MELBOURNE ZOO

On Boxing Day we decided to go to the Melbourne Zoo (http://www.zoo.org.au/).

We were very lucky as the day was sunny and warm (around 26C) but not excessively so. This meant that we could comfortably view the landscaped and the natural animal enclosures.

After the family had wondered around for a few hours we began to get hungry and decided to eat our prepacked lunch which consisted sandwiches (ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce) as well as cakes. Due to the warm weather we had ice creams as well.

We ended up staying until the children began to get over tired (approx 5 hours).

While we wondered around we took some family photos...











and one of a pink painted tiger.







We also took some photos of the animals...

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

FLY AWAY

People ask me various questions around this time of year and they all pretty much centre on the following two themes - family and why am I here. No matter what I answer they remain dubious due to the weather (the grey drizzly 6 month winters compared to the 9 months of balmy sunny days in my home land) and the lifestyle (the difference in the activities one will/not be doing in each country e.g. choices of work, recreation, etc).

The statement which ultimately ends the conversation (and I use when I've had enough of the prying) is 'I can always go back there' (though I rarely say that). I have once (when I was in a particularly prickly mood and they wont let the matter drop) emphasised the unspoken extra three words ... 'and you cant'.

However, there is a catch - I am required to squeeze into a tin can with a few hundred other anti-social people for at least 24 hours (could be up to 36 depending on stopover destinations and refueling requirements) with inedible food, suffer jet lag for a week and loose around 2 days each way of my annual leave in travelling.

This may seem like a small price to pay but it is getting harder and harder as the years go on.

Much like my recent rant in 'Into The Night', there are those which shouldn't travel (especially under the above conditions) as they bring out the worst in themselves not to mention those they encounter.

I think I am generally an ok traveller but even I can be tested. What tests me are the 1001 little things that slowly wear you down as the journey goes on and on. Some examples are:

- being told that one person hasn't turned up for the flight and they now have to unload all the bags to get that person's luggage out before we can fly (to this I say leave it there and let them pay for it getting back).

- the cute kid kicking my seat for the entire flight and the parent refusing to stop them.

- the fact that I'm stuck in the middle seat between two people who wont let me out for a pee.

- the cabin crew who refuse to bring you a drink cause they've decided its night time.

- the group two rows down who've decided that they'll loudly talk for the entire journey (about nothing in particular) when everyone around them is trying to sleep.

- getting a seat where the audio doesn't work no matter how many pairs of headsets you demand.

- being told that they've run out of 'X' so you have to eat the one thing you despise.

- the person who thinks that they have the right to sit in both your seat and theirs.

The list is actually endless but you get the idea.

Its when I get all of the above in one flight and not a wink of sleep that I am not a happy flier.

Ahh in a few hours I'll get to begin this experience again.

This is why I'm not excited about 'going home'. Despite all this, I am always happy 'to be home' - see family and friends.

OFFICE VIEWS

People in offices only notice that time passes when they glimse away from their illuminated screens through the windows to the world passing by.

If you are several floors up nothing generally passes (except for the odd plane) but you can certainly see the change in the weather, no matter what the season.

Here are some views of Canary Wharf which I've managed to capture.

10.00 am - A Rare Sunny Start To The Day

1:00pm - The Weather Turns To Grey And Raining

4:00pm - It's Winter So Darkeness Arrives

4:30pm - Inside Canary Wharf Station

INTO THE NIGHT

My little black (with grey mesh) dress is serving me well. My latest Christmas party meant that I was wined, dined and danced from 6 to 11pm (Oh yeah, I'm a rager! The curse of the need to get the last train home).

By leaving time I'd managed to drink enough wine to a happy traveller. It also allowed time to pass quiet quickly i.e. the bus timetable promised it would stop at the pickup point every 5mins but actually didn't arrive for 20mins yet it only felt like 2mins. I knew this as a fellow traveller (category 7) continued to mutter the time desperately trying to will the vehicle into existence.

I didn't mind; I had people to watch. And watch I did.

:-) (Me happy)

The types of people getting the last train/bus home generally fall into the following categories:

1. Poor
Those that have a ticket to work (or a return from earlier in the day) and know that they can get most (if not all) the way home with that. It doesn't matter if it's snowing they've spent all their money on booze already.

2. Sober enough to realise home is safety
There's a point (everyone's been there) where for a split second a person realises that if they don't go home now its going to hurt (hangover, memories, photographs, friends, etc) tomorrow (or the next day you see your friends and/or ex friends/lover/work colleague, etc inform you of your antics).

3. Idiots
They know that the last public transport vehicle is where they fit in. Its an inbuilt homing device (a base instinct - like grunting). One 'idiot' is amusing, two is painful, more is dangerous. That's when person in point 2 realises that they have to get home first before they're 'safe' and this may not happen.

4. Taxi wont take them
Everyone has their limits and money can only buy you so much. These people are either too drunk, violent, poor (wont pay up), green (i.e. ready to vomit), down right shady, etc. A combination of the aforementioned is unfortunate and will bring the person to eventually disappear as they unsuccessfully continue to try to get a taxi for over an hour before a sliver (usually its a bolt of lighting) of realisation penetrates the brain and stirs the body to the nearest public transport vehicle.

5. Groups
These people consider safety in numbers an advantage - against everyone else. Usually there is a leader who often shepherds the rest into the vehicle with phrases like 'There's too many to get a taxi', 'If we all stick together it'll be ok', 'I do this all the time....', 'There's enough of us to....', etc. It's hilarious when the leader requires ALL of these phrases to muster their little flock. If your lucky there's a category 3 and/or 2 in the group to liven it up a bit.

6. Chancers
These people (usually small groups but occasionally a single individual) actually calculate whether it's quicker to get home/to the next party by cab or not. Often they inform their party that 'if a cab doesn't come before the next train/bus we'll get on' as they stand near enough to the stop but far enough away so that a taxi might stop. They often resemble a pro or drug dealer loitering with intent.

7. Normal people
These are the unfortunate individuals which have worked late, on shift work, other modes of transport let them down, etc. They're sober and are just wanting to get home. These people endure the meshing of the above as just another horrific trip home; often sitting/standing with a steely determination in their eyes. Some are on the verge of going insane (one too many trips on public transport late at night will do that). They position themselves so that they can get off in an instant (usually if there's trouble brewing because of types 3 and/or 4 not being able to 'play' nice) and are ready to defend themselves in an instant.

Notice that the above doesn't get into stereotypes. Nor does it refer to gender. That's cause its irrelevant!

Well, I admit I was definitely in category 2 (I didn't even try for a taxi so category 4 is out but I was also in category 1) but after my long wait at the bus stop, then a train, and another bus (total of 1 hour trying to get home) I was at category 7.

To be brutally honest, I was so happy to get home (and out of the 3C night) that I snuggled into a warm bed and didn't consider my adventures until I had a full English breakfast the next afternoon.

:-) (Me happy)

OUT ON THE TOWN

In the spirit of Christmas we were rushing around trying to catch up with everyone so when Eric was in town and Tim and Megan were free we had a perfect excuse to meet up for dinner in Central London.

We had arranged to met at Embankment tube station at 6pm.

Mike and I arrived and were waiting inside when I noticed out of the corner of my eye the back a guy hanging around out near the road (in the cold rain) and then walking up the stairs to the bridge. I commented to Mike about this and swore it looked like Tim. It was very hard to tell as he wore a beanie and had a rucksack on top of his heavy coat.

We concluded that I was just 'seeing things' as the guy had left. Also, Tim would've waited, out of the cold and rain, inside the station like us.

Another 15 mins past and the same guy walked down the steps and into the station where we were waiting.

It WAS Tim! I'd been right.

Eric then emerged from the depths of the station and we decided to find somewhere where we could chat whilst we waited for Megan; she was working later than the rest of us.

After some thought and disheartening looks at the drizzly rain we decided to go with Eric's suggestion - The Tattershall Castle. This was a boat situated on the Thames near Embankment so it wasn't far from our meeting point

It was quiet a weird feeling as we sat sipping our drinks as the boat is moored so it sways. It was interesting as I imagined we were ships officers having a jovial drink in the Captin's mess. Ahh ... the grandeur of my dreams.

The views were quite nice despite the weather.

From there we wondered around Covent Gardens looking for a nice restaurant and found a few but they were full. We should've known as it was the festive season and there were lots of office parties having their annual outing.

Eventually we decided to go to China Town as it's always busy but yet you are never turned away nor told to wait an hour.
We ended up having a very nice meal. However, it was the company that was the best.

To commemorate the evening we had a couple of photos taken.

CONEYBERRY FRIENDS CHRISTMAS GATHERING

THEME

The theme was to give something back this Christmas i.e. so many of us get wrapped up in the idea of Christmas that we forget what it is actually about...

So our hostess thought that we should all buy a present for a children's hospice in her area (http://www.chasecare.org.uk/default.asp).

IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

To get into the Christmas spirit we were all commanded to dress Christmassy (at least wear a Christmas hat) but not as Santa or Mrs Santa as this was our hosts costumes.

EXCHANGING OUR PRESENTS

So us big kids didn't feel left out we also got into the Christmas spirit by playing a couple of games...

... and brought a wrapped "unisex" present up to the value of £5.00 so Santa (aka the host) could hand them out to all of us. Once Santa had handed a gift to each of us. We then unwrapped the present and held it high so everyone could see.

The Wayward Child's partner got a box of chocolates and scratchie card, whilst I got a brain teaser game. These were mild as there was a Karma Sutra book, naughty dares game, etc whilst at the other end of the spectrum there were very tame gifts such as Christmas mugs, chocolates, etc.

Then our hostess informed us of a twist - we were all to draw a number out of a bag. The person with the number two could then swap their present with the person with number one. Once they swapped or kept their gift then number three could swap their gift with either number one or number two. This continued until everyone had been given an option.

The Wayward Child's partner drew number six and I drew number nine (yes the thought occurred to us too!).

This game was extremely amusing as there were some gifts that were more highly sought than others. This resulted in hilarious swaps which gave rise to shouts and exclamations of 'No, I wanted that' or 'Ohhhh, not fair' and the odd 'Yes! It's mine!'.

By the end of the game I still had the brain teaser game whilst the Wayward Child's partner had a mini bottle of champagne.

NO EGGNOG BUT MUCH MERRIMENT

Once the serious part was done (exchanging of gifts) we put ourselves to the task of merriment. This began with belting a few ballads out using singstar and was followed by dancing which lasted to the wee hours.

THE MOUSE TRAP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap

We went to a weeknight performance of Agatha Christie's ‘The Mousetrap’ a St Martin’s theatre and were seated in the 3 rows back from the front in the Upper Circle (the highest level).

From this point we were able to see the whole stage and there wasn't anything to obscure the view except for a fellow viewers head.

However, we did have an odd angle of view i.e. 60 degrees down. This meant that we could see the top of the performers heads including bald spots.

The size of the seating space was extremely small which resulted in all of us being uncomfortable throughout the whole play. My knees were over the top of the seat in front of me. Anyone sitting there had my knees in the back of their head.

I'm of average size so you can imagine what the taller members felt and endured. One even put their legs over the top of the seat in front. This resulted in their feet resting on the cushion where you put your bum.

THE PLAY
The play has now been running for 56 years during which time over 23,000 performances have been given.

There have been no fewer than 382 actors and actresses appearing in the play, 116 miles of shirts have been ironed and over 415 tons of ice cream sold. (Yeah!, they sell ice cream in the highbrow, culture show!)

Some cast members are in the Guinness Book of Records, David Raven as the 'Most Durable Actor' for 4575 performances as Major Metcalf, and the late Nancy Seabrooke for a record breaking 15 years as an understudy.


THE PLOT

The story is about a young couple (50's term which should say recently married as the performers didn't look that young - nothing personal), Mollie and Giles Ralston, who have started up a new hotel in the converted Monkswell Manor. They are snowed in together with four guests and an additional traveller, who ran his car into a snowdrift. Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives on skis to inform the group that he believes a murderer is on his way to the hotel, following the death of Miss Maureen Lyon in London.

When one of the guests – Mrs Boyle (a right old bitch) – is killed, they realise that the murderer is already there. The suspicion falls first on Christopher Wren, an erratic young man who fits the description of the supposed murderer. However, it quickly transpires that the killer could be any one of the guests, or even the hosts themselves.

THE TWIST

By tradition, at the end of each performance, audiences are asked not to reveal the identity of the killer to anyone outside the theatre, to ensure that the end of the play isn't spoiled for future audiences. The play has been running for so long that this twist is common knowledge.