Maybe This Christmas

"Maybe this Christmas will mean something more,

01 - Getting in to Sydney's Christmas spirit

For the love we've been shown in the past."

And maybe this'll be the last office job I ever have to work in. As jobs go, it's not too bad, but any job in an office is shit. I can feel the shitty lights and the sounds of the phones and the shitty computer screens physically sucking the life out of me. Since travelling, my (admittedly few) gray hairs had disappeared, but they're beginning to resurface again. I'm sick of people 'touching base' and 'feeding back'. It's slowly, but surely, killing me.

It's really unfortunate that when you're working you count the days until the weekend. I only have another 5 or 6 months in this country and I'm spending most of my time watching the clock.

Still, at least there's a fair bit of banter in work. There's a few hotties (work Christmas doo next week!), some people are great fun, and the odd customer comment still gives me a very brief laugh:

"In one word: professional and pleasant."

"The salesman is fantastic. I would follow him wherever he goes."

"There is something wrong with the boot and it keeps closing on my head. I have a headache."

Believe it or not, some people actually send photos in of themselves with their new car, showing how happy they are. I mock these people in public, but secretly I think they're great and I'm fairly sure if and when I grow up I'm going to be one.

There's been alot of changes in the house recently, so we're getting to know our new housemates. The German girls moved out, unfortunately, but one of them gave me a great gift before she left...she taught me about 'Coco Pops in a mug'. Apparently everyone knew about it before, but this was the first time I'd seen it. You eat your Coco Pops from a mug! And then...get this...you're left with a mug of chocolate milk which you can drink! Isn't that amazing?? I was totally blown away.

One of the new tenants is an English guy named Al, who seems to be a bit of a legend, and at a similar point in life as myself. It's good entertainment to see him bounce his one-liners of the Germans (the ultimate straight-men);

"I lost my card the other day at the shops."

"Your bank card?"

"No, my birthday card."

And maybe this Christmas the residents of Sydney will learn some fucking manners. They have absolutely no concept of letting anyone on the bus. Mick once let a Brazilian girl in the lift before him and she said, "I can tell you are not from Australia."

There's some real dickheads around. Last weekend I saw loads of guys with cigarettes behind their ears. One of them was even lighting another cigarette. What are they playing at?

But of course, there are some unbelievably nice people around.

Maybe this Christmas is going to be really really strange:

Firstly, it's so hot. All the Christmas decorations are up and I'm sweating my ass off. This heat at this time of year is bizarre. It's like cat lovers, Robbie Williams' overwhelming success, and the 'Girls Wearing A Skirt and Trousers Scare of 1999'...it's just not right...but I'm going to have to learn to deal with it.

Secondly, a Filipino girl told me that Australians have no Christmas spirit.

Thirdly, it's not home. I won't be seeing the Scrivers and that sucks. To me, they ARE Christmas.

But maybe this Christmas is going to be absolutely class. There's so much coming up and it should be great spending these holidays with all the lads and the girls, in the sun. Maxi, Celine, his sister and her sister (collectively known as the 'Axis Of Evil') arrive this weekend. Should be 'fully sick'. That's followed by a load of other arrivals. There will be so many reunions it would make Lynn proud. And there's a lot of birthdays coming up this month (I think because it's 9 months after St. Patrick's Day). Par-tay.

Mick Power said the funniest thing he's ever said in his life the other day, and I was there to witness it. He's just bought a new washing machine with his girlfriend (that's funny in itself), and it has a 'Play' button. I said it would be great if it played washing-related music. He said, unfortunately, it only plays 'Dancing In The Moonlight' (because it's a toploader).

To anyone that reads this that I don't happen to have other contact with before Christmas, I just wanted to say a big Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and I hope everyone is happy and you all get what you want. Everyone in Ireland should thank their lucky stars that they can hear 'Fairytale Of New York' consistently because most people in Sydney have never heard of it. What a crime.

Much love to everyone (war is over if you want it).