
My Facebook post sparked a lively discussion, with comments ranging from complaints about noisy social media videos to the joys of digital reading. But the underlying concern remains: are we losing our connection to the present moment, to the shared experience of public spaces?
This isthe conversation I had with one friend on Facebook…
Her: James, my mobile phone is my traveling library – I’m actually reading a book on public transport, not just scrolling through social media! It’s the “walking zombies” on the footpath that are the real problem. 🤯 Someone nearly walked right into Alex and his power chair today!
Me: I’m totally with you on the “walking zombies.” If they were looking at a map to navigate, I’d get it, but most are just oblivious to the world around them. 🚶♂️🧟♀️
Her: Exactly! When I’m walking with Alex (a friend of hers who is a wheelchair user), I spend half my time yelling “Watch out!” because he has limited vision on his left side. It’s scary how unaware people can be.
Perhaps it’s time to look up from our screens, embrace the world around us, and rediscover the simple pleasure of human interaction.
In Australia, the phrase “map of Tasmania” is used to refer to female pubic hair, although in these days of “the Brazilian” it may be on the verge of falling out of favour. One of the funniest things about visiting Tasmania was the common use of the phrase “map of Tasmania” without even the slightest wry grin. Oh yes, and the local commercial radio station is HO-FM which the locals call H.O.F.M. but which I thought should be called HO-F.M. That made me laugh too. And I couldn’t stop saying “Ho-ho-bart”, as in Prue and Trude from Kath and Kim who used to refer to jojoba as “ho-ho-ba”. Okay, all of the siliness out of the way, Hobart is fan-bloody-tastic!
Hobart’s best known attraction is the Salamanca Place Markets, held each Saturday. I’m not a great one for markets at the best of times – how many wooden chopping boards or hand-painted plates do you need – but I can see the attraction for these. Thankfully there’s no crap: everything is home made, home crafted and home grown which makes them truly genuine. The music – whether it be teenagers on violins or “ethnic drummers” is also honest and genuine. I guess the reason I don’t like markets generally is the crowds… I hate getting caught into the vortex of thousands of people looking at home made pottery and tubs of local honey… and so even at these markets I had to take some time out.
And so from there I headed up Kelly’s Steps to Battery Point which is an old port and maritime village and one of the swishest places to live in Hobart. It’s kind of like The Rocks, though far less seedy. Thank goodness for the long-term impoverishment of Hobart which, I’m told, is the reason why so many of the historic buildings remain standing, unlike a city such as Perth, which is very modern, thanks to that city’s reliance on the wealth of the mining industry. Thank goodness for poverty! The buildings of Battery Poin are gorgeous and every one has a view, either of the Derwent River or of Mount Wellington, the large imposing mountain which becomes snow-capped in winter and which gives Hobart a slightly Alpine, European feel to it.
In many respects, I thought the landscape around Hobart was a little like the landscape around Canberra. Although I’m not exactly sure, I’d imagine both towns/cities are at a similar elevation. The rolling hillside around Hobart also reminded me of the landscape around Canberra, towards Goulburn and towards Braidwood.
I had a good chance to see the landscape when, on Saturday, a friend from work, Jen and I drove to Peppermint Bay, located about thirty minutes south of Hobart. We had a coffee and scone at a terrific venue overlooking the bay, wandered around an art gallery with too many overpriced watercolours and then paid a visit to the Sheep Cheesery. We were there just before the sheep were to be milked for the day, but on taking a look at the photographs of what was about to occur, thought the better of it.
By and large, I ate really well in Hobart and on most occasions it was around the waterfront. T42 is one of the hottest places in Hobart at the moment. The bar is good, the prices are okay and the food is also good. On Friday night I ate a a very yummy duck dish which was very nice and reasonably priced. And then on Saturday night I ate next door at, “Athena’s On The Pier”. Jen and I shared a delicious mezze plate which consisted of a selection of dips, spinach pie, char-grilled baby octopus, marinated chicken fillets, mixed olives and feta cheese, Greek style meatballs and dolmathes. I also had the Oktapodi psito or “island style char-grilled octopus” which was locally caught octopus, marinated then char-grilled, finely sliced and served with lemon and tzatziki. Unfortunately, the restaurant has been sold and will close next weekend. I also ate Maldini, a terrific Italian restaurant – we started with the Antipasto Misto and then I had a mussell-based risotto – located in a gorgeous convict-built building. Highly recommended.
But there were a couple of downsides… minor ones. At all the places I ate, vegetarian meals weren’t high on the agenda. And Hobart’s culinary oddity is the flat white. At a number of places in Hobart when you ask for a flat white, the coffee and the milk arrive separately. The rationale, I’m told is that you can choose yourself just how much milk you want. Although it may work for some people, it resulted in me burning the roof of my mouth. Shall I grind the beans for you as well?
The only other negative was a case of sunburn on Saturday. I guess it was the combination of the alpine vista and the ozone layer hole which is located above Tasmania that left me slightly pink.
I’m normally quite a good “public transport sleeper”. I can, for example, hop on a bus at Railway Square, going into a deep “power nap” and wake up seconds before I need to get off the bus in Surry Hills On a plane, I am normally asleep before take-off, and also wake up just seconds before the first meal arrives.
On the way home from Cronulla tonight, however, I slept through the stop at Central and ended up at Martin Place. Whoops! I guess it’s the length of the trip from Cronulla, where you go into an intense sleep as opposed to a power nap. Or maybe it was the several glasses of wine and beer that we consumed?
I had dinner tonight with Damo and his boss, as a kind of “farewell” to Damien who is heading off overseas for the next four months or so. Damo and his boss have worked together for twelve years, and I’ve known her for almost all of that time, and so it was also for me, a chance to catch up with her.
And what better a location than the restaurant at the Wanda Surf Live Saving Club. With spectacular views, really good service, great food (including ample portions), and some lovely champagne and white wine to accompany, we had a really terrific few hours together. From the view, we could watch the whales and the seals, and the people coming in and out of the water from their after-work swims.
About to eat pork belly for dinner at the Wanda Surf Live Saving Club Restaurant
Seriously though, it’s a good place, and we were blessed with the weather. I don’t go to The Shire all that often, and when I do I always enjoy it. Another friend who lives also at Cronulla rang me during the meal. “She must be psychic knowing I’m in The Shire,” I said at one point over dinner. After dinner, we chatted further at the Cronulla Club (the local bowls club), and Damo gave me a tour of his new apartment. It was a lovely way to spend Friday evening.
The other news of the day is that I started in my new job. It was a day of passwords, printers, distributions lists, and chats about “what do you do? and which days do you work?”
I also appeared briefly on the radio in the weekly debate on James Valentine. The debate today… “that Scandinavia has nothing to offer the world”. It was a perfect topic for me, of course.
So overall, a memorable day in many respects.
On a downside, one of the taxi drivers we had insisted on sharing a few jokes with us. Anti-Muslim jokes. Doesn’t help the cause guys…
As I sit down on New Years Eve to think about what’s happened in my life this year, there’s so much to reflect upon: overseas trips, new adventures at work, and the death of a close family member.
I ended last year feeling 2009 had been a year of treading water: I hadn’t really done all that much exciting in either my personal or professional life.
I began 2010 with a renewed sense of anticipation: in March I was returning to Sweden in significantly different circumstances to the last time in 2008. and I was to be on a panel at the Radio Days Conference in Copenhagen.
After my trip there in the summer two years ago, I was keen to go back and experience Sweden at a different time of the year. “Could I cope with the long, dark cold winter months?”, I asked myself. Probably not is the answer, but I gave the end of winter/the start of spring a try by visiting Sweden during March. When I arrived it was snowing and the waterways around Stockholm were frozen over. I went out on a ice-breaker and walked on ice for the first time in my life, nearly escaping plunging to my death by walking too close to the edge of a wharf. It would have been a dramatic way to go, though, wouldn’t it?
Stockholm winter ice tour
As well as experiencing the delights of a Swedish spring, I also went to Melodifestivalen, the Swedish finals for Eurovision, attended quite a few pop concerts, met some interesting people, and generally had a fine holiday.
I was also lucky enough to be invited to be a panelist at the Radio Days Europe Conference held in March in Copenhagen, and got to meet some people working in similar jobs in different parts of the world.
Captured on video at Radio Days Europe
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing. Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, includng all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
My last trip was very much a backpacker’s adventure, whereas this was a more grown up holiday experience. Deep in the back of my mind throughout was the question about whether or not I’d like to live in Sweden for a while, or whether this was a short-term obsession that would pass with time. I’ve concluded the answer is yes, I’d like to live there, and have 2012 as the ball-park year I’d like to do it, though that may go back a little depending on what happens with work.
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing.
Thats me and thats the Great Wall of China
Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, including all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
James O’Brien, Phil James and Guy Maestri on the Great Wall of China
On the professional front, I enjoyed the challenges of a new “acting” position throughout most of the year looking after nationally networked content on ABC Radio. And then towards the end of the year, “acting” in the role of Network Development Manager which looks after a range of special event programming and other associated “development” work. Many aspects of the job are pretty sexy, and I loved acting in the role, and then securing it in the days before Christmas.
On the personal front, I went on a couple of dates this year, though nothing long-term came from either. I’ve yet to come to grips with how I feel about the idea of a relationship. Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to have someone there in a different way to close friends. Other times I feel like it may be all too much, and that deep down I know that I’m probably still too selfish to share my life with someone else and vice versa. I’m also reminded of advice several years ago which was “don’t leave it to late”.
Sadness struck our family this year with the death of Gloria, who plays a special role in my life. After several years suffering with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s she died in June this year. In many ways her passing was a relief as she had been in a lot of pain for quite some time. Her death has affected her immediate family of Sharon and John deeply, as they had also lost son, John, three years ago. On the positive side, I’m hoping it’s lead to a renewed closeness between all of us.
Gloria Pepper, James O’Brien
I spent the last ten days of the year at home with my family in Lismore. Usually I just come home for a few days and then head back to Sydney, but I think I got the mix right this year. I was allowed to work from the office in Lismore which meant I could spend daytime at work, but night-time and weekend with my family which made for a very happy combination for all of us.
This time last year I felt as though I’d spent the year “treading water”. A year later, I feel like I’m happier, healthier (I’ve also lost weight this year), and generally feeling quite good about myself and my life.
Looking ahead to 2011, there’s a lot to anticipate. I have a new job, and hopefully the capacity to do some interesting work. Our art group, Hawkesbury One, winds up with an exhibition at the Newcastle Regional Gallery. And although I have no firm travel plans for the year, I’m sure something will eventuate. But overall, looking ahead to 2011, I’m feeling pretty good about life.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) marks seven weeks that I’ve been “working from home”. I’ve been in to work only once (to pick up some equipment to assist me to work at home). For the most part it’s been a pretty positive experience, though there are some negatives about the blurred line between “work” and “home”.
For example, I’m having lots of work-related dreams. And because there’s no “commute” between work and the office, I sometimes forget to have a shower. “Did I have a shower today?”, I’ve sometimes asked myself. I’m also sick to death of wearing pretty much the same casual clothing seven days a week.
What’s keeping me sane? The little things.
On the way out the door tonight I snapped a shot of myself in the elevator mirror. With the exception of the shirt and the shoes, I’m wearing some new clothes I bought online. After days and days of wearing shorts and t-shirts/polo-shirts, I felt like getting dressed up a little tonight, even if it was only to wander down the street.
My new favourite local coffee shop is Royale, on the corner of Crown and Davies Streets in Surry Hills. https://royalespecialty.com/ Whether it’s a meeting on the balcony, or a meeting in the home office, they’re keeping me sane with delicious treats and awesome coffee.One of my favourite local restaurants, Via Napoli has transformed itself into an Italian Supermarket. As well as their regular takeaway pizza you can buy pasta, biscotti etc, and wine. $12 bottles of Italian wine. “Get in and consume it now, because when they re-open it will be $12 a glass”, a friend of mine joked on the phone yesterday.
I always listen to a lot of radio. Even at work I can multi-task by listening to the radio most of the day, while going about my job. With fewer distractions – phone calls, conversations – I’m listening a lot more intently, which I’m enjoying very much.
I’ve also been watching a bit of narrative television, which is something I ordinarily don’t do a lot of.
Text conversation with a friend. Me: Have you watched Mrs America? Can’t decide if I like it or not. Keep giggling at Tracey Ullman thinking she’s taking the piss. Her: I have and I want to love it but it’s a bit one note … and we get it Gloria is gorgeous..
I also watched Hollywood on Netflix the other day. In fact, I watched all seven episodes on Saturday alone. I found the first few episodes interesting and entertaining, as it explored some of the taboos of Hollywood in the post-war period. But as the series moved on, I lost interest, and found the final episode quite predictable. Still, Patti Lupone is awesome, and there’s a bit of eye-candy in the show, too.
The other show that’s been recommended to me is called “A Secret Love”. It’s a Netflix show about two women who’ve been in a relationship for 60 years, but only “come out” towards the end of their life together. “Lots of tears”, according to one friend. “A bit too long”, according to another.
“You must definitely have the octopus”, I told my next door neighbours who were seated a few tables away from us at the new Greek restaurant which opened this week in our part of Crown Street, Surry Hills. Like me, they had a curiosity about the what was on offer from the Ouzo Taverna.
The serve was large, tasty, and we even toyed with the idea of ordering a second helping. We also tried a salad (a little disappointing), some lamb (very good), and some vegetable-based fritters (good). Though we toyed with the idea of having a desert, we lost interest as the service later in the evening was a little slow.
Instead, we wandered a few doors up the road, and had coffee and cake at Kürtősh, a cafe with a Hungarian name, though you would never really say it was a “Hungarian Cafe”. Very yummy, and a terrific way for a Friday night catch up with a good friend who I’ve known for many, many years.
