WEEK FOUR

So the last days of the Fringe approached, and so the drinking stepped up a notch! In the last few days I had so many shots of Krupnickas, and the lethal combination consisting of the jagermeister, quickly followed by a beer - good stuff! Not so good when you wake up the next morning slightly worse for wear, or still drunk, neither are a nice option really!

My work got a little bit ore stressful (and a lot more weird) with the arrival of another show into my largest venue. He is a strange guy who always refers to his character in the third person all the time - I had been warned about him, but went to meet him with an open mind, and within seconds he had conformed to every annoying trait people had told me about - I don't think I have ever disliked someone wo quickly after meeting them! But anyway, the addition of this show into my day meant that I had 500 people to deal with - 200 coming out of the theatre, whilst trying to deal with 300 trying to get in. Good times! But it all went well the first night, and on the second the shit hit the fan, and the security people at the front door had a bit of a hissy fit at me because of the queue, and then stopped everyone coming in the building - not the most useful solution to the problem, and then caused all the other shows to wonder where their audience was! But, after all the commotion for about 30 minutes, everything was sorted and the place seemed deadly quiet and back to normal again! So, of course after all that a cold beer was required and then after my shift finished I continued my assault on my liver with a few moscatos, and then a few more for good measure - I didn't have to work in the morning. Oh wait, yes I did. So, I declined the offer to go home early with Toni and just stayed till the bitter end, much to my amusement as otherwise I would have missed one of he volunteers (who had been hitting on me all night, and ha subsequently been given a random number when he asked for mine - ooops!) being crushed by a table falling off the trolley they were on - I shouldn't laugh, but if he was such a creep part of me thinks he deserved it!

So yeah, next day I woke up bright and early at 9am with a cracker of a hangover, and attempted to get myself ready for work - I managed to force down some toast, and then took my tea with me for the journey to work in the TRUCK! Great fun, never been in a big truck before! So, off we all went ready for the bump out. Kind of ready anyway. So, the day was spent, on my part, learning how to take lights down, packing up big projector screens, and general carrying stuff about, and my final meal from Urban Burger in a long time - I hope anyway! The day ended wwith all the techs (and me, being the limpet that I am) sitting on the stairs of 225 Bourke Street having a beer.

Just as I thought I had paid my penance, Will offered me a few more hours work the next morning emptying the truck into storage. I foolishly agreed. A few more hours pay would be useful anyway, and none of it seemed that bad. So, we did all that fun, and by 2pm were in the pub having a pint, paid for with the money that had been left in 'Tip Jar' for the bar at work. Fools!

The next few days were spent enjoying not being at work, and not doing much in the way of anything productive but, as the weather has really turned nice now, I was truly initiated into the Australian way of life, and we had a BBQ. Great fun, and have decided that I actually like BBQs if they are for veggies, and it isn't just a spare roll and some potato salad. One day I will learn to cook (or just pester Will and Toni until they give me all their secrets!)

I decided to eventually go and get my visa printed and stuck into my passport, and I figured it would be easier than showing them an email, or just taking my word for it! As they only did this service between 9am-11am I got up early, braved the terrible rainy weather that had descended, and went into the city. I found the place relatively easily, and sound the Immigration Office. Only then to be told that they no longer print these visas, and instead, if someone wants to check my immigration status they have to phone up a number and go through it that way. This is apparently to make it easier for everyone. All they have to do is turn their bloody printer on, and they will be sorted, and so would I be. But after being told categorically that they cannot do it for me I left and decided to go and visit a rainy Brunswick Street. In doing so I realised it was still half nine in the morning and most of the shops there werent even open, so went to hide in the closest cafe, which turned out to be amazing, with the most fantastic almost croissant in the world. I shall go back there again and treat myself to a different kind of cake. Even after this impromptu breakfast the shops still weren't open, so I decided it was time to head home - and treated myself to a 'Frankie' magazine and jumped on a train. 

After falling a little bit more in love with Brunswick Street a little bit too much, it became my destination for the next day too, but this time it was beautifully sunny. I went back to Bimbo's for $4 pizza and to use their beer garden to sit outside and write stuff. I would love to say I did anything more than eat pizza and drink beer for the rest of the afternoon, but I didn't. On my way home I also decided to buy a Krispy Kreme doughnut which I have always eyed up on my way past the shop, and it didn't disappoint.

So, another week, the end of the Fringe and the start of my tourist days - I fear there will be a lot more cakes, teas, and coffees coming my way as I explore more bits of the city!