INVADERS MUST DIE!

The Prodigy @ The Hordern Pavillion, Sydney

Haha, wow. How am I supposed to give any kind of a review/blog to this gig!? In brief summary, it rocked the whole house. I have never seen an indoor gig go off so much. From the front to the back, the left to the right - it was like EVERY set of feet was jumping to every punk beat the boys from Essex could bang out.


Spitfire, Firestarter, Their Law, Breathe, Voodoo People... all the hits, and some how, I had the energy levels and adrenaline required to " 'ave it large" as I might have said about 12 years when I first saw these guys live. Awesome Awesome Awesome. Except - I think this may be the first gig where I went the entire gig without getting a clear sight of the dudes onstage.

Tennis and chilling in Melbs

The Australian Open, Melbourne 2009

So the morning of the main attraction rolled around. A few months back I'd seen an ad for the Melbourne Open on Ticketek and the rest of this trip spanned from there. I'd never been to see live professional tennis before so I was really looking forward to it. To make it even better, the beenie requiring temperatures at Phillip Island were totally obliterated and the mercury shot into the mid thirties. I would take a hat next time, but for the most part I was pretty comfortable most of the day; sweating aside :P

On a sadder, side note, this heat we experienced was the beginning of a very fatal heat wave that would grip Victoria for the next month or so, and take thousands of home and hundreds of lives. My respects to the emergency services and sympathy's to all involved are well and truly out there.

Lauren and I took a tram ride to the centre of Melbourne before walking along the Yarra to the Rod Laver Arena. We eventually found our gate and once again I was 'forced' into smuggling camera equipment in - due mainly to incompetent door men (my stuff was legit I tell yuz!). I've been out of the sporting loop for a little too long and soon realised that I only knew a handful of pro names - where did Sampras, Kournikova and McEnroe go!? (I jest). We checked out a bunch of games mainly starring home grown talent since the atmosphere was at it's best. I can seriously recommend this as a day out - $30 to watch some awesome quality tennis in the searing heat at a top class sporting facility. It was ace - just remember to stay well hydrated.

The atmosphere was truly awesome, the Aussie home fans getting right behind their home-grown talent, and between the courts, the buzz was that of pure fun. A great mix of people; ages gender and class were there en masse.



When we'd taken as much of the heat as we could, it was time to head off home. Sweaty as the day had made us, a shower was definitely called for before heading out for the evening meal. A tasty piece of meat with the setting sun shining intensely at us was definitely an idyllic way to see today out.

Afterwards, my old Sydney housemate Aaron came along and met us at the Crown Casino where only Louise (Aarons Girlfriend) would come out up - $100 on the WHEEL! Still, everyone was a winner with $10 cocktails... very nice.

For our final day in Melbourne, it was time to take in some of the sights of the shops, side street cafes and a final trip to St Kilda Beach (now it would be quieter). After a coffee & Eggs Benedict brekkie, I managed to do what I do best whilst shopping, and scalp out a bargain or two before we moved on. We checked out some of the infamous street grafitti before wandering through thee Melbourne GPO (General Post Office- which now houses designer shops and not much post office). I purchased a pair of Camper shoes, in the sales naturally - and was recommended to hit a roof top bar by the guy behind the counter. We duly searched the place out and was totally stoked that we did, for we got to see some amazing views of the city whilst sipping back on a coke under the comfort of a sun-shade.

From here, we decided to head back out to St Kilda beach. It was now Tuesday, and the crazy rush of the weekend had now passed. We were able to sit and dine on a La Roche lunch (something I did those years ago when I first visited the joint). Though in fairness, the in house beer was pretty dodgy - the chicken was great though!

We took a bit more of a stroll about the place, sat with a juice on the beach and appreciated the afternoon sunshine as the last day of holiday I would be taking until August... at least then I would be in positive annual leave, for the first time since January 08.

As is now tradition, we would need to hot-foot it to the airport to get on our plane. This trip was no exception, a tram back to the city, and a cab caught at peak rush hour (no easy task whilst carrying all the luggage) and we managed to get to the departure lounge with a few minutes to spare. No thanks to the gnarky Virgin Blue Hostess who checked us in.

Melbourne is awesome. This was to be the longest holiday I'd take for over a year, so it was a little sad to be headed back so soon... though it was helped a little knowing I had a couple of decent gigs in the pipeline.

Penguins

Melbourne, Victoria

Just under 3 years ago, I visited Melbourne as part of my route around Australia backpacking. Back then, I experienced the Commonwealth Games, Wilsons Prom and the Great Ocean Road. So it has been since then, that I figured I'd love to go back and experience some more and last October, I booked some dirt cheap flights to the tune of $60 each way from Sydney to Melbourne.

So last Friday night, Lauren and I arrived at Tullarmarine airport and embarked on our next adventure. Bright n early Saturday, we awoke and headed in via a tram to the centre of the city. We'd both only been once before and so it was cool to re-aquaint ourselves with the surroundings before heading to the car rental place to pick up our rental (toy) car. I bracket toy - as this is all I can really call a Kia Rio (What the?) - it feels like the whole thing is made of plastic. Regardless it drives okay, at least when I'm not stamping my clutch foot down sharply on the brakes at 70kmph :P

Phillip Island is located South East of the city, and is home to the annual Australian MotoGP - which I only really knew from playing way too much MotoGP2 on my old Xbox. We headed to the track for a look before checking out some of the rugged headlands. The temperature was remarkebly cooler than Sydney today, although the Sun would later come out and warm things up - but we'd left 30 degrees behind to get to about 19 degrees...

The evening rolled around after an afternoon dedicated to sealife and ornithology, and it was time to do our Ultimate Penguin tour. Phillip Island is famed for it's wild penguins that return from the Ocean each night. The "Little Penguins" are the smallest of the 11 worldy Penguin breeds and have a funky blue back. We hiked down on to one of the beaches and were placed on our matts to watch as the phenomenon occurred. Sure enough to form, the window of opportunity that allows the penguins a safe trip onto land came by; by night the owls will get 'em, and by day the regular birds of prey will happily feast on Penguin Burgers and Fries.

After 10-15 had wondered past us, we too took a waddle back to the car park, along the way seeing even more of the little critters heading up to 1.5kms in land... that would be painfully annoying with legs that short I'd imagine.

Sunday dawned and after returning the Kia, we set about seeing some shops, checking out the riverside and the casino before jumping on a tram to meet up with my old (well, kinda new-old)housemate Aaron. We took a look at the St Kilda markets before sucking back on cokes at the beach in the warm afternoon sun. Things were certainly warming up.

Azz, showed us back to his place before we slipped off for a walk home via Albert Park - the venue of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Around the lake, along the track and across the golf course we arrived back in our hotel before heading out for dinner at the infamous Lygon Street. We ate Italian and drank white wine until the staff wanted us out and the half way point of our weekend was done.

Slow

Kylie Minogue; Acer Arena, Sydney-Homebush.

What are the first few things you knew in your lifetime about Australia? Some people might answer; Didgeredo's, Kangeroos, The Great Barrier Reef, Koalas, The Sydney Opera House.

These would also be true for me, but I would also add 2 more on the list. Rolf Harris and Kylie Minogue. Having seen everything else I've written about here already; it was time to see the final one. So Lauren and I scuttled on over to the Olympic showgrounds on a Tuesday night to go see the showgirl herself. Kylie. Quite an odd show really, an arena full of people, not many of them moving very much, not many kids like I thought there might be, plenty of gays but an awesome light show and sound spectacle to see when you looked past the thousands sat in front; and we had "Gold" seats.

I couldn't possibly compare this gig to anything I'd normally go to, cos it's nothing like those. In it's own right it was awesome, though I could only do it once in a very blue moon. Like the Spice Girls in 1998, I'm glad I've seen another of the living worlds most famous stars perform.


Without snobbery toward the dated songs that made her famous, she performed I Should be so Lucky, Better the Devil You Know and Step Back in Time

The stage went off like some of the best bits of a Daft Punk gig , some of the glamour of a Kanye West show, and the acoustics of a U2 show. All in all, well impressive. Nice work Kylie. Except next time - try making the tickets a little cheaper, it's the most I've ever paid for a single act concert here or in the UK. Did someone say Economic Crisis!?

Ding Dong Merrily on High

The 12 Pubs of Christmas Episode III.

If you're a regular reader of this blog - I think there might still be one or two out there - mum? dad? You'll remember the format of the 12 pubs of Christmas pub crawl. A route of 12 pubs - all attendees generally wearing something Christmassy, and each drinking one drink at each pub before moving on about 40-50minutes later.

The first year we started in Paddington and made our way into and through the city.

The second year we hit up the Rocks and then looped back into the city.

This year, we ventured out to Balmain, and then after about 5 pubs, made our way into the city and toward the Metropolitan Hotel, the finish line of the 12 Pubs of Christmas.

Needless to say, I feel honoured and proud to have sunk 36 (+) beers over the past 3 Christmasses, although this was a little different not having one of the Chambers brothers in the party with us... some excuse about moving interstate to Victoria or something...

This year was also a first for me... as it later transpired to having had one of the most unhealthy days eating ever too... I think the final count was one KFC, one o'Portos, and two Subways... I don't recall if it was two foot longs or not but even still...

So again, the memories side of things - not good... I do remember having a lot of fun, a lot of laughs... and know I didn't get lost this year between pubs. I do remember not finishing at the magic 12... and sinking around another 3-4 beers, and the obligatory Jaegor Bomb or 3, and maybe a Jack n coke for good measure... it's not particularly surprising what happened out the taxi window on the journey back home through Sydneys Eastern Distributor. I blamed the drivers driving at the time... hilariously.

A huge congratulations and thankyou goes out to Kevin Hussey, for whom these crawls would not have been possible - as well as to the 100-200 patrons that have joined us over the last 3 years... I wonder if I'll be starting a spin-off series in London - next year - I do know, that 12 pints would scare me.

Right as Rain

BlueBottle and new Toys...

So I experienced 2 things new this week or two... first, was a lot more pleasent than the the second...

After a media storm kicked off the life of Canons new 5D Mark ii... I managed to get lucky and get one of the very small consignment that made it into Australia. So I have been living up the joy of having a full frame DigiSLR with a monster 21mega-pixel sensor, and full 1080 High Def video recording capabilities... nice.

Then yesterday, I went for a swim after work... and got stung. I dived face first into an oncoming wave - something I'd do quite usually... a sensation I'd not felt before hit me. It felt like coarse sea-weed swiping from my collarbone, up across my face to the ear on the other side of my face. Luckily my eyes were closed, as I'd just been zapped by a blue-bottle (jelly-fish). I had 1hour of what I can quite certainly describe as the worst pain I've ever endured at the hands of an animal on Earth.

The lifeguard put me in a hot shower and I had to suck up the pain until it eventually subsided. Nice. Just what I needed, another water-phobia!
(Edit: a couple months on, and I'm no happy once again back in the water - though I always think twice - and quite often put both hands out in front of me when diving now.)

(Picture from an exhibit at the Australian Natural History museum- click on it for a bit more info).

Crack the Shutters

Camping - Bouddi National Park

So a weekend of being away from Sydney was ahead of us... Not too far mind, right on the southern tip of the Central Coast, not too far from Gosford.

Destination Bouddi National Park. Matty, Si, Michelle, Loz and a few others all drove over before midday and set about hiking down hill to a secluded little beach called Maitland Bay (I think!). Here we had the entire beach to ourselves (almost), and bathed, explored and ate a picnic lunch. An older couple drove their boat in to shore before the man, comically stood atop his vessell cooking a BBQ in nothing but Speedos, had the wife in the water scrubbing the hull for barnicles and algae... it was like something from a Carry-on movie!

We packed up shortly after and hiked the long uphill back to the cars. From here we drove around to Bouddi National Park and once again hiked downhill to the campsite awaiting our arrival. Another abandoned beach with only one other group of people in site. Some awesome rolling waves coupled with beers (don't try this at home kids) saw us messing about for the afternoon drinking the Saturday afternoon away before dusk.

Wedgie & Alison arrived, and soon we were awaiting one of Mattys famous camp stews for dinner. After said meal, things got a little hazy and the high-jinx stretched into the night...