Pages

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.

13 comments:

  1. 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

    ReplyDelete
  2. (?) - 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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?

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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 !

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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...

    ReplyDelete
  8. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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?!

    ReplyDelete
  11. 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.

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

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

    ReplyDelete