just what the doctor ordered..

after a "not so great" english summer, I finally got the sunshine and warmth I deserved!... Me, Pauline, Bek, Ray, Flick, Megs, Ben, Darren & Jimmy made our way to Lefkas to meet up with skipper Aaron and our able seacraft, a 49ft Ocean Star yacht, Fanclub IV..



8 days of fantastic sunshine, scorching heat, crystal clear cool sea and not a worry in sight!..





We sailed from Lefkas town to Nikiana, Friskardo (where we partied at the most amazing open air bar), Ag. Efimia, Sami (where we visited an underground lake), Vathi, Meganisi and back to Lefkas..





I can't really recall much happening of note.. and that's just how I like it!.. I honestly haven't been so relaxed and carefree in a long time!.. Excellent company, hilarious conversations, great food and fresh air.. just perfect!..



In usual tradition (this was the 3rd time I'd been on a Mediterranean sailing trip with Aaron) I organised a theme night which saw us all dressed as sailors and for a short time saw Aaron dressed as Cher as we attempted to remake her "if i could turn back time" music video!!.. we got a couple of shots of Aaron in fishnets, corset and wig before we let him join our sailor ranks!.. we turned a few heads when we went out for dinner that night, but were rewarded by an english family buying us a couple of bottles of wine saying "it's nice to see people having a good time"!..





ah how quickly the glow of summer fades though.. it's cold and raining outside as i fry my eyes on my radiation emitting modern day necessity...

Wales – The Largest Mammal on Earth

...well, with 58,014 people (99% of them English and looking themselves a little bit like whales) stuffed into the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales could very well have been the largest mammal on earth (well that part of it could have been for that moment in time anyway)…

Last weekend saw us partake on another exciting Larry fuelled adventure!.. On Saturday we headed to the Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta for Rich Bookless’s b’day picnic.. We had a lovely time eating, drinking, playing barefoot football - where the Aussies smashed the Poms 5-2 (I let a few dribble past me while I was refilling my wine glass – oops!) and we watched a little rowing! It was an extremely quaint village complete with matching quaint people!.. Nice to get out of London..

Then we headed on to Cardiff, getting to our campsite in the early evening.. now, when we read on the internet that the campsite was only 15 mins walk to the city, we didn’t actually believe that we would be able to walk to the city and stadium, but fair enough, the campsite was actually in the same grounds as the castle, gardens and cricket grounds, just up the road from the Millenium Stadium!.. What a find! And for only £5 each a night – What a bargain!

We spent the night on the town mingling with the locals.. greasy guys and valley girls all round (think of skirts that are actually belts and blondes that are actually brunettes).. I swear we ran into about 13 different hen’s nights that night!

Sunday we went to a pub for some welsh grub.. (I think we chose the wrong pub to eat at though – I’ve cooked better lamb shanks myself!), then a stroll through the castle gardens (where we saw a few keen anglers fly fishing in the stream – Imagine!.. fly fishing in the middle of a city!).. and then onto the Millenium Stadium to see Chelsea vs Arsenal in the Community Shield.. it was good.. Chelsea won.. (sorry I still don’t get that excited about football)..

We had a horror crawl home (since both teams and the other 58,010 supporters are from London as well) but it was indeed another successful “get-outta-London” weekend!..

Next weekend I’m off to Greece sailing the Ionian Islands for a week!..

Going south for the summer..

It's so easy to escape the city when you've got a trusty steed!.. and his trusty navigating gnome, Noah... Larry took us down to Dorset for the weekend.. we set off on Saturday night for a campsite on a farm in Wareham.. waking up to the loud mooings of cows all around us..





after a bbq breakfast of bacon and eggs (amongst some very loud mooings of protest for farmyard friends).. we set off to Lulworth Castle, and then onto another castle for a quick wander before heading to Lulworth Cove.. a pretty pebble beach village where we had fish and chips and baked in the sun..


Noah meets the locals


Noah @ Lulworth Cove

Then we trekked over the headland (amongst more cows) to Durdle Door.. a pre-historic geologic wonder.. well at least it was a rock that Blake could climb on and jump off.. we ticked another English Experience off the list by swimming in the English Channel!!.. IT WAS FREEZING!!.. luckily it was a hot day so sporadic 5 second dips were welcomed to cool off.. we spent a lovely afternoon sunning, swimming and throwing rocks and then headed back to london (via a nice old english pub for some dinner)..





Another great escape from London..

Larry, my Latest Love

It's not something I usually do, but there was a force far greater than anything I could resist.. I answered a one-line ad in the paper, it just felt so right.. We arranged to meet one hot summer afternoon.. I saw him standing there on the side of the road long before he saw me.. I fell in love at that very moment.. As I walked up to him, I thought of my previous loves.. First there was Felix who I nursed back to health after a serious illness, but had to let go when he became too dibilitated.. Then there was Harley who I loved dearly, but our relationships suffered many bumps and bruises and in the end I finished it when I moved to London.. no looking back.. I just knew that Larry would be Mr. Right!..

The introductions were a little awkward, but I was impressed with what I saw.. Full of character, and able bodied.. it was meant to be.. Some quick negotiations, and then he was mine!..

Larry is a 1989 Toyota Townace Royal Lounge.. (more commonly known as a Tarago back in Oz).. He's top of the range material with full velour trim, 6 sunroofs, Electric Curtains, Electric Windows, Power Steering, 7 seats, with 2 armchairs in the back that swivel to face either forward or backward and a small fridge / ice maker mounted in the dashboard...

Already he has taken us to Windsor, Camping in Somerset, Manchester & Glastonbury in comfort and style.. with the only casualty being the annoying little bell that sounds once you go over 110km/hr.. (we thought he could do without it)..

We have plans for another few weekends away in the English countryside, before we embark on a tour through France, Spain, Portugal and Morrocco in September.. our only wish is that we could take him to Canada with us after that..


Photos courtesy of Ray Grasso


Photos courtesy of Ray Grasso

Glastonbury 2005

AWESOME!

again, a fantastic 5 days!!.. We got there a day earlier this year and spent it lying in the sun, just taking in the vibe!..



the thunderstorm and rain on saturday was entertaining, but we were safe, high and dry overlooking the Main Stage under our £10 Argos Gazebo (the most praised item of the festival)..





Musical highlights were; White Stripes, Coldplay, The Killers, The Zutons, James Blunt, Tori Amos, Roisin Murphy (the chick from Moloko), Garbage, Van Morrison and 2 Many Dj's..

Musical lowlights were; Babyshambles and Cake (who didn't show up)..



But this year, it was so much more than the music!.. for example, where else would you find entertainment like the smallest club in the world - honours go to Bec Clayton who picked up in the smallest amount of time in the smallest club in the world!.. and where else can you camp and eat breakfast/lunch to the sounds of Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) live!!.. and where else would you be stuck in the queue to leave the festival for a massive 5 hours!!.. ah but it was worth it!..



Sadly i think this year was my last Glastonbury, but I'm just glad I got to experience it.. twice..

The house is warm..

and maybe a little scarred from our Punk Out! Housewarming Party.. What a night of absolute hilarity!..



highlights include

- Rich and Rich trying to rub off one of Blake's workmate's tattos because they thought they were too crap to be real!.. (yes, they were real)..



- Blake sprawled out on the pavement pretending to be dead so that he could have his outline sprayed in pink hairspray and hence create a whimsicle bright pink police crime scene.. (unfortunately for the police it rained a couple of days after and washed the evidence away)..

- Xavier being attacked by a pair of scissors and some radiator paint to "punk up" his stark white t-shirt..



- The hairspray, the studs and black make-up that transformed the otherwise respectable citizens into punks with attitude!!..





All in all a fantastic warming of the house.. thanks to everyone who came and made it so much fun!.. and thanks for your efforts in coming in theme!!.. top notch!..

Get ready to RUMMMBBLLE!!..

CameraPhone Too's and Fro's

Another adventurous night out the other night captured through the technological wonder that is the camera phone.. I was just browsing through my collection of afro pics (the best feature of my samsung d500) and thought it was about time to post them for public pleasure!.. here's a few samples.. click on one of the photos to go to my photo site and check out the rest!..


my fro


ray


shayan

dazzler


glen

The Serenity in Complacency

So the day before we left Sydney for Thailand, we thought that maybe we should have something planned for the trip.. we booked a return flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui and figured we'd fill in the gaps along the way.. and off we went..

We arrived in Bangkok at about midnight and found that our taxi driver couldn't take us all the way to our hotel because the roads were all closed around Koh San Road because it was Song Kran (Thai New Year).. so we trekked along the almost deserted streets which were weiredly all wet with puddles of this white clay even though it hadn't been raining.. the next day we found out why..

The Thai people celebrate their New Year with full blown aqua warfare!.. water is thrown on anyone and everyone with whatever you can get your hands on (it's supposed to be symbolic of washing away bad luck)!.. buckets, water pistols, hoses, bottles, pots and pans and we even saw a high pressure gurnie being used!.. Some sort of white clay is smeared on people's faces supposedly for good luck also.. So, needless to say, we spent our first day in Bangkok armed with super soakers and all our valuables wrapped up in numerous plastic bags, soaked to the bone and covered in clay..



Thai people come from all over to celebrate in Bangkok, and the whole city shuts down for 3 days to celebrate, and with all the traffic jams of utes carrying lots of kids with drums of water around, we didn't really get to do much sight-seeing.. just alot of running away from the crazy thai's with the big buckets!!.. I thought I could try and blend in with my asian looks, but travelling with a tall curly haired white guy just made me more of a target!!



The tuk tuk rides, while pretty fun and a cheap way to get around were the worst for being a sitting duck in a bucket storm!.. some of our drivers would intentionally slow down when approaching a roadside party and sit while kids would just pour buckets of water down our backs, or when stuck in traffic, kids would jump off utes and run up to us with buckets and clay.. it was all pretty hilarious really..



We managed to get to Wat Po temple and see a few buddahs and wander through a few markets, but it seemed that they were mostly shut or deserted in favour of the celebrations.. Oh and we managed to eat quite a few servings of Pad Thai and chicken satays from the street vendors.. the most amazing Pad Thai I've ever had for just 20 baht (30p)!!..

The next day we did a bit of shopping in the markets (again it seemed that most things were closed for the holidays), but we managed to buy a few bargains and of course the essential thai fisherman pants!..

We took a longboat on a tour of Bankok by river, where our driver took us to this weird little zoo in the middle of no where.. the condition of the animals and enclosures was really bad.. but they put on an amusing snake show and we got to have pictures holding a python and a monkey (not at the same time)..



That night we thought we'd brave Khao San Rd and got a position at a table at a bar right in the middle of the action.. crazy water fights everywhere.. it's just funny watching it all happen in front of you!..

After 2 days of mayhem in Bangkok, we were glad to be getting out of there and flew down to Koh Samui and hopped straight on a ferry to Koh Pha Ngan with no other real plans but to find a bungalow on the beach for a week.. we had heard that the northern beaches were the nicest so we got a taxi up to Ao Thong Nai Pan and were lucky enough to find just what we were looking for at Star Hut.. A bungalow on the beach with ensuite, a/c, a small deck and a hammock for the price of a serving of bangers and mash in london per night!.. we were in heaven!.. I would definately recommend this place and would definately go back again!..




The week was spent swimming in the almost-too-warm water, playing frisbee (until the tragic disappearance of the beloved world-travelling glow-in-the-dark frisbee R.I.P), sunning in the blazing sun, reading in the hammock, eating the great thai food on offer and drinking Singha...





One of the days we hired a jeep and took ourselves on a tour of the island, sat in the cool waters of Thaan Praphat waterfall, took a quick dip in the isolated Hat Yang, then around to Koh Maa a small island connected by a sandbar which had great snorkelling, then down to Hat Rin the beach where they have the full moon parties.. This place was manic, tourists everywhere, and bar after bar along the beach pounding out cheesy tunes.. so we stuck around for a quick feed and then made our way back to our quiet and serene beach!..


Sunset over Koh Maa

The next day we took the jeep for one last trip to Bottle Beach and realised why all the guide books say that this beach is only really accessible by boat!.. the dirt roads were mostly rainwashed away, and pretty steep and scary in some parts.. but we made it to the beach for a swim and declared that actually our beach (Ao Thong Nai Pan Noi) was in our opinion, the best on the island.. the trip home was almost a disaster, we managed to get the back left wheel of the car stuck in a hole such that none of the actual tyre was touching any dirt (it was a big deep hole).. luckily we aquired that in-human strength you seem to get in times of peril, and we managed to lift the car out of the hole (it was only a little suzuki).. and i let blake drive up the hill while i walked.. (i didn't like watching the little tilt-o-meter go into the red)..

With the island mostly explored, the only other time we left our beach was to go on a scuba diving trip.. since neither of us have our certificate, we were only allowed to dive 12 meters accompanied by a divemaster.. but it was still fantastic!.. our first dive was mostly full of learning and testing our basic skills, and a quick look around at some nice coral, and some amazing schools of fish.. one school just looked like a shimmering rock wall, it was so dense with fish!.. the next dive was at Sail Rock, basically a big rock with a shear face that rises up and out of the sea.. We saw an eel, lots of beautiful fish and some amazing coral and anenomes!!.. it was a great day out..



The rest of our time at our beach was spent on Thai massages and discussing our plan to go back next time and stay a few months!!..

Honkers, Tastastic Oz & Weddings Galore!

Our 2 night stopover in Hong Kong on the way to Sydney was just superb.. enough time to shake off the half-way across the world jet-lag and see the best of what the city had to offer.. highlights were the contrast of bright neon lights and high tech shops and the frail looking bamboo scaffolding (tied together with packaging ribbon) all the way up the 20+ storey
buildings!!.. the markets, and the markets, and the markets... oh and the great food!!.. it's such a crazy place..


Sculpture on Nathan Rd

We got into Sydney (after an overnight 11 hr flight) to be greeted by Blake's brother, then first stop was Blake's house, then Oporto, then to Dawn Fraser Pool to cool off from the heat, then to have dinner with his mum, then out to catch up with our mates at the pub.. i dont' know how i stayed up that long, but the excitement of being back kept me going i think..

Two nights later we were packing again and flew off to Launceston with Lisa for Jo's Hen's night.. via the Boag's brewery tour, a rasberry farm, a cheese factory, and a chocolate factory.. the hen's night was heaps of laughs, and so much fun to be hanging out with the girls again.. the next day we toured the north west coast of tassie via another cheese factory, we went to "The Nut" (a nut shaped penninsular) and Stanley for a picnic on the beach (lots of cheese involved).. then took off to check out Dismal Swamp.. a newly opened eco-attraction which has a 110metre slide down into a swamp with a maze of boardwalks and some interesting installation art!.. the slide was hilarious!.. and a bit quick and scary too!.


Blake @ the Boag's Brewery


The 110m Slide @ Dismal Swamp

Jo and Paul's wedding the next day was beautiful.. and yes i cried.. the lunch reception was lovlely and included everything it should've, eating, drinking, dancing and merriment.. it was all over too quickly though and the happy couple cruised off to their wedding night nest..





so the intrepid Innisfail girls and partners grabbed a carton of beer and headed down to the beach in Burnie and had a bit of a beach party until the sun set (in full formal wedding attire)!!..


My Advertising feature for St George beer..

The next day after a lunch catch up with the happy couple at their house (and some damn good backyard cricket in the scorching sun) lisa, rob, blake and i set off for cradle mountain, where we went for a amazingly beautiful walk around Dove Lake as the sun set, we spotted a wombat and a Wallaby on the way, then to the Cradle mountain lodge for dinner where we were lucky enough to see a Tasmanian Devil lurking around in the bushes!!..


Cradle Mountain

Then onto Hobart where we struck a bargain.. $60 each for a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment at the Salamanca Inn (I definately recommend it!).. The master bedroom was about the size of my first flat in London!.. the apartment had a HUGE kitchen, lounge, dining and a lovley balcony where we downed some beers and fresh seafood as the sun set.. about 2mins walk away was the salamanca strip of cafe's and bars (and the markets on a saturday)..

Next day was the Cadbury factory tour!!.. yum!!.. chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! then onto have a look at the Cascade brewery and to the best surf n turf I've ever had at the Cascade Hotel.. yum!.. Then a scenic ferry tour around the Harbour with some afternoon tea, then to laze in the sun by a whisky bar/distillery drinking a beer and playing car cricket until it was time to catch our flight back to Sydney..


Overall, Tasmania is just indulgence!!.. so much good cheese, beer, rasberries, seafood, chocolate and so little people to consume it!.. I'm glad we did this state a service by helping them out!!.. he he he..

A few more catch up's in Sydney and we decided to make everyone come see us and also revisit the Balmain pubs that Blake grew up in and i grew to love with a Balmain pub crawl on the Thursday before easter.. Paige flew in that morning, then after lunch at the Lord Nelson, some quick shopping then we made it to The Commercial, The London, The Royal Oak, The Unity (with some hilarious karaoke action upstairs at The Attic - Blake and Chris did a wonderful rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart), Dicks, Town Hall, The Cat & Fiddle (where we were reunited with some old workmates), The Red Lion, The Bridge and the dodgy kebab shop!.. A fantastic night catching up with everyone!




Total Eclipse of the Heart

Good friday, Paige, Gaby, Daniel (Shaggy), Blake and I set off to Blake's holiday house on the Colo River.. a lovely house with a big deck in the middle of the bush next to the river with a sandy beach, loads of bell-birds, a goanna, and an outdoor wood-fire bbq... ah the serenity!
Pete came up that night and after a few rounds of four kings everyone was pretty jolly.. i recall an incident involving Gaby, a 1.5m drop and the bonnet of a car that left her with some pains in the morning.. and i haven't even included the funny bit (what she was doing when she fell).. you'll have to ask her about that!...



The next few days were a slow blur of eating, relaxing in the sun, swimming and playing beach games.. oh and perhaps a bit of drinking.. on sunday two car loads of blake's soccer mates turned up, so there was all those activites x12.. much fun, and we didn't want to leave on easter monday to return to the city, but alas some of us had to work (not me!)


That week, my dad, mum, and sis arrived to help prepare for my bro's wedding.. was great to catch up with them.. the wedding was magnificent, really relaxed garden wedding and reception/party around the pool into the wee hours.. can't beleive my brother is finally married.. not that it really changes anything, him and janina have been together for about 9 years!!..





as quickly as they came, my family left again.. short but sweet, but good..

the remaining time in sydney was full of more catch ups ending in a party for Pete (who's moving to melbourne shortly) on friday night and a party for Macca and Shaggy's housewarming, Chris's birthday, and blake and my farewell on saturday night.. a roast with blake's mum and bro last, and the final farewells to our mates..