I think someone is trying to tell me something...

I've had another of those Bizarre Coincidences (TM).

Friday night, I catch the tram home after a couple of beers at the Francis Hotel after work. Plopping down in a seat, I nod and smile at the guy opposite (mainly because it was very much a controlled fall into the seat - the tram started moving before I was ready, and yes, I had been drinking), and he smiles back and then says to me: "You went to Melbourne Uni, didn't you?"

Immediately I respond: "Russell from Summer School! Oh my God, you've cut your hair!"

So yeah, another person I haven't seen (or, to be honest, even thought of) for about six or seven years, has just popped up out of the blue. It's like someone is trying to tell me that the past isn't as over with as I usually tend to think.

I got his number, and it turns out he lives in Brunswick, not that far from me, so we'll have to catch up sometime - when I have time. Things are going to be pretty hectic over the next month or so.

A rather pleasant weekend, overall. I called Mel Saturday morning and talked for the requsite three hours and then went down to St Kilda because it was a gloriously sunny day and there's a beach there (it was, in fact, a little too glorious - guess who got a bit dehydrated and had to sit in the shade for a while? Not the Englishman), and we had dinner at the pizza place before I went back home. Sunday was supposed to be a brown/black belt training in Doncaster, but the dehydration of the day before made that a silly prospect and so I spent the morning having a leisurely brekkie and then proceeded to do some preliminary packing of Stuff. Because I'm moving house in a couple of months and for about two weeks of that time I'm going to be away, so I need to get stuff organised sooner rather than later. And there's plenty I can pack now without missing it. I'm also tossing/selling/donating to charity a lot of stuff, because seriously? Way too much crap.

[Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] and I met up at the Sporting Club Hotel for trivia Sunday afternoon, and came third again, despite a nasty two first rounds of questions. One day we will win something - it's only a matter of time. And since England was playing France in the rugby and Phil would suffer horribly if he missed it, we went down to Bridie O'Reilly's, where the watching audience were mostly England supporters and so very happy. Because, yes, England won. Rugby isn't my football of choice, but it's cool to watch, even with that wacky offside thing going on.

Of course, this means England plays Australia next week for the World Cup final. Winner gets to mock the loser. *grins*

Ooh, and I have a new icon, made for me by [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]. The Young Ones as computerised cartoon characters. Aren't they adorable?

Oh, update on the wage thing...

There's been another round of talks (read; threats to recommence work bans) and the Government is making another offer. This one is actually kind of reasonable - pay rises for junior staff, including what would be $4500 a year more for me. I'd go from being in the middle of my band (after six years, that's where I've gotten to), to back to the start with everyone else, and performance pay for the last year is just not happening at all, but hey, $4500 a year is definitely an improvement from the $23 they gave me last week.

The attitude of the Department was that VPS 1s and 2s don't actually do anything that would justify more money - I was going to suggest that the next round of bans be just the 1s and 2s, and then they'd see how "little" we do around the courts. Especially proper Magistrates' Courts - Melbourne couldn't function without its junior staff.

Still, it's looking more hopeful. Still going to be looking for another job, tho'. Which reminds me, I have an application to write for the Family Court position Amanda sent to me - that's how torqed off I was with things last week, I actually decided to apply for the divorce court.

Clothing identity crisis

I'm wearing a skirt today. This is not an unusual thing, especially in the warmer months, and especially at work. And it's a very nice skirt. But there is one problem - my skirt is having an identity crisis. It seems to feel it should be a belt, or perhaps underwear. Which means that any kind of movement on my part requires me to yank the damn thing back down before my coworkers see more of me than anyone should without at least dinner or a few drinks first.