Update 9.11.08
Sunday 9.11.08
It’s been a while since I updated anything so here goes!
Well, I’m alone…again. Another break down with Sue leaves me with time on my hands and seemingly not much to do. Its hard at work as we are both working closely together – especially given that Suzanne is off for an unknown period of time and Sue and I are it at one end of the floor. It’s been 7 weeks now and my emotions have been less than stable, while my imagination has run riot, resulting in poor behaviour on my part at times.
I wonder if anyone reads this at all?
Anyway – trying to fill the time at the weekends and at night at home is challenging and verging on the depressing. Drinking helps a little, but one gets sick of that after a while. At 53 what prospects does one have? Where does one go to meet (in my case) women? Not that that is what I need right now – another woman? I don’t think so.
Right now I’m not feeling too bad – last week was shit and I acted at times like a real wanker. Unfortunately being the sensitive (stupid?), selfish, self centred dick that I am when something happens I take it to heart and think the worst.
Let’s face it, I haven’t been able to sustain or develop a relationship – or rather no one has wanted to commit to me – in my adult life! After 10 years of marriage Karen just wanted to see the back of me – and it took her 7 years to achieve that! Now after 10 years of trying to make it work with Sue, it appears to be over too. I guess I’m just not really good enough – that’s apparent and something I need to come to terms with. It’s easier on your own really anyway.
So – birding! Been birding regularly over the last few months and have seen some good birds, but not many new ticks since Townsville in February. Rob and I hitched up with Stuart, a
UK birder, who arrived in Brisbane in July. We showed him a few birding spots and he took off from there – getting heaps of birds and building quite a tick list in the intervening weeks.
It’s been a bit of a crake/rail spring. Have had Bush hen at Bulimba, Lewin’s Rail at Minnippi and Samsonvale (got a photo of the one at Minnippi) and Spotless Crakes at Samsonvale too. We also had an Owlet Nightjar there in broad daylight the same day. We have been using playback for birds more regularly this year with good results.
Latest new bird for me – Radjah Shelduck at Wynnum North. An Australian ‘vagrant’ from further north this large white duck is usually found north of Townsville but for some reason 2 (although I only saw 1) decided to come south. They were at the swamp at Wynnum North on Wednesday but appear to have moved on as of yesterday, Saturday 8.11.08.
Went there and explored the channels and marsh country with R & S yesterday and went to Manly wader roost alone this morning. Not too much to report – usual waders at Manly - Bar-tailed Godwits, Terek, Curlew and Sharp-tailed Sands, Red-necked Stints, Little, Caspian and Gull-billed Terns, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Whimbrels and Eastern Curlews, Red-capped and Lesser Sand Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Greenshanks etc. Searched for the reported Broad-billed Sands, but despite scanning every Stint-sized bird in the ‘scope, no BBS. 3 Eurasian Curlews had been reported from Southport and we were on the look out for them over the weekend – but the sighting has been unsubstantiated – would be the second Australian record. R and I went on a Southport pelagic on 25.10 and had Black-bellied and Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Wandering Albatross (aust. tick for me), Providence, Great-winged (tick) and Gould’s (tick) Petrel, usual Wedge-tailed, Flesh-footed and a couple of Short-tailed Shearwaters. Main thing is we didn’t get sick – didn’t even feel bad! Took Dramamine and felt fine – no nasty side effects. Mind you it wasn’t a bad day at sea, long swells, but not too rough. On the way out the boaties had a couple of lures running out the back and one was taken by a Marlin – I grabbed the rod and the fish played with me for about 5 minutes before breaking free. Pretty exciting!
Kayaking – been kayaking regularly before work – still from Norman Creek, but now out on the Brisbane river most of the time. Crossed the river several times and I have paddled as far as Southbank up river and Breakfast Creek down river. Maximum time on the water has been 1.5 hours when I had a late shift start. Most mornings however it’s been 35 – 50 minutes. Now that the earlier dawns are here, I could get going at 5.00, but somehow still hard to get out of bed before 5.20 – 5.30…. In winter I was leaving the dock in the dark some mornings –even at 6.15! A bit different now – just wear shorts and diving boots, sunglasses and baseball hat. It’s a nice way to start the day, but it hasn’t done as much for my upper body development as I thought it would, so I am doing some weights at home which is making a difference. Still ride to work as much as I can – done over 2700 kms this year. So Monday, Wednesday & Friday I try to ride and kayak on Tuesday and Thursday. The late shifts are a pain – it’s very hot riding at 9.00 instead of 7. It does give me time to kayak for an hour or so, but then I don’t finish till 18.30 and that’s a pain – ‘cause there’s not much to do after 16.30.
Anyway – shit, Christmas is coming. God, I hate Christmas. I wish I’d made arrangements to go to Ireland this year instead of siting around here alone. I’m on standby the Christmas week too, so there won’t be much opportunity to drink…..
Still I have Tasmania next May (!) to look forward too…
So – that’s it for now. I wonder does anyone read this stuff?
