Dare to be Different Brisbane

What I like about Brisbane is that, despite being a place called home for in excess of 1 million people, it hasn't succumbed to the urge most cities do, that is to line its waterways with faceless identikit architecture. It is rare in cities with a large waterside space that you actually seem able to enjoy that water without having to worry about access. However it does seem now that some part of South Bank is trying to be sold off to make way for....oooh...faceless office space and retail square footage. Inspired planning! I may run the risk of being labelled a NIMBY here, but there are plenty of brownfield sites in Brisbane that could be renovated to offer more office and retail space. Don't go sacrificing a fantastic municipal space that can be utilised by residents and visitors of all ages. If you don't agree with this potential development, register your protest here: Save Our South Bank

Back.....

It has been too long. Partly that is because I have been waiting for the Internet to be restored for four weeks. I just wanted to take the opportunity to express my feelings. What I Have Learned 1) Australians have a short memory when it comes to sporting defeat (Oh Rugby is only our third sport anyway....after losing 10-12 to England). 2) Brisbane has a pretty good integrated public transport network but it could with running a little later. 3) I never knew there were that many South Africans in Brisbane until Monday 22nd October 4) Cats and wives are very hairy and require constant sweeping/ hoovering. 5) BT aren't that bad after all..... 6) Charlotte Towers still have shocking administrative process despite moving to River City 7) Brisbane is hot 8) Murdering large endangered mammals ISN'T scientific research 9) John Howard and David Gray may be related Things I Miss 1) All of my friends - especially their milestone birthdays 2) Rain 3) Warm beer 4) Big brick houses 5) Knowing stuff..... Things I Plan to do as Soon as Possible 1) Help the Mrs find another job (too all employers out there, forcing your staff to take 65% of their annual leave entitlement at Christmas is not a progressive enlightened HR policy....) 2) See some of Australia (FNQ, South Australia, "The Top End" and the "Centre" 3) See some of places near Australia: Fiji, Vanuatu 4) Plan a road trip 5) Start a wine cellar 6) Build my map of wineries and their wines 7) Get hideously drunk Things I am Immediately Excited About 1) The Killers 2) My first test match 3) The Cunliffes at Xmas 4) The prospect of seeing friends "this way" in April 5) India

The Broad's Prayer

Our Big Pond, which art in Melbourne, Not always Hallowed be thy Name. Thy remote relocation come. Thy will be done, in Toowong as it was in Charlotte Street. Give us our house our daily bitrate. And forgive us our terse words against you, As we forgive them that have failed to restore our broadband. And lead us not into temptation to complain; But deliver us from having to use my phone too much. For thine is the bitrate, the upload, and the download, For the remainder of our contract. Amen.

An offering to the god of broadband.....

I may have lapsed somewhat in my offerings to you my lord, however if you restoreth my broadband today i promise to blog daily for a month.

I am hoping you are a sympathetic god and consider 26 days without the Internet a suitable punishment.

Jesus Saves.....

Not today he didn't. Despite an eagerly anticipated second half introduction, Sebastien Chabal couldn't save "Les Bleus" from a tournament opening defeat to the Argentinian Pumas.

I think there is something to said for a little personal sacrifice in geetting up at ridiculous o'clock for the purpose of watching sport. I look forward to an evening of ovoid and spherical based entertainment, starting with my sweepstake draw the All Blacks and finishing with an English double header with the USA and the Israelis being opponets. Get the McLaren effigy ready.