In a work context, this year seems to have snuck past while I was in the tea room.

Thursday, 14 September 1995  9:24PM Wow, I can’t believe it’s September S.  In a work context, this year seems to have snuck past when I was in the tea room, though I can’t recall what I did for New Year’s Eve at all. That’s a bit of a concern.  I really can’t remember what I did. I just asked Simon. He said I did nothing, at … Continue reading In a work context, this year seems to have snuck past while I was in the tea room.

Got a crick in my neck, from leaning forward in a meeting, trying to make myself look like a go-getter.

Monday, 11 September 1995  1:14PM I called you this morning.  And now I get to work, have a look at the calendar, and realize that my call was late, your birthday was Friday.  WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME!?  God, how embarrassing! I’m so sorry, I got my days mixed up.  It was a weird weekend. Friday night I went over good as my word, for … Continue reading Got a crick in my neck, from leaning forward in a meeting, trying to make myself look like a go-getter.

There’s no point in expecting anything from pointlessness.

Friday, 8 September 1995, 9:41PM Hey Sis. I’m all jittery, just had an unpleasant experience. My book was quoted as a source in the Australian Financial Review today, in a full page piece on Coles Myer (there’s intrigue galore there, even secret diaries have come out).  Hundreds of thousands of people would have read that article Sis. I’m quaking with fear. Now I’m starting to … Continue reading There’s no point in expecting anything from pointlessness.

It’s a psychological thing, no matter how painful the seat is, it’s preferable to standing comfortably.

Wednesday,  6 September 1995  8:50AM S, You know how I decry myself every Monday for my appalling behaviour at Friday drinks, and then promise never to go again, and then go again, and do exactly the same thing over again every week? It’s stopping here.  Last night Simon invited me over the road to burn some time before he headed off to a family dinner. … Continue reading It’s a psychological thing, no matter how painful the seat is, it’s preferable to standing comfortably.

Meditation? Please! – I can’t even keep my feet still let alone my mind.

Tuesday, 5 September 1995  9:06am Whacko! New Discipline J is rearing to go! Yessiree. Up at the crack ‘a dawn. (Ten past seven – close enough.) I feel good. I was up early, I did a load of washing, I even included two extra ingredients in my sandwiches today.  I feel good.  I didn’t even pig out last night – I’m on the Wagon o’ … Continue reading Meditation? Please! – I can’t even keep my feet still let alone my mind.

I feel like floating up and never coming back, maybe I could take up a career as a cloud or something.

The next letter I received from J was dated from 4/9/95 to 27/9/95 it was 23 pages long and just over 10,000 words, he named it “The Monster Letter”.  I have broken it down into days for posting here.   Monday, 4 September 1995  9:18 AM S, Oh God. God God God. How do I begin this one?  Maybe with a swig from the neck … Continue reading I feel like floating up and never coming back, maybe I could take up a career as a cloud or something.

How the Hell can someone have B.O. at 8:45 in the bloody morning? How?!

Friday, 1 September 1995 9:14am I’m here.  I made it!  Roasted – purified – by the flames of public transport.  Lordy it was a trial.  You just never know what’s in store for you.  I’m standing there at the tram stop, waiting to be whooshed along tram arteries to the sticky furious heart of the city, pounding, pounding, pounding.  I get on, move to a spot … Continue reading How the Hell can someone have B.O. at 8:45 in the bloody morning? How?!

Where on the Rainbow of Independent Will do you find yourself? Intense indigo? Queasy green?

Wednesday, 30 August 1995 3:40pm Sis I’ve just been and consoled myself with consumer idolatry – I bought two books. Will Self – ‘My Idea of Fun” and Herman Hesse – “Siddhatha”.  I’ve read the prologue of the Self book, it’s not exactly what I was expecting, and to tell the truth, if I knew it was going to have slasher elements to it (a … Continue reading Where on the Rainbow of Independent Will do you find yourself? Intense indigo? Queasy green?

I think I might have peaked as far as socializing goes.

Wednesday, 30 August 1995 9:23am Great start to the morning, Sis.  I get in to work and there’s an invitation to a party on my desk.  Lisa (one of the other Editors here) is having a house-cooling (as opposed to house-warming party.”)  And – dammit! – they’ve given me too much notice to have a bogus excuse – “Oh sorry, the second of September?  I’ve … Continue reading I think I might have peaked as far as socializing goes.

It’s impractical working with extraordinarily attractive people.

Tuesday, 29 August 1995 9:37am Oh Dear S, you’ll never guess what’s happened.  Someone attractive is working here.  I mean really attractive, like Sale-of-the-Century-model attractive. This is an ill wind Sis.  I don’t want someone extraordinarily attractive swanning around the place making me feel self-conscious.  Fuck, fuck, fuck. Have you ever encountered this sort of thing in your working life?  I just wanna work with … Continue reading It’s impractical working with extraordinarily attractive people.