Keepingitartificial

The buffet trolley is stuck

2010-09-09T15:53:00.001Z

Finding it amusing that the Salisbury train to Cardiff is as packed as the train I used to take when commuting into London!

Cashback sites

2010-05-07T09:54:00.003Z

I've been using this site for about 2 years now and have got around £576 in cashback from them.
Not bad - it's mainly been on car / home insurance and mobile phone contracts, but definitely some good deals here! 25% cashback on Skype credit has been pretty handy too!

http://www.quidco.com/fifth-birthday?uhmm

How much? My head Hertz.

2010-04-02T15:25:00.000Z

Picked up a hire car from Belfast International and was scratching my head about estimated rental cost.
It took meticulous inspection of the invoice to find that apparently £100 of it relates to bringing car back with an empty tank, having not paid for a full tank.
So, I guess I'd better not forget to fill 'er up before dropping the car back at the airport.

KiA 2010

2010-03-25T18:11:00.005Z

A taster video from Les 2 Alpes.
The main omission is footage from the Coupe de Yop and anything of interest from Ian's video.
I've not included the audio soundtrack for this, but for the full effect, try playing Have a Nice Day (Bon Jovi) in the background.

Pancake day photo

2010-02-24T15:11:00.000Z

time to move...

2010-02-24T14:52:00.005Z

Given that I'm paying money for a website hosting service, I've finally uploaded some blogging software onto that website and will probably be moving away from blogger.
With the new website, I can add additional people as guest bloggers, add all kinds of customizable and pointless widgets and potentially, only cede copyright, data protection and privacy rights to my web hosting company rather than to Google and the whole of the interweb. :-)

Pancake pizzas

2010-02-16T17:26:00.002Z

Pancakes served with tomato sauce, bacon and melted cheese. Mmmmm.
just a bit different from chocolate pizzas...

Somewhere near bridgend...

2009-12-27T22:12:00.002Z

There's at least one robin in Wales which has no fear.
Hence probably the best wildlife shot I've ever taken so far...

For-Ethiopia

2009-10-21T21:33:00.003Z

A fund raising event for For-Ethiopia went ahead on Saturday and was a great success, combining Ethiopian food, information about the charity, 'Irish Bingo' and a charity auction. Also had the inaugural speech from the charity patron, Dr Alice Roberts who is sometimes seen on BBC TV.

I was somehow roped into giving a 5 minute presentation about what the charity is doing during the evening too. In actual fact, it took about 9 minutes... :-)

At the end of the day, the event raised nearly £4000. Partly helped by some great auction items - including a week's holiday in a holiday cottage just inside Dartmoor National Park, sleeping 8 people (to be taken anytime except July & August). And all the proceeds from the auction go directly to For-Ethiopia projects. There are some generous people out there. Even in a recession!

Bristol Half Marathon

2009-09-15T20:38:00.001Z

Me at 9 miles...

Bristol Half Marathon

2009-09-06T21:29:00.006Z

It's done! The training paid off and I did a Personal Best (PB) for a half marathon - 1hr 37mins and 9 secs.
Just for fun, I quickly did a spreadsheet to calculate my split times and so graphically, you can see how I did. Generally a poor start and slowed up at the finish (mainly because that's where the course went uphill and downhill and also where the cobbled sections started...

It's amazing how you can quickly make a blog boring by the addition of graphs!
OK, for some amusement here's some video footage of the morris dancers who morris danced 13.1 miles!

Training run

2009-08-02T21:39:00.003Z

Went running today... Apparently there's an iPhone app which uses the phone GPS to track your movements. Just waiting for the iPhone app which actually burns the calories for you.
I plotted my route today manually. 2 laps of the Downs in Bristol is apparently about 9 miles.
I got passed by someone while running, but then tweaked my running style and passed him again. I think I run a better when I've got some competition...

08/02/2009 2 Laps of the Downs
Find more Runs in Bristol, United Kingdom

Running (again)

2009-07-28T21:47:00.006Z

Well, I'm running in the Bristol Half Marathon on 6th September.

Been training fairly solidly for the past couple of months.

Raising money for a charity that I'm a trustee of: For-Ethiopia

GROPOs

2009-07-20T21:36:00.005Z

I've been doing a lot of GROund POunding these past few weeks as I train for the Bristol Half Marathon. I'm up to around 6-7 miles now and running a rather circuitous route home.

My flagging motivation levels were boosted this week by the arrival of a fresh pair of trainers and free socks. Apparently these socks are part of an 'Integrated Shoe and Sock System', with a Y-Heel construction to provide superior fit and 2x2 mesh ventilation provides added ventilation. Apart from the issue of using 'ventilation' in a sentence twice, I'm not sure whether I've got socks or the latest Sports Utility Vehicle. Well, if it doesn't make me run faster by 10% I'll demand my money back. Oh, wait a sec, they were free. Darn...

In between running, went to see Ice Age 3. I know a lot of people panned Simon Pegg's character, but me and the missus loved it. Not entirely sure what substances he'd been ingesting the night before doing the voice overs, but we thought it was worth watching just to see what would happen if you made a cartoon version of Jack Sparrow and crossed it with a raving rabbid and plonked right in the middle of Jurassic Park. We went to see it in 3-D too, which was the first time I'd donned 3D glasses in the cinema since going to see 'Starchaser, The Legend of Orion' when I was about 10. I found it particularly ironic given the Simon Pegg character has no depth perception. Yet can still pilot a But the music for the chase sequence was quite reminiscent of Star Wars...

It was our wedding anniversary last weekend. Feels kinda like it was only yesterday, yet at the same time feels a long time ago because of everything that's happened in-between. We even got cards. Which makes me feel bad, because I never remember to send out anniversary cards. It's bad enough trying to keep track of birthdays.

Anyway, as the photo shows, flowers were purchased, I remembered to buy an anniversary card AND remember to give it to the missus on the day. We then went off for a photo shoot (which we'd won a £99 discount off by filling in a form at their stand in Cabot Circus shopping centre). That was a laugh and a year on, Ally found herself having her hair done and wearing makeup. Unlike last year though, I got some makeup to cover my shiny nose and even out my skin tone. Well, we'll see if it was worth it when we get the pictures in 6-8 weeks time...

Avebury Henge

2009-06-27T17:51:00.000Z

I've worked out how to post blogs from my phone now. So here's a picture from the stone circle at Avebury where we've also been today! Gutted the Lions lost though. Was a good first half.

2020 Cricket

2009-06-27T13:45:00.000Z

Had an enjoyable if somewhat deafening experience at the cricket 2 wks ago, followed by another wknd in London last week! Currently watching the Lions in a pub in Devizes...

Ordering Pictures

2009-04-08T21:25:00.007Z

550 pictures came in the post yesterday. We're going to do a scrapbook which will include snaps such as:And, imagine a weird parallel universe where everyone forgot to dress up for the wedding...

Sheffield

2009-03-03T21:24:00.004Z

Visited mattandjules in Sheffield over the weekend.
Alongside seeing some of the sights of Sheffield, I got to see my wife play pool for the first time. I also got my best ever score in ten-pin bowling of over 150. It's a shame that the actual ten-pin bowling place was booked until 11pm (!) so we ended up playing on the Wii instead.

Statistics

2009-02-20T20:53:00.004Z

I was rubbish at statistics at school. Ironic that my job involves trying to remember my A-Level statistics at the moment.

I'm actually trying to backup my blog. Just in case Google decide they want to make some money out of this service at start charging bloggers for their entries. Plus, sometimes you just can't beat having something to read where you don't have to turn a computer on to access.

So, in copying all my blogs to a word document, I've found that I've written approximately 13,000 words over the past 3 years. I'm sure that nearly amounts to a PhD thesis. But instead, I've wasted all that time writing a blog of inane ramblings.

I guess I've got to smile!

Is this my book? You know what they say, "everyone's got a book inside them". Now, I didn't say it would be a particularly good book!

Valentines Day

2009-02-14T21:19:00.004Z

Was spent signing up to do the Bristol 10km, watching about half of a womens' hockey match, followed by a trip to Costa Coffee. Then off to Marks and Spencer to do the shopping.
It was then rounded off with burgers for dinner.

Best Valentines Day ever! ;-)

The 1st Valentines Day I've spent with my wife. I did at least cook the burgers (homemade too).

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

2009-01-26T22:40:00.002Z

The Wii and Wii Fit arrived...
I can do over 300m on the ski jump. However my wife's got the quickest time on the slalom skiing. Which is quite ironic I suppose given that she's never skiied in her life whilst I once did 15 black runs in a day in Breckenridge...
Ok, admittedly, I probably couldn't do that again... ever...

For-Ethiopia

2009-01-18T21:20:00.006Z

Celebrated the first Christmas of 2009 (Ethiopian Christmas is on the 7th January) as For-Ethiopia held a Christmas Party for al its supporters to update them on what the charity had done this year.

Didn't get home until 12:30am, since we had to clear up to leave the church hall fit for use the next day! But a lot of people came and were interested in what the charity had done, a lot of money was raised and the effort was well worth it.

The world's best dessert ever

2009-01-12T22:58:00.002Z

It's made by my wife. It involves marshmallows!

It also looks pretty disgusting when it's scooped into bowls and handed out to people. Need to develop the individual ramekin option...

This one was made in Malaysia. We found marshmallows but they were pretty expensive!

Renamed and rebooted

2009-01-11T18:37:00.001Z

Part of the reason I failed with keeping up with at least one blog a month was that it was increasingly difficult to find the time to think of 3 things to say in an vaguely intelligible form.

So, now that I'm 30, I guess I'll try a more mature, sensible, less sensationalist approach to blogging.

Without the pressure of having to split my thoughts into 3 discrete chunks, I might actually feel like blogging more.

So, here's to the blogs of 2009!

My lovely wife organised a cracking surprise birthday party for me this saturday just gone and it was great to see lots of people. A number of top comedy presents were given, but the Extreme Ironing calendar for 2009 was one of the standout presents!

Missing months

2008-10-10T18:09:00.004Z

Ooops. I've now managed to miss two months worth of blog posts.
I missed July, but that was a fairly hectic month with wedding and honeymoon. But also managed to miss September too.

Looks like I'm getting too busy to blog.

Well, 3 places I've been or am going to this month:

1. Sunningdale Park
2. Ascot (near Suningdale Park)
3. Um, Bristol...

Sounds quite boring really... Except for the vaguely interesting fact that I ended up in the interview room of Ascot police station!

random wedding pictures

2008-08-28T20:27:00.003Z

A flavour of the wedding. But only a teaser. We're saving the best shots for the wedding album...

Post-Marriage

2008-08-23T09:17:00.003Z

For the first time since starting this blog, I didn't manage to make a least one post a month. Admittedly, I did get married in July and so blogging (thankfully) wasn't my main priority.

So, that's one of my 3 recent regrets.

The second: not barring my best man access to this blog and thus denying him any embarassing material he could use in his speech against me (though in retrospect, I think he was pretty kind and if I'd denied him access to this blog for 'embarassing-lite' material, he might have had to bring out the big guns).

And finally, failing to cater for one half of mattandjules dessert requests. Thank goodness for understanding staff at the Templeton! They did say 'there's always one'! Well, thanks for being that 'one'.

Notice that in absolutely no way am I regretting anything else I did in July. Married and loving it. Even Geraldine hasn't received much attention since getting back from honeymoon...

Sigh, in-jokes about in this post...

Stag do!

2008-06-22T20:15:00.005Z

Picture taken by Gazman. Being the stag, I was in no position to take any pictures. Though I suppose in retrospect I did have a very fetching Indy manbag to carry a camera in...

I can think of 3 awards I'd like to award from my view of the stag-do:

1. Most competent - dandcmi for his amazingly frantic paddling style which despite being about 20m behind an opposing player in the canoe water polo, still got to the ball ahead of that player. Was definitely the red team's most valuable player and contributor to the 5-2 (was 4-0 at one stage) thrashing of the blue team.

2. Most violent - the testorone pumped male half of the entity known as mattandjules. Best demonstrated when dandcmi had the ball and he leaped kamikaze from his canoe onto dandcmi's canoe and capsized him in order to retrieve the ball. Strangely enough no foul was given, which leads me to suspect that canoe water polo was just invented on the spot by the Bray canoeing instructors.

3. Most Disorganised - Desborg for managing to turn up at the wrong Go-Ape 30 miles to the North. Could also win the award for Most Speedy due to the fact that he managed to catch up with the main stag party group before we started on Go-Ape proper and showed us how to do backwards head-plants on the zip wires.

Cabin & Cabinette's wedding - Part 1

2008-05-28T17:54:00.007Z

Why have a first dance when you can have a first 'dodge'. This definitely goes into the top 3 weddings I've been to. Top marks to Cabin and Cabinette for the dodgems.
Beautiful weather, lovely location (Penrith / Long Marton, Lake District) and insane people as per the videos and pictures...

1. Here we have the groom getting 'ready to rumble'

Until his mother-in-law jumps into the passenger seat...

2. Some 'dodgem rage' from Pie here. Admittedly he was being provoked by the Beast..

3. And finally my favourite video, showcasing the driving talents of mattandjules...

Yeah, I know, you probably had to be there, but watching no. 3 cheers me up no end!

Pictures from Belfast

2008-05-19T21:36:00.005Z

3 pictures from my last visit to Belfast at the start of May:

1. Me canoeing - I'm meant to be steering here, but I'm doing a pretty bad job of it... Note the attractive riverbank foliage and, um shopping trolley...

2. And a shot of the other occupants of the canoe...
3. This wasn't taken in the canoe, but in Hazlebank Park. Do you think we're warned to keep out because of the dangerous wildlife?

1. If I had a £ for every bluebell in this picture

2008-05-07T19:59:00.006Z

...But alas, it's illegal to pick bluebells and sell them under the Wildlife & CountrysideAct 1981.
Gosh. What would we do without bluebells? At least I can now include "The Wildlife & Countryside Act" amongst the various labels attached to my blogs.

2. Continuing to tick off things done for the wedding. All the bookings for the honeymoon have now been completed. In the 2 weeks immediately following the wedding, we'll have stayed in 3 hotels, a B&B and a holiday cottage.

3. The question is what music to play for the evening do? Tunes befitting the lifting of 'goblets of rock' may well be required. For comedy value, I wonder if there are any tunes than lend themselves to lifting 'Goblets of Fraggle Rock'. Apparently if you watch it now, it's not as good as you remembered it!

Lots of stuff going on

2008-04-10T22:51:00.008Z

So just a token blog to keep my 'one a month' record up.

1. Since 1st March, I have been to Belfast several times,
organised a James Bond themed stag do which involved rollerskiing around Hyde Park, travelling on a fast boat up and down the Thames, pretending to be a bad guy chasing Bond (admittedly this was done on bumper cars), shooting at things and driving a ferrari (sadly only virtually at the arcades) and finishing off with dinner and martinis at the bar where Ian Fleming would spend a lot of time (I imagine drinking martinis, but you never know, it might have been cosmos)
1a. been best man at a wedding (related to stag do in point 1)
2. been to Sheffield (for Matt's b'day)
3. I've also picked up wedding rings for my wedding.

3 ways of wasting time

2008-03-01T21:40:00.006Z

1. A guilty pleasure for me at the moment is watching Reaper on E4. It's got an easy-going slacker charm to it, even though it's about the devil's bounty hunter. It does give some food for thought about how the devil goes about his business though!

2. I had pretty much given up playing computer games for a couple of years, but I'm getting addicted to Jedi Academy and working my way through the levels. I've just got to the stage where I can use two lightsabers (or the dual bladed Darth Maul lightsaber) which is pretty cool. That said, I've found out that you can take down the dark Jedi by crouching down all the time and swinging merrily away with the lightsaber. Possibly a flaw in the game, but then again, maybe it explains how Yoda lived to be 900!

3. blogging random thoughts... Still, at least I've got a post relating to Star Wars on my blog. I wonder if I should put a lightsaber on the gift list for the wedding...

3 Things I'm looking forward to in the next 12 months

2008-02-10T23:55:00.001Z

Well, Shrove Tuesday has passed us by which means we're now into Lent where a lot of Christians decide to give something up for Lent. I guess I'll be giving up pancakes. I don't know if I can wait 40 days before having another pancake... Especially having found out that my frying pan is particularly good at making pancakes. I can flip pancakes almost perfectly with this beauty!

So, what am I looking forward to in the next 12 months? well:

1. I have to say getting married to my fiance obviously. If I don't, then there probably won't be a wedding in the next 12 months.

2. The new Indiana Jones movie on May 22nd (YAY!)

3. Um... Using my frying pan to make pancakes in approximately a year's time??? Maybe I should probably say doing my Best Man bit and organising a stag do in March...

Easyjet, Ryanair, getting money back

2008-01-31T15:56:00.000Z

1. I'm sure everyone else is smarter than me about this, but I never realised until recently that even if you miss your flight, you can still claim back the airport tax from your flight.

Since these days at least 2/3rd of the cost of a flight is airport taxes, Easyjet and Ryanair must be making a fortune out of people who didn't make their flight but then didn't bother to claim the airport tax back. Since the tax should only be paid if we actually use the airport, it makes sense that we should be able to claim back the airport tax if we ask nicely.

2. That said, you have to call Easyjet's customer service line at 10p a minute and the first minute consists of listening to how you should call the premium rate 09 numbers if you
a) need phone support to talk you through how to make a booking through the website
b) have lost your baggage on the way to Alicante
c) just feel like spending money.
But on balance, I got to talk to a real person (and it sounded like the call centre was based in the UK) within about 5 minutes and got a refund of airport tax back within 2 mins. I have to say, I was pretty happy with that! I note that even searching the Easyjet website with the words "airport tax" results in zero returns on how to claim airport tax back off Easyjet.

3. Ryanair was a different matter. I spent 10mins on hold on a 10p per minute line and gave up as it didn't sound like I'd get an answer for at least an hour. So on balance, given my flight only cost £10 return, even if I did get an airport tax refund, I would probably have spent the equivalent amount in phone bills just waiting on hold. I suspect the best way of trying to get hold of someone to speak to is to call as soon as the line opens, so that you're more likely to be closer to the front of the queue... Bizarrely enough, at least 50% of the hold music seemed to be Christian contemporary worship music including such classics as "I could sing of your love forever", "I'm coming back to the heart of worship" and a rather upbeat gospel choir classic. First time I've ever heard Christian music being used as hold music - though I suspect if I had reason to be put on hold by Christian organisations, I'd probably hear that more often...

Post-Christmas Shopping

2008-01-02T14:54:00.000Z

Although I'm not back at work until Monday, Christmas 2007 already seems to be receding into the distance. The tree and decorations have been packed away and the 22lb turkey cooked for Christmas (not by me I hasten to add) has mostly been eaten with a little bit stored in the freezer. It makes a change to the 22lb of sausages, prawns and beef steak which was consumed last year in Melbourne.

Christmas time involved catching the Christmas cold, watching the nativity, singing carols, eating my own bodyweight in turkey and chocolates, watching lots of tv and playing some of the games we got over Christmas. We also learnt about the true meaning of Christmas. Which isn't, as the shops might have you believe, about running up a credit card bill equivlent to the GDP of a small Eastern European nation.

1. I enjoyed (?) my first sales shopping trip with my fiancé over Christmas.

Why does everyone look so miserable when they're shopping? Out of every 50 people, I'm sure only 1 person has a genuine smile on their face. Faced with that level of gloom and grumpiness, it's no wonder most of the shop assistants and cashiers look so depressed. We tried smiling at them which sometimes got a smile back, but probably just gave them the impression that we'd spent too long sniffing the scented candles in the homewares section.

It was kinda fun watching the behaviours exhibited in the shoppers while waiting for the fiancé to browse through evening dresses for the 2008 weddings. The shop was filled with sounds of hangers click-clacking as dozens upon dozens of women sorted through the rails of clothes searching for their size. There were handfuls of men spread out across the shop. Some were trying to stand in a spot out of the way of the main thoroughfares, others were forlornley shuffling behind their partners carrying several bags in each hand. There was the middle aged man standing next to his wife, who was also flicking through the clothes rails and would occasionally extract a dress or pair of trousers, examining it for a second or two, before placing it back on the rail. Whether he was thinking about outfits that his wife could wear or whether they were for him, I wouldn't wish to enquire. Having originally adopted the 'find a spot somewhere in the store' approach, I decided to wait outside, along with a number of the 'dads with small children' and the 'I've spent 30 minutes in HMV, but she's still inside monsoon' brigade. If I were designing a shopping mall, I would have a minimum of one table football and one pool table outside every womens' clothing shop. Either that or every clothes shop must be pared with a bookstore, electrical appliances and gadgets shop or music store, before a plot is leased out. Failing that, maybe every store should have a minimum of 2 large televisions showing Top Gear or episodes of Blackadder. :-)

2. Out of all the shops where men and women can peacefully co-exist, places like Zaavi and HMV probably rank as one of the highest. So, we decided that Zaavi would be a convenient meeting place in the shopping mall. My future brother-in-law remarked that they seemed to have actually increased the price of all console games and accessories - presumably on the basis that everyone got a WII or Xbox 360 for Christmas and are now out to buy extra controllers or games with the money they got from their granny after telling the little old dears that they didn't need more deodorant for Christmas and money would do just fine. We very nearly bought an extra 'nunchuk' controller for the WII so that we could do the 2 player boxing game, but given how sore our arms were from 'playing tennis' and doing the shooting games, we decided we should probably wait until we'd extracted all possible enjoyment out of the other games that had been receive for Christmas. Besides I'd already managed to blow two lights and almost demolish the living room light fitting after getting a little too enthusiastic with my topspin backhands on the WII tennis game the previous evening. It's a wonder that the cricket game played at New Year didn't result in more damage to Nud's living room! Though actually, I think they were hoping for a bat through the TV screen, so that they could replace it with a brand new widescreen LCD telly. You can just see their insurance claim now "The TV was damaged as a result of playing cricket in front of it". "Ah, well, of course, why didn't you say so. That kind of thing happens all the time. It's not like you were doing anything crazy like playing tennis in front of it..." It's no surprise that the WII remotes come with wrist straps, just in case you lose your grip...

But I still enjoy the non-electronic games too. The Fiancé got a Dread Pirate boardgame, which was fun to play with the 2 of us, but should be great if we can get 4 people together. And yes she is into pirates and boardgames, he says, like it is an obvious combination; "I wish to parlay with Blackbeard the pirate." "Can you wait 20 minutes?" "Why?" "Well, he's just finishing off a game of Monopoly with Norman the cabin boy, Bob the deckswabber and Captain Hook. Once he buys the Gas Works, I'm sure he'll be up for taking a break to do some raiding and pillaging of the local ports."

In return, I got Uno Stakko, a game which comes perilously close to infringing copyright on another well known game. I think the shout of 'uno' comes in when you use 2 hands to remove a brick from the tower. As if Jenga wasn't hard enough eh?

Thinking of 3 points

2007-12-20T16:46:00.000Z

Maybe I should change the name of the blog. Everytime I want to put something on here, I have to think of 3 things... Still, I think I've managed to blog at least once a month for a year! That must be a record.

Well, we've had at least 3 engagement parties:

1. In Bristol - I've got a picture somewhere...

2. In Belfast (might actually be 2 if you count the one involving Pirates Adventure Golf followed by watching Sky High and Shrek the Halls on a friend's widescreen, Hi Def projector):
3. In London

Top 3 things glad we've got out of the way

2007-11-30T20:10:00.001Z

1. Wedding venue and date set - thank goodness. Shame it's on a Thursday! But we're not prepared to wait 2 years to get married on a weekend!

2. The wedding dress is picked. So no need to worry about the bride to be getting stressed because she can't find the perfect dress. In fact, she had it picked before we picked the wedding venue. I secretly suspect that she picked the wedding venue to match the dress...

3. The ring has been placed on her finger. And the money has been sucked out of my account. Now all I need to do is start saving for the wedding...

:-)

I'm loving it really!

Looking at venues

2007-11-13T20:35:00.000Z

As we battle the tide of questions asking "have you set a date... YET", we've started to look at venues for the wedding reception.

1. Was slightly disappointed that out of 7 venues visited, only 3 venues offered us a cup of tea. We didn't even get a cup of tea at the really expensive Culloden Estate and Spa. Maybe we should have dressed up a bit more for that one. They probably saw us from afar in our jeans and immediately thought, "timewasters"...

2. Was there ever at time when weekend dates for weddings didn't book up at least 2 years in advance?

3. Would you pay £30 per head for seat covers??? OK, they do cover the entire chair, but still!!! If I did that, I think I'd have to ban people from removing their jackets and putting them over the seat. I'd want to get full value out of my seat covers!

Fireworks

2007-11-05T22:28:00.000Z

Had a bit of a celebration with some friends this weekend. And, because it was getting close to that time of year, Heavy Isotope D spotted a two-for-one offer on fireworks. So we decided to scorch the earth of Nipring's garden...

1. Cool picture of fireworks
2. Fun with sparklers... Looks like Mrs Heavy Isotope D is attempting a bit of 'force lightning' in the background.

3. And finally, how NOT to set off fireworks. Shops probably shouldn't be selling fireworks to us!

Probably best summed up by a txt message from my fiance: "Take care wit the firewrks!" She knows me too well...

In our defence, we did have a large bucket of water for the sparklers and a hose at the ready (although water and burning magnesium don't really mix too well...)

Forms of transport in New Delhi

2007-08-31T18:46:00.000Z

I've now been on 1. Delhi bus, 2. taken the metro, 3. taken a cycle rickshaw and of course, (see previous blog) the aforementioned 'auto'. I think that pretty much sums up all the types of transport in Delhi, short of walking and paying someone to carry you around (though I don't think that happens much here). Yeah OK, there are taxis and cars with drivers, but I think the 4 modes of transport above sum up what the general public use around here.The bus - sorry it's a bit blurred, but those people aren't rushing to get onto the bus, they're holding on to it as it moves!

Autos and what passes for the village main road...

It's kinda like London, just a lot hotter, dustier and if you don't watch where you're going, you're liable to fall down a large hole or trip over a stray dog. That said, I kinda like it here!

In India now!

2007-08-27T15:57:00.000Z

1 week completed in India.

Here are some pictures:

1. How my first 'auto' ride ended!!!

2. View from the office balcony!!!3. Delhi sunset - It's amazing how the smog and dust reflects the light! Taken somewhere around the Delhi University North Campus.

3 bits of web presence

2007-07-13T22:08:00.000Z

I don't know, I've just got so many sites on the internet now which need updating.

Facebook,

This site,

chocolatepizza website (yes, I know I haven't updated that one for about 3 years now. But I still like the e-mail address).

someone should write a program which you update and it then updates all the other websites for you!

3 things we did in Dublin

2007-06-22T15:48:00.000Z

Drink a pint of Guinness. Or if you're really thirsty, a couple at the same time. Good thing it was included in the admission to the Guinness storehouse. Can't believe they didn't have the Perez Prez Prado Guinness advert of man dancing round Guinness glass to catchy music! Should have asked for our money back.

Went on a Viking Splash tour around Dublin. Which was enlivened no end by the mad tour guide who insisted that we give 'viking roars' to unsuspecting tourists as the brightly coloured, ex WWII amphibious landing vehicle crept up behind their backs... You probably just had to be there. Viking helmets included. Therefore thoroughly recommended by all of us! Also helps if half the bus is filled with mad 20-something eejits from Belfast, Oxford, Bristol and London... Not entirely sure what the Chinese tourists on the bus with us quite knew what was going on.

And Gazman and CB entered the Irish bubble blowing hip-hop festival.

OK, the last bit isn't quite right. To be honest, not entirely sure what Gazman and CB are doing. Never mind. However, they were giving out free bottles of bubble blowing mix to children (or those having a mental age of 8) during the World Championship for Street Performers which happened to be taking place in Dublin at the time. It was all pretty cool. The standard of street theatre was definitely a lot higher than a guy who's done a metallic paint job on his clothes and is pretending to be a statue. Some of it was true comedy genius, some was amazing shows of strength and acrobatic agility and some of it involved one person biting off pieces of banana and spitting the chunks into another person's mouth to eat from a distance of 5m. So, comedy, acrobatics and gross behaviour all rolled into a day (well, actually weekend) of quality entertainment. Worth going to see, never mind the rest of Dublin!

Bank holiday blues

2007-05-28T11:18:00.000Z

1. The current bank holiday weather (in England anyway) kinda reminds me of Christmas in Melbourne. What can I say, anywhere you can buy kilos of steak and huge tiger prawns for about a third the price of Tescos has got to be a good place to live. OK, maybe that's just Australia in general. Funnily enough, there's cricket going on here at the moment too. Although this time England look to be on top (yay!). However, it'll probably keep raining so we'll end up with a draw (boo!).

2. Digging through the photo archive, proof that we actually got a bit 'cultural' with a visit to the Melbourne Museum (and no, we weren't looking at pots of yoghurt in display cases - though you never know, that might be quite an interesting exhibit - yoghurt pots through the ages. Oooh, anyone remember munch bunch yoghurts? And was it just me that thought toffee yoghurt was disgusting?). It seems like they've done up the museums in Australia and New Zealand a bit more recently than say the Science Museum. There was enough in there to keep us occupied for a couple of hours. The best bit was the exhibit based on the Neighbours TV set. And the fact that they were showing the test match in the museum! Well, they did have an exhibit about the Ashes on display there. Yeah you're right. Thinking about what actually interested us the most, we probably would have got more culture standing in the supermarket looking at yoghurt pots - only the ones with the friendly bacteria in them mind.

3. And when we'd finished watching cricket in the museum, you can go shopping and then watch cricket on the big screen in Federation Square - yeah, it does sound like a good place for a Star Trek convention... Looking at the Melbourne map, it looks like we missed seeing a lot of the city. Hmm - spent too much time watching the cricket obviously. Well, I don't think any of us enjoyed Melbourne as much as Sydney (thus stoking the great Melbournite (?) - Sydnonian (??!!??) rivalry. But that is probably because we got hammered in the cricket and it rained buckets in the middle of what was supposedly summer. Maybe I'll give it another chance my next visit down under. If I can time it to coincide with the Australian Open, that might be a bonus...

3 reasons why I worry about myself

2007-05-18T20:55:00.000Z

1. I think my memory's going.

2. I can write blogs about visiting mini-Abingdon - why in the first place anyone would want to visit a miniature version of Abingdon (and indeed pay money for the privilege), let alone blog about it. Must be pretty insane.

3. I thought that I'd covered mini-Abingdon in a previous blog. As it turns out, reviewing my blog archive, I hadn't!!! Gazman covers it in brief, but no pictures. What's going wrong with me. Did I mention my memory's going?

Mandurah Revisited

2007-05-18T20:31:00.001Z

Some of you may remember the odd peculiarity that was Mini-Abingdon in Mandurah. Well, I've come to the source of the inspiration, Abingdon town itself to see how the real thing shapes up to the model (or should that be the other way round)? Comedy cliche dictates that I label the photos the wrong way round. Or have I??!!?? Oh, it's so confusing...

1.

Photo: Monastery, Abingdon

Photo: Monastery, mini-Abingdon, Mandurah

Photo: Council Hall, Abingdon

Photo: Council hall, mini-Abingdon, Mandurah

Photo: Shops, Abingdon

Photo: Shops, mini-Abingdon, Mandurah

Man, it was a challenge trying to manoeuver my camera to try and get those 'pedestrian-shots' of mini-Abingdon :-)

The last one is probably the most outrageous. Why would you want to build a Costa coffee store in real life, when you could have a birthday card shop which sells furniture??!!??

Still, at least I now finally have closure on the strange experience that was mini-Abingdon. Did I mention I won the mini-golf there?

Pictures-que frisbee pictures

2007-05-13T21:10:00.000Z

3 frisbee pictures ? Again, NI themed (regular readers may have spotted a recurring theme in my blogs of late)

1. The location:

2. Giant Frisbee Action

3. The wistful glance at the knowledge that the game must end (because it's time for dinner!)

3 things that can kill you

2007-04-26T19:23:00.000Z

Well, you never know, it might be a vampire bat...

OK, you'd probably only come a cropper if you were at the top of Ayres Rock, didn't see the lizard, tripped over it and fell to your death.

Yeah, it's a cockatoo. But Da_tonester looks very scared of it!!!

More wildlife pictures to follow. And maybe some cake. or some death... And other obscure comedy references...

Wetsuit Wackiness

2007-04-16T19:02:00.000Z

Australia and New Zealand are starting to seem like a long time ago. Doesn't mean to say you can't do fun stuff in the UK too!

1. So, joining in with the wetsuit pictures posted by Gazman and mattandjules, here's 'my first wetsuit' picture. Taken on Whitesands beach, on the North Coast of Northern Island, after bodyboarding. Eat your heart out Australia...

2. Computer games! If you've not played these games, you should - they're absolutely hilarious!

http://www.guitarherogame.com/gh2/

Particularly good for those practising the air guitar!!!

http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/games/gamepage.do?ElementId=fcce21a5-b02a-41c3-8dcd-8b3d2ec1df27

Incredibly funny watching the faces of people playing the bongos!

3. BBQ'd lobster for the first time! Not entirely sure why my parents had a lobster in the freezer, but I'm not going to complain too much...

Admittedly omitting Auckland

2007-04-01T23:02:00.000Z

To be fair, Gazman's probably covered Auckland, but I've spotted a couple of holes in my blog and of course and excuse to put yet more pictures up on show. Having taken somewhere in the region of 1400 - photos and video clips, I can probably put on the holiday slide show from hell!!!!

So, Auckland the third time we were there was blessed with sunshine! We spent one day on Rangitoto island. This place had

1. Great views of Auckland

2. Nice hiking weather

3. Lava caves??!!??

Photo comparisons

2007-03-28T21:52:00.000Z

Looking at mattandjules pictures, I've realised they appear to be having better weather than we did in Fox Glacier . So, comparing pictures, Well, we have a picture of a weather station:

My version of scenery reflected in a lake...

And the view we had of Mt Cook... Impressive, no?!!?

3 Chocolate bars encountered on my travels - pt 2

2007-03-23T20:55:00.000Z

Well, the Pineapple Lumps are from New Zealand and basically appear to be pineapple flavoured chewy nougat covered in chocolate, or at least a chocolate flavoured coating. Hard work on the jaws!

The Cherry ripe is from Australia. It's kinda like a bounty bar crossed with cherry and a lot thinner. Quite nice actually. But don't leave it in the Australian sun.

And the Coffee Crisp combines coffee with chocolate and wafers. I was eating a bar of this having finished skiing when in Whistler each day. Mmmmm. It's from Canada - the french writing on the packet probably gives it away. This one's my favourite out of the 3 (and actually probably one of my all time favourite chocolate bars).

3 chocolate bars encountered on my travels...

2007-03-17T00:28:00.000Z

Picture of the Coffee Crisp to come.
The question is from which 3 countries are
1. Pineapple Lumps
2. Cherry Ripe
3. Coffee Crisp
made in?

Back in the UK

2007-03-13T14:26:00.000Z

where...

1. It wasn't raining!

2. They'd finished the roadworks to the M40 in Oxford. And built a flyover past the hospital roundabout in Swindon...

3. The windscreen wiper stalk is back on the wrong side of the steering wheel (or is it the right side now?)

Though I'll probably still be blogging about the trip for a while yet (the problem with only being allowed 3 points per blog).

Several slips on the ski slope

2007-03-10T00:23:00.000Z

The problem with the skiing in Whistler is 3-fold.

1. The weather's awful...

2. There's no snow...

3. And no-one's having any fun...

Whaddy'a mean you don't believe me?!!?

Miners hall of fame!

2007-03-10T00:05:00.000Z

Oh yes, Leadville is home to the Miners hall of fame... 3 things which are in there:

1. Inspirational mining sculptures

2. Plaques commemorating those who have made a difference to the mining industry

3. Waxworks!!!

Wondering where's Waldo's canyon?

2007-03-09T23:47:00.000Z

This time the hiking boots got a taste of an alpine trail.

3 things you might like to do on an alpine hike.

1. Take a GPS with you.

2. Then completely fail to follow the marked trail and wander off somewhere else.

Photo: The GPS says this way... Models: farmguy and Carol

But at least you end up with view like this

Photo: Pikes Peak

3. Go home and compare the route you took compared with the route you should have taken!

Photo: Route we should have taken.

Photo: Oh Well, close enough.

Photo: But we're still friends. Models: Pikes Peak, Pol, farmguy

Pol's 3 favourite things to do in NZ

2007-03-04T07:20:00.000Z

Some of my favourite things to do in NZ

1. Driving around – there’s been some phenomenal scenery driving around NZ. Te-Anau to Milford Sound, windy rally style mountain drives along the Queen Charlotte Drive from Nelson to Picton (where I got to do a rather mediocre stig rally car impersonation) and of course the scary NZ drivers. As one New Zealander said, we’re probably the nicest people in the world, until you put us behind the wheel of a car, where we turn into angry, evil maniacs.

2. Having a decent cup of tea after a long hike. Nothing more British than enjoying a cup of tea. Wherever you are! I suppose the hiking’s been quite good fun too.

3. Wondering about the ‘contradictory’ nature of NZ. So sorry Singapore, but NZ is far more contradictory, merlion or not… That and weddings. Everyone loves weddings. Especially for a bit of a boogie on the dancefloor as Gazman shows…

Montana Winery, Blenheim

Wade to Abel Tasman water taxi

Milford Sound boat cruise

Franz Josef Glacier

Te Puia mud pools

David & Kathryn's wedding dancefloor, Auckland (CENSORED on request)

NZ, I’ll be back…

Things to do in Leadville when you're...

2007-03-01T18:49:00.000Z

Otherwise known as things to do in 'dead'ville.

1. Skiing. Got my first taste of waxy plastic composite and metal on powder snow yesterday. Glad I did upgrade to the Subaru as we had to brush off 4 inches of snow from the car to drive to the Ski Cooper resort. Doubt a 1.4 Toyota Corolla would have been able to handle the drive up into the mountains. Actually, it probably wouldn't have been able to get out of the car park. Weather wasn't too bad until the clouds closed in during the late afternoon. Didn't really matter as I'd somehow managed to get the goggles misted up on the inside so was skiing with only a hazy view of the piste anyway. I'm pretty rubbish skiing in powder, but today was a pretty good confidence builder in preparation for the last leg of this holiday (gosh, time passes quickly) in Whistler.

2. Hot Springs - got to soak in hotsprings about 40mins drive south of Leadville. Not particularly authentic as I think the water was pumped in. But being able to lie in a pool of warm water while snow is falling around you is always nice.

3. Playing Cranium - Went along to a dinner hosted by one of KZ's friends and colleague at the Ski Cooper ski school. Got to eat some delicious, proper American homecooking while watching Ski School (kinda appropriate given the people at the party), followed by a competitive game of Cranium. Cheating accusations were levelled at least 3 times during the evening, but the team I was in won. The charades round for the word 'reproduction' was one of the standout moments (but probably for the wrong reasons).

Relaxing in LAX

2007-02-27T07:01:00.000Z

Not a great start to the US portion of the trip.

1. At check in, found that Gazman and I were assigned the middle two seats of the 4 in the middle of the aircraft. If you're as tall as Gazman, that means serious knee injury when the seat in front decides to recline. Forgot to remove my Leatherman pocketknife from my backpack (been taking it along for the various hiking trips) so it got confiscated at security. Then the Qantas flight was delayed by an hour and there was no place to sit at the departure gates.

2. The in-flight entertainment selection was excellent - included most of the oscar nominated films, however it broke down halfway through the flight. Thankfully, there was only one incident of comedy clambering over fast asleep occupant of aisle seat to go to toilet. However, the Qantas flight didn't make up any time in the air, due to quite a lot of turbulence over the Pacific (first time I think I've crossed that ocean) so I ended up missing my connecting flight to Denver and had to wait at least an extra 3.5 hours at Los Angeles International Aiport before I could get on the next flight. And I was only on standby as that flight was booked out, so potentially, I could have a 7 hour wait for the next aircraft.

That said, I got a $15 food voucher to spend at the airport from Qantas. Given that I would have a 2 hour drive to Leadville to get to KZ's place upon landing in Denver (which could have been as late as 11pm), I decided to splash some cash on booking a hotel near Denver airport instead. So, bought a paper, a brie baguette and large mocha and wandered round the airport trying to get the feeling back into my legs after an 11 hour flight.

3. Amazingly, I got the last standby place on the 3:05pm flight (lucky as there were 10 people waiting for a standby seat). However the flight didn't leave until 4pm. No food served (unless you were in busines class), but I ordered a tea from the beverage service. Big mistake - I got hot water poured on top of creamer and a Lipton 'tea' bag. If you come to N. America, bring your own tea bags. At least NZ had decent tea (see blog with Gaz pointing to Billy tea sign). Got to the airport and hired the car (Subaru Outback - I was persuaded that I'd be rubbish driving along icy mountain roads covered in snow so upgraded to an All-Wheel Drive model - but it's definitely a cut above the Toyota Corollas we've been driving of late). However, really having to concentrate with remembering to stay on the 'right', right side of the road. The second left turn is always the worst - you're so nervous about the first one that you're extra careful and then get over confident after that! Also the indicator lever is on the other side of the steering wheel to Australia and NZ (though correct for UK), so more comedy windscreen wiper action when I'm turning! This car even has electrically operated seat controls. The words, "no need" spring to mind. Anyway, average temperature in Denver's about 0 deg C and it's dark by 6pm. Think the body's gone into season shock, wondering why it hasn't gone through autumn.

Thoroughly enjoyed NZ and Australia, guess I'd better post my favourite 3 things to do in NZ here too. Watch the space above this post...

Gazman's 3 favourite places in NZ

2007-02-25T05:59:00.000Z

Yeah, OK, it's a slightly misleading blog as it was all good and if we had our way, we'd stay a lot longer and actually a top 10 of places probably wouldn't be enough either!

1. Fox Glacier

2. Wai-O-Tapu

3. Tongariro Crossing

3 of da_tonester's favourite things to do in NZ

2007-02-22T06:30:00.000Z

1. Hike the Tongariro Crossing

2. Cruise around the Milford Sound

3. Eat Glacier mints freshly mined from the Fox Glacier (well, ok, maybe not... But hiking round the Fox Glacier in crampons definitely!

Milling around in Milford Sound

2007-02-18T07:43:00.000Z

Well, this place may have spectacular fiords (check out Gazman in his Starfleet top).

Photo: Milford Sound (though it should be called Milford Fiord as it was created by glacial erosion, not by rivers). Model: (Captain James T.) Gazman

But then...

1. We're staying in an 8 person male dorm in the YHA in Te Anau. And we've got top bunks and

snoring in surround sound. The guy who sounds like he's inhaling his blanket kept me amused for a minute or two, but then he kept me awake for much longer.

2. To get this picture, we had to hike for an hour and a half up a hill and I've got massive blisters on both heels of my feet now....

Photo: Key Summit

3. Didn't get attacked by the sandflies, but then that was probably because of the mosi-guard insect repellent I put on, which was pungent enough to make my stomach feel pretty uneasy. It could probably repel fur seals too...

Photo: Milford Sound. Models: sunbathing fur seals

Yeah OK, I'm really just trying to make you feel better.

Dunedin details and Otago Peninsula pointers

2007-02-17T09:41:00.000Z

So many things happening, so little space to fit them into a blog.

1. Dunedin models itself on a certain Scottish city and is probably the most Scottish city in New Zealand (there's a statue of Robert Burns in the Octagonal city centre). This was the view from the rooftop garden of our YHA hostel. Apparently it's also home to Bell tea which Gazman and I have been drinking a lot of for breakfast. Given Brett Lee is doing wonders advertising Weetbix, maybe these guys should see what Belly's up to...

Photo: Dunedin and big Bell Tea building. Model: Gazman pointing excitedly

2. Nearby on the way to the Otago peninsula from Dunedin, you'll come across Larnach castle. The only castle in New Zealand. Obviously built as protection from the ferocious brown kiwis...??? Apparently built in the late 1800s by a very rich New Zealander of Scottish descent. Much of the stuff was imported from the UK so must have cost a fortune. Worringly, it also has a 'dairy dungeon' - Probably where cows were imprisoned if they didn't meet their milk quota.

Photo: Larnach Castle.

Still, if you're going to build a castle anywhere, you might as well build it with this view...

Photo: Otago Peninsula viewed from Larnach Castle. Model: Da_Tonester

3. Finally, the Otago peninsula is home to a lot of wildlife. From the spotted shag, to fur seals basking on the rocks, to common sea gulls (though Albatrosses also frequent the area) wandering around the car park, there's a fair amount of bird life here to complement the views. Penguins abound as well, but didn't see any since they're only around in the morning and at night.

Photo: Spotted Shag

Photo: Fur Seals basking on rocks

Photo: seagulls in the carpark. Model: Da_tonester reading map (but seagulls seem to know where they're going)

3 pictures of Taupo

2007-02-17T07:08:00.000Z

An excuse for some pictures which I think are quite nice on the blog:

1. Gazman Kayaking on Lake Taupo

Photo: Kayaking on Lake Taupo. Model: Gazman

2. Gazman, 5 seconds later kayaking on Lake Taupo

Photo: (Still) Kayaking on Lake Taupo. Model: Gazman

3. Panorama of Lake Taupo at sunset (ooh... pretty)

Photo: Lake Taupo at sunset

Changing down a gear in Christchurch

2007-02-14T20:20:00.000Z

1. Arrived in Christchurch yesterday afternoon and spent a romantic Valentine's Day with er... Da_Tonester and Gazman um... err... down the pub (well two actually). Probably the happiest day of Da_Tonester's trip though as we found the Twisted Hop pub which actually served beer at about 10 deg C and wasn't fizzy. An actual real ale pub!

Photo: The Twisted Hop pub. Models: Happy Gazman and Da_Tonester with tears of joy

We ate earlier in the Loaded Hog which also had it's own range of beers, but in the more usual NZ beer style. Pretty hefty portions. Sitting around us were all the couples that had failed to secure a Valentine's Day reservation at the more romantic spots in Christchurch ;-)

Anyway, today, Da_Tonester's off to the cinema to watch films that came out in the UK at least 6 weeks ago, I'm probably going to check out the Christchurch art gallery which means you'll have to look at Gazman's blog to find out what there is to do in Christchurch.

2. Went Whale Watching in Kaikoura in the morning before heading down to Christchurch. We saw:

a. Two sperm whales, one of which was called Tutu (we immediately nicknamed it Desmond)

Photo: Marine Life. Model: 'Desmond'

Photo: The Big money tail shot. Model: 'Desmond's tail

b. A pod of dolphins.

Photo: Pod of Dolphins. Models: Dusky Dolphins

Photo: Pod of Dolphins. Models: Dusky Dolphins, Da_tonester and Gazman taking photos

Starting South Island Sightseeing

2007-02-13T09:31:00.000Z

Busy day today, up at 6:00am to do the following 3 things:

1. Caught the Cook Strait ferry from Wellington to Picton - very scenic ferry journey through the Marlborough sounds.

Photo: View of Wellington from back of the Cook Strait Ferry

2. Sampled wine at 4 of the Marlborough region vineyards (Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay mainly).

3. Picturesque drive along East coast of the South Island to Kaikoura in preparation for our whale watching trip tomorrow.

Would write more and post photos but so sleepy now... sAJasdzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

New Zealand normality

2007-02-10T10:35:00.000Z

3 things in New Zealand so far:

1. Tongariro Crossing - great day hike, amazing landscapes and a knackering climb up something called the Devil's Staircase.

Photo: Top of Devil's Staircase looking towards Mt Ngarauahoe (probably spelt that wrong). Apparently used for the close-ups on Mount Doom. Model: Pol

Photo: Red Crater Models: Gazman, Da_Tonester

Photo: Red Crater - picture for hanging on Da_Tonester's toilet door. Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: The Emerald Lakes. Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: Looking out across to the end of the hike. Models: Pol, Gazman, Da_Tonester

2. Why-Oh Wai-O-Tapu - geysers and sulphurous lakes - you don't get this kind of thing in the UK! Photo: Lady Knox Geezer (no, sorry, Geyser) in Wai-O-Tapu - before it's been 'induced' using washing powder. Photo: Gazman, Da_Tonester

Photo: Sign says it all really. Chemistry applied to the tourist industry! Model: Da_Tonester and tourists

Photo: The Devil's Bathtub (apparently). Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: "No Fear" Models: Da_Tonester and Gazman. Showing 'no fear' as they look at the inferno crater.

3. Zorbing - rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball. Haven't laughed so much all holiday! If you've wondered what it would feel like to be a shirt inside a washing machine (though probably of more interest might be as a sock as you could then find out where all those missing socks end up), then go for a 'hydrozorb' experience.

Photo: Man zorbing down hill Model: Zorbonaut / nutter :-)

Photo: Zorb at end of 'the run' Model: dizzy, happy, disorientated very wet zorbonaut

Gazman, Da_Tonester and I did get dressed up - you'll no doubt be able to see a picture on Gazman's blog. however, no pictures exist of the run we did (3 of us in a zorb with the hydrozorb experience)

Moving around Manly

2007-02-06T12:53:00.000Z

Been staying in Manly thanks to the generous hospitality of Clintandnats.

1. Took my first ever dip (that I can remember) in a 50m pool! It was a tidal pool as well - which means it's by the ocean and all the water comes from the incoming surf. It was however, absolutely knackering, being used to UK 30m pools. Could barely do 2 lengths of it (with long pause in the middle)! Did slightly better when I went for a dip today though - managed to do 100m freestyle and 300m backstroke. That's the thing about swimming - painful and tiring when you first start off, but over time, you start to get stronger and your fitness improves dramatically which makes it easier!

2. Spit to Manly coastal walk - one of the best hikesI've been on in Oz (and 'The Spit' is the name of a place, rather than you having to hock phlegm in the direction of Manly while you're walking). Not great if you don't like geckos and lizards as I saw tens of the things scurrying away from me.

3. Beach. Great for a wander at night. Saw a frogmouth owl - apparently pretty rare and possums and bandicoots. I can see why they created a computer game called Crash Bandicoot, 'cos those bandicoots are FAST. Probably because they need to run away from the frogmouth owls!

Photo: Shelley Beach, Model: Bush-tailed Possum.

Photo: Shelley Beach Model: Bandicoot

Hunter Valley Happiness

2007-02-04T12:46:00.000Z

Hunter Valley - home to over 300 wineries. 3 things I learnt about the region;

1. Vines are meant to survive in harsh climates - they grow around other plants and outcompete them for sunlight and nutrients. In a sense, you don't want a large yield of grapes as the flavour compounds held within the grapes are then spread out over lots of grapes and diluted down.

2. Hunter Valley Semillion and Shiraz tastes pretty unique. The Wyndham Estate Semillion has a very acid / sharp finish. Wyndham Estate Hunter Valley Shiraz actually tastes of olives rather than the usual peppery plum fruit.

3. Hunter's also famous for it's cheeses. However, given it costs around £10-20 for a block of cheddar or brie, I wasn't too keen to buy cheese. Buying wine can get fairly expensive in Hunter Valley (even though you're practically buying it at source!)

The Blue Mountains

2007-02-02T00:32:00.000Z

Hop in a car and drive West of Sydney for an hour and you'll eventually get to the Blue Mountains. Apparently the blue is caused by fine droplets of oil being dispersed into the air by the eucalyptus trees which diffracts the light to cause the blue colouring. 3 pictures of the Blue Mountains:

This blog is slightly out of sync - went to the Blue Mountains the weekend before Australia Day!

1.

Photo: The 3 Sisters

Photo: Blue Mountains. one of the 3 sisters in the foreground.

Photo: Waterfall - View from Skycar

Opera in the Park

2007-01-29T22:47:00.000Z

And on the 27th, it was Opera in the Park where the Opera Australia put on a performance of Turandot. Memorable for being a pretty good open-air performance of opera. Photo: Opera in the Domain, The Domain. Models: Opera crowd

1. Opera with Bats flying overhead and strange beetle / bug like things landing on your shirt collar in the middle of the performance!

2. The evening was compered in part by one of the performers with Opera Australia - John Bolton Wood. Commenting upon Mazda sponsorship of the Opera in the Domain, "It's good to see car companies co-operating with opera companies to put on performances. I gather Nissan sponsored the Three Tenors to perform in London. They supported the event down to the smallest detail. Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti's campervan was even supplied. The Nissan Dorma!"

Photo: Mazda on stage with Orchestra Model: MX5 - The car's the star!

Well, if being an opera singer doesn't work out, he can always fall back to being a stand up comedian. Actually, he was a pretty good compere.

3. Being a Puccini Opera, at least one Soprano is killed off somewhere in the script. Basically a tale of rape, revenge, murder, unrequited love, torture, insanity and sacrifice. Though unlike most Puccini operas, it has a (relatively) happy ending. This was explained away by the fact that Puccini died before finishing the opera and so someone else got to do the ending...

Australia Day

2007-01-29T22:42:00.000Z

Well, last Friday was spent in Sydney centre celebrating Australia Day. 3 events that were going on in the city (though pretty much every suburb had something going on to celebrate).

1. I spent most of the day by the harbour, with the day kicking off with Ferry Racing - 4 of the Sydney Harbour ferries racing against each other and it seems, accompanied by most of the boats in Sydney at the time. The AAMI ferry (in red) just edged it over the Bonds ferry (green and gold) at the line (which was first under the harbour bridge).

Photo: Sydney Harbour Ferry racing. Models: AAMI ferry, Bonds ferry

The harbour scenes were best described by aussiegnome as a 'boat mosh-pit'. Harbour was probably more crowded than New Year's...

2. As a rather random aside, I decided to pop over to Milson's Point where it was 'Celtic Day' put on by the Celtic Council of Australia which I thought was rather appropriate for Australia Day ;-) Only caught the end of the day, but saw an Irish Ceilidh, a musket firing demonstration from the 42nd Highlanders and bagpipes. The best bit was seeing a man dressed in a kilt talking about how to load a musket in a broad Aussie accent. But I'm sure he was Scots through and through.

Photo: Taking potshots at the Harbour Bridge. Models: Bagpiper and 2 Sergeants from 42nd Highlanders. Plus innocent bystanders with fingers in ears.

3. Wandered down to the Jazz at Pyrmont park event in the evening - where you could listen to Jazz by the waterfront as the sun went down. Memorable for the bald but swingin' singer covering Frank Sinatra.

Photo: Jazz in Pyrmont Park (nr Darling Harbour) Models: Big Band supplied by Australian Army and singer impersonating Old Blue Eyes (might well have been singing 'The Lady is a Tramp' when photo was taken.

It was here that they announced who won the 'best dressed' boat in the harbour competition. To have a decent chance, I think the occupants need to dressed up as much as the boat itself. So this boat won!

Photo: Winner of best dressed boat - based on Priscilla Queen of the Harbour...

Restaurants to revel in

2007-01-22T01:09:00.000Z

Now there's an idea - restaurants that serve meals based around 'Revels'. Stay away from the coffee revel ones...

Well, over a week back in Sydney. Visited my nephews and nieces in Sydney this week and been to the Blue Mountains, watched DVDs and even been ice skating (which made a nice change from all the hot weather in Sydney at the moment). But you'll get that in another blog once I've dowloaded the pictures from my camera.

In the mean time, 3 restaurants I've enjoyed in Sydney.

1. The Lord Nelson (the Rocks). Pub serving lots of different beers and pretty decent pies. Just the job after a day watching the cricket.

Photo: Lord Nelson pub, Sydney. Models: mattandjules, da_tonester, beer, Gazman, O.A.s and pub patrons.

2. The Bathers Pavillion, Balmoral. It's in a posh bit of town and looks out into the ocean. Does great brunch menus. I had the the Chef's special oven baked beans with hock of ham. Probably the poshest place I've eaten in on my Birthday (yeah, even posher than the Tiroler Hut). OK, Royal China might give it a run for it's money. Though the poshness was balanced out later on in the evening by stopping at Harry's Cafe de Wheels pieshack for dinner (which would have featured as a top place to eat in Sydney, but doesn't qualify as a 'restaurant' for the purposes of this blog!

Photo: Bathers Pavillion, Balmoral (even mentioned in the Qantas inflight magazine!!!), Models: Fenella, Gazman, da_tonester

3. Ripples, Milson's Point. I originally misremembered this place as 'nipples restaurant'. But that would be a silly name for a restaurant. Anyway, this is right next to Milson's Point ferry jetty, sitting in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge and just across the way from Luna Park. Does a great line in fish dishes.

Photo: Ripples, Milson's Pt. Models: Pol, Gazman, Aussiegnome, fenella, da_tonester

Sydney (again??!!??) 3 paragraphs of explanation

2007-01-17T04:56:00.001Z

1. Having finished Adelaide (thanks to Nathan and Julie for their kind hospitality, and enabling us to tick off Koalas and emus from the 'Aussie Wildlife seen in wild' checklist), Gazman and I headed over to David and Kathryn's wedding in Auckland before I returned to Sydney.

Photo: 'The bush' in Adelaide, Model: Kute Koala

2. I'm now in Sydney until 7th Feb. As a result, don't expect too many interesting new places to appear in the blog. However, it will give me a chance to catch up on elaborating a bit more about some of the places I have visited to date (but I suppose limiting myself to 3 points a blog has meant that pretty much everywhere I've visited could probably do with more detail!). Well, what the heck, the blog could probably do with more photos - including one of the aforementioned Koala. Well, sorted the koala picture out with an update to this blog. Gazman's blog has got another picture of the Koala.

3. So, expect more crazy random thoughts from me over the next couple of weeks, but if you want to find out more about various different countries or read more interesting blogs, suggest you check out Gazman, MattandJules and Caillie's blogs.

Sydney Silliness

2007-01-11T13:12:00.000Z

As promised, a report on New Year's in pictures...

1. We Partied...

Photo: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Models: Gazman, da_tonester, rock partygoer

2. Some of us partied pretty hard...

Photo: Kirribilli - nr Harbour Bridge. Model: da_tonester

3. Then it all got a bit silly...

Photo: Kirribilli - Nr Harbour Bridge. Models: Gazman, mattandjules, da_tonester, Pol

Adelaide in brief

2007-01-11T03:58:00.000Z

1. Went to the beach and swam around the ocean for a bit.

Photo: Granite Island coastal walk, Models: Nathan, da_tonester, Gazman

2. Saw a 20-20 game - South Australia Redbacks against the Queensland Bulls. Redbacks won. Not very imaginative nicknames for the cricketers though.

Photo: Adelaide Oval, Models: 20-20 fans, Redbacks players and cricket umpire

3. Wandered around Adelaide, including through the botanical gardens. They have a conservatory which looks like a spaceship crashed into the ground.

Photo: Adelaide Botanical Gardens (Millenium Conservatory - I think...), Models: Pol, da_tonester, Gazman

That's it - short blog. Check out Gazman's blog for more detail on Adelaide. Especially the cricketer nicknames.

Uluru (e)ulogising

2007-01-07T08:10:00.000Z

Just got back from a 10km hike around the base of Uluru, having got up at 5am in the morning to watch the sunrise over the rock. Photo: Uluru at sunrise

1. It's amazing the number of people who will wake up at the crack of dawn in order to go stare at a rock for an hour or more (Myself, Gazman and Da_tonester included). We even have to pay $25Aus for the priviledge (though it is a park pass for 3 days). Back before digital cameras were invented, can you imagine how many photos of the rock must have passed through the photo developing shops across the World? Especially those in the local photo shops in the Uluru 'resort'.

Photo: Uluru Sunset. Models: Uluru tourists

2. I reckon they missed a trick in the gift shop - I couldn't find a jelly mould / cake mould of Uluru. I would definitely have paid money for the ability to make an edible Uluru! If you dusted your cake or jelly with milo powder, it would look just like the rock at sunset (when the sun was hidden by cloud). Seriously though, I suspect that would be disrespectful to the local Aboriginal tribe who regard Uluru as a sacred place. Though not sacred enough that you can't buy the T-shirt...

Photo: Uluru Sunrise. Models: da_tonester and Gazman

3. There are more flies here than at a Gentleman's trouser convention (but of the insect rather than fastening variety). The jury's still out as to whether Aussie hats (with the dangling corks) actually make any difference.

3 mad ideas come up with on holiday

2007-01-04T03:46:00.000Z

Well, it's been over a month since Gazman and I have been on holiday. Here are three random thoughts that have sprung up during the holiday.

1. (Food Court in shopping mall beneath Twin Towers, KL) While playing with Timmy, the game 'mapo-slido' was invented. Simply take fold up map of KL and insert in it's plastic protective wallet and proceed to slide it across the plastic laminated table towards one of the other players seated around said table. Points given for number of spins map makes on way to recipient or speed of pass. Bonus points may be awarded at start of go by resting half of map on table and flipping map up in air with hand (palm facing downward) and attempting to catch it with the same hand before map hits the table. Map should make 180deg flip (min.) before being caught. several minutes of fun if with children (or adults with appropriate childish mindset - that would be all of us)

2. (When on tram going past Melbourne Aquatics Centre) How come the you have so many different medals for swimming when surely you should be able to use any stroke you like to cover 50M / 100M as quickly as possible. Either that or maybe we should have more medals in running. So we can have the 100m running backwards... Just imagine the olympics with the 4*100m medley - the first leg is running forwards, the 2nd leg runs backwards, the 3rd leg has to hop and the 4th leg has to roly-poly...

3. (Gourmet Cafe in YHA Sydney, having been given a Hawaiian pizza when I asked for a vegetarian pizza) While wondering at the 'interesting' service at the YHA cafe / restaurant, Matt, Jules, Gaz, da_tonester and I thought you could inject a bit of excitement into your meal by creating the 'Extreme Dining' restaurant. You go into the restaurant and place your order and that's what you're billed for. However, inept waiting staff will come round with the wrong order - so you can either choose to wait for your meal, to go for the food offered or to wait in the hope that another meal which looks better comes along... It can even be spiced up with the addition of dishes like octopus tentacles, tripe, fugu, dishes made entirely from soya products which will come out at the end. So if you wait too long for a good meal to come by, you might end up with one of these dishes... Not recommended for anyone with food allergies.

Happy New Year. Pictures of New years in Sydney to follow!

3 Christmas Day Pictures

2006-12-26T10:58:00.000Z

3 pictures from Christmas Day in Melbourne.

It was wet...
Photo: Melbourne, by the river. Models: Jules, Gaz Man, da_tonester

If you look closely, you can see the steam coming off Matt's steak

Photo: Melbourne, by the river Model: Matt, BBQ steak from Queen Victoria Market

But at least the evening was nicer and we had a good view. Very cold though. No pictures of traditional Aussie Christmas fare though (shrimp on the Barbie - though agree with others, it's more an 'outdoor cooker' than a BBQ, especially given the lack of charcoal). Maybe the next blog will be '3 things I've prepared on the outdoor cooker'

Photo: Melbourne

Merry Christmas from the Moochers in Melbourne

2006-12-24T10:42:00.000Z

Well, it's Christmas eve, 10 degrees C and drizzling. So, not looking promising for a hot sunny Christmas Down Under. Never mind. Seasons greetings on this blog with three cheesy pictures taken from Singapore, Melbourne and um, the Vodafone store in Perth.

1. Singapore (Photo: Tanglin Mall)
2. Melbourne (Photo: Flinders St)
3. Voddo store (just to show the spirt of mammon is still alive. And in case you're wondering - at least if you're British - what a strange lot the Aussies are, you'll have to understand it's a cultural slang language type thing).

Photo: Vodafone xmas offer in Perth branch

Happy Christmas to everyone reading this blog (so, that'll be about 4 people then... Well, in that case, I hope you all have an extra special Christmas).

Cricket - laugh at it or leave it!

2006-12-16T12:20:00.000Z

First up, if you want an alternative, and significantly more detailed take on KL and Singapore, have a look at http://caillieevans.blogspot.com/ . Huge thanks to PaulandCaillie for being great hosts and making Gazman and me feel really welcome.

And of course, part-time model on the extreme gurning blog, Gazman’s big tour of the world blog http://garysbigtouroftheworld.blogspot.com/

Caillie’s department store misquote from the bible is this
Photo: Tang's Department store, Singapore

In case you’re wondering, Tang’s has set up a ‘Christmas Treasures store’ – hence the really bad bible misquotation. It made me laugh. Ah, I can feel the greed in the air…

Secondly, I'm now in Perth and watched the first day of the 3rd Ashes test - probably the finest day of cricket I've seen in my life. Shame about the subsequent days where we've been getting hammered by the Aussies. Still, you gotta laugh. The second day, we went to Rottnest Island. Memorable for great beaches and blue seas, a bus driver who turns up 20 minutes behind schedule because he's pointing out all the tourist attractions on the bus route and random things like Osprey nests. Also memorable for Gazman and da_tonester's recreation of that bit in Casino Royale where Bond steps out of the ocean;
Photo: Little Salmon Bay. Models: da_tonester and Gazman.

Third thing which caught my eye was the native inhabitants of Rottnest island - the quokkas! This vicious breed of animal are unique and (I think) can only be found on Rottnest island. Some say that they've survived so long only because they have no natural predators. However, I think that actually, they've survived for so long because they've eaten all the competition. Sure they may look cute and they hop around on their two rear legs in an endearing yet slightly clumsy fashion, but I've seen that killer look in their eyes. Turn your back on them and they'll rip your spine out. You may laugh now, but when I train up my army of ruthless ninja quokkas and take over the world, it will be I who has the last laugh. Mwa hah ha haaaa!!! (evil laugh :-)
Photo: Wadjemup Lighthouse. Models: Gazman and bloodthirsty quokka

Comedy Comments on the Cameron Highlands

2006-12-11T05:04:00.000Z

Went to the Kuala Lumpur and the Cameron Highlands for an extended weekend. A couple of noticeable things:

1. Driving in Malaysia - especially on the winding roads up to the Cameron Highlands caused much excitement. One truck was racing down the hill and took the 'racing line' on one of the blind bends (well, maybe it was one of the 'partially sighted' corners). Thankfully, the brakes on our Hyundae prevented a collision. On the way back down, we then had to deal with a car randomly pulling out into oncoming traffic for no apparent reason...Photo: Boh tea plantation drive. Model: Caillie and random other drivers

2. Visited 2 tea plantations - we had the mad tourist trap of the Cameron Valley Tea shop on the main road and the slightly more reasonably priced alternative tourist trap (scones were cheaper) of the Boh tea planatation (http://boh.com.my). Tea at Boh was the highlight - pick up some Bukit Cheeding No. 53 if you like strong dark tea or the delightful Gunung Chantik - not too strong, but a nice flavour. Came up with a new term - the great 'un-poshed'. I don't think Caillie falls into the 'un-poshed' category - after all, two people are taking pictures of her! :-)
Photo: Boh tea plantation. Models: Gazman Paul&Caillie

3. Having been a week into our exotic Asian holiday, what do we decide to have for dinner? A proper English meal at Ye Olde Smokehouse. The roast beef was excellent, as was the leg of lamb and chicken and mushroom pie. The veg was grown in the Highlands and therefore pretty fresh. If you want to see Malaysians do 'English' better than the English, then have a look at the Cameron Highlands!

Photo: Ye Olde Smokehouse. Models: Paul, Gaz, Smokehouse waiters

Singaporean specifics

2006-12-07T22:44:00.000Z

1. You'd have thought that this picture would be the scene leaving Heathrow. Wet tarmac indicating that it had recently been raining.

Actually, it was this rather overcast and damp day that greeted us in Singapore on arrival and Changi airport.

We'd actually left bright sunshine behind in London (well, when the flight actually left, although it was torrential downpours when we first showed up to check in at Heathrow).

2. Don't ever walk in the Singapore Botanical Gardens without having applied some insect repellent beforehand. Went for a walk there in shorts and legs ended up covered in insect bites. They're still pretty itchy 2 days later!

3. This is what you can get for lunch in Singapore for about £2.00. A round of Tuna and cucumber sandwiches and a diet coke really just doesn't compare.

Credits - Model: Gazman

Missing the UK

2006-12-02T01:31:00.000Z

So, things I'll miss about the UK...

1. Seeing all my friends (some of whom are generally best viewed in low light conditions ;-)

2. Geraldine. And she'll be spending the next 3 and a half months in the arms of another man. If you're getting worried, Geraldine's my guitar. Unfortunately, this man's a much better guitar player than me. Which means having spent some time in the arms of a jazz guitarist, it's unlikely Geraldine will put up with me trying to thrash out the chords to American Pie or Sixpence None the Richer songs while singing slightly off key. Actually, I've only just named the guitar Geraldine to try to make this blog vaguely amusing.

3. The view from my flat in Putney. It is a very nice view as I'm sure you might agree. Just goes to show that you don't need to go to the other side of the World to appreciate a good view.

3 things

2006-11-23T01:16:00.000Z

3 things to say;

1. Well, this is me. Pol. I'm be off visiting various parts of the world and will be meeting up with Matt and Jules (see http://wanderingwednesday.blogspot.com/) in Melbourne.

2. No doubt you're sick and tired of reading holiday blogs which describe what a good time the blogger is having and are written to make you want to quit your jobs and head off round the world for several months / years / decades.

3. If I do make you wish you were somewhere other than your office cleaning the gunk from the insides of your mouse, sorry. But I promise to keep each blog to 3 things. So at the very worst, you'll only have to read about 3 things which have happened to me. I'll try and keep your schadenfreude levels high and report the unfortunate things that happen to me first!

Keepingitartificial

The buffet trolley is stuck

Cashback sites

How much? My head Hertz.

KiA 2010

Pancake day photo

time to move...

Pancake pizzas

Somewhere near bridgend...

For-Ethiopia

Bristol Half Marathon

Bristol Half Marathon

Training run

Running (again)

GROPOs

Avebury Henge

2020 Cricket

Ordering Pictures

Sheffield

Statistics

Valentines Day

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

For-Ethiopia

The world's best dessert ever

Renamed and rebooted

Missing months

random wedding pictures

Post-Marriage

Stag do!

Cabin & Cabinette's wedding - Part 1

Pictures from Belfast

1. If I had a £ for every bluebell in this picture

Lots of stuff going on

3 ways of wasting time

3 Things I'm looking forward to in the next 12 months

Easyjet, Ryanair, getting money back

Post-Christmas Shopping

Thinking of 3 points

Top 3 things glad we've got out of the way

Looking at venues

Fireworks

Top 3 questions asked upon announcing your engagement

Forms of transport in New Delhi

In India now!

3 bits of web presence

3 things we did in Dublin

Bank holiday blues

3 reasons why I worry about myself

Mandurah Revisited

Pictures-que frisbee pictures

3 things that can kill you

Wetsuit Wackiness

Admittedly omitting Auckland

Photo comparisons

3 Chocolate bars encountered on my travels - pt 2

3 chocolate bars encountered on my travels...

Back in the UK

Several slips on the ski slope

Miners hall of fame!

Wondering where's Waldo's canyon?

Pol's 3 favourite things to do in NZ

Things to do in Leadville when you're...

Relaxing in LAX

Gazman's 3 favourite places in NZ

3 of da_tonester's favourite things to do in NZ

Milling around in Milford Sound

Dunedin details and Otago Peninsula pointers

3 pictures of Taupo

Changing down a gear in Christchurch

Starting South Island Sightseeing

New Zealand normality

Moving around Manly

Hunter Valley Happiness

The Blue Mountains

Opera in the Park

Australia Day

Restaurants to revel in

Sydney (again??!!??) 3 paragraphs of explanation

Sydney Silliness

Adelaide in brief