Aunty Dor's funeral was great for what it was. It was standing-room only, and all her family turned out to see her off. It was emotional, it was dignified, and it was exactly what she would've wanted. Words were replaced by old rockabilly songs that she loved, and the glamour photo she was so proud of was there for everyone to see. I cried way more than I thought I would've, but while was great to see that she had underestimated how many people cared, it was sad to think that she passed away ashamed of what the cancer did to her aesthetically - she wouldn't let anybody touch her or see her unless they were family.

The trip to and from was as awesome as a car trip with a little one could get, Matt was wonderful company, and Charlotte was social and adorable for the most part. I'm going to ignore her brattier moments, heh. We drove up through the country and came back down the coastline, and both routes, IMHO, were awesomely scenic. I admit to getting bored very easily, so enjoying the trip was a surprise to me. So was Matt's tolerance of my (intentionally) overdramatic singing to Queen, The Doors, and Ben Folds - my arms were a'flailin', and my bottom lip was a'quiver at the rising action. BRILL.


Tina and Damo came to visit us at our hotel, and the next night, we went to see her at her place. Old friends Lee and Sarah came to see us, too. I'll link to their pics soon once I get a copy.

Once we left Tina's, I had Matt drive past my first primary school, Tina's parents' shop, and my old home, where my family still live. I wondered what my sister looked like, but other than that, there was no emotional attachment to the place. I wasn't overly surprised to see a melee had broken out around the corner from the house, with ambos and cops blocking the street. Ah, good times.

On the way back to our apartment, we drove past Tallebudgera Creek. The day before I ran away from home, Boxing Day, 2000, the family went out with the Filipino family who lived across the road from us. Mum asked me to buy some fish and chips, but it took me a lot longer than I'd expected, since I had to go under the bridge, through the rock pools, and through the caravan park to get to the shops. When I came back, mum was pissed - so pissed that her retaliation was to tell the other family that I was adopted and she wished that she'd never adopted me.

I didn't want to come back to Sydney. I hate this place sometimes.

Notes (Since I'm sure I've missed bits but I'm tired, so bleh):

- If you're driving through rural NSW, please don't ever stay in Glen Innes. Unless you're inbred or enjoy nightmares about how the only fun they have is to vomit on each other ('Reverse Digestives,' apparently) , then you'll be right at home.
- Matt bought me an Astro Boy clock that I will love forever.
- Matt bought a funky flippy ashtray that I've adopted as my own.
- I had roo korma for dinner when Tins and Dams came over. It was BEAUTIFUL.
- I forgot my reading glasses for the trip. While there was roadkill everywhere, at some point I mistook a torn tyre for a roo skeleton. Matt will never let me live it down, because I did the same thing a little while later, except this time I thought it was a bat. On the fucking Gold Coast Highway. Shut up, I'm blind!
- I love Queensland.

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