I'm Forever Blowin' Bubbles

After some fruitless job hunting, I was finally rewarded with a quick break; a one week contract updating some content at a recruitment firms intranet. However I wasn't to start that for a good few days so I was left with a few problems to solve in the mean time.

The weekend came and we hit the town pretty hard. I had for some reason agreed to a bet earlier in the week whereby I wasn't allowed to dance for 3 weeks. If I suceeded, Flee would have to grow a single arm pit of hair, and wear all the sleeveless tops she had. If I didn't succeed, I would lose all the hair beneath my right knee.

I made it through one night of dance music, chatting with some mates but still finding it difficult not to tap my feet. 3 days later, half way through one beer, I was caught doing an impersonation of Dr Evil in Austin Powers 2. I was to be half hairless. More of that to follow.

Nick made it into Sydney after his trip around the Australian South Coast. Lucy, Nick and I met up and I gave the now legendary "Luke-tour" of Sydney. This time with an extended walk through the Botanical gardens. A beauty of a day really helped set off the cities highlights.

So then, FA Cup fever took agrip - well it didn't really, but I knew it was on and was hoping to be able to give some support from the otherside of the world to the valiant Hammers for getting to the final with Liverpool. Sadly, sharing with a flat full of girls has its draw backs too. The time they had gotten ready, and we'd gone to a first pub for warm up drinks - the flow of taxis was in hot demand, so by the time we made it to the city it was half time. Alas, I wandered into the Irish bar, where stood a few dozen paddy Liverpool fans - I was to be the only Hammer rep there. Most of you will know what happened then - Stephen Gerrard scored a wonder goal, and then penalties, the Scousers were victorious - and I had an Irish ale shower.

On Tuesday 16th I started the day with a job interview, a stones throw from the Sydney Opera House and ended it somewhere completely different. For some really annoying reasons, I had to fly into New Zealand before the end of May else my work permit would become invalid and I wouldn't be able to obtain another. So I booked a quick return trip to Silver Fern country. Departing at 6.45pm I once again took the skies. As I flew in I was given a brief look at the snow capped mountains; illuminated by the moonlight. A good buzz ruined only when I arrived and virtually immediately got taken in by the Customs squad. I was a suspected drug runner... only for the fact I had no suitcase, and was staying for only one day. An hour later (and thankfully no rubber glove treatment), I was free to go - not that I had anywhere to go since my bed was to be in front of the check in counter.

5 hours later I awoke and checked in. A swift flight back across the Tamzan sea and I was back in Sydney. The beauty of these trips I always thought - would be having no luggage, and no waiting to get the aforementioned stuff. Wrong. As I bowled on through to Customs, I was again stopped and given a grilling as to why I had no bags, and why I'd only been gone for about half a day. Grrrrrr. Ah well, I arrived back at 11am and used the rest of the day to sunbathe.

After visiting an agency again, I met up with the girls, Tom, Nick & Lucy at the Orbit bar - for more drinks as we watched the city rotate past us. Nick stayed around for a beer as we clinked bottles for the last time in Australia until New Zealand. He and Lucy left for the East Coast that evening.

The following day I finally did my first days civilised work. Although a little dull, as "Intranet PDF Administrator" (which still makes me chuckle) I got used to being in an office, and indeed being located smack in the middle of an awesome city. I took this job; provisionally 5days to get some rent money rolling in before I get a decent position.

With myself and the girls only just re-entering the world of work, free entertainment was certainly a bonus. I'd spotted an add for the Surry Hills Street Festival. So on Saturday afternoon we trundled off to check it out. Being the festival hound I am, I wasn't sure what to anticipate - with it being located inner city and without a big *Insert Huge Name Sponser here* to pay the rent. There were hundreds of market stalls packed with anything from T-shirts and sunglasses, to Lebanese food, airbrush tattoos and Krispy Kreme donuts. The music was surprisingly good, with a DJ stage, rockers stage and a Jack Johnson wannabe chillout stage; which is where we found ourselves munching the delights we'd found and supping beers or coke. The Australian East Coast Winter chill finished the fun at sundown.