Pub Crawl Drop In and Jo's 30th

Yesterday, after frantically trying to locate a place to complete my democratic duty with the local, compulsary Council election, I met Nikki in the city, and we travelled over to South Melbourne to meet up with Melissa and Katie, who were mid-pub crawl.

We joined them at The Railway, which I think was their 5th pub. The group included Melissa's housemates, Nick and Greg, and had the lads in Merry Christmas santa hats, and the girls in Ho!Ho!Ho! santa hats.

The crawl they were following was the Albert Park-South Melbourne crawl from the The Victorian Imbibers Club website - which is just giving me ideas!! The group had also put together rules/challenges for each pub, drawn out before each change. Things like the hopping pub, where they had to hop between sips of their pots. The Railway's challenge was to aquire a business card.

The next pub was The Montague, after a long and misguided walk, where the quite gathering inside didn't know quite what to make of the rowdy group, with everyone speaking in a Pommy accent, and Pom Greg having to speak Aussie! Hilarious!

We then moved on to The Albert Park, very art deco outside, funky wood modern inside, before the Hotel Nest. This pub was drawn as a 'No Slash Pub' so everyone was trying to down their pt quickly, to allow the group to move on to the next! Nikki and I left the group at this point, and trammed back into the city.

Great crawl, great idea with the rules and tasks for each pub. Will definately have to complete it someday next year!

We found our way to Charlie's Bar in Hardware Lane, for Jo's 30th birthday. We joined Kate and Mark, and Michelle, and soon Stacey and Andrew for the countdown to midnight to celebrate turning 30 with beautiful Joey.

More work mates joined us, with Stevie, Christina and Dan, and much later Patrice and Leno. Big bucket glasses of Hoegaarden beer, champange, and all sorts of other combinations later, designated dave me drove people home at the end of a very long, and fun day. Happy Birthday Joey Mac!

Diesel

Last night after work, Jenny and I headed up Lygon Street to the East Brunswick Club. Having bought tickets for the show many months ago for Jenny's birthday, we were off the see Diesel.

Jenny actually saw him this year, whilst I was under house arrest, and raved about him live. Spotting this gig, I jumped at the tickets, and am quite glad I did!

Coming on at 9.30pm, and playing for the two hour set, he belted out a few new tunes, including his new release Days Like These, and then worked his way through his nine album catalogue.

Impressive guitar riffs, and awesome vocals, he belted out tracks like Tip Of My Tongue, Come Together, and Please Send Me Somebody To Love. Amazing live version of Soul Revival, plus Don't Need Love, and crowd favourite 15 Feet Of Snow.

Covers mingled into his set, including Dylan's Rainy Day Woman, and then an extended Come To Me. Encore included Crying Shame, and ending with Steal My Sunshine. A great, and talented entertainer, even better live.

Quang Goes Mangoes at The Empress

Last night Nicole and I met after work at one of my favourite pubs, The Empress, which also happens to be my local.

We grabbed a table, and settled in for the act that got us there, Quang Goes Mangoes. Quang Dinh from Little Red, did a solo set. Music he has written himself, all love songs of some kind, including one to his Mum. His vocal range is amazing - even when he is toasted!

Nicole and he chatted after his set, being Facebook friends and all!

Next at the bill were The Box Rockets. Little rock band of three, with the lead's Mum in the audience!

The night was actually the first of a residency for The Good China - our new band find! They were awesome! Nine people on stage, girls and guys, playing a full range of instruments. Violin was a highlight, but xylophone, maraca, recorder, and even the banjo!

The band took full rotation for lead vocals, and the range was amazing. The girls were very good. Ending their set with All Nothing, a massive number, with cute coordinated double clap with all 9 people, plus some in the audience.

Such a fun band, and certainly one I'll be looking out for now!

Greeting Card Campaign

Jess alerted me to the UK Amnesty International's Greetings Card Campaign. Part of their tireless work to fight human rights abuses all over the world, they have launched an initiative to incorporate people's Xmas cards routine.

At risk cases identified for the Campaign, reading each one is harrowing, and a reminder of how lucky we are to live the lives we do.

I am going to send off a couple, picking people based in countries I have visited. So hard to narrow down otherwise! Journalist Pablo Pacheco Avila, in Cuba, and Ferhat Gerçek in Turkey will receive cards from me. AI state that the impression international mail makes to the authorities can help raise awareness about each case.

The Peg Leg

Today I am wearing my hot 'walnut brown' pressure stocking. Thigh high, but with open toe, thank goodness!

I have managed to find replacements for the hospital white versions I was given when I was first diagnosed with DVT, and have managed to track down and order some colours from the US. Not available in Australia in anythng other than white.

I have black, and also the lovely beige, which makes me look like I have a wooden leg. I have started referring to it as the peg leg. The Peg.

Now just to be ok with having the Peg exposed....
Clearly Summer, and warm days like today, will make it necessary...

Research tells me I need to wear these for at least two years, maybe longer. Definately for any flights. The compression, particularly at the ankle, helps my damaged vein in my left leg with circulation. So that fluid doesn't pool at my ankle...so that I still have an ankle! If that's what it takes....

One More Month

 

The Melbourne Myer Christmas windows are in full display, and means that it's getting very close to Xmas. This year is a progress of Santa's preparations, with this window - the first, Christmas College for Elves - being all the 'training' that goes in. Loved the department for 'Christmas Intelligence'! Also answers to questions about how Santa gets around to everyone, how they time the run to cover different cultures and countries Xmas day....

I was inspired by Nat's and Jess' posts about this years lights in London, and checking on the lights from when I was there.

The closer Xmas is, the closer I am to putting this DVT chapter behind me. Very excited for that!

Cambodia: Group 78

I have just put together a letter of appeal to send off to the Governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, Cambodia. This is part of Amnesty International's, UK branch, campaign for a group of people they are referring to as Group 78.

According to Amnesty International, Group 78 is a group of some 150 families, who are being evicted from a piece of land from which, by law, they have entitlement to. The reasons for their eviction range from the beautifying of the area, to needing a bridge built.

Having lived and worked in Cambodia, I can imagine the lack of processes and confusion around a situation like this. Amnesty International state that the families have the documentation to make their claim on the land, but are being rejected.

My experience just to get a working visa over there led to visits to window after window at Government department to department, and a small fee here and there to get things moving. Corruption and fear for higher powered figures there remains a strong influence on how anything is done, on a day to day basis.

I have also emailed my interest in being part of the Australians for Cambodian Education group, here in Melbourne, in a quest to get involved.

The Day After Peace

Yesterday, as the moving truck was at our house, I ducked into the city to see a film in the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, at Kino.

First up in my chosen session was a short film, called A Different Kind Of Gun. Shot in North and South Sudan, and told by children of this area, the message was education. The children interviewed were asked what they want, need, and how things could improve.

Tracking the development of Kimo school, there are some amazing words from the kids, and the upclose beautiful face shots are just disarming. Education as their way out of the situation their country is in, with one kid observing that the soldiers don't have education so the kids are already making change.

Next was the main film, The Day After Peace. Documenting Jeremy Gilley's quest to have the UN's Peace Day properly recognised and acted upon. A day of global ceasefire.

It starts with a disasterous meeting with the League of Arab States, where Gilley is heckled because of his unbalanced interviews shown in his film promoting his Peace Day idea. From here, he tells us of the journey of getting people of power to talk about this UN sanctioned day of peace - from when he took it to the UN Assembly, thorough negotiations with UK and Costa Rican governments. The day was to be announced by Kofi Annan, with the ringing of the peace bell in NYC - on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Despite the set back, the campaign continues with Gilley working on. We find him about to meet someone who will help, in his lounge room in London - and in walks Angelina Jolie. He meets the Dali Lama. And then when his website is launching, he has Jude Law do a piece for the intro for the website.

Discussions during this shot have Gilley telling Jude about his upcoming trip to Afghanistan - and leads to amazing footage of Jude Law deciding to go with him, to help arrange a day of non-violence to allow vaccinations to reach war ravaged villages of the South. Seeing the beautiful Jude complete the security briefings, check in, and fly with Gilley, and then to wander the streets stating that he feels 'vulnerable' is amazing.

They manage to vaccinate 1.4 million children on 21st September 2007 in Afghanistan, because of the work Gilley does to bring about a day of ceasefire.

Peace One Day is Gilley's company, which will continue to work towards the world actually observing the designated day of peace. Just one day could lead to so much more.

I Heart Movember

November has become the month marked by the dirty Mo - all in the name of men's health! Such a great campaign, and what an awesome idea to get the lads to consider their health!

When I got back to Australia from the UK, it was in the middle of Movember - and I was amazed by the breadth and depth of participation, and of many particular mo's, around. So impressive.

I have been following Andrew's 'mogress' through this month, but this morning, Melissa's housemates, Nick and Greg came by to pick up the couch, and so I got to snap their mogress!


Great handlebar there for Nick. And just a dirty porn mo there for Greg! Such a talking point all month with lads from all over. And much competition among them, and their growing ability!

Proceeds, which reached $16 million last year (wow!), go to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and BeyondBlue, so pop over through the links and donate to the lads.

Melbourne Storm-In-A-Teacup

Last night I went along to watch the girls from work compete in a grading for a new netball team competition. Nikki is a hard core netball girl, and has rallied a mixed side from work to play, for fun, on a Thursday night.

Alissa, and her crew of Dan, Lucas and Jake all crammed into the tiniest car I have ever seen, picked me up from the office and we headed out to Albert Park. Past MSAC, around the race track to the Grand Prix pits, being the venue for the Albert Park Indoor Sports Centre, and mixed midweek netball.

Full netball courts above the very site where cars are housed and repaired during the Prix, we joined Nikki, Bree, Sarah and Andy to watch a match, before the newly formed team was formed.

I had forgotten how fast netball can be! Sitting on the sidelines, as Melbourne Storm-In-A-Teacup went through their paces, and figured out how to play as a team.
This was a grading session, so the 5 point loss will determine which league the team is assigned to for the new season. But given that it was asserted that it was just for fun, it's all good.

Almost made me want to play....I mean, I was just there for moral support, and some entertainment! But was certainly a fun hit out for the group.

Amazing how much sport is going on in this little pocket of the city! For all the protestations about the changes the Grand Prix has brought to Albert Park, the injection of sports, and thus the work on the world's growing obesity crisis, can only be good.

Melbourne's Ghost Bike

An article in today's paper told me about the Ghost Bike that has 'materialised' in the heart of Melbourne, to mark the death of a cyclist a couple of months ago.

A bike, painted all white, is chained to the Three Businessmen. I popped down just now, to see the bike amidst the hustle and bustle of people going home from work, and the endless tourists in the Mall.

In September, when Carolyn Rawlins was killed riding her bike to work along Swanston Street, there was much talk about bike safety, and the safety of having big buses along the designated pedestrian street.

The idea that someone was killed on their way to work is just too awful.

Our office was effected by this tragedy a little more, as one of my colleagues knew one of the people on the bus that hit Ms Rawlins. This is a side that has not had any publicity, and one that the general public rarely thinks about. The fact that we deal with these people, and the impact of bad things happening at work day in and day out, makes this story even more tragic.

Intimate BookCrossing Meet Up

Last night I attended my first BookCrossing meet up in many months. We met at The Brandon, in Carlton, after a poll on the group site.

The Melbourne group has dropped off over the winter months, and last night it was a tiny dinner with Michelle, Megan and Andrew, Kris, and I.

The food, as always there, was great. I had the fish of the day, and an extra serve of veggies. Plus my mid week beer!

A couple of books were swapped, discussions about forthcoming BookCrossing events, past travel stories, and ways to bring people back to Meet Ups were all bantered around the table.

INR and Phlebotomy

Yesterday on the way to work, I submitted myself again to my fortnightly blood test. This is to check my INR level, to ensure that I am within theraputic range, and thus, that my blood is coagulating less than the average person.

I have been going to Gribbles, at the Paris end of Collins Street, in the city. Occasionally I have been to the one closer to home, although I lost faith in them after a few vein misses....hate when they dig around!!

The two older ladies in Collins Street are such cuties, and they know my name now. They bustle about, and are always receptive to me taking the piss out of myself. Up for a chat, which is great, cos it distracts from the fact that they are coming at me with a needle, and draining me of blood on a regular basis.

My rate all depends on things like, how much vitamin K rich food I have had, how many beers I have had, whether I have any bruising.... Yesterday I was 2.1, they have called me today to tell me. All good. My dosing for the next fortnight stays the same each night, and I am good to go again.

Burma Blogger

While this month we are all free and happy to blog away for NaBloPoMo, one blogger out there has been imprisoned for doing just that.

I stumbled upon Nay Phone Latt's story, through a breaking news story on The Age. A Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, has been 'jailed for 20 years' according to the story, for posting a message about the regime in Burma.

Reportedly, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi's party until his arrest, Nay Phone Latt had been missing for most of this year.

So hard to know what is the truth, coming out of such restricted places like Burma. But the mere thought of being jailed for years, let along 20, for blogging a story, a poem, or even - god forbid - opinion, is a very, very frightening one.

Empty House

Tonight I am sitting in an empty, echoy house, on one of the last remaining bits of furniture! Jane has just moved out in full, and it will be a week til Jenny will move in. Couch, dining room table, and my bedroom remaining...but nothing else!

I love this house, and the area, so when Jane decided it was time to move out to start planning for new things, I was keen to find a replacement. Also, given that I had offloaded most of my big and cumbersome belongings when I went off to the UK, I needed someone with a readymade house!

Jane and I have been here for a little over a year, although with her job, she hasn't really been here for many months in a row.

Jenny and I have lived together in London, in an awesome house, so things are set for another great houseshare experience. She also put me up when I was homeless here in Melbourne, so a tried and tested combination. Both having lived on our own, me for stretches recently, and Jen since she got back from London, there could be some settling in - but then January is bound to be the beginning of a fun year, with my not-so-graduated return to drinking!

Next weekend, a new chapter begins. Exciting times!

Wedding of Dominica and Jason

Yesterday, we were treated to the fun and joy of Dominica and Jason's wedding. The ceremony was at the Melbourne Town Hall, and upon arrival we were directed to one of the balconies of the chambers, where the ceremony was held.

Meeting up with Dan as we walked in, Jane, Majid and I took our places, as we spotted Evie downstairs, camera ready. The groom took his place, and soon Dominica made her entrance - after a trail of little attendants, head fairy Jasmin, and her bridesmaids.

Dom and Jason were married by a celebrant, who also performed magic tricks, which added flair, and some symbolic touches throughout. They also had a sand bottle made during the service, by family from far and wide, as a symbol of their union of family.

After being presented with a very happy newly married couple, the gathered met outside amidst the busy Melbourne streets for a group photo - before boarding a red double decker bus for a trip down to St Kilda. Drinks and music filled the bus, as guests and bridal party mingled, with sunny Melbourne passing us by.

The bridal party had photos taken along the Brighton bath houses, as the wedding guests carried on with champagne, at the beach. The trip back to town was rowdy, with karaoke in full swing - lots of laughs!


The bus bought us to the Royal Botanical Gardens, where we wandered through to The Terrace for the reception. Drinks and canapes in the sun, on the shore of the lake with the city as our backdrop, before the bride and groom were ready to arrive. As we were seated, tabled shuffled, I was assigned my spot next to Amanthi, from Skipping Vinegar Girl.

Speeches, as were to be expected from our Dom, were long, funny and entertaining. The groom, and bride, so sweet - and Dom had written a song which she performed for Jason. Dancing and laughter filled the night, before many of the guests headed to The Deck for after wedding drinks.

What a gorgeous and fun day! Big special good wishes to Dom, Jason, and their Jasmin.

Walking To Work

I have started walking to work again, now that the leg is stable, and the weather is better. Starting from my bicycle path designated street, with it's green strip of grass all the way along, with massive palm trees all along, I walk past old Carlton terrace houses.

Then I reach Carlton Gardens, past the Melbourne Museum. This path leads through the little park before you reach the CBD - a little tranquil bit of green and peace before the madness of the city.

Onto the city streets, with the hustle and bustle of people going to and from work, meetings, and whatever else people are doing. Also amidst uni students rushing into class at RMIT, up near Swanston Street.

I cut into Swanston Street, passing the Library, and meander through the shopping and food area, before turning up Lonsdale Street, past Myer and Melbourne Central. Walking through the throngs of people, rushing to and from work, meetings, errands, and usually workmen at some point.

The incline up to Queen Street, and to my office building, comes just at the right time, before entering the false inside environment. A great walk in the morning, measured at just under 5kms - a grounding start to my day!

(Posted at posted time....but lost to internet gremlins, so fixed up after the big day had ended)

80s Dancing Hen's

Last night was Dominica's Hen's night, on a school night with the wedding just a couple of days away. Guests from all over the world are in town, and her sisters had pulled off a secret plan for her special night.

Theme, according to the invite, was 80s dance gear. Jane and Evie, dressed in fluro and with hair teased, picked me up outside work, and we headed to the rendezvous park destination in St Kilda. The Hen had been dressed in 80s style bridal gear, with veil, white lace gloves, fluro yellow and black tights, and bright eyeshadow. Drinks and nibbles were served as the group of female wedding guests gathered, before we headed across the road and up a little alleyway.

Here we found the Glittery Tapping Wonderland dance studio! A little world of pink, bright colours, disco lights, and 80s music. Our group filed into the studio, as a group of young and excited dancers finished their jazz class.

An hour and a half of dancing ensued - a warm up, Wham!, moves to learn, Footloose, routines, Fame! Hilarious! Such fun! And a way to mingle your guests, and relive the adventures of the bride's, and many of our, growing up days.

After a hot and energised session in the cute, tucked away studio, we then let loose on Acland Street in our dressed up splendour! Drinks followed, when the Buck's met up with our group. Very cool to have the old Cambodia group together, with the four of us not being in the same city for several years!

Countdown to Xmas

Not usually a very Christmas-y person, I am looking forward to this one way more than I have looked forward to Xmas....probably since I discovered Santa wasn't real!

Of course, all going well, Xmas Eve is the day I can stop taking Warfarin, after six months of regular blood tests, watching what I eat or trying to eat consistantly (whatever that means!!), and of course no or minimal drinking, for my DVT treatment.

This tree, in Swanston Street near the Town Hall, has been up since the middle of last month, which is ridiculous! Earlier and earlier every year, Xmas stuff comes out! Next year it'll be the end of footy season...and then what?

But the more, and earlier the signs this year, the closer my normal life returns! Very happy with that!

I have such plans for my not-so-graduated return to drinking! Can't wait! I mean, next to sleeping, drinking would be my Olympic sport - I am actually quite good at it! Very scared, though, about whether I will be back to drinking like when I started drinking....a two pot screamer, and getting sick. Or will I jump to that easy, reckless drinking, where you can drink, drink, drink, and never get a hangover...I think I remember a few months of that! Or whether it will be back to the hideous hangovers of my twenties....please no! Bounce back to West Indies piss fitness would be my preference, to pick up where I left off!

Bring on Xmas Eve!

Cash For Comment

Last night I earnt the easiest money I have made for quite some time! I attended a market research focus group to discuss banking, it's role in my life, and the image and perception of my bank. And was paid, and fed, for my opinion! Nice!

I had signed up to a couple of market research companies, after my sister seemed to get all these crazy gigs where she was paid to taste organge juice - or worse, alcopops! From the sign up I get a couple of emails here and there, but rarely for something that I fit the category for. Last year I did attend a one on one session, related to selecting to go Green on an energy bill....again, easy cash!

So I looked up the address I was provided, after RSVPing, and caught a tram out to St Kilda to join 5 others like me, in a focus group. Very laid back, although I did need to complete a homework task beforehand. We talked about why we all chose our particular bank, and what our perception was of it, and the others, in terms of services and image.

Pizza arrived, and then we got to sample new TV ad ideas, and provide feedback! How easy is this! A couple of funny ad ideas, and some cheesy ones - we as a group weeded them out, and told them how it was!

$150 for an hour and a half of chatting, and looking at idea boards! On reflection, it's interesting that a bank goes to the trouble of paying a company to pay 6 people to comment on ideas and image...I guess we'll see if our feedback is taken seriously, or the cheesy ads make it through to our lounge room viewing!

Long Way Round

Two weeks ago, during a couple of days off, I devoured the documentary series of Long Way Down...and loved it! Totally wow-ed by it! And inspired!

A fan of Ewan McGregor, for his good looks and hot Scottish accent, I had heard many good things about this series. Finally having the chance to sit and watch, I was totally blown away!

Ewan and Charley Boorman talk about riding across the world on the back of their motorbikes - and then make it happen. The series documents their planning and research, the visa processes and first aide training, as well as Ewan's first off road riding experience. And then the trip from London, across Europe, through Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and then over to Alaska, Canada and through the US to New York. An amazing trip!

The series takes you through the highs and lows, with a cameraman Claudio joining the two riders, plus their support crew in vehicles usually a day behind them. The lads also kept video diaries, so you could see them reflect on the day's riding, what was bugging them, and the very intimate homesickness experienced. Such an insight into these two guy's lives, such a treat.

Taking UNICEF as their targeted charity for the trip, the boys visit a children's centre in Keiv, amongst the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. They also visit street children living in heating ducts of Russia.

The snapshot into the landscapes across these travels, breathtaking and so different at every point, just enhanced my wanderlust, and desire to get to Russia for a trip. Plus their encounter with the people along the way, from so many different cultural experiences - the friendliness, the characters, the exchange of vodka in the middle of nowhere, or finding a welder in a tiny town in Mongolia to repair one of the bikes. This series is one of those reminders of our humanity, and that we are all esentially the same, the world over.

Ewan had some pretty scary things happen along the way to him, and Charley looked like not finishing at one point, but despite these things, and a hundred other barriers, they got across. Quite inspired by Ewan and Charley's reflection on the seeming impasse in Mongolia, and also the trials and triumph of the Road of Bones...

So impressed!

Reminded me so much of one of my favourite travel experiences, in Cambodia. Dan, Nick, Rach and I, went out of Phnom Penh one weekend when we were living there for a dirtbike trip up to Prey Veng to visit Luke and Jane, with me riding on the back of Borin's bike. Through the jungle and sandy planes, through driving rain, and overcoming many, many breakdowns on the way - still one of my greatest travel memories.

Bar Hopping for Bree's

Yesterday, after a very lazy Saturday, Nikki come over to cook dinner and host a get-ready party at mine! The beauty of working with people years younger than me is that I still get to play! As we put together tacos, Bec and Alissa joined us, to prepare for our night out.

Dressed and fed, and the girls had polished off get-ready drinks, I drove us over to Richmond to Holliava to meet Bree for her birthday drinks. Teaming with racing crowd, and other birthday gatherings, we found Bree and her mates after a short line up outside and a visit to the bar on arrival.

Later in the evening, we made a venue and neighbourhood changed, and managed a VIP entry into The Motel, in South Melbourne. Moving our way through the footballer crowd, onto the dance floor, we ended up spending the night grooving, and hanging out.

Amazed that I have managed such a big, late night on just the one beer! Scary! My drinking form better return when I am off the Wafarin! I don't really want to get used to coping with being alcohol reduced!

Today has been a recovery sleep in, before Yum Cha in Chinatown, and some retail therapy, amidst sunny, warm Melbourne streets!

Wicked

Last night after a work drink, Kate, Mary and I headed to Wagamama's for dinner, preparing for a night at the theatre. We were joined by Nancy (with new baby ultrasound pics - very exciting!), and her friend Nat, and Vashali, for Japanese curry and dumplings.

Through the cold, windy streets of Melbourne, we walked back down to the beautiful Regent Theatre. Entering the amazing foyer, we made our way upstairs and were shown to our cushy seats, ready for Wicked.

The set was amazing and, as we waited for the show to start, we took in the map of Emerald City, and the huge clock face that made up the stage.

The story begins with celebrations that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead, and then Glinda the Good Witch is asked about the rumour that they were actually friends....and so the story is told of the two witches of Emerald City, before Dorothy arrived in the Wizard Of Oz.

Lots of puns about Ozians, and woven, clever references to the movie, the two leads were very strong. Anthony Callea and Rob Mills, of Australian Idol fame, were part of this production, with Millsy's talent really questionable for mine! Plus a replacement for Rob Guest, who passed away suddenly during this season, as the Wizard of Oz.

With messages about bullying, acceptance, and standing up for what you believe in, the show was engaging, even for someone like me who is not enthralled by all the singing and dancing!

The revelations about the origins of the Tin Man and the Lion were great! And sitting next to Mary, which is always an experience, who was totally in awe, was also a treat! Bless her!

A great show! Makes me want to go and hire the movie again.

Nude Dude!

Last night I had a drink after work with Nude Dude! The newly proclaimed Melbourne Nude Dude ambassador, as his girlfriend, and my mate Stacey finished up at work.

In the mX the day before, Andrew was on the second page, nude, standing aloft the big purse in the Bourke Street Mall - stating that he loves getting nude, and that he celebrates his nakedness in public about 10 times a year!

He claims he was roped into this gig, after someone at work had asked for volunteers. All a bit of fun he thought, until he found himself standing on the purse sculpture at 8.30am, amidst tram and pedestrian commuter traffic! He also claims that his quotes in the article were taken way out of proprotion! So he says! He's a funny guy!

At work we had been laughing about it all day, after people had spotted Stacey's boyfriend in their free paper on the way home from work the previous evening, all part of a promotion for a website. And then he pops in to share my mid week beer (well, wine last night).

So sad to see Acey Stacey leave the company, but hopefully onto new adventures!

NaBloPoMo and WTBAY

This month I have joined up for NaBloPoMo - that's National Blog Posting Month. The challange is to post every day for a month, being November. Tough, but I am keen to see if I can!

Inspired by Jess and Nat in the past couple of years, I am going to make an attempt this year.

I have also joined the Where The Blog Are You? Aussie blogging community.

Will be interesting to see what both these sites do for traffic to my site. I have a tracker, which tells me when, and how, people find Jouljet. It also tells me the searches, like on Google, that has random people landing on a post. Pretty funny sometimes!

Some not so random people Googling themselves - busted! But, for example, todays top listed key search words that have led readers here are:

Anika Moa birthday
pitch invaders at the irish rules at the mcg (!!)
wally the basics (googling himself?? Hi Wally!!)
footy shorts (quite a bit of this going on! what's that about!! Hee hee)

It also tells me where people are from, which is cool to know people from all over happen to stumble over here. The most recent locations are:

Tokyo
Canberra
Melbourne
Auckland
Brisbane
Netherlands
Ballarat (Hi Andrea!)
New York (Hi Talia!)
Boston
Switzerland
Sofia, Bulgaria

Happy reading!

Melbourne Cup

Of all the years to be offered a free ticket in a box at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, considering I have never actually been to the event before, it had to be this year. In my alcohol ban of 6 months! Michelle messaged me a couple of weeks ago checking what I was doing for the day, and would I like to be one of 6 people to go. Well, I couldn't not, could I!?

So finding a dress last weekend, and getting sprayed tan on Friday, I had my hair done early yesterday morning, at Masino, just around the corner. The car arrived to pick me up soon after, and I joined Michelle, Donna and Rebecca, before picking up Nicole on our way to the racetrack.

Michelle's uncle had tickets to his Hill Stand Corporate Suite going, and that's where we ended up. Joined by Ruth, we arrived into our private box, overlooking the racetrack just near the post, with sweeping views of the crowd below and the city aloft. Spectacular! After initial overcast skies, Melbourne put on bright blue cloudless scape, all sunshine....and wind!

We were offered champagne as we took in the view, and started studying the form guide. People watching below, and along the other boxes through within sight, the horses galloped past us.

Already feeling very spoilt, with personal drinks service topping up our glasses (tricky when you can only have two!), our lunch arrived....which was amazing! Fish, mussels, scallops, crab salad, racks of lamb, gnocci, veggies, and roast turkey and baby spuds....Mmmmmm!

Time for the 'Race That Stops A Nation', as the crowd below swelled, and the anthem was sung. Before long the horses were off, and the roar of the crowd as the group raced to the post was electric! The closest Melbourne Cup ever, the result went to a photo finish, with a tense few minutes while the million dollar race winner was declared. Viewed it was, and winnings were collected in our box.

We watched the next races complete, while sunburned and sore footed people below started emptying out. Being the designated driver made sure I would limit myself to my drink allowance, and made it fairly easy for us to get out of the area once we were done with our Cup experience for the day.

Such a special treat, being in the box, having food and drink delivered as we wanted it, and being so close to the action. Big thanks to Michelle, and of course Uncle Brad! We had such a great day!

In Swings The Tide

Last night, Nicole and I met for our second show at the Spiegletent after work, this time to see Anika Moa. First hearing her last month we were both inspired to come along for another show, this one being her album launch for In Swings The Tide.

Picking up our tickets, we had a snack in the alfresco bar area first, whilst other people lined up in the rainy Melbourne weather. Last night's full bill for the tent was a fundraiser for the Australians for Cambodian Education - all acts appeared for free, with proceeds of tickets going to the Happy School in Phnom Penh.

A short, cute intro before the gig, as we took our seats in a booth this time, showed details of the school in Cambodia and the story of how the fund got started. All set to a Khmer pop song, Every Breath by The Police, sung in Khmer.....took me back!

Anika was accompanied with bass and drums this time, and entertained the tent full of people with her disclaimers before the show - about her tendency to forget the words to her songs, and that while she may not sound very good, she's pretty, so we should all just concentrate on her face! She's funny! Totally self deprecating.

She played great tracks like Wise Men Say, Dreams In My Head, and Falling In Love Again. My Old Man, followed by Mother. A Fleetwood Mac cover, and title track to her new album. Youthful, another track she did, was so powerful and showed such vocal range.

Such a fresh, frank, funny entertainer, with great tracks and stories. Disappointing to hear that after moving over to Melbourne this year, she's heading back to her homeland, New Zealand, next month! Misses her family, she told the audience, no slight on our great city!!

Waiting For The World To Change

Whilst I don't know much about American politics, and certainly even less about how their election process works, I am very eager to see the result of tomorrow's election in the USA. Given the power the US President has, and the impact his decisions can have - wars, trade, influence on other countries' policy - this election is a monumental one.

There is a site up inviting the rest of the world, who have no say, to vote and show who would win if everyone had a say in this most important decision.

When I visited and voted, the results were:
Barack Obama 86.8% (549,458 votes)
John McCain 13.2% (83,412 votes)

Total number of votes: 632,871
Countries voted from: 208

Will certainly be interesting to see how many the actual vote is decided on. Amazing that the most powerful world political entity is decided only by the people who care enough to register to vote.

Time For Change, it seems. Exciting times! If little Australia can make a change in this type of direction, this time last year, then surely so can the US...

The world is certainly holding it's breath!

The Taj and India

Today I should be on a day trip to Agra, India, with the Flag, to take in the mythical, beautiful Taj Mahal. This would have been after a week of cricket for the test in New Dehli...part of a little trip I had dreamed about as I was coming home from the West Indies.

But alas, work said no to another week of annual leave. But apart from that, which I would totally have argued and convinced them otherwise, after my DVT dramas, and the recovery time needed for the leg after going to Perth for the footy in August, I knew I couldn't go.

I hate that there is anything stopping me from doing something I want to do!

But the idea of getting to India and struggling with the heat and the compression stocking I need to wear on my left leg all day - thigh high, mind you! But the heat in general, and recovering from the long flights needed to get there, with leg pain...plus no drinking! On a cricket trip!

The cricket got me into this mess! Not that I would take back that trip for even a minute!!

I am also mindful of the idea of flying for 8 hours and getting to say, Bangkok, and being too scared to fly on. Or back! Whilst the Warfarin is meant to prevent further clotting, from my reading on the topic in my age group, it's not 100%. Once I am off the Warfarin, I will need to self inject Clexane before and after a long haul flight - which I think, as a more active measure - will make me feel better about my fear of another DVT.

Today's cricket is actually poised for the greatest win of all time, or another draw. The third Aussie draw since Antigua. So would have missed a slow death day of cricket for the Taj....

India, plus a cricket match in India, remains high on my travel lust list! One day!

International Rules

Last night I organised tickets for a bunch of us from work to head to the International Rules game at the MCG. A beer in the office as we were wrapping up end of month work, we then ducked around the corner for a dirty burger (such a bad influence on these healthy people!) to get us through the night - and then Mary found another dirty burger on our walk down to the ground! How funny!

The compromised rules series has always been a bit of fun, but hasn't been played since the 2006, cos the Irish didn't like how rough it got. This year it was to be played with the Aussie lads on their best behaviour! The series of two matches started last week, with the Irish taking the first game by one point.

Eventually we settled into our seats, many with mid strength beer in hand. Taking in little bits of the game, trying to remember what the rules where, and how the scoring worked, the crowd wasn't really into it. Battling intermittent rain, the ground made the most noise for two nightie and fluro wig wearing pitch invaders, who managed quite a run across the 'G! The mexican wave had full staduim participation - always a sign that the crowd is bored.

Suddenly, mid way through the final quarter, the game was an actual contest and the crowd livened up and got right into it. The end result was a very excited Ireland taking the match by 4 points, and thus, the series.

After the game, we headed to Richmond for a drink at the Richmond Club Hotel, and then to the Great Britain for a wee pot of Piss, in former Melbourne based Irish mates form.