A new home

What a difference a few days can make.

Whilst checking my ever decreasing bank account balance, Laurel's parents gave me the ridiculously kind offer of staying with them once my accommodation runs out at the hotel I'm staying. Oh thank goodness. I am staying at a pretty cheap hotel ($60 a night) but it's just way too expensive to stay at indefinitely. Their (more than) kind offer took a massive weight off my shoulders. And of couse being so close to christmas, I knew it would be heard to find a place straight away, particularly without a job. They are just awesome people. They have opened up their house (and family) to me with some such warmth it is simply amazing. I am blessed.

The best news was that of a job offer. Laurel's sister's boyfriend Clint, knows the manager at a bar they frequent and noted to the manager that I was looking for work. His exact words to me where "I'm sure we can find something for you". Bloody awesome. After some corresponding over email, he said he would talk to his exectuve chef about a kitchen position - basically ensuring food orders left the kitchen in a timely matter and go to where they are supposed to. So Paul, the executive chef said to me on thursday to "come in between 2 and 4 over the next couple of days".

I went in for a "chat" yesterday. It was very quick. I was feeling surprisingly confident. Paul asked me about my restaurant experience, of course I have zero, but I joked that I've spent a fair amount of time drinking in them! Anyway, he said yes, we do have a position vacant, come in next tuesday and we'll wee how we go. Bloody fantastic! Such relief. Such bloody relief. I can now start looking for a place to live and can start saving some money and of course, meet more people. Bloody awesome!

I may have remarked in an earlier post how welcoming and warm Laurel's family are. Tonight (christmas eve) I'm joining them for dinner. Tomorrow, I join them for Christmas day festivities. I'm oh so bloody lucky. It's been a tough couple of weeks with all the uncertainty, but now I can call Calgary, home. Ah what a great feeling this is. Home. And with such fantastic people.

The plan now is to stay here until about July, when the Calgary stampede is on. The stampede is like Calgary's version of Oktoberfest. After that, I'll head off for some travel around Canada and then head down to Nevada in thw States for Burning Man (google it).

By the way, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, dear reader.

Brass Monkeys & Lucky Lager

Everyone told me "Oh it's much colder in Calgary", and I thought, oh yeah, they say that about Toronto - and I spent a week there! I can cop it! (Yeah right).

My friend, Laurel, who lives in Calgary said "It's been snowing and it's SO beautiful!". Yeah, it is beautiful to watch, but it's also a godamn hazard! I got off the plane, got into a taxi to take me to my hostel and it was still snowing. As you may or may not have seen on my facebook page, it reminded me of the simpsons episode "Mr Plow" and the planet Hoth from the Star Wars movie "The Empire Strikes Back". Everything was covered in snow; the roads (and main highways out of the airport) were barely clean of snow enough to fit 2 lanes on the highway. We passed a slight dingle, and then what the taxi driver guessed was a car that had spun-out due to the road conditions. Welcome to Calgary!

When I got out of the taxi, I was so very glad I bought what I call boots, to be able to walk through the snow. Oh and it was cold. Very cold. Did I mention it was cold?! A few degrees below zero in fact.
When Laurel kindly picked me up to take me for lunch, I remarked how bloody cold it was and how the person I just saw walking her dog, managed to cope. Her response then was "Oh this is nothing" later followed by "Once your legs go numb, you don't notice it" after my continual surprise at how life goes on in such conditions, remembering that everyone back home would be in shorts and watching the cricket. Oh I miss the cricket. And the heat. And my friends & family.

It was great to catch up with her, after we farewelled each other in Lagos, Portugal, in November 2010. She is the 4th Canadian friend I have seen since arriving. Pretty awesome really. She suggested a Beer House (she knows me well) for lunch and noted that her brother suggested I try an exotic, imported beer - Fosters! As we chatted over lunch, Laurel remarked about some rude people she encountered in Europe last year. My retort was predictable in my mind - Canadians are just friendly, nice people. It really is a Canadian thing to be kind to strangers. I think Australians at home are generally pretty good, but Canadians take the cake.
We later met up with her sister and her sister's boyfriend who are incredibly friendly, and kindly offered to take me grocery shopping the following evening. They were all keen to enhance my experience in Calgary - such warmth is exactly what I need/needed after being homesick and having issues with the job agency.

That was sunday, and I haven't got a whole lot done since then. I flew to Calgary about possible job opporunities in an office environment. Those specific opportunities have since fallen through (and the fucking job agency didn't follow up why until I chased them up. Arseholes.) I've subsequently found out I've been referred to a number of front desk/office positions. I was even referred to the position of Front Desk Supervisor (!) at the Fairmont Hotel. Of course the job agency didn't tell me this until I was told I would be emailed about an interview. Professional lot, aren't they?! Anyway, I had an online interview - a bloody huge questionnaire with what I saw as predictable responses they would appreciate. Fingers crossed. Laurel had suggested I simply walk in to a few bars and ask about employment; I haven't done that. I'm confident enough to do it, but have been procrastinating. I'll be doing that tomorrow - I'm booked into a cheap hotel for 6 nights as of tomorrow because I just can't handle hostels anymore - drunk dickheads are really pissing me off, to the point where I'm worried it will get physical. Best to get out of that environment full stop.

On the tourist front, I spent 5 hours at the Calgary's Glenbow Museum. It is quite simply, the best museum I've ever been to, and I've been to a few. It had a great (and lengthy) display on the history of Alberta, and how the west was opened up by the creation of the Canadian railway right across to the West Coast (linking up the western cities such as Alberta to the east). It also had both political and social history of the area and how Alberta had an 8 year run in with socialism, and the inevitable economic collapse that followed.
Otherwise I've been wandering around, trying to keep out of the cold, and applying for jobs. Due to the fact that I moved to a single room and out of a dorm at the Hostel, I haven't met anyone. I'm not sure I'd be great company anyway - I'm sticking with this adventure but a lack of certainty is something I've never dealt well with. Much, much worse is the thought of what on earth I'll do for christmas. I'd like to be here, but what if I don't get a job? Fly to London? There will be bugger all seats, and they'll be expensive. I'm left with few options - everything hinges on getting a job and a place to live.

There were a few admin jobs with the City of Calgary which I have applied for - they're right up my alley, but of course I'm not limiting myself to that. Hell, I'm just about ready to be dishwasher; I just need a bloody job. I want some stability and normality - and to give my Australian bank account a break!

Moving forward

I reserve the right to use that title for the blog because I'm actually moving forward physically and geographically - to Calgary, Alberta (I'm looking at you Dave!).

Ups and downs aside, this has been a better week. I've moved out of a crap hostel full of macho Australian wankers who drink too much and wrestle in the hallway, and I've got a firmer direction of where I'm heading (of sorts).

The job agency are still a mob of arseholes though. Of the worst kind.

At my orientation I was told to ring the HR director of "Mountain Park Lodges" who own and run about 5 or 6 different hotels up in the Jasper area, about a front desk position. This was after hourslast friday, so I rang and left a message on saturday and then rang again first thing on monday morning. Sadly when I rang, the position was already filled. So why i was told to ring is beyond me, but nevertheless these things happen.
My spirits were subsequently lifted on tuesday when an email was sent around stating that their were 4 different types of office work positions available in Calgary, where I have a friend with whom I travelled around parts of Europe last year. So I enthusiastically put my name up for that.

On wednesday I got a call from the job agency that I now have an interview for the position at Jasper which I was told was filled. No worries, the more opportunities the better, right?

I was completely honest with the interviewer in that there is possibly an opportunity for me in Calgary and that is my preference. That cut everything short. (After I explained who I am and what I'm doing in Canada etc etc). My actual question was about the timeframe of accepting or declining positions. I thought this was a fair question being that it would be wrong to accept the position (if indeed this was a job offer) and then renege if I got a position in Calgary.

 

She said she was "discouraged" by the fact that I wasn't 100% in favour of the idea of going to Jasper. I reiterated that my committment to customer service & professionalism is that I give everything 100% but she couldn't even answer whether I was close to getting the job or not. So why would I lie if I don't even know if I have a shot?

 

So essentially I've risked not getting a job because I want to get one in Calgary. And the job agency have just told me over the phone that it was essentially a job offer. Thanks for telling me that beforehand, dickheads. In fact, thanks for giving me very little detail about the position or area before hand. Google can only help me so much.

 

So, the agency weren't happy with me in the aftermath as I had not informed them of my preference of Calgary. I had initally said I don't care where I work (and to some degree still don't) but I have a friend in Calgary. And as noted above, it would be wrong to lie to one company and take a job elsewhere. That's not how I operate. In any case, the job agency tells me I must appear in person for any interviews in Calgary.


So, I'm throwing caution into the wind and flying out to Calgary. I'm going to apply for jobs there regardless of what the job agency can or can't do for me. I'm not real fond of Vancouver, and am sick of just waiting around to see what will happen.


If I can't get anything Calgary or my plans change for whatever reason, I think I will fly down to southern U.SA and be a tourist for a few months and then come home. The other option is to fly to London to see my dear brother and perhaps work there - but London is a grey, ugly place, and so are Londoners themselves.


On a more simple level, I'm eating ok due to the fact that both hostels I've stayed at have kitchens, so I've been able to buy vegetables and make lunches. And there are a couple of absurdly cheap restaurants not from me where every item on the menu is $5.95. And I've met more people and am socialising. The trick is to drink much less; of course that will have to happen in Calgary because I can't exactly sit around hungover all day when I need a job.


One last detail of note - I am off to see my first Hockey Game tonight. Really looking forward to it. I hope Dean doesn't hate me too much for it but I'm going to see Vancouver play Nashville, and obviously I'll be supporting Vancouver. It's such a unique sport; once the violence ends!

Trial By Fire

Honesty. Does it exist on the internet?

I mean, you can research facts, figures and a plethora of opinion and commentary. But so much is anonynmous, and such anonymity is used as a cloak to protect identity, reputations and even one's character.

Well, I'm going to throw caution into the wind, and be completely honest. Only those that actually care will read this, and to those that don't, it could be a huge laugh or morbid take on what an acquaintance or far away friend thinks my character consists of.

2 days ago I wanted to fly home. Just get the fuck out of here and go back to my safe little (albeit unemployed) bubble. If you've read my previous post, you'll know I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Toronto, and that it was fantastic to see Dean & Alex again, and that the hospitality I received from Dean and his family was just excellent. But being back in hostels and sleeping in dorms takes some getting used to.

Yes,  I can be gregarious, over the top, fun, outgoing and confident. Other times I'm so bloody unsure of myself I don't know who I am or where I'm going. I begin to internalise every little negative detail or occurence and let it build up to the point where I can't cope. Being completely open and talking to strangers at the drop of a hat doesn't come naturally to me. It's hard work. I think some people are just wired to be able to do that quickly and naturally, for me it takes getting used to. I have to force myself to be around people and take a chance. Shit, without alcohol, what on earth would I do? That social lubricant is almost integral for someone like me. Such self doubt is godamn, fucking crippling. And being away from friends and family at the same time. I'm getting emotional just typing this.

But I'll digress before this post turns into naked self flaggelation. The first person I've met in Vancouver at the hostel, Jack, also signed up with "The Global Work & Travel Company" (GW&T) but has been staying at the hostel FOR A MONTH. Yes, this fantastic company that promises a job before you depart, then at the last minute claims that it's ok, you'll get one as soon as you arrive, seems like an amateurish, backyard sort of operation. Hearing Jack's story, and that of many others in the same boat of waiting for any sort of job, any sort at all made me feel bloody awful.

Jack suggested I go into the GW&T office the next day to harass them. I did that, and was proud of how assterive I was. And instead of fobbing me off, the manager sat down to explain the situation (all ski resorts have got 50-60% less booking from customers this season) that many resorts are signing on people who worked last season, instead of employing new people. That doesn't explain the lack of communication on their part, or the fact that they claim to guarantee a job. But at least now I had the information I need. A win of some sorts.
I began to look at job agencies in Toronto if things fell apart here in Vancouver. I would fly back, look for a proprer full time job a little more suited to my skill set. I didn't find much; I signed up with Drake and look at a few job agency websites for admin/customer service jobs. There's not much around. And it's a city of 5.5 million people with less than average quality public transport. It's not like being in London and having a fantastic tube system to easily get around in.

So I can't get a job at resort, and it's going to be diffcult to live and work in Toronto. Get me out of here.

To make matters worse, Vancouver is wet and cold; the Hostel is in a dodgy area full of drug addicts and homeless people. It's not an environment conducive to positive thinking. And my family. God I miss them. So badly.

I went off the orientation sessions that GW&T put on. I was resigned to booking a flight home next week. Or perhaps flying over to London to see my brother before flying home for christmas. The other people at the orientation sessions were nice and friendly (we've subsequently hung out together) but I still felt absolutely downtrodden.

Then the orientation was interrupted to tell me that I will have an interview with Mountain Park Lodge up near the Jasper National Park. Talk about lifting my spirits! To top it off, myself and the other 3 people at the orientation went off together to get a tax file number, and get Canadian sim cards for our phones. More people to talk and hang out with. Excellent. I began to feel much better about things, even if this opportunity might fall through. Something is on the horizon, as opposed to just floating around, trying to kill time and keep myself occupied. It doesn't help that Vancouver is wet and cold - not much for a traveller wanting to explore his surroundings.

But at least now I've met more people. And even if I fly over to Europe and leave Canada, so what? I'll miss my Canadian friends dearly, but I know my personal limitations. Probably too well.
And who knows, I may even grow up a little. See, there's a shame here of not being built of tougher stuff - there's so many people doing what I'm doing, but no one seems to be really affected by the uncertainty of it all or being away from friends and family. Am I emotionally weak, or just not wired for this lifestyle?

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

A different world

God, travelling is awesome.

Well it's awesome once you get off the plane. Seriously, flying with Air China and going via Beijing saved me money (and avoided transiting the U.S which is important) but it sucked. Completely. It's hard to charm the hostesses when neither of us can understand a word each other is saying whilst apparently speaking the same language. The flying wasn't the issue though - it was the 6 hours in Sydney, 10 in Beijing and then another 6 at Vancouver airport, plus the actual time in the sky.

Anyway, enough about that. Me mate Dean (an absolute gentleman and all round good guy) picked me up from the airport. I was absolutely knackered, but wide awake with the adrenaline pumping. It was so good to see him. In true form, he suggested a few beers at a bar, and I agreed. Great way to rekindle the friendship!
So Dean is putting me up for the week at his folks house. I'm so very lucky (and appreciative) to be looked after so well.

First night I slept like a log - got up at about 1:30pm and was still jetlagged, but the thing about travelling is, you don't notice when you're not operating 100% - everything is just so new and exciting, that it doesn't matter. Anyway, one of Dean's mates got free tickets to the Toronto Wine & Food festival, so I was taken to that. Lot's of fun - so many different cuisines, wines and beers. Even a couple of Australian ones - Rosemount & Wolf Blass were there as was one from the Clare Valley. There was even a stall claiming to have wine from the Adelaide Hills - except the guy running the stall had no idea where, and wasn't keen on a chat. So entry was free but you have to buy sample tickets - $20 for 20 tickets and you try samples of whatever you like for a few tickets. So Dean and I went halves and got 30 each, which enabled me to try a lot of Canadian Beer (some were bloody excellent) along with some Canadian & American wine.
By the far, the best tasting experience though was a drink called "Caeser" which is a popular Canadian drink. Dean wouldn't tell me what was in it -  the first tase was odd, but it grew on me really quickly. It consists of vodka, worsteshire sauce, A juice made of clam (!) & tomato, tobasco sauce salt, pepper and a whole bean thrown in. really bizzare, but quite enjoyable.

The one thing that stands out about Toronto is the diversity - both of the of the food and the people. The sheer range of ethnicities, for a example, really stands out and was one of the first things I noticed. Also it's cold. Bloody cold. That's ok, that's what warm clothes are for. The problem is how well heated every building is and the fact that you need to strip off as soon as you get indoors. So jackets are a must - and I#m very comfortable indoors with just jeans & a t-shirt.
Today I bought some proper boots and a big jacket to combat the weather, so I'm pretty much all set.

Again, Dean's hospitality has been amazing; and Canadians seem to be a very friendly people. I'm a lucky man.

Unions & Productivity

A mate of mine sent me a very interesting article today (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-28/kohler-digging-into-productivity/3025896) written by the ABC's economic correspondent, Alan Kohler. Essentially it debunks most common (and accepted) orthodoxy on productivity and why it's lagging. Kohler quotes a report published by NAB written by the head of Australian economics, Rob Brooker:

"A plausible case can be mounted that much of the decline in labour productivity performance in Australia since the middle of the last decade is attributable to special and cyclical factors.

These include high levels of investment in the mining and utilities industries that have not yet come on stream, the impact of slower GDP growth during the GFC and an apparent stalling in the growth of real wages faced by producers, even outside the booming mining sector.

The current slowing in measured productivity may begin to unwind as new mining and infrastructure capital comes on stream and as GDP growth picks up in response to the second mining boom."

In other words, everyone is throwing money at the mining boom, regardless of how efficient the rate of return on their investment is. No one is concerned that it takes years to get a mine up and running simply because the profits will be huge once the mine comes online.

So, all the bleating about the problems with the fair work act on behalf of Treasury, the Reserve Bank & sections of business is all bullshit, right? Well, I'm not so sure.

Certainly this study highlights that Industrial relations settings are having less effects after the massive productivity rises after moving from centralised wage fixing to enterprise bargaining in the early 90's. Again there was growth (see a good table here - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/blame-mining-boom-drought-says-productivity-commission/story-e6frg926-1226150097598) in the late 90's after AWA's were introduced and individual agreements were buffered by the no disadvantage test but it was still on a downward slope. That table on the above link does show the rise in cost, however of labour. There's no analysis for that, but we can safely presume that it was a result of more specialised and highly paid positions in mining, but also the large pay packets needed to entice workers to remote areas.

Kohler again remarks:

I've spoken to a lot of people about this subject recently, and most agree that there are few serious productivity gains left in IR reforms, even if we went back to WorkChoices. Most of the effort now needs to be directed at education and infrastructure, both of which are very long term in their results.

The problem is, such spending on education & infrastructure also has a long leading in time. And as much as Howard haters and Labor true believers ignored during the Howard years, such spending is a state responsibility. Yes, the federal government can give grants and other funding, but the quality of our education institutions is a state responsibility. There can certainly be good arguments for federal government funded infrastructure, but the problem is there is less money to spend (after million dollar pergolas & insulation that sets your house on fire) and the infrastructure the government does invest in has received no cost benefit analysis whatsoever and relies on decreasing, not increasing competition. But alas, the much vaunted NBN is the topic of another post. So, what should infrastructure should we spend money on? I'm buggered if I know, to be honest. But I know that faster movie downloads at the cost 43,000,000,000,000 dollars won't help productivity much.

Before, I lose you, dear reader, I will get to the point. Productivity might be lagging because of the mining boom, but no access to individual agreements with a solid safety net (as legislated in 1996) and increased union access to worksites where no union members even exist, won't help.

What will also not help is an example of union thuggery I have just this morning been alerted to - the union representing workers in the federal government department of Defence, Science & Technology Organisation has introduced 1 minute strikes. You read correct, 1 minute strikes. I am reliably informed that workers strike for 1 minute. They are not paid for this 1 minute; but the finance department paying their salary cannot deduct 1 minute of pay from their pay packet. They can only deduct pay in 5 minute increments. So, this terrible injustice of being deducted 5 minutes instead of the 1 minute they didn't work, is then used by the union as a premise to start a dispute with the department.

I'll bet you all thought silly strikes over frivolous matters ended in the 70's. They didn't. And it is incumbent upon any competent government to balance efficiency, productivity & flexibility in the Labour market with fair outcomes for workers. Howard messed up in with workchoices, pre-reinstating the no disadvantage test; now Labor has pushed it too far the other way.

Indsutrial relations may have less affect on our productivity in the current economic climate, but we ignore these settings at our peril.

Sorry

I'm not much of a Gen-Y'er, am I?

Sorry about all the formatting a generally crap look. I'm still working my way through this blogging thing.

DJL

The adventures of K Rudd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4ne0q5gKo&feature=related

And so now the number reports are increasing the that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (you know, leader of the Government who had "lost it's way) is starting to count the numbers for a possible challenge for the leadership. Except it would seem that the only person backgrounding journalists is the current Prime Minister, Julia Gillard (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/julia-gillard-declares-no-way-to-kevin-rudds-gday-usa-trip/story-e6freuzr-1226144039303)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard knocked back a request for Kevin Rudd to
travel on a junket to the U.S in January to celebrate Australia week, it can
be revealed.

Big bloody deal. As it we're talking about a foreign minister who has easily spent more on overseas travel than the Prime Minister. $1,000,000 (http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/10252376/rudd-notches-up-1m-travel-bill/) in the first 9 months as foreign minister, in fact. But that's not the point. Being that Labor are much much better at hating and fighting themselves than their opponents, the gloves are off and Gillard has gone for the pre-emptive strike. "He's still a dickhead! See!"

But this is all irrelevant. The polls point to Rudd being more popular than Gillard or the currently preferred PM, Tony Abbott. So, a former disposed PM, the first ever PM to be shot down by hiw own party in his first term is suddenly popular again. Excuse me? Baking powder?


This is the man that brought such memorable phrases as "Programmatic specificity", "fair suck of the sauce bottle", "Political shitstorm" and "gee that Howard's a real c#nt isn't he?". More to the point, he brought us the 2020 summit (remember that?), endless committees and reviews instead of policy solutions, the pink batts saga which killed people, billion dollar pergolas, the first budget deficit since '96 of course the endless moralising about mining taxes and climate change, only to cave in at the last minute to political reality. This guy couldn't sell ice to the eskimoes. And this is my overarching point. Forget the policy direction - he refused bed down an idea slowly, debate it in public and then implement it. Instead it was all about announcements for the 6pm news which would garner more surprise than support from the public, and then fade away as quickly as it they were announced. Governments with real ideals and goals don't let policies come and go so quickly. They argue, fight and rationalise BEFORE they are implemented.
I understand that most people are probably sick and tired of the endless negativity coming out of Canberra. "Worst government in history!", "All the opposition says is no!" "Burp!" (courtesy of Rob Oakshott). But at the same time, members of the left intelligista complain that "the major parties have never been closer". What absolute bunkum. With asylum seeker policy, the economy, infrastructure spending, foreign relations etc etc the difference is as stark as it's ever been. But the back to the point - suddenly Rudd looks good again. Nevermind that he was badly advised (as is the current PM) or that he couldn't even handle the politics of his policy, let alone the policies themselves. Hindsight is always 20/20; but everyone knows he's just a throwback to the same directionless government but with a different head. So why the nostalgia for Kruddy?

Politics is at it's lowest ebb. A left wing Prime Minister who flaunts supposed conservative values vs a populist impersonator that is doing the exact same thing Labor did during the opposition years - refusing to work out what his party stands for.
Even Paul Keating would be looking good in comparison.

(Incidentally When Keating was asked this week about the currrent treasurer, Wayne Swan, winning the Euromoney finance minister of the year award (something Keating won in '84) his reply was "Fuck off to buggery".)

Stuff it

Yeah it's been barely 5 minutes but I'm gonna have a whinge AND talk about politics.

Today in The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/pm-fiddles-while-apparatchiks-plunder-alp-empire/story-e6frgd0x-1226142979550), Rodney Cavalier (a former Labor Minister from NSW) has written an article lamenting the state of the Labor party, the federal government and how reforms are needed to keep the party from dying (of largely self inflicted wounds).

But here's the thing, I'll bet the party's supporters (whether they be true believers or casual followers) have no understanding of Labor's problems or the solutions needed. Cavalier remarks:

The most recent figures show 92 percent of the electorate do not belong to an
affiliated union. In March the majority of NSW workers and unionists voted for
the coalition. Indeed, it has been long time since a majority of workers voted
Labor. The ALP is controlled by auxillaries whose own members do not vote Labor.

Thankfully we have all moved on from the days of mass strikes, go-slows, closed shops and absurd wage claims (or have we?). Equally thankfully, Industrial relations is no longer a classed based, adversarial fighting ground where battles must be won to gain concessions as much as be seen to winning the war against the evil businessmen/careless union thug. The problem being, that the Labor party hasn't moved on.

The Unions still hold sway over pre-selections. They can still kybosh policy at conference. And most importantly, they can still determine policy by threatening sitting members by withdrawing factional support. All this is done by a sectional interest, or more accurately a minority sectional interest. I think we both know that this is bad, not just for Labor, but for the country as a whole.

The broader issue, is that when Labor reforms, it takes years of internal warfare or incredibly strong leadership (Whitlam, Hawke & Keating). Whitlam fought hard to enable the parliamentary party of elected representatives (!) to write party policy, instead of the faceless union men. It took Hawke & Keating's sheer leadership and policy ability to cut through old shibboleths (with the ground work laid by Bill Hayden). But these types of people come around every few decades. Labor was more than lucky to have 3 in 30 years. Simon Crean fought valiantly to decrease union sway at party conference, but in effect (as we have seen in NSW) it accomplished little.

So now, in 2011 we have a Labor party made up of nothing former union hacks and political staffers. Hacks and staffers, that are mere puppets of their union masters who still pine for the days of political domination over the left side of politics. (Sadly, the Liberal Party is also going down the same road of homogenous & incestuous representation). And union masters who have a quickly dminishing role in Australian society.

You may ask why I'm writing about Labor so much. Well, Labor was and still could be the natural party of government; but it refuses to focus on it's faults and correctly remember it's successes.Why is the Labor brand damaged and in free-fall? Because they're not sure whether they are a class based party for workers or a centrist party for all Australians with a social democratic basis.

First

I'll do my best not to talk about politics, but if you know me well, you'll know that's just shy of impossible. Also, its not lost on me how narcisstic this is; then again, in the age of facebook everyone is a narcissist.

In any case I thought I'd start a new blog in preparation for my second trip of a lifetime - this time North America, and most likely a return to Europe for the hell of it.

I did set up a blog last time, but it fell by the way side as I felt it was easier to email friends/loved ones, but at least this way you, dear reader, don't have to login especially to read my musings. This way, you can bookmark the page, take a squiz, exclaim "the bastard has written about politics again" and go back to work/facebook (interchangable).

In any case it is just over 8 weeks or 56 days until I depart. Not long, either way which is good because I'm getting really itchy feet. I'm very lucky to be going overseas again and as many of you whom I met overseas will know, it is not far off a life changing experience no matter what walk of life you come from. I'm trying to appreciate the things I missed dearly last time: Vegemite, The Australian newspaper, good coffee, good weather, and of course my friends and family, in particular my nephews, especially now that they're old enough to argue with and take the piss out of their uncle. It's not working, of course. All I want to do is jump on that plane, get to Toronto, get drunk with Alex & Dean and then eat poutine (google it) for lunch the next day.

I've literally been dreaming about Canada ever since I decided to jettison normal life and go abroad again. Dreaming (and hoping) that I meet more excellent people, and successully rekindle intense yet brief friendships. But of course this time there's no hesitation, fear or anxiety this time - I've gone to strange countries before, striked up conversations with complete strangers and found my way around foreign cities with good humour.

I still have a few small items to purchase before I depart but otherwise my flights are booked, travel insurance paid, resignation handed in, VISA obtained and employment being organised. I'm ready and as excited as a very excited person, who has a special reason to be excited.

One more thing - for those paying attention, you will see a picture of a bicycle somewhere in every post. My mate Ed has (not yet agreed) to advertise my blog on his (which is about furthering cycling and cycling infrastructure in the big country town that is Adelaide) so I figure it's the least I could do.

DJL