Nostalgia: Another year passes…
Well, it’s 2008. I still look back and wonder how 2007 flew past so quick, considering at the time it seemed like it would never end.
Only 3 weeks until the big holiday, though some recent events have put a bit of a dampener on my enthusiasm. Just hoping by some miracle that sorts itself out. (Gay fairy, grant my wish!)
It still doesn’t seem like 8 years have passed since I first moved down to Melbourne, where I rented a place in Toorak with another guy. I was driving down Kooyong Rd the other day and saw the place, it still looks the same. I guess the current tenants don’t care much about the garden, either. 
Still a nice area though, but public transport was hell. Trams that were never on time, trains that were always packed by the time they reached South Yarra Station, and it was just as bad getting home again. More often than not, I could walk the whole way home along Toorak Rd before a tram would pass me by. I don’t think much has changed there, either.
Then there’s the other half of the area I wouldn’t give you thanks to live in: Prahran, and the surrounding part of South Yarra.
Just recently, we went out to Commercial Rd with one of Louis’ friends who came down from Sydney, and it has changed slightly – but for the worse. The hippies and hobo’s who used to live around Fitzroy have somehow figured out that if they band together and live in communes, they can afford the prestige of Prahran. *Snort* Loud alternative music belting from open windows, people hanging around their front doors spilling onto the footpaths, do they not know what backyards are for these days?
And then there are the clubs, which i’ve only ever given a mediocre rating even in their prime. A single trip to the clubs in Sydney will flatten any ‘wow’ factor you ever had for them. Same goes for the patrons.
Car parking? Don’t even bother.
Moving to the city was interesting for awhile, but when you’re living 2 thicknesses of plaster away from other people who can’t keep the volume down, the fuse burns short. I like some quiet now and then, but they didn’t have a clue. Also housemates who can’t clean up their own filth end up being intolerable. Living on the 20th floor has other disadvantages too, like when the lifts keep breaking down or stupid international students open internal doors (instead of balcony windows) to let their burnt food smoke escape (thus setting off the fire alarms). Good exercise though. The only good thing was living 1 block from work. People couldn’t understand why i’d turn up late.. neither could I – but it was fun. Ironically I discovered that not much goes on in the city after hours. Especially in winter.
Nowadays i’m very happy living with Louis in my freestanding western abode, with plenty of air between me and the nearest neighbour. And I chuckle every week when my local Leader paper gets delivered and I see the price of rentals. Glad i’m not doing that anymore.
13.Jan.08 
Fun
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Well, I aint a fairy Gay Brother or father but if Plan A doesnt work out, there is always plan G,A and Y. See ya in a few weeks. Cheers
Prahran. Toorak. South Yarra. God, you are making me miss Melbourne and I thought it wouldn’t be possible!
Clayton: Is that anything like Y M C A? If so, you’re on your own.
Paul: You always love a good namedrop eh?