Sunday 24 November 2013

Another trip to see the Glory and Bri's Birthday!

16 November

Today was Ellie's 18th birthday.  Crazy how time flies huh?  

As we are all meeting up for Bri's birthday, I decided that today would be the best time to take Sasha shopping for new clothes.  Although I didn't have a budget! I did have a time constraint as we were off to watch Perth Glory again.  The difference being this time they had William Gallas playing.  A French superstar!  They drew...again but that's better than nothing.

In the evening, we went to Clancy's for pre-drinks followed by Mai Tai for dinner.  It was nice to get the whole gang together again especially for Brian.  Just as we sat down for dinner, Auntie Shelly returned my Skype call.  Although I was happy to see them, I also found it hard being away.


Saturday 23 November 2013

Beerfest weekend!

8 November

As It was Marcus' 'free' weekend meaning no kids, we decided to pop to the local pub "just for one".  Well, everyone knows that as soon as you say that, it's bound to get messy and that's exactly what happened.  We started at my favourite bar, Bad Apples followed by the newly re-opened Clancy's and then Pepper wine bar.  To say, I felt rough in the morning would be an understatement.

9 November

Going out the night before, seemed a good idea at the time.  I woke up with a stinking headache but after a trip to Hungry Jacks for a frozen coke, I returned to form.  Becca and I arrived on the site just before 12.  The beer fest was being held in Fremantle on the esplanade by James, Toby's friend from home.  James had bought all his staff over to help out seeing as it's the first time they'd held such an event in WA.  Becca worked in the ticket booth and I worked with Gage Roads who were a local brewery.  At first, I arrived to a bare tent.  No signage, nothing.  Considering everyone else had huge banners, I felt ours looked pretty poor. 

It was definitely much busier than I thought it would be.  I spent most of the day working with Cam who is the Marketing Manager for Gage Roads.  It was crazy, I met so many British people which in a sense was lovely as I could've easily been home.  

10 November

It's day 2 of Beerfest and a scorcher!  37C- wowzer!  Still, after a good nights sleep I was raring to go. Worked with Cam and Jade.  Considering I had very little help yesterday, Jade was a very welcome addition to the team.  

Most of the bands over the weekend were pretty good.  The headliners were The Beards who sang songs about...beards!  In their honour, all the Tazzy boys grew their own.

As the festival drew to a close, the team sat back and reflected on what an awesome weekend it had been.  Becca and I were so lucky to have met such a lovely group of people.  We even made nicknames for each other:

Me: short red (obvious really)
Becca: hat girl (as Matt kept buying her hats all weekend)
Matt: walkie talkie guy (as he carried one all weekend)
James: Big Boss (organiser)
Andrew: The Warrior (given to him by some drunk guy in Freo as an insult)
Stu: Power Ranger (as at times, he moved so fast, I thought he was going to fly)
Jordi- Awesome dude (given to her by Matt)
Mathias- no name


My first Aussie Barbie

2 November

Marcus reminds me so much of my Uncle Steve in many ways.  Today was as so exception as we paid a trip to the garden centre.  You could see that he was in his element.  Jai and I on the other hand used the trolley as a lorry to navigate our way around.  It was huge!


In the afternoon, we headed over to Marcus' friends house for dinner.  It was lovely and they made me feel really welcome.  This was my first Aussie BBQ and one I will remember.  

In the evening, I went over to Georgia's friends house for drinks.  Everyone was there, including the frenchies so it was a perfect opportunity to practice my French.  I even made some other friends too- perhaps I'll be in double figures by the time I leave!

5 November

Since being in Oz, I've found it difficult to find a job.  This is not for want of trying, I can assure you that!    Still, the odd day here and there is coming in handy.  Today is Melbourne Cup Day similar to the Grand National, but the Aussies take it seriously.  Most companies allow staff to go to the event or one similar or watch the main race.  I was asked to help out at a real estate agency in Subiaco as their boss had paid for them all to go the 'The Garden' to watch the race.  As I popped our for lunch, I had a call from a relo in Sydney.  Instead of the usual 'your visa isn't a 457' nonsense that I usually get, the lady seemed quite positive.  She even said she was quite optimistic that if it worked out, she could tailor a job for me meaning that I'd get sponsorship.  It does sound a little too good to be true but I'm remaining positive about it all.    

No Guts, no Glory- my first Australian football match

27 October

It has now become a Sunday ritual that we all get up early (well...I get up early as everyone gets up at about 6am here every day) towa tch Sasha's Futsal match.  For those of you that don't know, futsal Isa Brazilian version of our beloved game but much faster.  The games are shorter, there are no throw-ins (except the goalkeeper)and if the ball goes out and is not put back into play within 4 seconds then it is given to the other team.  As most people know, I like sport anyway but I now love my futsal Sundays,especially when Sasha's team wins 13-0.  Awesome!

In the afternoon, the whole team went to watch Perth Glory play at their new stadium.  The sun was beating down and it was a pleasant 30C.  At half-time, our lot were asked to go on the pitch to carry the large shirt. A pretty special moment considering this is now aired to 20 other countries around the world.  What's even better is that they won, 1-0! Starting the season as they mean to go on, I hope!   As the final whistle was blown, the players wandered around the pitch to thank the fans for their support.  Some of them spent over an hour taking photos with the kids and signing shirts.  Something you wouldn't see in the EPL.  Here's my picture of the day with Daniel De Silva.  This boy will go far so watch out for him:



Wednesday 20 November 2013

Sports day...in October and beautiful long walks with the dogs. Can life get any better?


17 October

I've been to many sports days over the years thanks to Cal, Ben and Ellie but never one in October.  Still it makes perfect sense as the weather is certainly a lot warmer at this time of year.  As per usual, the teachers were crying out for adjudicators so Marcus and I stepped in to help.  It was quite fun actually, particularly as the kids were quite competitive.  Still, Sasha won her race and I was pretty proud to have witnessed it.


22 October

I've now been away almost 4 months and today has been my first 'down' day.  The family have all asked what has triggered it and truthfully I don't know.  It's not that I want to pack up and go home because I don't.  It's more the fact that I have spent the last month sitting in the house, day in, day out waiting for the kids to come home.  Making friends is difficult as I'm not living in a backpacker environment but thankfully I have Georgia to keep me sane.  

So to cheer me up, Bri and I went on a little trip to walk the dogs.  Having lived by the sea for most of my life, beaches don't particularly excite me but this one did.  There is something about walking with the sand between your toes and not freezing to death that is quite appealing.  Leighton beach is beautiful and just what I needed to clear my head.  In the evening, Marcus decided to take me to Hans Cafe for dinner.  Truly authentic Asian food for next to nothing.  Loved it but most importantly I loved spending time with him, just simply chewing the fat!


Roadtrip to the Pinnacles and Keep Australia Beautiful clean-up!

12 October

Georgia and I decided it was about time we got off our bottoms and did something touristy.  It's all well and good being a 'local' but now and again, we need to remember why we are here!  Having been offered the use of Bri's car for the foreseeable future until it can be sold, we opted to hire a car anyway.  Why?  Well because Bri's car is an old girl and judging on the terrain and sheer outback of this country, it's much safer to driver a newer car.  

The drive itself was magic.  I love driving anyway but there is something quite liberating about driving on an open road.  It took us approximately 3 hours to drive the 300km from Perth to Cervantes.  The scenery was quite spectacular as all you can see for miles around are these wonderful limestone formations, each one totally unique.  I can now see why it's been cited #1 attraction in WA.


13 October

Bri signed me and Jai for a morning of volunteering with Keep australia beautiful.  They are a charity who promote recycling along the country's coastline.  At first we were a tad reluctant but actually it proved to be a pretty fun morning.  It's incredible what you find littering these beautiful beaches.  Let's just hope that their hardwork continues to pay off!



Tuesday 19 November 2013

Eat Pray Love - The story of my trip

10 October

Having braved public transport and battled the streets of Perth, Sasha, Jai and I finally made the family meal.  It was the first time most of us had been together, which made it special.  Dinner was great apart from the delay in Stomie's food.  Still, it was nice to be around family after a few months away.

11 October

Marcus went away for the weekend down south, so I had the house to myself.  It was quite nice at first but then loneliness kicked in.  It's the first time, in over 3 months that I'd been on my own and had time to think about where I was or rather how far I was away from home.  During my Roadtrip in Vietnam, I picked up a book called "Eat Pray Love".  I'd been wanting to read it for a while but for some reason, I couldn't get into it for love nor money.  It was only during a chat with an old friend that she pointed out that this film reminded her of me.  But why?  It's based on a true story about a lady (played by Julia Roberts) who after a tubulant year (much like mine) decided to book a trip of a lifetime.  She chose to go to Italy so that she could EAT magnifent food, PRAY in the temples of India and find LOVE in Bali.  The latter certainly wasn't listed in my "reasons" but the basis of the story is definitely similar.  Apparently, I remind a few of my friends of Julia Roberts and if I meet my own Javier Bardem, then I certainly won't complain!




Monday 18 November 2013

Glory 'fun day' and our day trip to the largest aquarium in WA-AQWA

6 October

Having spent the morning watching Sasha play Futsal, we headed over to Freo to attend the Glory 'fun day'.  The Glory are Perth's professional football (soccer) team and every year, they put on a free event for the kids.  This year, they had games, soccer tournaments and a BBQ but most importantly, the players were left to wander around and take pictures/sign autographs for the kids.  It's such a terrific idea and one that other international clubs should adopt.

8 October

What is a better day trip for half term than a trip to the Aquarium.  Considering I only have the Sealife centre In Rhyl to compare it to, I was relitively impressed with the place.  The walking-tank was certainly the highlight for me as it allowed you to get so close to the sharks but for the kids it was the touch-pool.  Petting a stingray and a baby shark is something they won't forget in a hurry.


9 October

We headed up to Swan Valley to visit Sasha and Jai's nan. It was great to see her and get out of the city, into the countryside to feed the horses.  On our way home, we stopped off at Margaret River chocolate factory for free chocolate!  Who am I to refuse free chocolate?  On our way home, we stopped via Hungry Jacks for my first frozen coke.



In the evening, Becca and I went out to Leaderville.  We started at the Leaderville hotel which was a huge building with a different music scene on each floor.  Sadly, the place was full of seedy guys and thankfully it shut at midnight, so we headed to what looked like a shed in the middle of the car park- The Hippy Club.  Thankfully the night got better and we danced the night away until the early hours of the morning.  It was so good to get out of the house! 


Exploring the WA Coastline

3 October

Bri decided to take us on a family day out.  After months of being away from home, it was so nice being around a familiar face.  It was also great to see the beautiful coastline of WA.  We managed to pack-in Leighton, Cottesloe, City and Scarborough beaches before heading to Hilary's boat harbour for a spot of lunch.  Although the scenery was beautiful, it's true what they say about it being FULL of Brits!  I felt like I was in Scarborough,Yorkshire not Scarborough in Australia! 

Just before we headed home, we swung past my cousin's office/gallery.  It was great to see him after all these years but even better to meet 'Beans' the dog.  We also drove past Claremont which is where Iain used to live!  Surreal seeing the school where he used to work!

Funniest picture: Max drinking out of the tap. That's what happens when you get above 30C!




My first AFL Grand Final and trips to Freo

28 September

It's my first weekend in Perth and it's the AFL Grand a Final (Freo Dockers vs Melbourne).  This is the first time that Freo have ever made it to a grand final so the atmosphere around town was exciting.  All around the streets of Perth, there were banners, flags and people wearing purple.  Much to Marcus' disgust, Shona and I managed to persuade him to drive to Freo and watch the match.  When I asked him about the rules he replied "it's the only game where you get a point even if you miss".  So very true!


In the evening, Marcus cooked us a Roast Dinner.  It was amazing!  Then Georgia, Nati and I went out for drinks in Freo to the Norfolk hotel followed by the club Metros.

30 September

As it was Georgia's day off, we took the bus into Freo to do a bit of exploring.  Freo is a lot nicer than I'd pictured it.  It's a town with a lot of character and unlike the rest of Perth, the council have kept the forsades of the buildings.  It's also a quirky town with a Victorian twist which actually reminded me of Llandudno.  After wandering around taking photos, we headed off to Little Creatures for lunch.  The bar itself is attached to the brewery, allowing you to watch the beer being made as you sip your pint! The warehouse effect sort of reminded me of Shoreditch in London.  We then met up with Andrew to wander the markets and grab a hot chocolate (heated by candlelight) at San Churio.





Friday 15 November 2013

First few days in Perth, WA

24 September

The flight to Perth was fine but the same cannot be said for the service I received on Tiger Airways.  I'd been pre-warned about them but decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.  I deliberately hadn't eaten as I was aware that Australia don't allow you to enter the country with any foreign food.  So, I went to buy dinner but the hostess refused to take my credit (close to expiry) and debit card (not as safe as credit).  Ridiculous!  To say I was annoyed is an understatement, especially considering the flight was 6 hours.  I won't be using Tiger again, if I can avoid it.

Having safely collected my bag, I met Marcus and Jai at arrivals and headed back to his.  It was so good to have my own room and a wardrobe again.  In the evening, Marcus and I went for dinner at his local - Bad Apples.  I loved the place, it's a great wine bar which even has automatic wine pouring machines - genius!


25 - 27 September

The next few days were spent today tedious tasks such as setting up bank accounts, getting a haircut and buying a pair of jeans as it's not as warm here as it was in Asia!  Sizes here are strange too.  I've also spent time with the kids (Jai and Sasha) and Max the dog, which has been nice.  They've all made me feel so welcome.  I also made a new friend (Georgia) who works at the local shopping centre.  She's British and used to live in London so we have a lot in common.


Wednesday 13 November 2013

Home of the Singapore Sling and final thoughts on Singapore

23 September

This morning felt bitter sweet - I'm excited to see the family but sad to say farewell to the lads and to an incredible weekend in Singapore.  The problem was, how do I top such a phenomenal weekend?!  Well, after spending the weekend surrounded by engines and testosterone, I opted for a girly afternoon of shopping and dining at where-else but the home of the Singapore Sling- Raffles.

The building was beautiful with its colonial features and open terrace.  My Gran and Grandad had been for high-tea and I believe that AG (Auntie Gillian) had sampled their cocktail menu in the past.  I decided on the tea. It certainly wasn't Tetley but it was still pretty good considering the fact that most of Asia think Lipton is "proper tea".  I managed a bit of shopping and a few souvenirs before heading back to the hostel and bidding farewell to the lads.

In the evening, I went with the German crew to see the lightshow at Marina Bay, paid a trip to China Town, packed my bag and crawled into bed.  Tomorrow I fly to Perth for some well-earnt TLC!


Final thoughts on Singapore:

Food: You can get any cuisine here from Vietnamese and Thai to American/European!  I liked that about it, variety is the spice of life after all.

Shopping: It's certainly one of the better places I've been to but yet it's still pretty expensive for Asia.

Culture: There is certainly a lot to cover in a few days but beyond that I think I'd get a little bored.  3-5 days is plenty as a tourist.

Would I go back? Most definitely.  There are a few places that I didn't get chance to go to. I would certainly pick it as a stop-over again.

Next stop: Perth


Saturday 2 November 2013

Singapore - A weekend of non-stop F1 action

20 September

Having battled taxis, a bus and immigration, I made it to Singapore in good time.  Once thing I have noticed on this trip is the lack of information given to tourists.  As we arrived into the city centre, the bus pulled in, hurled our bags out and sent us our merry way.  I had no idea where I was and there wasn't even a taxi insight.  Luckily for me, a local spotted that I was a little lost and guided me to the metro station.  Having used these systems a number of times now, I found my way fairly easily.  

I'd booked 5 nights in The River City Inn in Clarke Quay.  Given its glowing reviews on tripadvisor, I was expecting a lot and it definitely met my expectations.  It was 5 min walk to the metro but more importantly 10 min walk to the circuit.  The negative was the 2 flight walk-up but I got over that fairly quickly. At first I thought I was the only one going to the race, but it soon became apparent that there were quite a few of us.  Upon arrival, I met a German couple who were also heading out to get their tickets/lanyards. The girl had bought her bf the tickets for his birthday - cute huh?  We collected them from a rather up market hotel next too the town hall and the main entrance.  They provided you with some much needed ear plugs and Information pack.  As we stepped through the gate, I heard the first roar from a V8 engine.  I remember smiling and thinking to myself "you definitely made the right decision".  That sound just gives me goosebumps all over.  Before sitting down to watch practice 1 and 2 , I went to the stand to buy a cap and top, McLaren of course!  Yes, I'd become a super-fan...



21 September

That morning we all sat at the breakfast table and analysed the practice sessions.  It was so nice to be around like-minded enthusiasts many of whom had travelled from Europe or Oz, just for the race.  Many people say that this race is special.  I'm not sure whether it's the location or because it's a night race but they are spot on.  It's honestly like no other.

Before heading to qualifying, I took a wander around Singapore to get my bearings and decided to buy a SIM card.  In reality it was only a tenner, but it meant that I could steam the commentary.  I also bought a new SD card for my camera and stumbled across M&S where I stocked up on Percy Pigs...for the kids of course!

Qualifying was close but as predicted Vettel was as on pole with Rosberg closely in 2nd.  My seats were perfect as I was close to the track but I also had a glorious view over Marina Bay.  However, I wish I'd been on a corner as taking photos was pretty tough at times.  Luckily for me, the other lads took some great shots too.  In the evening, we went to watch The Killers play their set.  As usual, I pushed my way to the middle and danced like a crazy person until the early hours.


22 September

After spending the morning analysing the qualifying results, I took a wander to Marina Bay and one of the most famous hotels in Singapore- Marina Bay Sands.  Unlike the quaint features of Raffles, this hotel consists of 3 towers including a casino and a shopping centre.  It also has a roof top pool the length of buildings with a view to die for.  It really is quite something.  Is it worth the $25 fee?!  Yes but there are ways and means around it. I went to the concierge desk and ask for a ticket to the roof top bar. As with most of the places in Singapore, there was a dress-code and providing you adhered to it, the entrance fee was free.  The views were memorable and the pool was quite something too!

In the evening, it was time for the main event- the race!  I met up the Perth lads to watch the Porshe race then I hung around to watch the drivers parade.  It was so strange being up close to some of my idols but one I'll never forget.  The race was unsurprisingly won by Vettel meaning it was time to drown our sorrows!  We headed for the arena to watch Rhianna and managed to spot the German lads (Seb and Andre) in the crowd.  After dancing the night away, we all agreed to end of weekend in style- drinking beer on the famous "drinking bridge" followed by more beer and dancing at a bar in Clarke Quay.  Clay Andre and I walked to get a maccies at 5.30am not realising the breakfast menu had started thus disappointed faced all round but a good end to a great weekend.