April, 2026
hospital escape, axe throwing, Aldi
Edited excerpts from my diary.
April 12, Melbourne
Grateful for … same day delivery
Had surgery April 9. Lovely, tiny hospital in Melbourne.
They locked my medication in a drawer next to my bed, and hid my stimulants in the nurses station.
Doc is letting me stay until Tuesday/Wednesday but won’t let me on day leave for a walk, so I just dressed up and walked out. Went to a little shop, and the beautiful, quiet beach and tasted the salty air, and I feel a little bit less trapped now.
Considering going for another walk tomorrow, hopefully I will have an opportunity to escape again.
April 13, Melbourne
Grateful for … independent bookstores
I’ve been thinking about the value of enforced rest, creating time for hobbies, reflection etc. I used that time today to buy five books.
The nurse called me to ask where I was because I escaped again without permission. Had to feign surprise when she said the shops were a short walk away, and maybe the doctor will give me day leave to visit them tomorrow.
April 14, Melbourne
Grateful … to be young and recover easily
I am at a cafe drinking a Coke Zero. I actually had permission to leave. Very slow morning, today’s nurse was constantly checking in to see when I would leave and return.
April 16, home in Canberra
Grateful for … warm dressing gown
Chilling morning to welcome me back home.
Flew from Melbourne yesterday. Back to real life, meaning work and looking after the menagerie.
I’m reading David Sedaris’ book of his diaries from 2003-2020. I’ve read many of his books and his first volume of diaries would always put me to sleep (maybe one day someone will fall asleep to these very words?)
April 17, home in Canberra
Grateful for … dogs’ funny antics
Fuck, I’m doing well with writing in this diary consistently. But I keep thinking of things to write and then forgetting what they are.
I somehow finished work at 9pm again. I always tell myself it’s because I wake up too late and start late, but I am starting to realise … hmmm, I’ve clocked out of the parking lot and my car has been here for 11 hours! Again. Weird.
April 18, home in Canberra
Grateful for … dog parks
Another day, another holla. I was about to write that I barely did any work today but then realised I wasn’t supposed to be working today.
April 19, home in Canberra
Grateful for … fresh sheets
Writing in my journal by candlelight (phone torch).
April 22, Wollongong
Grateful for … beach
At my sister’s house to attend her graduation tomorrow. We have to be there at 7am for some reason? She didn’t tell her housemate I was staying over, making for a very awkward interaction. I thought I’d met him before (that was someone else). “Who are you?” he asked, politely, as I stood beside him making tea in his kitchen.
April 23, pub hotel in Marulan
Grateful for … Shaq the dachshund
Only an hour from Canberra and I decided I was too tired to keep driving safely. Found a room above a noisy pub with a full carpark and bar busy with rough-looking blokes. Pokies room is packed. Haven’t been called “darl” this many times in a while.
The graduation ceremony was actually lovely. Me, sister, dad and his fiancé went to axe throwing afterwards. Dad only beat my sister by one point! Final round was round robin, so without the final standoff she would have won, and he would have been tied second with his (petite) partner. But he still got a photo of himself draped over a throne holding a huge axe. I came last, obviously.
April 25, home in Canberra
Grateful for … beautiful sunset on Mt [redacted]
If there is any sign it is the right time for me to leave my job, I got it tonight. I went to the local pub - closest to the office, owned by a former deputy ACT Labor leader and has a mural of Bob Hawke sculling a beer - for after work drinks. No one was there. They had gone to some bougie food market hall place instead. Missed drinks the week before as well because I finished work too late.
It’s too hard watching the cornerstones of great newspaper journalism, workaholism and alcoholism, disappear. No wonder the industry is dying!
April 29, home in Canberra
Grateful for … perfect temperature
Got up a yarn on Monday about a Canberra hospital incident. Getting to tell the public about some of the insane shit that goes on - knowing that it is [allegedly] just the tip of the iceberg [allegedly, allegedly] - kind of makes the job worth it.
The irony of journalism is that often the fear of media coverage is what leads to [alleged] attempts to cover up [not referencing the above incident]. But then the uncovering of the covering up is the story, and that is what hopefully actually changes things.
I missed two yoga classes today, booked in separate studios. And yesterday I couldn’t be bothered finding Kmart again so went to Aldi for pyjamas. They only had men’s XL ones left. I bought them. They actually kind of fit.