Why do I trip over walking UP stairs?

No mobile phone, no hands in pockets, no running, holding on to the bannister, yet I still trip. Why?

Friday Night Walking Tour To Zetland (And Back.)

Suffering from insomnia induced ‘cabin fever’, I force myself out for a long walk, cross over Cleveland Street by the Norfolk Hotel then take the next road right and head into the mixture of trendy terrace homes and public housing tower blocks.

I’m not exactly sure where I am going, maybe swing round to Redfern for a second schnitzel at the Tudor Hall Hotel, or the Zetland Hotel, or even keep on walking all the way to the airport. Eventually, I turn left and end up on O’Dea Avenue.

I have not walked round here for a long time. Driving is different and you don’t get to really look at what is happening.  Residential tower blocks are what is happening here, block after block of new-build by Meriton and others developers, seemingly for miles. Looking up at the cranes and towers it makes me feel insignificant, just one ant in the Sydney hill. They look pretty posh but I don’t want to live here, too sterile, too new, too anti-Surry HIlls

Turning left on South Dowling Street, I realize that, although one of my feet is feeling sore, I’ve not really come that far as the Moore Park Super Centre is just over the road. I still feel insignificant though, hemmed in by tower blocks on one side and six lanes of traffic on the other.

I’m thirsty now and just as I ‘m thinking of a soft drink from the servo, I realize that the Moore Park Hotel is practically next door. I don’t think I’ve ever been in here so I tell the barman as I order my schooner of James Squire. He laughs as he gives me my $3.20 change from ten bucks. Why is beer so dear?  I’m half tempted to stay here for a second beer, maybe something to eat but then I realize that I don’t like it in here. Nothing to do with the pub and the staff are friendly but outside my ‘box’ of Cleveland, Crown, Foveaux & Elizabeth Streets I think ‘here be tygers.’

Ten to fifteen minutes fast walk and I’m almost ‘home’ turning left in to Cleveland by the Bat & Ball – another beer here? No. How about Bar Cleveland then? No, the Crown? No, No, No. Not until I am in Devonshire St do I feel truly comfortable.

Trinity Bar? Usually love it but too crowded. Shakey? I pop in and check out the back and upstairs for my friend Marc from Politics at the Pub. Not here, maybe further down D St. I look in a few places but can’t see him so I decide on the Strawberry Hills Hotel for beer and burgers. Same mob who own the Shakey so I know the food will be good. Half an hour later, one burger and two Coopers and I’m ready for home and a cup of tea with a Magnum I buy in 7-11.

In bed and asleep by 11pm. Happy ending? Not to an insomniac, I wake at 1am feeling like I have slept all night. At least the cricket from South Africa is on Fox.

The 'real' Arnold Layne was a girl & lived in Surry Hills?

Bill Posters is not innocent.

Cycling Cool on Crown Street # 1 - Dangle Your Helmet From Your Handlebars

I can understand why some people like wearing helmets and some people don't but why would you ride with your helmet dangling from your handlebars?

Isn't it like having unprotected sex with a condom tied around your neck?

Insomnia - There is something worse than 'watching paint dry!'

I did - or rather do - get the chance to watch an old episode of 'A Touch of Frost.' - 'Dead Male One' - just recognized a very young Danny Dyer - reminds me I must watch that film he did about football hooligans - Football Factory?

I Hate Colds and I Hate Having No Money.

Last night I 'relished' the chance to indulge both on my first time out in a week. In a way I managed to fit three different nights into one which is one of the things I love about Surry Hils.

I met my friend 'N' upstairs at the Gaelic Club for Politics at the Pub. Tonight it was about Cuba's Health Exports to East Timor (I think!) I found it a little 'dry' for a Friday night, even with the chance to make the desert bloom with VB.

Then we strolled up to the Shakespeare Hotel for a meal. I've given them plenty of opportunities to serve me a crap meal but they keep turning me down. I ordered the burger and N got the salmon steak and we shared. My cold almost behaved but I did have to retreat to the loo, then 'pull the chain' to mask the sound of my Titanic's ship's horn impersonation.

Finally, we went to Venue 505 on Cleveland Street to listen to ?Kooii? - excellent Aussie reggae band. I can look out of my window and see 505 yet that was only my second time there. That's why I hate having no money so much. It could, should and would be my local. $6 for a bottle of Cooper's 'Green/s is not bad for Surry Hills.

Sometimes, I think I will never work again (and NO I am NOT a dole bludger!)

I'm An Insomniac - Get Me Out Of Here!

This is the sixth night in a row, but who's counting? It's my own fault, as usual. I just HAD to stay up all night on Sunday to watch Spurs away to Fulham, kick off 3am. I could have recorded it. I DID record it but I still stayed up because there's nothing like watching it live, especially when you win. I would have gone down to The Triple Aces and watched it but I had a cold. No, not 'just a cold!' It was 'The Mother Of All Man Flu's!'

I'm paying for it now and I've tried everything. Going to bed early, going to bed late. No alcohol, no coffee.(Tea doesn't count does it? Clayton's Coffee!) I tried playing my little game, my pop & rock groups quiz. Name a band - Manfred Mann. Take the last letter - 'N' - Nirvana - 'A' - Animals. I don't use the 's'. There's too many of them, unless the band actually does end in 's', like Manassas & Sassafras - must Google them, I'm sure they were both bands?

The bloke in the paper shop told me 'I'm in The Zone' whatever that is but it sounds cool. My friend Cynthia told me I've got to stay up all day then go to bed at my normal time. Sod that. I'm going to bed right now!