A random indulgence

I don't eat fried chicken.

I really like it as well.... but quite a few years ago, I made a decision that for the sake of my health and fitness, I would give up eating and drinking a substantial number of things. One of these things was fried chicken.

However, there are rare occasions when I allow myself to cheat.

For instance, when I was in Belgium, I allowed myself to eat chocolate (I mean how could I not???)

When I was in the Middle East, I allowed myself to drink coffee (though to be honest, I only really drank tea during my time there).

For fried chicken, I allow myself to partake when I find myself in the vicinity of a "Popeyes". Hong Kong is one of the few places in the Asia Pacific region that actually has a Popeyes and I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.

Ahhhh, Popeyes!!!

It may sound silly, but I just find that they make the best fried chicken. The Colonel may have his secret herbs and spices, but he just can't get that amazing crispiness that Popeyes has.
Not only that, but Popeyes serves its chicken with biscuits and cajun spiced fries. How can I resist that???

It didn't take me long to demolish the Popeyes in front of me.... I feel so full....

Nathan Road

There's nothing quite like the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.

Even the CBD of Sydney feels almost empty compared the packed streets in the middle of Kowloon.

It's intense, it's busy and there is a hurried feeling wherever you go. The place definitely feels busier than the last time I was here as well. The influx of tourists from mainland China is clear and the sound of Mandarin now seems to fill the air as much as Cantonese.
Being in the middle of Kowloon also means that I'm nice and close to many of the famous street markets.
This claustrophobic atmosphere always gives me a bit of a rush!

Lost bags

It feels good to be travelling again.

It feels so liberating. As soon as I stepped into Sydney airport, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders knowing that for the duration of this trip (as short as it was), I would be without obligations.

I was heading off to Hong Kong for some family events!!!

It had been over two years since I had been overseas (far too long) and over three years since I had been to Hong Kong. I generally don't like going to places I have been to before, but as far as I'm now concerned, a trip is a trip.

Cheap tickets had been sourced, but unfortunately this meant I was actually flying to Taiwan first...

I found myself running through the airport in Taiwan at around 4am in the morning searching for someone to print out a boarding pass for me, but thankfully someone appeared and I was able to run (as well as my reconstructed knee will allow me) to the gate and my connecting flight to Hong Kong.

Not that it really mattered anyway.

It turns out my bags weren't able to run as fast as I was and they were bumped onto the subsequent flight.

So instead, I found myself sitting at Chek Lap Kok airport, waiting for my bags to arrive.

It's a nice looking airport.

The huge ceilings seem to glow, no matter the time of day and the white has an eerie calming feeling.
It was annoying having to wait the extra hour (which was still better than waiting the 6+ hours for them to deliver it to my hotel), but I was on holiday. So who cares if I have to sit around?

Dinner at Google!!!

Most of the time, I accept that I have a pretty good job. It pays the bills and the work is interesting.

I really can't complain considering many people struggle to find a job these days and even more people find themselves in jobs that they hate.

However, there are a few times when it is difficult to hide the jealousy I have for other peoples' jobs.

My trip to visit my friends working at Google was one of these times.

The invitation had been simple enough: "Hey, you guys should totally come and have dinner with us at our work!" said Andy in his casual American accent.

Dinner at work??? How odd! Why not I thought.

Something was clearly amiss when Nick and I arrived at the Google offices to find Andy playing on the tyre swing in the reception. The girls laughed at our surprise.

.... this was clearly going to be an upsetting tour.
Nick and I also felt strangely out of place walking through this office in our suits and ties. This was a laid back office of t-shirt and jeans and we were clearly squaring up the joint with our lameness.

There's a reason Google is consistently voted as one of the best employers in the world. It's because they treat their staff VERY well.

Unfortunately I couldn't take any photos inside (fair enough), but what my eyes beheld was astounding.

The first thing we saw was the kitchenettes that were peppered everywhere in the building. Full of food and drink, there was no expense spared. Even the coffee machines provided were no run of the mill mass coffee dispenser, but the quality espresso machines that have the large handles to allow the control of water pressure.

Next, we were shown into the games room were a Googler was entranced in his game of Guitar Hero. A pool table, foosball table and a tennis table lay un-used, surrounded by musical instruments for anyone who felt like unwinding in a more cultured manner.

We then wandered upstairs and were shown the library. I had to be careful where I stepped as to not upset the model trains on the ground that someone was working on.

The presence in the office of hammocks and sleeping pods made me particularly upset.

"Yeah, naps are acceptable. There's an attitude of do whatever you want, so long as you get the work done well."

This seemed to be a great attitude! It was definitely an attitude that fit in with the creative approach being sought be this fine organisation. Somehow I'm not so sure it would work as well in the world of law and finance that I find myself in. Still, the ability to power nap after lunch for even half an hour would improve my productivity.... if only it were to be so!

Andy and the girls then took us to look at the myriad of themed meeting rooms. Yes, that's correct, all of the meeting rooms are themed. The most eye catching one was easily the room that used the theme of bath time and rubber duckies.

With the main tour essentially complete, it was time for dinner.

We were escorted into the cafeteria, where the Googlers are provided with buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Each day had a different theme, and we had been fortunate enough to arrive for Indian food. Again, there were no short cuts taken with the food provided. It was good quality food and, even though mass produced cafeteria style fare, it was still better than what I had been used to in my boarding school days. What's more, the free flow of drinks, desserts and ice creams showed that cost cutting wasn't going to be sought in this benefit.

Talking to the Googlers, their admiration and love of the company was evident. And why shouldn't it be? This company cared for them and went out of their way to ensure that they were comfortable in both work and life. These employees genuinely believed in the vision that their company was trying to establish.

As I sat listening to them, slowly eating the paddle pop ice cream that I had taken out of the fridge, my hatred for this company began to grow. It wasn't a hatred because of a dislike. No, this was very much the type of hatred that stems from being an outsider wanting to get in!

We all finished up dinner and began to head off.

Before I left though, there was some unfinished business.

I needed to jump on the tyre swing at least ONCE before I left the premises!!!!

So now I'm left with the question of how I can find a way to sneak my way back into this company???

Cricket!

On a beautiful summer's day, what's better to do than to spend a lovely day at the cricket!

This traditionally British past time both confuses and stupefies foreigners, and yet it still holds a powerful grip on the culture of this country. Other sports have become increasingly popular in Australia, but the state based rivalries still exist and cricket remains the unifying sport that is embraced by the entire country.

So, with the sun high in the sky, we joined thousands of others as we made our way into the Sydney Cricket Ground for the one day international between Australia and England.

Our seats were good!

Seated in the Trumper Stand, we were perfectly placed to view the action, whilst still receiving some protection from the upper parts of the stand.
With the game underway, there was nothing more to do than to sit back and start on the beers.
Cricket is a nuanced game that requires patience and technique. The traditional test match form of the game takes 5 days, so even the one day version is a bastardisation of that original pure form. The even newer 20-20 format is even further from what is traditionally considered cricket. Even with this "shorter" version of the game (a one day match being comprised of 50 overs per team) this was still going to take more than 8 hours.
What better way to enjoy those 8 hours though? Sitting in the shade of the stands, having some drinks with friends while watching Australia play the old enemy.
The English have been rather good this summer, with crushing wins in the Ashes Test series, so any wins to Australia (even in a one day match) is a welcome thing.
However, even with Australia taking hold of the match, the length of time involved in the game was clearly too much for some.
Part of the fun of going to the cricket seems to be in watching the crowd themselves as they start creating their own entertainment (usually after some liquid courage).

Bottles are thrown, beer snakes are formed and the crowd start hurling abuse at the police.
As the match wears on, the procession of fans being escorted out of the stadium with varying degrees of police encouragement steadily increases, almost always to the standing applause and cheers of everyone else!

Broken

The new year has come in with a bang and a drunken haze.

I feel ill, I really do. I've definitely overdone it.

One morning, Josh clearly wasn't paying attention in one of this wake up hazes and managed to kick the antenna cord out of his new TV along with the socket.....

His annoyance was clearly compounded by the realisation that this would not be easily repaired.
.... I think we all need to let up for a few weekends.....

I'm so bored....

I am so bored.

So damn bored. There is nothing to do. The clouds are killing my summer. I want to go to the beach and instead I'm stuck wallowing away my days in my apartment...

My tax filings are done.

My banking filings are done.

I've cleaned the apartment.

I've washed my clothes.

I've got no study to do.

What else?

Might as well try some new recipes I guess.

For some bizarre reason, I suddenly felt the urge to make a Black Forest cake.
People have told me it's complicated, but scrambling through my pantry, I was pretty much able to find everything I needed except for the cherries. I wander to the shops soon fixed that.
The chocolate sponge cakes were basic and something that Josh and I have made countless times before.
As for the cutting and fillings.... again, it wasn't really an issues. All it required was a steady hand (check), a bit of stewing (check) and patience (check).
Unfortunately for me and my boredom, the creation of a Black Forest cake is really not very difficult at all. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. It is completely dependent on bringing together multiple parts and assembling quickly, none of which is too difficult if you have any experience baking and a hand that can steadily and accurately layer out the sponges with.

..... I wasn't even hungry after finishing it, just still bored.

Christmas in Coogee

Ahhhh Christmas.

I love Christmas, always have. It's just a nice time when things at work become more laid back, everyone seems more relaxed and there's a happy attitude in the air.

The food is also nice.

Andy, Josh and I enjoy filling up the apartment with all of the foods associated with this time of year like mince pies, pannatone and Christmas cake (that I carefully soaked in cognac).

This biggest event for us our annual "Christmas in Coogee".

This event started well before I moved in when the boys bought a new fridge and were given a free turkey with it.

It has now evolved into a Christmas celebration that we invite lots of people over for, an annual year ender to see everyone before we all disappear off to our families.

It requires lots of preparation!

Two days before the big event, Josh and I went and bought a nice big turkey to begin the defrosting of it.

Then the day before, the real work began.

We wanted a nice dessert, so Andy and Josh began constructing the blueberry trifle. We even managed to find an excellent source of old port to soak the sponge cake that Josh made for the layers.

As those two boys did that, I began to make the stuffing for the bird.

Everything we do is made from scratch and this stuffing is no different. I even went so far as rendering down hunks of bacon fat so that I could use the dripping to cook the onions, celery and apples. The kitchen was feeling nice and hot as I cracked the last of the eggs to mix into the stuffing mixture.

Josh began to clean the bird as I wearily cleaned up the rest of the mess, ready for bed.

The next morning, the real work began.

At about 7:00am, I heard Andy wake. I knew it was coming, but it was still an unwelcome noise when Andy knocked on my door to wake me up.

After a quick breakfast, we began cooking.

The turkey was stuffed, prepped and put into the oven.

There was lots more to do. Andy and I had a pile of potatoes and carrots to peel. The beans had to be prepped, the onions chopped. The drinks were prepared. The cakes sliced and plated. The puddings were taken out. The trifle had settled nicely, but the almonds needed to be roasted carefully sprinkled on the top.

As time approached, the beans went on. The carrots when on. Potatoes, onions, parsnip and pumpkin went into the oven. Potatoes were put on the boil.

The timer went off and the bird came out.

It looked PERFECT. The colour was as we had hoped and the stuffing was spilling out as expected.

The whole apartment was filling with the smell of the roasted turkey and the sage from the stuffing.

We let it rest as Andy began to mash the potatoes and I began to make a gravy from the dripping of the turkey (remember, everything has to be made from scratch!)

Meanwhile, Josh had been very busy outside. He had rearranged, cleaned, vacuumed and moved two tables into the living room so that we now had a nice "T" configuration for all of our guests.

He had even set the table beautifully with the bon bons and napkins placed just as he would have back in the days when he was a waiter serving celebrities and the Prime Minister.

However, it was all worth it. From the moment the bon bons were cracked open and the drink was flowing, it was clear that the preparations were well worth the effort.
Everyone was happy with the turkey and it wasn't too long before the effects of the food crept up on us and food comas set in.

We couldn't stop though!

The desserts were still to come.

The standard cheer and applause came as we doused the puddings in brandy and Andy set them alight. In hindsight, we have gone a bit overboard dessert-wise. Serving trifle, pudding and cake may have been a bit too much for our guests to manage.

It was damn tough work, but totally worth it. After all, isn't it a sign of true content to be pouring yourself a glass or port out of a fire truck shaped bottle?

360°

I went to see the U2 360° tour!!!

I've been a fan of U2 since I was in high school. I was never big on music when I was young, but U2 was one of the first bands that I began listening to late in high school, helping me to develop an interest in music generally. I still remember that their album "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was one of the first I ever bought.

People may complain that they're too political or that they've got problems with Bono, but I still like their music. It's strange hearing people criticise them, often the criticisms seem to have nothing to do with their music and performances, but more to do with "who" they are.

None of this was going to stop me enjoying my first ever U2 concert though. This was the 360° tour as well! I had wanted to see this since I had first seen the incredible circular stage set up.

The opening act was not to be ignored either! It was Jay-Z!!!

It seemed like a strange opening act. A hip hop artist doesn't really come to mind as a natural opening act for U2, but I wasn't complaining.

Jay-Z was fantastic and the crowd definitely appreciated what they were hearing.

Seeing him live wasn't something I had ever expected I would experience, so hearing him rapping out "99 Problems" and "Empire State of Mind" seemed almost surreal.

Andy in particular enjoyed Empire State of Mind. He's heading to New York next year on secondment, so this song game him more than enough opportunity to gloat to the rest of us.
As great as it was hearing Jay Z and showing him our "diamonds", he was still just an opener. It's amazing to think that U2 is so massive that someone as famous and talented as Jay Z is willingly reduced to being a warm up act (though a very fine warm up act he was).

Still, not everyone was as keen as the boys and I were to see Jay Z and the stadium crowd reflected this. There were a lot of people, but most people were still filtering in as Jay Z finished up.

The clock on the stage began to slowly countdown.

At "midnight" the clock began to break apart.
The song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie began to play as the stadium erupted!

U2 began their slow march towards the stage, with smoke filling the ground like four astronauts approaching the launching pad.
It didn't take long for the stadium to erupt again as they began playing "Beautiful Day"!
Seeing this concert live was more than I could have hoped for. It is a true sensual immersion as you find it difficult to work out where exactly to look.

The cylindrical screen they use is also something special.

During the performance, it began to open out like a concertina.
The screen became more than just a place to watch the video, as it transformed into a light show that filled the entire stadium with colour.
The screen then changed again, to float images only slightly off the stage.
I was amazed by the set list that U2 had chosen as well. The concert seemed to keep going and going (in a good way). I later found out that they played 24 songs! If nothing else, they definitely gave value for money.
It was also great to see them playing some of their classics. Songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" being played to the stage being illuminated in Irish green were very inspiring.
As the night wore on, it seemed as though they were done and the band did a few bows and the lights went out.

Some people began to filter out of the stadium, but then the stage began to glow an eerie red.
The band reappeared on stage, with Bono decked out in leather jacket covered in red lasers.
The lights slowly began to change from the red to blue as Bono asked the audience to turn on their mobile phones.
Combined with the lights shining off the mirror balls, the entire stadium began to glow.
The crowd looked like a moving sea of lights as the band sang "With or Without You".
It was hard to not be awe struck.

This band has been around for so long, and yet they still seem more than capable of capturing the imagination of audiences everywhere. It was definitely an experience to be remembered.