Istanbul, Turkey.. It`s such a different way of life here. So much more ancient and I guess backward to... I love it.... Stayýng in a hotel in the old part of the city, narrow streets that look like there falling apart. There's a shitload of Aussies around at the moment, all here for the same reason. Tour groups like ours everywhere, here for Anzac Day... The Turkish people as a whole seem very friendly and welcoming, constant cries of 'Hey AussieG,day mate' pass us by... Men and children constantly harrass us on the street, particulary around the Grand Bazaar markets, tryýng to sell perfume, jewlery, postcards and any other kind of useless, tacky souveneir. It's a city of old, the mosques massive and amazing. Crowded streets, markets.

Am doýng a 15 day tour wýth all Aussies-Kiwi's run by FezTravel. I think theres around 35 people or so?? Billy and Heath will join us after the dawn service, which is the conclusion of the legacy walk.. Flew in Monday night with Joel and Shada, checked into the hotel and had a good look around the city yesterday and today. Few drinks last night at a pub called the cozypub and then the hotel bar... Meant to be a big night tonight, today has been our first full day of tour, already starting to get to know everyone.

I had my final shift last night. Fairly easy going night, nothing special. Feels weird a little, time to move on and start again. I guess I never really expected to stay this long, you can never really tell how things are going to work out. Went out afterwards to Victoria Camel and Liquid Blue which turned out to be another late one on the drink.. Came home around 7am?? with a big bag of Maccas for breakfast.... The sun was up, people already around starting their day... I had a sore head...

There's a little statue just off the Strand here in dedication to Oscar Wilde with the quote "We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars."... I like that....

Taken at the Grinspoon Gig, Temple Walkabout, January 28, 2003.

On the downhill run for my time at the Camel now. Only 2 more shifts to go, has it really been 6 months?.. I'ts a lovely 22 degrees in London today, shorts and T Shirt..... Feeling good... Off to Turkey on Monday and I can't wait!!!

Had another big weekend with work and play... Clubbing on Saturday night after a good session at the Camel.....

I came into Piccadily to get a ticket for the Bruce Springsteen show in May. The system at the ticketmaster office in Virgin megastore was down so im just wasting time here for a bit. Feeling a tad shitty with the flu still, and i guess a little homesick today....... Deciding what my plans should be over summer. Want to do a little more travel before coming home while the weather is good here in Europe.. Contiki tour of Russia/Scandanavia? Busabout through Berlin, Prague, Budapest etc?? There's many options. All depends on money though. Turkey in a few weeks.....

I only worked 3 hours today, knocked off 2 hours early 'cause the place is dead. Late licence last night saw me working until after 1:30am, have the flu again so feeling a tad shitty........ I've been taking it easy the last few days, just working and all that. Had a bender over last weekend that saw me catch up with Sticksy for his farewell, head to Belushi's after work, the Walkabout for a Sunday session and the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly for Hospitality night... £1 drinks...

It's at the stage now where I really look forward to my nights/days off and enjoy getting away from the pub.. Still love it here though, don't get me wrong but as was the case Friday night it was good to head into town for a meal with friends and get back to normality again..... Been here almost six months without any real time off. Oh , except for the two days in Belfast.. Where has the time gone????

Have been spending my breaks over in the park reading a book, playing the guitar or just relaxing. I played tennis yesterday with Chris. There are about 5 courts just a short walk from here, just off Tower Bridge Rd.... Haven't played in a long time.... Took me a bit to get back into it..

Also went to the gym the day before for a brief workout. One of the girls I work with has a sister who works there so myself and Gerrard went down for a free workout before starting work.... It's on Haymarket just off Piccadilly Circus circus... Did a breif cardio workout (Jogging, Cycle and Rowing) before doing about a 20 minute swim... Im on a healthkick!!!

A day off today, slept in a bit after a leeedle bit to much red wine last night. Some of us headed over to a mates place down the road for dinner. One of the locals at our pub.. It hit me hard and I left not longer after spilling wine all over the bloody couch...

Sunday was one of those memorable days. World cup cricket final, our pup opened to the public at 8am, I didn't arise until 9 though. We started serving at midday and by this stage there were already quite a few in. It turned out to be a big session watching the Aussies thrash India. With the weather the way it is, quite a number of people from inside went across the road to the park for a kick of the footy at the end of the game.... Wound up around midnight! I love the days when the pub is packed full of Aussies, or Kiwi's. Their just so much more friendly to serve or to be around. The atmosphere better than a pub full of English Soccer fans, that's for sure....

Works still going great, trip to Turkey soon, although with whats going on in the world at the moment there is a little bit of doubt. Will see what happens....

Think I'll get off this thing now, to nice a day..... Catching up with Sticksy very shortly... His two years is up and about to head home....

All along the Southbank, along the Thames, near Waterloo, it was flooded with a sea of people last Sunday. St Patrick's day weekend celebrations. As I strolled along the river, crowds of people wearing Irish shirts, hats and waving flags surrounded me. Not just Irish people either, from all over... There's a park at the base of the London Eye. Literally thousands took their place in the sun watching the numerous live Irish bands, performers, dancers etc or drinking guiness and beer.... The Final group at 6'oclock had the masses singing along to the loudest version of Whiskey in The Jar I've ever heard. The words flashed on the big screen.... Ended up at Waxy O'Conners that night for a few drinks....... The next night I ended up at Callaghans in Piccadilly with Heath, Row, Kat and a few others.. A crowded pub with a band playing a mixture of modern rock/pop and traditional Irish Music had us dancing and singing for ages.. The craic was good.... A memorable St Pat's Day..

There's now a war going on two and half thousand miles away. A war the majority of people in this world don't want. You wouldn't notice here though, especially last weekend where everyone was sooo happy... We see it all on television. Live on SKY, Cnn... Very realistic.... It's easy to change the channel...

Been working the last few days, tonight im going to be in relax mode...... Have a TV and stereo in my room now... Feels more like home....

The weather is getting better in London now...So is the general feeling of being here.....

Sticksy and Croughy came into the pub last Friday and was great to see 'em again... We went down the road to get a cheap meal from Weatherspoons and as we past the Nat West bank across the road we noticed a few cops holding guns surrounding the bank. More quickly arrived and we were asked to get off the street and into Weatherspoons. Crowds of people watching the siege and seeing staff being evacuated from the bank. The culprits threw a shitload of dosh from the top story that fell to the streets below... We were evacuated via the back entrance and had to take the long was back to the Camel, only a few hundred metres down the road. ... So we get back and notice the street blocked off by police from the front of our pub.. A camera crew was set up outside doing live interviews for the news, crowds of people inside cheering and going silly as we watched a live report that was headline news. You could see us all in the backround..... Theres always something going on here....


Stayed on with Sticksy and a few others for a few drinks before heading to a pretty cool bar called Grand Central, in Old Street. Left around midnight as it closed and headed to Temple walkabout with Peter, Bruce, Nick, Mark etc etc.... Sticksy had to get the last train back to Fulham...... It got messy again and somehow ended up back at Pete and Melissa's place sprawled out on a fold out couch watching DVD's on the big screen...

St Pats day celebrations in town today. Im outta here to catch the parade and soak up the atmosphere in the sun!