Seen in a single view

new blog

2006-08-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

I have started a new blog. It will be focused on my day-to-day work life. I will be posting on a far more regular basis than I have ever done here. If you are keen then check it out at - http://niquimerret.com/. Yeah I joined the masses and got my own name!

This is not a goodbye to this blog as I will still be posting pics of my travels here. My next trip is to Austin, Texas for FlashForward. I’ll defiantly have pics up then :D

flowers in Marburg

2006-07-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Leaving Bruges

2006-07-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

Cycle to Damma

2006-07-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Afternoon of wonderings

2006-07-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

Bruges

2006-07-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most beautiful towns I have been to. It quite small and within 2 days we had a very good idea of where things were and how to get around. We stayed in a cute B&B called Burges by night - http://www.brugesbynight.be/. Between that B&B and some of the others that I have stayed in I wonder why I would really wanna stay in a hotel when travelling? Well, ok, if it 1 could do ***** the whole time that would be great! B&B’s are so personal and often the owners have put in so much effort into the ambiance and style of the place that hotels could never match.

On arrival, after my little phone drama was sorted, we wondered down to the main square to do some tourist drinking.

I introduced my mother to Kwak. After learning the hard way in Barcelona to not order the large (1l sangria arrived) we ordered the medium. It was still huge. So now I’ll just order small – wherever I am!

Not 1 to get stuck in a location we wonder off to see what else is on…. We wonder down a little ally and what do we see? A rock concert. What are the chances? We have arrived on a Flemish holiday and they are celebrating Flemish rock music ☺ So what would any normal person do? We got some beer and joined in! It was called Burgrock. http://home.scarlet.be/~wb180344/

My favourite out of them all was Jinxs. You can listen to them on mySpace. http://www.myspace.com/jinxstheband

The phone curse!

2006-07-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Somewhere, somehow I have picked up a phone curse! I can’t believe it but my phone was stolen. Yeah another 1 this year. Thank goodness for the insurance I have as they are sending me a new phone – no problems. The biggest inconvenience is phone numbers – I’m gonna be missing a few. To think I had finally set up the phone so all was running well. The new one is gonna come with the Vodaphone stuff on it so I’m gonna have to get that removed. I got the last 1 from Nokia direct so did not have to worry about all the extra rubbish that Vodaphone adds. It’ll be interesting to see how the newer phone runs as my old N80 was very buggy and I know they have patched the software.

Happy birthday mom ☺

2006-06-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

To celebrate we did a trip to Wimbledon to watch the tennis. I’m not the biggest tennis fan in the world and have not actually watched in many years but it was mom’s birthday and that was what she wanted to do.

We went nice and early and ended up at the back of a very, very long queue! The queue cards were a very good idea – talk about making the queue an event in itself.

Feliciano Lopez from Spain

The brit - Alan Mackin

Last assignment

2006-06-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

The elements…

Brent’s in London town!

2006-06-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Went out for dinner/drinks with Brent and Judith. I could not help but carry on with my camera….

day 3

2006-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Portraits

Course day 2

2006-06-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

The next assignment was to do a photo essay in china town.

Photography course

2006-06-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while it is important to do something for yourself…
My treat is a photography course. The end of day 1 we got an assignment. Take some motion pics and self-portraits.

This would have been better if it had been a nicer car...

Not very good at taking pics of me...

Random pics of London

Friday evening at Agency Republic

2006-06-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

Agency Republic has the most amazing view from the roof. I have been working on the 5th floor for nearly 5 months. This was the first game of the world cup and we had a Friday evening BBQ. The sky was amazing and with a bit of random inspiration I attempt to capture it with my phone!!! Not bad pics for a phone though…

Egg catching...

2006-06-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

The Friday challenge this week… Has it ever occurred to you to catch an egg in a bucket on your head? Well not something I ever thought of! And yet someone thought of it… So the challenge was to catch an egg in a bucket attached to the head. The egg was to be dropped off the 5th floor!

Well I did enjoy watching the process of getting Russ dressed up to do a test run. He had a bin bag around him to protect his clothes… A motorbike helmet and a bowl attached to the top.

And the final result - he did catch a few eggs ☺

Airbus

2006-05-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

With everyone in the office i'm currently at collecting on the roof i can't not in find out what's up. Silly me for forgetting the flight of the new airbus. It was a bit of a let down when it looked so small... But no its not small.. It appears that was a normal sized one. It was very clever or total fluke but it gave us an idea of size difference. The new one is huge! It was so funny standing in a large group on a roof in the middle of london with everyone looking in one direction holding up cameras and camera phones.. It felt like one of those alien movies where you know, as a viewer, that they are making a huge mistake! Oh well - no bomb was dropped and i got a pic with my phone!

(Not bad concidering its a phone...)

New phones.. Again!

2006-05-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

New phones.. Just got the new nokia N80. Its a bit different to any other phone i have used- not that i have used that many phones. Its short and fat. The only real complaint i have it is a bit on the slow side. I wonder if i put it next to my mac a did a test on start up time the mac would win. My pc might even win that race as well. Anything is quicker than my old pc at bt though.. Talk about the longest start up in the world!

I think the best thing about this phone compared to any others i have played with is the browser. I got it direct from nokia so don't have the rubbish that service providers put on it. I found out though if you are stuck with that you can in to the high street stores and get them to pull it off. Martin got the N70 from vodafone and had to get another browser - Opra - because the vodafone one was rubbish. Still gotta work out how to post directly from my phone.. This was not that successful - but it made it in the end and thats what counts.

last few hours of wondering

2006-04-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

Olympic art?

Loved the Nazi touch…

more birds!

Balcony conversations…

Montserrat tour

2006-04-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

Another day of wonderings…

2006-04-22T23:40:00.000-07:00

We ended up at the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. It’s great how its turned into a skate park for the locals.

What’s new putty-tat?

Arc de Triumf in Barcelona

2006-04-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

There was some kind of rally/protest going on here. Could not work out what it was but it seem to be a general human & animal rights story?

harbour

2006-04-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

Statue of Christopher Columbus

2006-04-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

Olympic village fountain.

2006-04-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

flamenco

2006-04-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

We decided to do the whole story and see a flamenco show. Very very use over the top! The performers looked unimpressed - but we were told that’s how they are supposed to look.

never ask for the large.....

2006-04-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

randomly wondering down side streets...

2006-04-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

feed the birds?

2006-04-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

city wonderings

2006-04-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

After a fun night of pointing, talking loudly and slowly and being laughed at we decided to see what was around. We took a map and that was how we spent most of out time.

This was just up the road from our hotel.

We then went to see La Pedrera by Antoni Gaudi.

Old fashioned civil engineering… Checking the stresses of the structural beams and columns.

Happy birthday martin!

2006-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

First time to Barcelona for both of us. We are of course both very good with Spanish... Not! Its the first time in a long time i have been to a place where if they don't speak English then there my only form of communication is arm waving, pointing and the typical British method of talking loud and slow... It was all the tomato's fault. All I wanted was a Bloody Mary… Should not be to hard? Martin saved my thirst by going back to the hotel to find out what it was in Spanish. You'll never guess…

So much for spring..

2006-04-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Comedy café

2006-04-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hiding? You know we’ll get you eventually…
Rachel and Oli – what are the chances that we’d end up for a night out together? They both work at Agency Republic where I am contracting.

Tink, Nick (hidden behind Tink), Oli, Rachel (knew we’d get her), Aral’s students who I did not know, Aral, me, Martin.

Tink and Nick

Tequila and Champaign slammer… Bad us!

Moving onto the next venue!

the start of spring...

2006-03-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

But its only a small start...

Visiting London…

2006-03-27T23:37:00.000-08:00

A night out with some of my Leeds group ☺ It was a great meal… We went to Rodizio Rico in Angel. Great place just don’t get the Sangria! Talk about over priced! The company made up for it though.

Wondering down the side streets of Paris.

2006-03-26T23:56:00.000-08:00

Amélie

2006-03-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

If you have not seen this movie... You have to!

Balloons

2006-03-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

Emilie and I went to see her brother, his wife Olga and the lovely little Mila. Mila is such a happy little girl – full of energy!

Philippe showed off some of his balloon making skills. Mila was loving it :)

Finger skills...

The monkey...

My first dog...
(sorry for those against animal testing... he went through a bit of it!!!)

untitled

2006-03-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

I mean what can i say?

I love Paris in the morning...

2006-03-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

After a very sunny start to the day things got a little cloudy. We would have gone out sooner but we were too busy enjoying a feast from the local bakery!

We decided to explore the area when Emilie lives. On walking around we came across this little entrance. When walking in we discovered they were doing a photo shoot. I can just imagine that this very misleading entrance could be hiding some of the top models doing what they do best…

I loved this building. It captured the essence of the area that we were in.

Em enjoying showing off her wonderful city!

And this is what you see as you wonder down random side roads…

I wish I knew what this was called… will be asking Em.

Crossing the bridge of the Seine river.

At this point is started to rain so we went shopping instead… Then we came across this building!!! What can I say?

A monkey?

Paris - late arrival!

2006-03-25T02:37:00.000-08:00

After a long, busy week what better way to spend the weekend than visiting my good friend Emilie in Paris ☺

It was a very late arrival as I only leave work at 6pm… After dropping off my stuff we went for a walk though the streets. I was very surprised to see how many people were just walking around. None of the drunken lot that you would see in London at about that time – just groups of people on their way to the next location or home for the evening. The streets were well lit and I don’t think I have ever felt that safe walking around during the night.

Not a common site at 9pm on a Wednesday night!

2006-03-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

for those who are uptight about these things… I did not use a flash!

Working with creatives…

2006-03-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

These are actual people in the office!

Penthouse studio – top floor the glass house

2006-03-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

This is where I spend all my day light hours. The office is huge open plan. Often the glare can be a bit much so we always have the blinds down. Some of the random views…

Happy birthday Mich

2006-03-13T23:11:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday.

Off we went to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. www.gordonramsay.com. Gordon Ramsay is well known in the UK as a celebrity chef. His show – Hell’s kitchen – showed him to be really quite nasty!

It was quite a meal and the kind of restaurant that does not sign and dance for your birthday but they still did a little something for Mich ☺

Sushi at home

2006-03-06T23:07:00.000-08:00

We were very proud of our first attempt at making sushi at home!

Happy birthday me!

2006-02-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well what can I say – a lesson on making sushi with a Japanese chef is the best birthday present that I have had in years. Thanks Martin ☺

This is the result of our afternoon’s lesson.

Fun in Peterborough

2006-02-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

Remember the fun you used to have as a kid? The whole world was there to explore! Why do we now step around puddles instead of enjoying the splash?

Back in good ol’ London!

2006-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Well all I can say is – it cold!!!

So my new contract takes me to Battersea Bridge. On the river - on the 5th floor with views across London from most of the way around. But too cold to go out and take pics…

I am happy to say that for the next few months I am gonna be here with a quick train trip to Clapham and a short bus trip!

Happy New Years

2006-01-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

Year of the dog.

The pre stuff…

Coming in - in style?????

loved the lights

I like my cops glow in the dark!

A word from our sponsors…

Disney

Customs

Now that’s more what I was expecting…

Horseracing is a huge part of the New Years celebration.

Quite the building

Boat tour

2006-01-29T23:20:00.000-08:00

We were on a boat like this one.

In Amsterdam Lee & I went to the Sea Palace – the second biggest floating Chinese restaurant. This would be the biggest!

All the fishing boats had come in for the New Year.

The main fishing restaurants…
Apparently you get your own fish and they cook it!

Repulse Bay

2006-01-29T23:15:00.001-08:00

I have never seen as many buildings in one area in my life!!!!!!

2006-01-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

Tour

2006-01-29T23:12:00.000-08:00

Hong Kong

2006-01-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

My first day of wonderings lead me around Kwaloon. I went for a massage and spa treatment to help me recover from all my travels… Ah yeah – its hard work travelling!

Goodbye NZ

2006-01-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Matt took the morning off to chill with me and take me to the airport. We went for a drive around to some of the places I had not been to and then for a quick goodbye to Both Ingrid and Bronwyn.

The Maori

2006-01-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

We went into a bit of the history here. There are 2 things that have changed my thoughts on them…. The first I did know from before – They are not native to New Zealand and when they went across they killed all the locals! They other is they eat the body of people they kill to capture their spirit! Although they were not “cannibals” - yeah right!

Sanctuary

2006-01-26T22:50:00.000-08:00

Yeah another enclosed area with animals inside…. I know its very unlike me. This was for the simple reason that I had to see a Kiwi Bird. It was worth it. They are just so odd I could not believe it! I did try to take pics but it was dark and I was not allowed to use a flash so all I got were blurs of colour!

Kayaking

2006-01-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

After going through loads of brochures on NZ and the south island… My final choice was a day out on the water in Akaroa. I was lucky in that I was the only person ☺ That meant that we could do what I want to do – the way I like it! My guide, Dukota, was from Hawaii but he knew a lot about wheat was going on in NZ.

I took some pics with an underwater camera but have not gotten them developed yet. Will do soon….

So highlight from the day was seeing the dolphins – Hector Dolphins… They were swimming with us. We were just going across the harbour and they came up to us and swam around us. The best was when 1 of them, which was about 2m from me, jumped! It was so close – I could not believe it!

baaaa baaaa

2006-01-25T22:30:00.000-08:00

On the drive back I was surprised to see some sheep!

(Ok no really – there were sheep!!!!)

waterfall walk

2006-01-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

Maruia springs

2006-01-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Stop for the night. A nice light dinner and a few glasses of wine with Sarah – who worked there. A lovely evening. We ended off sitting in the hot springs in light rain enjoying the beauty of the world! This would be the next morning. I took pics from the night before but on a disposable camera and have not had the spool developed. Sarah had the day off so we just chilled together for a while.

Hokitika

2006-01-24T18:30:00.000-08:00

On my way to my next stop (I was not quite sure where that was gonna be) I had a lunch break. Got fish and chips and sat at the beach. I had read that the town was creative but was not expecting the beach art. It was lovely! Just random people had built things. It looked as though the town was promoting it as well.

Windmill

Fishhook

The Franz Josef Glacier

2006-01-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

If every trip has major highlights – this be my highlight! Not that the rest of my holiday was not totally amazing…

This little trip was just incredible. I was advised by Tracy & Bronwyn that doing the walk tour was not that great an idea and the ice time was limited… So I decided to take a helicopter to the top! Not gonna bore you with details. We landed up top after a 15 min or so flight. The pilot did a few fun turns and twists. He even got screams from some of the passengers – but then you know how some people can scream at anything…

We got shown how to walk in our new boots, were given our ice picks and then went off after Tobi. Being the nerd I am I had to be in front! I later discovered, after slipping back, that front was the best place to be as you got to see where he stepped and it made life easier! I also got to chat to him. A designer from the North Island – how I ask? I find someone who is a similar field to chat to! Well he gave it all up for a better life…

He told us all about how they are formed and all about the south island and New Zealand’s land in general. Very interesting.

Anyways – this is the company I used: http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/

All I can say is – next time I’m gonna try the ice climbing!

(and there will be a next time!)

So if you ever go to this part of the world – you HAVE to do this!

From a distance….

View on the way up

Making a path for us…

Surprising how comfortable this was - after the hike!

Telling us all about it – check the blood on his arm. That was a cut from the ice!

Self-portrait or horror movie?

Check how the ice is forming up in the water.

The Helipad…

Of course I could not settle for putting up 8 images… So I have a gallery: Franz Josef pictures

New Zealand - the start of the big trip

2006-01-23T21:22:00.000-08:00

WOW!

That is all I can say about this country! I have so many pics to put up i don't know where to start! Bronwyn & Matt kindly lent me a car and gave me many map books and tourist brochures. I had decided on the Franz Josef glacier as my target. So I woke up early and set of before 9am. I drove west all day across the country – from 1 coast to the other. You can see all the pics here: NZ Drive

Look at the colours of the water. So clear its amazing! Look at how the landscape changes - its only about 300km or so!

Do I need to say anything? Its just so beautiful!

You see the sign for possum? I stopped off here to taste. Not something I would recommend to anyone ☹ not normal for me to totally dislike something but this was bad!

Thanks goodness I did not need the loo!

In case you were wondering how the weather was...

window seats again!

2006-01-21T17:20:00.000-08:00

Tunnel

2006-01-21T16:20:00.000-08:00

Thought this was pretty. I’ll be looking out for it on my next visit. That may be a few years so it will have grown loads!

Tim

2006-01-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Apparently this guy has money but has decided that he prefers life on the street. They apparently had a whole debate about what to do with him in the papers.

Tracy’s little ones – ever so cute!

2006-01-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

A bit of breakfast.

2006-01-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

In Tracy's garden!

Dinner with Tracy

2006-01-20T22:10:00.000-08:00

Tracy took me out to her favourite place for a great meal ☺

The Australian Zoo – Home of the crocodile hunter!

2006-01-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine going to a “happy clappy” version of a zoo? That is the only way I could possibly explain it! You have your traditional zoo and then you have one that has a show where people on either side of the arena have to scream “crikey” louder than the other side! It was quite something!

So from my morning out…

Can you see her in the background?

I think it is quite clear!

Yeah I was a tourist…

2 * poisonous snakes…

Nice for some – swimming with a snake!

I was not that impressed with the way they treated the tigers. Making them do tricks like in a circus!

So cute!

Tasmanian Devil

Now if ever I spotted a random sign

Hello tortie!

Just happy to sit there

Say it like it is...

Feeding time….

And of course… we have more reptiles!

Rain rain go away…

2006-01-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

In case I was missing the UK...

Hello Brisbane – Hello Tracy

2006-01-19T19:31:00.000-08:00

After a whole lifetime of change it was great to catch up. So many things have happened in both our lives. It can be quite hard when you have not seen someone for many years to find things to talk about but not with Tracy. We chatted for hours.

I spent a bit of time wondering around Brisbane. Playing with my new camera. Still working out the settings so not many great pics. My thoughts on the city? Well its got a similar feeling to it that my home town – Durban had. The weather – while I was there – was similar. Tracy says its about the same but not as hot/humid as Durban was. So many plants looked familiar. I think the key differences between the cities I have been to in Australia and South Africa are the size – Australian cities are big - and most of the Australian cities are based along rivers/harbours and there is of course the skin colour difference.

The window seat

2006-01-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

So why do I fight for the window?

Goodbye Melbourne ☹

2006-01-18T23:15:00.000-08:00

I did really love this city. It’s a city that I could feel at home in without even thinking. I think out of everywhere in Australia I have been this is the city I would choose to live in.

My Melbourne group

2006-01-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

Martin, Jane and Gareth. Till we meet again on home ground.

The zoo

2006-01-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

A bit of a disappointment really. It’s the first time I have ever been to a zoo. (Well…. as far as I can remember) The cages were so small! The poor animals had so little room to move ☹ I am not totally opposed to the idea as long as the animals have plenty of room. I don’t know if they ever do have enough room or if it is possible to have enough room when there is a cage surrounding them.

Well as far as the animals go – we spotted (not like it was hard when they are in a 10*20m cage!) giraffe and zebra. So why did I go to the zoo? To see local animals!!!! Not imported from Africa!

As you can see… Not very exciting!

Trams and transport

2006-01-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

I know I can base the rail system on 2 weeks... but the trains all seem to run on time. They are clean. They have the cutest trams! They are also very convenient. They run all over and I know the London underground does the same but this is over ground! Its so much better to be in the light, see the view and enjoy the scenery. The underground can be totally draining.

City wonderings

2006-01-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

River view of the city. Just by the gardens.

About the location for a bit of exercise? A patch of grass next to the road???

Some funky buildings.

A ninja doing his stuff.

Jess, Gareth and Martin taking a stroll.

The most amazing water feature I have seen!

Out for dinner – Gareth, Jess, Martin and I.

The water feature later that night.

Just a random experiment. Yeah this be a photo!

Sushi

2006-01-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about Australia’s big cities – the sushi! Its amazing how many little sushi bars there are scattered around. There are loads of big restaurants that offer all types of Asian foods. Its great! Its cheap!

Melbourne

2006-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

I love this city! Its got such a mix. Old and new building. Art scattered all around the city. Random buildings with weird designs. Lovely friendly people. Loads of sushi places – like loads! A river running through it, close to the ocean. We stayed in Windsor near Chapel St. They are putting a lot of work into re-building the areas up. The trams are cool and the trains seem to work well.

The aquarium.

Wondered (quickly) around the botanical gardens.

Love the scarecrow!

Training the plants.

People from Durban and Melbourne know and “love” the miner bird!

Perfect day!

Tortie!

Friendly little eel!

I love the plants.

Camera hell!

2006-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I really wanted to do this trip was work on my photographic skills and take lots of pictures. Also to share with my family and friends some of the wonderful sites that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. But NO! Not gonna be easy for me. The start was loosing my camera on New Years. Thanks goodness I still had the first memory card so I got some pics.

So camera hunting… We find a store and a great camera. One of the new Codaks. Nice size. Great zoom (12X Optical) and all the other things that go with it. Now I have to learn this new camera and all the options. So a week and a half later the camera dies! Just dead! I check it out on the net and yes – its happened to others before. So half way through my Australia leg I am cameraless again! Bugger!

I then discover that the auto-focus button was next to my grip on that camera and that I kept changing the setting every time I took a pic witch is why I ended up with so many blurred photos. After all that not a bad thing that I don’t have the camera again.

So in Melbourne I get my 3rd camera for the holiday. Its defiantly my favourite! Only 8XOptical zoom but with 1GIG memory card ☺ I discovered I run down both batteries before I fill the memory card. The zoom is manual – I love that! It’s a Konica Minolta. I got a UV lens filter.

Lets just hope it lasts the distance. I have too many wonderful things lined up for the next 2 weeks!

The wedding

2006-01-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

On Saturday 14 Jan 2006 Emma became Mrs Jones. Ah bless! No really it was great. I have not been to a wedding in a long time and not one in the out back so was not sure of what to expect.

All the action happened in the local park. A very convenient 10 min walk from where we were staying. It was a lovely but very hot afternoon. We all gathered around waiting for the bride and Grants brother walked around getting every one to warming of the rings (think I got that right). Basically you took the rings and warmed them in your hands and thought a nice thought for Emma and Grant. Very cool.

Nikki and daughter Michaela - flower girl.

Everyone hanging around looking smart. Peter and Steff in the foreground. Too many others to name.

The groom and his best men.

The bridesmaids leading the walk in. Flower girls at the ready.

Along comes the bride.

The service was less than 10 min! Nice, quick and easy. What was really cool was instead of asking if anyone objected she asked if all the friends and family gave there blessing to the bride and groom. They also did both sets of parents individually.

The final nail in the coffin!

Jess – Grants cousin.

Oh little town of….

2006-01-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

M & I decide to wonder around and check out the sites! This is now day 3 and we work out that town centre is 5 min from us! We were a little busy before. After 3 events we met quite a few of Emma & Grants friends and family. What we learnt about a small town is that there is no chance of walking down the street without meeting up with a few people that you know! I have never had it that bad! Go into a restaurant and see someone. Go into a supermarket and see someone. Go to the park and see someone. Walk down the street and see someone! It did help that wedding party was taking over most of the town!

The park.

The local church. Thought it was pretty.

Ladybug, ladybug where are you?

My first Ausy BBQ! They have gas bbqs. Its quite different to the charcoal ones that we are used to. Instant heat is very cool! None of the waiting for the fire to be the right temperature.

This really pretty fruit tasted a bit dull ☹ Talk about all bark no bite!

Hen’s night.

2006-01-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Emma’s little sister had contacted me a while ago to let me in on the hen’s night. Emma’s main request had been – no rude items (especially if they are flashing!). I totally agree with her on that one. Not a night to be publicly humiliated but a night of fun with friends. Grant’s was similar. No strip shows are anything like that. Just the guys out playing drinking games! Drinking golf to be exact!

Emma’s head gear!

Emma’s sister set up a piñata. It was a bit tough to destroy! She had a moment of sisterly love here!

About to leave.

Martin and I - before we went our separate ways for the night.

All the girls.

I was gonna be boring and go for the normal oysters… but I was conned into trying the Bloody Mary Oysters – Great!

This one was with BBQ sauce and bacon… Yum!

Some poor guy did not know what was going on! Waving from a window.

The night ended of with the meeting of the 2 groups! Ah bless!
(Keep it clean guys – it’s a pool table!)

Mount Buffalo, wine and cheese

2006-01-12T02:52:00.000-08:00

So when you plan a wedding how do you entertain the guests???
Emma and Grant planned a little trip for us all!

The thinking was that so many people were coming from so far away that they wanted everyone to get a bit of tourist stuff in. I think the idea of having a little break from all the people who came around was a great idea! Boy did everyone want a little bit of attention from the bride and groom!

So the trip was a drive along from Wang up to Mount Buffalo. We then had a walk down a trail. We then got packed back in for the next stop – lunch in a small town. Followed by wine and cheese tasting. Yum!

We got packed into a bus and waved goodbye like good kids ☺

Emma’s worst bugs (according to her sister). Spitfire. The burn if you touch them.

The views were amazing!

The landscape – wow!

The wine tasting team!

Not gonna deny that Martin & I had started tasting by this time!

Welcome to the rural town of Wangaratta

2006-01-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

With an early morning start, Martin and I wonder up to Wang (as Emma calls it). We only have 1 train that we can catch in order to get there in time for the BBQ. Find the station, find the train, find our seats. Nothing new in catching a train. The fun part was looking like tourists when we spotted 3 Kangaroos hopping in a row! I think shouting, “Look at the kangaroos!” was the biggest clue that we were new to the country…

We arrive into a small town not sure where to go. All we know is where Emma and Grant live. We wonder over to a map and while we are looking a very friendly local offers to help with the map reading. The next thing we know we are loaded in his car and have a life to the door ☺ Love friendly people!

We made it in plenty of time to enjoy Emma’s lovely Pimms. (Bride to be)

My first real Ausy Barbie! YUM! Grant showing us how its done. Not the dark meat that he is aiming for in this shot – Kangaroo. (hubby to be and amazing chef!)

The family pets…
Well Emma’s brothers pets! Stick insects.

More Sydney wonderings

2006-01-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

With a delayed/ jet lagged start to the day I only had a few hours to wonder around. The hotel I was in was really nice (it was a Raddison though). Pity the pool had so much chlorine that I could not swim in it. With a bit of help from Starbucks… I made it through the day ☺

When I spotted this…. Kyra sprung to mind! So this would be for you!

Mushrooms on the side of the road.

I went for a boat trip to Manley Island. It was lovely but not enough sun cream! Lets just say you could have called me Rudolf!

Some jellyfish.

Look they have an opera house! Never seen a pic of it?!?!

I think I could cope with living here!

Amazing how scary birds can be!

Some of the local talent!

Good fishing?

Sydney

2006-01-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

I was very lucky to get met at the airport! Thanks Luke ☺ Took me to check in then on a great tour of the highlights of the city.

Remember the matrix? This should look familiar…

We ended the walk off having cocktails overlooking the opera house. Beautiful!

Dinner was over looking the Darling Harbour. I got to try some Australian fish - barramundi. What a fabulous taste ☺ Yum. I would recommend it to anyone.
All credit to Luke for giving me a great taste of the city in my limited time there. Looking nice and tanned!

This sign was just too hard to resist taking a pic of!

Flights…. AGAIN!

2006-01-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Finally arrived in Sydney! Connecting flights and delays are not my best friend. I did get to meet some really random people at the airport. I was lucky to meet a performer in the show Umojo. Lovely lady. An American photographer and some poor dude from Cameroon who was re-living the movie “The Terminal”.

I don’t know what Quantis were thinking but we had to wait about an hour before we got food and they only gave us liquid with dinner. The plane was so hot – some issue with the aircon. My window seat did not actually have a window! The good news is that I slept! Wow!

This was about all I could do in terms of a photo! The spook that sat behind me….

Leaving SA

2006-01-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

I love signs like this when you are going through the scanners at an airport!

My last sunset in SA

2006-01-07T23:55:00.000-08:00

family

2006-01-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

Its not very often that the whole family gets together…

Dinner with LeeLee

2006-01-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

And some things don't change!

Lee & Rob adding to the holiday tummy I now have...

His name is Bafana…

2006-01-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

He is going via Australia for a bit of a holiday before settling down in London.

Robben Island

2006-01-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

I finally did it! Its something that all South Africans should experience at some point in life.

I came back feeling very sad. A large number of amazing people suffered for many years. Madiba is the name that comes to mind first but there are just so many hero’s. Some never quite experienced the result of the struggle. For anyone visiting South Africa this will give you an insight into the people that make up South Africa. Why we as a nation always say “Proudly South African”.

The view of Table Mountain, Cape Town from the island.

The prisoners were forced to work in mines. They did nothing with what was mined! It was just to keep them working.

Gates…

This is the “bed” they had.

Our tour guide was a prisoner for over 5 years on the island. Talk about getting it from the source!

The courtyard!

A cell in maximum security. 2m * 2m! They spend 23 hours here a day!

Quite a door!

Oh it’s a cats life….

2006-01-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is Minx.

Suffering!

What’s new pussycat?

2006-01-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Well what a new year! How can you say no to a dress up party on a boat? Especially when the topic is Filthy Fables…

So a quick overview… A whole group of people met at the waterfront, all dressed up and ready to party!
(A pregnant Tinkerbelle, Little Red ridding whore, Lee was a tart, Woody and Lieva Hexie)

We were our very own tourist attraction while we gathered to board the boat. We had people wanting to pose with us in photos! Note the people not dressed up here…

This be the boat ☺

A collection…

The chicks!
Lee (Saffie who works in London), Jess (half Saffie half Brit who lives in the UK) and me!

more pics

To all my friends and family

2005-12-31T20:46:00.000-08:00

Happy happy happy New Year!

I hope that you find more happiness than you imagined and all your dreams materialise in the most magnificent manner. To all those who have been there for me and supported me during the tough times and had a laugh with me during the good times I thank you for you have enrich my life. I hope I can be there to laugh with your joy and provide a shoulder for you to lean on, when you need it.

Pics around Cape Town

2005-12-30T22:57:00.000-08:00

These are from my phone – not the best!
I thought my camera was broken but it was just that someone had changed the settings to a very odd setting.

What are the chances of a London cab???

Of course it was sponsored by BA!

Lion’s head and signal hill.

A tablecloth covers the mountain.

Our local wildlife… Some giraffes!

Quite a view to look back on when driving!

Oh how terrible it must be to live on this road!

The view from the beach by my mom’s house.