Myself, Mum, Dad, Damian, Kate, Simon and Panny went to Anna's 21st last night in St Kilda. Nice little bar on Carlisle Street. After staying a few hours, catching up with family and such myself and Simon progressed to the Halliava bar in Swan Street to catch up with others. You wouldn't even really know it was there driving past on the street but inside is rather big and it was pretty packed. Was good to see some of the crew Ii spent time in London with from my first time round.

We then progressed to the depot afterwards where it started to get messy. The band was good and we stood there watching and singing along...... I wasn't ready leave like the others and dragged simon along to Crown. Hadn't been there in a while so why not. $30 up on the roullete table payed for a few drinks and a cab home.... Ended up at JB'S at 4am with the world spinning. There can be a line you cross sometimes between a having good time and drinking to much, when things just aren't fun anymore.... I had one bourbon there and wanted to go to bed.. Fell alseep in the taxi and awoke when we arrived at Simon's place. Passed out in the spare room. I've been lazy, unproductive and tired today.

The Camel and Anzac day. The photos remind one of how good it was...

Back in Melbourne again....

Brisbane was a good break. Needed to find out a few things I guess.

Life feels strange tonight...

and I was swept away
with nothin' left to say
some helpless fool
I was lost in a swoon of peace
you're all I need to find
so when the time is right
come to me sweetly, come to me

GREECE

Now i'm up in Brisbane.... A good way to decompress, a short trip away from home again to somewhere not so far this time.. I came away to see Katrina again, to spend time with her and get to know her once more. It's been a good and relaxing few days so far...

Went down to the Coast on Monday and caught up with Rob. Had lunch in Main Beach and as usual with Rob, drunk alot of wine... Yesterday on the Sunshine Coast people were swimming in the ocean out front of the Mooloolaba surf club. It's winter and the weather still good...

Coming home made my whole time in London feel like one big dream. Everything was the same, as If I'd woken up the next day. Or being home merely feels like a holiday, a quiet retreat to somewhere peaceful and slow.. Expecting to return soon. To be able to live back in that rushed lifetsyle where there was no responsibility except that unto your yourself. To be able to go for a walk into the west end on my time off, drink a pint in Covent Garden or Soho. Catch the tube or bus or even walk to where I want to go..... Here felt strange the first few days. Everyone speaks with an Australian accent, there it was a novelty and they stood out. Catching the train to and from the footy last Saturday the entire platform was full on white people with Australian accents.. I know it's who I am and what i've grown up around but it felt weird after being away so long......

It's been great seeing everyone and I've had some good times out catching up. Last Saturday night in Brunswick Street was great. But the lifestyle here is so much different, I realise that moreso now. Having to drive everywhere or rely on others to drive you around to get places. Wanting a night out means organising lifts from people, spending money on Taxi's home. Leaving when others are ready or having to wait for others to come round and pick you up. Organising a routine around others. That I'm not used to and don't neccessarily like as much. The sense of Freedom one has over there was so much more. People didn't take things as seriously I think, especially work. There was always something to do socially. People, including me, never or rarely complained about work, about having to get up early, staying in because of the next day, about Monday Mornings. I guess though life isn't always a holiday as it was over there?

Being so isolated as I am in Templestowe it's been slow and strange getting up of a morning and wondering what to do next. It's not like I can walk out the front door and have a million things go on around me.. So now I'm eager to look for a new direction and start again into something good. Living in London has given me a good grounding into knowing and finding what I enjoy. What I'm good at....

Still there are plenty of good things here to. My family, my friends. The chance to get back into my hobbies and interests that I left behind. The notion that I've achieved so much and have a better idea on what I want...

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind

All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break

It's only time
And I'll never fill up all I find


Walk On

I've had a really good week in London. The weather has been great and I've been heading all over the place catching up with everyone. Went out with the Cat 'n' 'Canary Crew last Friday having drinks at the pub then ending up in bloody Stratford to go to some Saffa bar called Zulu that was about to shut as we got there. Myself, Fitzy, Danielle and Fitzy ended up slumped against the wall of KFC talking crap and eating our food.

Sunday headed into Hyde park to meet a number of people. The birdman rally thingy was on and when I got there the park was swamped with literraly thousands upon thousands of people. Took me an hour to find Andrew. We quickly pissed off to regents park where we spent the day with a group of about 15 of us drinking beers, playing guitar and soaking up the sun....

Went to a few of my favourite bars in Covent Garden last night with Joel. The Walkabout, The Porterhouse and the Maple Leaf. Great night, love that area!

Back In London. It's hard coming back after such a great time in Greece. Im staying at the Generator again, the place where my time here one year ago began..... I'm merely here now to tie up a few loose ends, close bank accounts, claim tax, collect baggage and say farewell to freinds. I walked down to Waterloo and around Convent Garden today. It's was nice and I do love this city but something didn't seem the same. I'm realising my time here is at an end. I'm no longer here to work or to push for the long term. Im just passing time. I thought about home as I walked along the streets. The next phase....

Athens, Greece. A conctrete jungle. Andrew left early this afternoon to get his flight, I've got all day here before getting my flight back to London at 8pm.... There's a station marked on the Metro map here for the new Olympic stadium so I figured it be worth a look. Took the train up to where it's suppose to be. Get there and the bloody station isn't even finished. Looking out the window it was a mess of construction , dirt, trucks and crap. So there went that plan. There also doing up the old Roman stadium in the Plaka area of town. Where they held the first modern games. Using it for the opening ceremony I think..

Looking at the state of the city now it's going to be a miracle if there fully ready for the Olympics in a years time... So anyway, i had to go to the next stop to get off and change platforms to come back to Omonia Square. The other platform there wasn't finished either so had to go one more stop North to Kat station to change and come back. Right in the arse end of Athens...

Finished up my Greek Island Hopping in Naxos and Paros. Both relaxing and a good detox in the sun. Beautiful, chilled out islands. Stayed at a place called Stavros in Paros. Owned by a dodgy Greek Guy. Definately recommend anyone to stay there....