September 2006

Far too much of this month was taken up with work stuff. I spent a couple of days towards the end of the month at "Group Hug" - a team building/opportunity to get really drunk day in Melbourne. I also spent a week in New Zealand setting up a new store there.

It was actually my first ever trip to New Zealand. Unfortunately I'd managed to pick up a pretty severe cold before I left so any time that I wasn't working I spent in bed in the hotel. I did get a chance to do day trip out of Auckland, visiting Waitomo Caves, a massive network of limestone caves just south of Hamilton. Pretty stunning stuff.

After spending a couple of months in Australia, Jimi's new boyfriend, Antoine, must return home to France. I suspect that Jimi was half hoping that after spending two months living with Antoine, he'd get bored of him and look forward to him leaving. Sadly, this was not the case.

Before we shipped Antoine out of the country, Greig and I treated the nauseatingly happy couple to a dinner at ARIA Restaurant, overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It's a venue that not only has great "tourist appeal", but is also one of the better restaurants that Sydney has to offer. On the day Antoine had to leave I was enlisted to drive the delirious couple to the airport and then to ship the remains of Jimi back home.

Actually, I didn't ship Jimi back home. Instead I shipped both of us to the beach. It's not as easy to feel sad when you are lying on a beach. It worked for a while anyway.

Our regular ten yearly portrait.
Taken by Pete, of course.

With our 20th anniversary looming, Greig and I were asked if we would do an interview for the Star Observer, talking about our relationship. Like I've told so many people, I really don't quite understand the fuss. It's not like we've done something that was hugely difficult. But in any case, we did the interview and it was printed in the paper for all to see.

The very last event for September (or was it the very first event for October) was Sleaze Ball, the annual Mardi Gras fund raiser party at Faux Studios. Sleaze Ball marks the unofficial start of the Sydney party season.

Greig and I went to the party with the usual suspects. Once at the party I ended up spending half the night with Sam and the other half with Paul and Rishi. The highlight of the party would have to have been a "peak moment" in the middle of the dance floor in the Horden with Paul and Rishi. Ahhhhhh - just like old times.

I ended up bailing from the party at about 7am. Sleaze Ball this year was an unexpected success. The slightly scaled down version of the party worked well. While the sound and lighting wasn't exactly outstanding, the atmosphere created by the people more than made up for it.