Romping into the New Year

Brisbane Circa 2018

How did I get here? I know exactly how I ended up drinking in a shopping trolly and drinking Iron Jack like some sort of Posh Bogan.  Pregame to a NYE party was had in a trolly near her flat... Classy. It happened folks… Let’s get past it.  I mean how did I end up on the opposite side of Brisbane, tucked in bed before midday, in a basement room, at a cheap Airbnb, and thoroughly fighting off a hangover?  I am supposed to be living my best life, right? I am supposed to be feeling euphoric on this adventure – one that took me ten years to finally pursue… Especially after bringing in the new year with the hospo mates, I made during my stay in Aus. I was not supposed to be battling the same dark thoughts I had before deciding to start this adventure.  It all started when I met an Aussie barkeep named Jules. 

Well, folks, I got to tell you Aussie women are quite friendly. During the weeks and months that I spent trying to find a job in Brisbane, I ended up getting a text message from a girl by the name of Jules. She was one of the barkeepers at a restaurant that I applied for. Basically, she was asking me if I wanted to meet up sometime, hang out, or whilst here (in Australia) have a partner in crime… To this day I really have no idea what that really means or implies. But anyway, we did meet up every now and again to have drinks, have some laughs, and overall enjoy each other’s company. She seemed decent enough and I chatted about how the Course Director from the Brisbane Dive Academy had treated me. She was totally cool about me only having a set number of days left in Brisbane before I must begin my way back to the States. In fact, she told me “I’m so sorry my country’s been a load of cunts to you. That’s not Australia you need to remember. Why don’t you come and stay with me? I live about a 35-minute walk from the beach, you’ll love it.” 

Honestly, folks, I thought that was awesome of someone I’ve spent not a lot of time in Aus. I figured I’d get out of the hair of the Australian family that was more than accommodating toward me. On to the next chapter of this down under Romp. She came to pick me up shortly after Boxing Day. I made sure the hospitality that she provided was very appreciated by trying to cook several dinners and paying for a few takeaways (carry out). We spent some time at the beach, I got some mail sent using the Australian postie. The plan had been once back in the states I would set up in Texas. Start 2019 not like I expected but some dreams fizzle out rather than set ablaze… Time to accept becoming a dive instructor and working in Aus is just not gonna happen. But PADI does accept a transfer and I was in talks with a dive shop around the Dallas area already.

Jules wasn’t the only hospo worker that I met along the way. The others I had spent some nights drinking with and generalized merriment had been had by all. I certainly paid the next day for such merriment… folks, when you romp around the world try to remember what your liver is and is not capable of. But these Hospo workers invited me to a flat party for New Year’s Eve. It would be thoroughly impolite of me not to invite Jules as well… She was my plus one if you will. So, time for me to bring in the new year in the Romp. 

Brisbane Skyline Circa 2018

We took an Uber to the splat which was about 35 to 40 minutes away from Jules’s flat. Up the elevator to level 8 in what awaited us plenty of drinks and lots of merriment in celebrating the beginning of 2019 of what I thought were new friends. However, my mind wasn’t on entertaining my date. Which is my fault and not cool at all. My focus was on engaging, meeting, and networking with people from all over the world. It was a happy NYE. After all, bringing in 2019 with a bunch of ex-pats from Sweden, America, Australia, Austria, and even the UK was exactly what I was looking for… The “Bourdainian”. Looking back, that part of the night was still an absolute joy regardless of what occurred on 2019’s New Year’s Eve. 

Drinks and conversations were had. Met a Yank taking a road trip around the entire Aussie continent. Noted and Interesting idea for next time. I even scored a New Year’s kiss from Jules. Drinks… Lots of drinks were had by all.

Brisbane Circa 2018

Folks, I’m not in my early 20s anymore and the alcohol was taking its toll on me. Jules and I chatted about getting back to her place but the Uber ride would have cost us about $130 Australian dollars to get back. I recommended that we wait an hour or two and this fare would drop at least in half. She agreed - perfect! To the recliner, I went to rest and wait. What had been a good night turned into a terrible morning.

Brisbane Circa 2018

I woke up 4 hours later to a bunch of hand clapping and continued merriment by the motley crew of ex-pats. At this point in the early hours, the mood had shifted. I looked around and could not find Jules anywhere. I went out to the porch and asked those still drinking heavily and around if anyone had seen Jules. One of the girls spoke up and said quotation marks were made, I think she left already. Quotation marks. Folks! Not cool. I had over $5000+ U.S. dollars worth of luggage, scuba gear, tech, currency, and my passport at her flat.

My mind began to race, and I started trying to think things through in the kitchen. I happened to look down and there is an open person on the floor… Despite my many faults, you don’t rummage through somebody’s purse. However, it was open, and it looked very much like this was Jules's purse, so I started opening doors to the three or four bedrooms. Door number one, nothing an empty bed and a kept room. But the second door showed me how friendly Aussies can truly be. Jules was in there with her new Swedish friend giving her the old down-under kiss. There’s a first time for everything folks and for me, it was the first time my date ended up hooking up with somebody else while still technically out with me. After the door was open, Jules locked eyes with me and got back to what was going on. I shut the door and the anger started to swell well I stood in the kitchen wondering about what I’m about to do.

To be fair I don’t think the Swedish guy knew that she was my date, but the way things have progressed I figured Jules didn’t bother to tell him. Now I could have handled things much more responsibly. But really, I’m glad I got slammed against the wall and better minds prevailed after I went after the Swede with an empty bottle. The Marines trained me very well but going to an Australian prison didn’t really appeal to me either. Time to leave. 

Brisbane Circa 2019

I must tell you, folks, that was the most awkward Uber ride - Ever!  I wasn't about to bring up a conversation about anything in front of the Uber driver. Not his circus, and not his monkeys.

Once we got back to Jules this flat that’s when I finally spoke up and asked her are you even gonna say anything, her response I’ve got nothing good to say. Well, that’s fair. Within the next three hours, Jules decides to go to bed and sleep off whatever debauchery she got herself into. As for me, slightly hungover and still slightly drunk I decided this was no longer a safe place for me to stay. So I booked an Airbnb for the other side of Brisbane. But before I left, I made sure I cleaned up any messes that I had physically caused, and I left some Australian coins- $0.95 to be exact. And in a not-so-proud moment, I wrote a note to Jules saying, “Thanks for the cheap rent, and cheaper company”.

I could have handled that much better, but I didn’t. I have never heard from Jules again and frankly good riddance. Hello, 2019 it started rougher than expected. But that’s the price you might pay Living life and taking life in the romp. Maybe 2019 could still be a great year. But as I made my way to the other side of Brissy I began to weigh what this adventure is truly costing – not just financially. And how the hell did it all end up going so wrong? Looking back, I can laugh now. But then – The darkest of thoughts surfaced again, and I was alone in a basement Airbnb room fighting those dark thoughts… At least until I got an invite to do something wild. When things go wrong in Aus, Aussies often take a holiday in Bali. 

Maybe 2019 won’t be so bad.

©Dustin J. Casey 2023