21/3/15

Dear Diary,

The last quarter final between New Zealand and the West Indies is not being shown on free to air TV in Australia so there’s no excuse for spending all day on the couch. I'm annoyed that I cant get to watch the match but vow to find a bar that is showing it and try not to spend too much money drinking the day away. After staying inside all yesterday I’m feeling a bit stir crazy anyway so it's probably time to head out and do something. My Melbourne mate, Myles, to the rescue and he invites me out to lunch. There is a burger bar near his work that he’s keen to try and I head into town to help him sample their wares. When we arrive at the place we discover its closed on Saturdays!!! There is a fair amount of disbelief that a restaurant would be closed on the busiest day of the week, and as we rattle the doors checking if it really is closed (it is), this disbelief turns to incredulous anger from Myles that sets me off on a giggle fit for the next 2 hours and spend the rest of the day coming up with reasons why a food eatery in the city center would close on the weekend..

“I don’t really like money, so I’m not gonna open on Saturdays.”

We head over to a second choice place but when we arrive the kitchen has closed for lunch service but is helpfully due to reopen for dinner at 6pm.

“See all the hungry people with money to spend, I’m gonna make them go hungry and not take their money off of them. ‘Coz I hate money.”

Eventually we find somewhere that will give us food in exchange for cash and sit outside Queen Victoria markets and let tempers cool in the roasting heat of the day. Big lunch leaves us feeling lethargic in the afternoon heat so we head over to a nearby park and people watch from the shade of the trees.

“See all this money we’ve been making, I’m never gonna spend it. Lets just not open on Saturdays.”

As the afternoon closes out we head to a pub to watch two time Australian Record Industry Award winning singer songwriter, Monique Brumby, play a free gig. A tram debacle on the way see us show up late but we haven't missed anything as there is quite a delay as they sort out the sound. Eventually they turn it around from sounding like Wall-e playing static through a tin can into a really clear and crisp sound. The gig is amazing and if they had had any merchandise for sale I would have been tempted to purchase a couple of albums but instead nick the set list when the gig finishes.

A big and late lunch has sustained Myles and I through most of the evening but as the gig looks to wind up Myles tries to order a pizza from the bar/restaurant. I can hear him complaining over the band playing to other random punters that “This is the third time today I’ve tried to give my money away to a kitchen and been rejected. What's happened to capitalism?”

Another tram debacle on the way home sees us walking half way back to the flat in a fit of pique until we both decide to save our legs and spend some money on a taxi.

Once back in the flat I check the cricket score ... ohhhhh, big score for New Zealand there ... and didn't Guptill do well. I'm annoyed all over again that I didnt get to watch suck a cracking display of batting but at least it's good to see my pound is still safe with new Zealand still in the running to win the World Cup.

This good news rounds out a pretty good day.

“I hate working Saturdays but I never want to retire. Lets work every other day of the week for the rest of our lives.”




"Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it." Jules Renard - (1864 - 1910)