Saturday, September 24, 2005

Flat hunting

After surviving - barely - the horrible flight back to London, which included two stop-overs, I'm now back into the groove of looking for a place to live. Which would be much easier if I actually had my deposit back from my previous flat.

I was talking to Casey earlier, who is moving to Dublin this week, and we were both lamenting over being poor and how ridiculous and frustrating it is that everything in life has to revolve around money in some way. We were going to go to Stonehenge tomorrow but it's just going to be too expensive to get there. So instead we've opted for a wander around Hyde Park and a picnic. We've decided that one weekend, perhaps, she and Emma and Rachel will pop on over from Dublin and we'll hire a car and split the costs to do a road trip of sorts. Assuming it all goes to plan we'll encompass Stonehenge on the way, possibly go to Stratford-Upon-Avon and whatever else we can fit in.

That's the plan for now, anyway. In the meantime, it's sorting out tax, an NI number and finding a flat. *Sigh!* I'm quite sure I didn't sign up for this!!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Packing and Sniffles

It would appear that four weeks of partying, no sleep and a little too much fun has left me feeling a little under the weather. Not exactly ideal, given I'm going to get on a plane tomorrow for a ridiculous amount of time. But what can you do? I'll make sure to have a healthy breakfast this morning followed by a concoction of vitamins and see how we do.

The last four weeks have absolutely flown by - it's been mad! I had a lovely dinner with Leah and Alice on Friday night at our favourite - and fairly expensive - restaurant at New Farm. Cocktails, Tapas, champagne and cheese - what more does a girl need?!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Me, Alice and Leah at Girties.

Thursday night held much boogie for us all! We started off at Belushi's but the really poor standard of kareoke was annoying us. So we wandered off to Birdy Num Nums - silly name, but AWESOME club. We danced until the wee hours of the morning, and the DJ played the song that Jess and I go nuts to. (read: whenever Chrissie Agger's 'Dirty' comes on, we're on the podiums, or the stage or the table ... whatever's closest!) So a good night was had by all. Unfortunately, that was the last time I am going to see Kerrin and Jess for a long time:(.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Cat decides she rather likes the look of Mitch's boobs

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Now that he's on TV, Kerrin must take up the majority of all photos;). He's smilin' with Leah and Jess

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Mitch had to do the hard yards and snuggle up to two girls (Alice and Cat) - sigh! It's so tough being popular sometimes!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Me with Cat

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Me and ma girlies

Saturday night Andy, my old 'boss' at the Garden City Shingle Inn, organised a few drinks at his house with the old Shinga gang and it went off with a 'bang' - literally! Matthew, Cam's boyfriend, managed to procure a few fireworks. I felt like a such a teenager again - total flashback! - walking around the streets at night down to the park to set off fireworks. Kinda weird, I'm too old for that stuff now! I was freaking out!!!! Andy and his wife, Sara, will be coming to the UK in a couple of weeks for a holiday. I'm going to give them Mel's Illustrious Walking Tour du Londres when they get to London. Also, Kimmy and her new hubby Simon will be heading to Old Blighty come December. Simon's from Reading, and is Andy's cousin. I'll be giving Kimmy a shopping tour when she gets there.

Sunday morning was Yum Cha - it was meant to be with the entire Adkins clan, but they cancelled last minute. Sarah and her fiancee, Bradley, still came along and Yum Cha'd with Michelle, Jeff and I, and we had a lovely morning stuffing ourselves. After that, we wandered the Valley Markets before heading into the city. I said goodbye to Sarah (again, won't be seeing her for a while) before having coffee with Tony and saying my goodbyes to him.

Yesterday Ammie and I did some groceries, visited my Pop (who is looking much more sprightly!) before heading down to the waterfront for a long walk and a D&M while sitting on the Pier. It was really awesome weather - the sky was perfect, and the tide was out so we wandered out onto the mudflats and took in the scenery. As Ammie said, if there was any place in the world to be right at that point, it was where we were. It was just gorgeous.

Last night I went to see the dress rehearsal of Alice's theatre group's latest production - Oklahoma! It went really well, I rather enjoyed it. Very colourful, and their leading ladies have beautiful voices. Again it was goodbyes to people.

Today will be pretty much packing and washing. My sister has bestowed on me the fabulous gift of a full body massage *drools* this afternoon. Then tonight will be dinner with all my family.

Back at work on Friday with any luck. I have to catch up with Casey this weekend before she heads off to Ireland, as well as look for flats. Eeek! A very very busy time ahead....

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Now begins the start of my last week in Oz. It's gone so quickly! I've been super busy - it doesn't really feel like a holiday, just three or four weeks of too much alcohol and food:D.

Anyway! My last few days here I'm pretty much fully-booked. Tonight I'm off to dinner with Alice before we head to the valley for Kareoke night at Belushi's! Tomorrow morning it's morning tea with Michelle and a few other people, tomorrow night it's dinner with ma girlies at our favourite restaurant, Gertie's, on Brunswick Street. Saturday morning there's a high possibility of Yum Cha occurring, followed by Saturday night at Andy's with the old Shinga girls for a good ol' piss-up. Sunday morning is Yum Cha in the Valley with the Adkins and my sister and Jeff. Sunday arvo is coffee with Tony, the night is recovery.:D

Monday night I'm off to see Alice's theatre group rehearse their latest production - Oklahoma - as I won't be able to see the full production. And Tuesday night is dinner with the family for a pow-wow before I hop on a plane Wednesday afternoon, bound for sunny England!

Whew! In amongst all of that I've got to do some things for work.

Of late, I've been doing much partying in the Valley and lots of shopping and doing lunch/dinner with people. Yesterday I went with Cat and her mum to this awesome Turkish restaurant at South Bank (for the uninitiated, South Bank is this huge parklands by the Brisbane river, on opposite side to the city central. It has a freshwater lagoon and a mini beach, along with lots of play equipment and cafes and things - very nice place to hang out when it's NOT school holidays!). We ate SO much! Which didn't stop me from having afternoon tea with my Pop, who is looking much more sprightly, and dinner with Mitch and Kim at Balmoral, followed by Cold Rock of course! God I love Cold Rock ice-cream.... *drools*

Anywho, for those who don't come from my neck of the woods, I took a few photos of the Wynnum-Manly waterfront the other day when I went down there for a run. Wynnum (known to us locals as 'The 'Num') has a reputation for old people, and young derros. Although it's come up a lot in the world in the past 15 years particularly, there's still a bit of work to be done on the locals.:D Hence why I moved to the north side of town as soon as the opportunity presented itself! It really is a lovely place, with an interesting history. We just need to get rid of the white trash.:D Okay I'll shut up - here are the photos:


Image hosted by Photobucket.com
In the background you can see St Helena Island, which was originally a convict colony. Lots of ruins there now, mostly a tourist attraction. There's a stack of islands in the bay, including the big ones like North Stradbroke and Moreton Island, and little ones like Coochimudloo, Green and King.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Tide's out! On the right is the bathing pool. It's tidal - rises and falls with the sea - and was built during the depression. As kids we used to go down there after school. Bit of a problem with broken glass and horrible things in the bottom of it though.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Random image of pier.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Random image of Pandanus Beach.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Hey look - seagulls!


On a completely unrealted note, I've now added links to my blog (with thanks to Jaimee!).

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Home, Sweet Home

I've been incredibly slack, I KNOW! Apologies to anyone who regularly read/reads this ridiculous and unimportant blog.

But anyway, the last two weeks have been very very busy. It's so tough being popular!;) I've decided dot-point form is probably best, so:

  • Drinks at Belushi's - I have photos now!
  • Mum's 50th Birthday party went really well and everyone had a lovely time.
  • I've been shopping, drinking, shopping, shopping, shopping...
  • My Pop was put in hospital last week and it didn't look very good, but he's managed to pull through ok and may be allowed home soon.
  • My cat has become incredibly fat while I've been away - Weight Watchers for Poppet!
  • My party was cool fun - SO MUCH FOOD! We had all the usual BBQ stuff, including home-made rissoles, sausages, bread rolls, green salad, pasta salad, potato salad, and then all the snacks including delicious chocolate chip cookies made by Leah, cheese, crackers, lollies, chocolates... the list goes on and on and on!
  • This week I had dinner with Andy and his wife and kids which was lovely.
  • Today went shopping with mum.
  • This weekend going up the coast for much needed beachness.

GAH! I can't remember it all, but suffice it to say I've been uber busy and having heaps of fun! Only two weeks left though:(.

And now - photos!

These are from my first night out back on the town ... or in this case, the Valley ... at Belushis:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Me and my two bestest buds in the WHOLE WORLD - Alice and Leah

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

My other bestest bud - Kerrin!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Tony and Jasmine:)

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Jess and Kerrin-san

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Nick and I

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Jasmine and Alice

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Marvellous Mitch! He's so fantastic, EVERY GIRL NEEDS A MITCH!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Julian and Leah

And my mum's fiftieth birthday:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Me, my little sis Anne-Marie, Mum, brother Chris and older sis Michelle, who I am staying with while I'm here.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Mum and her boyfriend Steve

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

My mum's 'little' brother, Uncle Mike, me and her other 'little' brother Greg.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Uncle Mike and Greg's partner, Yvette

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Mum's cousins, Lyn and Kate, with Kate's mum, Aunty Ann

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

I swear I am not related to this man.

Have picked up my tickets and such. My lil sis is on holidays next week so I'll be able to spend some time with her. Only two weeks left til I leave again for London... it's all going so quickly!