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Wow, I just found out that Scott Holt is playing at Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco on October 10th. I have to be there. I'm sure I can wangle Monday off...

Yesterday I was writing an update for the week here as I hadn't written anything since getting back. I was struggling with how you can be out of the social scene for a while (like 18 months) and get used to it. But then, once breaking the routine and seeing all your friends, you have to get used to the loneliness thing all over again.

Usually, loneliness is not a big problem for me. I get out on weekends and do stuff. But since getting back, I have been on call every second day and both weekends, so I've been stuck at home.

And usually, apartment communities are a lot more... friendly? sociable? than this one. I was thinking that I know my immediate neighbours to say hello to, but I don't know any of their names, or what they do, or anything that you generally know about neighbours. I mean, compare this with back in Sydney. My parents know everyone in their street. Is it apartment living, or is it this city, or what? I certainly didn't have any problems meeting people in Los Angeles.

While standing on my stoop (haha, actually the stairway bridge outside my front door) watching the sunset last night and thinking about this, I noticed that someone new was moving into the apartment directly opposite mine. The last tenants where nightmares, with about eight people living there, and parties that spilled out onto the stairway bridge every second night. Fortunately, they only lasted about a month. So I was hoping for someone a little quieter.

Little did I know that the moving in process was still continuing. A bloke turned up with a hand cart with the last bit of furniture and carried it up the stairs. He had a lady with him who I assumed was his wife. The guy asked me how that beer tasted, and I laughed. Right then and there I decided that I'd offer them a beer and introduce myself to them when they came back.

But they didn't. About an hour later, the woman came back by herself, and I didn't get a chance to introduce myself, as she introduced herself first. She is apparently a single mum living there with her young daughter.

I've been living here for what? three years? This is the first person that I've actually talked to for more than 2 seconds. What is it about this place?

But maybe last night's conversation is a change for the better.

Back to Sacramento. How many days at work until I'm saying to myself "Why did I come back?"

I headed over to the city to have a look at the shop my sister works in. It sells specialist provender to restaurants, and you can see my sister's communications and marketing training coming through in how she deals with the customers. It was very interesting to see the shop, and to resist spending lots of money on some very nice cheeses (which I couldn't have taken with me anyway).

I then headed back to Circular Quay to meet up with some old workmates, but they failed to show up. I found out later that my main contact's wife had fallen ill. We'll have to catch up next time.

I caught the ferry back to Manly, and looked around, but hardly surprising after the huge weekend, noone was around. I wandered around feeling sad that I would be flying out the next day before heading home to pack and have an early night.

On hearing that I was in Sydney, Ned decided he needed a break from the stress of uni and flew down to meet me in person. We have been chatting to each other on the net for quite a few years, and it was great to actually get to talk to him face to face.

We spent most of the afternoon chatting about computers, uni, and other geeky things, before heading off to a restaurant for dinner, and then going to watch the show at the Boatshed.

As I'd had two huge days (and nights) in a row, I bailed after the second set, and Ned went off to make his way back to his cousin's place, where he was staying. He apparently had an interesting trip home from Manly.

Lenny and Shannon, two musicians I know, had made the mistake of telling me where they met before heading off to their weekly jam on Friday arvos, so as I hadn't seen Shannon, I crashed their meetup.

I was happy to see Shaz. We spent their jam time catching up, before she had to head to home before doing a gig that night. It was great to see her.

Lenny and I headed back into Manly to (where else?) the Boatshed.

I met up with Simon, a friend and ex-flatmate, to catch up with him. We met up at the Balgowlah Masonic Club, and proceeded to have a rather huge night. We ended up at the Steyne Hotel back in Manly at 1 AM playing pool.

We went out for dinner at Pilu, the new restaurant that has taken over the old Freshwater Restaurant site. The food was fantastic.

While I was in Sydney, the Sydney Morning Herald released its Good Food Guide for the year, and unfortunately, Pilu had not been open long enough to get rated. About a week later, the newspaper gave them a glowing review, which should mean that they will get at least one "Hat" in next year's Guide.

On the flight over from Sacramento, I carefully carried a bottle of Opus One in my carry-on luggage. We opened it up tonight to have with a super piece of beef. This is reputably America's top red wine, and while it was pretty darn good (and I can see its cellaring potential), it can't match Australia's top reds. Maybe in another 20 years the yanks will get it right.

We had a party at my parent's place to celebrate a few things, including Father's Day, my parent's wedding anniversary, my birthday, and my cousin's birthday. A lot of my relatives where there for a total of about 19 people.

My cousin John, who I haven't seen in over 10 years was there with his lovely family, and we played a bit of catchup. I also had a great time talking to my parent's next door neighbour Rob, who has a lot of the same interests as I do, being involved in sound post-production work.

With some great food from Mum, and some good beer and wine, a great day was had by all, and I really enjoyed seeing everyone again.

Friday night I ended up in the Old Manly Boatshed, which is a cool little live music venue in Manly. (Actually, I ended up there nearly every night of this trip, being rather starved for live music.)

Brad Johns and Co where playing, and they rocked the place out.