Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas to you all... I know it's a bit late, so sorry!

I hope everyone have a great time - I know I did, it's not that often I play footie on the beach on Christmas day - think I still have that Spurley Hey Magic!!!...

Can I just say I'm sorry for not contacting people on Christmas day or if you contacted me and I never got back to you, basically VodaFone was up and down for nearly 48 hours so I wasn't receiving or able to make calls or texts. I can't wait till New Year - think I might be easier to get a couple of Pigeons and send them with messages!!!...


So what have I been up to I hear you ask... Well...
The Saturday before Christmas, our hostel throw a big party on the roof - which was great, free beer, a bbq and music - by all accounts everyone got wasted. Then a bunch of us headed out into Sydney, ending up in Scruffys for a bit with some live band playing. Then Ben and I headed to the 3 wise monkeys to meet some girls he knew, the problem was we got split up when I went to toilet and with it being 4 floors it all went a bit wrong and I walked back to the hostel with 3 pizza slices!
When I got back I sat around with my mate Glenn who was on night manager duty, so we just wanted to footie, then I fell asleep in the tv room - i'm sure that's like 4 Saturdays on the run now, but with the footie on from 12pm till 5am I think most people would!

Anyways I finally made it back to my own back about 5:30am, only to be woke at 9am by Floor (a Dutch girl in our room, as we'd agreed if it was nice weather we should all head to the beach) - all I wanted was sleep, but up I got. Floor ended up heading to Manly, while Mel, Nicola and I went to Palm Beach as it's where some of Home and Away is shot - it sounded like such a great idea till we were sat on a bus for 1hr half!!...
As I get restless on the beach, I decided to do a Jason Bourne and do some running down the beach - I don't look anything like that as we all know - but there I was shirt off running along the sand. I ended up doing the whole length and back, the only issue was I realised just how RED I was looking - not good!!... Anyways to cut a long story short I managed to burn my legs, chest and to burn my face so it looked like I had two black eyes!!! I managed to nip out of work on Christmas Eve and buy some cream which made them go down, otherwise I would of stayed in my room on Christmas Eve...HAHA...

After finishing work about 2:30pm on Christmas eve I ran can sorted myself out and meet up with everyone else in the Rocks - There must of been about 20 of us, Nick and Dave in Santa Suits the rest of us in hats...We looked class... I would of posted up some pictures but I didn't fancy taking the camera, but I will get my hands on some. Basically the idea was to do "The 12 Pubs of Christmas!!" - I had a bit of catching up to do, but was up to speed by about the 2nd pub for me 5th for them.
We basically went along a route getting beers and doing drinking games, it was a right laugh. So people start falling by the way side, but we survived till quite late. Orla and I ended up at a midnight mass - you know religious gray over here! - basically I stud there, reading from the wrong hymn sheet getting moaned at for talking, so I did the only thing you could do in a situation like that...RUN OUT THE DOOR!!!

Christmas morning, I awoke to Gemma, Mel and Nicola jumping about and then playing the only festive song we had....MARIAH CAREY - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS!!... This got played on repeat about a million times more than it should ever be played!!..Poor Floor, the dutch girl in out room must of not of know what was happening... Anyways we had some goon and wine and then went about waking up the rest of the 3rd floor!! - once I got some quite time I opened my cards and presents - so thank you family, love you all!!!
The girls headed off to Coogee to see a Christmas dinner with the Irish girls, while I get off to Manly with 314 and everyone who had come out the night before. We choose Manly as we belived it would be less packed, compared to Bondi, which it was. The weather overcast, but to be fair I was happy with that after burning the other day. We stayed on the beach till late, us lads played footie and then we all just messed about. A few of us dug a big hole then a couple of the lads got filled in with the sand so just there head were showing!!
For Christmas dinner I had a pizza!, we all eat out on front of Manly beach and went back to Jonny and Stephs apartment for a bit of drinking and to play some shit head (a card game), followed by the last ferry home.
All in all it may or been a completely strange Christmas compared to a normal one back home, but will all us orphans together we had a wicked time and I loved every minute of it... *PICTURES HERE*

Now we just have New Year to survive, I finished work today till the 2rd then I only have till the 4th before I finish, as I fly to Cains on the 6th, then the traveling can really begin... Which fills me with joy, but also a bit of sadness that i'm leaving my home for the past 2 months and I have made some good mates within the past few weeks, onto of the girls of course!! - get shot if I didn't mention them :0)

I wish you all a quality New Year whatever your all up to.. I will try and speak with as many of you as possible, but as Australia's mobile network is built of two plastic cups and some shoe string this may not happen - this is also the same for messages, I didn't get some I know I should of had...

HAPPY NEW YEAR - ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2008!!!...

Just to add...

To my main post before - I have uploaded a couple of videos... Enjoy!!

Sydney Opera House

Sydney FC Vs Newcastle Jets (1)

Sydney FC Vs Newcastle Jets (2)

Bye...

Tired....

Feeling tired today... I don't think a afternoon of drinking on The Rocks followed by some goon at the hostel is a good idea. It only took till the point where I woke up in the TV room during the footie at 5am for me to realise this... I don't think I will ever learn... Oh well...

Finally booked my ticket out of Sydney, I leave on the 6th January for Cains - now just to let work know!... Flying up with my mate Glenn, he's going to attempt to do the East Coast in a month, where as I have as long as I need... No point returning back to England while it's cold by all accounts...

Well I have finally gotten over the Hatton fight, it was so disappointing, especially as everyone of the lads from the hostel seemed to in the same bar together. After the fight, to try and get over our disappointment a few of us did the only thing we could do in a situation like that...Drink - BIG TIME.. Which was fun, until someone pushed me into the fountain on Kings Cross - so I sat for the duration of a curry wet all down one side of my body...Thanks Guys...
However this lead to everyone deciding that we should try and recreate the opening credits to "Friends"... So in we all hoped - well to be fair I didn't - I took some pictures, up until the police asked us to all move on!!... So on the way home we popped in Nick's for a box of Goon and decided it would be rude not to go jump in the big fountain at Hyde Park (After all it's only there for the Chinese to take pictures of themselves never to it) - So off we went, wet and with goon in paper cups... And in we jumped - Bloody typical English hey!!...
The pictures ain't great but to be fair I had been on it all day... :)

Had my works Christmas do on Friday afternoon, it was a pub quiz! Our team ended up joint 3rd which was quite respectable... I enjoyed it, but decided that I should head back and eat - it's not like a Rowlands do where we just get smashed beforehand, this was more civilized drinking and that's a style of drinking I still haven't mastered yet....
Does anyone from Rowlands read this blog?? - Will someone give me a shout let me know how you're all getting on and stuff?...

Not really much more going on - I've been feeling a bit rubbish midweek after doing my neck and shoulders in some how, so just been chilling out... Looking forward to Christmas and New Year, even though it's going to be really strange...

Just short of 2 months into my trip and I'm not regretting a moment of it... well except the hangovers in work, but it's all part of the adventure....

G

COME ON RICKY!!!!....

I'm gearing up for the fight over here - a bunch of us lads from the hostel are off watching the fight in the cross... Due to the time different it's on over here at 1pm on Sunday - this could well mean a very long all day session and a very quite day in work on Monday!!!...

Not been up to much again this week - Gemma and I went for a few quite drinks on Thursday which was anything but quite again!!! I swear we're such a bad influence on each other...
Other than that, went for a few beers on Sunday in the day with Ant then meet up with 315 and Michael, who's Mel's boyfriends and also a top lad. They're now left to do the east coast for 3 weeks before he fly's back home - then Mel's got to try and find a bed in the hostel...good luck love!!!

Glenn and I went and watched Sydney FC Last night, even though the game was poor - think about 3 shots on goal all game, the fan's were signing more of less all the way through... brings a tear to my eye when I think I'm missing out on County ;o) ..well maybe not with the way I've heard they've been playing at the moment though....
Sydney scored in injury time, so at least we got to see a goal... some pictures here... The real bonus was it cost about 5 GBP to get in and you can drink beer while watching the game...

Weather has been shocking the last few days, real big thunder storms - to be honest I'm glad I'm in work, not really much else I can be doing...
I'm spending today making my plans to escape Cairns the first week in January, so long as work don't need me anymore...

Well I hope you've all got your Christmas Tree's up and whoever is going to H's fancy dress birthday party has a quality time - please have a drink in my absence... and make sure Dave doesn't drop his food again the "messy-pup" - get it!!!!

I'm off - think I may start singing "Blue Moon" as I walk round Woolworths doing my shopping....

COME ON RICKY!!!!!!!!

Day 39 in Sydney....

...and Graham is relaxing after his first week of work in Sydney!

Hello each and everyone of you lovely people...

Well it's taken me yet another week to add anything to this blog... But please let me off, as I have had my first week at work - And I have to say I feel happy with myself for taking on a job. I am working for MSF a none profit orginisation which work in war torn countries - I think you should all do a little bit for them! - Now this blog has gone from me chatting rubbish to me preaching like Terry Wogan on Children in Need!!... But I'm not typing this dressed as a bear!!
My job basically entails data inputting, so it's not really taxing but at least I can listen to my music all day long. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were Oasis, Red Hot Chilli's and John Frusciante days... Monday will begin with a Kings of Leon session me things... I am working within a small team of about 7 people and they're all really friendly and cool to get along with, so I'm sure I will enjoy the next few weeks...

Even thought I have been working it's not stopped me playing out, Tuesday night Gemma and I went to the Indy night at World Bar - We meet up with a bunch of our hostel mates and well, it got a bit messy with the old Jager-Bombs - Oh how i've missed them ;) ... I remember standing in McDonalds at 3:45am thinking if I get home by 4am I will be alright for work - yeah right! I was rough for most of the morning, but amazingly got so much work done... After some stodgy food on an early lunch I was right again... However I was to lazy to cook tea Wednesday night and went for a beer and pizza with Mel, before crashing out for an early night...
Other than that, been for a couple of runs over to the Opera House again, not sure I will ever get sick of seeing the view across the Harbour at night.
Mel and I went over to "The Rocks" market again on Friday, it was the final one - we stuffed our faces on kebab and Pan Cakes with Strawberry's before having a couple of beers on the walk back - I think Gemma and Nicola wanted to join us but they we're knacked after working all week... I ended up staying up for a few more hours and watched "catch me if you can" in the TV room.

So on to yesterday, went for another run but this time in the morning - it was hard work but enjoyable all the same. Then Mel, Glenn (a Coventry Fan) and I went bowling, ended up with us all winning a game each - but I won overall on points scored - WINNER!!!... Glenn and I went for a few more beers in the afternoon, then went to the Casino last night. Personally I didn't lose to much, just $60 having won most of it back near the end, but Glenn didn't fare as well... After that we went for a few beers on the cross then went back to watch the footie in the Hostel... Watched both the Chelsea game and the Blackburn one, by that point it was 4am... So off up the apple and pears I went...

Not done much today, made some quality bacon and egg butties this morning and had them over a brew and had to buy a top up as I've been out of credit since yesterday - It's like being back in 1995 hear with pay-as-you-go fones as you only have a month to use up the credit...rubbish!!
Think I may meet Ant later, but need to fill out some work forms for tomorrow... All in all, fancy a quite day...

Well I'm all chilled out here and looking forward to Christmas - I hope you are all well, spoke to a couple of you this week... Keep Safe and don't take sweets from strangers....

Busy'ish...

Not sure is that's a word, but you all know what I'm getting at...

Hello...
Sorry it's been over a week since I last wrote anything. I know to some people knowing the in's and out's of my time out here is more exciting that an episode of X-Factor!!

I hope you have seem my latest bunch of pictures - http://picasaweb.google.com/gicocker - otherwise please have a ganders.

I've been over to the Sydney Olympic Park, did the tour, and managed to see the end where Johnny Wilkinson kicked to glory in the Rugby World Cup just over 4 years ago! (Poor Dave wasn't feeling to well that night and missed it..haha!) It was a really good tour and the Stadium is amazing - but I have to say, I can see what "Waste Lands" is designed on, typical City, can't think for themselves!! The Olympic Village is massive and even thought I spent half a day there, I still needed more time.

Apart from that, I've just been chilling. Went back over to Watson's Bay, but this time took Mel and Gemma with me - they liked "my" beach, even if other people were using it. Think I may of also of been to Bondi again, but can't remember.
Otherwise, just been running in my new trainers - my run consists of jogging over and around the Opera House. Otherwise I have just been trying to see everything that is left in Sydney to see, because come the New Year I'll be glad to start getting some distance under my belt - I'm thinking the first stop with be Caines - fly up and then work down the east coast.

Been heading out for a few beers in the evenings, sometimes just going to the old man pubs - didn't see Ian or Terry there though! - and just playing cards, can't hack a heavy night every night, must be getting old.

Yesterday, it was raining so just stayed in the hostel and chilled out, but went on the goon by about 5pm, followed by a few drinks, mainly Red Label (don't you just love doing that in Scotland David!) on the cross with Mel and Nicola. But before we headed out, Nicola decided she wanted to straighten my hair!!!

Today, I went to see the Sydney Christmas Parade, which lasted about an hour and a half - can you guess which clown forgot to put sun cream on! - So now my face is a little red!
Anyways, it was packed, seemed like the whole of Sydney come out for it. Some parts of the parade were impressive, but others looked no better than the old Bullock Smithy one back with you guys.

Oh yeah, I've also got myself a job - bit of the old data-inputting for a charity, start tomorrow and should last up to Christmas. Quite chuffed as it will give me something to do with my time while I am stuck here till the New Year, plus it's extra Dollars, which will come in handy.

I hope everyone is well back home & it's great to hear from you all - please keep it up... It cheers me up to know how cold it is there!!...Ha Ha... Still not thinking about coming home anytime soon...

Gray-ham!!

Camera Shy, No More...

I've just finished uploading some pictures at the following address: http://picasaweb.google.com/gicocker - I know it's yet another place to look, but this is the easiest way for me to do it. (Can't use facebook, as some people ain't registered.)

Anyways, not been up to much really. Went to Boni Beach the other day, went in the sea for the first time - it was very cold, I won't mention the comment I made when asked how cold it is, because it's a public site!... Apart from that, just been really chilling out. Oh yeah, also went over to Manly beach which I prefer to Bondi.

Had a day with Ant, we ended up bowling at this well posh place down at Darling Harbour. Followed my a few jugs over the pub quiz at Scruffies - we didn't win.

Went for an Interview with Vodafone yesterday, the job was working with their WAP features and I would be updating the links every 30 minutes, which would go out like across Australia! - Even thought it sounds like a cool job, I don't really want a stressful job at the moment, so going to ask the agency to look for something more simpler.

Right well the pictures are uploaded now so i'm going to see see who fancies a day at Watsons Bay Beach - anyone would think I was black with all this talk of beaches, but trust me, I ain't!!...

Sorry, I know it's been a little while since my last blog...

I have wanted to do one, but kept forgetting my camera, been to hungover or been drinking!

Well since I last wrote, what have I been up to... It was a good move, leaving wake up for Harbour City. Made some good mates with the people in my room - 315 baby! (Chris, Gemma, Melanie, Nicola and Elco)
The 1st night there we all headed over to World Bar and the night begun with some Jager -Bombs, followed by some more Jager-Bombs and god knows whatever else.. In the end I was asked nicely by the bouncer to leave for being to drunk..Me!.. So I headed home and fell into a deep sleep until, Chris and Gemma jumped up onto my bed and asked me to go drink goon with them... Ended up going back to bed about 6:30am!

The next evening we went to the Gaff for some free food, well if you buy a schooner (between a half and a full pint - what they drink on Neighbors!) - after yet more Jager-Bombs we headed home, which is down a steep hill, mode of transport being an office chair we found - so we took turns diving down the hills on that!!...

For Halloween I made a "goon" costume, well technically Gemma did , I was useless - it looked great, however after losing my wallet for a few hours I didn't end up going to Ant's party, so let some Dutch guy wear it on a night at the gaff - see pictures.


Apart from drinking, I've been to Watsons Bay, which is a little sea front area about 30minutes by ferry from the center of Sydney. It was a really nice day and I wondered around the beaches - all very nice till I realised I'd forgot my sun cream - ended up nice and red that day!

Once my week was up at 315 I decided to head over to the Blue Mountains for a few days, the theory was to do some walking, rock climbing and mountain biking. The reality was because it was pissing it down so much, I did my laundry the 1st day - all rock 'n' roll here!
The hostel was a converted house, the owners we're nice but I was the only English person there and I didn't really enjoy it much, no one drank and we all just sat round a log fire drinking coffee and reading books - so I decided the next morning, regardless of the wet and foggy weather I was going to do the Blue Mountains and leave.

It was so worth doing the Mountains, even in the rain, it was great to walk round the forests and see some great views when the clouds broke. It was just miles and miles of forestry, with birds flying about. After a 5 hours of walking the trails I was knacked and slept well that night.

I booked back into the Harbour City and 315, the other day. I have decided to look for some work, so applied for a couple of Data-Inputting jobs - I have an interview on Monday afternoon, fingers crossed!
If nothing comes of it, I think I may head down to Melbourne for a little while. I just feel a little frustrated with knowing I can't really start traveling up the coast till New Year, as accommodation is a problem and I really want to see New Year at the Sydney Harbour.

Yesterday Mel, Chris and I walked over Harbour Bridge, I can tell you it's an massive structure and it felt cool to walk it. Not to sure if I will cough up the cash to clime it as the view is amazing anyways. In the evening we walked over to "The Rocks" area of Sydney because there was a market on, it was a nice evening, from just going out and getting smashed - we still drank down get me wrong, but it was more civilised.

It seems the weather is picking up, as it's been rubbish the past few days, so hopefully tomorrow we'll head to Manly Beach for the day - got to keep my redness up.

Have to say I feel so chilled out at the moment, I just am missing the Curry Sundays, but we might go for one tonight. I hope everyone is well & it'll be good to hear from you guy & girls back home.

Hopefully I will add some pictures now....

Bye for now....G

Looking Hot...

Sydney, not me... I'm looking white!!...

Just wanted to let everyone know that yesterday it was 35c and today it's a more moderate 28c... but don't worry I still look like a Ghost... Talk of Ghosts, I've a Halloween party on Saturday - what the hell am I going to dress up as???....

Anyway, moved Hostels this morning, now got a week booked in at Harbour City (As recommended by Lisa D, thanks Lisa!) and it's cool, sharing a room with 5 others and we've all been out for some food - they're friendly and seem tops!

Not really been up to much else, sorted my Oz bank account out yesterday and tax code, which took most of the day. Then met Ant at Scruffy's ((again!)It's a bar open 24/7 and it dates back the same as the boo!) for a couple of jugs, before heading to the Side Bar (Bar under the Wake Up! Hostel) with a lad from my old dorm room - must add him on facebook...

Right, I'm off to try "goon" (google it for the best explanation!) for the 1st time and get ready for a night in Kings Cross with my roomies...

Hey Briz, there's a "Bada Bing" here and I was staying near Pizza place called "Sopranos' - Have you watched them all yet???...

Got to Scoot... G

Ps. Still forgot to put up pictures!

Arrive upside down....

Welcome....

Well I've finally arrived, and I tell thee, it's some journey. After an emotional good-bye at the airport, between Dave and I that is, I flew out to Dubai.
I managed to get a window seat on the plane, but the best part was having a live feed, on the little tv's in front of you, for watching take offs and landings from the "pilots view" - However I did start to wonder if it would be good if we crashed!! I watched about 5 episodes of family guy and a film, however I can't remember what it was...

Dubai airport is really nice. It's got something like 50 gates and loads of shops and a couple of bars, which I must of looked found a hundred times in the 8 hours I was there. I managed to stay away and have a couple of beers to celebrate 22 hours without sleep - but also to celebrate getting away from some random bloke who talked about his job - a bus driver - while i had a meal in the airport.

From Dubai, I flew out to Bangkok so the plane could refuel. However this also meant I have to get off the plane, and walk round to re-board and go through customs again, just to sit in the same seat again - such a pain in the arse.

Bangkok to Sydney. This was the knackering part, even though I managed to get a couple of hours sleep in, as well as watch Oceans 13.
Got the train to Sydney Central, and managed to get a shower in my hotel before check-in which was great. Then spent the day sorting out a mobile, email me for my number or check it on facebook or ask Dave & Hazel.
Anyways... Meet up with Ant last night, and we had a good few beers. I've not realised not to go out drinking without having some food inside of you as you become a light-weight and head home early!!

Today, managed got get up for breakfast but then been back in bed till about 3pm today - mix of jet lag and being super hung-over!!
Just been down to the Opera House, it's really nice, especially with the sun setting, and I walked back through a park which was full of bats - bit scary!!...

I will post some picture's up next time round, forgot my usb cable...

Bye for now...G