On the way into the office which was located in the CBD, I spotted an old bold overweight man wearing dodgy clothes carrying a David Jones shopping bag. The pattern stood out to me as I had recently had a previous encounter with a woman wearing a top with that pattern. Furthermore, the man definitely did not look like he was in the stores demographic.

After noticing this oddity, I became hypervigilant looking at every person and billboard for signs. When I parked at work, I parked in front of a rolling billboard. The advertisements were for a bank, something else with a flower, and then a cologne/watch or something with a male model wearing a suit.

I was going to go to work and thought if I am going to be the recipient of $15 million I should learn how to invest responsibly. I took the flower to be a reminder to enjoy myself and the suit as a reminder that I should dress the part.

At this point, I sat in my car for about five minutes and surveyed the scenes trying to relax and “smell the roses”.

Within view was a topless bar, that cut hair. Two unremarkable men came out, looked around and then walked off. At that point I decided to treat myself. I went in for a beer, a haircut and and an eyeful. However, when I got in, the hairdressers were on break. Annoyed, I settled for a beer and watched some rugby on the big screen. This was short-lived, however as on the rugby a man injured his knee. They kept playing replays (combined with “a discover behind the scenes” tourism Tasmania advertisement). Emotionally disturbed from watching an injury I had a two-time personal experience with over and over, and somewhat inspired by the advertisement, I turned to the few other patrons at the bar prior to re-enquiring about the hair cut. There was one group of lads (about four) that were shouting a homeless man a drink. With strong desires to help the homeless when I was younger and in an emotionally weak state, I nearly cried at this, but I stayed strong. Wearing an Australian Wallabies Jersey I started speaking to the homeless man, he asked if I played for the world. I left and said “nah, just Australia”. But I took this as a direct comment to my international relation papers which took on quite a cosmopolitan view.

I then enquired about the haircut and was told to wait. I finished my beer and went elsewhere. My first stop was the Myer centre where I stopped by several hairdressers/barbers all of which were unavailable all I felt in a ploy to deliberately allow for further observation/annoyance of myself.

Outside the last hair salon in the centre I noticed a large 300# pacific islander observing me while on his phone. I considered instigating a confrontation with him, however the public place and the sheer size of the gentleman led me to consider otherwise.

At this point, I realised it was about midday and while I had not eaten, nor was I hungry, I figured fuel was needed as well as relocation. I bought a salad and seeking to “smell the flowers” and relax for a bit, I sought out an engaging conversation from some eligible young females. The food court didn’t look too appealing, so I left to see what was happening in downtown Brisbane.

As I was going up the escalators I started speaking to the two attractive ladies behind me. I noticed an American accent and asked them whereabouts in the states they were from? They said “Guess?” a line I always used when travelling. Disgusted by what I considered to be a personal invasion of my pick up material, I stormed up the escalators and left the women behind.

Now, quite furious at this perceived meddling in my personal affairs, I was walking down the street eyeballing everyone, thinking every so often that I was spotting an “observer”. I decided that going to the botanical gardens was a good place to smell the flowers and find women. As I was eyeballing everyone, I noticed an Asian woman wearing sunglasses in a restaurant perceivably staring straight at me without breaking contact. I stopped in my tracks, her glare still fixed. I took it on board, if I was going to be eyeballing everyone I should be wearing sunnies to shield my eyes.

I looked around and saw a pharmacist coming up. As I was walking past Time Zone, I saw the same two gentlemen that left the topless bar at the beginning of my escapades. I asked them what they were doing and let them know that I saw them at the bar. They responded in an American accent it was the best place in town to get a haircut.

I said fair enough and continued on my way. Continuing to eyeball everyone but somewhat happy that I spotted what perceived to be a slip up in my surveillance. I continued on my way to the pharmacist. At this point, the two men from the bar approached me and asked me how I was going. I told them I was looking for sunglasses disinterested in them at this stage I started walking briskly to which they followed.

They asked me what a man was doing walking around in shorts and a jersey, with a salad in hand in Brisbane City in the middle of winter. I explained I was going to eat lunch at the gardens and was looking for women. The bigger fella asking the questions said: “ahh so you’re sarging.” Initially, I was angered at such a suggestion and was going to react with “I have no idea what you are talking about” (to me it was about smelling the flowers, not “sarging”). However, I knew what the term meant, knew that they knew I knew and the term did fit. So I said, “I guess so”. They asked if I was having a good time, I responded that “I now was” as the apparent actual breakdown of the observation into the conversation. I felt as respectful and flattering. At this point we were at an intersection, they informed me what pub they were going to after I asked, and we parted ways.

Forgetting about the sunglasses I reached the garden, I was disappointed that there was not a young woman in sight. At a nearby table, there was a young man however sitting by himself. I approached him and asked if I could sit with him. He was friendly enough. His name was Michael, after Michael Jordan, he was a student from South Korea and claimed that he didn’t have many friends. I asked him what his original name was and he didn’t understand. Not appreciative of the fact that coincidentally this man and I shared the same first name, I was weary and unaccommodating. He offered me his home-made tea. I declined. He asked why not as he took a sip, “I have trust issues” I responded.

After lunch, I headed back into the City and resolved to head back to work and get a few tasks done. On the way back however. the pedestrian crossings were not working. This occurred as I arrived at the lights and continued for a couple of cycles as the crowd of pedestrians built around me. A few pedestrians got fed up with the wait and crossed when green would normally appear. After a few cycles, I crossed amused by the perceived game. This occurred at the next light too, however, I was jaywalking at will now. While I can’t be certain, looking behind me the lights seemed to clear themselves.

Hitting another red and taking it as a sign, plus I was starting to get somewhat annoyed again, I shifted gears and turned right, hypervigilant once again. I did this with the intention of shaking any tails and searching for a hairdresser/barber. I found one with a wait, agitated I sat down as I could clearly see staff and chairs available.

I sat down and as soon as I started to relax a position becomes available. The woman explained to me that my wait was due to her having to deal with a plumber. She was complaining about the cost for a plumber, as a wastewater engineer I thought to myself ‘wait until your without water or have shit everywhere, then you would know their value’.

The rest of the haircut went without incident, with the exception that at some point everyone in the salon was looking out the window and not moving or saying anything. I felt like I was being conditioned and I refused to look out the window. However, eventually, I got fed up and looked out the storefront window.

I did not see anything and the moment I looked everyone returned to their tasks (there was no mention of anything happening outside). Happy with my haircut I returned to my car, it was now somewhat late (‘fourish and I had a mates engagement party that evening).

That night I attended the party and perceived it as a night of “discovery” where information would be gathered and I would speak with old high school mates with a new perspective. I wasn’t drinking that night and left somewhat early as I perceived I had gained all the info/intel there was to gain.

Maybe I went home and spent time with my brother, however, I probably went straight back to work. I remember trying to get my finances in order (buy some shares) but I couldn’t remember my password and was literally about twelve hours off my wit’s end (in terms of being admitted anyway). I resorted to writing an email to people I presumed were “in the loop”.

Outlook was giving me grief though, not letting me auto-recall email addresses as it normally would, this made me even more angry and persistent, until eventually something in Outlook clicked and I had access to all the email addresses I required. At this point I broke emotionally, I saw it as an acknowledgement and a granting of some autonomy, by the powers that be.

I threw myself on the floor of the empty office at 3 AM and sobbed big deep healing tears.

After I recovered myself I decided I was not done yet, deleted my email and started heading for home and bed.