BULEUROPE 06

I now concede that my attempt to maintain a blog whilst travelling through Europe failed pitifully. But one must learn from one's mistakes - and if there is a lesson to be learnt than it is this - only ever commit to a blog if you are provided with as much free time as one receives when on secondment in New York.

Nevertheless I have posted a pictoral of some of the highlights of my trip. Thanks to my travelling buddies Kate, Anna, Ben, Glenn, and Rob "Dubs" Williams. And I am forever indebted for the generous hospitality I received from Lorna and David in Ipswich and at the GP, Duncan McOckiner in Newcastle, Adam in Edinburgh and Christian and The Dude in Cape Town.

Those of you who have not heard from me in a while may now be realising that I was being completely honest when I stated "I'm shithouse at keeping in touch". So please don't misintepret any perceived indifference as a lack of care - I'm just shithouse at keeping in touch.

So for those of you who are interested I have collated the following quick synopsis of my time post April 2006:

Been a whirlwhind nine months since the completion of my infamous stint at Eisner. Visited Bermuda for the first and last time - not sure how PDV is doing it there - I found it isolated and slow - maybe that it explains why.

Dropped into pre-murder spree Ipswich and the lovely hospitality of Lorna and David. There I was introduced to nuances of Suffolk including Cambridge and Felixstowe. Also became addicted to Buzz on PS2 despite David's inability to lose. Ventured down to London and then Paris. Back to Brighton and another stint in London to stay with my fellow PP secondee Ben Powers. And after memorable evening in Clapham involving a bag of chips, a stolen Yorkie bar and an expensive cab ride back to Canada Waters , a very hung Bule and Powers boarded a plane to Amsterdam where the next week was spent doing not very much - well not that I remember anyway.

Rob Williams decided to join me around Europe even after Christian bailed at the last minute (I think the doctor diagnosed thisa pussywhipitis but a rare strain only found in southern Africa). Ben, Glenn and I met Rob in Poland and from what I can gather Rob still wishes we never left. Ventured up through Eastern Europe to Latvia (which I highly recommend - all young and virile males take note -when in Riga it is essential that you go to Club Essential). On to Sweden, the Czech Republic and then Germany where we tried to drink theclubs of Berlin and the beer halls of Munich dry. Leaving Ben and Glenn with their girlfriends, Rob and I pushed south through Austria and visited the Eagles Nest in Berschgarten - a spine tingling experience. And Rob was good enough to entertain my wish to take the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg - despite never having seen the movie.

Having not managed to secure tickets to the World Cup, at the last minute we decided to ditch our plans to make it to Greece and headed to Ljubljana in Slovenia - which was unexpected highlight. Further south we headed in search of some sun which we found in the beautiful islands of Croatia - from Zagreb to Split to Bol to Dubrovnik. Our time their was just the full stop we needed to what had been a whirlwind month on the continent.

We flew back to Manchester from Dubrovnik - although I was almost detained in Croatia following a mix-up with my ticket. Rob drove us from Chester to Newcastle where we picked up Duncan and headed on up to Edinburgh via Hadrian's Wall. After a night spent watching Adam pump pounds into "fruit" machines (which is still the only form of gambling I am yet to understand), we hit the fairways of North Brunswick for 18 spectacular holes of unspectacular golf.

Back in the car we headed back to Chester via Wales where I was lucky enough to visit the Williams family estate so we could pick up our tickets for the British GP at Silverstone. and England did not fail to produce - the hottest week in June for many years provided me with some well needed colour as I boarded the plane at Heathrow for Cape Town.

Waiting for me at the airport was my old sparring partner Christian who to my relief duly informed me that the beer was on ice back at his apartment. The next few days were spent taking in the unique sights and sounds of South Africa - beer, wine and kaffers. The Dude was in fine form and it was great to have the old team back together again. Which reminds me - where are we having St Pats Day this year? And I watched as the Socceroos performed as I had predicted - surprising the world and making the knockout stages. I'll be back in SAF in 2010 provided they start building that stadium at Green Point sometime soon.

After a long flight home via Johannesburg and Sydney - I touched down in Melbourne to find that much had changed since I had departed last December. Sadly my grandmother had passed away and my uncle had fallen ill with cancer that would eventually take his life in September. On a lighter note, the Commonwealth Games had come and gone, both Eureka Towers and the MCG was finished, my brother was now a policeman but Hawthorn (my AFL team) were still shit.

I got straight back into work - clearly the months of lethargy in New York had provided me with a base of unbridled enthusiasm that I hadn't experienced since I was a graduate. I also got straight back into football - but I was unlucky to tear my hamstring in the weeks leading up to the finals and had to watch on as our club won the premiership. Nevertheless this has provided the impetus for me to start me preseason training full of vigour - looking at 2007 as possibly the last year I will play at my beloved OC.

Spring racing signalled the end of my work busy season and I celebrated each of the 4 days accordingly - and as has become custom I spent Derby Day night in hospital - this time nursing an injured ankle. Finally summer reared its beautiful golden head at the start of December and my first warm holiday period in two years was spent down at the beach - surfing and sunning myself for the new year.

So bring on 2007 - it won't be anything like 2006 - but I doubt I'll experience such a year for some time.

The Dirty Three - united once more.

Anyone for a cooldrink?

Spyker looking for his next brew.

South Africa - a land of beautiful sunsets and lovely beers - pity about the kaffers.

'No water, no beer'

The view of Lions Head over Cape Town from Christian and the Dude's apartment.

Three seedy units in a lift.

The Dude delivers - falling asleep again at the pub.

Spyker needed consoling when the barman announced the bar was closing.

I still have remnants of blue jocks under my fingernails.

Hair of the dog - but The Dude ordered a lemon lime bitters.

A day in Stellenbosch - less quaffing more sculling I say.

Alcohol served as we like it - in large quantities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McOckiner and Dubs talking shit.

Swedish food will do that to you.