The incessant ramble.

Not sure I could hurt more than I am right now.

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:06:36 +1100

In 24 hours, this blog will self-destruct.

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:38:15 +1000

Put simply, I’m ditching this blog for a brand new one. With a new job, comes a new start. And a chance to build a real web presence, so, here goes.

Wanna jump in? Find me at bradwoodradio.tumblr.com

Cheers kids! It’s been fun.

I have a gambling problem.And I fucking hate it.

Sun, 27 May 2012 20:53:02 +1000

I have a gambling problem.

And I fucking hate it.

That UK feeling. It's back.

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:47:19 +1000

Yeah, that feeling.

Remember how I would fangirl so much over that country a while ago? Constant posts, Facebook updates, Tweets and the like?

Kinda sorta ready to feel like that again…

Okay, I promise I won’t bombard, but I decided to listen into Heart 106.2 via livestream a couple of days ago, and they happened to be playing a 30 second radio commercial about the London Olympic Games. It went something like this:

“London. The world’s greatest city. From Oxford Street where people eat, to Leicester Square, where friends meet. From Chelsea, where the rich people stay, to the churches, where the people pray. From the Circular Road, which causes anger, to the Salvation Army, who’ll help a stranger. From the underground rail, where Oysters are sold, to the Olympic Stadium, where champions win Gold.

This Summer, we’re on show to the world. So let’s show ‘em why we’re the best.

London. Be proud”

Now, not only did this ad make me feel super jealous, but damn, did it make me open my eyes again! For a while there, I’d lost sight of a dream I truly want, which is to go to the UK and, hopefully, work on radio over there.

I now feel like I’m ready to pursue the dream yet again, despite my standing in the radio hierarchy, to do the things that people said couldn’t be done.

And if my psychic was right 6 months ago, within a year and a half, I’ll be on a plane to the greatest land on the planet.

Love you, LDN.

Photo

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:18:54 +1100

When the Turkish FA banned flares from stadiums the fans of...

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:14:59 +1100

When the Turkish FA banned flares from stadiums the fans of Super Lig club Eskisehirspor had other ideas. In response to the decision, they unfurled a giant trollface banner equipped with holes just so they could light flares and hold them throughout the banner like flaming Swiss cheese. The one-word question on the banner: “Problem?”

16 innocent civilians, lost forever. And one man, who's bound to get away with it.

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:12:59 +1100

So I’ve been following the developments out of Afghanistan from the past few days about the actions of US Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, and quite frankly, it tugs at my heart.

The man, if he can even be called that anymore, woke up in the middle of the night in Kandahar province last Sunday, around 3am, and made a journey to homes in the Panjwai district, and randomly shot 16 Afghani civilians. In their sleep. In cold blood.

Think about the last time you saw 16 innocent Australians get shot anywhere in the world. The last time I re-call seeing that was at Port Arthur, Tasmania, back in 1996. The public backlash against gunman Martin Bryant was enormous. The anger amongst not only the Australian community, but the world as a whole, was immense. And eventually, Martin John Bryant was sentenced to 35 life sentences in prison. If my mathematics are correct, that’s over 350 years worth of imprisonment.

What Sergeant Robert Bales did is no different to Martin Bryant’s actions. Plain and simple.

Sure, you can argue that both individuals’ mental states weren’t exactly top notch, especially Sgt. Bales’ after so many years of service in the war zone, but for every argument, there is surely a counter argument. Like, how the hell was Sgt. Bales allowed to leave a secure US compound at 3am in the morning, unchallenged and unapproached, to go and commit the crimes he did?

What I cannot comprehend is that, just like many other war atrocities involving Americans, they won’t be held accountable, even though they damn well should be.

Imagine if roles were reversed. An Afghani, living in New York, wakes up in the early morning, walks across the road to a block of flats and just casually shoots 16 sleeping Americans. Now, god forbid anything like that should ever happen again, but could you just imagine the backlash?

Not only is it high time that a US citizen responsible for a war atrocity is held accountable, but it’s time that troops began making their way out of the country, and leaving the Afghan security forces to their own devices.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious what the US’ stance in Afghanistan is: They say they’re there to ‘protect and train the Afghan security forces so that, by 2014, they can run the nation on their own’, but after numerous civilian killings, Koran burnings, and the debacle of US soldiers urinating on the corpses of dead insurgents, I fail to believe that is their mission anymore.

New goals, New ambitions, new dreams...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:07:59 +1100

So I’d say that this past week has been a real page turner in my life. All sorts of different things have changed me.

My work ethic has become better. I’m more privy to learning. I’m also more privy to realisations, and being realistic about things. My efforts in losing weight is getting better.

All because I found an inspiration in the past few weeks.

It’s amazing how you can discover one thing, and it can open your eyes to so much.

For me, it was certain people I met, a job opportunity that I missed out on back in Victoria, and comments by certain people about how thin I looked. They’ve all rolled into one to become something which I use to inspire myself to greater successes.

Hence why my goals and my ambitions have changed, too.

My previous goals were unrealistic, and I was kidding myself that I would ever reach them in the timeframe I imagined.

Now that my mind’s been truly opened, I can set out a plan for myself, then go out and grab it. And that’s what I’ve done.

So to my inspirations, thank you. This week, you pushed me to be better and do better.

Speaking of which, I’m blogging from my gym. Better get back to it!

Why are we rushing this?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:47:32 +1100

Quick post before I head on-air.

Why the hell are the FFA appearing to rush the expansion of the A-League? This story has surfaced in the past couple of days about a possible Canberra United football side in the league as early as next season:

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1097327/Canberra-in-the-frame

Now, I’m all for a Canberra side, don’t get me wrong, although we’ve had two false starts in three seasons with expansion teams, both of whom were rushed in and given a measly few months to put a team together.

Why are we not choosing to learn our lessons and take our time? Is it because Buckley and Lowy don’t want to appear to be “falling behind” the other major codes? Maybe they’re just desperate for a fatter back pocket? Or maybe, and this is a big maybe, they’ve done their research, and have good evidence to support a Canberra side next season?

Either way, I hope for the future of our game, that time is taken, lessons are learnt from, and things are finally done properly. Only then can we truly grow and prosper.

Time to blow some minds.

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:04:00 +1100

So today, I got some news which made me feel… you could say relieved, yet also frustrated, too.

I applied for a new radio job in Ballarat at Power FM, and I missed out on it. Someone from Darwin beat me to the post.

Now, in a way, because I threw everything at it, I was absolutely shattered that I missed out, yet at the same time, I was relieved.

I told myself that if I missed out on the job, I’d really start to embrace my new life in New South Wales, grab it by the bullhorns, if you like, and really make a name for myself.

So that’s what I’ll be doing from now on.

It’s cleared my mind of all the worries I had.

What if I got the job?

What if the bosses didn’t like it?

What would my colleagues think?

Would I eventually regret my choice?

All those questions have now been wiped from my mind, and I definitely feel like a new person. Like the fresh-faced kid who rocked up in this town 4 months ago.

Now, sure, this town may feel like it’s a million miles away from everything, but in essence, I’m pretty lucky here. I’m starting to realise that. I’m only two hours from Newcastle, four hours from Sydney, I can easily walk to the local train station from where I live and catch a train to the centre of the city, if I want to.

It could definitely be so much worse.

So now, I’m going to really start pushing myself to be better.

Better at my job, and how much effort I put in.

Better at being reliable, and being there when I’m needed.

Better at losing weight, and pushing myself harder at the gym.

Better at getting out and enjoying life, whether it means travelling all the way to Sydney to see (and make) friends, or drinks on my back verandah at home.

All this will help me work up to my ultimate goal: The big city.

I have four cities that I have told myself I WILL live and work in:

Sydney

London

New York City

Dubai

They are my targets. My goals. Try and stop me.

It’s time to blow some minds.

So I take back (some of) what I said last night..

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:18:46 +1100

I did say I regret moving here. Well…

I don’t, really.

Only because of one thing, though.

I just miss the city.

I wish I could have both.

I feel like I should never have left...

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:32:00 +1100

First of all, I would just like to admit and acknowledge how lucky I, and we, are to have access to the resources and lifestyle that we do in this country. And this post is in no way intended to appear to be taking for granted what we have.

But this weekend, that lifestyle we’re all so lucky to has severely twisted me up.

You see, I went to Sydney over the weekend, those of you who know me best will know why I did. And even though the return trip to and from my little Hunter Valley hamlet was close on 9 hours, it was certainly worth it.

Being in amongst a bunch of friends who come from the same place that I do, share the same ideals as I, and have the same kind of idea about how to have a good time, was something I thoroughly enjoyed. I haven’t been amongst friends from Melbourne in just over two months. And that really, really affected me, not seeing so many good people for that long.

Yet what also affected me this weekend was the setting. Sydney. A city. A huge city, at that. But most importantly, a city.

I come from a city. Melbourne. It, too, is a big city, But 4 months ago, I gave that up in search of my dreams.

I honestly am starting to regret that.

After 19 years, I left everything I’m familiar with. The settings. The stigmas. The people. The routines. The places. The friends. The ones I love. I basically took all those things, put them in a box, and gave the box a good, hard shake, to see what eventuated.

What eventuated was Muswellbrook. The Hunter Valley. 1,500kms away from it all. It seemed an all too obvious choice at the time to pack it all up, wave goodbye to my parents, family, friends, shed a few tears, and then hit the open road. Now I kinda feel like I regret doing that.

You see, going to Sydney threw me back into my old life, in a way. A life where, if you want something to eat, there’s always bound to be a 24/7 eatery not too far away. If you want to have a drink, you’ll never struggle to find a watering hole - there’s one on every corner. If you want to go out and have a dance, you go to a nightclub, of which there are plenty. And if you want to do any of those things with friends, sure! You just call or text them to organise something, and within a flash, you’ll all be out on the town, having a great time. Then, if you want to go home, all you do is either call a taxi, hail a bus or jump on a train, and it won’t be too long until you’re home again, under that cosy doona cover.

That is what city life is. I lived with that for 19 years. All that! How lucky!

And now, I feel as if somebody’s come along and swept the rug out from under my feet, told me to take my shoes off, and tread on hot coals.

I have no friends here. I have no family here. I haven’t got a fridge to keep any food fresh. I sleep on the rock hard floor each night.. I don’t have an antenna with which to watch any sort of television. I live off Weet-Bix for breakfast and dinner. I work close on 12 hours every day.

I feel like this area, the Hunter Valley, is really starting to test my resolve. And boy, does it hurt.

Because being in amongst my old life this weekend, it really made me miss it all. Especially being out at a bar on Saturday night and making new friends. I have only made one new friend in New South Wales in four months, and she is absolutely amazing. But she lives all the way away in Sydney. Which, as much as I do resent the city, felt like home on the weekend.

Being on the train, criss crossing the suburbs, gazing at all marvels of industry and creation, and all those wonderful things cities have to offer: shopping malls, casinos, nightclubs, big restaurants, etc., it made it feel like I was living the life I loved again.

But then I left for the Hunter tonight, and a bit of sadness crept in to me. It felt like, with every station we passed, I was being pulled further and further away from the things I so dearly want and miss. Like a child, kicking and screaming and not wanting to leave his mum on the first say of school.

And coming through the paddocks of the Hunter by train and seeing, well, nothing, reminded me of exactly why I hate it here. There is absolutely nothing.

I feel like I’ve made a terrible mistake coming here, and I’m really hoping that something good comes along in the next few months which will take me back to the stuff and the people I’m used to. The life which I love.

I’m really not sure how much longer I can go on, watching everyone else enjoy time with their loved ones, while I’m stuck out here in the paddocks with nothing.

Sigh, I miss it all. I’ll shutup now.

Might as well delete this thing...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:35:05 +1100

Hardly ever use Tumblr anymore!

Wow, I never post here anymore.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:25:24 +1100

What the fuck happened?

I haven't been on here for ages! So, here's what's going on in my life...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:58:00 +1100

Well, for starters, tonight signals my first two weeks in Muswellbrook! I can finally call myself a resident of this awesome part of the world, and it’s beginning to feel homely. My feet are firmly planted on the ground, and I reckon some big things are in store over the next few months.

My new job is the best one I’ve ever had, even if it is extremely stressful at times! I am the 10am-2pm announcer on 98.1 Power FM, and I’m also a producer, so after my shift, I sit in a soundproof booth for the rest of the day and create radio commercials! The unpaid overtime I’ve been doing to finish everything has been insane (I worked 14 hours on Thursday and 15 hours on Friday!), but it’s a brilliant gig, and I hope I can use it as a grounding for bigger and better things!

Speaking of bigger things, my dad was chatting to me the night before I left Victoria, and he told me that his psychic, who knows more about me than even I know, mentioned to him that, within the first month I work in Muswellbrook, I should get a professional aircheck together and submit it to the Nova network of radio stations. She thinks that if I do this, I “won’t be living in Muswellbrook much longer”, and that as soon as I’ve arrived, I’ll be on the move again to a capital city, which is exciting! I don’t want to read too far into it, as it may jinx my chances of it happening, but here’s hoping the universe looks after me and bigger things are on the way!

I’m hoping to keep track of my Tumblr a lot more from now on, so send me some stuff! Questions, asks, etc, keep ‘em coming! (I actually shouldn’t use that phrase, as I haven’t had anything in my ask box for months!)

And, if you get the chance, tune in to my radio show! I’m on 10am-2pm Monday-Friday on 98.1 Power FM! Stream it on the website @ www.powerfm.com.au/hunter/, call me on (02) 6541 1981, Facebook us at www.facebook.com/981powerfm or use the hashtag #workdayrequests on Twitter!

I'm getting that nervous feeling....

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:55:58 +1100

So the big move begins on Friday, and after seeing so many of the people I love over the past few days, I’m getting that feeling.

It’s starting to feel real. Like it’s actually happening. And it is. On Friday, once I take the Hume Highway turnoff from the Metro Ring Road, I’ll be leaving everything that I’ve been used to for 20 years behind me. Giving it all up.

I won’t lie, I’m very excited. But I’m also extremely scared. Scared of what lies ahead. And it’s raising so many questions in my mind. Will my car break down on the way to Muswellbrook? Will I find Hunter Valley life bearable? How much will I miss home? Will I be able to find a share house or flat with like-minded people around my age? Or will I be stuck on my own, spending every night bawling my eyes out because I miss my friends?

I naturally hope that all these questions are answered positively in the coming months, and that I can start to live a normal, fun-filled life on my own two feet. But I also hope that, as soon as possible, I can come back to Melbourne to practice my chosen craft for a living, whilst still being within reach of the people I love the most.

Because I’m already missing this place so much, and I haven’t even left yet.

Photo

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:33:24 +1100

Need a good restaurant in Melbourne CBD to take somebody to tomorrow night for their birthday. Go!

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:24:08 +1100

Evil fucktard. Robert Doyle OUT!

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:53:55 +1100

Evil fucktard. Robert Doyle OUT!

Today was utter brutality. Pure and fucking simple.

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:36:13 +1100

So, I wasn’t in Melbourne for today’s Occupy protest, although I sure will be tomorrow, only to rally against the heavy handed tactics of a police force which is supposedly meant to “protect” it’s own citizens, and, by it’s own badge, “uphold the right”. I definitely saw none of that happening today. All I saw was brutality on a mass scale.

It felt seriously horrible watching on from 40kms away, and not being able to act. Some of those officers needed a good baton whack to the head today. Speaking of people we could whack, let’s add Premier Ted Baillieu and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to that list. It was THEIR directive, against THEIR OWN CITIZENS, which saw this unprecedented violence happen. Had they taken things a little less heavy-handedly, we would have seen a much safer, less confrontational dispertion of the group. To kick, punch, pull hair, pepper spray and trample with police horses is not the answer.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana came out during a press conference on the streets of Melbourne at around 3pm this afternoon to field questions from the waiting media. After being asked “Do you believe excessive force has been used here today?” by a reporter, his response was along the lines of “No, we haven’t used excessive force”. This angered me so much, I screamed at my television. Try telling me that this isn’t excessive force OR brutality, Mr. Fontana? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDZBPqkgzQ

As a football fan, I’ve been subjected to a lot of bullshit by Victoria Police over my time, although on a general scale, I never thought, even on the streets of a major city, that law “enforcers” would be as brutal and callous as they were today.

They also used intimidation tactics en masse today, including the use of a police horse to intimidate a young mother and her innocent child at City Square during the eviction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBjnKySz-uY

I never thought I would live to see the day when such an event would unfold on the streets of my own, beloved hometown. But today, I lost all faith in our police force, in our city council, and in our state government. And there must be a push for a full investigation into today’s unlawful actions by several hundred police.

I just hope hundreds turn out en masse today to protest against police brutality, especially that which was seen yesterday on the streets of our city. 12pm, Federation Square, fight for your right to free speech, fight for your right to protest peacefully, and most of all, fight to bring the so called “enforcers” of law in our state down. Heads must roll.

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty”