James O'Brien

My second day back at work was a little tougher.

It didn’t help the weather was pretty shitty this morning.

“How was the weather in Sweden?, a colleague asked me this morning, expecting me to say it was cold and wet. “A lot better than it is here today…”, I told him.

On the second day back you can no longer sail by with the excuse that you’ve “been away for a month”.

You need to make decisions. You need to be making plans.

As I left the office this afternoon I confided to a colleague “It’s hard work returning to the office. I’ve had to THINK all day.” :)

By late afternoon the weather had cleared and I was left carrying my umbrella on the bus along Parramatta Road to Lewisham for my first usual Wednesday night at the pub with mates.

Everyone was in good spirits, and I don’t think I bored them too much with my travel tales. I guess it helped I brought back some gifts from Sweden :)

Graeme and Grant also recounted some tales of their weekend in Canberra, where they attended Graeme’s niece’s wedding.

It was one of the first approved “same sex weddings” (though I don’t think they can actually call it a wedding) in the ACT. In the midst of all the usual family “goings on” it sounded like a lovely occasion with high production values.

I haven’t been to a wedding for four or five years now. In fact, the last I attended has already ended in divorce which is sad. And I’ve never been to a “same sex wedding”. Too many independent singles in my group of family and friends. :)