The Decade Of Decadence Pt.1

"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."

- Napoleon Bonaparte

I can scarcely believe we're already two months into 2010, and that its been five since I updated this here bloggy. It would therefore be reasonable to question just what the frack I've been up to if not typing away my inner most thoughts and commentaries. Well, let's go back to October.

I had a film to shoot. You know, the whole gumwall thing? I'm sure if you scroll down you'll read all about it. The film's a contentious issue for me. I don't hate it. I don't even really dislike it. But I can't find it within myself, no matter how hard I try, to sing its praises. And its got nothing to do with my teachers, or my friends - hell, I barely remember what we actually submitted in the end. My feelings about that time are unavoidable. The biggest issue of October, the creation of Emily's brilliant concept in Stuck, was fated to be overshadowed by something rather sinister.

The November that followed was one of the most harrowing times of my life. I had finished uni, just barely stumbling to the finish line. I was tired, and the pain derived from my condition - Crohn's disease - was becoming suspiciously immense as days passed. The day I handed everything in, I saw Ladyhawke play @ the Forum. It would turn out to be one of the more surprising evenings of the year, claiming its place among my favorite gigs in recent memory. Then, a day later, in consulting a specialist, it was advised I needed to be admitted to hospital immediately. Something was very seriously wrong. How badly it would all play out, of course, nobody would realise - because, sure enough, I was taken to hospital, I was treated, and I was getting better. Crohn's disease caused me to have an IV in my arm, a liquid diet and more daytime television than I could handle, but I was due to head home.

Barring the circumstance of my bowel perfurating. Which is exactly what happened.

Emergency surgery was queued up, and I was pretty damn terrified (which I believe to be perfectly reasonable) . I found myself in hospital a week longer than I thought I'd be, with a stitched up bowel, a catheter, and all sorts of nasty things I had to put up with. None nastier than the New Zealand soapie Shortland Street though, I can assure you. I had visitors. El, by that time my girlfriend, dropped in every day. I was always tired, but I never tired of her. My Mum and Dad were always there for me. My brother, his girlfriend, Em, Kami... even The Good China came in to keep me company. Often they'd all come baring gifts, even if the odd Ralph magazine may have been inappropriate (see catheter) . But I can't sufficiently express the sincere and absolute gratitude I feel towards everyone who took their time out to support me in any way they could. I can only hope I've made it clear before now just how heartwarming it was.

December. The recovery was a bitch. The extended stay in hospital taught me to despise inaction. It taught me to despite television, news and current affairs shows, all kinds of things. Just sitting around really got to me. I had a lot of time to think. I understood why the last few months had been so hard on my body, but I didn't feel heroic, I felt stupid. Oddly, to escape those thoughts, I'd get about. It would be uncomfortable to move, but I'd push myself, simply due to the frustration I'd cause myself if I just stayed put. I felt I had been sitting around long enough, and it was time to get back to living my life. Predictably, I got back into the swing of things with a gig here and there, a party... my own. I'm 21 years old now. It was a brilliant night, it can't have gone better. Another big thanks to everyone who came out for it, you made my evening. Christmas was okay. My actual birthday was grand. My second New Years spent @ Jag's threatened a repeat performance, but I bailed on the party before I could embarrass myself again.

And now its 2010. But guess what? I'm gonna save my coverage of the year so far for next post.



'Fraid so. But you're ever so kind for reading this far, and returning after such a long time. It won't be long til the next one. Pinky promise.