MORE WINE PLEASE
What better way to watch an England game than at a pub full of noisy Poms. The Elephant and Wheelbarrow went off Friday night, despite my being so goddam wasted i was seeing two soccer balls by the end of the game. First beer at PJ O'Briens at 12:45pm. Several bottles (between us) of white wine at lunch, followed by Bundy Rum at the casino bar for several more hours, then a few pints in front of the soccer. Finishing up with bourbon at Icon Bar at around 1am???? Let's just say I suffered dearly the next day, but so what, it was worth it! Was good to catch up with Steed again as well. Back from London for a short time.

Spent Sunday down at Sandy for Steed's birthday, enjoyable afternoon but didn't know all that many people and was still hungover. After Friday I thought it best not to touch wine again for a while. Bleh. Finished up at Simon's house for a few more beers. Low key but nice. Game of basketball at around midnight had me coughing up a lung...............

Today went into the Good Food show with Mum, Dad and Rob. There were lots of stalls giving out free wine samples/tasting. Moved from stand to stand trying out the different brands and styles of wine that were on offer. It was free and it was great!

WORLD CUP
How good is it having the world cup on at the moment? For someone who never used to really enjoy the game, It's got me hooked. I guess living in England kinda made sure of that. Ireland's goal last night with 30 seconds to go was sensational. Tomorrow night's a big one. England v Argentina, and I'm pumped up for a night in town, at a good pub, to watch the game whilst downing several pints.

Still getting up, going to work every morning and feeling like it's cause I have nothing else to do. This kinda bugs me. There's soooo much more I wish I was doing with my life but here I still am. Procrastonating. Or perhaps I'm just to darn picky when it comes to making decisions!

So what things would I prefer to be doing now instead then? I know i need to involve myself with something that i'm passionate about. Something that doesn't become work anymore. Something that involves other people with similar interests... It's wierd, I think I need other people around me to be happy, but I contradict myself by knowing that I also need my own space as well.

I'd love to pursue my guitar playing more, be in a band. Doing regular gigs would be enjoyable

or...

Studying/working in the field of sound. Live mixng/Studio recording etc I have always planned to go back and study again. Looking back on it, I think my choice of course at Latrobe wasn't the greatest in terms of career prospects. Anyway..

or..

Still want to head back overseas, to be working somwhere in Europe, living in a house with a bunch of other travellers with stints of occasional travel in between. Enjoying life away from home.

or...

Stay here, move outta home into soemwhere thats more inner city, find a better job and enjoy life here a little more.

RISING SOME
The band had their debut gig at The Evelyn last Thursday night. A large crowd turned out to witness a set of blissful rock. They sounded pretty darn good if you ask me. Whitty's voice has improved since the old Winston days and the song arrangements much, much better

BREAKFAST, ALCOHOL, OFF KEY SINGING AND NEW TOYS
There's a cool little cafe/restaurant in Brunswick St, well ok there are friggin' tons of 'em, but there's one in particular that I didn't even know about until Sunday. After awaking at around 1pm on the living room floor at freinds place, it seemed like a perfect day for mid-afternoon breakfast. Babka's is a Russian type place right across the road from The Evelyn. Rather small but rather busy, as was Brunswick St as a whole on the day. It turned out to be a rather relaxing, sunny and enjoybale afternoon. Had to line up and wait for a table. Myself, Lachie and Katrina went down for the best poached eggs on toast with tomato, sausage and beans i've had in a while. The beans were fucking sensational!! and the bread home made on premises. It was the perfect thing to help with the hangover from the events of the night before...

Saturday night went to Finbars in Brighton for Lach's birthday. Large crowd there talking, drinking and dancing away like gits. I drunk waaaaaay to many vodka/oranges and towards the end of the night got up on stage, hijacked the microphone and got the crowd singing a rendition of Happy Birthday that, although well received, was fucking terrible on my behalf. Totally off key and off my face!!!

Friday night went to Dibeirs, Amber Lounge, Irish times and The Loft. Felt like I went everywhere. Amber Lounge was much better than I thought it would be. The crowd, although still trendyish, was a little more tolerable and less (for lack of better word) woggy than I expected. Definately a meat market though, some quality women indeed.

Have worked all week but I won't talk about that. Spent ages tonight going through stuff in my room. Just plane 'ol organising really. Threw out alot of blurry photos from Europe, sorted through piles of music and hi-fi equipment.. ie leads, microphones, ac adapters etc etc etc and organised them into boxes , threw out what no longer works, what I no longer need etc etc etc blah blah blah.... Have sooooo much shit in and around my room.

Ooohhh the parents came back from Singapore on Monday morning, Dad's a sucker for electronic gadgets and all that. Gotta love that! He came home with a brand spankin' new digital camera for himself, and bought myself and Damian a minidisc player and an mp3 player. Woohoo. Not to mention the usual things like clothes and watches. Things that really one doesn't need but is still very thankful to get.

Last night I headed up the tram bar, usual midweek gathering with mates. A few beers and conversation. It was also Mark's last night out before heading back up North. Hamo came out as well, think he needed to get out of the house for a while and was glad when i rang. With Andy out herself it gave him a chance to catch up with us all again. Think he got a bit of trouble for doing so. Mental note..Don't get married until your at least 40....

Today was a strange day indeed. For no real reason, was just the mood. I had one of those completely sleepless nights last night. I couldn't relax, was tossing and turning and even though I was mega tired I couldn't fucking nod off. Got up a few times, watched a bit of late night/early morning tele and finally got to sleep around 5:30am.....I think..... So yeah, as a result I slept most of the day and gave work the middle finger. Went to the postoffice, then up to the park for a walk. It was becoming twilight about this time and as the descending sun blanketed the park with golden halflight (cheesy poetry alert) the day was coming to an end. Due to my fucked up bodyclock things seemed strange, I hadn't been awake that long. Since then I've basically done stuff-all and I'm feeling completely and utterly unproductive. So here I am now, typing to a screen to pass time. Wishing I was in another time, another place....

I really wanna listen to Counting Crows "August and everything after". One problem..Where's the fucking cd dammit!!

Step out the front door like a ghost into the fog
Where no one notices the contrast of white on white...
I walk in the air between the rain through myself and back again. Where? I don't know

I've seen quite a few live bands play in my time. It's always been a passion of mine I guess. Here's some of the more memorable gigs that i've been to over the years. Most of which took place in my home town of Melbourne

U2 - 12&13/11/93, MCG
Depeche Mode - 08/03/94, National Tennis Center.
R.E.M - 24/01/95, Myer Music Bowl.
Pearl Jam - 17/03/95 National Tennis Centre.
Bon Jovi - 10/11/95, Olympic Park.
Bush - 02/11/96, Festival Hall.
Garbage - 08/10/96, Festival Hall.
Midnight Oil - '96. Latrobe University.
Bruce Springsteen - 15/02/97,The Palais Theatre
Tea Party - '97, Latrobe Uni.
U2 - 21/02/98, Waverly Park.
U2 - 27/02/98, Sydney Football Stadium
Manic Street Preachers - Jan '99, Prince of Wales Hotel
Powderfiner/Something For Kate - 2000 (I think), Monash University
Powderfinger - 2000, Forum Theatre.
V2001 - 20/08/01, Chelmsford, UK
U2 - 14&15/08/01, Birmingham, UK
U2 -21&22/08/01, London, UK
U2 - 25/08/0, Slane Castle, Ireland.

I've written details on each gig but as it's just to darn big to post here, you can click here to read more.

BEAUTIFUL DAY
It was a day I don't think I'll really ever forget. 80,000 eager people crammed into an open space in the grounds of Slane Castle. All from different parts of the globe there for what became more than just a show. It became a celebration of U2's music and career. It was a beautiful scene for a rock concert and the whole day became rather special. From the hour long bus ride that took us from O'Connell st, to the hours vegging out by the beer tent, the selection of great bands and talking to people you didn't even know.



It's hard to pick a single moment that shone through that day. Although, here's a moment that pretty much made the hairs on my back stand up. As the castle was all lit up in colour they played a tune that hadn't been played live for quite some time. I guess it was kinda expected in a way. It suited the mood so perfectly. The reason for everyone being there.....

A Sort of Homecoming - Slane Castle 25/08/01

Mother's day today. Lunch with the family down at Johns place at Port Melbourne. Minus Dad who's in Italy on Business. Nice day.
Hamo's birthday tonight. Few of us round there drinking beer, smoking to much and taking mostly incoherent sense that i guess still has meaning. The type of talk that eventuates when your with close freinds. About times gone by, about stupid things everyone gets up to, about our lives in general.. Does that make sense?????

Caught up with Wen, Cynth and Sam again last night at the Dan. Haven't seen some of 'em in like 2 years. You wouldn't have noticed though. Just like it was way back then..... Time shoots on by.

At home now, almost time for bed. Haven't written as much lately. Am I starting to lose interest in things once more? Boredom I guess leads to frustration which leads to not caring.... Perhaps it's just my current mood......

SYDNEY
Sydney was great.... Four nights staying at Saville in Oxford Street with Simon. A two bedroom apartment on the 11th floor overlooking Sydney and the Harbour. Went to a variety of clubs and pubs over the course of our stay, my favourite probably being an Irish Pub down at Bondi Junction. Alot of the places in the city and down near the harbour, although pretty cool, also seemed a little to trendy and fake for my liking.

Sydney is a great city though. It was the first time i've really spent time there to check it out. Did a harbour cruise which was breathtaking and thanks to friends who live there we got a chance to be driven around a bit to see Bondi , Manly etc etc etc. Oh and seeing Elle and Mimi Mcpherson sitting down to lunch at Wooloomooloo Bay was pretty darn good. As we walked past and noticed the two our jaws dropped and we got rather excited...