The life of a paralegal

My friends,

I trust you are all keeping well, and that 2003 is treating you well thus far. For my part, I am sorry to report that I gave up my life of total leisure some weeks back to start work as a paralegal in Freehills (one of the big firms in Sydney). On the plus side, it is the first time I have ever had a completely stress-free job. There is also a very welcome practice of providing free booze for 3 hours after work on Fridays (needless to say, I have been making the most of that.) A further plus (and this is the one that makes it worthwhile coming in to work in the morning) is the standard of birds on my floor - cute secretaries to beat the band; an English paralegal with extremely large breasts (who unfortunately has a very large boyfriend with a threatening demeanour); and an Aussie summer clerk who looks like she's come straight out of an FHM special called "Gorgeous Aussie Babes." The negatives, unfortunately, are more numerous, e.g. (i) shit pay (and I'm talking really shit, especially as I'm being taxed to BeJaysus - flat rate of 28 or 29%); (ii) shit work (photocopying, indexing, hole-punching and filing); (iii) annoying workmates (well in fairness, it's only the one Aussie girl that's really annoying, but regrettably she sits right beside me); (iv) an 8.30 start (okay, so it's not as if I have to do any "work" in the morning but after over 3 months of sleeping in until I like, getting up early in the morning is a bit of a pain in the ass). I could go on, but you get the picture I'm sure.

In short, this work malarkey is not for me, and so at the end of this month I'm packing it in to travel up the East Coast with the lads. Our number has been diminished recently with the departure of Bads to New Zealand, but the rest of us will endeavour to soldier on regardless. On the way back to Sydney, I'm going to take in a trip to Ayrs Rock. Then it's off to New Zealand with me for a month, before returning to Australia to do some more travelling (and possibly a bit more work).

Work aside, life remains good in Sydney. Spent a very enjoyable weekend wine tasting in Hunter Valley a few weeks back, and returned with several bottles which have since been consumed with relish (and with very little regard to the wine-tasting etiquette I learnt in Hunter Valley...) I have also recently established, once and for all, that I will never get a suntan. I got quite badly burnt on Palm Beach about a month ago (I had underestimated the expanse that is my belly when applying my suncream - let me assure you that a burnt belly is very unpleasant indeed, especially when it's coupled with a very nasty dose of the shits a few days later), yet within just over a week I was back to my normal pasty white self. Not a hint of colour.

Anyway, I must away as it's the Tuesday night pool tournament in a boozer down the road. Free entry, a free scooner of beer, and free games while you remain in the competition. What a ridiculously good deal!