Allow me to make the introduction.....

To our shipping agent (who has left our belongings in a warehouse in the UK for the last 12 weeks): I would like to introduce arse to elbow. Arse this is elbow, elbow this is arse. Make each other's acquaintance.

Paradise Lost?

As i sit here in my al fresco dining area (fancy way of saying we have a balcony that can be enclosed to form an actual part of your apartment) and listen to the various sounds around me, i feel like i am in my own episode of Spaced. For those of you unfamiliar with this particular body of work from the excellent Simon Pegg, there is one particular episode where Tyres - a chemically induced pal of Daisy and Tim, the shows main protagonists - is on a bit of a chemical retreat. The sounds that go on around him form some soundtrack to his own neuron altered state.

Now, i am not saying that i am on some disco biscuit come down, far from it, today has seen me consume nothing stronger than that very English breakfast item the Muffin, along with a cup of coffee, rather I am referring to the sounds around me. There is the call of the murderous Crows, the siren of the car park that alerts you to an exiting vehicle, the faint hum of various air conditioning units and the occasional screech of tires accompanied by the sound of a car horn.

All sounds that make up the backdrop to life in the city. I fear that this mostly peaceful life is to be shattered by the construction of a rather large building opposite (see photo) and one that will reove the small view that we have of the Botanical Gardens. There is one piece of positive commentary to come from this: that is to remark on the industriousness of the Australian construction worker. Yesterday morning, yes they work weekends here, a team of three JCB style vehicles set about pulling down an existing building a clearing some waste space adjacent to said building - hang around they did not.

I am rather glad we haven't bought this place and that our lease is only for six months. This new construction would block any view of the sky we have. Altough today has started a little overcast, actually benefiting Brisbane with some rain, it is clearing now and will no doubt transform into one of those lovely Autumnal days which is enhancing my love of Brisbane.

Enjoy it while it lasts i say or a least until we find our next piece of paradise.

The Information Super Highway

We're back and connected with the online world. At last. More to follow. Stu xx

Birthdays, Buddhas & Big Bad Movie Stars

Well...this weekend is Buddha's birthday, an event which sees yer man (for he is not a deity and is not revered as such) celebrated. In Brisbane this is a weekend long celebration that starts with the bathing of the Buddha. This is literally where Buddha is bathed. Indivduals can also participate and this allows the individual to cleanse their soul (or something). Sorry to sound a bit heathen, but i am not sure of the exact detail. Suffice to say, the barnes and i went along to the South Bank to take in the atmosphere and enjoy the spirit of the event.

Leaving the South Bank via the City Cat (see previous post) and fancying a few beers, we felt that Jade Buddha was an appropriate venue in which to partake. A very pleasant riverside bar/ eatery, the location for our hungover oneth wedding anniversary, we were just enjoying a beer minding our own when a group came in whom I suspected had just been released from prison. Em naturally the more curious of the two of us (read nosier) established that one of said party was Jared Lehto, sometime actor and more recently a "rock" chick (well he was wearing goth black nail varnish) who is looking to establish himself a new career. Also, if i remember rightly, Mr Lehto is a one time acquaintance of my old pal Stallard. Oh the world i move in these days!