I consider myself a reasonable cook. Admittedly I don’t quite have as many recipes under my belt as I’d like but what I do, I do well.

So last night I decided I wanted to have bangers and mash. Bangers and mash relies entirely on gravy. Having high standards there was no way I was ever going to just some packaged gravy – besides it never tastes nearly nice enough.

I’ve watched my Dad make fantastic gravy for years. It’s hardly rocket science. So I went to work at it.

Worst gravy ever. This is a major blow to by cooking self esteem. I’m fairly critical of my own cooking at the best of times. This was the worst of times.

I’m just thankful I was the only one eating last night. I’m even more thankful that I didn’t serve it up to the girl did I just write that as was the initial plan.

I’m going to cook it again tonight. I will master the Gravy!!

Sketchy Thoughts is run by the guy that runs Kersplebedeb, and International Terrorist George W Bush.

First few entries are fascinating – a good start.

I’m on Your Computer has mad a surprise return to journalistic excellence.

It seems to have escaped me for the last month or so and what a cold and lonely month it has been.

Welcome back IOYC!

I finally saw Little Fish last night. I must say, if you haven’t seen it you really should. It is probably Hugo Weaving’s finest performance and I’m of the opinion that he’s put in some might fine performances. It is so well made. The acting all round is astounding.

What I particularly liked is how accurate a portrayal of working class Australia it was. “I’ve been overseas, I’ve been to Bali and Fiji.” It’s brilliant. I really though Noni Hazlehurst’s performance as the mother was exceptional as well.

Go and see it.

Ever since my Motorbike got stolen I’ve been toying with the idea of Overseas travel. It’s always been inevitable but something changed in me this weekend and I’ve ‘locked it in’ – so to speak.

I’m 25, and for someone like myself (what ever that means) to have not gone overseas is a travesty. In fact I have a growing anxiety about it. Best case scenario I’ll be 26 before I leave the country.

My aim? 4 to 6 months mostly in Europe.

Countries to go to? At this stage I’m thinking England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

Why Europe? I just want to do it while I’m young. I feel I can do Asia any old time as it’s cheap to get there and cheap to stay. I can’t afford north America and I haven’t ruled out the possibility of getting some volunteer work in South America.

How will I finance it? I’m going to pay off my credit card then save enough for a round the would ticket. I’ll borrow the rest – fuck it.

Concerns? The fate of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice worries me but there really isn’t much I can do about that. I have no language skills (as readers of this blog you will know I don’t have the most fantastic command of the English language). Probably heaps of others, in fact just being in a non-English speaking country worries me a fair bit – in a good way though.

Still, I’ve free accommodation in Rome and Berlin (I hope). I just feel I need to see Andy C at Fabric and see the view from the Eiffel Town before I’m too old.

I was talking to a friend the other day about life and what you want to get out of it. She had a very logical and methodical way of looking at it. It made sense. I’ve got x, y and z on the horizon that I want to achieve and overseas travel is on that list. The other stuff is important but can wait until I get back.