Thirty One and onwards

Well jeez its another year on almost, 8 hours and so and I will be 31. I feel quite happy about this age, better than I did about 30 as I feel a million miles away from where i was a year ago. Funny how things and your outlook can change in 365 days.

I always use to get really down on my birthday, I use to see it as a massive red line how much of a loner I was and the echo of singledom in my ears was deafening. But how easy would it be to crawl into a ball again and wish for things to change without making any effort. This year I refuse to lets things get me down, I won't let a guy make me feel awful again, I won't let work drive me to irritation-ville, I won't let myself be saddened by hurtful actions of others and I won't begin another year feeling sorry for myself.

So if the hard way is the new way and the easy way was the sad way, I think 2008 will see alot of dirt under my nails.

I think I will be a better person for it, that is my birthday present to myself this year. The best I think I could have received.

2008 started with a bang!

So sorry I have not been able to write anything on this for a while, on my return to Australia I have been literally bonkers. Work is great, I flew to Melbourne last weekend for a meeting and stayed the night. Such an incredible city. Then back in Syd now. I have loads going on and will update you more soon. Just wanted to let you know I am still alive and will update my bloggy with words rather than pictures now. Just to let you know what is coming up:

• My birthday on Thursday, I will be 31. Having a drinks thing on Friday.
• Going to Noosa on the 19th for a short holiday, fun!
• Have a personal trainer starting next week for three months
• Looking at buying a house! Scary!
• Planning a trip to London and Europe for August.

So its all on my pets.

More soon
Jx

Holiday Pics part 3: Wanaka and Mt Cook

Above: Lake Matherson

Above: The Elusive Mt Cook

Above: Me, Andrew "Bull" and Jennifer

Above: Me in Lake Wanaka

Above: A beach on Lake Wanaka only accessible by boat

Holiday Pics part 2: Franz Josef glacier

Above: looking back from the glacier over the glacier valley where it has retreated from in the past three hundred years. Each of those boulders was the size of a fridge. The river was full of fast moving lumps of ice the size of a TV. Above: Jennifer and I

Above: The ice and the glacier cliff wall

Above: Me and my cramptons on the glacier.

Above: Standing at the base. Note the small line of people on it.

Below: The massive Franz Josef Glacier. When I took this picture we were still 1.5 hour hike from the base.

My Holiday Pics - Part One

Above: Milford Sound

Above: On The Drive to Milford Sound

Above: Milford Sound

I know they seem like postcard shots, but they are not, it was just so amazing. I will upload some more later.

Back! Feeling Great in 08!

I am back! Sorry for the delay I have been distracted my first week back. I promise to be more attentive to you know. SO...I am back from an amazing holiday back in New Zealand, four weeks it seems is the perfect amount of time for a holiday. Not too short nor too long. I have had a really awesome a relaxing time, be it very busy. A majority of time was spent with my Mum on Waiheke Island which is 30 mins ferry ride from downtown Auckland. That 30 mins makes all the difference as my mother’s property nestled in the hills on the eastern and more rural part of the island, was an escape. Mum has a solar powered house perched on the apex of a valley. My room had a glass roof so I could fall asleep looking at the stars. I have uploaded some images for you to see before. Simply amazing. It also seems with time my relationship with my mother has become closer, it was really amazing to get to know her as a person not just a mother. We have been very close always as it was always just me and her, but I feel it has shifted to a new level of maturity and love. So I craved to be back in the isolation of her house when I was away.

That said I spent a hilarious new years in Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty with my friends who have an uncanny ability to turn any holiday into a debauched conga line of drinking and rude conversation. We went on a cruise to swim with dolphins from Mt Maunganui on the 2nd Jan, and did not see any dolphins. To top this off I was vomiting off the back of the boats for 4 straight hours due to the heaving seas. So no dolphins and I had to pay $120 to feed the fish my breakfast. Not a happy chappy. After the forth vomit I passed out on a bulkhead and was awoken to a man looking me in the eyes and asking “Are you from Australia?” I don’t know what I said but it was not a convivial “Well yes as a matter of fact...” as I wiped the dried vomit form my face and hat. I think I grunted and hugged a life jacket wanting to die. I was In Pukehina for 5 days before heading back to Waiheke to recoup before jetting off to the South Island for a whistle stop tour of the southern south Island and west coast.

My friend Jennifer and I took custody of an awesome 4x4 and drove 1370 kms in 5 days. We went to the primordial and huge Milford Sound, via Te Anua, then back up to the gold rush era town Arrowtown n where we roasted in the heat. From there we drove 5 hours up to Franz Josef Glacier on the middle of the west coast. The drive is through some of the most ancient and Jurassic style rainforests I have ever seen. Once in FJG we hiked the glacier on a half day guided tour. It is one of the best things I have done, you must do it. Then after two days there we drove to Wanaka to stay with a friend Andrew and his fiancé. He took us out on the lake for a swim in the freezing and azure blue alpine lake. After a night there we dropped the car off in Queenstown for our final day and night. I went White Water rafting and promptly fell out in rather a dramatic rebounding incident on the river. But what is WW rafting without getting water up your nostril and a bit freaked out. That night we headed for the World Bar in Queenstown for too many ‘teapots’ and terrible music.

I love the South Island I think I have found a place I want to visit again and again, even maybe buy a property there. That said my mother said she wanted to help me buy my first home. Amazing huh??
So I am very positive about 2008, after an amazing holiday and a new perspective on life. I feel I have fallen back in love with NZ and left my heart there.
Please find some pictures I took from my trip, these will say more that my prattle.
Hope you holiday was amazing for you too.

xxx

Merry Christmas All

Hope you have a great day and all the best for the upcoming new year. Thanks for reading.

James xxx

Holiday: More Waiheke Island

Above: My legs at Onetangi Beach

Above: Onetangi Beach

Above: Waiheke Road

Above: Looking East over Waiheke towards Coromandel

Above: Pohutakawa Tree A.K.A The New Zealand Christmas Tree

Holiday: Night out in Auckland

A picture says a thousand words, so here are a thousand pictures. That would be 1,000,000 words.
PS: After consultation with Blogspot, who were none to keen to upload a 1000 pictures, here is a smaller selection.

Above: Jennifer

Above: Kate and the Tequila and Ginger Beer cocktail (evil)

Below: Left to right - Jennifer, Kate and I

NZ Holiday:Waiheke Island

Above: Matiatia Bay

Below: The view from my Mum's Kitchen over Passage Rock

Hey guys, for the past few days I have been relaxing (with a capital R) at my mum's hideaway in Waiheke Island which is 30 mins off the coast of Auckland. I have been literally laying about, sleeping, eating and drinking for 4 days. I am off to the gym today just to stave off total entropy but it has been very relaxing. My friend Jennifer came over for the day yesterday but the weather has been a bit bad, heaps of rain and cloud. But that did not stop us bouncing around in the 4WD in the torrential rain and mud around the back end of Waiheke. It has been really nice hanging and catching up with my Mum. She is so amazing. Jennifer is now coming with me to the South Island on the 5th January too which is cool. Off to the mainland tomorrow for a couple of nights out in the city which could be debouched.

Engagement Party Pics

Jennifer and I
Sarah

Paul

NZ Holiday: Paul & Sarah's Engagement Party

I arrived in NZ a bit disheveled after having my flight to Auckland delayed by 3 hours in Sydney, but better late than never. Two of my close friends, Sarah and Paul, had their engagement party on the day I arrived so I swiftly when from airport to party mode. Sarah and Paul are the last couple in my group who have been together over 10 years to get engaged. It was amazing to catch up with everyone even though I was feeling a bit dizzy from the travel. Nothing a few dozen beers could not solve.

So much to do....

Cripes, I am leaving in two days and I have to sort so much out. I have to pack, wrap presents, find a lap top bag that does not make me look like I am smuggling plutonium rods and meet up with friends for dinner tomorrow. I also have to clean my room which has turned into an utter dump. Lucky I have the entire day tomorrow before I fly on Saturday morning. I am also still getting over an utter beast of a hangover from my works Christmas lunch on Tuesday. It started at 12.30pm and I got home at 1am. We all got a great gift from our boss, a Missoni Towel and a personal trainer for three months. Nice huh? Anyhoo I was supposed to go to this White Christmas Party for Zeta Bar, but I would rather have a gym session, a pizza and an early night tonight. How are your Christmas plans going? Your Kidney's left on holiday yet?

6 Days and I will be here.....

Sick Joke

Man, what a crazy 48 hours I have had. On Friday night I was told there was a profile on a gay dating site using my my pictures, and that it said I was a HIV positive "chem" freak after easy sex and was available "day/night" to be dumped in. Can you believe it?? Who would make up such lies. I initially took it as a joke, but when I saw the profile and with not only one but 5 pictures of me, the more frightened and saddened I was.

I had no idea who could have done this, the pictures are off my Facebook profile, but someone took the time to make this page up and post it on this site for god knows who to see.

I was understandably devastated, I had no idea someone would do this and why. I had not pissed anyone off that I knew of and it was just such a vitriolic thing to do. I emailed Gaydar's support people and after two days they sent me an email saying the profile had been taken down and that they were "deeply sorry". Its not their fault, how amazing of them to move so swiftly. I am now left with the thoughts of why. I will not let this get me down, I am keeping my chin up, what does not kill me makes me stronger and I will not be intimidated by someone who obviously had a bone to pick. I just hope the person who did this finds the help they need and some light in their life.

Vintage Jim - The Sun Herald May 2006

The other day when I was a bit down and talking to my Mum about having a hotel room and no one special to have it with. She reminded me of the article I wrote for The Sun Herald last year about being happy being single. I really had nothing to say to that, she was right...hate it when that happens. :-) I look really weird in that picture......

Sweat-cracker

I went and saw The Nutcracker last night at the Opera House, it was amazing. I have not been to the ballet since I was like 4 so it was really all new again. A friend of mine had a spare ticket so invited me along with their lovely family. I was looking rather swish as well, but as it is humid and the temperature of Venus in Sydney at the moment, I got to the Opera House a total sweat ball. Very irritating as you spend all that time getting ready and then you are ready for another shower by the time you get to your venue. I even took great pains not to get over heated. I got ready slowly, drank cold water, opened every door and chimney flew, walked slowly rather than my usual tripod stride. Still I was a fountain of runny face. This is embarrassing when you have to meet people, “Hi I am a sweaty troll, nice to see you again”. Anyhoo I had a great night once the sweating had stopped.

Love is a battlefield

I love that song, it reminds me of being 5 and boogying on a Saturday morning in the house I grew up in New Zealand while my mum vacuumed the house around me, stereo blasting. How interesting that I had no idea what the song meant. It was just the perfect song for body slamming into the couch cushions or accidentally onto my badly timed cat, Bobo.
I went out this weekend and ended up catching the eye of a rather hot guy, who I ended up chatting to for a while. All was going well, until I looked over his shoulder and saw a rather slight young man shooting daggers at me. I asked the guy if he new that goblin over there, he said “yeah that’s my BF”. Oh…well that kinda killed the conversation faster than saying you liked a good “fisting”.
I was rather taken aback at his rather glib admission and his still present eagerness to molest me. I was not having any of it, so after a couple of “Whoa Tigers” we continued our conversation. Until I spied Mr. BF totally pashing another guy, I stopped the conversation and asked “how do you feel about that??” He was like, “whatever, he does his thing and I…… do mine”. Then looked at me like a shark eyeing a plump seal. I laughed and thought you have to be kidding.
He proceed to tell me he could not break up with him as they just moved up together from Melbourne and it was not the right time, though he wanted my number so he could call. I was just flabbergasted, is he for real? Had I taken acid and was now hallucinating this scenario asleep on some hotel toilet?
I just said there is no way I am going to let you call me if you are not single. End of story. I grabbed my gear as I was scared the drink and overall hotness of the guy would make me do something I regretted. As I was leaving he followed me outside to say he hoped we met again sometime soon. I was pleasant but firm, so single no mingle buddy
I left feeling rather proud of myself, but then a little down that again the only guy I met that I had a spark with, was a mess.
He was also a cop as well. Another one?? Holy lord people, is there a newsletter circulating between gay cops with me on the cover – “Available for dipshits. Apply in person at your local fag bar”.

Here is a pic of me and my lovely friend Zilla, at her BF's house before above event.

How cool is this picture?

I was doing research for images for a presentation for a major department store and I found this image of JFK. An unidentified reporter interviews candidate Kennedy during a helicopter ride above Los Angeles in the spring of 1960 . How cool does he look?! Poignant as well. I thought I would just put this up as my inspiration for the week.

It's in the stars?

I am literally dragging my carcass over the line as the end of the year is within spitting distance. Not that I am counting (I finish in exactly two weeks today) but I am in such a dire need of a holiday I can taste the sunscreen in my mouth. Why you ask, as you eat your twig toast and hot non animal related chai? Well I have had a year that has truly tested me in every way. Work, health, love (or lack of loving) it really has been a year of change. I don't complain, though some experiences were truly horrible, I am just hoping for a year with less drama and more nice karma. A colleague read me my stars for the impending year yesterday which left me wanting, I heard phrases like.. "In between phase", "major growth process" etc.. Not that I am placing my faith into a little booklet stuck onto a gossip rag, but to be honest that sounds like this year and the year before, oh and the year before. I feel very much like I am on the verge of something better, but never seem to get there or enjoy it if I do. Strange huh? Maybe I should take solice in the last line of the crappy gossip horoscope book "Even though you do not know where this train is headed, have faith you will know where to get off, so enjoy the scenery on the way" Wise words for a magazine whose cover screams "Britney now so fat she has her own moon".