tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18000452422854311222012-01-16T18:37:38.444-08:00Hapless misadventures and bemused mutterings from a Brisbanite. For all the family and friends scattered over the globe.jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.comBlogger591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-70588598674177187262011-10-13T23:04:00.000-07:002011-10-14T00:03:07.349-07:00

Well, I didn't update this thing last week so I'm well overdue for a meaningless vent-fest. Things that have been giving me the irrits in a big way these last two weeks (because you're all absolutely gagging to know, I'm sure) include:VOLCANICALLY HOT BEVERAGESI’m not that much of a coffee drinker, but I partake often enough to have had the top fifteen layers of my tongue instantly vaporised into

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-52771293096729351962011-09-22T01:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T16:30:42.523-07:00

People around you start wearing scarves, coats and jackets the first time the temperature drops below 20 degrees in April and steadfastly refuse to stop dressing like Londoners in December even if the temperature climbs again;The spiders that invade your house are big enough to back your cat into a corner;If you want a major print news alternative to the ultra-parochial, conservative News

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-77802734824167788102011-09-20T20:28:00.000-07:002011-09-21T17:40:36.456-07:00

Don't ask me where I found the time to finally write another blog entry (okay, okay, it was underneath the bed beside the vacuum-sealed winter woolies, the little rascal), but by Jove I need to put something out there.Once again a friend who shall remain nameless (Kirsten) has had the temerity to declare that I bear an uncanny likeness to a celebrity who, in my humble opinion, is about as similar

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-48228400749116336232010-02-06T21:59:00.000-08:002010-03-07T19:55:43.440-08:00

Rightyo, I promise that’s the only time I’ll write in a Kiwi eccent…… ahem. Okay, that’s the last time for the rest of this blog. I could go on and on, but when the Australian accent sounds like we’ve all descended from crows (maaaaaaayte, croyyykee - you catch my drift?) I’ve got nary a leg to stand on, really.Have finally gotten round to writing this, so how was Christmas in New Zealand’s North

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-45693774974419283462009-11-03T23:38:00.000-08:002009-12-09T21:55:49.595-08:00

Has it really been four months since I last wrote on this thing?? Outrageous! Let’s see, what’s been going on since the last time I plonked my musings on display…Went For An Ekka Show Day Surf At Happy Valley, Caloundra - 12 AugustSolo effort, and the surf was bigger than a big Big Thing...... well, for someone at my level, anyway. Anything taller than my shoulders and longer than a bus qualifies

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-59786999659513977512009-08-06T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-06T20:33:27.727-07:00

1. The accent Like being slapped around the moosh with a Vegemite-slathered dingo steak as you get to Passport Control at the airport. Maaaaaayt, somebody get this country some VapourDrops. You know it’s true. 2. The smell of greenery as you drive away from the airport My favourite. If you’re lucky enough to arrive back in summer and have your windows down, that thick, raunchy, pungent

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-77751158966729995762009-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:002009-05-16T16:00:35.893-07:00

(L to R: First 6 pics are the Kejetia Markets; Last one is view from my room, first day. As you do).

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-74925206164513136192009-05-16T13:35:00.000-07:002009-05-16T14:09:26.951-07:00

(L to R, top to bottom: View from Fort Dixicove over the bay; From Fort Dixicove again; View from bay up to Fort Dixicove (check out the trash on the shore); Road through the bush from Busua to Dixicove; Harvested palm nuts - these are everywhere on every roadside)

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83451925631166906632009-05-13T04:57:00.000-07:002009-05-14T06:30:14.529-07:00

(L to R: Entrance to Black Mamba Point path; Black Star Surf Shop - best food in Busua; Brekky view from Black Star; Afternoon storm a-brewin'; Local's house built into the side of my hostel; The path between the buildings from main road to beach; Locals on the beach, every afternoon; Looking towards Black Mamba Point; Fishing boats and dragnets; Tro tro rockin' and rollin' with the

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-24964141895653045412009-05-13T03:25:00.001-07:002009-05-14T06:41:18.772-07:00

(L to R, top to bottom: Fort Victoria - only allowed up there with a "guide" (aka guard) because of the muggings - view from my room's window; Cape Coast Jubilee Park hoops court - no one out at midday, packed at 5pm daily; Cape Coast Post Office (abandoned); Squatting family in abandoned church; Cape Coast beach at end of the day - party time; Asofo Company emblem; Plaque commemorating the

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-62229565921670439212009-05-12T21:07:00.000-07:002009-05-12T22:01:42.604-07:00

(Top To Bottom, L to R: Locals across the road from my hostel; Dusty Accra sunset; Side street outside my hostel; View from hostel rooftop across Accra towards the Atlantic; Typical suburban Accra street; Damien and Victoria getting an impromptu drum lesson at the markets; Crystal Hostel courtyard.)

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-20652028659283389072009-05-09T13:12:00.000-07:002009-05-09T13:16:33.428-07:00

Yes indeedy folks, it's still raw and unusual here....MORE GHANAIAN TIDBITS:Kumasi and the Ashanti KingdomI've left the coast and gotten right to heart of the matter. I'm here in the heartland of the old Asante Kingdom, Kumasi, a city of 1.5 million towards the middle of Ghana. I got a book of folk tales when I was a wee laddy that included an Asante tale, "Kwaku Ananse and the Python". The

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-78040833479649593402009-05-06T06:04:00.000-07:002009-05-06T08:27:03.743-07:00

Welcome to the wet season. It's pouring outside, reminds me of the summer storms in Brisbane, all towering thunderhead clouds and lightning and sheets of water coming down all slanty-like. S while I'm stuck indoors, and while I've still got internet access, here's some more tidbits on Ghana:TIDBITSBob Geldof nailed it - you're never alone in Africa. Everyone notices the tall whiteboy by himself,

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-80801810128002278292009-05-02T02:31:00.000-07:002009-05-02T04:10:38.451-07:00

Gday from the Gold Coast, peeps. No, not the silicone-and-skin-cancer, high-rises-and-fossilised-pensioners Gold Coast in Queensland. The other one. In West Africa. The one that produces most of the world's cocoa and a shedload of the world's gold. Otherwise known as Ghana. So I guess that should be akwaaba from de Gold Coast, my frien's.Why I chose to Ghana after leaving London is a bit of a

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83111126977522766532009-04-26T19:02:00.001-07:002009-04-26T20:04:02.004-07:00

Photos from top row, left to right: Adelaide Cemetery; ANZAC Memorial Dawn Service outside Villers Brettoneux; Same; ANZAC Memorial upon arrival at 5am; Me after the Dawn Service (freezing); Me at Villers Brettoneux City Hall (note the kangaroo cutouts); Villers Bretoneux restaurant where we had breakfast after Dawn Service; Example of Villers Brettoneux streetsign; Villers Brettoneux

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-51748648269580720492009-04-26T16:49:00.000-07:002009-04-26T19:02:20.960-07:00

I don't have the verbal cutlery to adequately dissect for you the five-course banquet that is my stupidity as a traveller. I used to bristle at such a notion, but I've finally accepted this as a sad but immutable facet of my being. By all known laws of logic and probability I should've been run over, arrested, mugged, raped, swindled out of everything bar my underpants, frozen to a man-shaped

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-29220522794279688492009-04-21T01:30:00.001-07:002009-04-21T01:55:00.165-07:00

(Left to Right, top to bottom) - Keith, our resident eccentric Planner who's been everywhere in the world; Farewell drinks with friends at The Woolpack; My office in Croydon; Farewell lunch with workmates at The Green Dragon, Croydon; Luke, the other Aussie recruited direct from Oz; Wendy, our Kiwi Enviro Planner; Tom, our Chelsea-worshipping, Slayer-loving team Admin officer; Farewell drinks

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-31457238736113180622009-04-13T14:13:00.000-07:002009-04-13T14:40:24.243-07:00

Scott, Caroline from Positive TV and ISolicitor who was one of the Top 100 Thinkers in the world, me and the banker (no, I can't remember their names now - you all know how rubbish I am with names)Mid-activity in the Thames TerraceIn the Chelmondeley RoomLord Laird MC'ingThe Thames Terrace (our table in foreground, Will Travers CEO of Born Free Foundation on extreme right of shot)Edward de Bono (

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-19714806016809897292009-04-13T07:07:00.000-07:002009-04-13T08:30:42.493-07:00

Happy Easter, all. From what I've been hearing from everyone, just about the entire human race went camping somewhere / travelled somewhere / did something interesting and out of the ordinary with their mates. I expect nothing less, of course.I know that saying this will inspire a chorus of "Screw you, you're in London, whingerboy"-type reactions, but I'm genuinely envious. I did nothing. Nada.

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-61998668109500813322009-03-25T11:36:00.000-07:002009-03-25T12:30:27.232-07:00

In the last few weeks or so the sun has decided to coyly start sending suggestive looks London’s way, repeatedly flashing her warm gaze hither and yon before withdrawing behind her mask of clouds to lavish her attention on her Mediterranean bosom buddies once more.London, of course, being starved of such attention for so long, has predictably reacted like an over-s*xed teenager being flirted with

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-61886502249307514972009-03-09T11:09:00.000-07:002009-03-09T14:21:44.520-07:00

Chillin' Midigama style at Ram'sThe Proof - yes, I can now stand and ride, sort of. No, it ain't pretty. Yes, wearing a t-shirt that expanded enough to fit Shaquille O'Neal after 3 waves instead of a rashy was a hindrance. No, I will not be entering the Billabong Pro as a wildcard entry anytime in the near future. Galle Fort wall, en route to Colombo. Had to take dopey tourist photos to remind

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83865730303628756982009-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:002009-03-03T22:33:38.091-08:00

Okay, yes, I got back to The Twilight Kingdom here from two weeks with Sarah in Sri Lanka (aka Serendib, aka Ceylon) last Sunday, complete with cloudless-skies-every-day tan, dust-covered backpack and yet more foreign coins which will follow me to my grave. First chance I've had to sort my thoughts out on the place and put fingers to keyboard at the same time. Photos were taken, but will be

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-81351197216615568572009-02-03T01:13:00.000-08:002009-02-03T02:07:37.810-08:00

Upstairs neighbour working on his masterpiece..... At the Woolpack pub across the road from my place The kids that ambushed me with snowballs. Had to make a fighting retreat despite getting plastered - these kids had unnaturally-good aim. This is the right flank of their pincer movement........No, this wasn't their car

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-55250397368286586652009-02-02T01:30:00.000-08:002009-02-02T02:56:24.384-08:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-11714814651253638622009-02-01T14:55:00.000-08:002009-02-01T15:32:22.946-08:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-13187123065635885732009-01-30T12:46:00.000-08:002009-01-30T14:10:21.503-08:00

Ok, since returning from Malta, I’ve done absolutely nothing of interest apart from sample another pub older than the Australian colonies (Southwark Tavern at the Borough Markets) and shoot around at the local outdoor basketball court in zero degree temperatures one night last week – with flocks of unseen birds singing in the trees all around in the darkness, strangely enough (aren’t they all

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-52609242162671109052009-01-15T13:12:00.000-08:002009-01-15T15:28:10.719-08:00

Ah, post-Christmas winter in London.Yessiree, it’s been a tad nippy here in the Old Dart recently. For a few days last week it was even colder in London than it was in Greendland or parts of Antarctica (-11 degrees Celsius). The ocean froze at Dorset (see pic above), the Trafalgar Square fountains froze over (ditto), lakes and ponds froze over and foot long icicles formed in my street. Bookies

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-54497934599193118862009-01-15T11:39:00.000-08:002009-01-15T15:35:54.232-08:00

Last Friday afternoon saw me departing from The Land That Forgot How To Pronounce The Letter “T”, bound for a small, history-rich nation in the middle of the Med aboard a Ryan Air flight (Xmas pressie from Mum and Dad-cheers!), full of dark-eyed women and octogenarians with Yorkshire accents. Indeedy, it was off to Malta – the tiny island nation that’s twice taken everything the World’s Baddest

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-5084872958432940932008-12-26T13:19:00.000-08:002008-12-26T14:14:03.304-08:00

Ahh, Christmas - that special time of year when the entire Christian world enthusiastically sets about attempting to attain the physical dimensions of a Lancashire sow by ingesting the caloric equivalent of a well-cooked-and-seasoned 2-year-old child (the other, other white meat) in one day. Bless Coca Cola and the poultry farming mafia for making it the event it now is.Here in London, the

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-73504513723653513312008-12-10T12:04:00.000-08:002008-12-10T13:15:31.018-08:00

Well who would’ve thought Croydon was such a wild’n’crazy place? There’s been two, count ‘em, TWO national-news-worthy events here in Costa del Croydon in the last 7 days. And they don't even involve murders (Croydon's having a break from those this week, apparently - something about it being too cold to hold a knife for too long, or something). The locals must be in a veritable frenzy of

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-1477557037214156402008-11-26T12:22:00.000-08:002008-11-26T14:00:03.779-08:00

Great Odin's raven, could it really be a week-and-a-half since I bag-of-chalked back in the Roger from New York already? Where'd that go? I'm so shocked I'll be using cockney rhyming slang for the next few paragraphs.Well, to sum it up, I've not done much but horse-and-cart about at work trying to catch up with thousands of urgent emails so that I don't end up on the Adrian Mole. That, and trying

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-11287421468927119612008-11-19T13:05:00.000-08:002008-11-19T13:56:56.992-08:00

Right then, the trick here is how to tell y'all about everything I did and saw in my 7 days in Noo Yawk without this turning into something resembling the complete works of Shakespeare. Hmmm. Dot points always seem to go down a treat, so here ya go.THINGS I DID / SAW / EXPERIENCED IN THE BIG APPLE:Stayed for the duration of my trip in Spanish Harlem with my Aussie mate Scott, who's a bar manager

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-82570643611576111762008-11-19T11:59:00.000-08:002008-11-19T13:03:52.751-08:00

San Francis........uh, I mean, Brookly Bridge Almost courtside at Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks -v- Dallas Mavericks. Operation "Free Seat Upgrade": successful. Yassssss. Scotty and I about 16 rows back from halfcourt. NBA action: Knicks -v- Mavs. Da Knicks lost in overtime dough, dose bums."The Cage" basketball court in Greenwich Village, freezing cold and windy as hell! At the

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-27149463974883664412008-11-19T11:54:00.000-08:002008-11-19T11:59:02.893-08:00

Just quickly - I went down to the south coast county of Dorset the weekend before I took off to New York for my friend Zhera's surprise 30th birthday weekend getaway with all her friends (as organised by her hubby Mark). Great weekend. The car I was in only just arrived as Zhera and Mark's cab pulled up, so we had to sneak into this big country cottage out in the middle of nowhere right past Zed

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-65476105468256747152008-11-19T11:39:00.000-08:002008-11-19T11:53:56.092-08:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-1378298656899543952008-11-05T13:28:00.000-08:002008-11-05T13:48:19.033-08:00

Well well, a brave new world's dawned upon us, with The Cool Drink of Water trouncing Grandpoppy Maverick in the race to become Grand Poobah of the Free World (plus the USA, which is officially a corporate arm of Sony these days, I believe).It was quite the spectacle here last night and this morning, with thousands of expat Yankees partying the night away in American-themed bars, clubs and

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83234443528627185342008-11-05T13:15:00.000-08:002008-11-05T13:27:48.459-08:00

Tea, anyone? Dublin Castle Underground river in Dublin Castle Guiness Brewery waterfall Three guesses......

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-30572165907792479272008-11-05T12:39:00.000-08:002008-11-05T13:14:19.018-08:00

Prep Time Another successful operation Knock-off time at Dublin Memorial Hospital was always eagerly awaited Australian medical staff: incompetent

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-68785267793166126142008-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:47:03.424-07:00

You can always spot an Aussie labourer in London because they're the ones wearing boardies and wifebeaters with their fluero vest in 1-degree temperature.One of the more interesting things about London when it gets cold so far: walking through carparks in the morning and seeing cars carrying a nice, chunky 30cm-thick frosting of ice on top, making them look like giant cupcakes with tyres. Yes,

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-82328236626811459162008-10-29T16:56:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:48:26.710-07:00

Tudor houses - drunken St Albans Cathedral Oldest Pub in the UK (apparently) - Ye Old Fighting Cocks

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-61298709461156107342008-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:002008-10-29T07:12:24.665-07:00

Had one of those trips this weekend. Decided to check out St Albans, a small city/large town approximately 25 minutes north of London and a place with a wonderfully varied history. The Romans joined in the farming-and-brewing fun with the locals in AD43 and transformed the existing village into England’s third biggest city (called Verulamium), then Queen Boudiccea and her All-Singin',

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-66175343211095824172008-10-21T12:04:00.000-07:002008-10-21T12:22:05.525-07:00

Yass, it's Autumn here in London and don't all those piles of leaves look sensational as a big thumb-on-the-nose to the glass'n'steel-loving architects' broad concrete plazas and suddenly-cluttered clean lines. Get a bit'a nature in ya, Jones Lang LaSalle.Ahem. Anyway, quick updates. This past week I:(1) Went on a Jack The Ripper Walking Tour through Whitechapel (last Thursday night) to catch up

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-33163274032492964072008-10-21T11:32:00.000-07:002008-10-21T12:02:54.676-07:00

St Paul's Cathedral TATE MODERN MILLENIUM BRIDGE AND ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL EVERYONE'S TALKIN' TATE

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-11463404922823646432008-10-21T11:24:00.000-07:002008-10-21T11:32:01.700-07:00

BARNSLEY FANS: UNLOVED

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-36460981203900894922008-10-20T12:50:00.000-07:002008-10-20T13:04:42.946-07:00

Well, as i sit here in my loungeroom surrounded by the delicate aroma of yet another culinary bonfire (Guy Fawke's Night IS just round the corner, y'know), London groans and buckles under the relentless weight of the Credit Crunch (Its been upgraded to capital letters now - thank you, mass media, for telling us simpletons when something's really important).On a night when the Exchequer's just

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-82599477737245434892008-10-15T12:25:00.000-07:002008-10-15T13:14:58.532-07:00

Well, due to work-related time-paucity, yours truly's not had a worthwhile jot to report in Ye Olde London Blogge since last week. Aye, I attended a stonking End of Summer Party (see pics below) on Saturday night and drank too much cider, and spent Saturday morning wallowing in the sensory overload that is the Borough Markets again, but that hardly qualifies as an acceptable substitute. So here's

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-10402437414961954832008-10-15T12:08:00.001-07:002008-10-15T12:19:50.254-07:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-28488518492225738292008-10-08T15:49:00.000-07:002008-10-08T16:03:48.897-07:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-11266532366225926522008-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:002008-10-07T12:08:58.582-07:00

Friday night - went to the Concrete and Glass Music and Arts Festival at Shoreditch with Scotty (uni mate). Sampled first Brick Lane curry (wasn't too bad - the huckstering by the doormen at every restaurant down the entire street was better) prior to having a wander. Checked out one place that played nothing but '50's hits (surprisingly better than it sounds) then missed out on seeing the main

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-7283958379767980202008-10-07T11:29:00.000-07:002008-10-07T11:30:34.009-07:00

- UK Knifing Epidemic Set To Reach Highest LevelYes, that's right, I'm talking Downing Street again, people. After the washing-machine-like lead-up to the Labour Cabinet re-shuffle, PM Gordie's crew has stunned everyone by appointing........ a former Labour MP who's been sacked twice already and who's said to be PM Gordie's most venomous opponent. Confused? So's everyone here. Rumour has it that

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-82453981163452611352008-10-02T13:03:00.000-07:002008-10-02T13:06:27.744-07:00

Southwark Cathedral

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-15484164053856785232008-10-02T13:00:00.000-07:002008-10-02T13:03:36.723-07:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-40211128402532677352008-10-02T12:57:00.000-07:002008-10-02T13:00:01.903-07:00

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-84404894891354917552008-10-02T12:56:00.000-07:002008-10-02T12:57:11.237-07:00

Lunch at The Scoop

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-68177541605746347872008-10-02T00:40:00.000-07:002008-10-02T00:45:42.387-07:00

Top o' the mornin' to ye. Hope the blog's working for you all, and here's to brave new adventures in cyberspace (for yours truly the tech-Britney, anyway).THE WEEK IN BRIEFFor all of those with attention spans as short as Paris Hilton's IQ number, this past week I:- Went to a farewell 'do in a gorgeous 3-storey terrace house (with a backyard AND a bbq - see pics on Facebook for now) and then

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-87640333136952289142008-09-30T11:56:00.000-07:002008-09-30T11:59:41.717-07:00

As Kermit the Frog used to say when reporting live from wherever on Sesame Street, hi ho. Yep, the sun's shining again on London's Indian Summer, people are out and about in shorts and t-shirts all over the place on the weekends and you'd think they'd be happy about it. But nope, everyone's Chicken-Littling about an impending Sleet Age for the next 6 months or so. Hmmm. At least they're still

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-77498248784885071882008-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:002008-09-30T11:53:32.314-07:00

Evenin' all. Well, after countless hours of internet struggles I've given up on attaching pics of everything from the last week or so in favour of just getting this damn thing sent at all. Anyway. Has been an interesting and extremely busy week since last I wrote, so, to sum it all up for you....Things I Have Done Since Last Time:- Met up with the London branch of my old club basketball team

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-4051862642295126642008-09-30T11:40:00.000-07:002008-09-30T11:44:28.945-07:00

Orright then.After a week of doing nothing but sorting stuff out and combatting the Etihad flu while trekking all over the city of London, here are some of my general observations to celebrate my first week as a Londoner. I serve these up keeping in mind most of you have also been to or come from London and that I've also been here a few times before and have had most of these pop into my head

jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-5085586741611681902008-09-30T11:38:00.000-07:002008-09-30T11:39:30.641-07:00

Masalaam alaikum, habibis,Hope you're all well. I'm currently tapping this out on a laptop in London's southwest, with rain misting down outside and the BBC news anchors pumping out breathless updates on just how flooded Wales currently is and how much doo-doo Gordon Brown is in for not agreeing to handouts for struggling pensioners this winter (in both cases, very). A dark and stormy time for

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