AnT

Hi all

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:45:54 GMT

It has been a long time since I've written anything in Livejournal.

In short, I am still at my insolvency job in Parramatta, Sydney and working towards my CPA qualification. I am a tax agent now with a small part time business from home.

Rachel and I just returned from a great holiday in New Zealand. It was my first time out of the country and what an experience it was. We went to Queenstown for 4 days and Christchurch for 2 days. In between we drove from the north to the south of the south island. The highlight had to be bungee jumping. We took scenic drives on roads that ran along the summits of mountains. What a country.

In other developments, we are considering moving to London for 6 months to work and bring us closer to all the wonderful places in Europe and North Africa we would like to see. THis might happen at the end of the year or maybe as early as mid 2008.

It has been fun checking your entries and seeing what you've been up to. Coming onto Livejournal always evokes fond memories of my time living in Perth.

Perth Trip Post Mortem

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:53:26 GMT

I had a remarkable time catching up with everyone. My holiday was primarily to just reconnect with the friends I made in Perth. After three years and 3 planned trips I finally made it back and it was well worth it.

I wasn't sure what it would be like to see each and everyone of you after all this time but I was very happy to see that it really felt like a seamless continuation. It definitely does *not* feel like it has been 3 years.

The trip to Margaret River was of particular highlight. What a great bunch of people to go away with. Everyone was cooperative and considerate setting the scene for a very enjoyable, relaxing and enriching little get away.

I fear naming people because I am guaranteed to miss someone but I want to thank the following people for making my holiday so rewarding.

Rachael - for everything, you are truly kind and generous. You made my holiday comfortable, enjoyable and filled with entertainment and warmth. For introducing me to Dome.
Chris - for being the voice of reason and persevering with the hordes of strange people who stomped through his living space while I was there, including me. Also for wireless internet.
Nikki - making me laugh, having me over her house, her companionship and much more.
Suze - for her company at her house and reminding me that I am 'old'.
Bonnie - for reminding me that I am a creepy old Italian and for chatting with me late at night.
Mick - for his great company.
Jan - ditto.
Kim - great company, hospitality, a comfortable makeshift bed, travel vaccination lessons, domestic rigour and much more.
Kristy - great company
Ben - same
Chris (Muad) same
Jonno - for the laughs and for coming on the final night
Brigitte - for teaching me about soon-to-be-mothers and the great conversation
Elli - for taking me to the airport and for your wonderful company.
Anyone else - that i have forgotten to mention.

I look forward to seeing you all some time soon.

Perth Holiday

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:14:43 GMT

It is great to be back in Perth catching up with old friends. It warms the heart very much.

Making new friends is important, but keeping the old friendships is more important.

They have stood the test of time, they allow for mutual recollection of important defining moments in life, like opening a photo album and flicking through pictures of cherished moments in time. Times that define you and, as much as we sometimes wish it weren't true, it is equally comforting that they know and understand you well, have seen you rise and fall, win and lose, and remember times you've forgotten. There is a vulnerability that only has a privelege in a friend you've had for years, the kind of vulnerability that is safe around someone you've known for a long time.

A good friendship is a diamond, rough to start but polished to perfection over time.

What about this one?

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:45:00 GMT

Nikki you helped me make these pictures if I remember. Back when we were young and flippant doing crazy things.

This face is coming to your town, Perth in 3 days. Be scared, be very scared!

Perth

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:38:32 GMT

3 days!

(Remember this picture! I didn't even realize it was still on the server)

Perth Holiday

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:44:33 GMT

It is getting closer to my trip to Perth and I am growing in excitement and even nervousness to how I may feel once I catch up with everyone that I was close to when I lived there.

I have mentioned it before but it is worthy of mentioning again.

On Sunday, August 5th from 3pm to sometime in the evening, we are having a reunion get together at Rachael's house. Snacks and finger food will be provided and maybe limited amounts of alcohol. Should be fun and intriguing for everyone to see people they haven't seen in years! If anyone is interested send me an email and I will provide further details.

In the meantime, if anyone has any clue as to the contacts of the following people I would be grateful because I have no idea where they have ended up.

Don and Denise
Amanda and Andrew
Lauren
James (Romeo)
Taby

Thanks and looking forward to seeing a whole bunch of you in 12 days time!!

Holiday to Perth 4-14 August

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:03:06 GMT

The time is drawing nearer for me to return to the place that was my second home for a 5 years and I am becoming very excited!! I am very much looking forward to catching up with a bunch of people. It is going to be weird and wonderful.

For those interested, a get together is being held at Rachael's place on Sunday afternoon on August 5th. It will be BYO and I am not sure whether it's going to be a barbecue at this stage. I am still considering just having it at a tavern somewhere like at Hillary's. (hey Rach we need to discuss this new idea I have).

This will be a kind of reunion and people past and present are being invited. If you are interested in coming send me an email on anthony.bagala@gmail.com and I will give you some details of the afternoon.

Trip to Perth 4 August - 14 August

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:31:03 GMT

After 3 years of leaving Perth to return to Sydney I have finally bitten the bullet and bought a ticket to return to Perth for a holiday. Well actually, I make it sound like I bought a ticket yesterday but I actually bought it a month ago. You know me, lazy about updating on Livejournal in the last few years.

I arrive in Perth on Saturday, 4th of August and leave on Tuesday 14th August. Rachel is taking me in for a few days and so is Suze (for those who know her).

Money has been a bit of a struggle in the last few years but I have wanted to come so badly on many occasions.

I am extremely looking forward to catching up with all the people who made my life what it was in Perth. Some, I have seen during their trips to Sydney since I left but others, I have not seen in 3 years. Some of my best friends in Perth I have not seen in 3 years so it is going to be special to see them again. It is going to be amazing.

I’ve also been discussing the idea of having a Perth reunion party during my visit. It would be unreal to turn back the clock and have a good old party with the old familiar faces. This reunion party is planned for either the 4th of August or the 5th of August. I am not entirely sure where this party will be held so if anyone is interested in hosting let me know. I promise to clean up and pay for any expenses.

I am also hoping to have a video night where we watch some of the home movies I recorded during the years I lived in Perth. Some of these are bound to bring about red faces.

I can’t wait to see you all!

2006 Highlights & wrap up

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:55:35 GMT

1) Buying second house
2) Starting job in insolvency
3) Playing tennis, jogging, eating healthy and losing a lot of weight
4) Holiday to Brisbane
5) Holiday to Port Stephens 4 times including going quad biking
6) Leaving the awful job I was in throughout 2005.
7) Gabriels surprise 40th birthday party
8) Rachael and Rachel's surprise birthday for me at Belgian Beer Cafe and the Hunter Valley
9) Australia's world cup success
10) Cutting my hair short.

Low Points

1) Looking for work
2) Career disilussionment

Goals for 2007

1) Keep finances tight and see capital growth in investments
2) Start my own tax and accounting business on the side
3) Continue with fitness and lose another 10 kilos reaching ideal bodyweight
4) Go to Perth
5) Commence CPA program and finish 2 or 3 subjects.
6) Apply for tax agents registration license.

Nostalgic

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:26:45 GMT

In a moment to myself I have found myself in a reflective mood and pulled out some of my home movies of the period of time I lived in perth from 1999 - 2004. It was amazing watching these passages of time and although I keep in little touch with most of my Perth friends watching these films was like getting a big hug from each one of them.

Amongst some favourite memories in my collection was my 28th birthday party at Suze's place where my conspiratorial friends threw me into the swimming pool when I was unwittingly out of it trying to sober up from the drinking binge preceding. Another favourite memory was a quick impromptu trip to Albany. Footage of Nikki, Lauren, Jonno and Rachael also was invaluable as was the first few days of having moved to Perth. Incredible memories that fill me with wonder and sadness. How one can feel wonder and sadness at the same time is a complex blend of feelings but I guess that is what reminiscing does to me. A celebration of the life lived, a mourning of the time having passed and people having moved on.

I am almost definitely coming to Perth some time between July and August of this year (as I have promised to Rachael), maybe September at the latest. I am hoping to catch up with many of you if you are still there, still alive and still remember me (or otherwise want to catch up).

Take care!

Quest to visit friends in Perth

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:23:25 GMT

Well, I am the boy who cried wolf and once again another year rolls by and I am finding excuses not to come to Perth. Valid ones of course, to do with finances but sooner or later I should bite the bullet.

I was going to come for a week or so during the Christmas holiday but other circumstances have made me reconsider so instead I am considering coming for the long weekend of Australia day (love that Perth Skyshow) and in July. July is definitely, definite. As sure as the sun shines. Australia day long weekend is a possibility because I really want to see people, even if it is for just a few days.

I hope you are all well and seeing Rachael reminded me that I miss Perth and I miss many people who frequented and blessed me with their companionship while I lived there.

Hope to see you soon.

Update and sentiments

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:15:29 GMT

Rachael, I would like to use this medium to once again thank you for your part in making my birthday special this year. I know I've thanked you but using other forms of communication and having it in writing can sometimes give it more resonance.

Thank you for the luxurious room in the heart of the city and for your part in the wonderful dinner at the Belgian Beer Cafe amongst friends and family. Thank you for coming and sharing the Hunter Valley and the pasta making course experience and the dining amongst the trees and with the rolling hills stretching out yonder on a lovely spring afternoon.

Thank you for the rare brand of friendship that has a currency that expands the constraints of time and the barriers of distance. It was such a memorable and flavoursome weekend and I am still beaming from it.

I hope you've had a comfortable and safe trip back.

Short Update

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 10:41:07 GMT

I have been thinking about old friends and my life in Perth. being the contemplative and reflective sentimentalist I am rarely does a day pass where I havent at least given some thought to my past and the people and experiences who enriched my existence. Just to name a few, Suze, Rachael, Nikki, Kim, Mega, Kristy, Elli, Don & Denise, and many many others are never far from my thoughts and the memories of Perth tumble through my mind with fondness. I might be sitting at work and suddenly, a moment, a sacred moment will fleet through my memory and bring all the colours and texture of the moment back to me. I have vivid memories of my Scarborough house and the get togethers I had frequently. I need to visit Perth again but I don't know when.

Perth was a simpler and less demanding life professionally and it was more a pilgrimage of the social realm and self discovery and ripping off old psychological shackles. Sometimes, I crave that simplicity living in a big old congested and busy rat race like Sydney. in my current life it's easy to lose heart and forget what's important. The first thing I lost when I moved away from Perth was the closeness of the friendships. However much you phone, send message over the internet or communicate via other means, it isn't quite the same as being there and having at your avail the opportunity to call a few friends up for a pleasant intimate dinner and a few laughs or attend a party or a picnic.

To keep my lot short, I've bought my second house which is in Tingalpa Queensland. The hard work of researching, conveyancing and mortgage preparation is done. Now I have to hang on for the ride and make my finances work for me. Speaking of work, Im bored out of my mind and am in an unfortunately entrenched and draconian firm with a boss who has the temperament of a crocodile. It's time to look elsewhere for more prosperous opportunities keeping in mind that work for me is not something just to pay the expenses but something that should fulfil body, mind and spirit. I don't have anywhere near that. I am starting my CA in July and this will only commit more time to my career, something which must be done but not easily.

Family is well, Rachel is well, Polly and Mickey, our two adorable cats of black and white colour are well.

For anyone interested Suze is pregnant with her second baby.

Take care, until next time.

2005 and beyond

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 03:44:35 GMT

Highlights of 2005:

Being at the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Uruguay and sharing in the excitement
Buying my 1st home and moving into it
Financing my upcoming second home
Being at the game where Parramatta won the Minor Premiership in the Rugby League
Winning on Makybe Diva in the Melbourne Cup
New Years Eve Fireworks from Luna Park
Day trip to Brisbane to see properties and touring
Trip to Canberra
Trip to Jervis Bay
Harbour boat cruise with cousin
Foxtel & Cable internet
Birthday BBQ with family and friends
Regular exercise and improving health

Downpoints:

Pressure at work (and the rest)
Time constraints
Not getting to Perth to catch up with old friends and not keeping in touch

New Years resolutions:

Higher salary
Satisfying work
Weight loss and health
Purchase 2nd home
Trip to Perth

Lessons learnt: If things start badly at a new job they are unlikely to improve.
Weight Loss happens the fastest when combining exercise and an improved diet.
Invest in property. Safe as houses.
Nothing is more important than your happiness and catching up with family and friends.

What where your highpoints, downpoints and lessons learnt in 2005? What are your resolutions in 2006?

Memories

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 22:07:45 GMT

A personal diary excerpt about an old home movie I was recipient of from a cousin :-

"It was just amazing to see all these faces of people living their lives, tempered with trivialities and social graces and all the detailed and minor things we think about it and react upon in our daily lives only to look back and see that they have now grown older, or passed away altogether. A moment in time is such a consuming unconditional thing, we never consider it fleeing or rare in the moment but it passes, and our time passes, and all that's left of us is someone elses memory of us. Videos such as this capture a cherished and rare moment that will never happen again. While you can’t live the moment again by watching it on a tape you can remember it vividly and allow it to bring to recall other associated memories. "

Dominic Bagala 22 September 1973 - 12 December 2001

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 01:20:20 GMT

Thy day has come, not gone
Thy sun has risen, not set
Thy life is now beyond the reach
of death or change
Not ended - but begun
O Gentle heart!
Hail & farewell

- W. J. Bryan

From Anthony

Dominic, brother of mine, your life was a short one, but one which was richly lived. Our memory of you will not grow weary. Your smile will glow forever, your image forever destined to remain young. Not to be etched with wrinkles of pain, nor the ailments of the aged, your time came sooner and your scars in youth. But like the scars of life, your existence and your
time on earth are indelable in the minds of those who knew you. Those who knew you well knew you had many enriching, happy years in your shortened life before life introduced you to a darker world. You now lie embalmed with the spirit of light and divinity freed of the complexities and struggles of our chaotic world.

I remember some of our many conversations over the years, you often pondered on your place in the world. On a never ending quest to seek out your identity one of your main themes in life was in self-discovery along with your strengths and weaknesses. I think most people would agree when I say that your best strength was your ability to seize life and live it to the fullest. A full life lived in an abbreviated time. You've seen so much, and left your mark in the lives of many. Imprinting the lives of those who knew you with your natural,down to Earth and honest manner. You've seen the world when you traveled to the USA and Italy last year, you've been on cruises and you sure knew how to party. I remember our trips to Kempsey and Forster-Tuncurry with Jack years ago and our fishing trips over the years. We never did catch many did we? Maybe one day I'll catch one just for you.

Amongst some of your traits were things like punctuality, tidiness and order. Remember how the guys used to joke about how meticulously clean and orderly you were. Indeed you left your room spotless before you left our world. Up above the television in your room are some of your awards. Black belts in a few martial arts disciplines. You loved training, you loved martial arts. Self mastery and discipline were high on your list of personal goals.

Sometimes you looked up to me, and sometimes I looked up to you. Especially on fashion, and social matters. You even taught me how to do a Windsor knot. Bottom button undone on the suit jacket, or unbuttoned totally. You knew style, you knew charisma, and you knew how to dress and it showed too. Many girls loved you over the years and many girls cried over you. You also knew how to think and reflect giving you a deeper persona. Your theme was always to live and the exploration of the mystery of life. Somehow this world ran out of options for you and perhaps your mission on Earth complete. You always were strong minded, and you did things your way. You even chose the final script of your life. I know, wherever you are, you are at peace and if heaven was a place like Earth you would already be starting to explore it, to contemplate it and to live in it to the fullest. You now rest in the warm embrace of the great beyond with our grandfathers and a grandmother, late relatives and one of our best friends, Jack. Eventually we
will all return to that place where it all started, and be together again.

In my heart I carry memories from the earliest of childhood to the very recent. I remember as kids we used to play in the farm while mum and dad worked. We learnt from each other, and sometimes we made the same mistakes. Sometimes we'd have intense debates because we were both so passionate on a theme. Sometimes we argued, but it never lasted long. I don't ever remember a time we weren't close. We even moved to Perth together and I remember those early days of Perth as being some of your most purposeful and happiest.

You made many friends there as well and they are shaken with grief by your loss. You loved movies, especially the action packed ones. Remember how we often used to quote Scarface, Tombstone and other favourites? I always knew somewhere there you were seeking answers in self discovery through them, looking at who you were, and wanted to be through the characters around you, both in life and in fiction. Remember the songs? Those amongst your favourites reflected you on many levels. I know, if you were here, you would tell us that you didn't want any "flowery fairy music" for your musical tribute. As a tribute to you, we will play your favourite song as I know you would have wanted, which reflects how you would want us to remember you. You always did love Bon Jovi's music and this track we will play for you, "Blaze of Glory" from one of your favourite movies.

Through your life you would look up to many, in your quest for self discovery, but also, many looked up to you and now that you are gone, your life, a masterpiece of events and memories, is worthy of it's own title.

Generous at soul and loyal at heart, you always stood up for your friends and family and for what you believed in. You were never too busy to give some advice, never too frugal to give someone money, never to afraid to stand up for what you believed in, or for someone you cared about. Never afraid to live life to the fullest. Friendship was effortless for you, honesty was your best friend. You shall never be forgotten.

You made friends easily with your charisma and style. You always knew how to make people laugh and often did. You could take a situation and give it a different perspective. A no nonsense manner was always your preferred approach. One that required a frankness and honesty that was rare to come by. Those who knew you knew that underneath the tough exterior there was the philosophical and contemplative Dominic, who was on a never ending
quest to understand people, himself and our lives, and the great beyond.

The final chapter of your life brought you closer to that place of infinite understanding. I hope you have your answers now.

We will miss you terribly now that you have moved beyond our world.

Rest in peace Dominic.

Brother of mine.

From Mum, Dad, and sister Maria

Dominic, child of ours, after 28 years of raising you, we suddenly have to say goodbye for the last time. Along with your sister, we mourn deeply, but we are guided through it with a beacon of light carrying many memories of your life. Generation after generation shall know you, and through them you will breathe your spirit in the portal of our living world.

From Michael, Shaun, Gabriel and John

Dominic, friend of ours, was our friend and brother. We shared the good times and the bad times but together we overcame many obstacles that life presented to us. Dominic was hard headed and did things his way, sometimes going against our good advice. But that was how Dom was, his way, and it wouldn't have been Dom if he wasn't that way. Dom always tried to help someone, whether he knew them or not. That was just the way Dom was. Always looking out for people. He loved life, his family and his friends and had a unique way of showing it. Dominic would portray himself to a stranger as a vicious tiger but deep down a part of him was like a placid kitten, wanting attention and affection.

Dom loved his job at the Casino and often would share his stories with us of the incidences that occurred. Maybe one of those incidents proved to be fateful. Either way, he did it his way. Dom's life was full of ups and downs, mistakes and successes. Sadly our Dom has left our world. How do we begin to understand what was upsetting him so much that he took this avenue. We would of stuck around for him through thick or thin. We wonder about the causes. We are left stranded with questions. But in the end he did it the way he wanted.

We love you and will miss you immensely. We all hope that you have found the peace and the sanctuary that you were looking for.

On behalf of your best friends Michael, Shaun, Gabriel and John

Goodbye our friend and brother.

From your Cousins

Dominic, cousin of ours.

How do we say goodbye to our cousin well enough to do you justice. Your charm and good looks preceded you, you were our James Dean /Van Damme rolled into one. Your humour, your smile, your pizzazz. Bella De Nonna.

Amongst some of our fondest childhood memories were the many hours at Nonna's house playing hide and seek and the amount of places to hide. What about the memory of this one year, when you were young you decided to slide across the floor with your socks, sunglasses and a cucumber thinking you were Tom Cruise in risky business.

We still remember you in Nonna's kitchen with the tea towel helping clean up after a Nonna meal and laughing.

Your wit was excelling, your heart bigger than most, our good looking cousin who no one could help falling in love with. There is now an irreplaceable void amongst your cousins.

Fond memories of you will live in our hearts forever.

Rest in peace. Dominic

Remembering the life of Dominic Bagala

Introduction by Anthony Bagala

Dominics life was a short one but in that brief time he lived well. His family and friends all have many cherished memories with him. His unique style, strong sense of conviction, social gracefulness and charming ways are etched in our memories. Coming to grips with Dominic's premature departure is difficult for all of us who knew him. No one can truly prepare for the sense of loss. But with this website, along with other avenues of memory and recapitulation, we can honour him, remember him, and have one more taste of the life that was Dominic Bagala. One moment of quiet, fond reflection can sometimes imbue a frequency of spiritual blessing in the suffering of a loss.

Dominic's early days were spent growing up on our family farm where our parents grew flowers for a living and sold them to retail outlets stores. The three of us, Dominic, Maria and myself attended to a world of curiosity living in this strange, rustic old home in Bossely Park. We often amused ourselves exploring our environment of animals, gravely flower beds, a creek which was inhabited by eels, small freshwater fish and ducks and a chicken pen. Many of the first photos in the picture gallery were taken on our home at the farm.

From a very early age Dominic exhibited a social grace. He wasn't overly concerned with the things around him as he was about the people around him and the aspects of society. His strong convictions about those he cares about would often see him tend to someone in trouble. I remember once I got in trouble with a guy from school at the tender age of 9 and who was there to support me? Dominic.

Very soon after starting school he quickly made a lot of friends of whom still surrounded him in one extent or another to the day he died. Michael Caruso, Daniel Ivanak, Shaun Gatt and Jack Alamade to name just a few. Jack sadly passed away in 1995.

Dominic was anti-organisation and anti-institutionalisation from a very early age. His sense of rebelliousness and defiance at any notion of conformity developed early. Some people loved him for it, others debated with him about it. It gave him a unique character trait that sooner or later would capture the affinity of those around him. He also had a strong work ethic and from an early age, while still in high school, he started his work life as a part time sales assistant in a camping and disposal store in Fairfield run by a man he admired immensely that often told him stories of his experiences in Vietnam. What most people didn't know about Dominic was just how much he read and through his reading he developed a keen awareness about the world around him. He was articulate, giving him an elegant rugged charm. In particularly he loved studying about the human condition and behaviours and how it is moulded within various forms of societies and political systems. Dom used to love tackling the issue of corruption in society and the folly of human beings. But he blended this perception with a more silent, unspoken belief that people can be better than their programming and their instincts.

Dom prided himself on his fearlessness and his convictions. It won him respect from his friends and strangers alike. As a teenager his sense of fashion, social graces, good looks and rapport with people manifested more and more as he bought his first car, started to use his apprenticeship income to buy himself a wardrobe and experienced Sydney's nightlife. Every night out with Dominic proved to be an adventure of some type. Some of those adventures will comfort us in vivid memory for the rest of our lives.

Dominic loved martial arts and undertook no less than 4 disciplines. A couple of them were formal academy disciplines, the other two he trained with a mentor and friend, Jericho, in Jerichos personal set up at home.

He loved fishing too when they were biting. I fondly remember the days back in 1989 when Jack, Dominic and myself used to venture out to Port Kembla in the wee hours of the morning to try our luck. Those days didn't produce a lot of fish but they sure produced a lot of great memories. I recall the time Dominic caught his 2 large Rock Blackfish at the jetty in Jervis Bay. He was so excited about catching those fish. As soon as we returned home we pulled the camera out and laid out the fish on the table.

Dominic decided that his apprenticeship didn't offer him the kind of life he wanted so he moved onto crowd controlling and applied for security work for the new Sydney Harbour Casino with the original recruitment of staff for the opening days. For a few years he enjoyed his work until a very controversial brawl happened in the foyer section of the Casino which caused serious set backs for Dominic who endured a nervous breakdown. A few years later Dominic and I moved to Perth in June 1999. In the few months that he lived in Perth, Dominic made many friends, all of whom were sad to see him return to Sydney in September of that same year. Occasionally, through out the next couple of years he returned for extended stays.

On the morning of Dominic's passing no one would of suspected what destiny was to pervade over all our lives. Only a few hours beforehand, he was enjoying a few laughs over the movie Liar Liar, featuring Jim Carrey, which he has seen quiet a few times now. He even called our mother over to watch a few scenes in the movie with him that he found particularly funny. He exclaimed "Oh this is such a funny movie, no matter how may times I watch it, I always crack up laughing"

</b> Some facts about Dominic </b>

Name: Domenico Bagala
Date of Birth: 22 September 1973
Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia
Favourite Movies: Young Guns, Tombstone, Scarface, Snatch, Matrix, Get Shorty, Liar Liar, Wrong Bet, Braveheart, Fight club, Casino, Goodfellas.
Pastimes: Martial arts, gym, hunting, fishing, movies, reading.
Favourite Foods: Lasagne, Pizza, Bacon and Eggs.
Favourite reads: Philosophy and the great philosophers, Psychology, Human Performance, Inspiration/Self Help.
Cars Owned: Holden Commodore VL, an old Ford Cortina that got stolen, Hyundai Coupe.
Highlights: A great 21st birthday party which will always be remembered
His trip to Perth in 1995 (doing the Walpole Tree tops walk and Bunjee jumping)
His holiday to the US and Rome in 2000
His trip to Queensland (Bungee jumped there as well)
His party cruise with friends from work
Getting his black belt
Buying his brand new Hyundai Coupe
Moving to Perth and the drive over
First couple of months in Perth

Misfortunes in the past: Being accidentally burned on his legs at 3 by a stray can of petrol being thrown
being hit by a car in his high school years by a P driver
playing chicken with his friend. He sustained a fractured rib
having a car stolen from him a few days after buying it which was uninsured
that horrible Casino incident
With the rest of his close friends, dealing with the passing away of Jack

Things that Dom wanted as he got older but seldomly spoke of: To find that perfect woman and have kids some day
To buy a motor bike
To see the world

Dom's Work Life: Attainment of Trade Certificate in Fitting and Machining
Attainment of the Close Personal Protection (Bodyguard) Course
Attainment of the Police Accredited Security Long Baton & Handcuffing Course
Attainment of Revolver and Semi-Auto Pistol Accreditation
Attainment of Occupational Health and Safety Certificate
2000 - 2001: Marconi - Crowd Controller
August 1995 - 2000: Sydney Harbour Casino Star City - Senior Security Officer
March 1995 - August 1995 - Atkins Carlisle Scruttons - Sales Representative Customer Service
March 1993 - March 1995: Dept. of Community Services (W.S.D.D.S) -Apprentice Fitter And Machinist
December 1990 - October 1992: Voest Alpine Mining and Tunnelling - Apprentice Fitter and Machinist
1990 - Lenehan , Lynton , Bloom , Blaxland Market Research - Office Clerk
1988-1990 - Fairfield Disposals and Camping Supplies - Sales Assistant Part-Time

Quote from Dominic's journal

"And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln

"If you don't believe in something strongly enough to risk your life for it, then you don't believe in it at all" - Dominic Bagala

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort."- Theodore Roosevelt

"The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed." - Buddha

"The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies." - Sir Francis Bacon

"One of the things which danger does to you after a time is, well, to kill emotion. I don't think I shall ever feel anything again except fear. None of us can hate anymore - or love. - Graham Greene - The Confidential Agent (1939)

"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." - Marcus Aelius Aurelius (121-180 AD), Roman emperor, philosopher

"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear & get a record of successful experiences behind you. Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." - William Jennings Bryant (1860-1925), Writer, essayist, critic

"The free man is he who does not fear to go to the end of his thought." - Leon Blum

"Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against his father in the politics of when to go to bed; he who fears corruption fears life." - Saul Alinsky

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me & through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert, Dune

"Hope & fear are inseparable. There is no hope without fear, nor any fear without hope." - François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - St. Paul & Timothy - Philippians 4:6

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power & of love & of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7

"Failure is not the worst thing in the world, The very worst is not to try." - Anonymous

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared." - Eddie Rickenbacker

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Nelson Mandella

"You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us." - Nelson Mandella

"Do what you fear & fear disappears. - David Joseph Schwartz

"Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly." - Robert H. Schuller

"Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are." - John Wooden

"The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others & hesitate to tell the truth that is in us & from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light & life no longer flow into our souls." - Exodus 23:20

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Chinese Proverb

"For all sad words of tongue & pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'." - John Greenleaf Whittier

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Sir Winston Churchill

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American writer, philosopher, poet, essayist Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Character cannot be developed in ease & quiet. Only through experience of trial & suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired & success achieved." - Helen Keller

"Until the pain of remaining the same hurts more than the pain of change, most people prefer to remain the same." - Dr. Richard D. Dobbins

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee." - Isiah 26:3

"What this power is I cannot say; All I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it." - William Shakespeare

"It is meant that noble minds keep ever with their likes; for who so firm that cannot be seduced." --William Shakespeare

"Those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country, as the behaviour of the country is most mockable at the court." --William Shakespeare

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." --Albert Einstein,

"I will prepare, and some day my chance will come. " - Abraham Lincoln

"If a man hasn't found anything he will die for he isn't fit to live" - Unknown

"What's the difference between a hero and a coward? Nothing. They're both afraid of getting hurt or dying, but it's what the hero does that makes him a hero, and what the coward doesn't do that makes him a coward." - Unknown

Excerpts from Dominic's Journal

25 February 2000

Opening journal

Scars

'A scar, according to The Macquarie Dictionary, is "the mark left by a healed wound". I have those plenty but this story, my story, is not about those types of scars. This story is, or could be, your story. Anyone's really. The bum on the street you walked past today, the person behind you in traffic, the guy next door. This story is about the scars left in my psyche. Scars that you or I or anyone for that fact doesn't get to see. So I am going to tell you what they look like. Who knows, you might learn something. You will hopefully be able to tell your story too. Unlike so many others that suffer at the hands of fate in quiet desperation without ever letting others know of their scars. Maybe, in a way, that is what my goal with this book is. Who knows?

Well this is it. My story. No glamour, no bullshit, no unnecessary vocabulary for the ordinary person to navigate. Just my story as I see it in my words. Maybe this will be published, maybe not. Either way doesn't matter.

At the tender age of 26 I have suffered at the hands of negligence mostly due to the ignorance not malice which I am slowly coming to terms with, not without my fits of anger, resentment and a touch of bitterness. I have at this tender age, on the 25th of February 2000, decided to put my story down on paper maybe as therapy. Maybe because deep down it may appeal to, and even help, others in similar or worse situations or maybe just out of pure desperation to get my point out to the rest of the world.'

14 March 2000

'Yes anyone, you, a loved one or friend the system does have many flaws, many flaws and it can not be relied on. You must take your life in your own hands and to have the courage to make what you can of it even when it is completely unjust. Don't sit back and take it, do not become a statistic make bold loud moves even if it means backlash and possibly a thousands of set backs. I can guarantee this book will be refused by many hundreds of publishers, but I will find someone insightful and brave enough to publish it. Just one brave move can change the world literally. I mean people like Mahatma Gained was one man that collapsed and entire unjust empire, equally as brilliant was Nelson Mandala. If these men did these amazing feats then I believe that one bold and brave move like getting this book published then the taught and bad reviews buy a few people with less vision and soul than the one individual with a definite purpose, the purpose of the individual is all the more rewarding.

I remember a quote "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius
These are the types of people of have had the privilege to learn from because of the incident in my hours, days, months and now years of depression, anxiety and loneliness I have had the privilege of reading and understanding these writing. Enjoying the brilliance of their brilliance because of the incident I have discovered a side of my self that I never knew existed. A writer, a philosopher, a student of life of courage and of beauty. If the people I knew while growing up ever read this they will have trouble believing it is me. So I suppose the message here is that no matter how dark everything seems, with courage faith, and the everlasting love of god you can turn any crisis into an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, to appreciate, to expand your mind and most of all to share. Share your experience your understanding your insights with others this would be the greatest gift you could ever give your self and humankind.'

23 March 2000

'Do I want to die? no I do not. Live normally with some sort of peace of mind and at least some happiness even if it is only every once and a while instead of continues torture and uncertainty. I have given up believing tomorrow is a new day as I used to say ever day through out the past two years. I now feel that I am truly at the end of my rope and if god does not take me soon he must really hate me. If you have a decent job, a good women, a little bit of happiness and your physical and mental health you are an incredibly rich person. I used to have some of these things and did not consider my self rich now that I look back I would give anything to turn it around. I feel as though I am already dead and have no idea how much longer I can keep this life up. I am 26 years old, I could be your son, I could be your friend, I could be your neighbour, nephew your work mate I could be u one day. Think carefully about how lucky you are how much you have. If you do know love appreciate it as a gift from god if you have your health your the wealthiest man alive if you have peace of mind you are in heaven.

Myself my friends the people I know we are the part of society not seen. We are the middle-class,the grassroots, we make up your statistics fill your factories, do your gardens, lay you carpet,take out your garbage we serve your food, cook it. We are the back bone of society and we are weakening suffering. We suffer at the hands of unjust laws very poor treatment. Underhanded rich people,criminals and we have no rights, not to protect ourselves or speak out. The system is designed in this country unfortunately to fatten the pockets of the unscrupulous and underhanded and to live off the sweat of the poor. In what ever way you try to justify it to yourself as you try to sleep, don't sleep because that is the cold hard truth of the matter. If you are doing nothing to help others like me or anyone underprivileged in some way you are responsible for the suffering on this planet and that I believe is an unchangeable truth. I think it was Princess Diana that quoted "the best way for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing ".

If you are not helping the system get better, to become more just, fair or improving it, then your making it worse and us the grassroots can only take so much. We are the back bone of society of the system. Once the back bone is broken the body is useless. You think about that the next time you judge, or treat someone badly, or take advantage of someone. If you do feel what I am writing you are committing the worst crime of all crimes, ignorance.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My experience at Telstra stadium for the World Cup Qualifer

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 05:01:41 GMT

(Personal diary excerpt 16/11/2005)

All through Town Hall were the obvious bands of supporters donning green and gold, some with flags, others with rubber pointing fingers. The anticipation could be tasted in the air. The sense of occasion pervaded Sydney throughout and it was concentrated on the train with many anticipating the game they were heading towards. Funny remarks and larrikinism were rife on the train with some already a little bit tipsy from their daytime pre-game drinks and day out on the town.

On our way towards Telstra stadium we followed a massive crowd of excitable Aussies. The life factor was off the scale. The sense of anticipation and celebration hung in the air. Yellow shirts weaved a tapestry a mile long. I saw people bathed in yellow paint and others with green and gold hair. I saw one with green and gold chest hair. Others had flags or writing on their Australian shirts. One said “We are too Kewell for Recoba”. I saw Australian’s pointing at a small group of Uruguayan’s saying “You are gay, you are gay, you are gay.” The Uruguayans seemed amused by the gesture and didn’t take offence. I took my camera out for the first time and filmed much of this.
We walked up the spiralling concrete ramp and made our way to our seats. That first image of the stadium filled with people in yellow starting from the roof of the stadium to the box seats 10 metres below was breath taking. I’ve never been to anything of this magnitude.
As kick off time neared things grew more intense and more glorious. A glorious sea of yellow pervaded the crowd. A vulnerable crowd who has seen all this before only to meet with heart ache after the game allowed their unbridled optimism fill their senses as they cheered the team onto the field.
It took for the FIFA tune and the carrying out of the flags of the two nations and the FIFA flag for me to truly understand that this was an international FIFA match. There was no pretence about it. This was the real deal. This was world cup soccer in our country with the kind of crowd that made me think we were in Wembley.
Kick off. My analysis of the situation was that this was sudden death golden goal for the Uruguayan’s and survival for 90 minutes for the Australians. If Uruguay scored the first goal it was over. We would need 3 goals and that seemed like a task that was beyond us. Teams rarely get three goals to win a game. I knew what I wanted in my heart but my head couldn’t deny the obvious dangers and how close we were from elimination right from the start of the game. 82,000 people were cheering and a mass euphoria rode over them all yet one goal from Uruguay could bring it all to a hush. I didn’t allow myself the luxury of dreaming of our berth in the world cup at this stage. I’ve seen too many cruel outcomes for Australia. Destiny is no part of the result of sport, nor is hope or optimism. In the end it’s the brutal, clinical kinetics of what happens on the field and these kinetics, the science of cause and effect is based on the skills and fortunes of the players. The Uruguayans were no strangers to goals and weren’t lacking players. They too were hungry and had their millions expecting them to qualify.
Australia started poorly and looked like a team ranked 54th playing a team ranked 17th. It looked like the paper it was written on. Australia were panicky in midfield and went backwards more than they went forward. The Uruguayans looked fast, nippy on their toes and outran us. Their passing was good and they always looked dangerous. As the clocked ticked on and on that Uruguayan killer goal would kill faster. The later their goal came the less time we would have to get the three we would need. But a miracle happened about 30 minutes into the game and Australia scored. I will never forget how the crowd erupted with jubilation. It was a raucous sea of sheer jubilation of the magnitude that can’t be described. It was at this point that I started to dream of an Australian berth. The only way we were going to the world cup was if we scored first. We still had work to do and needed another goal and I was beginning to luxuriate in the possibility of Australia qualifying for the world cup right here, right now, in Sydney with me in the stand watching history take place.
In the second half Australia played like a different team. There was a sublime momentum towards the world cup. Our team played like a world class team. Uruguay looked hapless and flat footed. Australia dominated the ground at all corners and they nearly scored that magical second goal on a few occasions. It was missing these crucial opportunities that put us out of the world cup against Iran in 1997 and Uruguay in 2001. I’ve seen it happen so many times where the opposing, and internationally battle hardened team would make the most of a sliver of an opportunity and send a rocket through our spine and destroy our dreams mercilessly. Uruguay had their chances as well and nearly scored a couple of times. Recoba was one on one with Schwartzer but missed a goal that he would usually score.
The crowd were disgusted with the referees decisions and booing occurred on many occasions. The linesmen were being called ‘blindsmen’ and I heard one voice say “the referee might as well be wearing a blue jersey”. It was easy to take a biased view of the referees decisions from way up here in the second row at Telstra stadium and perhaps the analysis would be different from a closer inspection of the play causing the decisions.
The longer the game went the more it looked to favour Australia. Recoba went off the field tired at about the 75 minute mark and Uruguay looked to be running out of wind. The scoreboard still read 1-0 and while Australia was dominating the match Uruguay still only needed one goal. As the 90 minute mark approached closer and closer I knew that any goal from Uruguay would be a knock out punch and all would fall silent in the crowd before the ensuing heartbreak and visible display of despair that could hardly be imagined in a crowd of this size.

The game finished at 90 minutes at 1-0 to Australia. The game went into extra time with 15 minute halves. Once again this game could have fallen to Uruguay in one single stroke but we held their chances and they held ours. Both teams looked close to scoring on a few occasions. Extra time came and went without a goal. Australia successfully held out for 120 minutes without letting Uruguay score their killer punch but they hadn’t won the game as yet. After all those opportunities and the indomitable play by Australia the lack of converting it to a goal meant we were rolling a dice and had a 50/50 chance now. So much was at stake. This country’s entire soccer program was on stake. Qualify and we become soccer mad and soccer gets transformed in this country. Lose and we all witness yet another heartbreaking episode in our quest for an elusive place in the world cup and call it quits for another 4 years while returning to League and Union (and AFL that southern sport in which a League mad Eastern seaboard state has won for the last 4 years).
Kewell started the penalties and scored our first as cool as a cucumber and with the aplomb of a professional. The crowd cheered as loud, if not louder than our first in match goal. We embraced and cheered like old pals. Only a few days ago we were distant coworkers. Now we were embracing and cheering like old mates. The crowd jeered and booed the first Uruguayan who stepped up to take his first penalty. Home ground advantage was present and surely this booing by the full stadium would have a negative effect on the penalty takers from the opposing team. It seemed like divinity was on Australia’s side when Uruguay stepped up to take their first penalty and missed it. The cheering was deafening. From this point it seemed like destiny was willing us in. A couple of more penalties were taken by either side which all went in and we were still 1 up from the first Uruguayan miss. With each penalty Australia scored a huge roar immersed the entire ground. With each Uruguayan goal it was a correspondent “ooh” sweeping the stands.
Viduka stepped up and seemed to throw himself off by baulking at the ball then kicking it missing the goal mouth entirely. This was tension at its highest. I looked around me and anxiety was written on the faces of every supporter around me. People running their hands on their heads, faces in hands, worried looks. The pain was over quickly. Uruguay stepped up for its final penalty and missed it. Australia only needed to pot their last penalty and did it with consummate ease. A continuous and unforgettable roar of jubilation surrounded the ground and the glitter of the green and gold came down from the heavens. The guys and myself yelled until we were hoarse along with everyone else in the ground. We embraced and cheered and danced. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life. As I looked around everyone was in a state of sheer euphoria. It was mass euphoric hysteria. It was unbelievable. Was this really happening? Was I dreaming? Did we really make it into the world cup?
On the field the players were also euphoric. They did a lap of honour while the fans cheered continued on for at least another 10 minutes.
I took one look over at a group of Uruguayan’s not far from us who looked stunned. I filmed them standing there in a stupor. They stood still and stunned and when they moved it was to move out of the row and leave the ground. Aussie fans shook their hands in consolation as they left.
This was just the most amazing thing. How desperately Australia has tried to get into the world cup and how agonizing it has been to avoid qualification by slim margins in the past 8 years.
There were so many reasons why this victory by Australia was all the sweeter.
It was all the sweeter that Australia qualified to get into the world cup by beating the same team that knocked them out 4 years ago, the same team who’s best player remarked days ago that they had a divine right to be in the world cup and Australia didn’t deserve to qualify. The same team that has used every dirty tactic at their disposal to try and rattle our players, particularly in their home country, over the last week.
It was sweeter because this year Soccer Australia formed the A-League to improve the quality of soccer in this country and gather more interest from the public. Between our qualification into the world cup and the commencement of the A-League, soccer has never looked brighter in this country. There won’t be a parent not considering signing up their child to play soccer in the near future. A whole generation of kids will have witnessed the greatness, the grace, the skill and the charisma of this beautiful sport. It was sweeter because it happened here in Sydney and because I was a part of it. I was present at the ground watching history being made. I’ve slumped in despair with everyone else who cared a shred about soccer in Australia at the last 2 world cup qualifiers at this stage where Australia so very nearly did qualify but lost the game in the final 20 minutes. I felt privileged and blessed. This was an amazing moment of grace for the Socceroos and for the country and for everyone who saw it live or on their television sets.
Now Australia gets to play in the world cup. This realization came in waves in that way matters of enormous magnitude, good and bad come to us. After 30 years of contemplating what it would be like if Australia went to the world cup it was difficult to allow the realization that Australia will actually be there register. But it registered in waves and we, like 82,000 others in the stadium erupted in euphoria and madness. Now we get to go to the world cup. We get to see our flag amongst 31 other flags, we get to see which teams we draw in the pools. We get to play the very best on the greatest sporting arena of them all, a rare treat for Australians who have lived in the half competitive world of international friendlies and sub-competitions like the Confederates cup and in the microcosmic Oceania pool playing island nations with cricket scores as results. It’s a tantalizing thought. We might play England, or Italy, or Germany in front of their home crowd.
We remained at the ground for a further half an hour to watch the lap of honour by the players and to see the presentation. I used my video camera quite freely and captured a lot of amazing footage. I had it running during the penalty shootout and the celebrations when we won. I captured amazing footage of human waves and the sea of yellow entering and leaving the ground. I captured individual expressions from Uruguayan’s and Australian’s alike and I captured our own celebration, hugging, cheering, embracing and dancing. By this stage the guys were asking me if I would make them a copy of the video.
Andrew and Mark repeatedly said what an amazing night and life experience this was for them. They thanked me profusely for getting the tickets. The look on their faces imitated what I felt – stark disbelief at the magnitude of what we just experienced and the enormity of the success for the Australian side and it’s effect on soccer in this country. The guys were a little bit drunk and this only made them more expressive of their joy and euphoria.
We left about the time that everyone started to leave and headed for the train station. The cheering and chanting continued outside the ground. It was an unforgettable sight. Groups of people dancing, beating drums and chanting. I saw a flag of Uruguay being beaten with a stick and a chant “you are dead, you are dead, you are dead”.
There was still a large mass of people waiting for the train. We stood closely packed and made our way slowly through the barricades and down the stairs to the waiting trains. The system here at Telstra is amazing. It is evident that this ground was designed to handle huge volumes of people at big events. It has the organisation of a modern Olympic venue. The trains left in 5 minute intervals. By the time I was on one it was after midnight. On the train it continued. People were chanting old songs with revised lyrics. “There is only one Kewell, there is only one Ke-well”.

Terrorism in Australia

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 23:01:31 GMT

The terrorist raids last nights have both an obvious concern and a subtler concern akin to an opening of a can of worms. The obvious concern is that it is confirmation that we have terrorist cells in this country. Here in Sydney the raid was conducted in Lakemba, a heavy enclave for those of Middle Eastern origins. This confirmation makes the threat clear and present. The fact that we have such a large population of migrant middle Easterners means where there is one terror cell caught, they may be one that is not caught. This is the more subtle threat. With the legislation passed to make access to the homes of terror suspects easier, ASIO and The Federal Police wasted no time with their greater powers to swoop on the suspects. The subtler repercussion of this raid is that any other existing terrorist cells may be induced to expedite their plans.

Of course at this stage there is no evidence that those taken in through the raids are guilty of planning a terror attack. That is yet to be seen. If they are guilty, it will only be a matter of time before we learn about the ugliness of their plans and possibly, the location of their attacks.

Before 7/7 in London, and 11/9 in New York intelligence had made raids on terror suspects in the respective cities. It was only a few weeks after the raids in London that 7/7 occurred. I believe that the risk of a terror attack to Australia is inevitable based on the fact that it is the only country that participated in the coalition of the willing and one of the few with military involvement remaining in Iraq. On top of this, we have a heavy middle eastern population of which may come from fundamental muslim backgrounds. In addition, we have already seen terrorism in our regional neighbourhood in Indonesia where non-muslim tourists were primary targets on two occasions. Let's not forget the most recent proclamation after 7/7 by a mysterious anglo-saxon muslim "Today London and France, tomorrow Los Angeles and Melbourne are next"

I think we have taken the proper precautions to strengthen the invisible boundaries against terrorism but I think no level of preparedness can prepare us for the trauma and horror if and when it happens.

Melbourne cup tips

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 02:54:31 GMT

Trifecta

1. Makybe Diva
22. Leica Falcon
23. Mr Celebrity.

Outsiders to note: 3 Distinction, 13 Lachlan River, 17 Umbula.

Dominic Bagala 22nd September 1973 - 12th December 2001

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 23:14:51 GMT

Life, The Universe & Football

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 00:22:45 GMT

Go the Swans and Parramatta in their respective codes. There isn't any other showdown other than a Swans Vs West Coast game that would give me a sudden burst of interest and in the final result of an AFL game. Go the Swans!

Parramatta, the team I have followed in the rugby league since 1981 when I was introduced to the sport has made it to the semi final stage and is now perhaps the favourite to win the Premiership. The last time they played in the grand final was in 2000 against Newcastle. They lost that one and I got to watch the game as a replay at 11.30pm in Scarborough, WA. It was a disappointing day. Parramatta haven't won a grand final since 1986. Please let this be the year and should they lose, let the Dragons win! it's been a long time for them too (1977).

I am considering a trip to Perth around Australia day in 2006. Barring the finances and the opportunity to go then it might be later, or earlier. The only issue is money. I am looking forward to catching up with some old friends (if they are still around), (Elli, send me your number in email so I can call you). Looking forward to that!

Life is pretty good except for the slight hole left behind from leaving certain close friends behind in Perth (you know who you are, the Friday-at-ants-for-cream-sauce-pasta-or-Nanjing-and-foolery crowd). I guess life moves on, and things are never the same. With new stanzas in life come new and unique experiences that will never be reproduced. I find this thinking is the key to savouring every minute of time and knowing that while each day the sun rises and sets and things feel the same, everything is slightly shifting gradually until this year, will have only few of the traits that existed last year. In 3 years everything can change, the friends that frequent our daily lives, our lifestyle, our health, our mental state, our environment and our abode. To look back to 3 years ago, most of us can see how much has changed. Heck, even some of the people we considered to be mainstay long term friends have vanished with the only remains those distant memories that live in diaries and photos. Some of the people I once knew have become digital blips on a screen occasionally found at a seldomly visited website. The grass I once knew, with the brick walls surrounding it, the sound of a distant ocean, the flat serenity of the terrain, and the little routines of neighbours on my periphery on a Saturday afternoon, are just a faint smear of memory from long ago. It will likely change in the same dramatic way in the upcoming few years as well. Nothing stays the same.

The only guarantee is that this very moment will never be reproduced, not even in memory.

Mid life

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 09:05:28 GMT

Sometimes, I wish for a time before time started running out. A time before there was no notion of time and age and where age wasn't a barrier.

Heading into my mid thirties perhaps one of the most dramatic life changes I have experienced is the odd yearning for times gone passed. being older means being aware of time running out. One of the personal changes Ive had is seeing my pursuits in terms of time running out against the backdrop of dreams that are already beyond me. Getting older means knowing that I won't ive out all my dreams, and perhaps, not even most of them. it's humbling to accept this. Ego, macho and the sense of invincibility of youth slips away somewhere between 29-33. You gain a bit of weight, your doctor tells you to watch what you eat and you sometimes get tired at 9.30pm on a Friday. More so, the social life narrows as people work towards their own families and work their asses off providing for them. The vast social arena and pockets of opportunities run out, things get predictable, life becomes routine and those pinnacles of emotions drop off.

At 19 I thought the joys of being a child were well and truly over. Little did I realize I was still little more than a child. at 19 everything excited and stimulated me. There was wonder in every corridor of experience. Fishing, sport, females, partying, movies.

The emotions and the psyche settle with the more gentler rhythms of the brains chemistry in middle age. Experiences don't have quite the same level of ripeness and freshness as when one is going through the stormy torrents and colourful ebullience of pubescent experiences.

New Orleans and the Bush Tragedy

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 04:05:28 GMT

We've all heard many hours of news on the New Orleans and Mississippi floods as a result of Hurricane Katrina. One tragedy belies another as we witness yet another appalling display of inept and inappropriateness by the US president Bush. In one of the richest nations on Earth why have the survivors of the floods been left stranded and to die when help should have been mobilized immediately? Even Australia was able to respond to the destructive wake left behind by cyclone Tracy and not only are we a less wealthy nation but the epicentres of commerce and machinery were much further away with Darwin being isolated thousands of kilometres from the nearest population centre capable of mobilizing the kind of aid and support needed to stop the death toll after the tragedy had struck.

It's fair to say the rescue response is nothing short of a failure and those left at the sight of the hurricanes wake would be right to be angry and feel forsaken. Once the dust settles, people mourn their dead and the shock of the tragedy dissipates I am sure their will be alot of dialogue about the blatant neglect of the rescue operations.

What an appalling and disdainful sight it is to see is an almost proud George Bush standing at a diaz proclaiming that 'hey, I've holidayed in New Orleans and I think we can not only save Louisiana but we will make a BETTER Lousiana". This while 20,000 or more people were spending their 3rd day without food, water, or basic necessities and others still stranded on their rooftops. This is the kind of inappropriatness we've come to expect from Bush. I think he should have exercised a more cautionary and serious tone about a tragedy that needed an immediate response. Instead, he made a speech that almost had a triumphant tone to it as though he was sensing some kind of election victory and he ought to be applauded. He was acting like it was a campaign moment with a smugness a naive stupidity about the magnitude of what has happened.

The support by other countries almost looks like political shoulder rubbing. It comes in the form of 'pledges' in some cases - $100,000 from Afghanistan, the poorest country on Earth, $25,000 from the councils of the tsunami stricken areas of Sri Lankan and dribs and drabs from other countries. While every bit counts, these contributions are merely politically inspired and a message that 'we are in this with you so protect us please' but the govenrment of the US has more than enough resources to have gone in IMMEDIATELY and rescued the survivors despite the difficult equation of overcoming a flooded city. Why it only took a few days to fly hundreds of planes over Baghdad to bomb it and no time to annihilate the Taliban in Afghanistan. With such ease did they forsake the stranded at New Orleans one can't hlep wonder if they even cared beyond a concern. New Orleans isn't in Honolulu or Alaska yet it might as well have been at the summit of Katmandu with the amount of time it's taken resources and rescue personnel and machinery to get in and get these people out. George Bush is a notorious conservative with aggressive profit making policies, ostensibly his, but mainly pushed up through the real powers - his dad and his cohorts of the George Bush I era. I can't help but to wonder if this orientation in the US's governments values has something to do with their neglectful response plan to a US state which is in the poorer black regions of the country. If this tragedy happened in New York, Washington or Florida I wonder if the response would have been this poor. One wouldn't have to consider themselves a soothsayer if they predicted that the tragedy wouldn't have ended at the Hurricanes wake with this Bush government in office.

What to say?

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:34:04 GMT

This will be cryptic.

Life has a strange twisting looping logic to it. You learn something, doubt it, then somehow, by a twist of fate the truth you've seeked all along comes at you so fast it's in your awareness before you've even had time to register it. You can dwell on something for years and look for the faintest sign of truth or confirmation and then one day WHACK in the back of the head. You knew you were right all along and should have trusted your feelings. Things that may have happened 10 years ago seem so vivid and make so much sense you can taste the clarity. Confusion and illumination seem to follow each other around like the two ends of the time warp. It's easy to be confused when we have a million different contexts in which to view something. Many lenses, but one truth. One truth that can take months, years, a whole life time to figure out. Many persuasions, still one truth.

The greatest gifts, I believe, are awareness, self awareness and self mastery. One equates to an understanding of what is around us and what motivates a particular thing or person, the second is to know ourselves and how we relate to what's around us, the third is using that knowledge and awareness to control and navigating our lives and utilising those relationships we have with things and people. How do you know, you know? When you can look back at a set of events or phenomena knowing all along you knew the answers and having them confirmed for you externally. Anyone can delude themselves into thinking they know more than they really do but external confirmation is the key to knowing you are not just crazy or deluded.

Once a person has discovered the inner powers which mobilise them to their higher ground and understand themselves, and others at a deep level, then they hold the key to all the wealth in the world. If nothing else, they can bring deeper meaning into their personal affairs and inter-connectedness with people and things around them.

Random ramblings

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 04:00:18 GMT

Having a browse of the livejournal strata I notice that, of late, perhaps the last 3 or 4 days, there hasn't been a lot of meaty, juicy conversation to delve into with a contributory response in the comments section.

There are about 5 ways I want to go with initiative a topic I wish to discuss but each one of them has a controversial element so in order to play it safe I think I will refrain. So what else is there to ruminate on?

Just in the last few weeks I've started making contact with friends I have dimly kept in contact with since I left Perth. By using the available resources at work, namely E-mail, I've managed to keep in regular contact with a few of them. Its good to connect with them again. Little can compensate for the distance between Sydney and Perth but with the regular contact through Email it gives me the opportunity to connect with them and ensure that old ties don't simply dissipate away. No doubt, with the net, no one is ever far away.

Work is as per usual and my skill levels are improving all the time and my career gradually ascending to greater margins of income and worth in the organisation. The 2 unit bedroom is a place I can finally 'hang my hat' and life has improved a great deal since I've moved in. Rachel is also happy in a job with a testing lab.

I am struggling to find something of substance to say, but by all means, an entry in LJ gives me the illusion of being connected, if only by a nostalgic sense.