Policemen walking my dog on a train

Today I'm pleased to report that attempt #3 of visiting Newcastle (the nearest industrial town, a 3 hour train ride north of Sydney) was a success! Photos to follow :)

The train was busy, so I lurked in the end compartment of one of the carriages, absentmindedly trying to learn to yoyo (see prior post).

My mind was dagger-sharp, focused on honing my soon-to-be l33t yoyoing sk1llz. Up and down, down and up it went, slowly bending to my will. As Sydney faded into memory and the long stretch of rural stations beckoned, man and machine became one.

Looking up from my dedicated training, I stare straight at two tough-looking State Transit Police (a 30-something man and woman) who had wandered into the compartment whilst my attention was focussed on the work at hand. Somewhat shocked, I blubbered something and we got chatting. After a few minutes, we spun onto the heady topic of yoyos. The policeman said that I was doing it all wrong, and sensing his yoyo-envy, I offered the object of my previous attentions to him. Sheepishly at first*, yet joyfully he performed a demonstration.

The highlight? After I swore never to teach it, he demonstrated the unspoken dark arts of police yoyo training known as 'tayoyo diabolique' (Yoyos were originally Filipino weapons). I pity the Perp that tries to get away from cops trained in such a barbaric skill using something that - up until I handed it over - had seemed so innocuous.

They both left the train at the next station and I continued my journey pleasantly bemused at what had happened.

NB: One paragraph may be big fat lies. I leave it to the reader's discretion to decide which.

* He persuaded his slightly disbelieving partner to stand guard on the door to the main compartment to stop anyone seeing him do it!

Christmas Party and the such

Well, it's been a while posting on here. I'd like to say that I've been too busy doing stuff, but the honest answer is that not much of note has happened these past weeks... apart from:

The office Christmas party took place in the Star City Casino's penthouse function room. With views across the city, we drank more beer than I care to remember and ate miniature meat pies and huge hunks of chicken and pork - the Australian's know how to eat at official functions; no yukky fancy nibbles here :D

Carla, our almost-team-assistant organised the Children's party. Afterwards she had some goodie bags left over, of which I received:

1x camouflage* "Lost" beach windbreaker
1x Yoyo

I've never yoyo'd before, so I asked my boss to teach me in return for teaching him rude signs in BSL :P

* Why would you ever make something on a beach camouflaged green?

Book Reviews #2

Another in the occasional series. This time, two in one!

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

I'd heard a snatched few minutes of Captain Corelli's Mandolin on Radio 4 back home and and enjoyed the dry humour although didn't know at the time what I was listening to.

Discovering the book here (76^th place in the Australian Best Read 2007), I only bought it to make up a Buy Three for Two offer. As such, it sat on a pile for some time before being read.

CCM is a story of love and a story of war. I've never laughed and cried so much at a book before; it has rekindled my joy of reading. The writing is sharp and witty, pulling you into a story so complex yet complete that you feel part of it. My only complaint is that I had some very late nights reading it, to ensure that I read beyond the bloody war-based sections and onto the more light-hearted sections focusing on the main characters so I didn't dream of a wartime so horrifically described! If only all books were so impassioned. When I reached the end, there was a lump in my throat and both sadness & happiness combined.

Apparently there was a film made about it. I've not seen it, but I can't imagine that it compares favourably with the book.

In summary, it was absolutely wonderful - I can't recommend it enough!

The Eyre Affair

I can't really give this book the credit it deserves; having read Captain Corelli's Mandolin just before, very little compares.

However the Eyre Affair is an easy read, one where your brain can be switched to standby for the most part. Some clever alternate universe stuff, but with minimal character buildup and a very er, spritely wound-down ending.