Oz update....

Well excuse me for being a bit lax in the blog department. I've not yet bumped into the guys whom I'm renting my holiday studio off to get an access code for the wifi so I'm having to do what I can whenever I get a connection. At the moment this means walking into the town and using the library wifi which is great because it gets me out and about.

So the first few days here were pretty hot. According to the weather forecast it was only about 22 or 23 degrees but with the depleted ozone above Victoria I alluded to in my last post it felt around 10 degrees higher. I can't imagine how uncomfortable I'd feel if it hits 35 as it often does ?!? Anyway today is much cooler, plenty of cloud in the sky and a nice breeze which mean covering up a bit more but certainly nowhere near getting the gloves out.

The walk down to town from my studio is really rather pleasant. Yesterday I took the beach route which was lovely but such hard work, I never remember quite how difficult and demanding it is walking on sand, especially on a hot day.



I ended up leaving the beach and finishing the rest via the footpath and from there you have this great view across the bay and you can just about see the city skyline of Melbourne. Pretty sure my iPhone camera is not going to pick that up but I assure you it's there somewhere...



I'll get some more pictures of Mornington town later today when I've finished up here and post them up when I can. Once you see some I'm sure you'll see what I mean when I say there is a good deal of American influence.

The walk back to the studio is somewhat different in terms of elevation. I was absolutely knackered when I got back there yesterday...I was sweating like Homer Simpson in a doughnut factory !!!!

One thing I have been doing is eating well. I'm absolutely loving my little BBQ area at the studio, slightly concerned that there might be some meanies in there wanting to have me for dinner though.

I'm not entirely sure it is a BBQ to be honest, it's more like one of those gas fired hot plates that you see in burger vans. I adore it though and I want to get one at home.

A word of warning though to those who like their vices and are considering Australia as a residence or for a holiday it's very expensive for things that are bad for you. A packet of 25 B&H cigarettes is around £14 and you're looking at around £5 or £6 for a beer too. As for other things that of course I'd have no interest in at all being a good boy but I know a few readers might be eager to know these things.......I did overhear somebody suggesting $350 a pop....and that's not Colombian dollars either !!!

Sven again...

Three seems to be the magic number this year. Three times I shall potentially be seeing the wonderful German nutbag Sven Vath performing is skills upon the wheels of steel and in three different countries.

First up should be the Future Music Festival in Melbourne, Australia. This is the day after my buddies stag party so I'm playing that Sven is on pretty late so that I have time to lose the inevitable hangover. I still would prefer it was light so perhaps about 6pm would be ideal if you are reading this Sven....(I know you are)

Second up most likely be at Amnesia in Ibiza, probably around May or June. I'm undecided as to whether it'd be good to go to the closing party again this year as per 2009 or to go earlier and finish my summer as I did last year at Cocoon in the Park in Leeds. That was such a great way to finish off the summer so I'm certainly more drawn to that rota.

Last year at CITP I managed somehow to co-incide my wardrobe with the star of the show which was the cause of some amazement by fellow revellers so I'll have to do my research and try and get it matched again.

By the way, I know it's very difficult to tell but I'm the one in the second picture......We're soooo alike..








Seperated at birth wouldn't you say ?!?!? Albeit by a few years, different countries and quite obviously different parents, minor details....

One piece of news that was brought to my attention yesterday was that of a guy in the UK who has been convicted of indecent exposure. Now I would in no way encourage this kind of behaviour.............normally....however..

This guy, rather the worse for wear after a few ales walked into a McDonalds, proceeded to put his tallywacker on the counter then asked the cashier if he could "Go large on this one".

Imagine if you had to interview this guy for a job?

"I see you have a criminal conviction. Would you mind elaborating on this?"............."Indecent exposure you say and what we're the circumstances in which you found yourself doing this?".............."Pardon".........."And you said what?"..............."REALLY !!!"............"Oh my word you have nailed this job, welcome aboard."

This next new item is just funny on many levels and seeing as this blog has a kind of crazy German theme I just had to put it in. I find what the guy did quite disturbing but even more disturbing is the fact that he did it for a Mini !!! Not really saying much about his manhood, actually who am I kidding? I'd do it for a Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce - double spacing too.

Gotta love crazy tattoos. I mean I'm not a big fan of them myself and I'd never get one done unless it was something significant. For instance I knew of a guy who had a rare blood group and he had this tattooed on his wrist, very handy if in an accident or otherwise unconscious but that would be my limit.

These ones though..............brilliant for all the wrong reasons -

Actually this guy looks more like Sven....




The worst tattooed man in the world.




Look at the guys face behind him, even he can't believe it.




Judge Judy.....




Quiet clearly you mug....




toooooooodlepip xxx

Tedium of the week..

Well I don't know about you folks but the first week of 2011 has gone so slowly. At work I have had only a handful of things to do all week and I think I have quite small hands. I got excited a minute ago because it looked like I might have something to do but alas not...files got sent to Italy instead of here.

However the weekend beckons and I like many other will be looking at my bank balance thinking "Does Christmas really have to exist at all?"

But enough of the doom and gloom. I didn't decide to write this blog with the intention of bringing everybody down so lets get so positive vibes going on. What is there to be spiffingly happy about?

Obviously a 3-1 Ashes victory in the Ashes is right up there, first time in 24 years that England have triumphed on Australian soil and the manner of the victory is something to behold, all 3 victories won by an innings. Fair enough this may very well be the worst Australian test cricket team for a generation or more but take no gloss of a wonderful and consistent performance from the England team. (Notice I didn't use the term English)

I'd now like us to be tested against South Africa or India and to be honest I think we'd struggle against both but for the moment lets revel in the glory and again be proud of our country in the field of sport or on the field of sport or on teh sporting field......woteva Treva......!!

What else is there? Oh of course I have a nice brisket of beef brining away in the fridge which I shall be putting into the water bath later, it's about the size of a house brick so I'd imagine it'll just stretch between the 3 of us when it's done on Sunday. I'm not sure how that news is really going to cheer you lot up but it's doing wonders for me.

I'm hoping that today my work are going to pull their fingers out and approve the 3 weeks holiday I've applied for in March. I'd be furious if they didn't and as the time goes on I have growing concern that the plane I want to be on will be full when I get to actually book it and I really want to go on one of the Airbus A-380's!!

I have though found a rather scrumptious little place to stay when I get to Melbourne. Because I'm going to need 11 nights staying somewhere other than my buddies I thought I'd much rather have somewhere a little more cosier than a hotel so I've been looking at holiday rental homes and found this little gem.

It's in a fantastic location by all accounts but unfortunately two of the nights I need have already been reserved so if I do book here it'll be a case of checking in for 4 nights here then off to a local motel for 2 nights then back here for the remainder and I'm happy to to that if it means securing the booking. After all I'll be on my own so it's not as if it'll be too much hassle. Been in contact with the owner too and she says that I can just pay her for the full 11 nights stay and she'll sort out booking the other 2 days elsewhere for me which is less of a ballache for me.

Right that really is about all I have this morning although I did stumble across this fascinating article on the BBC website listing 100 things that we learn't in 2010. Might keep you going for a bit if you're bored today.

Toodle Pippians xx

Ashes to Ashes....

25th of November is the date of the 1st Ashes test of 2010 and I'm positively brimming with excitement. Despite our resurgent form and the lack of the same coming from the Australian team I think we have a great chance of keeping hold of that little urn.

I still wouldn't have us as favourites because in their own backyard Australia are a pretty fearsome opponent and they need no more incentive to win than simply beating the old enemy.

The Australian psyche is so much different from the English mentality. Every Australian will think that whatever competition they enter they will win. Even during the football (soccer) world cup every single Aussie thought that their team could win that cup whereas it was pretty obvious right from the start that English hopes were fading fast....I was surprised they even got out the group to be honest and I was tempted several months before the start of the competition to have a bet on England failing even worse than they did but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

With the test matches starting at 00:00 GMT it's going to mean getting nocturnal for a while and hopefully not missing too much to those inevitable naps during the breaks in play. Last time the Ashes were played down under I remember falling asleep after about 3 hours of play where hardly a thing happened. I thought I'd just had one of those quick shut eye moments but alas not because I'd missed about 2 hours and loads of action.

Good job I have plenty of holiday spare at work because I think I'll be needing it although the one bonus of sitting watching cricket through the night is that I can still work from home during that time and not miss a ball so good times all round really.