“Our time is up Dog,”

“Our time is up Dog,” I said to my customer disguised as a Cambodian shrapnel bomb of ill-angled words and sputtering electronic bleeps named Boo. He reckons he uses me as his confessional or tour guide. Boo’s first single "Dicksweat" comes out in March.
Boo exclaimed, "Hey Mister C, guard your grill and take a chill pill.”
Boo bumped knuckles and I stepped on to the platform. It was like entering through a portal into nothingness. It was called Huntingdale.
Next thing I knew I was eating at sub-continental cafe with a nun. “So how can I be of help Sister?”
“No in fact, quite the opposite sinner. How can I help you? Your face looks like hell and I can tell you’re a crotchety old man whose carnal appetites have shrunk to zero.”
Looks like nothing romantic this afternoon. Bummer. I needed time to think. I played games with the soy bottle on the laminex table to gain some leverage. A yellow banner with a slogan like ALL YOU CAN EAT; No Sharing Plates. Was plastered behind the counter.
I lightly stroked her cheek: “Why don’t we talk about this next week?”
The sister adjusted her habit and whistled a Latin alternative version of the Beatles ‘Eight Days A Week’.
I bought a newspaper and sat down at the table: “Listen Sister, last I heard you were dead and hiding out in New Zealand and working as a turntabalist in a bar where you made top-shelf Brazilian pastries and empanadas’.”

Every moment is a golden one

“Psychiatry taught me that you have to come up with your own version of neurotic happiness. I'm never going to be a normal person. No one changes, no one gets better – once you make friends with your neuroses you can plan a life.” John waters. The Guardian.

That’s how I’m feeling tonight, but I might have to book into a therapist. A male one this time, my two previous shrinks have been female. I never thought I’d have to do it again, but the start of winter and lack of light has flattened me out. I feel like I’m walking in custard.

On the up side my orange tree, which I have grown from, a foundling lying in the yard of a a wrecked house is really fruiting up. Homegrown oranges are great, not so sweet, but a real tang. That’s enough for a first blog back. I’m reading many books, russians & eastern europeans. I have written a new album, but decided I will wait till next year before recording it. listening to audio book of 'Brave New World' its rather good. Also listened to keith richard bio, read by johnny depp. very draining, rich drug addicts bragging. does it get worse than that? When he sticks to music. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such. Australian literature is of zero interest to me. 'Cloudlands' or anything by Tim Flanagan or whoever all deadly, and not in the indiginous australian use of that phrase. i quit facebook for good; harder than stopping smoking.

love you, love me,

stephen

My afternoons in Huntingdale: The train Sessions

My afternoons in Huntingdale

“Our time is up Dog,” I said to my customer disguised as a Cambodian shrapnel bomb of ill-angled words and sputtering electronic bloops named Boo. He reckons he uses me as his confessional or tour guide. Boo’s first single "Dicksweat" comes out in March.

Boo exclaimed, "Hey Mister C, guard your grill and take a chill pill.”

Boo bumped knuckles and I stepped on to the platform. It was like entering through a portal into nothingness. It was called Huntingdale.

Next thing i knew I was eating at sub-continental cafe with a nun.

“So how can I be of help Sister?”

The Train Sessions’

I made a name for myself by injecting a sense of moral ambiguity into pop music. But these days, institutional corruption and moral ambiguity are a given across all the arts. Well, duh.

Anyway, its sort of thrilling to have a real job working freelance as an outsourcing counselor.

I was running a little late. When I arrived at the Caulfield line I was caught in a dilema; two hours or an all day card. If this counselor business takes off I might go for a monthly, quartly, or even the Myki smart card. I always ride in the carriage second from the front. My memories a bit vague on why I actually do this.

Anyway, I change trains at South Yarra for the Sandringham Line. I swept out of one carriaqge on to another train. I’m thinking beach side, shady green belt, middle class customers to start the day.

I wear a name tag that Officeworks ran up for me. Nothing too large. Outsourcing Counselor it says, $50 for 15 minutes; not as good as working at a massage parlour, but I more often than not keep my clothes on.

A young lady with piercing in her eyebrow and cheek sat down across from me and began talking. She wore a shapeless black dress. There were bundles of newspaper at her feet. She was wearing red Converse runners and white sox. I thought she was too old to pull off that look. On anyone older than fifteen, it was ridiculous. I knew what I had to do, but instead exploded in cold chills and a rash. It comes with the job. This youngish female was having problems; she had cancer and hadn’t told any of her friends. She was pregnant and confused, she needed to talk, she wanted to have fun, but she needed to control herself and her emotions. I needed to deal with this problem as quickly as possible. Bummer. Not a perfect start to a shift.

As I said, she started talking at Ripponlea and by Sandringham I was checking my watch and looking at the timetable for the next express back to the city. The depressing piano music in my head started playing and as we alighted on to the platform the woman rushed forward as though to throw herself under the train. I felt sure her number was up, fortunately a staff pyscho crashed into her and she collapsed in a heap on the platform.

Before you could ask the question, “How do the SSRI's compare to the MAOIs? I had grabbed my fee from her purse, handed over my stamped discount customer card and made an appointment for next week for her. Next I stuck the chick in a taxi and sent her off to the Hospital. I couldn’t think of where else to put her. She was now the Indian drivers problem.

Till tomorrow, Stephen

Odysseus understood how weak willpower actually is when he asked his crew to bind him to the mast while sailing by the seductive Sirens. Mmmmm willpower something you can never have enough of? I have been reading 'The Lost Books Of The Odyssey' an interesting take on the Greek tale.

working part-time as an outsourcing counselor!

Unconcerned with cash as I am, I have been thinking of working part-time as an outsourcing counselor! Why? Why not!I have been in analysis for a number of years and at my age I need a hobby. This summer I’ve taken to musing about wide-ranging topics that I know nothing about to strangers whilst on public transport. Knowing nothing has never stopped me before. It could conceivably help my patients and myself. I think its a spiffy idea. I’m trying to bring that word back. My fruit trees are running late; be at least another month before I’m eating apples, pears, nectarines, oranges and lemons.

Whatever the case, I managed to pull in some good money travelling between broadmeadows and Cranbourne the other day.I have given up drinking—again.

Third world entertainment tax

Third world entertainment tax

Who came first? First exactly and do they do and do they do and so on and on and what does history teach? History teaches. I have been listening to a bit of Gertrude Stein on a 90-minute poetry record. I have a virus and feel like shit. Headaches cutting through my thoughts like a knife. I feel as old as the alphabet. As long as you’re happy. I can’t be happy feeling like crap. Wife & younger son went to the last day of the show. I made vegetable soup and slept lots. A few gigs coming up, been practicing so much I have sore wrists. All I do is complain. I am a touchy little son of a gun. So much to learn, to earn and to yearn too. Goodnight and thanks. Can’t get excited by grand final. Moment has gone. A tie is a result isn’t it?

Stephen