I'm lousy at goodbyes.

[camrogers]

26 hours from now I'll be on a plane. Right now I'm in a Starbucks getting my head together.

I'm prepared for the inevitable post-trip bummer, I think. The sudden need to sort out housing once I get back, now that I'm deeply in the red, couldn't have come at a worse time. But something'll work out. to be honest it just feels like another part of the trip. Hell, even if I have to box and hide my gear and sleep out for a few nights it's not the end of the world. Sleeping in dirt was part of the family holiday half the time. But it won't come to that.

It's gotten so that countries feel like neighbouring suburbs. It's going to be hard getting used to being glued in place. Sussex borders Cleveland borders Reykjavik, and they all border London. That's how it feels.

If the London job takes me on I should be making enough to kill off my debts, live comfortably and save enough to do something like this again next year. Probably not for as long if I still have the job (in this climate, who knows) but I could do a jaunt or two. An Attenborough site, or maybe the Antarctica thing. Or if I stay locally I could do the Glencoe thing I missed out on this time. I'd love to get lost in Scotland for a while. That accent now sounds more familiar than my own. Sev thinks I belong there.

Dmetri pointed out I've now seen more of the world than he has. That surprised me.

If the job doesn't take, well, that's a whole other thing I guess. The recruiter asked where else I'd like to work, so I'll keep in touch with her. Maybe she can score me a gig in Reykjavik. Big things happening there, and now I've got a resume that makes me look good games industry-wise.

cavalorn and I are kicking around a separate project as well. Keen to get stuck into that. I'll knock off the remainder of Fateless on the plane and within a week once I get back. Then it's finishing off a screenplay for 10-minute animated short for a friend. And then I'll properly focus on the Cav stuff, get that going.

And knock off as many travel articles as I can. I'd love to get a longer piece bought by Rolling Stone. Not sure there's an RS-friendly angle on the material I have right now though. I'll have to think about it.

Should probably get back in touch with the temp agency in Melbourne, see if they can throw some monkeywork my way for the short-term.

And I still haven't written about Lebowskifest, Graceland Too or Clarkesdale. Or some other stuff probably. Like Reykjavik and the glacier and... well, thank God for Moleskine and Flickr I guess.

Natty gets back to Melboune a few weeks after me. It'll be weird seeing her in not-Edinburgh. Good to have that continuity though. Feels sane, somehow.

Blue plaques, red buses, the Tube, ancient pubs, great transport, deep history, odd smells... I'll be back. Sooner than later I hope. Fingers crossed and all that.

Comments

[reddragdiva]

"I'll knock off the remainder of Fateless on the plane and within a week once I get back."

GOOD!

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

Of course, I've been saying things like this for years. But this time there's only half a paper-to-digital transfer left. And... sickeningly... maybe some new material to write.

Trying not to think about that last bit.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

The sudden need to sort out housing once I get back, now that I'm deeply in the red, couldn't have come at a worse time.

Did I miss something? Did you get served notice?

Sussex borders Cleveland borders Reykjavik, and they all border London. That's how it feels.

Not to be a downer, or argumentative, but: I know a lot of people who chased the international dream (mostly London) and they almost invariably found it almost as hard to see the world when they were living in the middle of it.

That accent now sounds more familiar than my own.

Be prepared for the Aussie cringe: when you hear your countrypeople speak. It can be quite jarring.

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

Did I miss something? Did you get served notice?

Housemate moving out. Lease in her name. I could take it over but (a) I'm broke and (b) don't find out about the London job til mid-September. Paid up 'til the 20th September at the current place, so it'll be a skin-of-the-teeth thing I think. Or I could move out, which requires movers and bond, but is more viable than taking on a place by myself. But then if I move and the job comes through I wind up making life hard for someone else.

Still, I guess I could always alleviate that by covering rent a month or two after my exit. If I get the job there'll either be a delay while a visa comes through, or I'll ask for a pay advance to cover move costs. It'll work out.


Not to be a downer, or argumentative, but: I know a lot of people who chased the international dream (mostly London) and they almost invariably found it almost as hard to see the world when they were living in the middle of it.

Real life gets in the way, sure, but I think I'm more keen to keep moving around and seeing things than most. And it's a lot easier to do that from the UK than almost anywhere else.


Be prepared for the Aussie cringe: when you hear your countrypeople speak. It can be quite jarring.

Hearing a lot of it over here, and it does make me cringe a little. But we've got an undeserved rep for speaking in nasal strine. Sure, some do, but not most.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

But then if I move and the job comes through I wind up making life hard for someone else.

Oh, I see. Well, at least you'll have certainly on the job, and you should be able to swing something short-term in the meantime.

Real life gets in the way, sure, but I think I'm more keen to keep moving around and seeing things than most.

True dat.

Hearing a lot of it over here, and it does make me cringe a little. But we've got an undeserved rep for speaking in nasal strine. Sure, some do, but not most.

I will never forget getting on the plane from Singapore. It scarred me. It was like suddenly being on the Neighbours set in 1987. Or Kath and Kim if that were around. And I come from a very K&K family.

[reddragdiva]

I came here to be near the world and managed about 0 ;-)

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

How come?

[reddragdiva]

Life, shortage of cash, failing to get around to it.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, the costs of surviving (ie rent, PT) are just different to Australia. I can't quantify that, but it keeps getting mentioned, so there much be something to it.

The only person I can think of who moved Perth-London and has seen a goodly part of the world owned two flats here, lived in a commune for a while, and has an apparently senior job at one of the councils.

I'm not saying it's impossible, bit the sacrifices it might demand in the downtime when not travelling might be onerous.

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

There's council tax, and the cost of getting to work. It's offset by some rebate London offers for working in London. Talking to friends and checking Gumtree suggests my asking salary will be enough to do what I need it to do. At the very least it'll allow me to stay here comfortably. If I can stay for 3 years I get citizenship, an EU passport, and then the world's me thingy.

[rufus.livejournal.com]

being in London does also make it a little bit easier for the world to come to you, as well. I will continue to think positive job thoughts for you!

[kalinichta.livejournal.com]

I'm having bittersweet feelings on your behalf.

You've probably got a lot of material that could be offered to RS or Paste (though I don't know how well Paste could pay as they were on the verge of shutting down last year). Paste had a Graceland Too write-up a month or so before we went down there, and I bet they'd enjoy a Lebowski Fest piece, too.

An Edinburgh write-up could be a good thing for RS.

[fluffworld.livejournal.com]

Post-travel comedown is shite. Only cure is to PLAN MORE KEWL THINGS. I am in Mel the weekend of Sep 4th and POD is having a party that night. I shall shout you a beer at the very least if you can make it.

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

I CAN MAKE IT

Time, place and I'll be there.

And yeah: first priority is buying that next ticket. To friggin' ANYWHERE.

[gadge.livejournal.com]

I have a spare room if you need crash space for a bit.

Will be good to see Post-World Cam (now with extendo-travel arms!)

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

It'd be good to see you too, J.

Room sitch looking okay at the moment. Might have a place lined up. With a mantle, no less. Always wanted a mantle.

[tyggerjai.livejournal.com]

Not apropos of any of this, but is your email address still tig com au? I've sent you an email there, wondering if it made it.

[patchworkkid.livejournal.com]

Not for ages. You want twicebright at gmail.