Another week. Snow, Money, Movies, Music, Work and Mates.

Well, its been almost a week since I’ve made a proper post here, So its high time I did again.

Life has been very interesting for me, last week I received my job offer for Perisher 2009. After some deliberation, I decided to leave Daraco Services and head back to the snowies for another year. I knew this was coming, but the particular circumstances I found myself in over the past month have made this a very difficult decision. I have found it a lot easier since a week or so ago deciding to move there with Luke and Fiona, who I met and worked with last season.

Enough about that, there’ll be plenty more to come soon enough from all that.
The first BOM prediction of snow was issued the other day, 5% chance (which never turned out) but it shows they’re starting to get temperatures that might be conducive to good snowfalls for the early season. This is all heresy if you talk to the die hards, theres no such thing as ‘cooling the ground’, and predictions two months out mean diddly squat,  but it certainly gets the imagination going and doing the work for you!

In other matters, I’m trying to keep my interest in photography going. I’ve recently fallen in love with a movie put together by Ross Ching called “Eclectic 3.0″. It is the third in a series of time-lapse photography movies he has put together for various projects. Using a tilt-shift lens (google them!), he achieves some of the most stunning photography I have seen in my life. Throw in a powerful, yet understated soundtrack, and you have the makings of a fantastic movie. The movies are all made of sequenced photographs, allowing him to shoot in anything up to 1080p and above, meaning the clarity and definition in these shots is to such a quality, they could have been done with a hundred thousand dollar cinecam. Sweeping landscapes in south western USA are captured in fifteen seconds of footage, clouds scudding across a dark sky, headlights zipping past like rockets. Long exposures allowed Ross to light even the darkest of landscapes, just with starlight and reflection, bringing the nocturnal world of the great plains and the grand canyon to life. I would highly recommend anyone with even a passing interest in photography take a look at his projects, at www.rossching.com.

The little red barina has seen a lot in her life until now, and I dare say, with me as her driver she’ll see a lot more. That said, I’ve had her at the mechanics for three days now getting a new gearbox put in. Unfortunately a bearing (or several) popped their runners, which are the pieces of metal or plastic that hold the bearings in place. This lead to a sound at one point which I can only describe as that of a duck screaming, followed by a regular and worsening knock in the driveshaft. In human terms, try chewing a few pearls, and you’ll understand what I mean. One new gearbox later, she should be ready to pick up.

I’m actually on the train writing most of this, on my way to Gerringong again for the night. I’m picking up my car, and then going to do some work for a client at Stanwell Tops tomorrow. Should be only a few hours with much luck, but these things have a tendancy to creep up, until its suddenly a full days work.  The usual jokes have followed my resignation from Daraco, which should be effective from the 15th of May, but I give as good as I get, so there’s no complaints to be had. Overall, everyone has been very understanding, however I am painfully aware of the strain the company is already under with regards to work. I think with luck there will be plenty of good people to fill my position, even if they aren’t very big shoes to fill.

I have found increasingly last week and this, that I struggle somewhat making headway on major projects. I have been developing a backup solution for a client, and I now find myself having to turn to others for help, which is irritating because they have just as much and more work as I do, simply slowing them down. I’m going to try ‘owning’ the project a little more, whereas until now I’ve only been roughly keeping it in check. It is very interesting, and highly satisfying to see the business picking up more clients all the time. In the current financial climate, I think Daraco will have very few issues growing the business if they continue to provide high quality, personal and professional service.

Money has also been a very interesting problem I have faced since moving to sydney. I knew it would always be tight, but this has been almost comical. Savings each week seem to be snapped up by unexpected purchases, fuel price hikes and car repairs. I find myself increasingly relying on the $900 stimulus the government is handing out. This will be paying my way to Jindabyne, which is a blessed thing, because without it, I would be well and truly up shit creek. I have applied for a second job in Jindabyne this year, at the Brumby Bar and Bistro, which is conveniently just down from the apartment we have organised to live in. I intend to live and pay rent from my Perisher pay, which will be plenty to keep me alive, and use the money from the bar to pay for my flights to Canada at the end of the year.

Another segue here, Canada!
I’m determined to make it to Canada after the season. I’ve sat in sunny, warm Australia for six months now, watching and hearing the lives and stories of friends who have moved to Canada and are now working their various jobs there. Some serious jealousy later, I’ve gone hunting, and after the recommendation of a few people who have been there before, I’m more and more keen on getting a job there also. Fernie looks like a pretty awesome place for me at the moment, but I know I would also really enjoy somewhere like Whistler. I think I’ll take what I can get, but if I have a choice, thats when the guidebooks really come out.

The housing arrangements in Sydney at the moment have a pendulum effect, frustrating me sometimes, and being perfect for me others. I’m probably a huge hypocrite, I can be painful when it comes to certain things, but when it comes to cleaning my room, I get the “its not too bad” effect going. Dan and Sam are great guys to live with, we’ve all got our differences of opinions on various things (woolworths opening hours, choice of TV channel, choice of pizza shop, to name a few), but in most cases we agree with each other. I know I’m becoming more independent since I have moved out, and with a little effort, I have found myself settling into a routine of life, which is both relaxing and depressing at the same time.

I’ve been listening to more music recently. I’ve moved away from a few styles I used to really enjoy, and I find myself looking for new songs constantly. I used to really get into Hilltop Hoods, but now I find them a little too tight for my tastes. I have enourmous respect for the crew, and I will always have my favourite songs, and tracks which really speak to me, but I am moving away gradually. I’ve picked up Bliss n Eso’s latest album, and quite honestly, there isnt a track on there that I don’t like. The album is neatly and cleverly put together, with appropriate breaks between songs for skits and commentary. The tracks and lyrical style are much more relaxed than hilltop, with many of these almost being songs. Eye of the Storm, and The Sea is Rising are truly standout tracks, powerful messages delivered with neat rhythm and lyrics. I don’t think there’s a single word in the whole album I haven’t sung, and know. Again, anyone looking for something to listen to, with mellow beats mixed with cheeky lyrics and clear messages, Flying Colours by Bliss n Eso comes highly recommended.

My mates mean a lot to me, but I worry more and more these days that I’m walking away from these friendships sometimes. Then a night like last Saturday comes along, and I realise that time and distance can mean very little when it comes to having true mates. Luke, Grover and myself decided to catch the train to Wollongong for a night on the town, and it was possibly the most fun I have had in many months. I ended up being quite smashed, but the memories will always be worth it. The same weekend, on Sunday afternoon, I went to the Foxground Get-together, hosted by my Rural Fire Brigade. It was probably the best turnout I’ve seen there in about three years of attendance, and it was a fantastic demonstration of how communities are still strong in rural Australia. I think without this sense of belonging, and some measure of inclusivity in the events that affect your life, you lose touch after a while, and become isolated. It was great to see people there who I haven’t talked to in months, or even years, to stand and have a beer with old friends, and sit and eat with new ones.
Back to my own mates, I hope that even if we end up on opposite sides of the globe, we will still be able to sit together and just hang out from time to time. – Back to Bliss n Eso – I don’t know why the sky is blue, I don’t know why I write these tunes, but with a vibe like this, I’m gonna climb these cliffs so I’ll be there for you.

Well, I’m 1700 words into this now, and although I don’t need to cap my thoughts to a certain length, I’m sure you’re all beginning to grow bored so I’ll tail off now.

Hope you’re all well and enjoying life still.

Pip