Grandma and Grandpa meet Oliver

Ollie's Grandparents (my parents) came to the UK to visit their firstborn grandchild in mid Jan. They were pretty excited to see him even after 24 hours on a plane! It was a pretty quick visit though as they had to get back to Australia after a couple of weeks for work and other things.

Mum extended her stay by a few days and she was rewarded on the 2nd of Feb with 8 inches of snow when we woke up! It was pretty amazing, the most snow in 18 years they reckon. I woke up for work and the first thing I heard was 'district line closed due to snow'. Thats one of the trains I catch to work so I was pretty excited and called it a snow day!

The day was pretty bizzare, it seems that half of London didnt bother going to work and headed out to have snowball fights and make snowmen!

It's getting cold again...

Usually around twice a year I notice a distinct change in the weather. Its that time that you first realise that your clothing is going to change. In spring it means that I now think its fine to wear thongs (flip flops for the English) and shorts at all times when I go to the shops.

Well last Wednesday I noticed that its now cold. This coincided with the leaves falling off the trees and Londoners wearing coats, not just the tourists!

A quiet few weeks but about to go off again!

Since we went to the polo we haven't been up to much out of the ordinary. Work, pre-season rugby training and just going out with friends in London.

But this week, we are heading somewhere new again - Cyprus! I have map of Europe at my desk at work with the countries coloured in where we have been. So using that I try to figure out new trips to do. We have been to pretty well every country in Western Europe so now to look for new places we have to start heading to Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, Russia and North Africa.

I have an idea for a road trip for next year (who knows if it will happen) but it basically involves a trip across Scandinavia, down the Baltic states, through eastern Europe in to the top of the Balkans (old Yugoslavia) - touch the water - and then drive home. Lets see if I can make that happen for about this time next year. not much point going in winter as we might turn in to icicles!

So anyhow, this Friday we are going to Cyprus for 5 days and then jetting over to Malta for 5 days. We are meeting up with our friends again who we went with last year Bryce and Emma. They have a website set up now and I feature on the front page! (I'm the one on the right jumping out of the water). If you want to check it out see: http://www.maltasunfest.com/

Next post hopefully we'll have some tales to tell of Cyprus and Malta!

Polo lessons followed by the Cartier International Polo

One has had a most lovely weekend on the weekend just gone. One (Adam) had a polo lesson on Saturday with a few friends down near Brighton followed by a swim at the beach. This was then followed by a spiffing day out at the Cartier International Polo match held at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Park. Unfortunately 'One' (the Queen) was away in Scotland however Prince Charles was in attendance and we watched 2 polo matches. In the first match the Prince of Wales team played against Hurlingham. In a blow to Charlie, his team lost the match.

The premier event of the day was England Versus Australia consisting of 6 chukkas (6 x 7min period). In what turned out to be a close and very hotly contested affair, England squeezed out Australia 10 - 9. On field entertainment was provided by 3 blokes who decided to streak accross the field near the end of the match. A spokeswoman for the club said "I think it is the hot weather and the Pimms to blame. These things happen." (check out the BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7527930.stm)

Twenty20 Cricket at Lords

A sunny Wednesday evening at Lords Cricket Ground to watch Middlesex V Sussex in Twenty20 cricket was just the ticket!

I went with a few friends to watch some county cricket. Since we live in Middlesex I thought it was appropriate that I barrack for them. A few tinnies and a packet of chips (crisps to the English) made for a civilized evening during which Middlesex thoroughly beat Sussex! Jolly good show...

Foo Fighters and Spamalot

Last weekend Melinda and I went in to central London to see if we could get some cheap tickets and see a West End show. We ended up getting some front row balcony seats to Spamalot, a musical based on the Monty Python movies - in particular The Holy Grail. Its main character is played by Alan Dale - that bloke that played Jim in Neighbors and also plays the big boss in Ugly Betty (yes that show with Salma Hayek in it). It was pretty funny and prompted me to keep telling Melinda for the rest of the day that 'I fart in your general direction!' (You'll get that if you've seen the movie!)

While were in town, a mate called and said that he'd just split with his girlfriend and as such had a spare ticket to Foo Fighters who were playing at Wembley that night! So I took Melinda home and turned around to head to Wembley. Now I presumed that my mate had seated tickets as it was a sold out concert and he didn't mention otherwise. So I just wore some jeans and a good t-shirt. Had I of known that he had general admission tickets, I would have taken only keys, cash and maybe one debit card, sealed them in a pocket of some shorts and worn an old t-shirt!

Anyhow, we didn't get too close to the front (you should have seen the sweat drenched people coming out of the front rows!) and it was a great concert. I didn't realise just how many Foo Fighters songs I like! Then for an encore, 2 blokes from Led Zeppelin came out and played a couple of songs with Dave Grohl (lead singer) and the drummer! Score!!!!!!!

A sign?

I updated the blog last Sunday but one thing I didn't mention is that I was doing it on the couch with my foot in the air wrapped in ice! I was playing rugby last weekend and while jumping in the lineout (for AFL people that's where someone throws it in from the side and people get lifted in the air to try and get the ball - I get lifted) I came down and someones foot was under my heel when I landed. Someone heard a crack and I felt a lot of pain and the first thought that came in to my head was 'oh shit I'm going to be in plaster at the wedding...'

I spent Sunday and Monday on crutches and after my foot swelled to the size of an ugh boot at work, I thought it might be a good idea to go and get an x-ray. After 3 hours in A&E I had the x-ray and the nurse came back and said 'it's not broken, see ya'. I was quite relieved and went home and rang Melinda. I hadn't told her up until then as I didn't want to ring up and say 'I might have a broken ankle...'

Its getting better now and I can walk on it which is handy. There has been some excellent colours coming out in my foot and the swelling even managed to travel to my toes so now I have bruising in my toes! (Ever seen that before?) I saw the club physio who told me I was very lucky not to break it... Kudos to me eh?

Yeah yeah no posts...but I'm back now!

I have just updated the blog with a heap of photos and crapped on a bit about what I have been doing. Since we got back to London, there hasn't been too much activity on the travelling front so unless you want to hear about a few nights out or rugby training/games, theres not much to talk about.

I got elected captain of my rugby team this year and so far we have played one league game (plus 3 friendlies - an oxymoron in rugby) and we won it so we are on 100% success for now. I have been going to training and working and not too much else. We have our wedding coming up in December and my sisters wedding in early November. So we are both heading back to Melbourne on 28th of October. Melinda is staying on and I am coming back after about 6 days.

I must admit I got excited today about the blog when I read the blog of a mate of a mate who is most of the way through riding a DR 650 motorbike from Japan to Denmark to visit his girlfriend. For the geographically challenged, this involves getting a ferry from Japan to Vladivostok in Russia and then all the way across Russia (with a detour through Mongolia) in to eastern Europe.

I am very jealous as I have been thinking for a couple of years of how to ride a motorbike from London to Melbourne overland. Not to mention wanting to travel overland from Cape Town to Cairo, or Finland through the Baltic states and the Balkans to Albania. I guess this is the result of watching too much Alby Mangles with my Dad as a kid!!

A brick lane curry

Mick and Adam near Brick Lane

Well Mum and Dad have swept through again. They got back from Ireland yesterday in the afternoon and off to Paris on the Eurostar (train that goes under the English channel) early this morning. You might have heard people say 'if you want to get the best Indian curry in the world, go to London'. Brick lane is famous in London for having heaps of curry houses, all 'very good quality' and good price.

Margaret, Mick and Adam - ready to drive a hard bargain!

So we went over there on the tube (it is in East London and I live in West London) and did a lap of the street. We were assured by touts out the front of nearly every door that their chef had won a brick lane chef competition and that we could have 20 or 30% off with a free pint of Cobra (Indian beer) each.

Margaret and Mick in London? Looks more like India!

The curry was excellent although it was very very mild. I think they cater for people with bland tastes. But if I go back, I'll ask for just a little bit more hot...

Visas all round

Well finally it has come through - the new UK visa has been approved. So now all I have to do is go home and get it in my passport and collect Melinda. I also just got another visa - an Indian visa! It looks like I might be off to India for a month for work. However, as is the nature of the work that I do, I'll believe it when I'm on the plane and taking off!!

Mum and Dad in London

My (Adam’s) Mum and Dad have been in the UK now for nearly 2 weeks. So far I have taken them on a trip through Wales, shown them around London (as well as seeing some sights myself!) and they have done a trip to the lake district and around Kent.

Today they have left for a week in Ireland complete with my sat nav which should guide them nicely around the island of Ireland. I am still waiting to hear about a visa which will allow Melinda to come back to the UK and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to make them hurry up. It’s ironic because I, probably like the majority of other people who have never had to deal with immigration officials, used to see people on TV winging about visas etc and think ‘oh well, who cares that’s their problem!’. Now when we are in that situation its really quite annoying!!

Nevermind, I have settled back in to London life and managed to get tickets to the Guiness Premiership Final (which is like the AFL or NRL Grand Final of English Rugby). Even better, my team Gloucester was playing! But they lost to Leicester and never really put on much of a show. The day wasn't lost though as I went to my rugby club's dinner and dance at the Queens Club where they have the Stella Artois tennis comp just before Wimbeldon. A bit of fun wearing a tux and some flash food...

Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham

Visitors in London

We have just had our friends Mark and Lisa over for a visit for a week. So it has been a week of going out for beers, dinner, beers followed by dinner and then a day trip to the Cotswolds. Its only a couple of days until we are heading back home for a month!

A feast fit for a king

A month and a half in the dark London winter...

Well the dates on my blog dont lie, I have been very slack in updating the blog. The weather has been getting better and better and today people seem to be coming alive as the weather warms up and the blossom comes out.

So here is an update since my last blog which was just after we went to Morocco:
- we went and watched the Socceroos (Aussie Soccer/football team) play against Denmark at the Queens Park Rangers ground in Shepherds bush
- played rugby every weekend
- watching rugby nearly every weekend
- being 'forced' to meet with friends every weekend and go out in London
- work
- visited my mate in Cambridge
- Sunday morning fry up breakfasts at my local 'greasy spoon'

So it has been a reasonably quiet time just enjoying London life.

Snow in London!!

Woke up this morning, looked outside and there was about 2cm of snow covering everything!!!!

I have been slack with updating the blog but there hasn't been too much to report so far this year since New Years Eve. Just work and playing rugby on the weekends. Any how, we are about to depart the British Isles again for a few days in Morocco!!

Since its Melinda's birthday on Australia day - 26th Jan, and my (Adam's) birthday on 1st of Feb, we decided to go on a trip as our birthday presents. We are off to Marrakesh staying in the old part of town where apparently you need a guide to find your hotel as the streets are small and unnamed.

So stay tuned and there should be another entry and some pics next week!!

'Tis the season to attend work do's

With nothing planned holiday wise until Christmas (yes it will be 1 whole month without leaving the UK!!), there is not much else to do other than to attend work Christmas parties. This is one thing the English seem to excel at - inventing 3 or 4 different reasons (and dates) to get the company to pay for everyone to get stuck in the Christmas cheer. I for one am happy with this local custom, and being the seasoned traveller that I am, I have embraced the local culture and by Christmas day will have attended at least 4 Christmas do's.

Only other thing occurring other than work and rugby and do's is getting the Wagen ready for our Christmas holiday to the French Alps!! We are going to Sainte Foy for a week of snowboarding and presents!! So it is now at the mechanics getting a service.

London Life

Well we havent been up to too much in the last couple of weeks so here is a quick rundown on typical life in London (well for us anyway). Melinda is working as a relief teacher so she doesnt usually know where she is working until the morning. Sometimes she has to get up and get dressed and ready and just wait for someone to call!

I (Adam) am working for an Engineering company in Hammersmith. Its an easy walk to work which is much better than getting the tube (the train), but it can get a bit cold when there is a frost about! Friday lunch times for me usually means a quick couple of pints of bitter (cellar temperature - flat beer) down at a local with the blokes at work. I am trying see if I can try every beer in the UK, but it will probably take a few years and a few livers to do that!

On the weekends I usually play Rugby for a local club and then down to the club pub for a few refreshing beers after the match. Sundays often ends up as our day to jump in the car and head off around England checking out some tourist sites. So far we have been to Stonehenge, Bath and Brighton. The picture on the right is one that I took when we went to Bath late last year from inside the old Roman Baths, looking out at the Abbey.

Well this weekend we are heading over to Amsterdam for the weekend which should be an experience. We'll write more about that when we get back.