Oh it’s good to be out of the Christmas spirit (and the Christmas colours) again for another year. I don’t want to sound like a bit of a Grinch or anything but Christmas, although an enjoyable day of the year is so much effort! Nonetheless, I had a great time, adding a new shaver to my arsenal of grooming bits and peices (my old electric one broke when I hurled it across the room in SA accidentally) and some shirts, cd’s and dvds. Add to that a more than generous Christmas dinner and you have yourself one very content little (or rather bulging) Pete.

Anyway as you all saw on the way in here (if you didn’t see the flash, click here), I’m on holidays as of today (boxing day). You may hear from me while I’m off galavanting around the place, but then you may not either. Have a fantastic time, and I’ll see you all soon (max 2 weeks)!

Happy New Year!

Pete

Alright so I got a second chance, and on Christmas day proper.

Merry Christmas all.

Pete

Now that it’s officially Christmas eve, I’ll take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas. I believe last year something like 43 people around Australia were taken to hospital with eye injuries from either exploding champagne corks or stupidly trying to open beer bottles with their eye sockets, so party safely, don’t open beer with parts of your face, and I may very well see you all soon.

Pete

Over the last week I’ve slowly but surely warmed (quite literally, it’s been in the high 30′s!) to life in Australia again, but today was an unneccesary shock to the system. Things would be different if it were 3 days time, when we’ll be in Anglesea to celebrate another summer on the beach, but 38° (101° F) when you’re stuck in Melbourne is unfair. What’s even more sucky is the fact that I’ve had to CHRISTMAS SHOP the day away. Ugh at least most places are air-conditioned.

Oh and while I’m in the whinging mood, what is with these bloody holidays and snow? Just because parts of Europe and the crappier parts of America get snow, doesn’t mean the rest of the world has to all of a sudden associate the Christmas season with the stupid stuff (I know I’m just bitter because it’s almost 30 degrees (85 odd) at midnight, and we never get snow anytime. Ever). So yeah, snow can go to hell, where it would become much less desirable water, or even dreaded steam. Stupid snow.

Pete

Umm I suppose I should let you all know I’m safe and sound. The plane ride was rather uneventful, full of insomnia packed fun and games – the regular stuff – and now I’m home, slightly bored and a little disoriented with 15 hours of sunlight a day and such hot weather.

On a separate note, I don’t really know what will happen to this blog now. It served as a geek refuge in the old days, when no-one I actually knew physically read it, then it became an outlet for me to keep all you guys current regarding my travels without needing to repeat myself 23042835420 times, and now….. who knows? I don’t know if I’d be 100% comfortable keeping it as a journally thing, but then it’ll become a bit of a ghost blog if I don’t do something along those lines. Ahh lets just see what happens….

It’s a pity you can’t all comment and leave your own thoughts – damn totalitarian blog!

Pete

siiigghh….

I don’t particularly want to go home today – but I suppose I’ll enjoy Australia when I get back there. I BETTER BLOODY WELL DO ANYWAY.

Yes thats right boys and girls, I’m flyin’ out of this horrible 2 degree, cloudy and wet weather this evening. Yet, as dodge as the weather is, and as much as I do wish more than anything to be under the sun again, I don’t want to leave Europe either. Damn fickleness.

siiigghh….

Pete

‘Tis a very sad day today. My best friends, who I’ve been travelling with all year, and had been part of my entourage back home for a good two and a half years before I left are about to die. They have been with me for so long, and I am eternally grateful for their services to me but it’s time for the bin.

Still don’t have a clue what the fuck I’m talking about? My favourite pair of jeans, some 3 1/2 years old now, have finally given thier last days wear. I was shopping at Brent Cross the other day with Uncle Brent and Auntie Angela, when mid bend I heard a moaning rip come from my backside. There had been an attempt to patch up a rip there some time ago, but the surrounding fabric was so thin that the cloth around the patch just ripped. Anyway in my mourning for them today, I realised the badge that the jeans carried with them:

When I saw this, an idea sprang to mind. How can a company possibly claim for something to be future proof? Isn’t the fact that they died in multiple ways proof to me that they are indeed NOT future proof? Let me show you…..

Alright so the front of the jeans look alright, apart from the denim fading and the broken left (your right) pocket. Not bad to start with I suppose….

Now we get into the bad bits….

These four shots are of the top bit of the back of the jeans. The first one shows just general tattiness and fraying that I suppose has to be expected in regular jeans, but then again these jeans are supposed to be FUTURE PROOF!
The second shot shows the enormous hole in my ass. It actually looks like I’ve torn myself a second zip, but on the wrong side. What adds a little comedy to the look is a little bit of light blue denim supposedly holding the thing together, JUST holding on to the edge at the top of the tear.
The third photo there is of the pocket hole, which is the perfect size for one pound coins and other important little things to fall out of. Funny that.
The final piccy is my hand magically emerging from the big gouge in the second photo. It really is quite big.

Now normally that wouldn’t be enough to make me throw the jeans away, but have a look at how much light the back of the jeans let through when held up to a window. In many places it’s just a single weave holding the denim together. Oh and just so you don’t forget, thats English light IN DECEMBER, which is about as powerful as one of those cheap $2 torches from 100 feet. Very thin ice denim indeed.

Anyway as is quite understandable, I’m distraught. My babies have to go. Stupid, lying Billabong. (yes those are flames devouring the said pair of jeans)

Pete

My plan worked perfectly. After my phone call with the olds last week, and the following days of choices, Mum’s been convinced that it’s terribly harsh for Dad to bring me home so early (after 12 months!) and that because he wants me home for Christmas, he is the biggest bastard in the world.

The best bit is, she’s not wrong either!

Oh and on a completely different note, I’ve almost done all my Christmas shopping! Fan-bloody-tastic!

Pete

Oh I got some photos of Rome, or actually Florence off Izzy’s phone onto mine. Today I figured out that O2 not only give me 300 free sms’s a month, but also 300 free mms’s, which can go from mobile-email as well as mobile-mobile. So I emailed myself the photos. They aren’t exactly great quality, but it does show my grandpa hat and until I get my films developed, these are the best you can hope for. For those who don’t know Kia and Izzy, Kia is the blonde and Iz is the dwarf

Pete

For the last couple of months, people from all over the place have been trying to talk me into staying in Europe for Christmas and New Years. Dave and Bec tried, as did other gappers around the place, and my Uncle and Aunt invited me to a proper english family Christmas a few weeks ago. However, as nice and thoughtful as all these offers were, I gave none a whole lot of consideration, wanting to get back to Australia and the summer as soon as possible. HOWEVER, that changed significantly when Kia, Izzy and I were chatting in Kia’s dorm during Iz and my last few hours in Florence with Ki. They both suggested NYE in Bath with the two of thema nd some other friends, as well as touring Ireland before then, and Christmas in London (where I could ditch them and go spend the day with family). As soon as we started talking, I became all of a sudden quite receptive to the idea of staying another month, and screwing people back home. After all, Christmas is just a day.

I left Rome telling the girls that I’d check with the olds, but that I was keen to travel with them (which is completely true) and that I’d push the idea as much as was possible. However, that counted for nought. Although mum can understand the position I’m in (she felt the same when she traveled when she was my age – she spent 3 YEARS in Africa), she feels it’s important for me to come back home soon, and as for dad – well he gave the guilt trip shpeel, saying that they’d love me whatever happened but he REALLY REALLY WANTED ME HOME AND WOULD KILL ME IF I STAYED!

So yeah – another brilliant Pete idea shot down. I better get compensated big time. This better be the best Christmas in all eternity.

Oh and for even more whinging of mine, NY in Aus will be shit. I was going to talk Samo into going to Falls with me, but the tickets are sold out. Looks like another boring, booze filled beach party like thingy again. Ugh I’m sick of overrated NY parties.

Pete