A Land Down Under Part 1

The beginning of March saw Ric and I travel to Australia for Sandi's wedding. Ric flew out first as he had to go to Sydney for work and in doing so managed to blag a free flight (though horror of horrors had to go 'economy' to fly back with me). So on a sunny Brisbane morning he was met by a sweaty, smelly, hungry and jetlagged version of myself in quite the foul mood. So it was the perfect time for him to catch up with some old school friends whilst I slept off the jetlag...

Myself, Ric and Jess outside the Wickham on Big Gay Day

The next day there was no rest for the wicked as we headed off to the Wickham Pub for Brisbane's annual Big Gay Day. It is basically a street party with bad food, lots of drinking and some awful D List acts (Leo Sayer was performing!!!!). Being 37 degrees celsius certainly forced to aclimatise from the English winter. We met up with Columb, Damien, Jess, Graham and Sammy and drunk from around 1pm until around midnight. I introduced Ric to bundy rum and got appropriately feral and even managed to tuck into a proper Australian Kebab.
We spent the next couple of days crusing along the river, shopping, getting in some more drinks, food and plenty of sunshine. I met up with Vicki who had just finished 2nd in National Athletics Championships (High Jump) as well as Charlene who was as adorable as ever.

We then headed down through the Gold Coast hinterland to Murwillimbah (narrowly avoiding a Texas Chainsaw Massacre style hitchhiker) to see my dog Jorgi who is now staying with an amazing older lady called Sybil Primrose (she has no surname). Sybil's a bit of a meditation guru and self helper, a very interesting character who was taking care of a very relaxed and healthy looking Jorgi.

Jorgi

After a quick stop over in Byron Bay it was up the coast to Coolongatta to stay at the beautiful Blue C apartments. The complex is managed by Rene's parents and the rooms are just divine! Rene's parents were incredibly hospitable and really lovely people. We spent a very chilled out two days there by the beach (I even managed to get Ric into the water) and topped up our suntans for the wedding. Then it was back up the coast via a small traffic jam and onto a Jetstar plane up to Airlie Beach...

The view from our apartment

The Queens' Birthday

No I'm not making mention of her Royal Highness, but of the lovely Mike and Simon who both celebrated their birthdays in January.

Simon (who is better known for playing Blanche in The Golden Girls) had a civil gathering (obviously befitting his age) at the Freedom Bar in Soho. Though it was a rare opportunity to take a snanp of both he and ric in a non pouting pose...

Mike's bash took place on a Tuesday evening at G-A-Y bar. Getting their early armed with many gold coloured coins, it was not long before we had taken over the juke box for the evening. Around 30 songs later the night culminated with Mike and Dale's Top 10 cheese anthems. From memory it included: Chocolate and Better The Devil You Know by Kylie, Waterloo by Abba, Disrememberence by Dannii, Like A Prayer by Madonna, Crucified by Army of Lovers, Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, Wake Me Up by Girls Aloud, The Reflex by Duran Duran and You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive (including our choreographed dance performance). Only the strongest could continue onto G-A-Y late. This did not include Natalie who hugged a homeless man on the way and was refused entry. I being the chivalrous gentleman that I am made sure she got home ok by pointing out where the tube was in a round about fashion before heading inside.

Rachel, Me, Julia, Paul and Mike

Don't they make a nice couple eh?

Mike, Me, Paul, Julia and Sarah in background

Belated Holiday Posting

Yes I'm completely uselss and have not updated this for nearly 6 months... So I'll post some photos and give you a quick recap of the holiday period (which basically consisted of getting quite drunk for 2 months)

Nicole and I hosted Christmas at our place for Ric, Mike, Renee, Zoe and Real Estate Bree. Football Bree and her friend came later on. Without tooting my own horn the food prepared by Ric and myself was bloody lovely! Presents were shared, drinks were consumed and we all watched the Queen's Speech and Eastenders. Drinking, music and dancing continued into the wee hours before we all passed out ready for the clean up the next day...

Some post eating Xmas madness: Mike, Zoe (with hat on), Me, Ric, Bree and Renee

New Years began as a more sedate affair as Ric and Katy had a few friends over at their place for nibbles and champagne. However before the stroke of midnight we were in the The Two Brewers watching drag queens count in 2007. We stayed with Simon and Michael till the wee hours singing, dancing and making fun of the freaks who'd ventured out (70 years old is not a good age to start becoming an amateur transvestite). Late into the night we were joined by Ric's school mates which was a bloody nice touch and a great end to the evening. It was then all back to Ric and Katy's again where we were joined by a random neighbour before eventually crashing when the sun came up.

Ric, Michael and Katy

Next drunken event was Australia Day. Nicole, Renee, Zoe, Kate (+friend), Bree, Adele, John and myself all headed off to The Swan in Stockwell for another night of debauchery. After a fair few snakebites we all took over the stage and (attempted to) dance the night away as well as sing into parents' phones back in Oz to 'I Still Call Australia Home'. I got a little carried away and jumped onto a spilt drink, slipped over and bashed my head on the edge of the stage. Zoe then dragged me (kicking and screaming obviously) to the bar for the first of many many Jager Bombs of the evening. I eventually stumbled into Ric's house around 3am wearing a cork hat and I was soon joined by his equally inebriated housemate Aleks. There may have then been a drunken rendition of the national anthem performed... but errr... I don't remember

At The Swan: Nic, Me, Kate, Zoe and Renee


Aleks and I wearing v silly hats