The beautiful game. The cruelest game.

Well, we saw the cruel side of football on Tuesday morning. Defeat snatched from the jaws of possible victory. Lucas Neill is still a hero, as are all of the Socceroos. I am filled with pride at the achievements of our little Aussie battlers at the World Cup. But sometimes luck (and refereeing decisions) doesn't always stay with the underdog. Yes, the Italians should not have had a man sent-off, and we should have capitalised on the advantage. But we were up against the masters of defensive counter-attacking football. Australia's lack of a prolific striker is very telling and the burden of that should not be shouldered by Mark Viduka alone. Though there is hope that with the rise of this game in Australia, that somewhere out there is a young footballer or two who now knows that we can make the big show. That they will follow through with their dream with the knowledge that determination and hard-work can bring rewards in the poorest/smallest/most-underrated football code on this country. Now all we have to do is build on this great moment in the game for Australia. So, to those that run the game in this country, please think long and hard about where you are going to take the game from here and who you are going to get to replace the great Guus. Dang, sport can be cruel.

I'm off to Melbourne on Sunday night, until Friday night. This is to help the new National Customer Care Centre (NCCC) with the transition from the closure of the Queensland sales desk. Should be verrry interesting.... I feel very sorry for the poor schmos who will be having to deal with all the Qld jerk-offs (agents). I will be heading back there a fortnight later to help them again. I have the feeling that there is some rising panic at the NCCC. Well, you make your bed...

I am very weary. Feeling very burnt-out. Hopefully next week won't be too stressful. I'll just have to treat it like a big adventure! Yee-ha!

Australians all, let us rejoice.

J.

So, where do I go from here?

After the other week's jet-setting, I have rejected my employers offer of a transfer to Melbourne. I probably would have got better money, but there was this little nagging voice in my head telling me: "Don't do it! This doesn't feel like the right decision. You have been given an opportunity to do something you want to, so go and do it!" I think I have been influenced by a few friends of mine. They are some truly brave little campers. It's not an easy call to leave the safety and comfort behind and chase a dream or two. So, big hats off to the Euro gypsy Willian and that crazy and amazing San Fran duo, Nickyboy and Princess Emms. Times can be tough for you guys, but you're still holding on to the vision. I have a decision to make, and in all honesty it scares me more than a little. But when I think of what you guys have done, mine really isn't that big a deal. Foremost in my mind is that I am going to relocate to Melbourne. I won't be alone down there, the trail has already been blazed by Taggs, but I'll be heading down there with no job. I'm sure I can find one, but that is still a concern that plays on me. And when I think of all the shit I need to get ready before I go, I don't know where to start. On the up, I will probably have a chance to re-start my music career. I've just got to fight off this rising feeling of panic. So much going through my mushy melon at the mo'. I need to make a firm decision, and get some focus on a goal. So the plan would be move to Melbourne, look for a job - in an industry/field that I really want to work in (or get a bar job in the meantime), and find a new band. I'll probably need to get a haircut too!

On the sporting side of things:
Go the Socceroos! I'll we ask is you just do your best against Brazil, though a win would be very sweet!
Thanks Tigers for a good win over the Roosters. Haha!
And thanks to the Qld origin team for making me eat my words. I don't know who the thirteen guys in blue jerseys were, but they didn't resemble any NSW team I'd seen play before.

Decisions, decisions......

Peace out rabbit!

J.

On a wing and a prayer...

I'm being flown to Melbourne tomorrow to meet with the MD of the company I work for. They are sending myself and one of my juniors down there to try and convince us to work for them down there. They gave us the spiel about "the right people for the positions". I say to them "pay peanuts you get monkeys". Now I know I can be a monkey-boy every now and then, but when it comes to work I am more tiger than rabbit. It's going to cost them to get me to work for them down there "I'm gonna write a number on this paper and you tell me what you think...."

Anyhow, go the Socceroos, go the Tigers, and Carlton...at least we're not last.

And what the hell are the Qld origin selectors smoking? Haha, they really want to lose another origin series don't they? Let's play a fullback at five-eighth, a centre at wing, a five-eighth at half-back, a full-back at wing, etc, etc... And to axe Matt Bowen from the squad? From all the NSW supporters out there, thank you Qld selectors.

Let the games begin!

J.

My brain is a barrel of monkeys

Yes, I am a slack bastaro. It has been quite a while since I have posted.

So here ya' go Willain!

Let's see, what has happened since the last little insight into my existence....

1. Mr & Mrs Biggs have brought into the world the lovely little joybubble I am going to call CJ.
She's a beautiful little girl, ten fingers and toes, Mr Biggs' ears and Mrs Biggs' nose! In the little time i've spent with the Aussie family Biggs, she's be the quietest, most content little baby i've ever been around. Ma & Pa Biggs seem quite proud of their achievement, and so they should be!
They are a rock-show supreme! They make me feel honoured to be part of their group of friends. As much as they have their trials and tribulations, they are one of the strongest unit I have ever seen. And now with little CJ they are even stronger. It is amazing sweet watching Mr Biggs nursing his little girl and Mrs Biggs just seems to naturally be "mother-material"! You guys rock so ferking much and I have nothing but love and respect for the family Biggs.

2. The amazing and vibrant Miss Willian, has been and gone. Both happy and sad. She (and Mr Biggs) pull off the ultimate surprise on Anzac day. We were all going to the Biggs residence to talk to Willian in Scotland on the ol' computer video thingy. We get their for breakfast and instead of video conferencing, Willian is their in the flesh! Possibly the best kept secret since the girl in the "Crying Game". So with much hugs and smiles and laughs, we ended up talking to Princess Ems and Nickyboy in San Fran on the 'puter! The magic of technology! It was like the old times...well sort of, but it was great all the same. Then all too soon, out little gypsy was off again. Thank you soooo very much for the time you spent with us Willian, you are never far from our thoughts! And know this, like the bumper sticker, "girls can do anything!"

3. I have been made redundant at work. The company I work for has decided to centralise their operations to the head office in another city. This means myself and my team of five, no longer have a job. It's not like we are under-performing, we are thest best team in the country. We have just had a record sales month, we have the lowest out-standing debts in the country and we have had the largest percentage growth of any of the states. We have two months until they no longer require us. This is causing a great deal of problems. My team are now taking time off to look for new jobs and their motivation is starting to dramatically slide. As their supervisor, this is causing me a fuck load of problems and stress. I sympathyse with them (I'm losing my job too!!), but any problems, from mistakes and poor performance, are mine to resolve. I am also the "go-to-guy" for the other departments and management when there is a problem. And they seem to be panicing and throwing a lot more at me while they still can. The whole branch is totally demoralised. The international company I work for has a great ethic and some really great practises. But with a new national MD, and a cabal of entrenched middle-management at our head-office, there have been some really upsetting and disrespectful decisions made. During this whole process, neither the branch manager, nor my direct boss were consulted. In fact my boss (the State sales manager) was overseas on holidays when this decision was made and then implemented. There may be some viable economic reasons behind this whole debacle,but what really disappoints me is the disrespect and utter disregard that head-office has for both the redundant staff and those still employed. I have been offered a role at head-office for a whole $3000 more a year. My fucking redunacy package is worth around $15000 before tax! Fuck them and the horse they rode in on! If I'm moving to another city, it's on my terms!
So now I'm in that little quandry of what to do next. I have the most awesome group of friends here. But I'm feeling the need to move to other places. I have burnt a few bridges here too, unfortunately. I have a girlfriend here too (Miss Jane), she has a good job here and we haven't been going out that long. So I can't really ask her to move just for me. Though this also feels like something I need to do solo. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. A new start, with new musical possibilties is enticing. I have lived in the same town for nearly all of my life too. I am starting to find a few more white hairs....

With reference to the title of this post "My brain is a barrel of monkeys". I was having a conversation with Miss Jane. She was feeling a little down and I was trying to cheering her up. I was explaining the mental paths I seems to take when trying to get myself out of a downer. Sometimes my head seems a little scattered to people, but sometimes I come out with some serious and insightful shit. I explained it that my brain is a barrel of monkeys. Remember the game? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000IWHE/002-4067942-2589622?v=glance It all fits in one container, but when the monkeys are all spread around it looks very confusing. If you try, you can get them all to link up in one chain. Then you can but them back in the one container. A lot like my brain really.... full of monkeys!!

There's probably some other important stuff i've missed but it's late so WAAAAA!!

Rock on you crazy kids - 'specially our non-Brisvegasites.

Quack.