Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Woke up this morning, from the strangest dream...

I love going to the AFL.....

It always brings back memories of rain soaked days out at Waverly Park.

For the first time in years.... the Kangaroos were NOT the team to come to Canberra. Instead we were lucky enough to have the Bulldogs come and face the Swans.
It's such a nice day out going to the game.
With a beer in one hand, everyone seems happy.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Hold close the things you love

Hold close the things you love....

I can't remember who told me that, but it seemed like good advice.

So I decided to embrace this ideal.

I love flat-screen TVs.
My brother also felt it necessary to show his love.....
.... but only for the things that he truly cared for.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Confusion Reigns

It's getting very confusing.

I really have no idea what's happening anymore.

My plans for what I'm going to do this year seem to change almost weekly.

So far... this is the list of the plans that I have had.

1. Do first term of Legal Workshop + Ski for the Souther Winter Season + Spend time in Newcastle with the family.

- This changed to.....

2. Do first term of Legal Workshop + Go to Europe at the end of the year.

- Which then changed to.....

3. Do first term of Legal Workshop + Work for Cirque du Soleil in Perth + Spend time in Newcastle with the family.

- And that was scrapped for....

4. Do first term of Legal Workshop + Work for Cirque du Soleil in Perth + Go to Europe at the end of the year.

- But before long that became...

5. Do the first term of Legal Workshop + Do the second term of Legal Workshop + Go to Europe at the end of the year.

- Yet this was to morph into....

6. Do the first term of Legal Workshop + Go skiing for a few weeks during the Southern Winter Season + Go to Europe at the end of the year.

Until we have the plan as it stands....

7. Do the first term of Legal Workshop + Go skiing for a few weeks during the Southern Winter Season + Do the second term of Legal Workshop + Go to Europe at the end of the year.

..... BLEH!!!!!

I think I'm going to give up making plans... anything made seems to fall through anyway.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Eurovision!!!!!!!

The Eurovision Song Contest was on the other night!!!!!

.... basically just another excuse for a party......

Television at its tackiest. So everyone decided to come dressed in their own tacky manner.

Lookin' good!!!!
Steady decided that all denim was the way to go..... I particulary like the cut-offs.....
Nick proudly displayed his finely sculpted "Euro-beard".
Don't Rani and I look threatening???

Regardless of what Nick may say.... this pose was NOT done on purpose. It's just a case of "Nick being Nick".

Which then leads on to a case of "Stead being Stead"...... a lovely vision for everyone......

Monday, May 14, 2007

Au Revoir Pauline.....

Our resident Frenchie is leaving....

Bye bye Pauline, it's back to Paris for her.

She decided she wanted a big farewell party.... and the theme was.... aluminium?????

It all become much clearer once I arrived. Pauline just wanted an opportunity to dress up as the Eiffel Tower.
Everyone seemed to get into the aluminium theme.
Ting helped me to do my hair! I look like a Martian Rasta!
I was lucky enough to have my photo taken with "Captain Future"....
... and now here is mild-mannered reporter Oliver Toohey (no relation to Captain Future).
A violent game of "caps"....
Everyone here seems to be posing nicely, but the reality is that we've locked Fliss and Oliee into the closet behind us...... bye bye Pauline!!!!!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Wincing the night away......

Poor Bryce.....

He's back in Australia now..... another racing season cut painfully short.

Now he's all doped up on painkillers, struggling to sleep through the pain of it all... physical and others.

Now I've been given the full update as well.

The injuries that Bryce has are as follows:

- A full rupture of his AC ligament.
- The bones surrounding his knee completely crunched, with part of the base of the tibia being split in two (ouch....)
- The calf muscle was nearly torn off (thankfully it was only a partial tear and not a full tear).


Regardless.... it's looking like a very long recuperation for Bryce. The Northern winter is calling though, so hopefully his knee will be up to scratch by the time that comes along.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Macedonian Marriage

The twins are married!!!!

I've known the twins Natalie and Nick for years. I went to high school with Nick and I went to university with Natalie.

It was a huge surprise when Natalie invited me to her wedding... but it was an even bigger surprise to find out that her twin Nick was also getting married..... on the SAME DAY!

A double wedding, and not only that, a double Macedonian wedding!

I arrived at the church with my date nice and early.

Inside everything was set up. We sat down in good seats right in the middle. Going in early would probably be the only mistake I made all day.... the seats were the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in.

Slowly, the bridal party(s) began to filter in.
Natalie and her husband to be Kire. Part of the traditional Macedonian wedding involves the bride and groom being "crowned" and then the crowns are swapped back and forth between their heads three times.
Both parties then start walking around the alter as part of the marriage "dance". It is the first walk they do as husband and wife, with the bridal parties following.
Everyone lined up to give offer then congratulations. After I gave them my best wishes, I was confronted by a kindly looking Macedonian man. He grabbed me by the hand and started speaking to me in Macedonian. After he finished, he asked me in broken English, "You... understand... what I say?"
"Not a word sorry" was my reply. He started to smile.
Another man put his hand on my shoulder as I started to walk away and decided to translate for me.
"You see..." he started. "He's the Godfather to the two twins.... and he could see that you are a young man, and he assumed you were single.... So he just gave you the Godfather's blessing. You'll be married in year!"
Oh God......
There were lots of children at the wedding, though it must have all been a bit much for some of the kids.
Outside waiting for the two grooms and the two brides were two stretch convertible Porsche limos.
A few hours later, everyone moved to the reception.
Not any reception...
But a reception in the Great Hall of Parliament House!
Don't Rehan and Nikki look nice?
Over 400 people gathered for what would be the best party I've ever been to.
Natalie and Kire make their entrance!
Then Nick and Melena make their entrance!
The cutting of the first cake.
Followed by the cutting of the second cake!
What an amazing night though! Huge amounts of food, free flowing drink and traditional dance followed.
Rehan and I decided it would be a good idea to drink one of the bottles of Johnny Walker Black that was on every table..... not such a good idea.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Autumn

I was wandering over to see my brother the other day when I came across a tree that looked like it was on fire.

The sun was shining directly onto it and the leaves looked like small flames.

Autumn is definitely here.
The temperatures have dropped, the night is long and my jacket is out.
I was having a drink with my boss the other day when he noted that there is only about a difference of two weeks between when we avoid the sun and when we seek it out....