ANZAC morning at the Shrine

Debated back and forth all day Wednesday, whether to go to the ANZAC Day Dawn service at the Shrine yesterday morning. I knew it wasn't going to rain but I had a date Wednesday night, I needed to sleep but had a PT session later in the morning anyway, ...long story short, after my date ended at 1am, I decided to head in. I stopped by home to change clothes and waste a bit of time, ended up on POF for a while which was entertaining.

Years past, I'd headed to the service but not stayed because it either started raining on the way in, I couldn't get a carpark or the mass of people was just too much. This time I changed strategy, I'd get in early, get some photos and get myself a good spot to watch from. Well in theory it worked. I got in there at 3am, no-one else was there! I got the best park, as close to the Shrine as I could legally get (they'd closed off so many parking areas) and after a disagreement with an over eager parking marshal thinking he knew best, started the walk up to the Shrine. From my car it took 10 minutes to walk up, that was with a few stops for photos (mentioning now as it will come up later). It was so dark on the forecourt, the only light was the one highlighting the Shrine itself and a slight glow from the Eternal Flame between bodies huddled together. 

So after a bit of wandering around and more photos, I found a good spot to watch from, right up the front. So this was the hard bit, I didn't bring a chair, it became too crowded to consider sitting on the ground, so I stood there, in the same damn spot from 3:30amish till 6:30amish. My feet were so so sore, there was a couple of times I thought about leaving but I'd already stuck it out this long. And I couldn't really try and work my way out through the massive crowd with the service was on. So the host I guess you'd call him, delved a little into the history of the ANZAC's, a schoolgirl spoke, as did a returning Afghanistan soldier. Tears of course welled in my eyes at the sound of The Last Post, it's the soulfulness of the bugle I think. Guns were fired and 30 minutes later the service was over. I was expecting more, not sure what, just more.

So now I can cross that one off my bucket list. I've done it, doubt I'll do it again.

Back to the 10 minute walk from my car thing for a sec, I mentioned it because, believe this! With the amount of people attending the service, all leaving at once, it took me well over 30minutes to get back to my car. How nuts is that!?!

Sunday Evening with Honeyman

It's been a busy few days so I thought it time to check in before too much happens.


I had another date Sunday night, not successful at all. The guy kept calling me 'Honey', even after I asked him to stop twice. We were at a local footy club, so I was dressed down and I still think I was the smartest dressed there (I knew I should have worn trackies). We agreed to met at 6, after he'd played his footy match, showered and had a drink to relax. So he came over and introduced himself, giving me a kiss on the cheek (he smelt amazing!), mentioned he was in the middle of a game of darts and would be with me shortly. Fair enough I thought, having Brothers I know not to interrupt a game. I should have got up and left after 10minutes waiting but this guy was towards the top of my list, so I stayed and it's almost 7 by the time he finally comes over and sits with me, using the 'I was on a winning streak' excuse. The amazing scent he adorned before had now been replaced my beer breath, I knew this was not going to be good but will make allowances, he did lose his footy match. So we get to chatting, ignoring Honeyman's beer breath as much as I can, and he mentions how everyone he's met from online has been too materialistic and fake. Not being either of those things myself, my attention is peaked. So I quiz him a bit about other women he's chatted to and met, they all sound the same. So it's getting close to 9 and I tell him I should head off, he offers to walk me out. It's a bit drizzly so he wraps his jacket around me, reaching my car he pulls me in for a kiss and I allow it (soft lips but that breath!) but quickly I pull away from him, mentioning it was nice to meet him and I'll text him sometime.
A few hours later, Honeyman sends me a text telling me he's lonely in bed and wants me to join him at his place. I'm sure he'll make some woman very happy one day, just not this one.

What I've learnt... If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive.

Can an old friend ever really be a stranger?

So I had my impromptu Burvale Hotel thing on last night and I was disappointed at the turn out, but it ended up being a brilliant night (everythings coming up Milhouse!).

On leaving, I ran into an old mate from school, haven't seen him in 10+ years. It was still early, so when after telling me about his wife, kids, small talk, etc. he asked me back to his place to catch-up, I was happy too. I can't believe how much he's grown, it was quite hard to not look at him as the teenager I remembered for a while, but after chatting for a couple of hours that had certainly changed. He was one of those guys boys you think growing up won't turn into much. Sure enough he failed High School and bummed around for a while, but then went onto TAFE and University and is now a business owner. Married to a stunning woman, with a little boy and another on the way, the token Labrador, beautiful home, well travelled, the complete package.
So I've been invited over for his Birthday BBQ in a few weeks and unsure whether to go or not. It would be great to talk with both of them, as they were so lovely, but it doesn't feel right even though it is totally innocent. We shall see.

Will have to re-think the online dating meet thing too now, but there's a few ideas up my sleeve.

What I've learnt...  Expect the unexpected with no expectations.

The only way is up..... right?

Ok, I think I've gotten my head around the weekend so here goes.

Wrong number guy
So this guy called me and he's dialled the wrong number but a quick chat and we decided to meet for breakfast. It may sound like a strange way to meet people but imagine the romance of the story if someone asks how we met?
So sitting at the Cafe and this guy approaches, (we organised to spot each other by wearing green tops) and I'm surprised how attractive he is, he really pulls off the green. After simple introductions, we order breakfast as I'm starving, scrambled eggs and bacon on toast, YUM! He seems quite shy at first not giving any eye contact and it's kinda cute. I start asking him about what he likes to do for fun and if he's travelled, 'the usuals' and I keep getting one word answers. Running... weights... Bali... Brothers... I don't believe I've ever had a more boring, one-sided conversation. So I pay for what I've ordered and thank him for meeting me and get up to leave, he states and I quote 'your nice, wanna breakfast next week?' So I was short, sweet and to the point... 'No!'

What I've learnt... Pretty, shiny boxes can still just be cardboard.

W/J
So I POF message this younger guy W that I've had a short back and forth convo with and I'm surprised to see he's at my local venue (he lives close to city). So I organise to meet him after the original meet. After waiting 15 mins and not seeing him, my phone battery dying, I decided to leave. Heading out of the venue, I stop myself and pull up at the exit. He comes over shortly after.
So I start chatting and then he says that his mate set this all up. I ask him name and he says J. Apparently, his mate W set up the profile with J's permission and gets in contact with people, gives them J's number and then texts back and forth. I'm the first person  J has met from online as I'm local (J is from Doncaster, W is the distant one).
I ask questions to try and get him talking but it's just not working, 20/30mins later we say goodbye and leave.
Heading off, I decided to head to Kmart to buy a car charger and when I plug my phone in, he's texted saying he's read the online messages between W and I, haha.
I don't want to say he's boring, as I don't know if he is, he didn't ask questions about me or open up much at all. I'd have to see this guy again and see, but mates possibly.

What I've learnt... You can led a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Bring on the next ones.