London Life

The Finch
So i have been at the Finch (East Finchley Flat) since arriving in London, but have in the last week or so settled off the lounge and into a room. Its a great flat about a 2 minute walk from the tube and 30 seconds less to the pub. Lisa (Canadian) has made way for her fellow countryman Adam and the aussie mechanic, Trev made way for myself. All in all a very cool flat in a super location.

Work
So I have almost completed my first week at Esmee Fairbairn Foundation (Website). Its a wonderful foundation that puts millions of pounds into such a diversified range of causes. Its an amazing company considering it now has a investment portfolio of almost a billion pounds which all started 50 years ago around a kitchen table brainstorming cuppa tea. I have come in on a contract role to assist in the completion of several projects within the finance department. The offices are only 6 tube stops from the finch which translates to about 30 minutes traveling which is very good for London. A couple competitors back in Perth will be disappointed to see a ping pong table in the video below. Have already found form on the new surface and will be well scoped when i return hacks (you know who you are).


Pics on Flickr also.
So all in all very lucky with the current setup in little old London town. MAH

London Birthday

'the crab tree' in Fulam - recommend

Well it was my first bday away from everyone so in case you were wondering what i got up to. The day started slow and i had to be waken up by an impatient girlfriend. Lucky it was her. So that got me up and had a skype catch up with the graylands rd crew back home. Then I watched freo kick a shitload of behinds and get the points over the lions, not without injuring a couple more of our top 10 players.
We (bec, chrissy, ben and i) then set off on the tube to Fulham and met up with some friends of friends that were celebrating 2 years of living in London before they make their way home. The weather was awsome so we soaked up the sun, BBQ menu, beers, ciders and spirits. Eventually we called it quits and returned home via a dirty burger joint. All in all a great first up birthday abroad.

A day at Wimbledon

Very early start which was help by the awakening cool air on the short walk to the tube. Unfortunately when you get in the tube it is fairly warm so the eyes return to their pre-shower, heavy state. A couple tubes and then we followed all the other punters to the oval queuing area. What a well organized show they put on! You are marshaled to your place in the line and given a card with your number (2151 for me). That ensured Bec and i we were going to see tennis as 6000 entry tickets are given away each day. So we spent the next 3 hours in line speaking to the locals, getting all the tips for the day, flicking through the paper, defrosting in the morning sun and having some breaky. The queue snakes into the Wimbledon grounds and the free promos and tennis trivia and challenges flow. After a quick airport like bag check you have tickets in your hand and you enter the royal facility. Again the organization is amazing (not to mention its cool that your allowed to take in a bottle of wine alcohol equivalent each person and all the food you want. I haven't seen that at many other events). All show courts for general entry are still closed until 10:30 and then a line of arm linked security walk the crowd slowly to prevent any mad dashes. I dodged my way to the front and got Bec and I two front row seats on court 3. There we stayed for the majority of the day and saw some very even matches boasting some skillful and entertaining shots. To complete the Wimbledon experience we took it in turns to walk around the amazing grounds and shop for the sweet essentials (strawberries and cream & pimms), and ducked under an adopted blanket for a minor rain delay or 2. All in all for 20 pounds general entry the day was a great experience as it would be for anyone that loves a sport and subsequently visits its birthplace. Well pleased!

pics are on flickr as well.  MAH
 

Company underground

Today i finished a 'Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance' that whilst on the opposite side of the world, taught me more about the history of my home country than any teacher or book has attempted to pound into my, at times thick skull. I came across this book via another must read. Paul Kelly in his memoir 'How to make gravy' states that this book should be on all school syllabus's and denotes the main subject as a "True Australian hero". Such words from Sir Kelly told me i had to get a copy which i did before coming abroad. I'll no doubt pass my copy to Mum/Dad when they visit me soon. Do yourself a favor and either get a copy or be the first to visit them when they return.  

For someone that has struggled to find interesting literature in the past, i now find the best way is to takes down recommended/referenced pros from pros I'm reading. Autobiographies (or as they are more modernly know as memoirs or chronicles) are i think my favorite and best for finding ideas for your next book. I don't think Ive ever done this before but today i finished said book and immediately started the next. That being a freshly purchased (with my BDO gifted voucher  - thanks guys) 'The Fry Chronicles'. 21 pages in and enjoying it thoroughly. Have laughed out loud on the tube several times already. Oh yer and its a UK no.1 bestseller so cant be to sedative. Anyway back to the window to read long into the daylight saved evening. MAH

Something BIG for visiting shoppers

Yesterday i ventured down Charing cross rd to a street known for its musical instrument stores. I know what some of you are thinking....what did he bye??  Happy to report that i haven't purchased another guitar..yet. Amazing place if your into anything musical.

Denmark st, London. Musician's heaven

Today i went to Westfield shopping centre in Shepherds Bush. I dont know how to describe that place. I certainly enjoyed the novelty of being in a place of such proportions but cant see myself as a constant visitor. For those that love those places i recommend you get a night in the closest hostel so you can take at least 2 days to scale the ridiculous material wonderland.

Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, London. Shoppers heaven.

Unemployment and fitness..

Well I've been back in London town now for more than a week. For the first time in years i did some sort of exercise every working day of the week. Well and truly back into the best sport on this planet. My roommate Chrissy took me along to a 3rd grade game with his adopted club the North London Lions (http://www.aussierules.co.uk/index.php) they mistakenly identified that i had played the game during the warm up and started me on ball. Played through the middle all day and clock up a solid amount of clangers. The cobwebs were just as thick as i thought. Backed it up with both training sessions this week at the wonderful, must visit regents park

and played a little better today finding the ball ok in 2nd grade. Just the kicking that leaves plenty to be desired.
The competition is very interesting with rules that make sure even the 1st grade has so many non-aussies on the ground at any time during the match. The lions are a great club full of great characters and some very handy footy players.

Although im planning on getting a job in the next couple working weeks i must admit unemployment is far better than people suggest. Ive enjoyed that sleep ins and late nights out. The pm scene is great here with some top areas not to far from 'the finch' (East Finchley, my most likely place of abode for 2011). Camden town is a hot spot for both the markets during the day and cool clubs come night. Some aussie and kiwi mates ive made that live close by work at a run of the mill city corner pub called 'The flying horse'.

We have kicked off our last 3 Friday nights here and had a ball! The girls no how to get a fun atmosphere cranking whether it be table dancing, getting piggyback rides from the seedy working class or walking to their neighboring competition and poaching customers.

All in all, life is a little to easy as you can see. Time to knuckle down and get back to the slog. MAH

Ireland - in motion and sound

What a great place. Would recommend it to anyone. Beautiful place with beautiful people and sounds. The only thing i would recommend when you go there is to change your wake up alarm to say 11am and then stay up every night until the morning. That is when the place really comes alive.

Dublin - 30 May - 1 June 2011

Arrived in Dublin city centre in the early hours of the evening and headed for my new hostel (Globetrotters). Quick shower and headed out to find some dinner. I found a little Italian restaurant not far from where i was staying and had an awesome meal. I relaxed for the remainder of the evening by reading my book and getting this blog to work.
Monday morning i jumped off the top bunk (they were much easier to scale in my younger years) and just made it to the complimentary buffet breaky that this great hostel provides. That gave the what i need for a massive day on my feet. I walk 30 min out of the city centre to the Jamison (Irish Whiskey) distillery for a great tour which involved more consumption than id imagined. Most people would ask, why here not the Guinness factory? Simple... I don't like that dam water and had heard from others that Jamison was the better tour option. I walked back to town via Dublin castle and the famous Temple Bar. By the time i  got back to the hostel the bottom of my feet needed a rest so i relaxed with my book before returning to the Temple.
Many of people say that Temple bar is really expensive. Really its just like a night out in Subiaco or Fremantle. I got a meal and pint promo deal at the 'Stockhouse' pub and believe it or not mum, ordered a casserole (can you please find a recipe for a Irish Guinness casserole to slide into your meal bible). Had a great meal and pint watching the french open tennis and then found a seat at the bar for a young couple playing trad music. They were very good and got the pub going (as youl see once i put the video together). After listening to them for an pint or 3 i went a watch some stand up comedy which was a good chuckle. After this and another pint i walked back to the hostel.
Wednesday, my last day in wonderful Ireland. Once again off on foot i trekked. I visited the national library, museum and gallery. I had to return to the hostel to charge up my batteries for the most antisipated part og my trip.
I walked up towards towards Vicar st very excited about seeing an artist i discovered on youtube nearly a year ago and who was known for his live delivery.
'Tallest man on Earth' did not disappoint, as he made is way through all of his great songs the Dublin crowd soaked up the utter talent and his genuine love for performing live, especially with a bunch of his family members were the warm up band (Francis - http://www.myspace.com/francisishere  - Sweedens Little Birdy)..GREAT WAY TO FINISH THE TRIP!


Im one of the silhouettes in the front row to the left ..

Galway - 29/5/2011

Twas a quick flight from Waterford North to Galway. Was definitely the shortest flight i have ever been on. Only enough to read the forward and introduction to my new book (Jandarmarra and the Bunuba resistance). After a speedy check in and shower at my new hostel i headed for the main streets of Galway. Quick Shepard's pie and froth and then made my way to a pub which the cabbie had told me some musicians were playing at. The next 4 hours i watched 3 fiddlers, 2 guitarists and a piano accordionist bust out traditional Irish music to a packed pub. It was up there with the best live music i have seen. Certainly the most unique and skillful i think.

A grey old lady said to me numerous times that "tiss fiddler, shes special tiss one. I is well grey and i seen em all i have, and shes the best". They played fast paced Irish folk music for 20 minutes at a time with the odd 3 minutes break. The longer the song went the higher the notes they employed creating an atmosphere in the pub to remember. I eventually pulled myself away from this pub and tried several others (all with great live music) before hitting the sack in the wee hours of the morn. The following day i walked the streets

and enjoyed some 5 star fish and chips while listinging to more great music in the form of several buskers before catching the bus to Dublin.
My ears will miss you Galway!  - see the link to my flickr for pics and videos will follow later this week. MAH

Waterford - 28/5/2011

I landed in Dublin after a short flight from Heathrow, and headed straight through town to the train station. Headed straight for Waterford, a small town south west of Dublin. The train pulls up right alongside the river Suir and thanks to both the town small size and my pre-study on google maps i walked over the bridge and straight up to the hostel i was staying. I darted down the main strip for a quick cream of veggie soup and froth before making my way up to 'The Forum' (local auditorium where the likes of Cash and Connolly have played before). John Smith, a unknown south Englishman got the night started with an acoustic set to be remembered. If you like Ray LaMontagne, then you will love this guy also.

Then one of Ireland's best young singers took to the stage and treated us to her great material, both from her Best Irish, Best Debut album 'Sea Sew' and some from her upcoming album 'Passenger' which was recently recorded in Wales.

I finished the night off with a evening stroll around the town and wet the whistle at a pub where a young couple were playing live traditional music.
Great night of music!! - well pleased

The next day i trekked around the small town of Waterford. Visited the US coast guard sailing ship docked there, walked the city streets, shops and parks. Finished Waterford off with a coffee whilst introducing myself to the game of 'Hurling' on the cafe plazma. They open the match by marching the players around the field lead by a bag-pipes band. I listened to the match whilst in the cab to the Waterford airport and ask for the result as soon as i got in the taxi just out of Galway.


Great sport!

Thanks Waterford.

Early London days

The first couple days in London were fairly straightforward. After arriving i was fairly tired and could only manage a walk down the main street of East Finchley (where i am temporarily staying with friends) and a cheeky visit to one of the Highgate pubs for dinner, beer and scotch.

The second day i jumped on the tube and went into the city and spent the day walking around taking in the sights

and sounds
 of London.

The 27th May (Friday) was all business. I pulled out the suite and headed for 2 agency interviews. They seem to go well, so i rewarded myself with a night out. The 'Flying Horse' was the choice as Ben's (a friend i know from Perth) roommates pours froths at this particular watering hole. Turned out to be a fairly large night (3am) which finished off at a jazzy club back towards 'the finch' (my temporary place of abode). I certainly didn't plan on such a large evening, especially considering an early wake up was required for my Irish trip the next (same) morning.

5 years in the making!

we have liftoff (just out of Perth)

And here we are then, 12,290m up in the air at a cruising speed of 833kmh. We are flying flat and smooth, as the slightly rattled brain now is also. Its not everyday you have to say goodbye to two of the best people in your life and walk through a door leaving them behind. ANXIETY! Not the nicest thing in the world however once it subsides you can really relax. A half full plane, spare chair next to me, Johnny Walker, and the best ‘who did It’ movie ever made (mystic river) will also assist in that relaxing process.

So ‘travel’.. More than 5 years ago a friend and I travelled for the first time overseas independently to New Zealand. During my 3 weeks there I saw mixing oceans; shot fireworks between my legs; skinny dipped in the coldest, sobering water I have come into contact with; done the (almost) full monty on a public bar table; para-sailed; jumped off 3 perfectly good bridges, out one perfectly good plane; made 50 new friends in about 30 hours (some of which I have travelled with since); swung through a canyon; water tubed through a cave; learnt the famous haka dance; bathed in volcanic pools; white water body-boarded (yes not rafted); swum in Milford sound; and all of this I will never forget. I can imagine a lot of what I did in that wonderful place wouldn’t appeal to many people but I would be surprised if anyone could say they wouldn’t love to do at least 1 of these things.

I am someone who enjoys various forms and types of art, adrenaline, heights, meeting new people and seeing things I’ve only ever heard about from others. This being the person I am, this is why I am sitting in this several hundred tonne bird flying further away from said wonderful people. Since returning from N.Z I have yearned to travel in the purest form, and now that’s finally what I am doing. I am on my way to ‘live’ (temporarily) on the other side of the world (UK) and plan on later exploring most of it with the wonderful Rhiannon. I’d like to thank everyone that makes me the luckiest person on this planet.

First off all my family. I’ve received a great mixture of responses since booking this ticket from the insanely jealous to the ‘shouldn’t you get engaged first’. This is proof that we have a shitload of variety in our genes, which is a great thing.

Thanks mum and dad for everything (not going to dare start that list). You guys are perfect and I can’t wait to see you in a month or so.

Thanks little (older) sis, for looking after the fort (house, family, friends and girlfriend) for me whilst I’m gone, however I would prefer if you passed that responsibility to someone else at some point so you can come challenge me to a tennis match in say either Britain (a nice freshly mowed grass court) or Spain (fast low bouncing clay court). Nar stuff that! UK only! I got no chance against you in Spain.

Thanks Mama and Sils (and the ever great, ever missed Beepa) for giving me a home for the past 3 years which is, financially why am able to set off on this trip. I could not of done it without that.

Thanks Gran and Pop for everything. I can’t wait to get that speech translator and set off into countries where even the toilet signs are weird.

Thanks to the rest of my family and friends for everything you have all done for me. Whether it was a quick game of pong, post work froth, kick of the footy (that’s you Jimmy. Work on that bloody overhead marking! I expect to see improvement), help with car troubles, dinner, chat, WHATEVER! I can’t thank you all enough.

Finally thanks to the absolutely stunning, drop dead gorgeous, understanding, thoughtful, in a word ‘perfect’ Rhiannon. Thanks for letting me get on this plane. We share a great understanding of each other (g). Thanks for the gifts, support, drunken taxis, meals, washing and everything else that you’ve done for me. I can’t wait until we set off on the best year of our lives and soak up what this globe has to offer us. Thankyou all so very much.. Since you have all helped me in getting here its only fair that with today’s modern technology I keep you updated on my ‘Hiatus’.



having some duck and froth at Bangkok airport



Keep posted! Lots of love, MAH.