Q1 (and most of Q2) Overview

2009 has certainly not been the year of Blog dedication thus far but, for the sake of future review, I've included a basic overview of events this year thus far (to about June 09 anyway):

Rest of Australia:
I've now been in the UK for five months so details are a bit sketchy but after returning from the reef trip mine time was divided pretty evenly between Tim and Michelle's and my brothers. There wasn't too much activity in this period, more a time of reflection before returning to the UK. I did go for a trail bike ride with Haden and helped put up some shade sales; both of which I enjoyed immensely given how different they are from general London activities. For Tim and Michelle, as always the consummate hosts, it was great to spend a bit more time with them post wedding.

London had a rather severe winter and I arrived back to heavy snow falls in the capital which were truly very beautiful. And cold, especially having just wintered in the Australian Summer. It was then straight back into work.

I went bowling with the guys a few weeks later and it was good to catch up with everyone again.

It was then off to see Mr Scruff with Chia at Coco. Awesome venue, music was ok although Chia and I got into a 'get shit-faced' competition and spent the next day feeling 10 kinds of poo.

Brigitte kindly got some cut price tickets to the LPO but upon closer inspection it came out that it was in fact the LPO accompanying some shitty spoken word piece. It was quite literally laughable.

We got some more tickets a few weeks later that were actually very good. Can't remember who the composer was but it did have it's moments of truly emotive music.

Again we saw the London Philharmoic this time at the O2 performing a Star Wars show. The LPO were brilliant as always but perhaps almost too good strangely. It was almost like they weren't there so flawless where they. All a bit over-prices and under-cooked I thought but interesting none-the-less and a very thoughtful present.

Fast forward yet more weeks and a big group of us went to see 'the hampsters' on the weekend of the oxford Cambridge boat race.

In the space of a few weeks after that I went to see 'the sounds' with some of the guys. JB and I carried on and got shitfaced on a Wednesday. Very similar story a few weeks later for the "Silversun Pickups".

I also took Brij to Newforst for a weekend where we hired a car and drove down. We went for a nice walk in the newforst and drove down to Bournmouth, which I thought was a shithole. The actually coastline however does have some pretty spots.

I saw "Watchmen @ IMAX" with some of the guys and also have been playing a fair bit of "Guitar Hero" with JB.

Brigitte booked us a meal at "Bel Canto" which is a restaurant where they serve a set course meal and the waiters perform Opera. Again, a really cool experience but perhaps I don't have enough background to truly appreciate it. Still, it was a lovely gesture and very thoughtful.

Finally, we had dinner at a restaurant at Festival Hall called "Skylon". Location is brilliant as it overlooks the Thames just outside the London Eye. Food and cocktails were also very nice but again the cost is a little prohibitive. Worth it for the experience though.