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.
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