No laptop and no net connection make Rez something, something

Wow, ok.. last post was just after being robbed. Which now seems so far away, well it would if we hadn't been robbed a mere 4 months later!!! Luckily (I say that tongue in cheek, really) I had nothing taken. The fuckers ransacked my room worse than last time but missed my ipod THANK YOU GOD!!!! I still don't have a laptop but sweet justice prevailed... the guy who robbed us the second time round was caught on an unrelated charge and confessed to several thefts in the area. He is in jail now. Good times.

To more good times from 2009... Marrakech with Andy in January after farewelling Rob for a second time when he came to stay while trying to sell his van tour van, New York and LA to be reunited with Matt and help him on his transition to London (finally!!!!!!!) - have too much to say about the US for this time and space except to say that I am definitely going back and definitely applying for a work visa, Cardiff on the May bank holiday and many awesomeness gigs - Missy Higgins (Terminal 5, NYC), Ben Lee (Free gig! Indigo, O2 Arena), Chris Cornell/White Lies/Ladyhawke at free NME gig (after 2 failed attempts, Chris finally shows up when I'm supposed to see him!), Living End (who tore Koko a new one! No bias..), Pink (how she performs acrobatics and sings at the same time I'll NEVER know) and Juliette Lewis. Amazingly, ahead I've still got Cold War Kids this evening (arh!), Faith No More and Eagles of Death Metal next month (double arh!!!) and Green Day in October following my third Reading Festival. I am going to miss all this city has to offer one day.

Add to that watching the Oxford/Cambridge boat race for the first time since arriving in London, surviving the G20 Summit which was demonstrated at about 50metres from my place of work, seeing Priscilla the stage show (brilliant), V and I celebrating our third anniversary with drinks atop the Gherkin (followed by much drinking and karaoke), finally visiting Abbey Road and doing 'the' crossing; and I'd say that it's been a damn good year so far - and I've not even hit the dreaded 25 (that's tomorrow...).

Oh and I recently moved house, I'm now residing in Wandsworth. Yes, I am a sooowfsider, innit. Was about time I rejuvenated my love of London with a change of pace and setting. Bring on summer in Clapham Common!

Cops n Robbers

So. Being burgled bites.

I always believed in karma... not sure what I did to deserve having my personal belongings rifled through then stolen, but I believe that whomever now has possesion of my laptop, phone and random coin collection (first time I ever saved gold in my collection... fuckers!!) will get theirs one day.

I hope they get completely undersold for the resale of our things.

I still feel totally violated but people keep saying it's just another thing I'll grow from. I think I've done way too much "growing" in the past 2 years.

Summers come and go

So it's 1 September and I have succumed to the fact that that was it. "Summer", as I saw glimpses of it, is leaving us. This morning there was some frost and dew on cars and the mornings are noticably darker (NOT helping in my bid to make the gym before work now instead of after). The best weather I had was abroad and for 10 sweet days the German sun beat down on us. Alas, it's all a distant memory now, but I can't complain, we have had a few good days here and about this time last year I was rounding off an amazing 6 weeks off work and Spanish living.

Since Germany I've farewelled some very good friends (sniff sniff, miss you Robyn, Rob and Amber!!), rocked out at V Festival, Filter, Gavin Rossdale and Hilltop Hoods; warmed my new house (love to the Bray), been stranded in a wind and rain englufed Newquay forcing Jack Johnson to cancel on us - but silver lining, got to spend a weekend with our Carol, Raced for Life (beat my personal best whilst raising £165 for cancer research), completed a 4 day 'First Aid at Work' course qualifying me for the next 3 years, visited London Zoo, partied at Notting Hill Carnival and took in a boat ride down the Regent's Canal.

Most devastatingly, in this time I lost all of my 2008 photos due to a very, very nasty virus that attacked my laptop. This also led to loss of 5 holiday blogs I had been working on for some time. My masterpieces, ruined!! Never mind. Am now taking photos at the opening of an envelope just to make up for it.

Not bad for 6 weeks!

September shows no signs of slowing down as I set to farewell at least 4 more people - ok, you can all stop leaving now!!! Also have to fit in our team away day.... TO PARIS, Sneaky Sound System, Millencolin and a few birthdays to boot.

Then follows travels to Dublin to celebrate with Carol on her birthday and Riga in November to go bobsleighing in the snow and many many more gigs to round out the year. More promised blogging to follow!

Rain, rain, go aw.... err FUCK OFF

So it's the middle of July (summer in the northern hemisphere) and the weather forecast is bleaker than ever. Currently it's extremely overcast and has been threatening to rain all morning. This past week we've had bursts of hot sun whereby we all go madly running into any grassy patch we can to soak up said rays only to have to turn around and sulk as soon as the clouds come back. I feel cheated and often wonder why the hell I am still here.

Speaking to friends on van tour (who are approximately between Portugal and Spain right now) only reiterates the poor choice I made of wasting my money during winter. Not being able to join them is punishment, but with news the crew will hit Croatia late August/early September I am planning on keeping a small part of my small (thank you impending recession) bonus to join in on some of the fun.

I can't be completely distressed about things.. it was only two months ago that I was on a 10 day vacation through Holland and Germany which, for the most part, was complemented by 30+ degree heat. I know we live on a small channel island but come on England, pull finger and show me some effing sun!!!


(And in other news trips to Latvia and the US have also been confirmed...)

The system works!

Yes, I have found a complaint forum in London which is effective AND pays off! Surprisingly, it comes in the form of the government's TFL website, whereby an annoyed (VERY annoyed) customer can easily fill in a form and within 2 weeks recieve a response, including a refund for their journey. I feel so placated.

***

Speaking of travel, I have begun the countdown to my first proper holiday of the year (ok, so Blackpool and Gothenburg DID count, but I consider 3 days to be more of a long weekend).

With weather forecast to be 27 and heavy showers for the next few days I had initial reservations about how we'd go camping, but am now prepared for anything just to get out of London!

Tomorrow morning we embark on a train journey to the edge of England (3 hours) where we'll board a ferry to Holland (6 hours) and upon arriving we take another train to Amsterdam (3 hours). Despite the 5am start we're (Az, Rob & Taff - 3 of the best travellers I could have asked for!) actually all pretty excited about the whole trip.

A night in Amsterdam, Pinkpop (finally getting to fulfill the dream of seeing RATM live!), 5 days of driving through German countryside hitting Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg (and ok, ok...yes we're seeing Kylie too).

Rain, hail, shine... bring it on!!

Up to date

2008 thus far (according to folders in 'UK photos 08').... Korn @ Brixton, Australia Day, Waitangi Day, 1 day in the sun (ONE!), a weekend trip to Blackpool, another weekend trip (but this time to the sunny - you can't hear the sarcasm, but it's there) Gothenburg, Sweden, a week off in the country, Kelly Clarkson @ the Apollo and a weekend of snow in London (yes, IN London).

A quiet year so far on the travel front but life dramas keep me more than busy, why would we stay otherwise?!

Househunting, packing and giving lots of junk to charity ensues and the world of Gerald Eve remains busier than ever. Bring on our roadtrip in Germany!

Sinners ARE Winners

So, I've been looking through my 'drafts' list.... Glastonbury, Rome, my school disco birthday, Spain and Portugal, Christmas.... the list goes on. Without proof I must say that the intention to complete these blogs is definitely there. They're half done in most cases!

It was a combination of reading back over what was started as my 'summer holiday' blog when Dylan and I today came up with the idea of Friday cocktails... which lead to contemplating the shooters menu (yes, this is going somewhere) which took my mind back to a little bar called Whyte's in Lagos....

It was July 15 (from what is now a distant and extremely hazy memory). Our last night in Lagos where most of our mates from London had caught us up. It was a hot afternoon. Hell. They all were. We went in search of refreshments and found a bar serving steins of cocktails. Our saviour.

Upon being served we spied a leaderboard of sorts above our heads pertaining to 'The 9 Deadly Sins Challenge'. I, not being one to back away from a competition enquired. This is what I found.

Now. Half of me thought, "Don't be ridiculous. You're taking a 2 hour train ride tomorrow to catch a plane to Madrid from a town you don't know. We promised our body we wouldn't get drunk the night before travelling after what happened in Lisbon...". The other (much more powerful half of me) thought, "Why are we even contemplating this? Get your name on the effing board!!".

As a big group of us had gathered, we'd been talking about the challenge for a good 2 hours. It was time to put up, or shut up.

As I approached the bar Brooke lent me her headband - this would prove vital to saving my hair later. Leigh on one side and Corey on the other (my trusted sidekicks all the way from Lisbon), people started chanting. This is where I started doubting every DECS drinking session I'd ever spearheaded.

I strategically lined the shots up from 'least potential to make me throw up' to 'most potential to make me throw up'. Somewhere between shots 6 and 7 one involving bourbon (satan's drink) would not go down the hatch and Coreys shoes wore a shot or two. I thought this ended the competition but I looked up and the bar chick was waving me on to finish up. The final two were down the hatch and I completed the round in 21 seconds (earning the nickname, 9 in 21). Disgusted that I let it all go heywire, my mates couldn't have been more proud (I'm sure Mum would have slapped me).

I walked away with my free t-shirt and a cocky sense that none of the alcohol had hit me. It was then we thought about starting a collection to have a second round. Luckily we did not, as the night wore on a quickly forgot I was flying the next day or even where my hostel and friends were....

(Unbelievably, this is NOT the time I got mugged. God must be watching over me).


Before

(Note the advertisement asking 'Are you brave enough?'... more like stupid enough)

After




And slightly after that



(hey, it was Hilltop Hoods baby!)

Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean...

I have never in my life been more frustrated and at the same time so proud to be Australian. This morning I was presented with two situations:

1. Visiting the Australian Consular to have forms signed so I can get my drivers licence reissued.
2. Chasing my UK replacement passport.

The Consular did not take appointments and on arrival we were part of a group of 10 or so people. We sat tight only to find our numbers being called almost instantly. We were dealt with swiftly - and in such a friendly manner! 20 minute turnaround, tops.

Back to the office, and after 2 phone calls in the past week to Passport and Identity Service I figure things should be under control. How wrong I was.

Not only does Vanessa apparently still not exist - she never received the flipping forms to identify herself, then recieves two in one week!! (funnily enough both arriving AFTER we both call the office...), I receive a letter saying I need a new countersignature. No, that won't be happening and I press on with finding out when in the hell I'll be getting my passport, which by the way, they took payment for 2 months ago...

Come to present: V has in fact sent the forms back, they have not received them YET, and I will be checking next week. If all is well, I SHOULD have a passport in 3 to 4 weeks.

Problem #2. I want to travel internationally within that 3-4 week timeframe. I take full responsibility that it's up to me to have sorted my passport out long ago. But, I figure, I have a fully acceptable and valid Australian passport... surely I can use this in the meantime?

Cue: British Immigration Office (after 13 minutes of Vivaldi..)

Me: Hi, quick question.. I'm a dual citizen and am waiting on a replacement British passport. Is there any way I can travel to Europe on my Aussie passport?

Wanker: Does it have anything in it pertaining to you being a British citizen?

Me: What, like a visa? No, because I hold both passports seperately. I have a photocopy of my UK one?

Wanker: Well, you should wait. You can try to reenter the country but it's up to the discretion of the Immigration officer that day

Me: So basically it's a lucky draw with whoever is on the desk that day? There's no yes or no answer?

Wanker. Yep. Anything else?


Errrr?!?

So. Armed with my photocopy, my payslip, my NI card and anything else proving I am eligible to live and work in the UK my very next post could be from god knows where. Here goes nothing.

That special time of year again

Due to severe lack of Australian music this year, my Hottest 100 voting is as follows...

Foo Fighters - The Pretender
Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
The Hives - Tick Tick Boom
The Hives - Well All Right!
Kings Of Leon - Black Thumbnail
Kings Of Leon - Fans
Kings Of Leon - On Call
The Living End - Rising Sun
Puscifer - Queen B
White Stripes - Icky Thump

We're thinking Powderfinger or, most likely, silverchair will take the crown... all will be revealed at our Triple J party, January 25, 11:30pm. Be there or be very square.

Happy Anniversarrrrry taaaaake twooooooo

God damn. The older I get the more I hear myself saying 'where has the time gone??'. It seems like just yesterday that V and I embarked on (not only a trip leaving behind a team full of disappointed Sydney University volleyballers haha) our first anniversary meal at a restaurant full of our most favourite meal enhancer... garlic! (but trust us, it does beer no wonders).

We downscaled this year given that in just a year we were that much busier and, for me, that much more hungover. Still wondering how the hell we ended up working in the public service - but forever grateful that's how we crossed paths - we looked forward to next year where our first trip is already half planned.... Kylie in Hamburg. Prost!!

x



Meeeeeeemorieeeees