Review of the year

Well well, Its the 31 of December 2006 and this day represents quite a bit of the last 10 or so months. I am sat in the Basement of our house in Brisbane. Today is our last weekend here in Brisbane as we leave for pastures new as of Wednesday next week.

As I sit here a Korean girl wonders up and down the path outside, A Hispanic looking lad loiters by the front gate, Why well cos they are advertising for new housmates. The question is will these alien nationed people pass Stu's strict strict acceptance policy - Basically after each viewing, the house gather and those of us that are staying on say what their first impressions of these potential housemates are. The Korean Girl and the man have left to which Stu's response is I don't want no Columbian drug warlord living here - In all honesty it is a surprise that they ever let Paul and I live here ( especially after Paul used the loo during the viewing ha ha House joke like do you know what I mean..Whatever!! Mind your own busy-ness)

The truth of the matter is that I would like to think and I'm sure that Paul would agree that we have truly enjoyed our time here in Brisbane and that has a lot to do with the people we lived with, I'm sure they would reciprocate this as I think Paul and I will probably be the best housemates they will have for quite sometime ha ha no seriously!

So as a quick summary of the last year, It really has been the fastest year of my life and because I am living a normal life here in a different enviroment, I can remember each and everyday clearly. When your young all you want to be is older cos you think its cool, well I have got to the top of that hill and for the first time I am looking back thinking shit, these years better slow down cos I am getting older way tooo quick. We have worked hard and lived life like true blue Aussies and now that we have finsihed I can say it was all worth it and look forward to 6 or 7 weeks of pure travel, late breakfasts, later nights and few sights along the way.

So moving on, Tonights New Years Eve, Someones Birthday and we are turning the basement in to Bar De La Railway Terrace - Cocktail Party Ce Soir, Brisbanes finest are attending and after a few Cocktails - Im sure there will be a few Cocks and a few tails between legs tommorow morning (see what I have done there, I wonder if The Sun has a pun department??) but here is to Paul and my imminent travel and to 2007. Happy New Year Everyone and see you in Feb T x

Q: Why did the Squirrel swim on his back...?????

A: TO KEEP HIS NUTS DRY


When I went to University, I drank a lot of liquids, met a few people and did even less work. One of these people that shared my liking for sleeping, drinking and doing the bare minimum academically was Paul Mountain Also Known as Peanut, Nutty Nut Nuts and just plain Nuts. He graced my humble abode for a weekend on his way down to Sydney whilst on his travels. He was joined by the delightful Jackie ( his girlfriend since Uni) also known as Jax, Jackson five, Jackie Jack Jack and Bernard. To makes things even better and put the house majority truly into the quarters of that of the English was Paul's friend Hilary also known as Hilwarrrrrrrr and Hilarweee and her Sister Rachel also know as Rach. So quite the little posse was formed and for one weekend only we painted the town red...........blue and white: Rule Britannia.



We had an excellent weekend and the company of all was much enjoyed. Tah Tah

Ashes to Ashes panesar

Mmmmmm, To lose the Ashes to Australia is a bad thing...1, To lose the Ashes as an Englishman in Australia is worse....2, To lose the Ashes in such a pant wettingly wet flannel display as an Englishman living and working in an office (where they show the cricket on a flatscreen) is the worst of the worst...3

Paul and I went to one the finest cricket stadiums in the world and although we did have our pants pulled down by the likes of Shane Warne and Ponting, the experience itself was one we will never forget, The atmosphere even on day three was amazing and although there was banter at all times it was always good natured. To say I have seen probably the greatest spin bowler of this generation and possibly ever in his home country doing what he does best was worth the entrance fee alone.

Since Panesars arrival in Australia the contoversial "Choc Monty" Biscuits were banned from all supermarkets

We saw Monty warming up as well and I gave him some words of encouragement, Despite the fact he did not play ( which in hindsight may of been a mistake don't you think Fletcher??)




At work the ridicule was very very hard to swallow as the Aussies are ruthless in their slating of other nations (more on this later) My nickname at work went from 1-0, to then 2-0 and then finally 3-0, thank goodness I left before it got to 4-0.

Lastly just a little comment on the Aussie mentality towards the pommes, You can not pick up a Lads mag in Aus any time of the year and not find articles slating the Englsih, its bizarre but the truth of the matter is in England you would be hard pushed to ever find an article on Australians in any lads mag, not because we have nothing to pick on but we just....Well don't care. You know when you used to pick on the pretty girl cos you like the attention; well I think Aussies has little man crush on us pommes, cos its all they talk about.




On the subject of banter, the Barm Army were in full force and after a few mid strength beers Paul and I blended into the Army and joined in the volley of what has to be said comical abuse. Although we got wiped clean on the field, when it came to the exchange of banter the Barmy Army had the Boony Army (Could not think of their own name) pegged, Such chants included:

"Get your shit stars off our flag, Get your shit stars of our flag'

"Your so Poor its unbelievable, We so rich its unbelievable"

"Your just a third world country, a third world country"

"Do your boyfriends know your here"

"God save your Queen"

I dont like cricket anyways ha ha

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel

Seasonally speaking Noel visits Brisbane at this time of year, this week in what can only be described as a low key event in Brisbane's Valley, Noel gallagher played an acoustic gig. This would of completed what I would imagine to be one of Paul's life long dreams

Woah woah woah stop there your probably thinking: What? Those twins agreed to it, are they mad?

No No no different life dream, Noel Gallagher played an acoustic gig with Gem from Oasis in the "The Valley" and Paulo went along and made eye love with him for about 2 hours, I have never seen him so giddy with happiness. Here he is basking:


Like a true groupie he hung outside for about 3 days after the gig to get Noels Photo and Autograph.

Santa's Got a Sweat On

Christmas is coming and thankfully the birds aren't getting any fatter.

Well our plans for Christmas have changed somewhat over the recent weeks. Our plan was to fly down to Sydney ( Our flights already booked) and spend Christmas and New Year there. However come mid to late November and we went to book some accomodation and two factors swayed our choice in going a) We would arrive on the 23rd of December and leave on the 2cnd of January, However some Hostels insisted that you book a minimum of 10 days from the 27th. This meant we would be paying for more days than we would stay, plus b) The lovley people in the hostel world decided to wack up the accomodation prices to a mear $80 a night which meant we would be looking at about $1000. I pay $120 a week here in Brisbane, you do the maths.

Secondly some would say that Christmas for Backpackers is a time to think of missed loved ones and family members, the thought of waking up on Christmas morn with No presents, No Loved ones and No Family but instead a french hippie shacked up with his slightly hairier girlfriend and four Koreans who have decided to lay their entire life belongings on the floor. So with this in mind we have decided to stay here in Brisney Land until next year and enjoy the festive season in the company of our housemates......which is a shame cos I was looking forward to cooking Christmas lunch in a Hostel Microwave......Limited Edition Chrsitmas Pot Noodle anyone?

Ryn, Our Australian sister has invited us to her parents house Christmas Eve and I believe she is having a large anmount of her family around Christmas day, so it will be nice to wake up on Christmas day there. Plus she has a swimming pool so it will be a tad bizzare. Santa do you have to be wearing Speados? (I think there is a reason they are called Speados you know - its in the name....)

The secret location of the application forms for the new Australian Santa had been discolsed