Canadian Down Under

Saturday, August 30, 2008

It reminded me of my father...

I was on the jet cat the other day and saw this guy with a little kid and for some reason it fascinated me - and then I realised why: it reminded me of my father.

It was nothing weird or bad - it was just from watching from afar, it just seemed... awkward.

Don't get me wrong, the kid was having fun - quite chatty and cute - and the man with the child was actively talking as well - it just had a.... remote(?) feel to it. I may be doing a poor job of explaining this - but let me try again. The kid was natural, free and secure in expressing what they were thinking or feeling, but the guy seemed more reserved. Almost like he wanted to be as free and easy as the kid but didn't quite know how.

That was my dad. He cared (dare I go so far as to say he loved me?) but he was old school - and didn't know how to show it (and had zero practice) so when he tried, it came out awkward.

You know the nice thing? At least he tried. And that's what I was thinking on the jet cat - he's trying and that's good. I felt like saying to him - 'keep trying, it gets easier with practice!!'

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

"So did you used to be really fat?"

Note to self: any conversation that starts with "Don't take this the wrong way" is not going to be a good one....

So this woman who started after I left for holidays asked me today:
"Don't take this the wrong way, but did you used to be really fat?"

Seriously.

That was verbatim.

Apparently the IT guys are talking about how 'thin and trim' I look and she figured - based on the comments - that I must have been really fat.

Ummm. For the record? I wasn't.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Home for a rest

Do I mean home as in Canada? or home as in Sydney?

Well, both really, but I must admit, I'm leaning more towards what the ingenious Spirit of the West sang,"I've been gone for a month, I need home for a rest"

Got home yesterday and accidentally fell asleep after Oprah (2 pm for those non-Sydney siders) and finally got up at 9 am today.

Beauty!!

Oh - and apparently nearly a month in Canada gave me back my Canadian accent.... but I bet a day here will bring back the twang some of my friends and famioy really hate....


So - miss me??