Stop Five - Japan Again

Stop Four - Sydney Again

Stop Three - Melbourne

Stop Two - Sydney

Stop One - Tokyo

London - Tokyo - Sydney - Melbourne - Sydney - Tokyo - London - halfway around the world in 15 days...

I definetely would not have thought 2 months ago, that I would be blogging about a second trip back to Aus before the end of 2006. However a great opportunity at work recently presented me with just that.

Current plans mean that from now on, I will probably be coming home 3-4 times a year for work, mostly in Sydney - but always finding time for at least a weekend in Melbourne.

Whilst the trip was mostly for work, I was lucky enough to also manage a weekend in Tokyo each way. Absolutely brilliant.

The following blogs are therefore proudly sponsored by www.fastrackuk.com (new website coming soon), my new little project.

Oxford

Photos to come...

Paris in a day

Photos to come...

Brugge, Belgium, Beer

Apparently....

"Just a few kilometres inland from the North Sea coast of Belgium lies the popular tourist city Bruge (spelled Brugge in Flemish, and sometimes also in English).

Its popularity stems from a stunning collection of architecture, canals, and art dating from medieval times.

At one time Bruge was a major centre of trade, but it suffered a gradual economic decline through the 1500s.

The city’s “neglect” became a major asset in the modern era of easy global travel and tourism.

Today, millions visit the city each year to enjoy the extraordinarily well-preserved feel of a town reaching back through centuries of history."

So Hilary and I, enjoying the European Summer long weekends, ventured over in late July to Visit Brugge... not really knowing any of the above, but instead enticed by the guiding light of so many travellers - the cheap weekend package from Expedia. Bless.

And whilst our trip to Brugge did involve the perusal of many wonderful historical, artistic and religious wonders including:

• a variety of museums tracking the rise of democratic ideas amongst the artisans and business people of Brugge


• the viewing of some amazing ancient art works in crypts, thought to be over a 1000 years old


• and of course visiting a church that held a vial of Christ's blood

- really, we quickly discovered that Brugge is actually all about Beer, waffles, chocolate, frittes with mayonnaise and for us forever now, Belgians singing Abba and The Village People in their 1000s in the city square of Brugge on Belgian national day. Brilliant.

Brugge is also known as 'the Venice of the north' for its beautiful canals and other trade, political and artistic similarities - however given the list of edible wonders above, I would highly recommend thinking carefully about the order in which boat trips on the canal and the consumption of many rich foods and beer occur. Good luck with that.

Visting Australia - Episode Two - The Wedding

Here's a piccy of my darling Lauren, looking absolutely gorgeous on her wedding day... and me staring at her. Because you obvisously do whatever the photographer tells you to do in such circumstances!

The piccy was taken at the aptly named 'Boobiala Lodge' at Moonah Links. I heard they have now changed the sign at the Golf Course where the reception was held from "Home of the Australian Open" to "Home of Craig and Lauren's Wedding".

Loz - I apologise again for being so terribly ill at your beautiful wedding. I thought being allergic to English winters was to be expected, but I can't believe I folded so quickly after a week in Melbourne. What a girl I am.

Visting Australia - Episode One - The GB

So good to see you guys back in May/ June!

Bloody brilliant actually!

Had missed you all so much in the 6 months since leaving and it was just wonderful to be in Melbourne and be with you all - even though it was only for a short period of time.

Am looking forward to a brew with you all again soon! September 21-24 I will be in Melbourne, super-Van is hustling up some drinking plans again. God bless her!

Backdated Blog Entries... Venice!

"White swan of cities, slumbering in thy nest So wonderfully built among the reeds Of the lagoon, that fences thee and feeds, As sayeth thy old historian and thy guest!"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Venice.

Venice is divine. Anyone not impressed by this place has no heart and I'm not afraid to call it as it is.

Hilary and I stayed in a beautiful palazzo, wandered the streets aimlessly and soaked up as much as we could in our short stay.

Bellini's in Harry's bar, hours and hours in the Doge's palace learning more about the republic and shielding our eyes from gold encrusted celings.

We took the 'standup-like-the-locals' gondola ride from the fish markets and laughed at all those lovey dovey couples with their personal tenors cruising around. (Laughed in the way that only single can in such situations when we got our gondola ride for 2 euros and didn't even have to hold each others hands!)

We also had champagne is St Marks square (courtesy of Mrs Bell, thank you very much!).

More photos here.

Testing Updating Via Email

Let’s see how this baby works…

I am a bad blogger I know!

Its been so long since I've updated my blog that I'm suprised there aren't cobwebs all over it.

The only excuse I have - and its not a good one - is that I have been playing hard, working hard and travelling a lot and haven't had hours and hours of cruisy time left to update my poor old sad blog. Especially not when you take into account the dedication required to keep up the pre-requisite 4 nights out a week. I'm telling you, if summer drinking (magners, pimms, beer, more pimms, champagne, wine more pimms) were Olympic sports, the young men and women of London would creep the UK up the ladder for the medal tally - for silver that is. We would obviously still come in 1st.

Since my last entry, I've been to Venice, home to Oz for Lauren & Craig's wedding, I've moved into a new house in Balham (just round the corner from the old one), been to Brugge in Belgium and also back to Paris for a flying trip - all of which have photos and updates of their own to be uploaded.

Summer has been brilliant so far and with my birthday looming over me, and your well wishes flooding in I am feeling a little blown away with how lucky I am to be leading such a charmed life at the moment. I know it won't be forever, but right now its pretty wonderful and if only I could have everyone I love here with me too, things would be close to perfect.

Missing you all terribly and promising (again) to shortly update photos and stories.

Paris

Hilary and I had a fantastic time in Paris over the last weekend in April, taking in many sites and glasses of wine. (check out the nice self taken photo of the 2 of us - very bad...) Anyway, what a absolutely gorgeous city! I spent most of the time oohing and aahing at anything and everything we went to and walked past.

We went to.... Notre Dame, The Pantheon, The Lourve, Sacre Couer, Montmatre, the Arc De Triomph, Champs Elysees, Luxembourg Gardens a cruise along the Seine to the Eiffell Tower and back and lots of other places too.

I must admit I found myself quite overwhelmed once we got inside Notre Dame. I'm not sure if it was the age or the art or the architecture, but something is very special about that place.

Melbourne Visitors Beware

If you come to London for a flying visit and decide to catch up ... I will make you drink excessively and talk about rubbish til the wee hours of the morning with me.

Was great to see Shane on a flying visit last week, we drank Covent Garden out of beer and then stumbled onto some strange bar in Soho for more trouble and philosophizing.

Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

Andy and I had a great day out in Putney with our dear friend Heineken to enjoy the great tradition of 'Boat Race'. We cheered for Cambridge on the vague connection that they had an Aussie rowing for them and we know 1 girl from Cambridge... Oxford ended up beating them for the 6th year in a row or something.

Anyway basically the day involves a couple of 100,000 Londoners trekking down to Putney to watch the start of the race or further up the Thames for various viewing spots and then to a nearby pub. Hard work for a Sunday afternoon.

New House

My new house is in Clapham, which is lots of fun. I have a huge bedroom with a giant walk in robe, bay window and an ensuite with a full size bath and a shower and I’m about 5 Mins walk from Northcote Rd and a couple of other streets which are full of lovely restaurants and cafes and shops.

I’m about 5 mins walk from the Common which is lovely and gives me no excuses not to go for big long walks. I am sharing with 4 guys who all know each already, they went to college together or have worked together, but they have all been very friendly and welcoming.

I am the token female, outsider, non-pommie and non lawyer/accountant so will keep you posted on how it all works out

Bath

Had a lovely weekend visit to Bath on the 21st-22nd January. Hilary, Cat, Kath and I drove over from London to see if we could cram in A quick drive by Stone henge on the way and then more time once arrived looking around Jane Austen Centre, The Assembly Rooms and the National costume museum, the roman baths, the circus and the crescent. I hadn't seen any Roman ruins yet so the Bath's were absolutely fascinating.

Hogmanay

Edinburgh is beautiful. Its got to be one of the prettiest cities in the UK with the castle looming above, beautiful Georgian buildings, and when I was there, with a haze of white frost and melting snow dusting everything.

As I happily wandered around by myself over the city, up to the castle, through the old town and then back through some beautiful Georgian streets, I frequently imagined myself in the same place at some other time in history. Its a great place for daydreamers!

The streetparty at Hogmonay was lots of fun too, we heard Texas and KT Tunstall with El Presidente as well as a bit of Boy George doing Karma Chamelion and the bloody Proclaimers doing 5,000 miles which as my family well know, I DETEST! Can I just say that even in the middle of all those Scots no-one could tell me what "havering" was... stupid song.... but anyway, the rest was good!

Some of the papers touted 225,000 people at the street party, but we only personally met 100,000 of them (they all said to say hi by the way) so I can't confirm of deny the figures.

Sorry about the terrible photo Dave, but I'll use it as ranson until you get Bansi to flick me some better ones!

Parlez Vous Francais?

I arrived in France late on the Wednesday before Christmas. I left London for Geneva first (or Geneve as the Francophites say) and decided to save Paris for another time, perhaps spring. There were many planes, trains and automobiles to get me to Moutiers, which isn't too far from where Nicole and Hugh live in Naves up in the Alps - but eventually I made it.

It was pitch black when I arrived late at night, so I can't tell you how excited I was to see the mountains and the snow when I got up on Thursday morning. The small village that Nicole and Hugh live in must have some of the best views anyone in the world could boast of! Mountains, valleys snow and other small little villages dotted up and down the slopes.

Their house is just wonderful too. Hugh has done most of the renovations on it himself and its so warm and friendly when you walk in the door with Nik's rustic hearts to great you at every moment. I stayed in one of the newly finished guest rooms, dubbed the 'Princess Room' and I did indeed feel like a princess.

Of course, the house rightly and deservedly revolves around the children - Bailey and Milo (pictured right). We became great friends over the week and I miss them already. Nik's not biased - I agree that they are perfect and priceless. (Mum, Please don't tell Ralph I said that!)

Christmas was great, Nicole and I decided to have a glass of bubbles on Christmas eve, which turned into 3 bottles and a slow Christmas morning... None-the-less Santa did manage to find me way up there and Hugh and I had a lovely day recovering infront of the fire while poor Nicole had to go to work.

That night, we had 10 for Christmas dinner - with everything good thing you can imagine and more. Champagne, prawns, foie-gras, smoked salmon, turkey, roast vegies, sticky-date pudding, Christmas pud, mince pies, brandy butter chocolates and buckets of baileys and cointreau or whatever you wanted. Excessive and lots of fun.