28 + 8 + 100,000 + 23 + bugger + 85 points = 100,059, bugger and 85 points

There has been a movie made about this website, its called 28 days later. Sadly I actually counted out the 28 days since my last post on the calendar before writing this, such dedication to my readership. Lots to report, grab a pillow and put on your pyjamas for another exciting installment.

Woke up at 8am this morning, I seriously needed a sleep in, but was too excited about the Geelong v Stkilda match. Had to stop myself from shouting ‘Yessss’ when afl.com.au loaded up and I saw we had won. Mum bought me a subscription to the AFL website last week. I can watch full match replays from the last 6 seasons or something crazy. Makes London more bearable for sure. London is changing quite a lot though, the weather is much better, the flowers are coming out and getting to know the people is changing my mind about them slowly. The constant traffic noise and living with 4 girls still drives me nuts, but its really a great experience over here. When you sit back and think you are in London with an incredible job, it puts everything into perspective.

Somehow Fi rigged a prize draw at work (clever girl) and we won tickets to the FA Cup Semi Final at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales a few weeks back. We watched Arsenal play Blackburn Rovers on the Saturday. Walking to the ground, their was an amazing atmosphere, 100,000 drunk, fat, bald middle aged men wearing football shirts. Football (they don’t like being called soccer) is crazy over here. They divide the city in two, one team on one half of the city. The stadium was the same, about the same size as the MCG and they divide the ground in half with a couple of sections in between each team so they can’t throw things at each other. Wierd huh? Then when you leave the city, the buses for each teams supporters leave in opposite directions from the city. We sat in the thick of the Arsenal crowd. Bunch of arrogant bastards and they have these completely stupid chants going all game long. I didnt have the heart or stupidity to let them know that they couldn’t win the championship and that actually they weren’t the best team in the world as they kept telling themselves. Needless to say I was barracking for Blackburn Rovers. Not too loudly though, I wouldve been killed if anyone found out. My team was looking good for the first half, playing like the Socceroos, more blatant fouling than soccer nous. If they actually gave better delivery to the forwards they wouldve kicked about 4 after 45 minutes. Arsenal were lucky and scored 3 or 4 in the second half, too much quality. Was great to see the Blackburn captain do a ‘Mark Yeates against Dermott Brereton in 1989′ effort against one of the Arsenal players right after he scored (apologies for the obscure Geelong reference). The game was OK, at least I can say I have been to a football match now, pretty boring when no-one scores for 70 minutes though (spoilt bastard aren’t I). After the game the streets were filled with drunker, fatter, not neccessarily balder, but slightly older middle aged men again, filling each pub to their brim. As much as I wanted to stay and watch the ensuing fights, we went for a walk down to Cardiff Bay. After passing 45,000 Arsenal supporter buses we reached the Bay, pretty cool place. After walking around and feigning interest for an hour, we headed to the closest pub and soaked up the sun and too much red wine. Walking back to the city centre was quite a strange experience. Despite the crowd from the match that day and the supporters here for the Manchester United v Newcastle match the next day, the place was a ghost town! We walked through the streets dumbfounded, where the hell was everyone. Wales is a bizarre place. The next day we bided time until our bus departed at 6pm. Our hotel was out in the sticks and we walked to Castle Coch which was about 20 minutes away and looked cool from our hotel. Amazing place because not many people would go there, there is a reason for that though, the place is pretty crap, we were fooled by its appearance. After Castle Coch, we went to a local pub and watched the other FA cup clash. The highlight of the day was the bus ride home, good bye Wales.

Actually got out of the house and saw some of London last weekend. Went to Borough market, a cool food market near London Bridge and roamed around eyeing off the pastries. Took advantage of the great weather (great meaning 23 degrees or so) and caught the tube to Hyde Park, very relaxing reading the paper and dozing amongst the picknicking crowd, the parks are definetly a highlight over here and will be brilliant in the summer. This weekend (when i get out of bed) we are off to see the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park and maybe Harrods. Starting to get our act together, the time is flying over here and we aren’t the most organised of people. Still undecided on our travel plans, most likely back in Aus for a month in February and then back here for maybe 2 or 3 years. We change our minds every day though.

Exciting month ahead, Fi is off to Italy in a couple of weeks, then we have Glastonbury, Fi heads off to Turkey and Greece with the girls and lots of fresh faces arriving in May and June. On the other hand lots of people are leaving us soon as well, seems to be the time when everything reshuffles. The next time I have a moment to think it will be on this same page. Excuse my complete lack of communication, should be a given by now for most of you anyway. Work is really demanding for both of us at the moment, very stressful but we are learning every day.

Miss you all, great to hear from you in emails and messages. Hope Geelong pumps Carlton next week for the McKells. Love Cam and Fi. Photos up by the end of the weekend.

Comments:

Ross (May 8th, 2005 at 7:41 am)
Love the abstract arithmetic, but you still can’t spell! Seem to recall a previous commitment to return to Oz if the Catters made the Grand Final—have you lost the faith? We were great against the Sainters but not conclusive given their injuries, although it probably sets up as most likely GF given some issues at West Coast and Port and Bris being way back. Glad you are touristing at last, next few weeks sound fun —enjoy!

Campbell (May 8th, 2005 at 5:40 pm)
Revision - see you in September.

Chris (May 11th, 2005 at 1:04 pm)
Yeah, September will be great. Cats/Dogs Grand Final….It will be Awesome!!!

Tam (May 15th, 2005 at 4:25 am)
2 or 3 yrs!! no way! i hope you guys change your minds about that soon! but are you def sill coming for sept? it’s soon! i love reading all your stories. very interesting. Tam

Sarah (May 16th, 2005 at 8:33 am)
You do know that you can’t stay away for that long as we will forget about you and have to adopt another son/brother. Already Scott has been writing Mother’s Day cards to your mother stating that he is her second son, so be warned!