The half full glass

The half full glass
Originally uploaded by bloggerpaul.

Saw this as I was walking around at lunch time. Actually, this would have to be at least a day after the poms got a beating.



I have �40 on Australia winning three tests this Ashes series.



I fear this bet is no sure thing, and not because I rate the poms can play. No ... The weather is my concern

The Sound of Silence

Oh ... it is about time that I shared a recent gadget buying experience with you. I was in the states when I came across a Bose kiosk. Now, I have been eyeing off a set of Bose noise reduction headphones for some time. Probably 7 years, actually. These headphones work by generating the inverse of any soundwave that they encounter that is outside the headphones, this cancelling the sound. In theory, this would work farbetter on low frequency, rythmic or constant sounds than higher frequency, rapidly changing sounds. This makes them perfect for aircraft. In the states, I knew I had at least another 8 hours ahead of me to get back to London. In Aug I have the M & J wedding, a return flight tally of 44 hours in the air, plus another flight to Aus some time early next year for ... well just for catch up. So I figure if ever I am going to get my money's worth it is going to be now. So I a pair. How much? You know me ... the king of subtle. Let's just say that they cost just oer half of what they would cost in Oz. The results? It depends on what you are expecting. If you are expecting that all noise from the outside world be cancelled, look elsewhere. But I was not expecting these kind of results. On the flight over to the UK, I ws impressed with the airlines in flight entertainment systems, but was fatigued by the need to raise the volume in my headphones to nigh on full bore. On the flight from the US to the UK, I only need to have the headphone on just under the half way mark. And when trying to sleep, I put the headphone on the most quiet setting before off, and still the volume from the entertainment system was too loud. But most off all, I did not want to take them off for the whole flight, even when I was not listening to the entertainment system. Not, as the cynical may suggest, to get max value for money. More, it was because I could not get used to the loudness of the aircraft without them.

You can take the girl out of the country

Hairdressing is so wanky here. Firstly it is common to tip your hairdresser. Not for me thanks, I mean how good can a head massage get?

The second reason relates to the pay scales. You can either get an entry level person, or a stylist, or a designer, or a master designer. You pay more for your haircut as you go up the rankings.

Anyway, I was in pretty bad need of a haircut. So I found a mob and in order to mitigate the risks of just walking in off the street to get my haircut I go for the top of the range. Price: £31. A measly $75 AUD, if you will. But I was certain that I would be getting something pretty special ...

So my hairdresser comes over. Immediately it is obvious that she is from Australia. No problems there, plenty of good hairdressers in Australia. I ask here where she is from. Noosa, she tells me. Noosa. Not exactly the hairdressing Mecca, me thinks. But almost nobody who lives in Noosa has always lived in Noosa, so I ask where she lived before that. The response comes - Swan Hill.

So, in my head I am trying - and failing - to reconcile the fact that I am paying $75 AUD for a haircut from some chick from Swan Hill. And the haircut was very brief - I spent more time ordering and drinking my cup of tea than getting my haircut - and, it seems at this stage, to be very average at best.

But the hairdressing gods have been kind on me. That day was the day of the half price haircut. £15 is far more in line with what I believe to be the going rate for some some bird from Swan Hill.

The Murphies

It has been a while, so I will get on with a flurry.

As yet, Mel and I do not have car. Actually, I have signed up for a pay-as-you-go car service, where you pay a membership fee and then £2.50 per hour to use the thing. Hell, it there is a VW Golf just around the corner that I could use as part of the service, so I thought I would sign on. However, I have lacked two forms of address ID until recently, so it has not come through yet. This week will be the week then.

So the main gist of this story is that we do not have a car, which makes shopping tough. So online we go. Easy as pie, right?

I seldom eat potatoes at home, but I find them to be a nice treat now and again. So I order 8 new potatoes. I really should have looked at the price per unit because it turns out that I ordered 8 BAGS of new potatoes. After giving 3 bags of potatoes away to MD and SG, and having spuds during the week, we till have 4 bags left. One has gone off in the cupboard (why is that?) and tonight we have decided enough is enough: I am cooking up two bags of potatoes for a monster-in-the-jacket-mash. And Mel is cooking up some roast spuds just for good measure.

Oh, why 'Murphies'? According to MD's dad, TD, it is Irish slang for potato. Who am I to argue with an Irishman about potatoes?

"Happy Birthday to ya ... Happy Birthday"

This is a special Happy Birthday blog entry to Mo for yesterday and Lorraine for today. Hope you both have a fabulous day. Loz, enjoy Tassie and Cradle Mountain and Mo ... my friend, party like it's 1999! The Irish Times aren't going to know what's hit them tonight! I SO wish I was there!

What now ... Maybe

What now ... Maybe
Originally uploaded by bloggerpaul.

Authorities gaze blocked off a street I usually use to get to my train to and from work. Whatever has them concerned is something I wall by twice daily. I will keep a keen eye on the news tonight.

The day after the day before

Hello all

Thanks you all very much for your concern. It is about 5:45am and I am about to head off to the gym. I can confirm that all is well with Mel and me. I got home (in very good time, actually) using the overland line and Mel got a lift home with a work colleague.

I have gotten up a little earlier than usual to check the news reports. I am surprised to hear that almost all of the underground network is up and running again. Still, I will not risk delays: I will take the overland.

I imagine it will be work as usual. Yesterday was such a non-productive day that today will need to be full steam ahead.

Mel will be up soon and instead of doing the on again, off again approach she usually takes to get to work, she will take one long train ride to work.

And for anybody who know them, MD and SG are just fine as well. SG, in particular, works around Victoria station - a likely target which we are glad was not.

Summary of the day - The Age

I submitted this very short summary of the day to The Age web site ( see the article here )

----------

I work in the City area of London, less than one mile from the Aldgate bomb blasts. When one person in the office proclaimed that there had been an explosion at Liverpool St I dismissed it out of hand, aligning myself with the official position at the time - that an electrical fault had caused an explosion. Then again, when the first airplane hit the Twin Towers, I thought that was an accident, too.

By the time reports filtered through the office that there had been several more blasts in the London area, the official position had changed. Most people had stopped working and were glued to the internet, monitoring the situation and filling in the blanks left by the media and authorities amongst themselves.

One of my co-workers could not get through to his girlfriend as his mobile network was either down or congested. I offered my mobile - which I had used to successfully contact my very concerned family and friends back home in Australia - but he was still not successful. This co-worker’s anxiety was heightened by his girlfriend’s work proximity to Aldgate. Two hours must have past before he got word from her. I was very relieved for him.

Our office was evacuated before the regular close of business. I was not sure whether I would have to walk the 8 miles (about 13 kms) home due to lack of public transport – a result, or course, of the bombings. To Transport for London’s credit, overland train lines were in place by mid-afternoon. You would be right to think that it was in the back of my mind that trains may not be the safest place to be on this day. But I, like millions of other Londoners, got on with the business of getting home to loved ones. I wait to see what the new day brings.

So far, so good getting home ...

So far, so good getting home ...
Originally uploaded by bloggerpaul.

Overland trains are running and I am on one from Waterloo that goes near my place. Mel looks like she is getting a lift home. The pictured line is for the ferrie and is at least 100m long. This, it seems, is not the best way out of London today.

Update from London

Update from London
Originally uploaded by bloggerpaul.

Took this photo last month. No train will be this empty tonight. If there are any running ...

London Bombing - Update

It is fairly chaotic in The City. Bobbys are at every corner, sirens are blairing everywhere. But the people are calm and going about their day. Well kind of

I am anticipating a long walk home as the public transport network has come to a standstill. It is about a 13 km walk. So I went to a sports store to get some walking gear (I can bag a bargain even in the midst of a disaster). I say 5 people in line with nothing but shoe boxes (containing runners) in their hands. 'Anticipating walking home?' I ask. They all nod their head ...

UK Explosions - Mel & I are safe

Hello all

I am getting a couple of concerned texts and emails concerning explosions in and around London.

Whilst they have all been very near-by, Mel has texted be this morning confirming her safe arrival at work. I am also at work.

There have been multiple explosions around London ... I will keep you informed ...

Pics of our new abode

Mel:

Enjoy!

When it rains ... it pours

Oh boy, and here you were all feeling like we'd forgotten you. Thinking our excuse of limited internet access was simply that ... an excuse. Well, proved you wrong didn't we. When it rains ... it pours.

I'm now like a kid in a candy store, or should that be, Mel in a candy store as there's really not much difference in the two. With internet access at hand, my right arm finally feels re-attached to my body. I'm whole again. How sad is that. Take away a girl's internet access and she suddenly becomes less of a person? Not really, but I do feel a lot more connected than previously.

But wait ... there are so many blog entries that have been made before this one, so if you haven't read them ... scroll down! Go on, you'll read all about Paul's big night out in Milwaukee and my cheesy comment attached to it, his US epilogue, our rambling night in Wimbledon Village where we scaled tall fences in a single bound and a loving dedication to my dear old Dad.

Nuff said ... just read.

Anyway, as you know, we're in our new place now. Things are slowly getting into a routine. When we first arrived Paul kept saying, "I'm just looking forward to getting in to a routine." I used to tease him, thinking he was ever so boring. Routine, who wants routine? I ask you. Well, pie in my face. Apparently I do.

So our new pad is on the first floor of a converted house which is reasonably newly renovated. It's two bedroom, two bathroom with a small balcony at the back, large windows in the front overlooking the street and my fave ... the loft has been converted into the master bedroom and ensuite. It's not as funky as I'm used to (fondly remembering my funky warehouse apartment on Flinders Lane), but it's still quite nice and comes fully furnished, so after forking out nearly $7000 (ouch!!!) on bond and rent up front we haven't really had to spend anything to make ourselves comfortable. I've been sitting in the loungeroom for the past couple of hours on the net and each time I look up out the windows I see a plane flying over. They are everywhere. Once Paul looked out the bathroom window and in that small space saw 6 airplanes in the sky. Thank god you can only see them and not really hear them.

Anyway, today is my last day off before I start work again so I'd better make the most of it and get off my butt and get out and about.

I start work tomorrow in a fabulous new role with, well, you know, the Co. I used to work for in Oz. I'm really looking forward to it. So much that I can do there and it's going to be a very big learning curve for me ... but it'll be great. It's a bit of a hike for me from home and I'll be commuting for about 1.25 hours each way ... big difference to my 4 minute scooter ride from South Melbourne ... so Paul bought me a Mini iPod from the States so I won't get bored! How cool is he? I plan to try and learn French whilst on the train to and from work. I'll let you know how that goes ... or doesn't, as the case may be.

Ciao for now. That's not french Meli Mel. Good start!

This one's for Dad

MEL:

When I was a kid I remember my Dad painstakingly building a Cutty Sark model so when I found out that the actual ship was located in Greenwich we had to go. We caught a Catamaran from the London Eye down the Thames to Greenwich to take the above photos of the Cutty Sark for my Dad. I have to say it's quite impressive!

We spent most of the day in Greenwich and I fell in love with it. It's such a quaint little village. Whilst on the ferry we had a cheesy photograph taken which we (even cheesier) got made into a fridge magnet. Mum and Dad: this one will be coming to you as I know how much you love putting photos on your fridge.

But can I tell you our Karma story? It exists!

When we were at the train station purchasing our daily tickets (approx $12.50 each), Paul being the chivalrous lad that he is, bought one for me without realising I had bought my own. So we had forked out on three tickets instead of two. Now when you're spending Aussie dollars in uber-expensive London, this is a big deal. So to say we were both peeved at this misunderstanding is an understatement. But, Paul again being the chivalrous lad that he is gave the spare ticket to a woman who was waiting in line to purchase her own without accepting any cash for it.

So, karma ...

When buying our ferry tickets, just before paying for them I noticed a sign that said, (along the lines of), "get 1/3 off the price of your ferry ticket when you are the holder of a train ticket." So, almost 5 pound saving right there and then!

In Greenwich, we decided to buy some sunscreen as the sun was starting to burn. It was 34 degrees this day! Oh, the heat in London and braving the Tube during the heat is a whole different story I tell you! But, I digress (god I'm sounding like Paul). Sunscreen: We grabbed a satchel of suncreen for 99p. When paying for it that counter we were told it was a BOGOF. Buy one, get one free.

So, there you have it. Not only did we save money that day, and make up for the cost of the extra ticket ... we also made a small profit! Karma is alive and well in Mel and Paul's lives.

Village Idiots

MEL:

It's taken a while to get these photos up, but there's definitely a story to tell. It was a balmy Saturday evening (just before Wimbledon) and we decided to have a typical Aussie bbq in Shaz and Marty's back garden. Three bottles of wine and some Pimms later and a belly full of sausages and salad Marty decided he wanted to go to the Dog and Fox in Wimbledon Village.

It's about a 2km walk through Wimbledon Park (no Wombles in sight though unfortunately - and I have been looking!) We safely walked through the first gates of Wimbledon Park to get to the other side to find it locked and a 7 foot fence glaring at us!

So here we were, four 30-somethings, full of Pimms and Wine attempting to climb over this 7ft fence. Luckily for me I had my trusty Mju Mini with me and after whipping over the fence myself (as best I could in jeans that were too tight that didn't have any stretch in them) I managed to get these great shots of Paul and Marty helping Shaz over the fence.

Three weeks later, Shaz and I still have massive bruises on our legs from the dirty great big spikes at the top of the fence.

We got to the Dog and Fox, which was packed, had a few champagnes and promptly had to leave just after 11pm as that's what time pubs close here. So we legged it back home past the All England tennis club where we saw people camping out in anticipation for Monday morning Wimbledon ticket sales (eager). Marty attempted to steal parking signs on the way and then Shaz, Paul and I gave up and jumped in a cab ... my full bladder as an excuse not to walk the last 1km.

Good God, almighty, internet access at last

Just a quick not letting you know that Mel and I have moved into our new place. We have dial-up access for the next week or so, but broadband should be coming online in the next week.

Expect more frequent (and briefer, for those who follow the six line rule) blogging.

And I have arranged GPRS on the mobile phone, so moblogging (mobile web blogging) is a distinct possibility ...

Epilogue - US Trip

Just a very quick note on some of my thoughts about my recent trip to the land of the long white tip.

The people I met in the street, bars and around the office were great. They have a reputation for being very friendly and this is what I experienced.

Customer service - which I expected to be really good - was really bad. It would seem that singing for one's supper has turned into more of a handout.

Immigration sucks. Visitors sign a waiver of the right to sue anyone involved in the security process and it shows. I understand that I am required to be well screened (as is everyone) but a modicum of civility from those in charge of that process would be ... well ... comforting. And my experienced was shared by many people I encountered.

The food was not nearly as good as I had expected. Simple, light Asian anybody? But this might have been more about where I was located.

The US does not seem to have more fat people than Australia, but it does seem to have more fat, fat, fat, fat people.

Australian's and Americans share the same humour. This is refreshing for me because I think I am quite amusing and I got a good laugh over there. Here in the UK, I am running at about 50:50; I am very hit and miss (the one who cannot be named should know what I am on about). Maybe I am just not as funny as I think I am ...

Australian business / media is heading further and further down the American model. I am not comfortable with this. Commerce over there is too 'in your face' and all prevailing. Then again, I do like the late night shopping everywhere, everynight.

Finally, MB asked me if my experience had put me off the US as a holiday destination. WHile I will give it aother crack as a tourist, perhaps in NY, Boston or Seattle, I must answer tentatively, yes.

Final Nights in the Land of The Fonz

I am sitting in the lobby of my decidedly average hotel with a couple of hours to kill, so I thought I would get blogging.

Two nights ago had one of THOSE nights. That is one of those good nights, not one of those bad nights. The foreigners were invited out by the local work crew for dinner and drinks. And what a great spot was chosen - very authentic hispanic food and atmosphere in the hispanic quarter of town. Eating outside ... fabulous night weather ... good company ... really good night.

One of the local crew told one of the waiters it was my birthday and a rousing rendition was sung by the wait staff. Of course, I am an Aquarian so my birthday was some months ago. Still, who am I to argue with the locals. I received the song - and the free piece of cake - with typical aplomb.

Then the thing happened that I had a feeling throughout this trip might happen: accent borne celebrity.

In the film 'Love, actually' some dorky Pom heads to the US with a suitcase full of condoms certain that his accent would woo yanky women to his bedroom. A guy I work with in the UK believes this, though I do not believe his ability would match his ambition. As a further aside, there is an Expedia ad here feauring a guy in nothing but a towel and an Australian accent, wooing an American on holidays.

Anyway, after the birthday cuffuffle (spelling suggestions encouraged), someone on the next table took notice of my bellowing voice. The next thing I know a waiter comes over to me, serves me a Corona - which is what I was drinking at the time - and tells me that it is from the lady at (points) that table. Surely this only happens in movies and, then, only to women. So I am quite chuffed. So I went over to the table of four women (a 6.5, 5.5 and two 2.5s ... let me know if I need to go into the scoring system) to thank the individual in question for the drink - it would be rude to do otherwise. I have about a 5 minute chat and head back to my table. The drinks buying table were being very nice, if a little obvious (well ... they're only human!). One of the girls from our work table then befriends the bepoke drink-buying girls and invites them over to our table.

Now ... the next bit is tough to explain seeing as I am particular about what I publish to the web. Those who know me know that I can get down and dirty - in a verbal and conceptual manner, I must say ... certainly not in anyway that I could not tell Mel - with the best of them. And the girls from the drink buying table started off by setting the bar very low. So here's me, doing my thing, trying to shock these girls into submission by - verbally and conceptually - lowering the bar as far as I can without getting slapped or arrested. I must say I was defeated. I could not bring up a topic or concept that offended these girls in the slightest. Indeed, the candour of their reponse was a little shocking to me. I cannot elaborate on any of this on the web, but feel free to ask me about next time we might speak. It had to happen some day, but I did not realise it would happen some completely.

The drink buying table invited us to a bar they were going to next. But like a good boy I said my farewells, had a couple more Coronas, and was in bed my about 11:45pm in prepration for the next days work.

So now I am sitting here, killing time. I have some thoughts on this US trip, but won't elaberate them until I get home to the UK. Afterall, I still have to go to the airport and if my ingress experience was anything to go by, I am not looking forward to the process of egress ...