Vern's Blog.

Dark Helmet and a wee bit of truth

2009-02-01T00:47:00.001-08:00

Not much comment required for these two... some real truths and well isn't that the biggest blackest helmet you ever did see. I want one.

Stowaway

2009-01-26T02:03:00.000-08:00

...and there I was, just popping up to Palm Beach for a bbq with a few folks, stopped off for some water at a petrol station and as I opened my car door something caught my eye....can you spot it?

I'd already got in and out of the car several times before Shelob moved and caught my eye. Cor blimey I shit me pants I can tell you. I mean, the little bugger had been sat inches from my head for the last half an hour! Well...suffice to say, there was no way I was getting back into the car with that thing scurrying about right next to my head. So, I collected my camera to get a couple of 'evidence' shots whilst I took a couple of minutes to figure out what to do with said hairy beast. I had nothing to remove it with and the lady who was parked in the car spot next to me wouldn't even get out of her car. Her boyfriend was no better either.

This thing is a huntsman spider. Non venomous but pretty big and really really quick. Being bitten by one is like being stabbed with two pens, and well, that doesn't sound very appealing. When they spread out their legs they have an impressive span, but this one is hiding a bit. Apparently it might actually be scared of me (oh, the irony) and was hunched up in a defensive 'bugger off' posture. Well, unfortunately for Incey Wincey I was in no position to leave him be. I had to move him otherwise I couldn't get back in the car and I couldn't leave the car there, so i very professionally threw my hat at it. At first I just pissed it off but eventually after about a dozen attacks of my Indiana Jones style hat, faster than light itself, it shot off further into the car, somewhere inside the engine bay through a hole in the door. This created a bit of a conundrum as I could no longer see it. What also concerned me was the fact that It might drop out of the holes the pedals go through onto my feet. Problem was, the more I stood there thinking about it, the more I realised I was just going to have to get on with it - as stated I couldn't leave the car there. So, after twenty minutes or so I had satisfied myself it wasn't too close to my feet (mainly by whacking the plastic surrounds and generally trying to scare it away) I got back in the car and drove very gingerly for the next few hours. Every time i even thought something brushed my leg I jumped a mile...

Feel free to click on this photo for a nice close up. At some point over the next few days I'll let Andy know that we have a stowaway. Thing is, they like really warm dark places and inside a car is their idea of utopia, so I can't imagine it leaving. For the next few months I'm a public transport man. Don't like driving anyway (cough)...

Christmas Day 2008

2009-01-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho

Christmas this year was unusual. Great fun, oh yes, but it just seemed a little odd not being round the table with Mum, Dad, Chris, Tim et al (all while trying to sneak an extra large portion of smoked salmon mousse ring...lol). Instead I spent it on a wee beach overlooking Manly in 30 degree sunshine. I had a lovely day with Simone's family and my cousins (and uncle) on Shelly Beach eating oysters with tabasco (mmm), drinking beers and snorkelling amongst the coral.

Uncle Mike enjoying an oyster, part of the fabulous spread provided by all for Christmas lunch

Everyone on the beach, as you might expect, was in joyous mood with carols being sung on the beach in the blazing sunshine (you would occasionally catch a distant 'FIIIIVE GOOOOOOOLLLLLD RINGS' from another party at various points throughout the day)

This was actually Little Manley just over the other side of the Manly peninsula.

Finally....I can't take the credit for the following photo as I don't have an underwater camera but this is a Grouper fish. These things grow bloody huge. Anyway, the reason for this photo is that whilst snorkelling I came across one of these. The one I found out on the reef was about 4 feet long and a foot high. I mean it was HUGE. It came so close and was completely uninterested in me and I obviously posed no threat to the point that I could reach out and touch it as it swum not six inches from my nose. Most cool indeed.

The view back across to Shelly Beach from the Howitt's rooftop apartment. To the left is the Pacific Ocean and the wide open sea!

Welcome wee guest

2009-01-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

Thought I might just pop these on. As you can imagine, living in a country with an unbalanced claim on most of the world's dangerous, venomous and downright creepy little (or massive as the case may be) creatures, we get a few unwelcomed house guests. Many of these guests are removed by way of chemical death. Occasionally we get a little bug that is quite welcome and really quite cool - as can be seen of these shots of our Preying Mantis. I did not name him Jesus as that would be cliched and, most importantly, mis-spelt.

I spent a few minutes up close just watching him, and he watching me with his beeeeeeeeedy little eyes. He was probably sizing up whether i would go well in a mushroom sauce or something, but decided that I was probably a bit lean. He scuttled off and last I heard he was chasing the elephants round their enclosure at Taronga Zoo. Just for fun.

What a cool little chap.

Stuff I forgot to mention...

2008-11-25T03:09:00.000-08:00

Here's a real interesting little spider that you see around. I've not figured out how it gets the leaf...perhaps spins the web and waits for one to drop, but it then wraps it up and lives in it. It's odd seeing all these floating leaves around...after all you can't see the web from a few feet away, just the leaf. You can see his legs sticking out but he didn't want to play much more and i was going to get any closer.

I also went to a fantastic beach with Auntie Trish, Liam and Sim but forgot to post! Shame on me...which reminds me I have Kangaroo Valley to put some photos on as well. Will get round to it soon.

Liam, seen here, was clearly hatching a plan. Something about his demeanour gave it away. I suspected it involved beer. Which, for the record, I am honestly convinced is fully legal on this beach but was hidden from sight, your honor, only to protect it from the sunlight (cough).

And it's always sad when we see a dead animal, as can be noted in this photo. The man who discovered this poor unfortunate pigeon didn't even have the heart to move it from its final resting place. What a sensitive soul.

I didn't take this one to be fair. I just don't like pigeons. :-D

Towers in the sky

2008-11-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

I heard about the Burj Dubai some time ago but when I saw these I thought it was about time I blogged about it.

Burj Dubai ( "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure ever built, despite being incomplete. Construction began in 2004 and is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in September 2009.

The projected final height of Burj Dubai is officially being kept a secret due to competition from other buildings under construction or proposed; however, figures released by a contractor on the project have suggested a height of around 818 m (2,684 ft).

Over 45,000 m3 of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes were used to construct the concrete and steel foundation, which features 192 piles buried more than 164 ft deep. When completed, Burj Dubai's construction will have used 330,000 m3 of concrete and 39,000 tonnes of steel rebar (enough to extend over a quarter of the way around the world if laid end-to-end)

As construction of the tower progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to vertically pump the thousands of cubic metres of concrete that are required. Concrete is pumped to a delivery height of 601 m - special mixes of concrete are made to withstand the extreme pressures of the massive weight of the tower.

The consistency of the concrete on the project is essential. It was difficult to create a concrete that could withstand the thousands of tonnes bearing down on it and also withstand Gulf temperatures that can reach 50 °C (122 °F). To combat this problem, the concrete is not poured during the day. Instead, ice is added to the mixture and it is poured at night when it is cooler and the humidity is higher. A cooler concrete mixture cures evenly throughout and therefore is less likely to set too quickly and crack. Any significant cracks could put the whole project in jeopardy.

It has the world's fastest lifts at 40mph and will, of course, be decadently furnished and technologically class-leading throughout. No expense spared i'm sure.

It's a big bugger isn't it? I mean it just dwarfs the skyscrapers around it.

You can see in this comparison though why this one is a little bit special. I mean look how much taller this is then anything else. Over the years mankind has constantly striven to make the world's tallest building and the fame and immortality it brings. I mean, who has never heard of The Empire State Building? Each time the record was beaten, it was by a few feet here, a radio-mast-add-on there and so forth. This one just slaps them all down. I mean it's just gargantuan isn't it!

The obligatory artist's impression of the finished project.

Mr & Mrs Mills.

2008-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

I love being in Oz at the moment but being so far away means that I miss brilliant things. One such thing is my friends' wedding. Being 15,000 miles away means I can't get home as often and looks like i missed a cracker. Congrats to you both. Gutted I couldn't be there. Love the pose by the way - like Romeo and Juliet! lol

FAIL!

2008-11-06T00:49:00.001-08:00

Enough said.

We're all going to the zoo tomorrow and we'll swing our pants..

2008-10-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

...going to swing our pants, pants, pants with the elephants, phants, phants...etc.etc (i'm sure Chris remembers who sang that...anyone else know?). Anyway, for the record no pants swung that day though i did see Dumbo and chums.

(drum roll, clears throat)
Ladies and Gentlemen....Exhibit one!
The pride a joy of Australia (aka vermin and a threat to crops) - the Kangaroo (complete with baby accessory), everyone together...Aaaahhh.

Two.
This be an Olyphant, nay a most happy Olyphant. Star of the show was this young male who spent ages dicking about in the water with a barrel in a net, throwing it around and playing like a two year old in the bath with a toy submarine...
.....much to the obvious disapproval of the matriach, who could only manage the odd giggle as said thrown-high-in-the-sir object came back down onto the wee Olyphant's bonce with an amusing thud.

Exhibit Three.
A bird.

But not just any bird but an eagle, and is using a rock to break into an Emu's egg. Cleverer than a pack of chavs that thing. Very cool.

Exhibit Three
Not a bird. ...... No wait, it is a bird, but a smallish boring one. I must remember its name though so I can put it on the blog. Now what's it called again...oh sod it! Its a pigeon. Thing. Ish.

Exhibit Four
Sleeping animals, lazing around enjoying the fantastic weather

On a serious note though it should be noted what a brilliant fanastic zoo Taronga is. For those that don;t know its nestled in the heart of the city on a hillside with stunning views of the harbour, as can be noted in the following shots. The zoo is much more than animals in cages and they have worked tirelessly to provide an outstanding environment for these animals to live in, set in a lush botanical haven. Total respect for the work they have done.

Exhibit Five
A Siverback gorilla, and a big bugger at that. If, however, we could read said Gorilla's thoughts, i have a feeling they might go something like this....

...Oh, for fuck's sake! Celery again? Christ, you'd think we'd get a bit of variety...what i wouldn't give for a spinach and ricotta quiche...i tell you, that keeper's going to get a piece of my mind next time I see him...

... Having said that, i shit in his sandwiches, so not a bad day all in all....

Exhibit 5
Pelicans. Crossing?

Exhibit 6
Some big Tortii just for Mum. The first one is a giant Galapagos Tortoise. Apparently they live donkey's years...well, not really, because they live longer than that. Its a long time anyway. Longer than a re-run of Big Brother 6, and that went on A LONG TIME.

The second one is an Indian Star Tortoise, who let's face it just looks cool. Great work on the paint job there, little man.

Exhibit 342.
A Tiger, found in a bin bag in East Finchley by a lady called Min. Apparently.

Exhibit Alpha B2 (sub-section Camel).
A lizard. Getting fresh with me, no less. Looks like he wants a fight. He's got remarkable speed, a poisonous bite and a tail that can regenerate if he loses it in a fight. I have high cholesterol and hiking boots. Should be a fair match.

X-IB-IT <>
Not a bat. I wanted to get some bats, but rather unhelpfully they are nocturnal. Like those lemur things, and pygmy shrews and other cool little animals. You'd think they'd be decent enough to be photogenic during opening hours. Anyway, you got this chap instead.

No thanks either to the wombat (sleeping) or the Platypii (faster than a speeding bullet and practically impossible to catch on a still camera like mine it seems, despite a extraordinarily boring amount of time spent trying).

So that was the zoo. Good work. With thanks to my partner in crime for the day! Auntie Trish.

Hmmm...don't often see that in today's scientific world.

2008-10-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

"Eleven people have been killed in a stadium riot in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after a soccer player tried to use witchcraft to win a local match, United Nations-backed Radio Okapi has reported. Nyuki club was losing to local rivals Socozaki on Sunday (local time) when Nyuki's goalkeeper advanced up the pitch and tried to use "fetishist" spells to turn the tide of the match. When a police commander tried to break up an ensuing brawl between rival players, members of the crowd pelted him with rocks, the radio added. Police fired teargas in response, causing a stampede to the exits in which 11 people were killed."

Now could you imagine what kind of response you'd get from Alan Hansen on Match of the Day if that happened in the premiership (not the killings, the witchcraft thing)... 'Oh, look at the spell casting..its all over the place and the boy at the back..well, he's no experience of dabbling in the occult at all...what was the manager thinking?' etc etc.

Whilst NOT out searching for great spiders...

2008-10-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

Like so many things in life, its not until you stop looking that you actually stumble over the very thing you were looking for. Now as regular readers know, i'm on the lookout for huge Aussie-style spiders and as such the little baby ones don't normally get a word in edgeways. This one, however, I think is high up on the honourable mentions table...

This, we believe (through discussion with the expert Andy 'Danger, HA! I mock it!' Currey) may be a male red back spider. Its a bit difficult to see as the little chap, whose life expectancy at this time could best be listed as 'moribund', wouldn't quite sit up to show his abdomen properly. When I first saw him as I was nipping out for a smoke he was more side on and you could clearly see the very distinctive shape of the widow (Ln. Steatoda) family. Steatoda spiders are found throughout the world, in both temperate and tropical climates. They are small to moderately small (3-9 mm) spiders with oval abdomens; they may be reddish, brownish or black, with most species exhibiting a white band at the front of the dorsal abdomen which may resemble a collar and include the Australian Red Back and world-renowned Black Widow (which I have noted appears predominantly in North America).

I didn't want to get too much closer as no matter how many times I read that they are more likely to flee than fight I have this bizzare image of said beastie leaping at me, fangs bared in a blood lust equalled only by the midgies round Kielder Water in North England. And I couldn't get the other side of him due to the angle of the glass from the outside of the building...So you'll have to make do with this pic. Sorry its not the larger, more distinctive female with the hourglass red mark down its back -next time perhaps I should get a cotton bud out and see if it will stay still so that i can colour it in for you (not bloody likely! lol)...

I would also love to tell you that no spiders were hurt in the making of this post but regret to inform this poor little corpse (nee redback) was too close for comfort. At least it settled the age old argument of Can of Industrial Strength Mortein-v-Spider.

There IS some logic there somewhere, but God only knows where..

2008-10-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served. The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling.
He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God.Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed.

"Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant this action will be dismissed with prejudice," Judge Polk wrote in his ruling.

Mr Chambers sued God last year. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants". He said he would carefully consider Judge Polk's ruling before deciding whether to appeal. The court, Mr Chambers said, had acknowledged the existence of God and "a consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience".

"Since God knows everything," he reasoned, "God has notice of this lawsuit." Mr Chambers, a state senator for 38 years, said he filed the suit to make the point that "anyone can sue anyone else, even God".

....on a private note I wonder if the state should counter-sue the buffoon on the basis that he clearly is threatening the well being of humanity by bringing such an outrageous and preposterous action against a incorporeal entity. God, often thought of as the "greatest conceivable existent and creator and overseer of the universe in all its forms" might decide that humanity isn't worth saving and bugger off after all, and who could blame him/her/it* (delete as appropriate).

The world really is losing its grip on common sense isn't it?

In Search of great spiders...found them?

2008-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

LOL! Appears that they are all back in England....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7573530.stm

Palm Beach again

2008-09-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

Like this place very much and as my Auntie Trish was over we decide to cruise up and spend the afternoon simply strolling around and enjoying the place.

Got Trish to do the classic 'Alf's Surf Shack' photo (Stone the flamin' crows!).

Also spent some time playing with my new camera - see the Narabeen post for obituary of the last one - and seeing how good it is. Seems its a bit good really as can be seen with this shot of a Larakeet (aka local garden birds mum, imagine feeding these in your back garden each day...lol). More wildlife to follow next post as i've been to the zoo!

Finally stopped off at Bradley's head on the way back which is certainly the nicest view i've found of the city so far.

Surely the last lot of motivational posters?..

2008-09-19T15:45:00.001-07:00

...but in my mind, the best i've seen - particularly Serious Cat.. he really is well serious you know...

Satan's pet cat

2008-09-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

Saw this and thought it worthy of note. This cat is by far the angriest cat i've seen in a long time.

May the course be with you...

2008-09-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

How brilliant is this then?

From Reuters...
"The UK's first Jedi course teaching personal development through a Star Wars syllabus will open to students at Queen's University in Belfast from November. According to its publicity material, the course, Feel the Force: How to Train in the Jedi Way, teaches the real-life psychological techniques behind Jedi mind tricks. It also claims to examine the wider issues behind the Star Wars universe, like balance, destiny, dualism, fatherhood and fascism. The university says it hopes to attract young Star Wars fans and introduce them to education through open learning. No prior qualifications are required and the blurb informs students that light sabres are not provided."

I love the way that it states, purely for legal liability and litigation-related issues i'm sure, that photon-emitting, fusion-powered hand-portable laser swords of death are not included as part of the course fee... Master Yoda will be turning in his grave. Probably.

To Elbow... a small note of appreciation

2008-09-10T04:55:00.000-07:00

...congrats on winning the Mercury Music Prize and presenting the world with some of the most fantastic music. One of my favourite bands ever whose music just goes round and round on my ipod (if that is not too technically inaccurate for the pedants out there) and never gets tired. Soaring, dark, beautiful, majestic, moody, surprising, powerful, controlled, electric, raw, intricate, poignant, melodic, romantic, rhythmic, passionate, calm, fraught, peaceful - all words that spring to mind when listening to any one of their four albums. There's something about watching the crimson sunset listening to Newborn, Fugitive Motel or The Stops as i cruise over the Sydney harbour bridge that somehow always makes me appreciate life that little bit more. The best tracks of Elbow would surely be equal with the best tracks that any other artist in history could put together in my opinion, I rate them that highly.

Keep up the amazing work.

...Nick

check them out. Then go and buy the albums.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize2008/nominations/elbow.shtml

Water pillock...or how I came to shop for a new phone

2008-09-08T02:10:00.000-07:00

I've been kayaking with some friends at the most beautiful Narabeen lagoon. A haven for wildlife and water sports of all kinds, it seemed a great way to spend a lazy afternoon. I consider myself as someone who's a novice, but certainly not without a clue when it comes to being in a kayak and I was looking forward to showing off some smooth turns and graceful lines. I even took my Top Gun shades...lol

This is the lagoon from above and you can see the lake area - its not particularly deep and in fact in places its only a foot deep or so across the entire width...huge shaggy pelicans adorn the edge with geese and ducks and its fantastic watching them just mosey about on the shore. I don't think you can really appreciate how big the pelicans are until you are next to one and the thing stands four feet high with a wingspan of a handglider...you don't get too close! lol, very cool. Anyway, we paddled from the lake all the way up to the entrance with the sea, which can be seen on the following two piccies.

The sea comes in over the top of the sand in wee little waves that then curl around the edge of the outcrop and into the lagoon in these random six inch high waves that cruise all the way down the channel....can you see where this is going yet?

For those that don't know...Andy is the kind of guy that will give anything dangerous looking a real good try (aren't you mate? lol) - kiting, snowboarding, sand-skateboarding attached to a kite (or whatever you call it), climbing, motorbikes etc etc...but he quite rightly pointed out that it was our opportunity, nay duty, to take said tiny waves and ride our kayaks on top in a surfing type style. Now who was I to argue...now can you see where this is going?....we watched and waited as we studied the waves and concluded that the waves were tiny and it wasn;t a problem. We manoeuvred into position and as the wave came in, paddled like mad to accelerate to wave speed then..WOOSH, I was on top of the wave, cruising atop the breaker. Awash in my superiority and mastery of the ocean I simply forgot the basics, that I had to steer not gloat about besting mother nature...in a flash my nose bent to the left and I went sideways down the front of the wave going arse over tit, rolling over and over and filling my kayak and contents with much off Narabeen Lagoon. I laughed my ass off. It was very very funny. Here's me congratulating my stupidity. My only regret is that no-one managed to get it on film. Comedy classic.

Anyway, my waterproof bag, due to a slight technical mishap proved to be inadequately prepared. Suffice to say, my tobacco (ruined), lighter (inoperative), mobile phone (broken beyond feasible repair) and camera (fucked and filled with salty shite) have now shuffled off to their respective heavens. Ah well. :-D

Thanks to this lot for taking suitable amounts of laughter at my expense. L-r Natacha "I'm getting the hang of this, providing turning in circles is the objective' Shaw, Andy 'Danger - ha! I mock it' Currey and Katiana 'Got the hang of splashing everyone far too quickly' Shaw.

Cool audio/visual

2008-09-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

Solar, with lyrics. from flight404 on Vimeo.
Great work indeed. Very cool use of audio visual - would have looked fantastic to some Mint Royale tracks me thinks...

Weird Fishes: Arpeggi from flight404 on Vimeo.
But he got a tune i did like in this one! lol

Divided by hatstand: Cucumber Syntax Error

2008-09-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

We've all had to endure Microsoft windows and the problems it causes. Sometimes its clumsy user-unfriendly system is just a mild irritant where everything takes an age to do, and the simplest task is akin to a thesis on quantum probabilities in its complexity... sometimes it won't do what we want and won't tell us why...and then sometimes it then crashes and burns with some of the most absurd error messages - which make no sense to 99% of the people that use it. Anyway, as some will know I have some experience with computers - i'm certainly not a muppet - but even this one had me scratching my head as to what, on god's great green planet, this could possibly be telling me. I laughed for ages, I mean, its just utter bollocks really...lol

....and no, for the record, i didn't check the Windows help databases. If only because the people who put that help function into windows obviously didn't really understand the meaning of the word help (i.e. to assist, to provide information, to enlighten etc).

Anyone else had any priceless (pointless?) error messages they'd care to share?

..and I thought it was some majestic Irish rocks...

2008-09-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

British actor Tim Roth is starring in an adaptation of the award-winning children's novel Skellig.
The Oscar nominee heads a cast which includes Kelly MacDonald and John Simm in the film based on David Almond's 1998 book.
Young Son of Rambow actor Bill Milner stars as Michael, the boy who discovers the magical creature Skellig.
Roth will take the title role as the part-owl, part-angel Skellig who is discovered in a ramshackle shed.
Skellig tells the story of a young boy who discovers the strange creature after moving house and nourishes him back to health, while his baby sister is gravely ill in hospital.
The book was awarded the Carnegie Medal in Literature in 1998 and also won the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award the same year.

...and there was me thinking that the real Skelligs were two amazing rock pinnacles off the coast of Ireland..

New Old West by the Old Far East...

2008-09-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

new film that excited me, and for once I got there before Wak! lol

Famed Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, who is best known for cult classics such as Audition, Ichi: the Killer, and Children of Lost Souls, brings a fresh new look at the beloved spaghetti Western genre in Sukiyaki Western Django. Two clans, Genji, the white clan led by Yoshitsune, and Heike, the red clan led by Kiyomori, battle for a legendary treasure hidden in a poor mountain town. One day a lone gunman, burdened with deep emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Expectations reach a boiling point as everyone wonders which gang the gunman will finally decide to join. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire, and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.

Quentin Tarantino reckons Miike is one of the best directors ever, and even lends his considerable acting skills as a mark of respect. Think 300 meets Tombstone with a bit of KillBill thrown in...

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/sukiyakiwesterndjango/

Yet more motivational posters...

2008-09-01T02:25:00.000-07:00

...and i apologise for this, but it just made me feel that indeed, sometimes its ok to quit, go home and have a shower.

Stupid Fat Hobbit!

2008-08-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

Great news in my opinion...

Peter Jackson is to co-write the screenplay for The Hobbit it is told. Jackson, who presided over the Oscar-winning Lord Of The Rings trilogy, is executive producer on the new Tolkien adaptation, which is due out in 2011. He had already handed over the director's reigns to Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro, but following an eight-month search for a suitable scribe, the pair decided to adapt the epic novel themselves.

Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who worked with Jackson on Lord of The Rings, have also joined the writing team.
The big-screen version will be split into two parts and as with Lord Of The Rings, they will be shot simultaneously and released over consecutive years. With the same team behind such a fantastic idea I have very high hopes. My precious...

Even more motivational posters...

2008-08-18T04:37:00.000-07:00

I can go for 2hrs and 36 mins...

2008-08-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend I experienced the joy and pain of the City2Surf - a 14km charity walk from the city centre out to the world famous Bondi Beach. Not sure why it's world famous as there are a million and one better beaches and less Mablethorpey (is that the world exclusive of a new descriptive word?) places... but anyway, i digress (fancy that). There was a very real reason why this walk exists and a huge amount of people will have benefitted from the event in ways I cannot begin to list, so thank you very much all those that sponsored me.

The start was a moment to savour for the following reason, but first a little explanation. For those that haven't done a run like this, the real pro's start on the first gun and shoot off into the distance at the speed of a dragster. Then, people who aren't kidding about fitness and who can truly do a thousand one armed press-ups and that sort of thing get to go..people who can prove they run the marathon in less than 4 hours etc etc...then, when they have dispersed some half hour later they get to those affectionately known as 'the back of the pack' i.e. the triple cheese hamburger brigade aka the seriously underprepared. I think i tagged on the back of that lot...anyhoo the point is that as the third gun fired that announced we should get underway, the tannoy piped up loud and proud to tell us that the winner had already finished and was getting his medal. Now there's a way to motivate!

I just took the opportunity to get across Sydney in a manner I couldn't normally, and well look at some of the fantastic scenery on the way. I walked the whole thing, deciding that a steady pace was better than a run/stop/collapse/run/collapse/stop/collapse/coronary kind of approach, and indeed the tortoise approach paid off for me. Left behind at the start and on the downhill stretches by the keen amateurs, I soon caught them on the flat and on Heartbreak Hill and passed by their sweaty, exhausted stricken forms as I swept past with all the grace that my lumbering form can muster.

Bondi was a great sight if only because i was getting tired and pretty footsore - you could hardly see the beach for all the tents and bars that were set up and no word of a lie it was packed to the rafters by the time I got there. With 70,000 runners/walkers/stumblers and all their families at the finish line Bondi was far too busy to do much seeing of the sights but I think that I've probably seen what I need to of Bondi.

Anyway, according to the Sydney Telegraph I was 50011st in a time of 156:09. I'd rather have been 50,011th in a time of 2:36.09 but there you go, I was still pleased to appear in the daily national as a grammatical/numerical inaccuracy. LMAO! Good stuff indeed. And they gave me a medal. I can't remember the last time that happened...

When there's sod all else to do...

2008-08-02T17:18:00.001-07:00

...sit around in comfy chairs, take off your shoes, drink beer and buy cheap sunglasses in the hope that they make you look cool...

Otford to Bundeena...

2008-07-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

As many of you will know, I'm doing the City2Surf charity walk in few weeks and I've been intending to put together some practice etc....
...well as part of this we decided to walk the coast track from Otford at the South end of the Royal National Park to Bundeena at the Northern Tip. A good 27km walk we thought, nicely broken up by a night's camping. The idea was to get the steepest end out of the way with an shorter and harsher 10km
first day followed by a 'gentle stroll' 17km home.

The weather report was daunting, involving rain and cold (and with a side serving of wind perhaps) and I was looking to a grey damp slippy trek. After a 7am start and a royal-pain-in-neck climb up out of the valley from Otford station we did get rewarded with a spectacular view for our customary shot of the intrepid explorers.

I also got one without, this is the Otford Lookout and the sharp eyed amongst you will notice the Sea Cliff Bridge ( a cool little bridge out over the sea round the cliffs). In the distance is 'The Gong' or Woolangong as its more officially known. Very nice. What's even nicer, as you will note, is the weather which turned out significantly better than I had hoped, to a point which I can describe it as glorious. We ate up the miles and arrived at the camp site at North Era beach at 2pm for a long lazy sunny afternoon...

The view from the headland next morning was spectacular, but to be honest was just happy to rest for a moment! This is Garie Beach and really is quite pretty eh? That cliff in the background was my Everest for this trip. I had been dreading the steep 118m climb to the top, particularly with my pack on my back.

It did, however, go a lot better than I thought and was nowhere near as bad as the climb to Martin place that we did with only day sacks in the Blue Mountains a couple of weeks ago. Must be getting fitter...lol, maybe i was just delirious through exhaustion.!

We stopped off for lunch at a place called Wattamolla, which is about the only bit of civilisation on the way, and it was really noted as we walked amongst cars, which just looked out of place...its strange but even a few hours in the peace and quiet and isolation can really make you notice things like that. Anyway, we sat down for our lunch and got a visit from a brazen Kookaburra..cheeky enough to drop on to the table and steal a slice of salami; seagull style robbery! At least Ken had the decency to stick around for a nice profile shot...

The aptly-named Eagle Rock

Eventually we arrived at Bundeena ferry, by which time my feet were killing me and my shoulders were blistered. The last hour was out of my 'pleasure zone' but even so, would do it again. Tough but worth it.

The aftermath...

Fantastic Nude Remix

2008-07-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

Had to share this, because I thought it was just fantastic - lovingly crafted by James Houston who had this to say about it...

"I've just graduated from the Glasgow School of Art's graphic design course. This was my final project.
Radiohead held an online contest to remix "Nude" from their album - "In Rainbows" This was quite a difficult task for everybody that entered, as Nude is in 6/8 timing, and 63bpm. Most music that's played in clubs is around 120bpm and usually 4/4 timing. It's pretty difficult to seamlessly mix a waltz beat into a DJ set. This resulted in lots of generic entries consisting of a typical 4/4 beat, but with arbitrary clips from "Nude" thrown in so that they qualified for the contest. Thom Yorke joked at the ridiculousness of it in an interview for NPR radio, hinting that they set the competition to find out how people would approach such a challenging task. I decided to take the piss a bit, as the contest seemed to be in that spirit. Based on the lyric (and alternate title) "Big Ideas: Don't get any" I grouped together a collection of old redundant hardware, and placed them in a situation where they're trying their best to do something that they're not exactly designed to do, and not quite getting there. It doesn't sound great, as it's not supposed to. "

He was obviously enjoying playing with the Spectrum loading screen quite a lot, but stick with it as its worth the wait...aahh some of those noises bring back so many memories...

Big Ideas (don't get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.

He also did this cool little advert for MTV...

MTV from James Houston on Vimeo.

That reminds me, I meant to ask my bro to send me his animation short for his college project because its also very very cool (you know the one bro, the one to Aqualung with the fish...). Assuming of course you'd let me..

Also, as an aside, went to see a George Harrison celebration concert at The Basement in Sydney, very cool indeed, and the Australian answer to Des Lynam was in the house - Les Murray. As many will know, I loves my footy dearly and have been suffering withdrawal symptoms. Well, the Aussie coverage isn't great because there's not a lot of it, to be frank, and the commentators use funny words and pronunciations of our beautiful game ( i think one of them actually called it soccer - horror of horrors...) but anyway, Les presents it in a Des Lynam style fashion.....last night he got up on stage with the band and belted out several of George's best tunes. Was wierd seeing the Aussie Des go at it like that, but he was really good, and Liam and I got to chat to him outside whilst having a ciggie after the gig, turns out hes a very nice guy as well. Good work all round fella.

In search of great spiders...

2008-07-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

...Found one!

.....though it was only a baby one! This is a Huntsman Spider. Common across the entire land, and widespread across much of the world, they are not shy and stories float around of various suprises people have when they crawl out of shoes early in the morning! lol. I also heard of a young girl who raised her hand to pull down a vanity mirror in the passenger seat of a car, who got the shock of her life as a massive huntsman dropped into her lap. It had seemingly crawled in the evening before looking for a bit of shade and had hidden under the flap... rather her than me! They aren't toxic but they can and will deliver a painful bite (like being stabbed with two pens apparently) and they are fast as anything.

Andy advises that he heard of one that was so big when they tried to catch it, with a Blue Danish Butter Cookie Tin (you know the ones, they've been around for years) the legs stuck out the sides because the tin wasn't big enough...

Trials and Tesselations

2008-07-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

Had a weekend away in the Blue Mountains with Andy and Ian...partly because I wanted to get a bit of training in for the City 2 Surf, partly because i've not been for a bit of sightseeing but mostly because I just like exploring! For those that don't know, the Blue Mountains lie West of Sydney by about 2 hours. Parts of the mountains are sacred to the Aboriginies and have been for thousands of years. The majority of the mountains are plateau tops with steep canyons, covered with forest - mainly made up of the Eucalyptus tree. The oil given off by the trees gives off a blue haze as it hits the sunlight, enveloping the views with a beautiful blue mist when the conditions are right - hence the name. One thing's for sure, they certainly are beautiful. For those that have ventured that far in the blog there is a photo of me looking out from Echo point on one of my first posts.

The first day we found many dells and nice waterfalls, as can be noted by said photos.

Anyhoo...we decided to get off the beaten track and hit some of the trails into the deep valleys to see what we could find - i was hoping for at least some dangerous wildlife of some sort, saw none at all... but I was wary of snakes. You see, the little buggers like to hide under piles of leaves during the winter period and only move when you sort of stand on them, which I was quite happy not to do - especially as the kind of terrain we were on to was not for your average walker and littered with fallen trees, branches, twigs and piles of leaves. Boulders and steep inclines, wet slippy drops and rock overhangs, mud, ferns and plenty of logs to clamber up and over. We managed about 15km over the two days, which isn't much really, but gives you some idea of the terrain. My calves are killing me!

This picture was taken after we double-timed it to the top of said cliff to Martin's lookout (probably named after you, Wak..? lol) which was hell. My legs were like jelly by the time we got to the top, having been some 100m vertically below the lookout minutes earlier deep in the valley bottom. Doesn't sound like a lot but believe me those steps hewn into the rocks were a royal pain. Mind you, no pain, no gain....

What we also did was some de-bunking. It's important to note that the weather in Australia is not always hot and sunny and we did our best to prove it. I thought i'd get a great picture of the view to put on the blog but ended only with this....

The above view should have been across into the distance from a sacred meeting point for the Aboriginies - King's Tableland - which is a remarkable rock plateau with tesselations all over it - as can be seen here. The second photo shows a small pool with grooves in the stone. These grooves are worn into the rock by the aboriginies sharpening their tools, such as spear heads, and then they cool them in these pools.

Finally - disappointed that we didn't get the 'pay off' of the view, we returned the next day when the air was a little clearer to get an 'after' shot to the above 'before'...very nice view after all...

Palm Beach

2008-06-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

Simon Li (aka Chelshy) and I went up to Palm Beach for the day - for those that don't know, this is where they film 'Home and Away' the Aussie soap, and whilst i didn't see any filming that day, didn't really matter because it is a beautiful beach and lovely just to while away the time walking from one end to the other. They generally film on the East side of the beach, which you will note as below as being the one facing the Pacific Ocean, but there is a beach on the inland side as well (though not as broad obviously). Alf's surf shack is about halfway up on the Ocean side. Pictures speak louder than words so enjoy.

I'm back baby....the world's ugliest dog show

2008-06-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

I found I had two thoughts running through my mind when I read about this competition - one of morbid curiosity which compelled me to look and laugh, but then one I didn't expect - one which made me feel warm. For once the world is celebrating something other than the best looking or prettiest examples of something, and even further many of these animals are from broken-backgrounds, many rescued animals who may have been very poorly treated.

The World's ugliest dog fair has been running for almost 20 years now and is steadily growing each year. The winner this year, a three-legged, one-eyed Chinese Crested Dog (by far the most popular breed of the show) called Gus, gets $1600 worth of prize money, all of which is to go to the treatment of Gus' cancer. He lost his eye to a Tomcat in a fight and his leg to the cancer. Many of the recent winners are ill-treated pets that go on to get the kind of serious special attention that only animal lovers can give, with many owners indicating that due to their rescue from whatever bad experiences, the animals become as loving as any pet you could have. For me - a much better idea than 'beauty pageants or Crufts'!

Best news in ages...

2008-05-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed he will reprise his role as Gandalf in the film version of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit.
"Yes, it's true," he told Empire magazine. "It's not a part that you turn down. I loved playing Gandalf."
Two Hobbit films are planned for release in 2010 and 2011. They will be prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson.
Guillermo del Toro has been named as the director of the movies, to be made back-to-back in New Zealand.
"I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role," Sir Ian said.
He also said del Toro would be starting the script in about six weeks after he has finished filming current project, Hellboy 2.
According to studio New Line, the first film will be an adaptation of The Hobbit and the second will be an original story focusing on the 60 years between the book and the beginning of the Rings trilogy.
"As to how it's going to work over two films and what going to happen on screen, well Guillermo has not got down to working out the major details yet - I can tell you it's going to be amazing though," Sir Ian said.

How cool is that news, considering that it was but one year ago when official channels said that this would 'never ever happen'. Thank goodness they all saw common sense that this material is just too good to ignore.

Now all we need is for someone to resurrect Firefly as it should have been!

So..what's on then?

2008-04-28T02:04:00.000-07:00

Well, winter is officially coming. Today I can report that I actually felt cold on the way home, and i mean really, kind of late Autumn chilly. How rubbish is that eh? In the land of the sun, i actually wished I had a jumper. Think that this winter may redefine my view on how cold it may get here...we shall see.

For those that don't know...the internet here is going to be down for a few weeks so could be entirely uncontactable other than for the old dog and bone, but don't stop communicating online, just don't be offended if I don't respond quickly! Likewise it had been painfully slow for a couple of weeks so if i haven't caught up yet, sorry.

On Friday I went to the olympic stadium to go the Anzac celebration Rugby game, which was a very cool, but emotional occasion as the veterans stood to attention and a lone bugler echoed 'The Last Post' around the stadium. They really have a big celebration on Anzac day (which of course relates to the WWI landing of the Aussies at Gallipoli) but has since become a celebration of the national forces. Funny really, because we don't 'celebrate' Remembrance Sunday do we? Maybe the celebration is a good way of showing that the world is grateful, but i think the jury is still out for me...i guess its just a different way of saying thank you for those that gave there lives.

Most of you know that I'm not the biggest Rugby fan but i enjoyed the game, if only because 'St George Dragons' beat the Roosters. Good old St George..beautiful stadium as well, i can only imagine the atmosphere for the Olympics.

Have also spent a bit of time watching Robot Chicken. Martin will know all about this...but crikey its funny, though utterly bizzare. Check some out if Family Guy, Simpsons, Futurama etc is on your radar...

And finally...this was on the international news. Just brilliant, if only for the judges brilliant pun...

"A man posing as Darth Vader attacked a Star Wars fan who had founded a Jedi Church, a court has heard.
Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, from Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted assaulting Barney Jones and cousin Michael with a metal crutch. They suffered minor injuries.
Hughes, who was drunk and dressed in a black bin bag, shouted "Darth Vader!"
Earlier, when Hughes failed to arrive on time, District Judge Andrew Shaw issued an arrest warrant, adding: "I hope the force will soon be with him."

Stop press! Tyson the Psychologist...

2008-04-15T02:59:00.000-07:00

Lol, just when i thought that i had nothing to amuse me or pass on at the moment, I came upon this little gem. No word of a lie, it's true.

...Mike Tyson has offered to provide counselling and support to troubled Paul Gascoigne when he tours the UK.
The former Newcastle United player recently suffered a mental breakdown and had to spend two weeks in a psychiatric hospital.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson believes his own chequered past could help the 40-year-old.

The 41-year-old said: "I know all about Gazza and I feel I can help him. A lot of top sportsmen have suffered in their private lives, including me, and that is why I want to help.

Tyson said: "Back in 2005, Wayne Rooney was on a downer and I met him and lifted his spirits.
"I am sure I can do the same for Paul Gascoigne."
Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and jailed for a day in November 2007 for driving while under the influence of drugs....

Not to mention the fact that he was an entirely disillusioned violent thug, covered with mad tattoos, bit someone's ear off in front of millions of people, and with a general history of really quite mental antics, he's otherwise the perfect person to help Gazza recover his normality.

I attach a recent photo of Iron Mike.

Motivational Posters

2008-04-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

Not much going on down here worth writing about, other than 'I'm at work'. Hardly the most exciting story ever eh? Sooo...in the meantime I thought you could enjoy some of these motivational posters that I, and my small team of net-elves, found. The fear one I particularly like...

Darth Pisstake

2008-04-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Let's face it - if I turned to the dark side of the force I'd probably just take the piss out of everyone all the time. In a similar fashion to this...enjoy.

New toy...

2008-04-05T02:11:00.000-07:00

For those that don't yet know, have bought myself a new toy! After much consideration of the reasons why i didn't actually need one, i finally discarded such unnecessary thoughts in favour of ones that began 'I want one because...'

..then i eventually convinced myself that there was no need in buying a cheap one (and those that know me well will agree that I take some convincing to buy the top of the range model of anything...lol, ok that's a blatant lie). Have therefore purchased myself a new Apple MacBook Pro.

2.5ghz Core2Duo (Penryn 6mb lvl2 cache)
17" Hi-Resolution (1920x1200) display
4gb RAM DDR2
250GB HD
512Mb 8600M GT graphics card

IT'S WELL HARD

Now those who wish to can find me on Skype too! (Nick.vernon)

Monty Python vs Star Trek

2008-03-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed this immensely, and the one below (even though its now very outdated, and obviously a little insensitive) but thought would re-post!

Mullet me Yeah!....More tragically brilliant products...

2008-03-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Not much to write about at the moment. Started work this week so busy and just exploring the city shops and food places (yum yum) so thought I'd let you know of some more brilliantly marketed products I've found.

The pictures tell the story...

Sad day for Science Fiction

2008-03-19T01:53:00.000-07:00

...as some of you may know, and i'm sure Martin will comment more on (for those who read his blog), Sir Arthur Charles Clarke sadly passed away today.

Whilst i am not going to write of his life, which I suspect Martin will more than cover in a far better way that I, I simply thought it appropriate to leave a few quotes from Sir Arthur himself to give a measure of the man.

"Life is just one big banana. Science fiction allows us all to peel open the reality and discover the yellow truth inside."

"Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering."

"The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion."

"How inappropriate to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Ocean."

Whilst searching for great spiders...

2008-03-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

To be honest, i've not yet seen a really big spider (such as a Huntsman or Wolf Spider) and i'm dreading the moment i get out of the shower, naked and defenceless (i apologise for that image) and find a beast the size of a frisbee squatting in the middle of my towel, with all eight of its eyes trained upon me. If they can smell fear then that spider will have a sensory overload...

As such, i decided the best way to tackle this uncomfortable feeling was to tackle it head on; get out there and go and find one...but i kind of didn't want to see one in the Zoo or anything, i wanted to see a wild one in the undergrowth or something. So off I trotted to go hunting... I didn't find a Jonah Lomu sized specimen, but i did uncover some other locals, so here you go.

This little beasty is a banded common garden spider and the little buggers are everywhere...and i do mean everywhere. Although this photo is a close up of one just outside the apartment I am staying in, and it looks like i've just blown the photo up, it should not be assumed that this thing's body was any smaller than about 2 1/2 inches i reckon. Legs don't really count apparently. To be honest, i didn't feel that it was necessary to get my tape measure out and get close enough to get an accurate measurement.

Although harmless (to whom, exactly? because they don't look harmless to me!) - as they are neither venomous nor particularly aggressive, like most spiders they can give you a bite you'll probably know about. They're no real hassle during the day, but at night they can build webs across the footpaths and with them being black - and dark, well being black-ish too - they can be a bugger to see. Ian almost ran into one at head height on the way back from the shops. Rather him than me (sorry bud).

This one needs no introduction. A nice wee Cockatoo. This particular specimen was roaming the Botanical Gardens annoying the tourists for food.

I also tried to get some shots of the massive bats roosting that live in the Botanical Gardens' trees but they haven't come out very well. More on that later when i get some better shots.

I did get some good shots of this though, and these aren't something you see everyday, no less than on our apartment's balcony rail.
This is, as i'm sure you all know, a Praying Mantis. An hugely successful fearsome insect predator, it kils by using its front claws like pneumatic pincers to grab its pray and hold it whilst it eats it, alive. The female is also known to lose patience and eat the male and spit it out, much like we do in Human society.

If you look really closely at this picture you will note that said Mantis is actually looking at me and going 'Hmmmmm' and probably sizing up whether i would indeed make a good meal, and if the bits he couldn't eat now could indeed be frozen for later.

However, discretion got the better part of valour for the little fella and he quickly strode off to find something more manageable (e.g. a cat) - please see instructive picture No.2 below, which clearly shows advanced 'scuttling away'.

Finally, i managed to get a reasonable shot of the numerous beautiful butterflies they have, which are big and plentiful. I've no idea what kind it was, as i couldn't track it down on the internet; perhaps its a new species i've discovered!

Oh, and I also found a nice view...

Funny Apple Pictures...

2008-02-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

For those that don't know, Apple Macintosh (or just Apple nowadays) have, in some peoples eyes, been trying to take over the world with all of their 'form and function' electronic gadgets. Famous for having as little a number of buttons on them as possible so as to make them as aesthetically pleasing, someone has taken this world domination attempt and stretched this out to other items than computers. I thought some of them were quite good, so i've copied them as i have not much else to say about Australia at the moment, other than its the wettest summer in almost 50 years, officially. Must be the English weather i've brought with me.

Note that the iron is USB powered and has headphone and camera ports. Just Silly.
This next one is a great one, noted by the number of keys...very Apple.

Finally, this one. A bit naughty, but i did laugh. Cunning use of words me thinks...lol

Stupendous Ships

2008-02-25T17:51:00.001-08:00

I thought it might be worth a jaunt to the harbour to go and see a couple of big boats that were in at the time. The QE2 and the Queen Victoria rendezvouzed within Sydney as one made its maiden stop at Sydney, the other its final. The QE2 is perhaps, save the Titanic, the most famous ship in the world.

Shown here left, the QE2 has cruised the ocean for over five million miles since its inaugural voyage in 1969, two years after completion. It has carried over 2 million passengers during that time, and is now on its final global cruise, after which time it will become a floating hotel.

Andy and I found a nice spot at the Royal Botanical Gardens, or so we thought, but it turned out that thousands of others had turned out for the 'passing' of the QE2 and Queen Victoria - a salute if you like, with lots of horns blaring, and spectators cheering. See above for our boring little view of the scenes...lol

The QE2 was, and still is, a whopper of a ship. Though much smaller than we are used to see nowadays, she still is over 70,000 tonnes and almost 300 metres long, with 12 decks and enough space for 1791 passengers, including of course Her Majesty (and 1000+ crew). She is also one of the fastest at 32.5 knots - which is quite an achievement when you consider how massive she is!

This photo, which i did not take, gives you and idea of the scale when compared to the skyscrapers in the background. A engineering marvel; this is after all a ship that has officially faced 130mph winds from Hurricane Luis, and a rogue wave estimated to be 95ft high!

Anyway the purpose of the event was to allow a Royal Rendevouz as one passed the other. Queen Victoria, which was moored by the Opera House in Circular Quay (couldn't go under the harbour bridge as its simply too big), first reversing out and then sailing out to sea as the QE2 came in.

As you can see the Queen Victoria is much bigger, and whilst not the biggest (I believe that's the Queen Mary 2) its a whopper.
At 90,000 tonnes and able to carry more than 2000 passengers, not to mention crew, she is Cunard's latest vessel, only coming into service in December 2007. She sits higher in the water than QE2, though heavier, at only 8m draft (depth below the waterline) compared to QE2's 12m but this has got much to do with modern technology and design.

At 6.30pm they cruised past each other, with the Sydney Harbour Fire Department boats saluting with huge arcs of water from their jets, horns blaring, people waving and a mass flotilla of small vessels to see the giants out of the harbour and

say goodbye to the mighty QE2, who really is Queen of The Seas. Quite a sight to behold, and much more moving than expected.

Man Vs Machine...

2008-02-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

""Machines will achieve human-level artificial intelligence by 2029, a leading US inventor has predicted. Humanity is on the brink of advances that will see tiny robots implanted in people's brains to make them more intelligent said engineer Ray Kurzweil.

Humans and machines would eventually merge, by means of devices embedded in people's bodies to keep them healthy and improve their intelligence, predicted Mr Kurzweil. "We'll have intelligent nanobots go into our brains through the capillaries and interact directly with our biological neurons," he told BBC News."

Now does that not sound a little...well, unnerving? What happens if said nanobot goes haywire; i mean look what Microsoft has done to the personal computer.

...and isn't it a bit Darth Vader-esque (more machine than man and all that...)? Don't get me wrong, the advances in science are necessary and this is the logical and predictable outcome, but its only a matter of time before Skynet takes over...lol

..if anyone needs to get me a Christmas present...

2008-02-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

Today I blagged my way into Steinway and Sons private showroom, partly out of intrigue and partly out of need to play a piano again (my fingers were getting restless...) and after seeing some of the most beautiful instruments on this little old world, including an original 1878 Steinway Square Grand (couldn't find a photo unfortunately) i was asked if I should like to play one of the grand pianos (having already explained that the dollar price-tag for a Steinway was never likely to be on my radar - yes, even a second hand one). Was I to say "No, but thanks anyway.."?

Lol - don't think so! So, the kindly lady allowed me to sit (giddy as a schoolboy on his birthday) and play as I pleased on this little beauty. The Karl Lagerfeld 150th Anniversary Steinway Grand. It retails, apparently, at $180,000 (82,000 pounds). I hardly dare touch it for fear of breaking, or even smudging it with my sweaty little unworthy fingers...The last person to touch it was a world famous pianist at an international piano recital.

Was an absolute joy to play, and the sound was, well you'd expect it for something that costs that much! The kindly lady asked in jest 'Would sir like to pay for one now?' to which i replied 'Do you take an IOU?'

Looking Good For Jesus

2008-02-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

I just had to put this on - this is some of the most obscene and offensive tat i've seen in ages. Funny because it is oh, so wrong.

From BBC News:

A leading retailer in Singapore has withdrawn a cosmetics range with a Jesus theme after complaints from local Roman Catholics, local media report.

The range, named Lookin' Good for Jesus, was on sale at three Topshop outlets in the Asian city state. Catholics complained the cosmetics' marketing was disrespectful, full of sexual innuendo and trivialised Christianity.

The products included a "Virtuous vanilla" lip balm and a "Get Tight with Christ" hand and body cream, featuring a picture of Christ flanked by two adoring women.

A spokesman for the Wing Tai company, which runs Topshop's outlets in Singapore, told the newspaper it did not want to offend its customers, and withdrew the products last month.

Open Air Cinema

2008-02-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

This is the Starlight Cinema at North Sydney Oval Cricket Ground - and i have to say it was pretty cool indeed. Many of you will of heard me whinge (what's he ranting about now?) about the lack of space, comfort and general crapness of the British cinema. Well this shows how it should be done. After pitching in your spot on the pitch, going to the bar and getting some booze in (bottles of wine at $25 a go are particularly common) you simply set up your chair, wrap yourself in a blanket (as required) and sit (or lie back with pillow) and watch the movie. Cool as.

Plus points - booze to enjoy, great screen - crystal clear (better than any i've seen before), great sound (nice and LOUD), booze again and fantastic location (and there's a smoking area at the back). Brilliant

Down Side - occurred about 45 minutes in, when the unpredicted thunderstorm came a-lolliping across - everyone just up, and bolted for the covered stands as the torrential rain came down - was really funny. I guess that's going to happen once in a while. Film carried on without a hitch and we all just sat in the stands until the rain passed.
You couldn't do this in the UK on a regular basis, not with our weather!

Oh and for those that are interested - I saw '2 Days in Paris' which turned out to be a great film (4/5).

Jervis Bay

2008-02-02T22:57:00.000-08:00

We decided a short road trip was in order, as Andy wanted to buy a new kayak, and Jervis Bay is supposed to be the most beautiful place. Unfortunately I brought the English weather with me and it rained almost non-stop (see people, it's not all sunshine and lazy days) so many of the pictures haven't come out great. See shot of the Jervis bay spit below, with incoming thunderstorm to the left - so the locals say 'we see this kind of rain just once a year' - typically, our one-night stay coincided...ah well, another time perhaps!
The highlight of the trip though was some fantastic wildlife. First off, a pelican - it's easy to underestimate how big these birds are. The one we found at Kiama lighthouse rocks/Kiama blowhole was about 4 or 5ft high (i wasn't getting any closer to that big bad-tempered looking bugger than necessary!). Very cool though.
The blowhole unfortunately did not do what it said on the tin, as the sea swell was virtually non-existent (thus no force for the water), so Andy and I left the extremely patient (but not very bright other tourists) who appeared to be quite happy to sit and wait (for something that clearly was never going to happen unless the wind changed).

We set up camp in the pissing rain and gave up on the idea of trying to cook in a thunderstorm and went to bed early. This is not like me at all, but i was blessed to find (on waking at dawn) a wild kangaroo grazing freely around the campsite. I sat and watched for a while in the quiet of the dawn light and once he had decided i wasn't a threat pottered around, coming almost close enough to touch him; enabling me to get some fantastic photos, so enjoy. One thing i did notice was that they've got vicious looking claws, particuarly on their hind legs. I can see why you would not want to get kicked by one of these - they'd slice you open like a velociraptor would.

Oh, and eventually did some kayaking too! Bonza.

Australia Day - 26th January

2008-01-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

The Aussies are proud of their nationality, to be sure, and they celebrate by having a day (and bank holiday) devoted to the land of the Kangaroo. Much is to be said about it, with thousands all dressed up in Aussie flags, and emblazoned with face paint and tattoos. Great idea and fabulous fun and something that us Englanders could do worse than copy. Our St George's day is bobbins in comparison. I even got an Aussie flag drawn on my hand so as not to stick out like a sore thumb!

Anyway, here's one of me and some bridge or other that just happened to be lying around, and one of this odd little building that thought it could be world famous.

I also thought I should introduce Teri and Ian who are staying also at Andy's whilst they travel the world. View is of Darling Harbour where most of the festivies were. Fantastic to have such company!

...the other thing that they do well in Sydney is fireworks, and Aussie Day is no exception - to say that the fireworks were spectacular don't come close. The ninety year old Aussie lady we were sat next to said she had never seen fireworks that intense, and she's been in watching the Sydney celebrations of one kind and another for over fifty years. If i can work out how to download the video footage from my camera then i will post it later, but for now here's a few teasers....just utterly awesome.

Finally, not the best photo, but doing what one does best. Loafing and drinking in the bar near the Rock Stage tent with Ian. Gotta love the Indiana Jones hat!

G'day

2008-01-24T17:20:00.001-08:00

I have arrived safe and sound. It ain't half hot here...

My first encounter with Aussie wildlife was this little fella. Known as the Noisy Miner (and they aren't scared of making themselves heard) these things are plentiful! Very pretty and colourful birds they are well known for their aggressive protection of their territory. Whilst i was having a quick ciggie on Andy's balcony one of these flew over and perched on the rail right in front of me. Cool.

Later on after whilst exploring the area I saw two of these chasing a huge crow-like bird that must have been 10 times their size but they weren't scared and they were attacking the crow mid-flight which was pretty cool to watch. Point is - if you're a native Aussie animal, leave these aggressive little buggers well alone!

Have also seen some pretty scary spiders as well, including one the size of a digestive biscuit (if counting legs) which was electric blue and red (not a deadly one I don't think) sat in a bush not far from Andy's; but i try to remember they are far more scared of me then I of they, at least I keep telling myself this as I hurried on...

The last English Out Post

2008-01-22T01:37:00.000-08:00

Well here goes with my last English post for a while. A little bit of home - Andy (my Aussie mate), Tim and I at Malham Cove in Yorkshire. As Martin stated - god's own county indeed.

Best wishes all. Catch you later.

Previously on....

2008-01-21T23:57:00.000-08:00

Thought I should post a small offering things I had done and places I had been prior to my extended jaunt into the kangaroo country. As i went through old photos (pre-scanning and digital camera no less...) I came across several worthy of a mention so here goes...

Mexico
Had a lovely time in Cancun, Mexico and thankfully was well away from the hustle that is Cancun itself (we were about 5 or 10 miles down the coast) but realised, as often happens, how many photos I don't have of the trip, such as the jet-skiing through the mangrove forest (highly recommended) trips out to Senor Frogs (world famous bar apparently as noted on the hand dryer at the world famous Blues Bar in Harrogate) and indeed one of the finest Japanese restaurants i've ever been too. Not to mention the sight of Baz and I singing a cappella of 'Me and My Shadow' to the entire hotel on karaoke night (god bless/damn free champagne...).

Anyway, I found some, so enjoy.

Dolphins are soooo fabulous.

Chichen Itza was fantastic as well and deserves a mention, even though i can't give it the coverage it deserves because I'm running late for my train to London! lol

Colombia
I was fortunate enough to go to a country that many people won't even consider and most consider to be volatile and dangerous at least. All I can say is that I had the most amazing time and have seen things I am never likely to come across again. The people were diamond and I felt welcome everywhere I went (thanks in part to Eli). It was a wrench leaving the place and gave my love for travel and adventure and almighty boost to a level i may not recover from! lol.

The amazing finger painter - who would paint these vistas (as seen) with his hand and nothing but a toothpick in about three minutes. Those might recognise the paintings in the photos as they are now at home in England!

Parc de Tayrona
One of the most beautiful places i have seen. Slept on a hammock on the beach by those trees and had fresh chocolate pastries on the beach cooked in a mud kiln. Magic

Lol, saw a few cars like this. At least this guy had a sense of humour. The translation is 'it does not sell'

Taganga
The most beautiful sunset i have ever seen, the good looking blokes in the photos are Eli and I.

Pico Cristobal Colon
We were lucky enough to spend time up with the indigenous locals in the tallest coastal mountain range in the world. Photos show the village, drinking cane sugar coffee at the local meeting point and a massive waterfall high up in the mountains. Please see my little brother's face for an indication of how high it was from the top. Photo doesn't quite do justice.

Upmarket Suburbs...

2008-01-07T03:55:00.001-08:00

This really made me laugh..

"Mischief-makers in North London are trying to increase the profile and attach a certain cachet (akin to Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Mayfair) to the suburb of Barnet in an apparent attempt to raise property prices or indeed improve their image. They have altered scores of roadsigns on main routes with masking tape - adding an acute accent to the 'e' in the hope that it will be pronounced 'Barnay'. "

Remind anyone of St. Arbeck? Lol.

Poker Crew

2008-01-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

It would be remiss of me not to post on this subject and bar one member (Craig Walker who's in NZ) you can see how i've spent my Thursday nights for the last few years. A haven for intellectual chat, and occasionally some cards (and some outright robbery some would say!) it has been a lovely part of my life for years, and those nights and the friends i have there will be sorely missed whilst on my travels.

Bovington Tank Museum

2008-01-07T02:56:00.000-08:00

Adjacent to the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre (see below) is the Bovington tank museum. Whilst tanks may not be everyone's cup of tea, i hope that some of the photos below can show how tanks have developed, how bloody big they are and also what a nightmare it must be to be in one during active service. It's hard to imagine what the reaction was the first time the battlefield saw some of these metal monsters...

The tank above is 'Little Nellie' - the world's first tank.

The classic World War I tank, measures well over six-feet high!

This little beauty is the only surviving operational Tiger Tank from WWII. Largely better armed and better protected than the US Sherman tanks it struck fear on the battlefield and could fire shells from its main gun up to a mile away.

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre

2008-01-07T02:03:00.002-08:00

Well, for my first post, i'm going to go back a little way - to last September. I visited Monkey World in Dorset and for those that don't know - you should go, it's fabulous, heartwarming and all together something to admire. I'm a bit of a conservationist and want to see less people treating the non-human inhabitants of this planet better.

This little critter is a ring-tailed lemur and what's interesting about this, if you note, is that he's on the public footpath - albeit in a protective pen, and you can happily walk amongst such amazing and inquisitive creatures as they gambol about. Fabulous, and what beautiful creatures.

They also have orangutans, chimps, stump-tailed macaques and howler monkeys (who go bonkers everytime a tank rumbles past - see the above blog on neighbouring Bovington). You can hear them miles away; it's difficult to explain how loud they are.

There is a serious side to this however. The centre came about through the work of Jim and Alison Cronin, who over many years and with great hardship and adversity have travelled the world rescuing animals that are being horrifically treated. Many of the animals have been scarred for life, physically and mentally. It's important to note that this is not a zoo, it's a rescue centre and you may have seen the work on satellite tv as the 'Monkey Business' series. You'll note above with the shot of the chimpanzee 'tree-house' the amount of effort, work, love and respect that goes into caring for these animals. Truly inspiring work, if only governments in third-world countries could see why they need to stop trade in animals and circus-slave animals, performing out of fear.

I must also inform with great sadness that I understand that Jim Cronin passed away last year. His pioneering work and legacy will live on.

The world has lost a hero.

In the beginning, there was...the beginning

2008-01-07T01:41:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at a blog, so please go easy on me until I become proficient. Starting with my travels to Australia and ending...who knows where. Like my buddy Martin this blog will likely contain anything of interest i find whilst out there in the vast expanse we know as 'Earth'. Please do log-in and comment on anything you want to (except the fact i've never commented on Wak's blog - sorry mate - but times are changing...watch this space...!)

I'll try and keep this thing up to date but feel free to email me with any comments. Those that don't have my e-mail; well you'll just have to post won't you!

Nick