eve

Finally time alone, undisturbed by either sickness, fatigue, or people.

It is the last night and I am not moving into that sentimental direction of leaving this place in which I have lived for about three or so years. The neighbour next door thought it was a neat idea to have the road lighted up with candles. So three rows of candle lights. I have never celebrated Christmas Day not a day in my life. Seeing people shop about and lighten up their houses at night seems a fun thing to watch. The two dollar shirts seems to make me happy anyway.

For the past two weeks or so I have spent time with my family. To take the train alone and walk for 25 minutes to the airport to avoid the airport charge and watch the super moon emerge by the lake. The arrival, the greetings, the catch ups. Father carries a walking stick around anywhere now. It seems contrasting to my tendency to walk at any chance I have (I measure distances by the minute), therefore the car has to be borrowed around. I still cannot drive a manual and don’t think I want to (unless absolutely pushed to the edge of necessity). This and many more.

There’s a lot of things you have to think of when travelling with other people. Budget first comes to mind, then comfort, and then safety. All else is patience (and therefore, speed). Perhaps other’s preferences would be different, and to strike a balance between all three would be difficult. And I think travelling in threes or fours would be nice.

I still haven’t planned for that trip to Jogja. I might have to add space for books to be bought.

There are several things that I wanted to do before I go back, and perhaps only one is not fulfilled. I have went to the beach where there are wild kangaroos abound (with curiosity too), I have walked that 26 km coastal walk at the Royal National Park  I had wanted to. Uluru comes to mind, but it is just a giant stump of rock in the middle of the desert. I have not seen a whale, and they are not in migrating season anymore so I am sad. I saw migrating bats though last night, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions crossing across above us around dawn, so that will do. Ehsan and I watched Blackfish yesterday, and we now somewhat understand why can’t you keep whales in zoos.

I haven’t read anything in a while except bits of The Second Sex here and there and the first fifty or so pages of Spring Snow. Simply because those are the only two books I have in my possession right now. The rest are all shipped in a box, all 45 kg of them, perhaps 100 or so books. I heard that they guy lifting my box complained of its weight and of reading books in general. Let them. I shall only want my books safely delivered.

As for writing itself, I hope the two months break I have before I start working shall become fruitful, sort of. There’s the apartment to find, accounts to open, classes to be attended, people to meet, cookies to be made (for the wedding), and everything else.

I am sorry.

I fly back tomorrow.

But I shall take a swim first.

Goodnight.

Merry Christmas.