Home again, home again, chinny chin, chin

It was a long haul, but we are back. Jeez that flight back was boring. Yawn. Best thing to do is join the Qantas Club so you can have a shower when you are stopping over. We did this, not together, in Singapore, and we both felt 100% better for it. Boring flight, and especially when it is packed, and I am rubbing forearms with some Pom all the way from Singapore. It was nice of my mum and dad to pick us up. Very unexpected that. But welcome. As our flight did get in at 4:45 AM. Now that's old school early.

Here are some photos, I am trying to work out how to get an online photo album up, where I will be able to put all my photos on it. Just like a slide show, won't that be great!

Here's one of the Effle Tower at night. There were a lot of peopel there, many speaking strange languages that I am unaware of. That's the joy of travel. Christ it was cold up there at the top. There was this American bloke who was getting hsi photo taken and wasn't smiling, so I pulled out the old gem: "Jeez mate you woudln't want to smile as your face might crack". He didn't fin d it funny. Humourless yank. Go and be world's police man, you fuck.

Here is a photo of Jim Morrison's grave. I thought there was going to be some hippies singing songs and incense burning. But no. And you guessed it, more American tourists. We did have a nice feed from a Turkish kebab place jsut around the corner from the cemetary. That was nice. We both had to use the toilets outside the cemetary too, now that was strange. But they do things differently in other countries.

We also had a day or so in London. We went on a bus tour and went to the Tower. The Tower was cool. Lots of talking abotu death etc. Some Yank, how surprising, arked up at the Yeoman warder and questioned him on his facts about an execution. The Yeoman told him that they have records of every execution and that what he was saying was correct. Take that America. Pity you don't have the same sort of records with that camp outside of Cuba. Anyway, London was nice. I had three things I wanted to do, have a curry, drink a pint in the pub, and have a fry up. And I did all three. Although it must be said that a curry before a long haul flight is probably not the best thing. But the a/c was on in the plane, so that was good. We didn't get to see too much of London, but the bus tour took us most places. I wanted to see Westminster Abbey, but didn't, but that's cool, there will be another time. I did find a statue of Wellington, one of my favourtie Generals. There aren't many, so he is in esteemed company. Here it is.

He is on his horse, Copenhagen. Hope I spelt that right. On the day of the battle at Waterloo, he was on that horse for something like 14 hours. He must have a strong bum. There was a bit of bird doo on him, and I thought the poms would have given him a clean. But that's how it goes. It must shit the French when the EuroStar stops at Waterloo station in England. Heh, heh, heh.

We also went to Villers-Brettenuox. I think that's the correct spelling. This is the battle in WWI, when the Australians held the line against the German attack. They were the only ones there, and if it had of broken, it could have been very bad. Also, the town was stuffed by shell fire and it was Victoria which helped to rebuild it. It was lovely, and well worth the 5 AM start to get there. That was a long day, but the trip through the rural French countryside was nice. Here is the road to the memorial. It is only a 45 minute walk from the centre of Villers, and the map in the train station has been written on by previous Australians, so the hints are worth reading. It was a beautiful, but sad place, and a pity so many died up there, but at least they are in a peaceful place.

Paris

Been here for a couple of days now. It's strange, they look like me, but don't talk like me. That's cool, the world needs different people and places.

Paris is lovely. I haven't had any trouble with the locals. They are nice to me, but I am bigger than many of them, so I probably scare them a bit. The French are a slight people.

It has been great spending time with my partner. We have been all over Paris. The Arch was excellent. Those Nazis, walking right through it, they were a real pack of bastards.

We are off to the Moulin Rouge. Hopefully the Australian girls are all gone now, as I am not too keen on seeing them dance around with no tops on, what if thier Aunties were in the audience. I will cover my eyes at the right times.

On Thursday we go to Viller Brettenoux. There are two streets named after this town near where I used to live, and my parents still do. It involves a trip on the train into the country.

One thing for sure, the French are expert at charging. Christ it is expensive here. THe bread is cheap, so too is the wine and cheese. That's me sorted. The beer is cheap, but they don't keep much in the fridges in the shops. Bummer.

Will update again soon. Tres bien. (I've gone a bit native, where's my beret and striped shirt?)

Blighty

Am finally here. It is a long flight. I should have had a shower in Singapore, but I decided to buy a set of noise reduction earphones for use on the plane. They are excellent. I will have to transfer some money over now to cover it. THey block out most of the amibient noise and also act like ear plugs when you walk around. Excellent.

I had a shower here in the BA club, and that was worht the cost of the Qantas club along. Feeling heaps better. I did sleep, but not aware of how much. Happy to be here, and even happy to be seeing HRH tomorrow.

Will fill in when I can.

Singapore Sling

Made it to Singapore. Jeez, that flight was more boring than dog shit. And that is saying something.

Managed to get about 30 minutes sleep, but it could have been more. I was asleep at the time, damn it!

Was looking at buying a set of noise supression headphones, but I can't work out the exhange rate here. Looks like our strong dollar gets $1.35 to the Singapore whatever. I did change a 5 Euro note and ended up with over 9 Singapores whatevers.

My partner just called, so that has cheered me up after the flight. Fuck it was a long way, and this next one will be even longer. Christ. Oh well.

Best get going as the flight is boarding.

Off to Paris

I've been flat out and haven't had time to update the blog for a while, but I am doing it now.

Well, since my partner is O/S, I've decided to join her. Right now I am sitting in the Qantas club in Melbourne before getting onto a 4:25 PM flight to Blighty. Oi! From there I go onto Paris. I get in there a day before her, but considering I get in there at 11 AM tomorrow or some time, I will not be parttaking in the Franco deligthts of that country until she gets in.

A long time on a plane I hear you say. Indeed it is. I'll be all right. Becasue I am a Sky Marshall. Another thing no one knew about me! I'm not really. So don't come after me with a sharp object on the flight.

I have a good book, John Birmingham's 'Designated Targets', my iPod and my own imagination to keep me happy and informed.

The Qantas Club is great. Not quite as flash as the Auburn Bowls Club, but that would be hard. I had a few there last night actually, and I still feel a bit seedy. A long haul flight to London will cure that hangover.

I have over packed, but that is nothin unusual. Anyway, my bag is on its way to England and then Paris without me. I don't see it again until Paris. It will be a happy homecoming. Tears, rushing into arms etc.

I am looking forward to seeing my partner again. That will be good. And I even did a clean up at home before I left. Put the dishwasher on and did the washing, so there is nothing dirty there until we get back. Excellent. That flight that gets in at 4:45 AM will be fun. Looking fortward to it already.

Best go. I will update when I get a chance.

Happy shopper

I was out and about today doing some work related work stuff, and saw a JB Hi FI. Now they used to be a lot more competitive that they are now. No denying that. With places like this, with the price crawler, I tend to use them instead of going into the shops. But I have been told to pull the head in when it comes to purchasing CDs and DVDs. So I have. But no one told me they have an online store. Fuck, I'm getting a bit tingly. It is not unusal for me to enter JB and walk out with $200 worth of goodies. But as I've said, I have pulled my head in.

Anyway, so I had a purchase. Firstly was a cool Steve McQueen filum called 'Le Mans'. (I got it cheaper in store than they are advertising it here.) I am sure I've seen it, but it is remastered, ace!, and in Dolby 5.1, double ace, and with my partner in England Friday night will mean that I crank up the sound until my ears bleed or someone calls the police. Triple ACE!!!

Then there was the new Clare Bowditch CD - What Was Left. I have Autumn Bone too, and that was a cool CD. She seems a bit 'North Fitroy' in the linear notes. As there is an interesting array of references, only some of them pompus. I hope this is a shit stir, but it probably isn't. I am a simple man, who lives in Hawthorn. Anyway, it sounded like a good CD when I heard some of it on RRR and in JB itself. On the cover, it looks like she has got (as Homer would say) real pretty hair.

Next came '21 Singles' by the Jesus and MaryChain. Like thier stuff, and this adds to my collection. The bloke on the cover has a hair cut very similar to some numnut my sister was going out with in hte late 80s, perhaps she was with Jim or William and I was too uncool to know. Oh, cruel Fate! Really thought the addition of 'Just like honey' onto the Lost in Translation film was great. When I stepped onto Korean soil, that was the CD playing on my iPod.

Also got Gillian Welch 'Revival'. Liked Soul Journey, so went back a bit. I am probably missing one or another, but stuff it. She is wearing a funny dress on the cover. And there is a picture of a shoe on the back. Obvioulsy I am missing something here.

My final purchase was Tex, Don and Charlie 'All is forgiven'. I would have to say that 'Sad but true' is an ULTIMATE GRANT CD (good price at JB too). There aren't many, but it is one that I go back to all the time for a listen. Sad but true is an excellent CD. I hope this CD can match it. I have fucking high expectations, damn it! Anyway, we will have to wait and see. I am off to the gym tonight, so when I am gettin' physical, I will have a listen. Stay tuned.

Here is a nice picture from on top of Franz Josef glacier in NZ which I took earlier this year. My friend Andrew says it looks like Hoth. Speaking of which, I might see about pre ordering the last Star Wars film. It wasn't too bad, but I knew what was coming. The robit nurse who delivered Luke and Leia must have a hard time trying to scratch itself with those paddle things for hands. That's if robots get itchy.

The world is ace

I love the world. As PJ O'Rourke said, Mother Nature is a cutey, and as Johnny Cash sings, 'mother nature's quite the lady'. I won't try to better that.

My partner is away in Europe at the moment, meaning I am here in Oz on my lonesome. Here's a photo of some native English wildlife. I bet the little animal (not seen here in Australia) has better teeth than the English people I see on UK TV - What's up with that?! It's not too bad, I get to think. I've thought a lot, and there is not much going on in Grant's head, let me gaurantee you.

I am doing nothing, except making a mess. I will need to call a cleaning company and get a cleaner in. I am not a dirty person per se, it's jsut that I'm lazy. And there is a good show on TV that I want to watch. No point in denying it, I am lazy. Stay tuned for Grant's adventures in getting a cleaner (not a maid, I'm too left to have a maid).

No one has yet asked where the title of the blog comes from. This might help.

Welcome

This will be a diary of my thoughts. That will keep it pretty empty. But it will also track my adventures through this world. Enjoy. If you don't, I'll rip your bloody arms off!