Only in Australia-Stilllllll

Well, I have been here for a long time, making it easier to notice more things, but they just make it too easy. Like the other day I saw some woman walking home with a scarf on, a scarf, it's like 30 degrees c here, there is no need for a scarf, I know it's spring...but IT'S 30C!!!! They're starting to get all the Christmas decorations up over here, which I can understand (I don't like it this early but I can understand), but I can't understand why they put snow in the displays....Australia, snow, and Christmas really, surely do not go together. Not even to mention the abbrevoooos...oh, that's Australian for abbreviations! I thought I was getting used to the language (cos it is a different language) but over the last few weeks all these new words have come into play, like "Can I borrow a little nicko off of someone"....!?!?....this equals, "Can I please borrow a permanent marker from you"...my spell check is red lining all of these "words"

.... Apparently I am wrong...

Apparently I'm a banana bender then...

That's just WRONG!!!!

Anyways, onwards....

Really exciting...and original!

Scary...

.....Not so scary

What..."New"...how did Aussies ever have a proper childhood!!!!

This is a real place

You've been warned!

In case you forget...I think the people that need to read this, can't

...So don't look up and read pointless signs!

The gate on the left is always closed, and the traffic light man is always red...

Party on

Something to look forward too....

My Australian pension or superannuation...kinda depressing really

Pork and Roo! Yum!

Whata deal

Cos it's hard

Now I really wanna enter

As stylish as I want my poo paper to be!

Translates as!

Helpful

Next they'll be claiming they invented the alphabet

Are you as excited as I am.....this is for a pack of fags!

And finally, to any Canadian or American who has mocked me for having to wear a school uniform, at least we didn't have it this bad back in England:

Right, I am aware there is a lot of photos above, but these have been building up for a few months now. But you'll be pleased to hear that I haven't really taken any photos over the last couple of weeks, so no more to look at in this post....oooooh.

As for me, work's going well, the sun's going even better. The weekend before last I was sailing and kayaking on the Saturday, then went to the Brisbane Roars game on the Sunday, A-League football seems OK, very one-sided even though it finished 1-1. Randomly met some Saints fans there, good to talk to some people who are loving the heights at the top of the league!

Played with fire last Monday (only hit myself in the face once (the other time it just rolled over the top of my head)). Then last Wednesday morning headed to the airport to pick up Tom straight from England, 14 months and one week since I left he's finally joined me on my adventures. We picked him up, along with his mate Mike. So last Wednesday we had a BBQ with Kangaroo Burgers (of course) with the two of them and MJ...I mean Miranda.... Then for the weekend I took them out around Brisbane, then we went surfing somewhere down the Gold cost on Sunday.

Went out for Rosie's last Uni piece last Thursday. Congrats to Rosie for finishing her Music Engineering coarse, and to all other Aussie students have finished they're courses and exams over the last week.

And my visa application finally has a case worker working on it...think I just need to sort out insurance stuff...so getting there!

SIGN OFF!

Island Life

The weeks have been samey (although this week and last week have been short 4 day weeks....get in there) but the weekends have been...well...tropical, yeah I'm gonna go with tropical!

Last weekend was spent celebrating Coop's 30th camping on Moreton Island! Two days of sun, sea, sand, sandboarding, snorkeling, and of course....consuming! Bring on the photos........>

Our Campsite was just by the wreck (on the left) On land, before anyone comes out with a smart ass comment!

Rosie nailing it, with only one binding

The long hot walk to the top

My first starfish "that lives forever and is like a worm, if you break off it's leg a new starfish will grow!!!!!" WHAT, I need to wiki that!

Coop's big speech!

The wrecks where we went snorkeling

Heading back to the mainland, aka reality, aka boring!

Just for the record, I am actually listening to David Gilmour's "On an island" as I'm writing this...great Christmas present I bought my Dad (speaking of which, have you watched the DVD yet, it's been nearly 5 years now!!!!)

This weekend did leave us plenty of food left for me to treat two of my Aussie friends for the first ever "shrimp on the barbie" out on Kangaroo Point cliffs last Monday...I swear I'm more Aussie than they are...too easy bro, too easy!

So anyways, I dragged myself through a grueling 4 day working week before heading over to Straddy Island last Friday. Rosie was doing the music tech for the 2nd stage or the "Sunshine" stage at Island Vibe Festival, so I got a free ticket.....and who can say "no" to a free festival ticket on an island! No one, that's who! Cue the photos again......>

Festival essentials

Backstage

The drum kit which I pretty much set up and took down!

Hard at work

The first band setting up

Our Spanish villa

The festival was right on the beach

I love hippies!

CHALI 2NA (used to be in Jurassic 5) did an awesome set

Someone out of John Butler Trio I believe.....

....the festival ended with a big jam with several of the festival's artists...

.....and a didgeridoo

The festival also had native drum circles on the beach on the Saturday night, crazy fun!

Forgot to mention in my last post about me finally joining a gym in West End just over a month ago, Healthworks Fitness. Cost $350 for 6 months (which is very cheap for Brisbane prices), and I get free classes, so I started doing boxing last week, which I think I'll do again tomorrow! They link even has a layout!

I also forgot to mention about my first lesbian experience the other month, but I'll let your imaginations run wild with that one!

And a visa update, I got a letter through last week saying that I'm currently on a bridging visa until they make a decision on my visa application!

Done and done.....and I mean done!