Lazy Sunday....

Well...it's been a while since I posted anything here. Primarily it's because my all-in-one printer/scanner has broken and I really wanted to start adding some of the letters I get back to this blog.

Boy, you should see some of the responses I get!

But, alas...broken scanner...

Anyways, I've taken some time today to reflect on some of the victories and non-victories I have had since this blog started.

I've noticed people are look at me in a new light since I started this blog. There isn't a business in the Inner West that I haven't walked in and demanded they take action on graffiti that I have found near their stores. Now, when they see me walking down the street...the look on their face says it all. I call the look 'respect'.

The most galling non-victory of all is that the Lady at Number 45 still lives. That's it.

Police and why they just don't get it

I was going to blog about how the Police don't seem to have clue about tackling Graffiti Crime, but a more pressing matter has come to hand.

The condition of the Australian Flag at my local Police Station.

I had noticed it was tangled up in the branches of a beautiful 150 year old tree. A few letters later and we had butchered the limbs to the point that the flag could fly once again! Huzzah!

But to my dismay, the flag that I demand others fight for on my behalf, was in no fit condition to fly. Some may think this is taking it to the extreme, but when I look at it, I think of the Battle of Waterloo. Well, there were no photographs of the battle for me to compare them, but I've seen pictures of paintings depicting the battle...so close enough.

How it breaks my heart to look up and be reminded of the futile loss of life all those years ago in a country so far away. Those brave men of Mother England.

I will not rest until a new flag is in place. Maybe one with a bigger Union Jack on it and god help them if they try to put one of those Aboriginal flags up there.

Lady in Number 45...or her evil voodoo dummy?

Say no more...this is the reason why I have returned.

Is he back?

?

Victory!

After a long and sometimes fruitless campaign. VICTORY

So sweet....all the graffiti cleared, abandoned cars towed, burnt and dumped in the OUTER West, rubbish picked up and dumped in the OUTER West and most importantly...that lady in number 45 was put into a home yesterday. Sweet Victory.

Never fear, I'm planning a book tour explaining to everyone how I single handedly managed to clean up the Inner West. I'd show photos of clean electricity kiosks and parks clear of rubbish...but that would be a like me trying to justify I actually had some kind of impact...I really did..honest. It's not like this stuff was done without my input. I mean like any company thought of cleaning their own assets before I started this. Ha!

So...ah...what do I do now?

Start a blog on how Graffiti in the Inner West will bring down the NSW Labour Party? Everything else they have done over the past few years has nothing to do with their low standing among voters...it's gotta be graffiti...

Whaaaaat?

I have just had a response to a letter I sent. A letter to 'A big company' about the lack of effort on their part to clean graffiti off their equipment.

Get this.

They responded with a well reasoned and completely satisfactory explanation regarding their policy on graffiti. They encourage their staff to report graffiti and welcome feedback from customers. They have clean up crews in place that carry out regular maintenance on their equipment.

What am I supposed to do with that?

I need something to rant about!

Maybe if I ignore the majority of the letter and focus on one particular section. God, even a few random words.

Got it.

Why, oh why don't they threaten their staff with the sack if they don't report graffiti? Hmmm. How hard would it be?

Feel much better now.

Big event coming up

I almost forgot.

I have decided to exhibit my collection of photo's. I've had some trouble finding someone willing to display them, but had the brilliant idea of just wearing a advertising board around while I'm on patrol. Kind of like my 'The End Is Nigh' sign I carried around before I found my new calling.

My first collection will be the photo's of rubbish I have taken. It tells a story that I think everyone must experience.

And that's not all.....

Rubbish The Musical

You might just get a localised version right here in the Inner West. Although it won't be a musical comedy, more of a 'After School Special' kind of production. Look out for a Casting Call to appear in the local papers.

Just who wants to take responsibility?

I was on one of my regular patrols the other day, camera in hand and ego set to 11 when I came across some graffiti. Near a Real Estate Agents office. I noticed that the Real Estate Agent regularly changes the photo's he displays in the window, which means by default, they must have seen this graffiti. Suffice to say, a quick call to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) resulted in no response. Yet again.

Is it too much to expect that the REIA calls this Real Estate Agent and ask them to remove Graffiti found some 20 metres from their shopfront? I think not.

Sure the graffiti is plastered all over a RTA sign. But come on, should I be calling the RTA about this? Madness.

Not on holiday, just resting

I have returned!

After a few hours of quiet reflection, I have returned to fight the good fight against all that stands in the way of all decent, law abiding citizens of the Inner West.

So look out Graffiti, abandoned cars, motorised scooters, rubbish and Lady in number 45. I am back!

Well....is this the end?

Seems as though my inspiration for this blog has stopped posting.

It's been 2 weeks and not a single post about abandoned cars, piles of rubbish, graffiti or even just a long winded ego stroke post. This from someone who managed up to 11 posts a day at one stage. Unless he's on holidays, I can only guess he's decided enough is enough.

I seriously doubt he's on holidays, I get the impression he's the sort of guy that just doesn't like to take a break. It's either all or nothing.

I'll check every so often and see if he comes back for more. But until then. I'm going to take a break as well.

Cheers,

Guido

Google Search Results

A quiet and lazy few days for me. I deserve it...you want proof?

Google Search : Graffiti Inner West

Looks who comes in at number 5

Waiting patiently for ACA or Today Tonight to call and offer me a regular spot.

Back at last

Crazy last few days here in the Inner West.

My attempts to get the locals more enthused about Graffiti, rubbish, abandoned cars, scooters and air pollution took a turn for the worst a few days ago.

It now appears the residents of the Inner West are not interested in a concert to promote awareness of Graffiti. Having spent the last few days promoting and performing in the main street, I guess this is one idea that is yet to have it's day.

Mark my words.

GRACSAP-A-LOOLA will happen. One day.

Not sure how I can break it to Steady Eddie he's not needed as MC.

Sydney's Air Quality

I wrote a letter to the local butcher the other day. A complaint about the quality of the air in the Inner West.

Oddly enough, the owner of the shop took me aside the next time I was on patrol and told me to...well, I'm to much of a gentlemen to repeat it here. Idiot butcher, sell me mince I wouldn't feed my mother let alone the dog!

Far be it from me to concentrate on something so inane as the quality of air, I couldn't give too hoots if the quality of air was not the butchers responsibility. I walk down the street, and if I decide the air smells a little rank...then I decide who takes the blame.

I mean, last week I was sitting at a bus stop...a council bus stop (it had a sign saying so) and then a bus stopped. Nothing unusual there, until I looked up. A sky writer...graffiti in the sky. That I saw from the council bus stop.

I've written a letter of complaint to Sydney Buses, the deli across the road and the Lady at Number 45 (she was waiting for a bus as well). All of them are responsible for this graffiti.

Oh..did I mention that Air Quality is on my crusade list.

And then there were two?

Also noticed today while I was on patrol another person who may be trying to horn in on my act.

At first I didn't think anything of it, but it dawned on me that no sane person would be riding a bike and chasing some kid on a motorised scooter unless it was for the good of the community.

The bikes a nice touch but wait until I get mum's wheelchair out of hock and charged up. Then we'll see who owns these streets.

Deep Thought

I have been pondering a number of issues today as I have decided to take a long hard look at this blog of mine.

There comes a time when you have ask yourself some hard questions.

What if I'm taking this all too seriously? What if, I can't see the simple answer to the question and the arguments I put up are only there to bolster my inflated self worth.

What if my constant bleating about how I have the right answer is just a lot of hot air and what I really want is just to have some attention? Look at me, I care about graffiti! I have community spirit that is way bigger than yours. What's that? You volunteer with the Salvation Army? Please, don't even think that's going to impress me. Here's some photo's of rubbish I took today...

What if...there really isn't anyone reading this? That the conversational tone I've taken in the this blog is actually just mindless drivel bouncing from my brain to the keyboard. I mean, have I made this blog to service the community or to service my ego?

Does anyone I've spoken to remember me as someone wanting to make a difference in the local community or am I that nutcase going on about graffiti again?

Am I doing this because deep down, I want these large corporations to come to me for help? Do I need their attention so much?

All valid questions and something I'll just have to take into consideration.....

Wait, I'm looking at the wrong blog...

Here's my blog... awesome, nothing wrong here. Feel sorry for that other guy. He needs some help.

Holy Crap!

So.... you can make money out of graffiti?

A ha! Potholes

That's all. 

Potholes.

Idol's on and I can't stop thinking I could do that...if I was younger. 

Songs to fight crime by

It's a lonely life this crime fighting of graffiti, rubbish, abandoned cars and errant children. 

I have decided to listen to some music while I patrol the 'Innie'. Do like the nick name I've given my filthy, graffitized little burg. Of course you do, everyone agrees with me. 

So, here I am 'downloading' some songs from the 'internet'. WOW! I've been told Limewire is the best to use. Apparently the 'internet' is full of rubbish worse than the 'Innie'. 

Mother says there's nothing better than a bit of Liberace in your head while you walk along the streets. I say she's RIGHT! 

 

I think tomorrow I'll put on the jump suit and hit the streets with Liberace thumping in my head. 

The finer things in life

I am taking time reflect on all of my good deeds in the past 48 hours. 

Have I made a difference? Well, in my eyes I have. I look around me and see happy people, peering out from their windows, holding back cheap curtains and smiling. These people see there local area in a new light. 

A little part of me wanted to think their smiles were hiding the abuse and ridicule I have had thrown at me. But no, they were smiling because I had done something that nobody else really cared about. 

So fear not Inner West of Sydney, I'll be there to patrol the streets, photographing rubbish, graffiti and abandoned cars. What you don't give a second thought to, fills my entire day and it's all I can think of. Day and Night. 

And I hate you for it.