The Latest...

Its been a while since I've updated this 'ere blog and boy how things have started to change!

Dan's moved out and has gone up the coast to meet up with some mates of his, he's having an awesome time from what I gather from our regular phone calls, a result of this obviously means I have another new roommate.  He's called Sandy, he's from India and we get on with each other really really well, so well in fact that we're looking at moving into another apartment together.  The reason we looked in the first place is that things at our apartment seem to have deteriated.  The door handle to our bathroom and bedroom dont work so that if you shut it from a certain side you actually can't get out unless you clime out the window or bang on it whilst screaming for help and fighting back thoughts off chewing on your own arm should it turn to weeks and food's a real dilemma. Fourtunatly so far it hasn't resorted to that and everyones arms are still chomp-free but it's only a matter or time.  I was told when I moved in that the tumble dryer didnt work and have believed that until the other day when Sandy was told when he moved in that everything worked only to find that the tumble dryer does work but were not allowed to use it because it usually gets left on thus costing money and stuff....waffle over..kinda....the air conditioning falls into the same bracket as the tumble dryer but the remote to use it has been hidden and then theres little things such as the can openers crap and the fans dont work...

AAANNNYYYYWWAaaayyy, Sandy had been looking at another place before he moved in that is in the city and from what i understand its potentially a whole apartment to ourselves for the exact same price (and i'm pretty sure everything works and i can open my baked beans without a butchers knife).  Again, from what i understand, the lady who's apartment it is is currently working/living in England and she's decided it's a waste to just do nothing with it.  It's $400 up front for bond then $150 a week rent but, he's the sweet bit, its $150 for one person, so were hoping and going to try and blag it so that its only $75 each.  Bigger place. Half Price. Sweeeet!!

But then, saying that, Adrian, the manager where I work, he's a spare room in his aparmtent that he shares with his wife and for a while he's been thinking of renting it out too so when he suggested it to me I thought it would be perfect if i moved in.  It'll get him used to having someone else living there and it'll be comfortable for them as they already know me.  Rent could be paid straight out of my pay packet from what meaning that what I get is all mine, the dark side's already been taken care off!

Finally on the accomidation front, just opposite the pub is an old Post Office which has recently come up for lease, now Adrian has an idea to turn it into a hostel which I think would work seriously really well.  There are no hostels in Pyrmont with all of them being in the city, it's ideally situated with pubs/monorail/propossed extension of the underground system taking place which would result in a station literally on the doorstep/supermarkets and other such ammenities all close by.  He's in talk with Nick, the owner of the pub, about going into the project together which would also have its benefits, money wouldnt really be an issue and it could be twinned with the pub such as a schooner/meal deals, event nights such as live bands and so on and so forth, the possibilities are ridiculus.  To get to the point Adrians said that if it went ahead he'd give me a room either for free or for cheap, im not sure and even better he mentioned about making me something with manager in the title which also works for me!!  Given that this was over quite a few schooners/vodka-cokes/god-knows-whats he may not remember but it'll be in there somewhere subconciously!

Right, moving on...what next....Oh yer, weirdly enough I'm not a witness to a marriage.  As in my names on the marriage certificate and everything!  Monday night at work and it's myself and this fella called Ram working.  Ram hails from Nepal and is legally married back home but again, from what i understand, he has to leagalise his marriage here in Australia because he's been here a certain number of years. I think.  Anyway, he didn't want everyone to know so waited until it was near enough just him and I in the pub and asked if I wanted to come.  This for one hit me a little bit that he'd only asked me from work to be there and I very happily accepted.  We arranged to meet at Central Station in the city at 1, the registry was booked for 2.  We get there and it literally was only a few people.  Obviously his Wife then his sister, his wifes friend, one other of his own friends and myself.  Everyone of them Nepalease and ravving to each other in some craaazy lingo.  We arrive at the registry office on time and had to wait to be called, copious amounts of pictures were taken and although I understand nothing of Nepalease nor am I a rocket scientist but I could still tell that the girls found my freakish height very funny.  The worst bit is I couldn't even tell them to stop because they hadn't a clue what it was i'd ask! Oh how they laughed.  The time came to go into the office-feel of a room and let the ceremony commence.  The legal blurb was all said and done and then the lady conducting the ceremony asked the bride for her witness and the groom for his before the exchanging of rings.  To my utter suprise Ram(bo) asked me to be his! Inside my brain's mouth fell open in suprise but the physical me was over the moon and very happily accepted. The other witness was Ram's sister. The rings were exchanged and then the bride and groom had to sign the marriage certificate and a piece of legal documention followed by each witness.  So, forever more, the signature I used to practice as a kid in the back of my school exercise books will be on their certificate!! Crazy, crazy times!

Hmm, thirdly...aah yes, Harriet, a girl I work with and myself are planning on travelling after the lads and the mother go back home in April with our chosen destination being Cairns.  Origionally I quite liked the idea of buying a car and driving up the coast but when I explained this to Harriet she for some reason didn't like it.  I mean, it's nothing to do with the fact that she'd be doing all the driving as I dont actually know how to!  She also has a friend coming out in July that wants to go from Sydney up so for her it makes sense to go from Cairns down now, stop say half way and save herself for when her mate arrives, personally I don't really care where we go as any place would be something new for me!

Sponsorship might also be on the cards more than ever at work to.  I think I've explained this before but i'll go over it again for the more forgetful fans amongst you.  When I first joined the Harelys' clan there was Adrian (Manager) and then John, Olly and Mike as assistant managers.  At the moment though its only Adrian, John and me.  The problem continues as John is actually from another pub in under Laundy Hotels chain and will be going back to his origonal bar soon leaving just Adrian and I.  If I was to go to what with travelling or just simply going home Nick (the owner) is going to be reet stuffed.  Also, because of the terms of working under a working holiday visa your only allowed to work at one place for a maximum of six months so if any of the three things were to take place it would require Adrian to work 7 days a week all day! Nick and Adrian are currently both away at the moment doing something called the Kakoda trail in New Guinea so already its just John and I working with another manager called Phil doing two shifts a week simply so we can have some time off.  Cant wait to get paid :). Oh, and no mum, I'm not working to much, besides it's for your benefit so I can shower you in gifts and goodness when you grace these shores!

Above above explanations of the travelling and accomidation rest on this is he/isn't he sposnorship but i'll just have to address the situation as it comes to light!

Its only 26 days till Mum, Eldred, Jake and (Super) Matty Taylor arrive and I've unshamefully come close piddeling myself on several occasions with excitment.  What would make it complete is if my bro came to (do it, DOOOO ITTTTTT!!!!!!)

Anyway, I think thats the key areas covered, i'll be keeping you updated with all situations as they unfold.  Hope everyone is good and fine back home. Missing you guys a tad!!

Life Is Good...

Earlier today I had to take a moment and double check my bank balance.  Today is pay day for me and i was shocked to see just how much had gone into my bank account.  I thought for a second that maybe there might have been a mistake but then realised that I really have been putting in the hours (enough hours to go through two brand new pairs of shoes) and thatmathematically it all seemed to add up.Upon wheeling away from the ATM I thought to myself just how far I'dcome from not only leaving England but also since being out here.  I've an awesome job in which I'm  a 20 year old Assistant Manager, I've money in the bank, my wage has increased due to the promotion so much so that now,  if I wasn't already happy with my current apartment, I could pay in a week what I'm currently paying in a month at a new place and still have some to spare, I'm living a sustainable lifestyle which allows me to comfortably mix a social life around work,  I've had a crash course in cooking and have succesfully ventured off surviving on $1 pot noodles (piece's of stringy rubber), I'm living with one of my best friends on the other side of the world, I'm in training to do a Sydney Half Marathon (sponsorship really appreciated www.justgiving.com/woodersdownunder), I'm going to be watching on of my favourite bands 'The Music' this coming Friday, My Mum and three really good mates are to grace these shores in April which I'm almost peeing myself with excitment about, I'm going to be lhopefully travelling up the coast after they return to the motherland and finally I've manged to guide West Ham to third spot in the league on Pro Evolution Soccer which Chris sent out for me at Christmas.  All in all, I'm a very happy man!

Just a short post to extend my current thoughts and feelings on being out here, as you've 

probably guessed I'm not enjoying it THAT much!

The Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon

I found it on the reduced shelf with its defects listed as sun burnt, unfit and having consumed large quantities of alcohol but the name on the outside of the tin  (Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon) was still relevant.

Yep, little Tommy Woodman is to run the Half Marathon along with some of his work mates and colleagues from the Harlequin.

With something like 80 odd days to go I am relishing the prospect of finishing first, claiming the $5000 grand prize money, being led off to a massage tent and being tended to by some fiiiiiiiine Aussie Sheila's.  After the race we'd all go back to the Harlequin, everyone would lift me above there shoulders - I'd probably hit my head but in the euphoria it would somehow add to the spirit of the moment, I'm not sure how, it just would - we'd sit around and drink energy drinks (beer) to keep our body's awake and we'd indulge in nutrition bars (Thai food cuisine) till we burst.

So, if you want all this to happen and would like to be part of my training and inspiration I am asking your generously to donate as little or as much as you can for my chosen charity (The British Heart Foundation) via www.justgiving.com/woodersdownunder.

Everyone who donates will receive a picture of my greatest triumph to date, signed so that when the Olympics call and I smash the world record in a couple of years time you can flog it for millions and trillions thus taking you out of any recession problems you may have, securing that any financial problems your family may have had in the future are dashed in the space of a 60 minute run all from just donating, say, a tenner here and now.

www.justgiving.com/woodersdownunder

A thank you and good night

Stuff:

Race Date: 17th May 2007

Distance: 21.1 kilometers, 13 miles

Works going well....

Upon the following weeks of my return from Melbourne a few things at work have changed.  The biggest one for me personally is my promotion to Supervisor/Australians call it Assistant manager.  Basically I am now responsible for opening up/closing down certain days, dealing with the pokies (Aussie fruity machines only allot more money is pumped in - Avg: £50 a sitting) and ultimately acting manager while no other 'higher' figure is present or working.

It's a fantastic opportunity and, to be honest, surely one that not many backpackers get....

There's allot to get my barnet around but, as with anything, it'll come with practice and persistence.

Unfortunately I have already noticed that with this level or responsibility is equalled by that of scepticism (sp? - in fact, is that even a word??) from customers and the like.  Upon the occasions when the manager or person in charge is required and its either come directly through me or through another member of staff who's had to come and get me ultimately the end result seems to be the same with a 'surely this KID isn't the manager' to which I respond by nailing there answers with conviction and thinking 'aaaahahahaaa f-you' at the same time...see, men can multi-task.

With my new found position comes a much welcomed wage increase and also the flamboyancy to wear shirts when particular shifts present themselves.  To me this was the same feeling as wearing a suit for the very first time, it's a little awkward at first what with the sleeves being an dodgy cut and such and you all about give up on the idea until you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and you suddenly think 'ang about, I don't look to shabby.

Whether or not my new found position could lead me somewhere, such as (short term) sponsorship or (long term) a career is yet to be seen but in the mean time I've loving every second even if it does mean I haven't seen quite as much of Australia by now than I would have expected but saying that a 1005 plan was never ever in place with the plot line constantly being updated with new ideas and suggestions.

It's a matter of weeks now until stalkers i know from back home i know grace these shores and I must admit I'm very excited at the prospect of not being the only West Ham fan at the late night games anymore

Melbourne, The Rest Of + Sydney

It think this is the fourth time i have started to write this post, so hopefully this time I'll get it finished!

Melbourne on the whole was awesome and the weather was ridiculously hot with the hottest day reaching 43.3c.  I swear to god that, on the said day people's shoe's were starting to stick to the pavement due to there soles starting to melt!

The general feeling from what I understand from people in Sydney is that your either love Melbourne and hate Sydney or vis-versa but personally, I love them both.

Although Melbourne, in some ways, reminded me more of back home than Sydney with some of there adolescents being a bit 'gangsta bruv' and people 'cruising' around in there pimped out ride.brap. But in the flip side there are allot more genuine Australians, every thing's more open and spread out but this is largely due to accommodate the vast network of tram lines that are weaved throughout the city.

The trip was largely based around the Australian Open Tennis Final which we'd been lucky enough to get tickets for and ultimately shaped up to be between (world No.1) Rafal Nadal and (World No.2) Roger Ferderer.  As the match programme said a 'match made in Tennis haven' and one that it defiantly turned out to be.

The girls all wanted Nadal to win, 2% because he was a quality player, 98% because he was cute.  Personally I wasn't to bothered who won but just wanted a see a great match.  We were sitting 5 rows from the top in the right hand side behind the umpire but even so we were still fairly close to the action.

The game started at about 8.00pm and when the first set took as long as the entire women's final we knew we were in for a great game and were going to get our money's worth.

Nadal ultimately won, to the delight of the girls but it was no easy ride and the game went the maximum of five sets.  I managed to get some great pictures and was thoroughly impressed with the zoom on my camera. Shame now its broken and is beyond repair (but luckily all my photo's had been uploaded to my laptop beforehand).

The day after the Tennis was my last in Melbourne and I had to go about getting my shuttle bus to the airport and basically getting my stuff together.  The goodbye to Helena and Kicki was short and sweet with a simple hug and off I went, I think it will be a little bit more substantial when they both come back to Sydney, for Kicki's flight home.  After that Helena will be on her merry way and it won't be until April until her return.

The flight back to Sydney was allot more enjoyable than the outgoing one, on my return i flew with Virgin Blue.  Free headphones were there to be taken so, naturally, i took copious amount, in flight snack, mini TVs, the works.  I touched down at 5.30pm and was back in my apartment by 7.  When I got back i was greeted by a smiling Crabbs.  Dan had moved into my apartment the day before and up until that point I hadn't seen him since he'd been in Australia.  Like he said the other day its a little surreal that someone I've known the majority of my life is now my roommate on the other side of the world.  Obviously plans were made to go out and get rat-faced with a couple of the guys Dan had been travelling with within his Ozintro organisation but before that a trip to Manly was on the cards.  Now, I placed my faith in the weatherman and his prediction of it to rain was firmly on my mind so my beach bag consisted of a towel and a jumper.  We get to the beach, its roasting hot (later checks suggest it was about 38c) and I managed to get myself a nicely burnt back (I'd put sunscreen on my chest but must have turned over at some point)

That night we went out to a backpackers bar called Scary Canary which was hosting a traffic light party (Green: Available, Orange: Approach with caution, Red: Taken).  A few drinks at the apartment to get us going (and to save money) and we were off.  From my stay in the hostel i had some vouchers still for free drinks so they were abused, but not until later in the night.  We got there and the the first drink I had was free, the barman had just changed the barrel on the Heineken and poured off a perfect, easily sell-able schooner, placed it on the bar and said all yours, I immediately fell in love with the place, NOT the barman.  By this time it had reached 10pm and unbeknownst to me but the bar has a free-till-the-keg-is-empty thing that started at 10.  So, not one to abuse to situation and taking full advantage of my big hands I ordered four.  So five free schooners later I was well on my way.  Then, the bar went about giving out free shot's to people on the dance floor, then they started to give out $50 bar tabs for various things, best dancer, best dressed so on and so forth.  Well, one of our group, Ally, won best a best dancer one as he just freaked out and busted some craaaazzy moves and then later on our group (roughly 10 people) won another for simply just being on the dance floor for the majority of the night so with these five jugs of beer were brought of which I reckon I managed to get another two schooners from.  All this was happening with my two free drink vouchers burning a hole in my pocket but before they could be spent Craaaaaabbs turned up with a bourbon and coke which he owed me from the other day.  Eventually I managed to use one of my vouchers on another Bourbon and coke by about 10.10pm (Na, I joke, it was about 11/11.30) before Crabbs turned up again and again with more drinks and more drinks and more drinks.  By this point I was in a very good place and decided I needed another drink and successfully managed to spend my last voucher.  To top it off the only drinks I brought were two scotch and cokes which came to a grand total of $7 due to the barmaid being an absolute legend (A Scotch and coke can be anywhere from $5 to $7 just for one).  Very good times indeed.

I would lastly just like to say Happy Birthday to my Dad and my Uncle.

I miss you and love you both very much.

Melbourne, Day 1: It's Hot

Today temperature in Melbourne reached a ridiculously hot 43c at its peak where we were but word is from Andy that one of his mates was somewhere else in the city were it reached 47c.

Although this is almost incomprehensible heat to imagine unless you actually experience it yourself first hand it didn't seem as hot as I'd or imagined it to be, although at times when reaching a cross road throughout the city it seemed like you were standing in front of a massive hair dryer due to the wind being channelled down the vast straight for the eye can see roads it still wasn't unbearable.

I'd checked out of my other accommodation and successfully checked into Industry hostel and to my surprise got given $21.40 back as apparently they'd over charged me the day before.  From working it out in my head however I don't think they did as now ultimately I've only paid $101.60 for six days, only just under $17 per night and for that price I've got an awesome room too with an On-suite bathroom including (one of the nicest) shower ('s I've ever had) and fan.  Although the fan has to be on rotation to satisfy the other room mates its defiantly better than nothing and I do pity the poor buggers throughout the rest of the hostel who have none at all.

Helena and Kicki decided to go the St Kilda beach for the day were as I stayed in the city and explored and just tried to find my feet.  The general feeling of Melbourne from people back in Sydney is mixed, some say you'll either love Melbourne and hate Sydney and vis-versa, some say you'll love both and some people reckon both are shit but for me, so far, I'm a fan of both.  Sydneysiders did get one thing right about Melbourne being very spread out and open but this is largely due to the tram lines going down the majority of the streets resulting in the roads having to be bigger which probably just gives a general feeling of a more open planned city.

There also does seem to be allot more actual Australians in the city and I've successfully heard my first Aussie say 'no drama' even if it was in a passing telephone conversation.

Helena then came and met me at my hostel to which she was disgusted at just how shite hers was compared to mine thus prompting her and Kicki to hand in a transfer request and have even hinted they will leave All-Nations on a free transfer should they not get there own way.  Tomorrow is D-day and they will find out in the morning whether or not they are allowed to leave amid controversy and un-approval from there fans.  Whatever happens, Christine, a girl Helena worked with at Bar Luca in Sydney will be looking to book into Industry as she flies out here on Saturday and is also going to be watching the tennis.

In the evening we met up with some friends of Kicki's from back home - all 11 of them, who were staying in a shared house in near South Yarra train station - Kicki knew one of the lads through her boyfriend and from there has got to know the rest of them in due course. 

We all went out for a meal and and a drink and then they went back to the house for a bit whilst Andy and I went to see a friend he'd made during his time down the East Coast.  Hello's and Goodbyes were said and bye this time i was absolutely goosed and ready for bed, we headed for the station and let the Swede's know we were there only for them to get lost and try and describe to an increasingly frustrated Andy over the phone where they were and what they could see.  Roughly an hour and a half later they found the station, we headed back, i left them at St Flinders Street station while i headed up to Central Melbourne's stop and by which point i wanted nothing more than to be in bed.  All fun and games.

Today I'm just sitting in the library until the sun doesn't decide to melt me as a I walk, its free 

(but slow) t'internet and I'm taking my time finding out about the football (someone please tell me why we sold Mullins?) and getting syked about a Federer vs (Nadal) final on Sunday!!!

Sydney To Melbourne

Things worked out really well in terms of getting to the airport in the Sydney, by pure coincidence John’s (assistant manager at the pub) girlfriend Victoria and a mate were getting the exact same flight.  Because of this John offered me a lift to the airport in the morning and couch to crash on overnight so that he didn’t have to drive back into the city just to pick me up.  So, when work finished at 1am my bags were at the pub and all we had to do was load them into the car – with the flight at 6am and check in an  hour before we had to be up at 4.30am in order to get ready, well, I say get ready – for me this consisted of just getting dressed and slumming it with a fragrance of new leather sofa as my aftershave, the time was allotted for the girls so that it gave them time to do whatever girls do to take so long getting ready.

I managed all of an hour’s sleep at most as the night air was 4-second routinely interrupted from various courses of snoring throughout the house.  We get to the airport at 5 and check in, no hassle, no fuss, got on the plane and all was good, smooth flight, hour and a half tops – in fact the whole trip from Sydney to Melbourne was plain sailing, even when I got a lift from Avalon airport to Melbourne with a random Chinese family I’d met all off....1 second beforehand.

Basically I was in the mile long queue for the Shuttle bus from Avalon to central Melbourne (It’s about an hour’s drive) when before it was too late I saw a sign saying they don’t except efpos or credit cards meaning I would have to get money out.  The ATM in that terminal was currently out of use so I had to go to terminal 2 to get out the cash, upon returning the daughter of the family simply approached said ‘You go Melbourne?’ to which I replied a simple and slightly raised ‘Yes’ (We all know how it works, you go to a foreign country and don’t speak the language so we simply say everything in English only a little bit louder than usual and low and behold it...just....works!!), anyway, she understood, countered my answer with ‘Want share petrol, my family drive, $15 $15 $15!!!’ and I just thought why not, in fact, on recollection, I don’t think I even thought about it, I was so tired at that point the words just came out and I was lead in my zombified state to a car they had just rented.  I do remember thinking the family was just what I’d want any Chinese family to be like, the daughter would of obviously have been into furbie’s, tamogotchie’s (sp?) and any other electronic big craze that came/comes about.  The Mother was a small lady, spoke no English and was obviously full of wisdom, her grey hair tied back in a tight bun and the Father, who also spoke no English was a happy proud man who obviously couldn’t drive.  I had a sneaking suspicion he may well have been more suited to driving a Yak Yak or Puk Puk or whatever they’re called in the crazy hustle and bustle that is the Chinese streets than that of an open motorway.  The daughter told me that in China they drive on the other side of the street (which, for some reason, I think she thought was reassuring to me) and that she had to tell her father everything the sat nav said as well as road signs such as STOP.  I wanted to fall asleep but I also thought that if we were going to crash I wanted to be awake so that I could brace myself for impact or perhaps squeeze the old lady in between me and the on-coming lorry to help cushion the blow!  I mean the fact that at one point we stopped completely dead in the middle of a motorway while deciding which way we had to go and that on the other side of the road a lorry carrying a stack of smashed up cars drove by didn’t strike me in any way as ominous.

Sometime later I wake to see that we’ve reached Melbourne CBD and that I was on the required street which my accommodation was to be found.  Booking in there was a whole different kettle of fish.  Turns out my reservation was never confirmed and that upon trying to charge me there and then to do it just wouldn’t work either but because my name was on the booking sheet I would have to be charged for standing in there lobby for all of ten minutes.  I was so tired, hot and getting ratty that I just didn’t care and it did also mean that I would be able to stay there for that night at least.  Upon getting that mess sorted out I went out to find accommodation for the rest of the week and decided to take heed of my mistake of venturing away from Nomads hostels and booked into one of there’s just down the road called Industry.  So for the remainder of my trip I’ll be staying there for the remainder of my stay in Melbourne.  Once my bed for the week was sorted I could really start to relax and sweat my tits off in comfort – for those of you who don’t know I arrived in the middle of a heatwave here in Melbourne with yesterdays temperature reaching 40c and today’s expected to reach 43c.  I got a call from Andy, the good mate we’ve made back in Sydney who’d been staying in Melbourne for a while and is here until he goes back in a few weeks time, and we arranged to meet up and then later we met up again with the Swede’s once they were sorted with accommodation.

A few quite drinks and promised tour of the city from Andy later and I was all about ready to crash and prepare myself to wake at silly O’clock in the morning (8am) in order to check out and check into my new place.  I did myself justice with the continental breakfast they had on offer and ate my weight in melon, toast and apple juice.

Right now I’m just chilling in the hostel, having chucked my bag in my room and waking all three of the lads who were in there I’m giving them some space before I go back in so I’ll be deciding what to do today that involves not going into the heat and see if I can last the whole day without drinking any water or using any sun tan lotion (right Mum, that’s what you said isn’t it?)