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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

It’s actually a bit scary.


Cate did not call me tonight.

She often does not because she has meetings that go forever and for example she called me at 3:00 AM last night  - her time - having just finished a meeting which probably discussed whether some recalcitrant staff should be beheaded or hung, drawn and quartered.

I hope they opted for the more merciful outcome.

But tonight it occurred to me that I live an isolated existence.

I live in this belfry in Vienna and have no companionship when Cate is away – apart from two cats.

Certainly they are fine cats – but cats nonetheless. And their strongpoints are not conversation.

I have one dear friend in Vienna  - Merisi – who is possibly the best photographer in Vienna – and the link to her blog is on my website – and I see her every week or so.

But I have no other friends and this has suddenly struck me as being unusual. And I have only just thought about it.

It’s actually a bit scary.

Posted by Badger at 4:57 PM

13 comments:

  1. GlenFebruary 22, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    too easy to think that Internet friends are real people isn't it? There's the ducks too though and they are proper quackers mate

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  2. esbbostonFebruary 22, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    (?) - I think of my blog friends as real people. I have e-mail chats that are private one-on-one and even know several peoples real names and where they live. I find myself thinking about them especially when I know they are going through difficulties and illnesses, - I even buy some of them birthday presents! Today happens to be the birthday of someone I met online several years ago, had lunch with once, and today I am still deciding what to get, remembering I have to go through that customs mess at the postal place, as she is in Europe now.

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  3. freefallingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:31 AM

    So you could be one of those people dead in your apartment for days with the cats eating your face, and no one would know?

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  4. Penny DoulgerisFebruary 23, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    Hi, I am Australian living in Vienna (I have been reading your blog for some time and have tried to post comments but they never 'stick' - I hope this time is different). I have immediate family and many acquaintances here but have not been able to forge the close friendships I had back home. This makes me sad - and yes, it is scary.

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  5. MeFebruary 23, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    I totally understand how you - I felt like that when we first moved to Australia. Then through working I met people and it became different because I could talk to them at work. I don't socialise with many because Al is my best friend and we tend to spend all our spare time together but I do get where you are coming from and you are right it is scary. But, you do have lots of online friends who, I am sure, would love to chat online if you wanted some written conversation. I always think what exciting things you get up to - s yel out if you would like to chat to an Austrlian who was born in South Africa !

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2012 at 4:06 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2012 at 4:10 AM

    It depends on what kind of friends you are looking for. Good friends are hard to come by. But... ordinary friends... easy... Just join some clubs/ societies. You like cycling and photography, right? Join some cycling and photography clubs and you will have lots of ordinary friends. Learn German with a bunch of people. Are you learning German now with a private tutor on a one to one basis? Or volunteer. I guess after seeing my suggestions, you would rather be with your cats, right... Haha...

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  8. BadgerFebruary 23, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    Glen: Yes the ducks are a great comfort to me. I may bring some home.

    esb: Yes of course I have lots of blog friends. Wouldn't be without them.

    freefalling: What a great image! Except that the cats know how to get to the food supplies so would not have to eat me.

    Penny: It takes a long time to develop close friendships and it seems that it is especially difficult in a foreign land.

    Me: Thanks for that.

    I miss Macau: yes - usually I would but language is a particular problem here. But I am not actually lonely.

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  9. RozalinFebruary 23, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    hey P, ever tried this: http://www.ozcon.at/about.html

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  10. RozalinFebruary 23, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    hmmm... i wonder, do things really "break" so often in your flat, or do you break them to have people come by and enterain you while they fix them?!

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  11. BadgerFebruary 23, 2012 at 6:26 AM

    Rozalin: Well the problem is that most people who come speak only German so we cannot have much of a conversation. And yes - I actually am the webmaster for OzCon and do their website stuff for them.

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  12. RozalinFebruary 23, 2012 at 7:18 AM

    oh badger, no wonder teh site is so cool then ;)

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  13. simonFebruary 24, 2012 at 4:00 AM

    I thought we were friends mate... perhaps we have not had enough beer....

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