HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY.

Shame about the cricket. What to do with the evening???
Fill the blenders I say.
Crackout the muddies.
Reach down to the very bottom of the exki, where the beer is cold.
Don't get to close to the barbie.
Unless she's had a few too many.
Hug ya mate.
But not for too long.
And take a moment to think about how lucky you are.
Raise your glass and drink....
To family.... friends.... and country.
Luv youse all.

WE'RE IN....

Well... good news. The home office has seen fit to grant us residency. Thats right. We are now fully fledged residents of the U.K. Not the proudest moment of my life, but hey, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, and do whats best. And right now that means living and working in London. It's funny, because I never used to like this place. Now it's my home. I'm getting to know the city quite well. And it's growing on me. Yes it's full of geezers with bad teeth and no grasp on their own language. Yes they can get on your nerves from time to time. But we won the cricket. And they sent us to paradise. Mention this, and they go quiet all of a sudden. It's hilarious. I wear the mantle 'convict' with pride.
So our plans are on track. And our passports are back in our possession. Our first foray of 2007 will be over to Thurles, Ireland and a visit with Isacol. We'll be heading there this weekend to celebrate Australia Day, throw a few chops on the barbie, and enjoy a few nigerian lagers. After that we're off to Budapest.... a place I've always longed to visit. We'll be thinking of you Csilla (and Timbo) as we lounge around in the thermal spas and eat gulash. After that theres talk of hitting Riga, the capital of Latvia. It's supposed to be a cranking little city... with more art nouveau buildings than any other city in the world. One can also shoot an AK-47 in a Russian bunker, so I'll be lining up for that one.
And thats our immediate plans. Stay tuned for some pictures from New Years Eve. And on that note.... I wish all our dear family and friends a fabulous, fulfilling, healthy and happy 2007. May you get rain, and a bumper mango crop. All the best from sunny england. XXb&m

THE ASHES... BACK WHERE THEY BELONG.

I can't tell you all how happy I am that the ashes are ours once more. Even if we can't actually keep them. It's been a real hoot being over here, listening to all the pommies lamenting team selection and batting collapses. I have to laugh. I mean I try to be diplomatic, and a good sport, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. 5-0 is all I can say. The most amazing thing is how I've managed not to get beaten senseless. In general though, the poms are a very fair bunch. They give credit when it's due, even in the dusts of defeat. Something alot of Aussies find difficult to do. Then again, I think it's pretty easy to do that when you've been so comprehensively outplayed. If we'd just pipped them at the final jump, I doubt whether they'd be so chipper. The papers here make fabulous reading. The media are far more brutal on their own teams here.... moreso than at home. They build up their national sides, only to crucify them when the first ball goes to second slip. Haha.
And what about Warney.... how sorely he will be missed. Pidgeon aswell. Having watched those two decimate batting line-ups for half my life.... you get to think that they'll never leave, that they are immortal, invincible. So as the curtain comes down, it feels like I've lost a mate. A few of them. Blokes I've admired, looked up to, even idolised. I know it's just sport, but it's more than that to me. These are my heroes. I'm fiercely proud of my nation and it's sporting achievements. And it's sad to see champions retire. I wish them well in their lives. They've earned it. After the dust settles, the question will be.... Wheres the next Warnie or Pidgeon gunna come from?? Chances are they never will. But if I had to guess... I'd say QLD.
So heres cheers to the might of the Baggy Green. And to Warney, Pidgeon and JL.... well done lads, we're gunna missya.