Feeling sore, tired but happy. The Sunday hangover has set in. Patsy came in on Friday for just one night in London. Renata came over from Guildford and Nat got in touch. We all met up at the London Pub and proceeded to get rather wasted. As you do. It was strange. Four friends from Melbourne at the end of the world together............. There were others as well.. Nat's brother Gab, some friends, Renata's friends and some of the girls from my Hostel. Went to Leicester Square and clubbed it at the Equanox..... Home late. Bus tour all day yesterday in the sun and more drinks with Renata and crew at O'Niels last night. Daniel went home last night, don't think he was really ready to.

Now I have decisions, I've booked a Contiki of Spain in two weeks. In the meantime I can either go see Sticksy in Edinburgh for a while or go over and travel with Nat and Gab on the continent for a little bit. Money dissapears quick. My ideas are big, my wallet limited......

I glad i came back. Summer in London is a pretty amazing thing......

Now find myself at the Generator Hostel in Russel Square. Arrived yesterday and sharing a dorm with an american, a canadian, a spaniard and a french person. Went to Covent Graden last night for a little pub crawl with Karin and Larisa , then ended up back at the hostel bar for a few more drinks and Karaoke. Pretty big night. Place here is pretty cool, lots of young travellers. Think I'll spend a few days here before going down to Spain or up to Edinburgh. I'm sleep deprived......

Achill, although a very beautiful part of the world, was in general quiet and isolated. Not that that's a bad thing. Our last few days were spent getting tours of the island (The Atlantic drive is breathtaking) and drinking at thePubs at night. Now I'm in the easy internet cafe near Trafalgar Square in London and happy to be here. It feels different to when I was here last January. Summer changes the mood. People everywhere and it's pretty darn warm... Stayed at the Royal National hotel last night after spending countless hours in cars, on buses, airplanes and waiting in transit. Went for a walk in around Convent Garden last night after I got in, the place was packed with people relaxing in cafes, pubs ort just sitting down on the street knocking back some beers. It's an awesome atmosphere. Nato should arrive today, Patsy tomorrow. Plan to have a big few days. Also thinking of doing Contiki or Busabout around the continent for a few weeks. Living in Hotels,Hostelsat the moment so maybe a good way to spend my time.. Why not eh?

I'm to tired to think now, but I'll give it a go. The best way to describe the wedding was shall we say, Massive. The service was nice, in a smallish church here on the island. The reception at a new place called Alice's just before you cross over into Achill. With some 300+ people in attendance it was a massive day. The meal was great, the speaches also. But it wasn't till later on that things really kicked off. Once the room had been cleared of tables and the band set up people really got into it. I've been to a few weddings before but this was definately the best. Along with the normal drunkin dancing, there was alot of traditional Irish dancing as well.Then at conclusion of the main reception there was as a full bagpipe and drum thingy that had everyone standing around cheering it on. I had to much to drink, as we left the front bar at around 5am, went down the beach as the sun came up then finally stumbled into bed.

Another thing I find here is the sense of community between family. You don't just go out and get sloshed with your mates, you get sloshed with your family, your parents, grandparents, whatever. Last night we went to a few pubs, the Minaun is nice pub and is full of Republicans. Lots of Sinn Fein posters everywhere. Left the at 1 as I jumped on the minibus to go to the Achill Head with everyone else. I thought my night would end as we left there at 3am but a few of us got a lift back and ended up at one of the houses, drinking whiskey, vodka, beer and Cider. Nigel one of the Irish guys here pulled out his left handed guitar and about 10 of us sat roud the kitchen singing songs.... Not one person was sober......

In Achill Island now. My bags arrived at around 8:30am, after 2 days AWOL! Got the bus over here, going via Gallway and am now staying with Dan and Gab's and their family. There's a bunch of houses all very close by all occupied by different family members. White houses scattered amongst the hills and the ocean. Proper Irish people void of the tourist onslaught that's associated with Dublin. We're the only aussies. It's much quieter here but the Serentity is next to none... Steve's Wedding tomorrow... The Irish like to drink. The next few days are going to be great!

Back in Dublin after arriving here at around 8am yesterday morning. Two stops in Singapore and London, the later had me running a marothon in record time in order to change terminals and make my connecting flight... Arrived in Dublin to find my baggage never turned up so have been spending the last day filling out lostbaggage forms, making calls and chasing the bastard up... Apparently it ended up at Gatwick airport, so should be here tonight which means spending an extra night in Dublin than planned..... Starting to get smelly due to lack of fresh clothes.. Had to buy some new undies this morning. Health and saftey issue there....

Spent Yesterday checkin out town for a while then proceeded to head to a pub in Temple Bar (Oliver Gogarty's) for a pint of the local brew. One pint turned into numerous as i met a couple of guys from Belguim and proceeded to drink with them... Might to a bus tour this arvo. Headin over to Achill island tomorrow to meet up with the Patsy's.

I love this city. The atmosphere, the people the vibe.....

It's been a while since I posted I know. I guess i've been a) to busy b) to lazy or c) to carefree to even bother. Last few weeks have had their fair share of events. Nights out in town that have eventuated in the Casino at 3am playing roulette. Also a big night out at Bridey O'Reileys in Chapel St for Gab's farewell. Was all hapening last Saturday night at the first floor bar in Brunswick St. Staying sober is actually quite easy and amuzing when you see freinds make clowns of themselves.

Working for the family business, but guess what, I've finished up now. For on Monday I leave for La Dubilin. Woohoooooo

Today I received a call from Marcus. Needed someone to do stage lighting for tonight's gigs at the Evelyn. Jack Jones, of Southern Sons fame has a new band. They were on first and already had someone doing their lighting but was a good starter for me to take notes. So yeah, next two bands I took up posi behind the lighting desk and tried to figure out what the fuck I was doing. By the time the final band came on I started to make it work. I wasn't a master at it by a long stretch but i kinda knew what I was doing. Plus now i can say I've done lighting for some high profile Aussie Muso's. The Persian Rugs are made of of some ex-members of The Hoodoo Guru's including, Dave Faulkner, their lead singer.....

Time to move on again. Need to get it out of my system. I've booked to leave August 5 bound for Dublin. Some time there in the west of Ireland for a wedding will be great fun. Then back to London I suppose to look for work and a place to live if i want to stay on. Got no idea what's going on really. Seems like alot of money just thrown up into the breeze. Naturally there's some doubt on whether this is the right thing or not. Hope it isn't wasted. I do have a few more days to actually pay for the flight so there's still more thinking time. Still i'm pretty darn excited.

Croughy, Sticksy. Beer O'Clock I say. Just don't lead me into any more gay pubs ya bastards!

Ok will someone please tell me how the hell Elvis Costello played gigs in Melbourne over the last 2 nights and I didn't even know about it until now? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Surely I haven't become a hermit?

I know it's easy to be biased with people you know, but I caught 'Rising/some' again last night and they are honestly reeeally good.
Ventured to a place I didn't even know about until last night. The laundry in Johnston St is a smallish live music venue. Intimate and relaxed.

I've been sitting here thinkin' of something to write. It's late again so naturally i'm tired and my thoughts are racing at a million miles an hour. Right now i'm not content where I am. In a moment that may change, when i'm doing something constructive. I'm thinking in circles. Home is where the hurt is. Is there something else?..............................



U2 are to realease another Best of cd around November. Tracks from 1990-2000 with 2 new tunes, and a b-sides disc. There's going to be a DVD as well. Oh, and the Slane gig from September 1 is due out to. Gotta love that........

Sleep time...