199...Bro!!!

Hello anyone and everyone...

Well it's been a while, hasn't it.... sorry about that, but I'm here to give you great people an update on my progress or lack of it!...

Still pretending to be a 'Sydneysider', but it's all good, as I WILL be leaving just after my birthday to travel with Mr Lowry - who's coming out on a whistle stop tour with me.

So what has been keeping my amused the last few weeks... well, I've been having a few beers - nothing new there hey!
I have finished working for Goodwin, after doing my bit of scanning for them and went to work for Fuji Xerox over in North Ryde - basically it's over an hours bus ride away and that's the only way of getting there. I was basically ringing up customers around the country asking for meter readings on their photocopiers.... that can go down as the worst job I've had so far, not very enjoyable at all. The best part was I was told it was for at least a week, 2 days in and the work was done and I wasn't needed...
Since then I worked 4 days for Dexus, a property group, basically transferring data from one database to the other. Sounds boring and it was a little, but the people were good and it wasn't to taxing... That was about 2 weeks back, on the Wednesday night, I had meet up with two girls to have a beer down at the Opera Bar - that's right for one night only I was living the life of a flash-packer drinking right on the side of the Opera House with the Harbor Bridge as the background... It was class!!... We moved on to another couple of bars, but then my old friend come back...Mr Migraine, so that ended my night a bit prematurely!
Then I worked on the Thursday 8am-6:30pm - I was completely knacked by the night time.

I awoke on the Friday morning to a call from Susie @ M.S.F. asking if I could work with them again, so I started my 3rd and final stint with them last week... it's nice to work back with them guys, they're all good people and I feel like I've known them for years now... I will be there till I leave Sydney now...

As for the social side of things, it's been another couple of hard weeks, -in that everyone and by that I mean everyone, has left the hostel. It's mean I've had to get chatting with newbies and new-long-term'ers! I think there is something like 3 of us left now... I think the hardest losses were Andrew and Carolyne.
Of the newbies - There was 2 Geordie lads, Charlie and Will who initially come for a week and ended up staying here for over 2 weeks. There was a joke between us that they would never leave the hostel, as they were on a short holiday here it was funny, as they ended up with something like 2 weeks to do the whole of the East coast. We all had a great night at the gaff - where Will ended up getting thrown out for a fight that had nothing to do him... funny!

Oh yeah, I also got invited out by Teresa from M.S.F. for her birthday. Along with a few of her friends and family, we went to the NSW Art Gallery to view the entries for the 2008 Archibald Prize.
Now as you people will know, this was by far most high brow thing i've taken part in since I arrived out here... But it was really enjoyable, the entry I voted for didn't win, but you can't have it all...

Also went to a gig the other week, a band called Yves Klein Blue - I know they're got their 1st album out out here, so see if you guys can find it as they're not bad.

Other things that have been going on include;

• Playing Cricket on the Domain, some of us were that bad it ended up with us on minus points, as you lost 5 points everytime you got out... I ended up on -3! - JD, you would of been ashamed of me!
• Played Jenga - sounds sensiable enough, till I tell you it was drunked Jenga played on the Domain Car Park across the road from our place!...Each time someone made it fall they had to down a cup of Goon!
• Been for a couple of runs to the Opera House.

Have to admit, I'm so disappointed to miss the footie - I can't believe Stockport are in the finals and I won't be able to go. By any means possible I will be watching it...need to find a way though...

I've also started seeing a girl, her names Hannah, she used to live in Mannie, but is from Watford. I'm only around for another couple of weeks - but it's a bit of fun for us both in the mean time. She's a really nice girl, who's always smiling... And that's all I will say on the subject people....

So far this weekend, I've tried to keep it low key... I get down to the market yesterday to buy some veg, then a bunch of us went bowling for one of the girls birthdays. It was a good laugh, Al and I both ended up with 199 from the 2 games, plus we get mistaken for brothers (I'm the good looking one, of course!)..so the title of the blog!

As I said earlier, I will be leaving Sydney when Ryan arrives on the 10th June, hoping to go over to Ayres Rock - so going to get looking into that shortly...

I know I always say it, but I will will try and keep my blog upto date....Sorry Anita!...

Keep well and I will check back in soon...promise!!...

G :0)

Thinking outside of the box...

I have been messing about on this website today - Song Meanings - and I just keep looking up all different songs to see what people think they mean.

There are some comments that really make you think about a song in a different way, both good and bad. I now realise that "I am the highway" by Audioslave is about not doing everything for someone - where I used to think it's about just getting away from everything!!
"Seaside" by the Kooks is about testing someone to commit to a relationship and not about going down to the beach - see, madness!!... Some of the John Frusciante stuff is very deep!!

I know you all want to read about me traveling, but this is a lot more fun and I'm traveling with my mind here!..Haha..

Elsewhere, nothing much more to report at the minute, went out for a few beers last night as part of the hostel pub crawl - I think everyone had a good night, I know I did - getting back into chatting with "newbies" again. Other than that, just saving cash and planning my next step - thinking of Ayres Rock around the beginning of June.

Well best get back to scanning and looking up more song meanings....

Cheerfully signing out... GIC

Frustrated and Bored...

And after looking on the Internet, just now during my dinner, at places I still need to visit in Australia, it's making me realise how much I need to get out of Sydney - I have been here for over 5 months now and I still have so much to do.
Ste arrived and left within the last week, he's only here on a 3 week holiday but it was good to see a mate from back home. With me working I only really saw him in the evening on Thursday and Friday, but we went out had a few beers with everyone and it was a laugh. On Saturday we walked to Coogee - this was a massive walk, most people get a half hour bus there! It was nice to take in some sights on the way and stuff. On Saturday evening Nicola, Ste and I went for a quick beer round on Woolloomooloo Bay. The Ste up and left the next morning, but all being well we shall meet up again in two weekends time.
Nicola and Gemma have also left me now, they went on Monday evening. They both have special qualities and have grown to be close friends and I can't wait to see them back in England. With their departure, it's the end of an ere now in some ways, as only I am remaining in HCB from the original group in 315. :(
On Friday I also finished working for M.S.F., and have started a weeks temping for a company called Goodrich, based about 10 minutes outside of Sydney. The people are fine and it's a nice working environment, but the work I've undertaken is rubbish... it's scanning... really really boring!! Also in a bit of a mood today as I have lost my weekly rail pass, more expense. But if they offered me another week I would take it... beggars can't be choosers and all that.
Trying to think what else I have been up to. Over the East weekend we headed out on a mini booze run in the hostel van, which turned into a mini adventure around Sydney, we did the harbour bridge along with some of the other sights. Travelling from one side of the city to the other, even though it was silly it was a great laugh.
I am still having a great time out here, having a laugh with my new little core group of friends - it's sad that some of them are leaving at the moment, either heading home or moving on, but I know a few of us will still keep in touch.
I seem to do a lot of thinking out loud in this blog, and what I am thinking right now is this; see how many more weeks I can get working with Goodrich or anywhere else close by, then head off fruit picking, if only for a few weeks and to get away from Sydney. Then I could travel over to the west coast, working a couple of weeks at a time. I think I want to do it this way as I'm worried I will be in Sydney forever and miss out on so much... Time to put the thinking cap on and sort out a plan of attack...
GIC

Happy Easter

Hi people...

Happy Easter....

I hope everyone is well... Nothing much going on this end, been out running this morning as I had a chilled out evening and didn't drink... Just sat around and watched some rugby league games with Kiwi Andy.

Ten of us went to watch a rugby league game on Friday night - Sydney Roosters Vs Brisbane Broncos, which the Broncos won 14 - 20... It was an alright game to watch, think I was comparing it to much to footie and County. Video ref'ing slows the game down no end, but it was good to watch and think we're going to go to another game in a few weeks.... Plus in June the Oz's and the Kiwi's play each other so fancy that if I'm still in Sydney.

Other that than, just been chilling out - only have 3 more days at work now, but feel positive I can find something else soon enough... have to really!.. Ste arrives on Thursday for a few days in Sydney so it's going to great to see him... If anyone else if bored at home, you should pop round!!... Currently in my room it's kitted out with a tv, dvd player and a fridge... flasher packers here!!

Been keeping an eye on County, can't believe we're doing so well - be gutted if we make the playoff finals and I can't be there for it... Oh well...

Well I'm hungry now so heading back for some noodles... It's just a rock 'n' roll lifestyle here on Easter Sunday!!....

""Hello.....

Is it me your looking for""....

Sorry, still being called Lionel!!.. Mind you, I may get my mop cut later today, I can pull my fringe down to the end of my nose now!!...

Uploaded some new pictures... Surf Camp, some random ones off Nicola's camera since arriving back in Sydney, along with Brisbane too!!

Nothing much to report at the moment, just been out running and went for a couple of beers yesterday for paddys day - but was back by 10pm... Still trying to find another job, for when my one runs out next week... Fancy trying my hand at something different to data-entry, so see what I come across... Also, once I find something, think I may get an apartment in Sydney, getting a bit bored of hostel life, even when HCB is the best ever...

Back to job searching , enjoy the pictures...

G :0)

Sydneysider....

I know it's been yet another life time since I wrote...

But in all honestly it's been a bit low key since I come back to Sydney, well after the 1st week at least...
Like I've said I'm currently working, but only 3 days a week - with the exception of this week where I'm working 5days...bloody knackering!

It's really strange at the moment, as everyone I seem to of meet is leaving either for the some place new or to go home. Since I got back Nick & Vicky, Wolf and Riikka have left. And over the next couple of weeks I will be losing everyone else. I understand it comes with traveling, but sometimes it's just hard to think you have to start all over again and meet new people - sometime you just can't be arsed.

Like I said apart from working I haven't been up to a great deal. Had a couple of nights out - think the best was the full moon party at The Gaff - we made tee's before and mine had my new nickname on the back..."LIONEL"... with a the famous words..."Hello, is it me your looking for" written on the front... good hey!!
I've missed a few of the bigger nights out, mainly everyone's leaving do's, just because I need to watch the cents' (doesn't really work that) at the moment - especially with The Ste coming out. But it's maybe does me a good thing... I am currently back running - Andrew, Ben and I went out on Monday for a jog - and I have been off the booze since Sunday and Saturday was a quite affair really. So at the moment both my wallet and liver are on holiday!! Been down to Bondi beach again over the weekend, had a BBQ and mucked about in the sea... kinda getting into just relaxing by the beach now... may even get a few white bits if I keep it up!!!

So with keeping off the beer I've been entertaining myself in other ways - mainly watching DVDs and stuff. I meet a girl, Riikka from Finland, she was in 315 when I got back and I have spent a lot of time with her - or I did until the other evening as she had her flight home too!!... But she fancies coming over to England with some of her mates so think we will meet up again....
It's really the same story with everyone, even with everyone heading off on their own little missions we're all still keeping in touch, with the power of FaceBook, and I'm sure there will be a great reunion at some point. I'm still hoping to send some Gooon home - just in case....

At it currently stands this is my plans for the next few months... Work...Get some cash together and around June either head off to NZ - which is my maid thought or travel the West Coast of Australia, end of the day I want to do both so we'll see... The only way this may change is if some of the gang, head out to Asia at the back end of July then I will go there instead....

I hope everyone is well at home... One or two of you have been in contact, which is great... So please down for get me and I will try and do this blog more often... Sure I write that at the end of each blog...

All is good and I don't regret anything or want to head home anytime soon... G xxxxxxxx ;0)

PS. I will post some new pictures this week too!!!...

Lionel...

That is officially my new name at the hostel... If only I had a roll neck... I wondering if Andy's mate from Wilmslow will borrow me one!!

Sorry this is super short... I am fine and well, just working and keeping it low key...kinda!!... Will explain all in a real blog this week, once I have time to upload new pictures and stuff...

I hope everyone is well and I will be back with a full report by the end of the week....

G x