Traditions - the conclusion.
Previous: Traditions part three.
Returned the Burton Street keys back to the agent, presumably for the last time because the new tennants are moving in today. I'm in desperate need of a decent coffee and was seriously considering dropping by Dov on the way to work to get my caffeine hit. But I've missed enough classes over the last few weeks and didn't want to miss more. Besides, it felt like it was too soon to be popping in for a visit.
I got the credit card bill from the weekend move and my jaw hit the floor. AND I STILL HAVE TO BUY FURNITURE!
4. Breakfast at Dov
Cleaning on Sunday night took a relatively short amount of time. The damn blinds were pissing me off but we found a way to unlatch them to wash them in the shower. Nice. By the time we finished, the place was sparkling, it looked really good. We moved the last lot of stuff to the ex-housemate's new place and I'm impressed with what they have: stunningly beautiful new floorboards, a huge window that looks out over the city skyline, and other windows that look into a sort-of light well that allowed them to look into their neighbours' windows. You can even have a conversation from the kitchen with people in the living room through windows. If the building had a few more levels, it would have felt like New York. Did I mention the floorboards? It's quite cramped but then again the ex's fiancee has quite alot of stuff that was still in boxes. The ex and I made plans to meet up for one last breakfast at Dov before dropping off the keys to the agent. Eight o'clock.
The next morning at eight-thirty my mobile wakes me up. The ex is calling, wondering where I am. Shit. I'm down there in about half an hour, the blinds are installed, and we head off to the agent in the work van that's just about to fall to bits.
I would have just made it on time to work if I had not stopped at Dov but I hadn't had breakfast and, besides, I thought it would be rather poetic to have a meal with the ex to finish off a weekend of traditions. But, after all that moving and cleaning, all I could do was sit there and stare down Forbes Street to Taylor Square. Part of me thought it was stupid to get so sentimental about a network of streets and buildings, especially since it was literally a few corners from my new place. But I really do love the place, it's the best location I've lived in... EVER. I love how it can be so crazy one minute and calm the next, extreme mood-swings, LIKE ME! I love the constant activity, I love the convenience, I love seeing two guys holding hands down the street like it's nobody's business, and I loved the thought that it was all happening in MY backyard.
Oh well... Hopefully it's not good bye forever...
Anyway... the food. I ordered two eggs with bacon and avocado on wholemeal and it came in quite a plain, matter-of-fact way. There's nothing offensive about it, and it all looks and tastes great, but it's not really amazing. What IS amazing, however, is the soy latte. Easily one of the best I've had anywhere, the soy milk they choose is great, not too hot, heaps of coffee flavour without the bitterness, no need for sugar (which, really, is the mark of a decent cup of coffee, in my opinion). It was ten o'clock that morning and the morning madness was long over, thank god, I could have spent the rest of the day just sitting there staring down the road. But work beckoned
The ex and I exchanged goodbyes and hugged like it was forever. Did the last fourteen months just happen? The memories were beginning to fade even then. We walked away and went on with the rest of our lives.
