Desperately seeking music
Day 14: Part work, mostly play.
Since St. Kilda was only a few minutes away from my company’s second headquarters, I figured it would be smart to explore our second headquarters in downtown Melbourne to see how life differed from the UK. I met the entire Aussie team that Friday and it felt more like the Betfair of old: small start-up feel, big laughs, and no women in the office. Before my vacation, our Managing Director, aka my boss, Greg, insisted on having me over for dinner at his lovely home 30 minutes outside the city, with his entire family including his wife, Victoria, and their children, Tim and Lochey. He and I both share a soft spot for good red wine and casual but thought provoking conversation. We took a 20 minute train ride and 10 minute walk to his home. Check this- Greg didn’t even own a car at that moment! Even though he carries the well deserved, prestigious title of Managing Director for Sporting Affairs and earns bank, he stood completely content with public transport at 50 years young. A new car had been ordered a few weeks ago and was set to arrive soon, but Greg was cool with trucking it on foot or borrowing their kid’s car if absolutely necessary. I got a kick out of that and it made me think again about selling my car at some point soon. Although in my case, I have soccer twice a week and the BART or Muni won’t stop close enough.
It took us no time to arrive at Greg’s house. Greg’s wife Victoria kindly prepared pasta with asparagus on my behalf while the others ate a pasta and lamb dish. Greg popped a bottle of Opus (my Xmas gift to him) and we toasted to his country before doing a conference call with the UK team. We had a few things to discuss work wise and what better way then with a glass to make the conversation more engaging with our General Counsel! Interestingly enough, even though Greg offered the pricey grape gift to both his kids, only one of Greg’s kids enjoyed a small taste of joy. It surprised me that his other son declined the offer but then again his kids don’t drink. That was another testament to the conservative culture in Oz. It’s nothing like Spain or Italy where everyone drinks at 13. It’s just not prioritized but certainly not frowned upon like in America for kids to drink with their parents.
For most of dinner I shared stories from my travels. I went back and forth with Greg’s children for most of the night. I really found them interesting. I always find the youth more entertaining than adults because adults get so defensive and protective on most occasions. Both of Greg’s kids were friendly, extremely bright, and entertaining, just as he had described. In this case, I just wanted to know if they would turn out like their parents or if they had similar styles or expressions. I only had so much time since Joe had skipped the event. I was due to meet him later that night. Overall, Greg’s fam and I were on the same page on travel stuff- New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne stand alone in terms of life and living experiences. London and Louisville are better suited to others. Greg’s wife was her typical outgoing self and cracked a few jokes here and there about both of our less favorable cities. She and I share a call-it-as-we-see-it attitude and it helps us avoid shoddy hotels and restaurants when she joins us on our many international travels.
After dinner, Victoria was kind enough to recommend a few hotels in the downtown area since Joe and I were switching living quarters in the coming days. She also bought me a Australian slang book to help with funky translations. Balls up = a bad mistake. Arsey = lucky. Clear the cobwebs = bow chinka wow wow. I never had time to recite any Australian poetry from the book of slang, but I liked having it just in case. I felt indebted to Greg for being such a great leader and friend over the past year during our impossible quest to legalize a new Ebay like form of gambling on racing. It was great to know that after he retired, I’d be seeing him again.
Around 10pm I set sail for one of the main streets for pubs, restaurants, and venues in Melbourne on Brunswick St. The action was on. Loads or “heaps” of people flooded the streets searching for a spot to smoke or chat. Most people ate later, similar to Spain and hit the night life around 11pm. I was arriving at the right time and most places had just begun to fill. I started at Black Cat and coincidentally ran into an American from Chicago who welcomed me into his circle of friends immediately, which was super cool. He would be the only American I would meet on the entire trip. Joe texted me and he made his plans to see a rock show. I hung solo. I was more in the mood to meet random people than rock out, unless indoctrinated into a deep or progressive house, electronic, or drum and bass museum. The funk band playing at Night Cat kinda reminded me of a wanna-be Sublime gig so I got bored quick and left the American behind. He was cool but why spend time with Americans in Australia right? Before I left, I remember thinking about how it shocked me to see loads of people dancing to such lackadaisical music. But to each- their own. People were hard pressed for live music out there considering Incubus/Offspring tickets were almost $150 each. Two Stellas and two $8 vodkas sloshed into the liver, I walked down the block to the Laundry bar, which was hosting a salsa night. The visuals knocked my socks off and I formally committed to taking lessons then and there, once I returned to SF.
I dropped by one other club afterwards without catching its name, half tipsy but without serious buzz. This band took music in and spat it out like it was vodka on fire. Harmonic loud chants rubber-necked almost everyone in the small venue. These guys were authentic validated by one dude’s carrot-top hair dew and the lead mixers keyboard dressed up in blank CD discs reflecting rainbows. To celebrate their music, I did double shots of tequila with a friendly couple. All was awesome except for the salt up my nose. I donated 10 bones for a CD and I’m still listening to “Marry your cat” and “Doors & Windows” from time to time. I strongly suggest you look up Horse Competition (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=137759163). I kid you not that’s there name. Cool for me, huh.
I had little talk left in the tank after the place cleared out. I only heard 2 songs. I wanted to relax back in bed and chill out to some tunes. I did just that after a 25 dollar cab ride home. It’s too bad their trains shut down at 1am.
—O— Hellmers
