I did!
I have just spent 14 hours, what feels like banging my head against a wall! Now for many a white-coated maniac, that probably sounds like a glorious sunday afternoon activity. For me, its like a heltar skeltar into satan's bowels!
Aside from sharing my frustrations with you, I thought I'd share my delights also - I have found a certain sanctuary in a well known piece of music by Debussy called "Clair De Lune". I don't know what it is, but there's something in there that is magic for me - so magic in fact I don'y want to put it into words.
Take a listen...it'll be worth it.
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Saturday 3 March 2007
Got me a bike!!! Woohoo - A Yamaha DT175
What made me curious is that the bike is a 2000 model, with only 607 Km on the clock. Makes you think bargain!!!However what all the dealers say is that the odometer cannot be verified, makes you wonder what is the bloody point of them - "How stupid! Why? Why would you do that?" etc etc.
Once I had rid myself of that little internal rant, I discovered that the bike is actually pretty decent - was going for 1200, which i managed to get down a little to 1080, all helps!
I also purchased some new accessories - which aren't tremendously sexy but will make sure i'm safe. For example the trousers with the kevlar ass lining lol - apparently the advert has a guy being dragged round on his ass to prove they're safe! To see that click here
All in all the cost came to 1600 gbp - not bad I dont reckon!! :) I'm happy! And best of all its blue - you're with me on that one Father J right?
Friday 2 March 2007
1 of 12......
Now, seriously after the whole 12 songs post I have been doing a little song writing. I have managed to get two verses out with a few additional twinkly bits that I have stored up top. I have scanned the lyrics and done a crude recording using audacity and a webcam - have a listen and let me know what you think. Once again lyrics , choruses and obscenities are completely welcome ;)
Sunday 25 February 2007
Being Engaged....
Now we know all the ladies have had chance to scream and shout but I reckon its only fair the guys should be able to do their "Well done mate!" and dish out burley and masculine hand shakes...
Most Popular Question : "Why did I do it?"
Most Popular Answer : "Because after 7 years I either proposed or risked losing a few vital organs in my sleep, its a small price to pay!"
No but seriously, you know when you love somebody and nothing else matters, thats where I am right now and there's no better place.
As such that doesn't mean I havent loved Chep over the last 7 years, lets just say that if you were trying to build a castle from stone and people kept blunting your tools you wouldnt have much luck would you? - I hear all of you that know me saying "say no more"...thanks guys!
Are they saying "say no more" because they are lost, they just don't want me to start ranting or because they understand the glaringly obvious truth hidden behind a analogy? I dunno, but its out of good faith so i'll take it and love you all the more for it!
Most Popular Question : "Why did I do it?"
Most Popular Answer : "Because after 7 years I either proposed or risked losing a few vital organs in my sleep, its a small price to pay!"
No but seriously, you know when you love somebody and nothing else matters, thats where I am right now and there's no better place.
As such that doesn't mean I havent loved Chep over the last 7 years, lets just say that if you were trying to build a castle from stone and people kept blunting your tools you wouldnt have much luck would you? - I hear all of you that know me saying "say no more"...thanks guys!
Are they saying "say no more" because they are lost, they just don't want me to start ranting or because they understand the glaringly obvious truth hidden behind a analogy? I dunno, but its out of good faith so i'll take it and love you all the more for it!
Hog Pants!!!
These little beauties couldn't escape my eye when shopping, only 1.20GBP and just what every grown man needs. Ladies and Gentlemen I introduce you to Hog Pants!!!!
And a close up on the little bad boys ;) (I know you want some LOM!!!)
And a close up on the little bad boys ;) (I know you want some LOM!!!)
What would a post be without a food review...
Now lets get to the important stuff, there are some two additional meals to shout about here in adelaide which it would be criminal for me not to let the world know about:
1. 3 Meat Outback Combo - RedBack Chargrill, Marion Shopping Centre, Food Court
This meal is pure heaven, admittedly faced with a dozen fast food outlets and a few random food outlets you never know what to choose. I picked this one as a bit of a wild card and it paid off!
The meal is $8.20 (3.28GBP) and consists of chargrilled chicken, pork, aussie steak and rice. The chicken and pork have a tasty barbeque flavour to them and the aussie steak is swimming in a delicious sauce. This is the kind of meal you would expect to find yourself eating when your drunk and raving about it the next day, only to find that when you try it sober it's awful. Only guess what you would try it and it would be just as delicious - Matt's wonderful world of food rating of 5/5!!!!
2. Organic Pizza - GoodLife Restaurant, Jetty Road, Glenelg
This was a restaurant Sel recommended having read that the english cricket team ate here and highlighted it as a bit of a hidden treasure (I'm still wondering if they poisened them with the way they performed though ;)). Apparantly the review said the place was nothing special to look at, but having climbed the two dozen steps to the upstairs restaurant we were greated with a wonderfully quaint and homely environment. The staff were pleasant and weren't the usual pretentious idiots you get in somewhere that claims to be organic ("Oh no sir our food is prepared by vessel virgins then marinated by the souls of 13 dead kings" - you get the picture).
Having been given a seat ouside on the veranda - we had a lovely view of glenelg highstreet and moseley square beyond. Granted the menu wasn't extensive but when people are trying to serve the best food it doesnt make it hard to choose, hmmm organic chicken, duck, shrimp - chicken it is! (The specials included a lamb curry pizza!lol) The pizza's came in two sizes 9" (for one) & 12" (for two) - worried that I would come across as glutonous I ordered a 9" with no starter and a side dish of veggies.
Waiter: "So you want a veggie pizza and a side order of veggies?"
Me: "You can never have enough veggies!"
Waiter: "I guess you're right"
Me.....So why did he bloody ask????? Noted: Only mistake of the evening!
The pizza and veggies were great! Tasty, fresh and had all the digestive enhancing ingredients you would expect of a large sunday lunch. The pizza alone would have been enough but with the veggies to share they really rammed us full lol!
With no further ado a Matt's wonderful world of food rating of 4/5
1. 3 Meat Outback Combo - RedBack Chargrill, Marion Shopping Centre, Food Court
This meal is pure heaven, admittedly faced with a dozen fast food outlets and a few random food outlets you never know what to choose. I picked this one as a bit of a wild card and it paid off!
The meal is $8.20 (3.28GBP) and consists of chargrilled chicken, pork, aussie steak and rice. The chicken and pork have a tasty barbeque flavour to them and the aussie steak is swimming in a delicious sauce. This is the kind of meal you would expect to find yourself eating when your drunk and raving about it the next day, only to find that when you try it sober it's awful. Only guess what you would try it and it would be just as delicious - Matt's wonderful world of food rating of 5/5!!!!
2. Organic Pizza - GoodLife Restaurant, Jetty Road, Glenelg
This was a restaurant Sel recommended having read that the english cricket team ate here and highlighted it as a bit of a hidden treasure (I'm still wondering if they poisened them with the way they performed though ;)). Apparantly the review said the place was nothing special to look at, but having climbed the two dozen steps to the upstairs restaurant we were greated with a wonderfully quaint and homely environment. The staff were pleasant and weren't the usual pretentious idiots you get in somewhere that claims to be organic ("Oh no sir our food is prepared by vessel virgins then marinated by the souls of 13 dead kings" - you get the picture).
Having been given a seat ouside on the veranda - we had a lovely view of glenelg highstreet and moseley square beyond. Granted the menu wasn't extensive but when people are trying to serve the best food it doesnt make it hard to choose, hmmm organic chicken, duck, shrimp - chicken it is! (The specials included a lamb curry pizza!lol) The pizza's came in two sizes 9" (for one) & 12" (for two) - worried that I would come across as glutonous I ordered a 9" with no starter and a side dish of veggies.
Waiter: "So you want a veggie pizza and a side order of veggies?"
Me: "You can never have enough veggies!"
Waiter: "I guess you're right"
Me.....So why did he bloody ask????? Noted: Only mistake of the evening!
The pizza and veggies were great! Tasty, fresh and had all the digestive enhancing ingredients you would expect of a large sunday lunch. The pizza alone would have been enough but with the veggies to share they really rammed us full lol!
With no further ado a Matt's wonderful world of food rating of 4/5
Saturday 10 February 2007
12 Songs
I've decided to formalise the insanity which is my love to creating new song titles by establishing a list of 12 song titles that will one day become an international best seller! "I know" - How exciting ;)
I've decided to start us off with a lovely little number I conjured up last tuesday when using a pedestrian crossing that connects the end of the Glenelg tram line and the beginning of Victoria Square's pedestrian pathways in Adeliade's CBD. The song's called "I found Mekka in the middle of the street". Yeah, yeah..wait ...i know...it makes it sound like mekka is something that is that easily identifiable, like a big red round ball, with the letters printed right across it. But come on, lets smooth the edges here, if we can't be a bit silly then why would I even have been born - wait, does that mean i'm a joke?? :S
I thought we could start it off by using the sound sample we took when in Dubai of the locals being called to prayer, then we enter into a Madness-esk Ska style verse....think its sounds like things that dreams are made of! I'm thinking we could kidnap the animator from the Gorillas and get him to do some funky animation depicting the whole song as if we were all banana people - you know yellow and really niave like the smurfs.
Lyrics are welcome aslong as they contain profane and non-sensical words which aim to cut as close to offending, but not, as possible - in order to push the boundaries of what is politically correct for us to say.
How does it sound? Awesome!
Note: In particular I'll be thoroughly disappointed if Father J can't oblige with a good few lyrics for verse one. I know you have the power within you Father J - release the madness.
I've decided to start us off with a lovely little number I conjured up last tuesday when using a pedestrian crossing that connects the end of the Glenelg tram line and the beginning of Victoria Square's pedestrian pathways in Adeliade's CBD. The song's called "I found Mekka in the middle of the street". Yeah, yeah..wait ...i know...it makes it sound like mekka is something that is that easily identifiable, like a big red round ball, with the letters printed right across it. But come on, lets smooth the edges here, if we can't be a bit silly then why would I even have been born - wait, does that mean i'm a joke?? :S
I thought we could start it off by using the sound sample we took when in Dubai of the locals being called to prayer, then we enter into a Madness-esk Ska style verse....think its sounds like things that dreams are made of! I'm thinking we could kidnap the animator from the Gorillas and get him to do some funky animation depicting the whole song as if we were all banana people - you know yellow and really niave like the smurfs.
Lyrics are welcome aslong as they contain profane and non-sensical words which aim to cut as close to offending, but not, as possible - in order to push the boundaries of what is politically correct for us to say.
How does it sound? Awesome!
Note: In particular I'll be thoroughly disappointed if Father J can't oblige with a good few lyrics for verse one. I know you have the power within you Father J - release the madness.
Saturday 3 February 2007
A place in the sun...
Soo we arrived back in Adelaide...slept, panicked, ate and then panicked a little more.
At first all looked bleak, then as if by the magic of a lone wizard disbursing all his might to escape certain death, we found a new rental place. It's wicked, comes with three blonde swedish house maids, a fat bar tender to fetch beer, and a collie and a wolf ...Excellent!
If i said anymore on the subject I would be diluting its sheer beauty - heaven forbid. Signing out!
At first all looked bleak, then as if by the magic of a lone wizard disbursing all his might to escape certain death, we found a new rental place. It's wicked, comes with three blonde swedish house maids, a fat bar tender to fetch beer, and a collie and a wolf ...Excellent!
If i said anymore on the subject I would be diluting its sheer beauty - heaven forbid. Signing out!
Saturday 27 January 2007
Pies...
If i were to say who ate all the pies, you would normally pick out the largest man in the surrounding 5 miles and all point. After this little jaunt around Oz I would just say "Australians"....no don't get me wrong they're not all fat...they just love pies. And you know what? I think I love them too!
This has prompted a new chapter in my life entitled, "There's always room for a pie!".
UPDATE: Here's the Mister Pie place in Brisbane - told ya , told ya ! lol
This has prompted a new chapter in my life entitled, "There's always room for a pie!".
UPDATE: Here's the Mister Pie place in Brisbane - told ya , told ya ! lol
To Brisbane or not to Brisbane....Rated PG
We arrived in a flash after 12 hours on the greyhound bus...
It was awesome, like being sprayed in the eyes with Sulphuric Acid and stabbed in the primordial blow pipe with a slimy sheesh kebab. No, no, no...not real, just sillyness, sounded like a great opening line though.
We booked into the Ibis hotel at 135 / 125 AUD a night and then went on a mad one around town collecting info on brisbane. Went back to the hotel, Chep crashed then so did I. Two hours later we awoke had tea then crashed again - day one dusted!
Now at this point you see that I could go into detail on day two, three ...67 and so on but no not I - why would I give you all useful info thats not my job - I'm here to make you realise the madness of what is really happening here - midlife crises' at 26!
*Ahem* - First bombshell - Brisbane has no beaches - Queue family fortune wrong answer noise. FWAK!!!! What the hell? How did we miss that? "Sure lets cruise down to the wet lands and roll around in mud" - cool bring on the swedish chicks and you'll have a hit american tv show - buts thats just not life is it guys!
Second bombshell - we feel were in the wrong place - Queue family fortune wrong answer noise. BJOING!!!! Really not that surprising considering point one and the fact we have spent two days scouring for potential rental locations. Nothing makes the Gut instinct monster stop its blood curdling screams. What can we do - book hotel and flights to Adelaide thats what - credit card hit - now were off...
No thanks Brisbane, you can take your potential american tv show "Naked Swedish Chicks - Aussie Wetlands Special" and broadcast it into you own ass! Adelaide here we come....
Note: Apologies for the profuse use of vulgarities used throughout but for gods sake, this isnt playschool this is credit card bending mistakes at an international level - the rant will subside in about 3 days, whereby normal blog entries will resume. Ouch!
It was awesome, like being sprayed in the eyes with Sulphuric Acid and stabbed in the primordial blow pipe with a slimy sheesh kebab. No, no, no...not real, just sillyness, sounded like a great opening line though.
We booked into the Ibis hotel at 135 / 125 AUD a night and then went on a mad one around town collecting info on brisbane. Went back to the hotel, Chep crashed then so did I. Two hours later we awoke had tea then crashed again - day one dusted!
Now at this point you see that I could go into detail on day two, three ...67 and so on but no not I - why would I give you all useful info thats not my job - I'm here to make you realise the madness of what is really happening here - midlife crises' at 26!
*Ahem* - First bombshell - Brisbane has no beaches - Queue family fortune wrong answer noise. FWAK!!!! What the hell? How did we miss that? "Sure lets cruise down to the wet lands and roll around in mud" - cool bring on the swedish chicks and you'll have a hit american tv show - buts thats just not life is it guys!
Second bombshell - we feel were in the wrong place - Queue family fortune wrong answer noise. BJOING!!!! Really not that surprising considering point one and the fact we have spent two days scouring for potential rental locations. Nothing makes the Gut instinct monster stop its blood curdling screams. What can we do - book hotel and flights to Adelaide thats what - credit card hit - now were off...
No thanks Brisbane, you can take your potential american tv show "Naked Swedish Chicks - Aussie Wetlands Special" and broadcast it into you own ass! Adelaide here we come....
Note: Apologies for the profuse use of vulgarities used throughout but for gods sake, this isnt playschool this is credit card bending mistakes at an international level - the rant will subside in about 3 days, whereby normal blog entries will resume. Ouch!
Surfin - Ewwwwiiiii
Well what can I say? This was going to be a test and a half - and boy was I right!
Day one - surfing on broken waves - i.e. once the wave has crashed then you try and catch it. One down fall - you have about 5 seconds to ride the wave, that includes trying to get on your board and stand up. If you fall off, which you most likely will the first 5 years, then you inevitably scrape your knees on the sand - my knees bled! :( Above all that, it was awesome!
Day two - surfing from the green zone - i.e. paddle out to behind where the waves break, sit on your board and chill then choose a wave and paddle like bilio! One problem - I couldn't balance and was wobbling more than a weeble - and I did fall down - out of my depth in the sea. Was very uncomfortable for little old 6'6" me and decided that following a single attempt to catch a wave I would no longer be going into the green zone without sufficient number of well trusted friends! (Keilloh, Greg, Adi, Ant, Aikman, Jones, Liggett - where were you all?)
Day three to five - bailed! And left for Brisbane on the greyhound bus.
Surfin looks awesome fun - but without feeling comfortable out of your depth in the ocean then your screwed - royally! Sorry guys I failed!
Next try will be in the company of nearest and dearest only - surfers are just too laid back to save your life - remember that kids!
Day one - surfing on broken waves - i.e. once the wave has crashed then you try and catch it. One down fall - you have about 5 seconds to ride the wave, that includes trying to get on your board and stand up. If you fall off, which you most likely will the first 5 years, then you inevitably scrape your knees on the sand - my knees bled! :( Above all that, it was awesome!
Day two - surfing from the green zone - i.e. paddle out to behind where the waves break, sit on your board and chill then choose a wave and paddle like bilio! One problem - I couldn't balance and was wobbling more than a weeble - and I did fall down - out of my depth in the sea. Was very uncomfortable for little old 6'6" me and decided that following a single attempt to catch a wave I would no longer be going into the green zone without sufficient number of well trusted friends! (Keilloh, Greg, Adi, Ant, Aikman, Jones, Liggett - where were you all?)
Day three to five - bailed! And left for Brisbane on the greyhound bus.
Surfin looks awesome fun - but without feeling comfortable out of your depth in the ocean then your screwed - royally! Sorry guys I failed!
Next try will be in the company of nearest and dearest only - surfers are just too laid back to save your life - remember that kids!
Sydney or should I say Sidney...
We arrived in Sydney on another glamorously sunny aussie afternoon, having been given a lift by a fellow traveller called Catherine and her excellent other half called Mas (short for the italian version of maximillion - the translated name escapes me - although for comedy value i'll say it was massimorethanyoupaidfor). Mas and Catherine are a diamond of a couple and helped us along our travels hugely - much to Cheps denial Mas did actually carry her bag for some considerable distance just out of pure Chivelry - you don't get many guys like that!
Geez I nearly gave you a full break down of day one then - that was close. For intricate details of each day please check cheps blog .
What can I tell you about Sydney then hmmm...well as usual here are my bitesize bbc chunks of revision info:
Things I liked the most:
Geez I nearly gave you a full break down of day one then - that was close. For intricate details of each day please check cheps blog .
What can I tell you about Sydney then hmmm...well as usual here are my bitesize bbc chunks of revision info:
Things I liked the most:
- The international food court at Myers - Roast Dinner for 3 quid - bargain!
- Shark Hotel - Steak and Mash for 2.50 - bargain!
- Lovely Harbour and boardwalk inc. water taxis
- Aquarium - inc. Penguins & Crocodile
- The amount of walking - my poor feet - OUCH!
- The extent of commercialism - well done but poor show - just too much like a UK city!
- The sharks in the aquarium - Pure evil ....kill,die!!! (and breathe)
- The Travel Lodge being so posh compared to the uk - nice work!
- Burning my ass off as we sat on the sydney tour bus for an hour in the roasting sun
- Another traveller telling me that one of the legal brothals was raided and loads of English people came out - nice work guys, keep up that glowing reputatation.
Sunday 14 January 2007
Great Ocean Road & Melbourne
Guys as you can imagine by now this is my second post within the same hour...not that i'm in intolerant person but am pretty flippant! So I apologise in advance for tha lack of detail but I'll give you whats at the forefront of my mind...
Ocean Road - lots of scenic rocks and sea, lovely but once you have seen one - my god!
Melbourne.....hmmm not soo sure about this place, seems a bit too much like home...i.e. why is it being left to get messy? Could just be my impression but hey this time i'm prepared to go with gut instinct! Queue family fortune wrong answer noise "eeeuuuu".
Melbourne you are out of the running for Sel & Matts Next Top Home...goodbye!
This is what we had to do the drive in, was pretty cool, albeit Automatisch!
Ocean Road - lots of scenic rocks and sea, lovely but once you have seen one - my god!
Melbourne.....hmmm not soo sure about this place, seems a bit too much like home...i.e. why is it being left to get messy? Could just be my impression but hey this time i'm prepared to go with gut instinct! Queue family fortune wrong answer noise "eeeuuuu".
Melbourne you are out of the running for Sel & Matts Next Top Home...goodbye!
This is what we had to do the drive in, was pretty cool, albeit Automatisch!
Adelaide
Basically I really liked it, very tidy & pretty place. Some lovely places to chill out in the sun and it still felt quite layed back. Is winning so far in the bid to become Sel & Matts next top home!
(Notice the subtle relation to the "America's Next Top Model" programme....what "No???"...ahh forget it!)
Hardly had enough time here really, but in short it had some obvious cultural aspects such as theatre and the arts, some modernised areas for the shopoholics (*cough* SPAN), and also some excellent areas just just unwind (and avoid DIY *cough* LOM).
My favourite plus point though is that its a few hours drive from some awesome countryside - which would make excellent camping locations for the weekend!
Adelaide you have raised the bar! Bring it on...
(Notice the subtle relation to the "America's Next Top Model" programme....what "No???"...ahh forget it!)
Hardly had enough time here really, but in short it had some obvious cultural aspects such as theatre and the arts, some modernised areas for the shopoholics (*cough* SPAN), and also some excellent areas just just unwind (and avoid DIY *cough* LOM).
My favourite plus point though is that its a few hours drive from some awesome countryside - which would make excellent camping locations for the weekend!
Adelaide you have raised the bar! Bring it on...
Tuesday 9 January 2007
What Of Australian Beer...
This is a post just for LOM in response to his request for details of Ozzy Beer. Whilst in Perth I tried two beers:
Update! Whilst on the "Neighbours Night" in Melbourne *sigh* I tried a few more beers to ease the pain:
- Little Creatures - lager brewed in Fremantle, WA. Tasted good, real good - kinda like staropramen but not as good
- Victoria Beer - lager brewed in Victoria. Standard not too hot
- Fargher Lager - Pretty damn tasty. In fact I had more than one, more like 6! Bad news in high heat, head really hurt the next day! Bloody lovey though - not sure if I liked the taste oir the fact it was chilled! Hmmm..
Update! Whilst on the "Neighbours Night" in Melbourne *sigh* I tried a few more beers to ease the pain:
- Hahn Premium Lager - Very generic, nothing to special at all - may aswell have been Carlsberg!
- James Squire - Golden Ale - Pretty sharp but tasty, not sure how many of these I had but it was all good!
Will keep you updated mate!! :)
What Of the Bush...
Wow, what can I say guys...I have had 6 days of full on travelling, camping and walking round some of Australia's most phenomenal places. Here's a quick run down of where we've gone, and what they mean to me:
Day One
Day One
- Alice Springs - Middle Of Oz, small but kinda cool & weird.
- Kings Canyon - Whats can say its a canyon, which we walked around - and I nearly died! 41 degrees in the shade, not a time to do a 5.5 Km walk.
Day Two
- Uluru - A rock, but a big, cool rock. 11km base walk, Dreamtime stories which the aboriginals study and a few stories which I made up! Hilarious ;)
- KataTyuta - Lots of little rocks, but kinda cool
Day Three
- Coober Pedy - Opal capital of the world, underground houses, F**king roasting but kinda interesting place
Day Four
- Rawksley Park, Flinders Ranges - My favorite, just like butt split mountain - if I never see anywhere again then I will be happy! If i do see somewhere again then it would be here - kinda makes sense in a what are you on about kinda way! Lost my voice somewhere here.
Day Five
- Parachilna - Population of 6, nothing there but a pub - what can i say folks its all you need. Liked it really liked it! Also tried camel sausages, emu burgers and kangaroo steak - tasty!
Day Six
- Hawkers - No idea, just a train station that was heavily used during the second world war
- Wilmington - Broke down here for 4.5 hours, had a great steak sandwich.
- Adelaide - Got here at 11:30pm - looks good! Found my voice here in my shoe!
It's been excellent, I could do detail overkill but to be honest the above covers the essentials and if any of you guys do the same I wanna leave a bit to your imagination. One hint dont forget to have enough water - Jesus....
Monday 1 January 2007
What Of Perth...
Ok, for those who want the slimmed down overview here goes, the negative points:
- Want late food? Forget it - everywhere closes down from 9pm onwards!
- Bit to quiet to be honest, I would question if you would get a tad bored here or not?
The positive points:
- Very layed-back city, little traffic and warm friendly people
- Beautiful scenery, open and spacious
- Excellent weather, warm with a nice breeze
The things I'll never forget:
- Jellyfish in the Swan River - bit weird!
- Wandering round late feeling starving and not being able to get food! :( Then resorting to hotel food again! doh! ...Although it did seem the best food ever once I was eating it!
- The rabbits in room 204 - god bless 'em!
Think that once we settle down in Brisbane, Barry will definately be right. Screw you - Nancy Queen of Mordor!
Next... Alice Springs and the 6 Day Safari to Adelaide
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