The small stuff

The stuff that can drive you crazy, and is rather amusing. Like the ghost bus, the phantom bus as one of my fellow commuters dubbed it, the 311. Yes, talking at the bus stop is allowed when said bus does not turn up. It's been happening a bit lately. When it's there on the app then quietly greys out. No warning, just gone. Guess it's not coming then. While we waited one evneing, this lovely lady who works in the navy and I, the bus inspectors swarmed the stop.

No good, I shared with one of them. The ghost bus has gone off the radar again so you might need to choose another. Did I mention it was a chilly wet evening, not one to walk in my light coat, so we talked a bit about the weather. As the time drew out, the inspectors gave in and asked about the ghost bus. We regaled them with stories of our experiences. Much giggling from the very serious bus inspectors as we shared those 'being left there with no hope' stories.

It's funny, I've been a bit naughty at times when traveling and ridden the bus/train/tram without paying. Most of the time it hasn't been intentional like that time in Milan with Sandy or Rome with Di when the rules eluded me. I have been warned of inspectors throwing old ladies off the bus/tram/train. Since I've been in Sydney I've experienced them twice, both times riding legally. Once on the ferry and this time.

The next bus, not the ghost bus, came along and on we all hopped. It was hilarious, like party time on the bus. Strangers talking with each other as the inspectors checked the cards and tickets. The elderly gentleman sitting next to me shaking his head and saying he'd never seen such a thing in all his years of riding the bus. Our new friends waved good bye, promising to see if they can find that most ghostly of buses.

My stuff arrives on Saturday morning. I can't wait to lay down my precious carpets and hang my art and photographs. To make my little apartment more like home. The small stuff happened with the delivery of said goods. It seems that delivery is an issue. Not that I haven't paid for door to door, just that door to door means door to ground floor. So after a bit of grumpiness, I just had to suck it up, put on my big girl pants and get over it.

Sometime Saturday, at an extra cost for Saturday delivery grrr, I will be dragging boxes to the lift and getting them up to the 7th floor. All by myself. I'm hoping those delivering will take pity on me and help. We shall see. So life in the big city goes on, the weekend is close. One where I have a couple of social engagements. A BBQ with whanau on Saturday evening, a good catch up with those last seen a while ago, and drinks at mine on Sunday afternoon. I may even manage a few on Friday evening although I suspect it will be a quiet one. It's been a full on week.

Sunday

It's Sunday evening and I'm procrastinating. I've managed to successfully fill in some time chatting on the phone and catching up on emails. The job I set aside for this evening is still not done, I'm very good at procrastinating. Mulling things over until I'm ready to put pen to paper. then it just falls on the page. So rather than procrastinating, which is what my processing can feel like, I'm reflecting on what I might say to impress those who need to be impressed.

And this is a good spot to chill and reflect. Reflect on what a great couple of weeks it's been in my world. There's been a bit on. Work, socialising, family, getting my home together, time out to wander and chill. I can't believe how settled I feel here in Sydney. How much I'm enjoying being close to the small girl and her mum and dad. We got time together on Saturday, a sleep then a wander to the Kings Cross market just down the road. The charming child making the ladies smile back.

Then today her first birthday party. A day with family and friends all gathered together to celebrate the guest of honour who took it all in her stride. Well as long as mum or dad were in sight and there was cake to eat. First birthdays are so much more about adults, the small girl managed to make it her day. Opening the presents was a treat. She had that sorted pretty quickly, and waving for the camera.

My apartment continues to delight me, the sun streaming and that view. So much going on on the water, an every changing vista with the sun rising, the ferry and boat traffic and the sparkling night lights. The ones I can see now. The area I live in is a delight, so much to see and do just outside my door yet quiet enough to enjoy a stress free weekend.

The Saturday Kings Cross market, I wandered down and bought my weeks fruit and vege. Organic mostly and when my eggs run out they will come from the farmer that has them too. The gozleme was delicious and the coffee too as I sat on a bench and people watched. Children chasing the birds while dad ate his burger; a couple reading on a rug; children enjoying the play ground; groups of people wandering and buying; the smell of those bacon and egg buns; the cakes so tempting; people watching people watching people.

I've taken a few pics from my deck and I uploaded them this evening, along those from mothers day, my Brisbane trip and some from New Zealand. Here's a few of the view.

My first morning

Brooding sunrise

Saturday traffic

The couch

Has been very handy this week. The bed took a few nights to assemble, the couch doubles as a bed so it was my go to place. Falling down exhausted after a day at work, a walk home and building what needed to be built. No internet has meant more time, I've missed my contact and am working on getting this final thing organised. This evening Frankie and I are getting some time together while mum and dad are at the movies. A well deserved break for them and fun for me with the Internet bonus.

I've been telling some entertaining stories at work this week, each day a new tale of the bed saga and what else I've managed to build. There are times when it would be useful to have another in the house. Today Debbie once again helped with the lifting, after coffee and lemon tart. You see that bed should have had fine print. I got the big box that is the base made. I went to attach the headboard. Nope, not happening. 10.30 came and went, I gave up.

At 3am I ought I'd solved it. Nope. The cold morning light helped, there was one way to put the headboard on and I had it the other way. Pliers were on the list to remove the dowels. Mission accomplished that evening and the base went together too. Including the hydrolic lifters on either side. You see the bed I bought was this one, clever little storage bed. Very interesting to build, stage 52 suddenly had two people. Two people.

It seems, and I know this from experience, that lifting the slat base onto the hydrolic lifts and fixing them there takes two people. It does, really. I had a go on my own, it ended badly. When I dropped the dreaded Allen key. Yoga moves, while balancing that bed base on my back, well it had to end badly. I had visions of being missed in the morning and them finding me trapped in the bed. Discretion won, another day or two to wait and I have a bed. Can't wait to rollin there tonight.

Today's effort, after a wee lie down, was the four drawer dresser. I'm getting good at this stuff now. Good at knowing when I've taken a wrong turn and need to put the drill onto undo. There's just the wardrobe to go now and that has pics of two people everywhere I suspect. Not that I've found the book yet. Nick has been coopted. Lucky it's a long weekend here. I've got rest and wandering planned.

So life isn't the big city isn't too bad at all. Work is rewarding, the view from my balcony, and every window in my new place, makes getting up a joy and there's all I need in close proximity to my new place. There are pics and I will get one here soon. Hopefully I will have Internet soon, can't wait to be properly connected again.