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anxiousoutsider

Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA


Joined December 30th 2006

Number of Posts:
4

Number of Comments:
3

Karma:
5



Father, would you like some cake? It's got cocaine in it!

About Me
I'm a twenty year old student hailing from Tamworth, New South Wales. I've been living in Sydney for the past year to study Media and Culture at Macquarie University. I seem to attract bizarre situations and behaviour, and I hope to document these and any hilarious Country-to-City observations I come across. Enjoy.

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Recent Posts

I Just Don't Know!

January 4th 2007 02:38
I have a favour to ask.

Please.

I implore you.

Please, if you see me and you need to ask directions - find someone else! I can't do it, even if I know where you need to go, I cannot put it into a coherent, useful form. I realise the absolute farce when I am in this situation is highly amusing, but really, it just results in a frustrated stranger and an embarrassed Catie. I look completely lost at all times, so please ask someone who looks a little less like they've stepped out of a vortex into another dimension a'la Sliders. I should point out that despite the vast contrast in size and experience; the results are the same whether in Sydney or back in Tamworth:

"Oh, gosh, um - well, see that building there with the awning? Well if you go left and straight up the street you'll see a post office on the right. Keep going and you'll see a cafe, and across the road there's a red thing, and that's not it so turn up the street with trees - I can't remember the name of it, but there's a footpath. Um...maybe ask someone when you get there what way to turn and it should be right near the pub. Was that helpful? No? I'm sorry."

Oy vey, I really fail at directions. So, to the lady who asked me how to get to the art gallery today, I'm really sorry. You're probably cursing my name right now as you make your way back into the Tamworth CBD from Alice Springs. Oh well, at least I'm completely unbeatable at mimicking Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights (complete with interpretive dance) and singing Karma Chameleon on Singstar.

My lack of consistency with posting has been due to two things - having a rather big NYE celebration, resulting in my ringing in the New Year by throwing up everything I had eaten in 2006, and my birthday on January 2nd. I turned twenty and celebrated by having a chilli eating competition with my boyfriend, and having dinner with friends. It was nice, and was made even sweeter by receiving a lip-shaped beanbag as a gift.

I have been thoroughly enjoying my break so far, the peace and quiet of my family's out-of-town residence is very refreshing, and with the ambiance only breaking on the occasions when my parents fight about matters such as spark plugs and who indeed was the ugliest Prime Minister. Still, I have an aching to rejoin the fast-paced race for success, and I actually miss the comfort of my University community...I will look back on this post and laugh when the school year resumes and all I do is endlessly complain about people foisting flyers in my face (I don't care about your stupid medieval society! Go darn some socks and stop showering by yourself, git!) and walking slowly in stairwells.
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Coming Home

January 1st 2007 09:45
“Home James, and don’t spare the horses!”

I have no idea what that phrase means, it was just something my Grandmother used to say. A lot. Whatever it means, I’m sure her love for cask wine contributes.

Travelling home recently to celebrate Christmas with my family back here Tamworth had me thinking about various things. ONe being, whenever I meet someone new and I’m forced to tell them where I’m from, I’m met with usually one of two responses:

1. “Oh, Tamworth! I love it there; it’s so nice and quiet. Why did you leave?”

And, more frequently:

2. “Oh, Tamworth! You must really love country music. I hate country music.”

The latter wears thin, but I take it in my stride. For the record, I loathe and detest country music, but I make no apologies for the Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton albums in my CD collection. They are nothing to be ashamed of. The Country Music Festival just kind of happens around me every year, while I scowl through the main street of the town trying to get the morning paper and a coffee without being heckled by a busker or asked for directions by a be-bumbagged visitor. It can be a bit fun, though – especially when it floods. There’s nothing more pleasant than seeing someone’s mattress floating down the river while they’re interviewed for the local news, saying things like: “Oh, we lost the caravan but it was worth it just to see Lee Kernagan. We’ll be back next year!”

Despite the theme of the festival being utterly grating, it is undeniably spirit-filled and people are genuinely happy. There’s a certain safe atmosphere, one which shows that the town is capable of a good party. Still, my family and I choose to be the glowering wallflowers that bitch freely about everyone else and complain about the music.
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Public Transport

December 31st 2006 05:51
One of my very first thoughts upon moving to Sydney was ‘Why on Earth does everyone sit in morbid silence on public transport?’ It really baffled me, the skittish country tadpole thrown into a pond of stoic toads. I was used to an atmosphere of perhaps over-friendliness – one definitely filled with familiarity and clear of my own confusion and feelings of vulnerability.

It was not long before the mystification of city living was alleviated and I was able to get on with life as an urban student, feeling at peace with the mass. During this time, my pressing issue with the seeming unfriendliness of commuters on public transport was resolved: They’re not being unfriendly, everyone is just avoiding the inevitable Lunatic in their midst!

You all know exactly who I’m talking about. It’s the person who no-one sits next to even if they have to stand, the person with several unexplained stains around their groin who is trying desperately to catch your glance with their good eye. It took me a long time to learn how to spot them, and even longer to get myself out the situation where I’m left conversing until the end of my journey. So far, in my first twelve months of life in Sydney, I have been asked enough horrific personal questions to fill and novel and warrant therapy. Some of the more printable ones are as follows:

”You are beautiful, my darling. My daughter looks just like you. If you come with me, we can share a meal and perhaps some heroin.”

“Hi Digger! You’ve got tits!”

“I bet I can guess your star sign, I am the smartest man you will ever meet” (This one was actually interesting, the man was quite creepy but he did guess my star sign without me saying a word.)
And finally, perhaps the best advice ever given to me by anyone:

“I don’t know why you’re bothering with University love, it’s too hard and it’s full of witches and monks.”

As uncomfortable as the conversations can be at times, it does make for some food for thought. I wonder frequently when I speak to anyone, especially people with some age and experience, what they have gone through in their lives. I feel dreadfully inexperienced and about as tough as a clam without a shell if I think about it for too long. Maybe we should talk more, if only to realize that our precious little bubble of life isn’t the only one.
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An Introduction.

December 30th 2006 13:17
Hello, brave trawlers of the wide expanse of the Internets.

I am Catie, a.k.a. The Anxious Outsider. I will write of various adventures and comparisons I find through my new life as a displaced country girl in the city. Currently I am back home in Tamworth for the holidays, and yes - I couldn't bear the thought of missing the Country Music Festival. All the rum, beer guts and inconveniencing road blockages a girl can handle


[ Click here to read more ]
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Recent Comments

Comment by anxiousoutsider
on Portuguese custard tarts

January 2nd 2007 15:08


The Anxious Outsider
Wow. Fantastic recipe! I will be trying this on Sunday, so fingers crossed they turn out similar to yours. Yum!

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Comment by anxiousoutsider
on Public Transport

January 2nd 2007 14:47


The Anxious Outsider
Hi there Ash,

Thank you for your lovely comments! I'm glad to hear of another people-watcher out there. A lot of fine points made...it's a little sad we live in an over-populated world and there's still so much loneliness. You have a beautiful blog - expect a visit from me soon. Take care.

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Comment by anxiousoutsider
on Coming Home

January 2nd 2007 14:42


The Anxious Outsider
Oblivion - Thank you for stopping by! Sometimes it is hard to stay open-minded about music genres when you're almost driven to homicide when listening (Akon, Gretchen Wilson - I'm looking at you!). Hopefully we'll survive. Thanks for your encouraging comments - I'm loving your blog too, so expect a few comments from me in the near future.

Joe Blogg - Heh, inbred wood-duck? Points for originality at least. I will endeavour to cultivate my exotic mystique for my Maltese front. Thanks for stopping by, your blog is rather charming. I'll be dropping in soon.

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