Day Two Hundred and Sixty One

Awoke late due to 3am bed time. We all got up had brekkie and showered and then decamped to Willoughby. Had a nice family lunch in the garden.

Kate and I headed home late afternoon and did very little for rest of the day. Had a nice Skype call with folks and then Hazel.

Should get a peaceful nights sleep as road is closed out front for roadworks round the corner.

Oh and we managed to avoid the predicted Tsunami headed our way.

Day Two Hundred and Sixty

Saturday

An early start for a Saturday getting ready for Chris and Hannah's Bucks (Stag) and Hens nights. dropped Kate at Broadway and grabbed cash and put some air in the tyres and then back to Glebe. Was met by Tim one of the Stag party in Glebe and we drove over to Willoughby and picked up Chris.

We then drove the go karting track, about an hour north of Sydney

http://www.butterflyfarm.com.au/indy800.html

We met the others and got the driving underway, we did 15 minute sessions, it was hard going and as I write this a day later I'm aching. Had one big crash where I hit Tim full speed head on as he had spun and I had no where to go.

We finished up and headed back to Willoughby for a shower. The girls where in Glebe so we stayed away.

We drove back to Glebe to drop the car and then took the tram to Pyrmont Bay. Although we hopped off at Casino to fare dodge as the conductor was taking ages.

Seems there was drama in Darling Harbour at the same time.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/sydney-monorail-crash-injures-four-20100227-pa0z.html

We met the others at Hurricanes

http://www.hurricanesgrill.com.au/

Food was really good, highlight was watching Tim eat a 1kg steak.

After dinner we headed to the pub, we couldn't get into or wouldn't pay to get into some of them. We ended up in the James Squire

http://sydney.citysearch.com.au/E/V/SYDNE/0010/38/25/

We drank lots and them were met by the girls at 12.30ish and then headed home after 1am. Took ages to find a cab due to Mardi Gras.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Nine

Up early and on a tram by 7.28am. Got into town to find the hire company dismantling the marquee already with the exhibition still in it.

We got in and took our stuff out in under 2 hours. Once that was done I came home for a shower, it was super muggy in town today.

Went to office for a few hours then came home. Picked Kate up form Central, grabbed some food in Broadway and came home and chilled.

We are both knackered as Kate had a big event day with PCFA in town too.

Skyped with folks and off to bed.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Eight

Thursday

A day at work, not a great deal to report, things are a bit slow at moment. Still waiting to hear on last job interview, phoned the agent but she was off sick today.

form Came home and picked some stuff up for Kate and headed over to Wiloughby. Had dinner there. Kate is staying there tonight as she has to be in work early in St Leonards which is only five minsWilloughby.

I've come back to Glebe as I also have to be in work early, I have to be at Martin Place at 8am to start bump out of Exhibition.

It's quite apt as its exactly a year til we get married, in day terms a year away tonight we would be apart anyway so it's good practice!

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Seven

Wednesday

A day at Caritas, it's calmed down a bit there now so there's a bit less to do, will see how we go and figure out how long they need me. Came home and waited for Kate to get home.

We had dinner and ten Kate drove me over Newtown/Enmore to the Enmore Theatre. I went to see Placebo play, not many British Acts come through so I bought a ticket off Ebay. Tried to get Kate one but had no luck. The Enmore is a great venue, a cross between Shepherds Bush and Brixton. I had a ticket for the front section so was no more than 10-15 meters from front.

Placebo were on fine form, they get better with age I think, I must listen back to their older albums but I can thoroughly recommend their new one. I texted Rob while I was there, reminiscing about how we saw Placebo in the Sheffield University Students Union in 1995 and there was only about 15 people in the crowd then.

Some pics...

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Six

A really bad nights sleep, woke up at 3am in the midst of a horrid night. Read all about it here

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/sydney-sweats-through-hottest-night-in-13-years-20100223-p07b.html

Couldn't get back to sleep until about 4am.

Got up and did a day at work. Nothing too exciting day, reviewing the event and some excitement of envelope stuffing...not.

Cooked Chicken and special fried rice tonight.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Five

Not much to report today, had to drive truck into town during day and then back to office. Came home and cooked a spag bol and we've chilled out this evening.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Four

Got up and relaxed during the morning at Bill and Carols. Around lunchtime we headed over to Glebe and then Broadway. We parked at Broadway (after some idiot took the space I was waiting for, I had a word and saw him off) and walked over to Vic Park for the Fair Day. This was the launch of Mardi Gras week in Sydney.

http://www.mardigras.org.au/mardi-gras-2010/fair-day/index.cfm

Fair day was a cross between a festival and fete kind of thing with numerous Drag Queens etc hosting side shows. It was good to see but very hot and sunny so we didn't hang there too long.

We went back to Broadway, had some lunch and did a bit of food shopping for the week.

We've spent rest of day chilling out at home and speaking to folks on Skype.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Three

Awoken by some bugger across the street drilling at 8.30am, do these people not understand what Saturdays are for, especially after late nights and drinking.

We did not a great deal today, I did a load of washing and ripped up all the weeds from the front garden to comply with the real estate agent *******. We now have lovely bare soil out front. I wonder if I should cut the tree down too!

The afternoon was much of the same chilling out. We got ourselves together and headed over to Willoughby for dinner at Maitre Karl's to celebrate Kates birthday with Bill and Carol. We've had excellent food and drink and we'll stay here tonight as we have both had a drink.

Not much else to report. Sunday tomorrow.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty Two

Happy Birthday to my beautiful fiancee Kate...

Woke up early and spent time with Kate opening presents. I dropped Kate at central before heading off to Alexandria. I picked up the truck and drove into town and parked up on Martin Place.

We ran the Fish Friday event which was very successful. We packed up and headed back to the office at about 3.30. I knocked off work at 4 o'clock.

I came home and tidied up the house and did shopping in advance of the drinks we had here for Kate's Birthday.

Was good to see the others, some pics below.


The brothers Engel

Cake

Cosmo Cocktails

Kate and Mike

Yet more Cosmo's

Throwing some shapes onthe Wii 'Just Dance'

End of the night

Day Two Hundred and Fifty One

A long day...

Had a landlords inspection this morning, pretty irritating bloke who did it and all he could pick us up on was weeds in the front garden.

Went into the office and got some stuff together for Jazz Event in Martin Place. Dropped some gear down there in the car and came back to Glebe to drop the car off.

Grabbed a tram into town and walked to event. Spent afternoon setting up etc and before we knew it event was underway and guests were there.

All went off very smoothly, and ended about 9pm. We bumped out and I was home by 10. Tomorrow is another event in town, I have to drive the 3 ton truck from office into city first thing.

Pics from event...





I'll add more pics tomorrow, its late and laptop is playing up.

Day Two Hundred and Fifty

A day at Caritas, mainly doing event prep for tomorrow. Not a great deal else to report, a chilled out evening at home.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Nine

Happy Birthday to my sister!

Did a morning at Caritas and then came home around lunchtime. Made my way into town and had another job interview about 2 mins from Circular Quay. It went pretty well I think.

Met Kate on way home on the tram at Pyrmont Bay and we've chilled out at home this evening.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Eight

Woke up to find our kitchen roof has started to leak.

Up early and took tram and train into town to Martin Place to start work on the exhibition build. The hire company had built a superb marquee over the weekend and we had to fill it with the exhibition gear.

It was hot work, it's really muggy in Sydney right now so wasn't much fun. I've added some pictures below showing what we were up to. Around lunchtime I nipped back to Glebe for a shower and then headed over to Alexandria and the office to carry on with stuff for exhibition and other stuff they have me doing.

Came home via Broadway for shopping after collecting Kate from Central.

In other news today, I spoke to Oxfam and was informed I didn't get the Trailwalker Event Coordiantor job, it's a shame, it's a prestigious gig, I was beaten by someone with more experience (i.e running events for 5000 people so I can't really compete). Alas my afternoon brightened up considerably (not) when the cancer council phoned to say I hadn't got that job, again I was down to last 2 or 3 people and again was just a lack of experience.

Ah well onwards and upwards, another interview tomorrow. Landlord is coming round too to fix the roof.



Before

A truck load of stuff


The bump in begins

Getting it together

Coming together

Nearly there

Day Two Hundred and Forty Seven

Valentines Day.

food Another lazy morning start, isn't that what weekends are for. I took Kate out for a picnic to celebrate the day. Trouble was in typical fashion it rained, so had an old school steward styleyin the car with the windscreen wipers on. We went to Apple Tree Bay about 30 mins North of here. Was very nice.

We called in to Willoughby to pick up some washing on way home.

This evening has been chores, I sorted out the CD's here which took ages. In the process we found my sisters wedding DVD and watched that. We laughed at the commentary added by Mike Linn bless him, classics such as ' I should have brought my bloody tripod' during the speeched had us laughing.

Off to bed, bust day tomorrow, early start I'm in Martin Place building the Blueprint Exhibition from 8am.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Six

Saturday

Woohoo the weekend has landed. After a lazy start to the day we got up and both went shopping. Kate went to Chatswood with her mum and I hit the city. Had to buy Kate some Birthday presents for Friday.

Came home and then Kate came and collected me and we went over to Willoughby for dinner.

Had a Skype call with folks form there which was cool and Bill and Carol also said hi to Alvin and Crystal.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Five

A stinking hot day today, thermometer on car read 36 when I got in it on way home form work. Worked a hard day doing prep for event next week, finished late and was pretty knackered.

Came home and Kate was equally tired.

It was then the rain started...

http://www.smh.com.au/national/sweaty-city-cops-a-drenching-20100213-nxr4.html

I've not seen rain like it, the road out the front was a river, the lane at the back was equally a river, to the extent water was coming up under the roller shutter door towards the car.

Ive added a bit of video to facebook but it doesn't do it justice as to how heavy it was

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=337781020609

and out the back...

Day Two Hundred and Forty Four

Usual day at work, had a good chat with a recruitment agent I've been talking to and set up another interview for Tuesday. This job is with Cure Cancer Australia involved in their CanToo events

http://www.cantoo.org.au/

Still waiting to hear about the other two jobs I've interviewed for recently, feels a little bit like the tide is turning.

Came home and then we went over to Newtown and met Caroline for a light dinner at the pub.

and hilarious...

http://www.smh.com.au/world/strangebuttrue/groom-goes-to-kiss-bride---and-discovers-she-is-bearded-20100211-nsrg.html

Day Two Hundred and Forty Three

Wednesday

Got up and ironed trousers, not my usual Wednesday morning activity but I needed them for a job interview at Oxfam. Made y way over there for 10am and went through the interview process. I think it went pretty well and I should hear either way by the end of the week. Jumped on the tram back to Glebe.

Drove to Caritas in the afternoon and ploughed through the 60 emails I had to deal with, pretty crazy there at moment.

On the plus side got paid today so we have some cash again.

Came home and had a Skype call with folks and spoke to Kates mum.

Chilling out with TV and off to bed soon.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Two

Tuesday

Another day at Caritas, busy busy doing lots of things. Not a great deal to report apart from that for Tuesday.

Tried to get an early night but didn't get to bed until 11.30.

Day Two Hundred and Forty One

A very un-exciting day at work, i just seem to be picking up all the rubbish jobs there.

Came home and had my dinner.

Went out and picked up Kate form Darlinghurst as she was at a work function til about 9pm.

Less rain today.

Day Two Hundred and Forty

Slept in a bit and we then both got up and hit the Wii Fit. Once all that was done we headed over to Willoughby and met Bill and Carol. I had to help Carol choose an Ipod Dock for the Glenwood Aged Care facility, we also invested in an Ipod to go with it.

We came back to Willoughby, Bill did some Ironing for us and we lazed around and had a salad dinner. Watched a bit of crap TV there and then headed home.

Seems the weekends just disappear now that we are both back to working 5 days a week.

Monday morning fun again tomorrow.

Still raining here...

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Nine

Can it rain anymore in Sydney....rain rain rain all day!

I walked up the local shops after getting up and then woke Kate up later on, once the morning was done we headed to Broadway for shopping and back home for a lazy day.

I cooked a monster Lasagne for dinner we then had Skype calls with all the people back in the UK.

Kate and I have been officially together 1000 days today. Funny to think a thousand days ago tonight we were out in Central London on our first official date, taking in some of the less desirable pubs around Leicester Square.

Anyhow I wouldn't change a single one of those 1000 days and look forward to thousands more!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Eight

Friday

TFI Friday...

Had another day day at work and then headed home, Kate came home a bit later after a quick post work drink. We got ourselves ready and headed into Darling Harbour on the tram to meet our friend Pip. pip is up form Melbourne running a conference and so we had dinner with her.

We used to work together at Symbian in London. We went to the Blackbird, didn't rate the service too much bit food was OK.

We had a drink in The Watershed afterwards, Pip blagged us in by passing the 5 dollar entry by pulling the 'I'm running a conference for 3500 people next door, keep me sweet' line. We said our goo byes and came home.

Its muggy and wet here in Sydney.

In other exciting news, Dave kept his job... http://www.smh.com.au/business/dave-the-banker-keeps-his-job-20100205-ni0q.html?autostart=1

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Seven

Thursday

Another day at Caritas, much of the same. I have lined up another job interview for next Wednesday so watch this space.

Took ages to get home, well to Willoughby to see Kates folks, we had a Chinese which was all good.

Not much else to report, it's interesting to note what Symbian folks are up to nowadays in press today (cant see it really being a success myself but there you go)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8496263.stm

This is quite cool too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8493631.stm

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Six

Another exciting day at work!

Came home and had dinner and then had a good video call with folks, nice to catch up with news from home. Not much else to report, although the following is quite funny..


Only in Australia....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/8494854.stm

and the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RotaSnenNyQ&feature=popular

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Five

Another day at Caritas. Nothing too exciting to report from there.

Came home and when Kate got home we went for a walk, walked down past the dog track, around the park, under the tram tracks and home. Not a huge walk but a good start to try and get fit.

Cooked some dinner and now just reading book I bought in Melbourne when folks were here about the BA Dirty Tricks campaign against BA in the early nineties.

It's started raining heavily here, seems like ages since we had a big downpour and it's certainly freshened things up.

No big news to report on job front today.

This is stuff I'm supporting at work

http://www.caritas.org.au/blueprint/index.html

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Four

A fairly busy day at work, Mondays are never fun. Had a call from a recruitment agent about a job I applied for, they wanted to know dates I was at Symbian, so looks like they may put me forward for the role i applied for. More on that in due course.

Got home and waited for Kate, we then went out for the evening. We went to see Anthony and the Johnsons (well mainly Anthony tonight) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House.

http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html

We had a bit of a mare with dinner before hand with it arriving late and having to rush to get to the Opera House in time. We needn't have bothered as there was some Arthouse shite dancing thing as a support act. A quick break and then they were on, a superb gig, great seeing him play with an Orchestra.

Battled our way home and off to bed