The East Coast to Robe

Today I hand back this space. This space I have dwelled in, laughed, cried, learnt, crafted and healed in.

This space has cleansed me of the dead weight that was holding me back. To solidify creative friends. The constant challenge to create and share those experiences with others.

Through this space I have closely observed the human condition. My own, and that of others. I have witnessed doubt and belief in the one sentence. I have witnessed addiction passed off as mis spent youth. I have questioned friendships, challenged addictions and have managed to craft a life centred around what I am most passionate about…storytelling.

When I first came to this space I was a little lost, to say the least. Full of self doubt and I had a a real lack of confidence in self. You couldn’t tell this from the outside though.

Sure, I ran merch for a huge Audio Manufacturer from the States and had social interactions on the daily with department stores, retail outlets and specialty stores and was sure outwardly confident, but mainly due to a well oiled machine in my Boss Lady Anna K. Boy, did she have a task Managing me, just ask her. Especially considering she was all the way in Militant Melbourne, riding the Covid lockdown train! I must have sent her freaking bonkers! How she still likes me, I have no inkling.

Hot headed, conceded, punchy and arrogant I would have described myself. A real shit! Due to tight schedules and mostly unorganised retailers. Also due to an undertone of self loathing. Not only from myself, but everyone in retail I liaised with. 😂

Well, I shouldn’t say that, I really loved the people. Later, I would realise that this is why i was there. I really liked people. (Outside of a retail environment).

Where there is money involved, there is always a certain amount of shit fuckery at play and you can guarantee the person with the most will lord over the rest. Money brings out the worst in some people. Abundance or lack there of…

Anyway, to fight the urges to self medicate every evening over sunset, I decided to become a walker. Why would I? And I am going to say for the sheer exploration. I was in an unfamiliar part of North Ipswich in Queensland. No matter what time I made it back from the on the road job, I would stick dinner in the oven and go for a walk. I fucking loved it. It became my thing. Who knew that what type of shoe I wore would affect the future of my now walking addiction.

I would walk for over an hour every night. In the dark most nights. Through North Ippy down to Tivoli and back up to Brassal and home. I would change it up now and then and walk it in reverse.

I really started to fall for Ippy, with its beautiful walking trails, bike paths and scenic views. I could see all the way to the Boonah ranges at the top of the hill and in Sumner, always catch a breeze. I even started knocking off earlier or finishing at a store close by, just so I could catch that breeze and magnificent sunsets. My lord, those sunsets in Ipswich. I am going to shoot a movie here someday. My love affair with one of the oldest colonised towns in the country. I can see why they built on the side of this basin. The sunsets are bullshit!!

The superb Anna k resigned from her position as client manager for the big audio company and from there it was a steep decent of questionable management and overbearing irresponsibility on the behalf of the contract holder and the position became no longer financially viable to sustain. So I told them to stick it up their tight arses.

My love of those sunsets actually brought me closer to home to one of those “local” stores that I frequented. The store was in the last of my run twice a fortnight. It was there that I met Ben. He would go on to be my manager for three solid years of retail madness.

The new job begun as Christmas casual and I actually scored it two weeks before I finished up on the road with the corporation. I walked slowly of the plane from two weeks exploring Tassie with the family and straight into the new role selling audio equipment and accessories. I even.did some time in the stores processing. I loved it! Not only because it was casual, but there were heaps of hours on offer if I wanted. Not to mention that it was only literally two minutes drive from my sanctuary in North Ippy. Hell yes!!

I felt like I could hustle for a bit and make some coin. And for the most part there was coin. I really loved walking and saving. I would cook all my own meals, never eat out and barely socialise 😂😎

I also developed a taste for bonded tequila and good red wine. I had to tame myself in the end and settle for the red. Tequila will make you a rebellious Revolutionary in a second 😂 There is a tipping point!

I will let tequila be my guide here to let you know that drinking by yourself is very dangerous, avoid it at all costs. especially if you mix with the Colonel’s secret herbs and spices. Tequila to bring is home peeps.

Handing this house over has so many memories attached to it that it cannot be shared in just one blurb. So, if the memories pop up on my journeys to make films down south, I will re reference the good times had at this place.

I found work locally, harvested a dream. Created an income with G media outside of the tech store and really pushed myself to be a storyteller.

My landlord gifted me with a bottle of Tequila and some Chilli Jam. I gifted him with a perfectly cleaned house. When I say cleaned, I mean bond cleaned. Like brand new! I have OCD to the max.

We all sat in the veranda in the breeze and ate gourmet home cooked pizza and garlic bread and stubbies of ginger beer. Myself, Terry, Tiarne, Benji and their gorgeous toddler Maya. It was perfect.

Tonight I shed a tear whilst smoking out the house on exit and thanking every room for the peace and direction it has provided through discovery.

Thanks for the memories North Ippy. It is now eleven days until I leave my job to travel south to seek out connection to country and see some places I have heard so much about. Let the journeys begin.

Thanks for reading, if you got this far. I am new to this. I will get the hang of it. Be well, be a good human being. 🙌🏽❤️

If you would like to see some of my Ippy sunsets 🌅 follow me on Insta @grizzmediaone

I take photos and I own a beard 👍📷