The Ruminator

Come on up and grab yourself a beer.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Not that I'm an alcoholic or anything

But there are certain situations in which the most appropriate response is the consumption of alcohol.

For example, when my brother got engaged. When my mother rang to give me the news, I was at the time conveniently sitting in a restaurant at a winery, having lunch with friends. So naturally the first thing I did was call my brother and soon-to-be-sister-in-law. The second thing I did was order a bottle of champagne. (Ok, ok, sparkling Australian wine, but you get the idea.)

Or a couple of weekends ago, when the weather was unexpectedly warm and sunny. There really was nothing to be done except play some chilled out music, and sit on the balcony in a patch of sun with a gin and tonic.

Then there was yesterday afternoon, when, by way of contrast, it snowed. It is so rare for it to snow in this city, and even rarer for the snow to stick. Yesterday's snow melted instantly everywhere except on the larger hills, but it did fall as proper snow - big, fat, fluffy looking flakes, like the exploded feather pillow of the gods. Naturally the first response of everybody in the office was to rush over to the window to say 'oooh' and 'aaah', and after a while, 'oooh' again. Except for the one hardened cynic who glanced out the window and said, 'Wow, snow. That's the most exciting thing to happen in this office since the hot air balloons the other day,' and went and sat at his desk again.

So anyway, this is all an overlong lead-up to the fact that, having driven home while it was still snowing, I really did have to sit down and have a glass of port. Particularly since I'm all out of whiskey.

Actually, speaking of alcohol, we must have known it was going to snow yesterday. We had another of our section morning teas, which are renowned in my office, mainly due to the baking skills of one of the ladies here. (She makes the largest, yummiest profiteroles you have ever seen.) So yesterday as usual we had enough food to supply a moderately sized army. But I think we really outdid ourselves when someone brought in a small, portable gas burner, and started making gluhwein. In the office. At 9.30 in the morning. (Well, she really did have to start that early, so it would be ready for morning tea time.) And we wonder why we have a reputation for decadence.

Actually no, that's a lie, we know why.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Not so exciting to do list

I've been working on another 'to do' list lately, not quite so exciting as the one which had things like 'learn to tango' and 'visit New Orleans'.

This one has things like 'buy new stockings' and 'get spare keys cut' and 'check shoes are OK.'

But although the tasks themselves are incredibly mundane, the reasons behind them are extremely exciting, since in less than two weeks I will be leaving the country! For five weeks, five glorious, work-free weeks!

A brief stop in Bangkok, a long weekend in England with time to visit Doug, a couple of weeks in Ireland with the family for my brother's wedding (much happiness), then another couple of weeks in Thailand on my way home. I'm thinking family time, shopping and temples in Bangkok, up north for an eco-friendly hill-tribe trek, then some quality island time - eating, getting massaged, snorkeling, alcoholic drinks containing pineapple and coconut, repeat as necessary.

So anyway, lots of petty little tasks to take care of between now and then, but soon I will pack up and fly away.