http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/en-EUMokoFeed10http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/65/00c6047944eec82622dc42fdbd5538_160x200.jpghttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/29/hong-kong-here-today-gone-tomorrow-5132625/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-29:/2008/11/29/hong-kong-here-today-gone-tomorrow-5132625/Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:29:39 +0100 <p>For the last few days the folk here in Hong Kong have been togged up in balaclavas, ear-muffs and arctic jump-suits on account of the temperature dropping to 20C in cloudless skies. They don’t know they are born.</p> <p>We leave tomorrow so this is farewell from Brady and the Buspassess. I can’t tell you how much we are looking forward to getting home to take full advantage of Mr Darling’s generous ‘wrinkly coal-allowance’.</p> <p>But at least our last few days have been full of new experiences. To see Hong Kong it’s good to go up the Peak by the old tram. Here’s the view and the pair of us preparing for a long lunch in the art deco restaurant next door. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=view-1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/view-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=peak.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/peak.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We decided to walk down the ‘Old Peak Road’ and believe me it was steep. On the way I saw many more of the notices I had seen every time we walked near any road that is not perfectly flat. It says ‘Slope Registration No’. </p> <p>Here’s your chance to win something worthwhile! A bottle of the merest moothfie to the first person to post an explanation as to why and who started this wacky piece of bureaucracy.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=slope.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/slope.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Come evening time we took in the light show put on by many of the buildings in Hong Kong and Kowloon. We were lucky enough to see one of the local photographers in frantic action for the short 15 minute sales window the light show gave him. Here he is sitting under a tree with his trolley full of state-of-the-art computer photo equipment and what we got for a couple of dollars.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=picman.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/picman.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=pics.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/pics.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>For our last day and in a final attempt to save money for the Bank of Scotland we have settled for the OAP economy cruise option of Hong Kong harbour finished with the $1 building site meal.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cruise.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cruise.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=lastsupper.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/lastsupper.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, this is a Chinese lucky cat I bought – it has a battery and apart from bringing good fortune it waves goodbye. I hope it works for you.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bye.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bye.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/29/hong-kong-here-today-gone-tomorrow-5132625/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/29/hong-kong-here-today-gone-tomorrow-5132625/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/queensland-2-storms-and-sharks-5123395/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-28:/2008/11/28/queensland-2-storms-and-sharks-5123395/Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:22:44 +0100 <p>You may recall me mentioning Sian’s extraordinary power to make it rain on arrival. After seven years of drought she landed at Harare, Zimbabwe and there followed days of thunder storms. In gratitude President Mugabe dubbed her an official ‘Rain Goddess’.</p> <p>I thought she might be losing her touch – until we arrived in Brisbane. On Sian’s arrival at my cousin Ainslie’s city apartment Brisbane experienced relentless super cell tropical storms for days (hail the size of eggs falling) – a national disaster was declared and the troops called in.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=lightning.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/lightning.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>In between storms the weather was quite pleasant and we walked through Brisbane’s riverside parks in a pleasantly mellow mood. </p> <p>Ainslie and I found it necessary to do a spot of red wine research (Holly and Lara her delightful twin daughters were on carpet cleaning duties). Included in the study was a field trip to the local casino (where I won $700 at the poker- yippee). </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=ainslee.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/ainslee.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We then went on to Ainslie’s home in Hervey Bay for a few days as we needed to get toughened up after all the city slicking. Here’s Sian in the pool – very British – she refused a pina colada and went for the weak tea instead.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=pool.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/pool.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>For some reason Sian demanded that I took a picture of her on the way to the fishing in the back on Ainslie car.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mrscool.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mrscool.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And as for the fishing – I caught a smallish shark – but more importantly Danger-Woman caught the most poisonous fish in Australian waters – the deadly ‘Puffing Toad Fish’</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=toad.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/toad.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>That evening was a little blurred on account of the day’s excitement but I do remember meeting a fellow refuge from Zimbabwe and winning the Melbourne Cup all over again.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=races.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/races.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>On the drive back to Brisbane we hit the storms again – for two solid hours we went through 3/4 ‘can’t see out the windscreen downpours’. As we approached Brisbane the car was surrounded by fork and sheet lightening – it was pretty scary. Driver Ainslie was given a hearty round of applause and a wee moothfie on arrival.</p> <p>A while later we had a rooftop Barbie – notice the lack of men – in Australia they do the cooking.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=roof.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/roof.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We spent the last couple of days in Byron Bay where we went to the most easterly point in Australia. Sian was delighted to spot turtles, dolphins and the rare Australian Lump-Faced finger snapper on Tallow beach.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=fingersnapper.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/fingersnapper.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>At this time of year all Australia’s school leavers (schoolies) congregate on this part of the coast to get drunk etc- it’s a sort of right of passage. We were lucky to meet a couple of schoolies on the beach. This is Andy and Jen. Andy wants to become a sales representative for Harry’s Pies and Jen wants him to grow a groucho style moustache (I have granted her wish).<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=schoolies.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/schoolies.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=groucho.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/groucho.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Here comes Hong Kong. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/queensland-2-storms-and-sharks-5123395/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/queensland-2-storms-and-sharks-5123395/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/18/queensland-1-cairns-tales-from-the-deep-5054996/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-17:/2008/11/18/queensland-1-cairns-tales-from-the-deep-5054996/Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:43:26 +0100 <p>We liked Cairns. Our apartment was at the top of the esplanade which turned out to be 2.2K long – a very nice walk to the town – but we had to go there quite often so we decided to hire a car.</p> <p>In a bid to connect with the real Australia we went for an early model Holden restored to perfection. Here you see Sian trying to abduct the cute car-hire salesman.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=holden.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/holden.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>This is herself showing off the latest outfit from the pantechnicon that follows us around Australia. There is a small element of danger involved as the esplanade walk is signposted as a high risk crocodile attack area.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=fashion.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/fashion.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Immediately behind Cairns there is a mountain range with a rainforest and beyond that the outback. On the way we went to a gorge riddled with snakes and poisonous creepy-crawlies – yet another gorge dive opportunity for Danger-Woman.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=gorge.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/gorge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> Australians never miss a chance to drive about in utes. Normally, they drive on roads and have a dog in the back. This chap strapped on some train wheels and went flying down the track.</p> <p> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=ute.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/ute.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Another shocking change in scenery occurred. One minute we were driving on windy roads through mountainous forest – then bush and a straight road for hundreds of miles. It was no different from my childhood in Rhodesia – quite spooky.</p> <p>On the way back to tropical paradise we stopped at a little lake to allow me to experiment with my eski & stubbie.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=happy.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/happy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And yes this is a plant.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=plant.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/plant.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>On Saturday we hired a large white stinking-rich type yacht to take us to the far edge of the great barrier reef just where the continental shelf kicks in. The faint hearted should read no further. When the vessel slowed as we reached one of the wilder reef sites the captain offered us the diving with octopus option. Guess who said yes straight away. Here I’m trying to free Danger-Woman from the clutches of the Greater Australian Pink-Tentacled Octopus. As if that wasn’t scary enough she went straight for the ‘once in a life-time’ swimming with sharks option.</p> <p> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=octopus.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/octopus.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=sharks.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/sharks.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And here she is looking happy as Larry after her nautical exploits.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=seagirl.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/seagirl.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/18/queensland-1-cairns-tales-from-the-deep-5054996/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/18/queensland-1-cairns-tales-from-the-deep-5054996/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/16/cultural-interlude-5042813/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-16:/2008/11/16/cultural-interlude-5042813/Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:39:13 +0100 <p>We have been in Australia for some time now so we are well placed to make a few observations about the culture of this great country. Indeed, we have taken this part of our reportage so seriously we engaged in extensive pre-travel research at Tesco’s South Queensferry Australian wine shelf.</p> <p>There is a popular misconception that Australians wander around singing operatic arias all day. This stems from the iconic status of Sydney’s truly beautiful Opera House. Believe me, most Aussies can’t sing for toffee – particularly the man in the room next door.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=opera.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/opera.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>One of the great Australian pastimes is having a ‘barbie’. You can find these structures all over the land and they are free to use (just turn on the electric or gas and away you go). Here you see a fair sized Golden Snapper (stuffed with coriander & parsley) gently baking to go with tatties and a nice green salad on the side. Apologies for the fuzzy image – Sian was experimenting with taking pictures whilst holding a glass of chilled chardonnay and the camera in the same hand.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=barbie.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/barbie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>You may find it interesting to compare how this is done in Scotland. For a start it’s not 32C and it’s not tropical sunshine - no - it’s bloody raining again. That’s what led me to invent the Brady Barbrella (patent pending).</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=barbrella.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/barbrella.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Australian men are sports daft. However, they can become a little confused. They all hate the Poms (fair enough), but - then - every Sunday afternoon they pretend they are English. All togged out in white (as if they are medical orderlies) they set about playing the cricket. As if that wasn’t shameful enough they also play at the rugga. </p> <p>This behaviour is all the more mysterious as they have a perfectly good sport of their own. And it better suits the Aussie character. It’s called AFL or Australian football. The aim of the game is unclear. With about 28 players a side charging about, they have no boundaries, the playing zone is as much grass as the stadium has and they get to thump, kick and throw the ball in any direction (disputes are settled by a punch in the face). But they enjoy it like hell (so do the Sheilas on account of the scanty tight fitting strip).</p> <p> I met the Hawthorn Hawks top kicker and their coach at a recent sporting event. They gave me a signed stubbie holder (more Aussie culture). I’m a Hawks fan for life – maybe the only one in Scotland.</p> <p> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hawks.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hawks.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=stubbie.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/stubbie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, the Australian sense of humour. The sign below is a warning about jelly fish that kill you – no ifs or buts – get stung and you are dead. Notwithstanding, this dire warning, they assume you will ignore it and when you dash out of the sea in agony they suggest you cover yourself in the vinegar provided before you lie down and die smelling like a fish supper.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=stinger.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/stinger.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/16/cultural-interlude-5042813/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/16/cultural-interlude-5042813/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-3-bye-bye-sydney-5016706/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-11:/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-3-bye-bye-sydney-5016706/Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:03:29 +0100 <p>As we prepare to say farewell to Sydney we decided to buy an all-day ticket on the City Monorail so we could whirl round the circuit endless times at ever diminishing cost per trip (I just know that Mr Menzies our Bank of Scotland Manager will approve).</p> <p>But way before that at about 6am SuperSurferGran was in the Internet-Café rubbing shoulders with people on skate-boards and fallen crutch pants.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=surfgran.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/surfgran.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>After about 35 circuits the staff took pity on us and gave us a tartan blanket to cover or knees.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mono1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mono1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The driver succumbed to Sian's charms and handed the controls over to her – instantly she revved up the speed. It was only moments later that the driver broke into a sweat as it dawned on him that he had handed the controls to Danger-Woman.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mono2.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mono2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Mercifully they are yet to rig up a bungy jump off this one.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mono3.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mono3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We had a jolly fine day on the monorail so I was a little embarrassed when Sian decided to barricade herself in the monorail as part of ‘Save the Whale Week’. As you can see the staff struggled to get her out – I have left out the pictures of the Sydney Police escorting her to the cells.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mono4.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mono4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And finally, by chance I happened upon the Bank of Scotland’s Sydney branch. I immediately demanded an appointment with the local version of Mr Menzies only to be told he had just jumped off the top of this building due to yet another stock crash. Perhaps there is a God after all.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hbos.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hbos.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-3-bye-bye-sydney-5016706/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-3-bye-bye-sydney-5016706/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-2-sydney-credit-crunch-thar-she-blows-5015845/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-10:/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-2-sydney-credit-crunch-thar-she-blows-5015845/Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:33:29 +0100 <p>Sorry to cast a small gloom over the proceedings but we are all impacted in some way by the banks' shortage of money and should be understanding about the need for economy measures. In the present climate who can blame the Bank of Scotland for suspending my well stocked bank account. After all I am in Australia and you can never be too careful – perhaps I was lying when I told them (before I left the UK) exactly where I would be at any given time.</p> <p>If you ever need to test your karma try this. Get up in the middle of the night in – say Australia – phone a UK bank on a mobile phone and go through a large menu of inappropriate tape recorded options. Eventually, when you think you are through to someone with a body to go with their voice, explain you are on a mobile from Australia and tell them about your predicament. Then test how much you are ‘at-one-with-yourself’ when she says “hold on” and plays jaunty music as your credit rapidly drains away.</p> <p>On the theme of economy measures Sian has found a new way of testing out hats without having to buy them first.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=operahat.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/operahat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>You can also save a wad of money by not walking up Sydney Bridge. For one tenth of the price you can go up one of the towers, sip a nice glass of chilled chardonnay and watch as rich people (like Bank of Scotland managers) struggle to the top.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bridge.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bridge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We have enjoyed the most wonderful warm balmy weather here in Sydney so travelling economy class around Sydney Harbour on ferries (seven-day saver rate) has been no great hardship. Yesterday we went to Manly which is buzzing with street entertainment and the usual show of flesh and surf boards being cool on the white beaches. Being Scottish we decided to go for a long walk. The view of the harbour from North Head is quite stunning.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=northhead.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/northhead.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Sian has been going on about whales ever since we arrived. But it’s the end of the season so we thought our chances of seeing any were slim. So imagine her delight when the path led us to Helen who was busy doing whale research for the local university. She gave us a pair of strong binoculars each and pointed us in the direction of some humpback mother and calves blowing and breaching (right out of the water and flopping on their backs).</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=whale.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/whale.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>By the time we sailed into Circular Quay the light was fading.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=sydneynight.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/sydneynight.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The next day we bay hopped our way to Watson Bay which is at the other side of the headlands which enclose Sydney Harbour. So as to save the Bank of Scotland some money we got the bus back to the city and had a modestly priced banquet in China Town.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=watson.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/watson.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>When I find out what road we take to hitch-hike to Cairns I’ll let you know how we get on.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-2-sydney-credit-crunch-thar-she-blows-5015845/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/new-south-wales-2-sydney-credit-crunch-thar-she-blows-5015845/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/08/new-south-wales-1-sydney-daft-hats-and-hunks-5005565/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-08:/2008/11/08/new-south-wales-1-sydney-daft-hats-and-hunks-5005565/Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:13:09 +0100 <p>We have a nice apartment on the edge of Chinatown here in Sydney. No unpacking cases for the next seven nights – whoopee. Darling Harbour is just up the road so we have been watching the world go by – ships and boats and planes and the horribly young with correctly shaped bodies.</p> <p>Within minutes of our arrival Sian had discovered and was rummaging around in Sydney’s Paddy’s market. She bought what must be the most ludicrous hat in Australia (if not the world).</p> <p>Here’s the red hat at Taronga Zoo. Sian is taking pictures of this cute baby Koala whilst being jostled by thousands of Sydney school kids.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hat.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=koala.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/koala.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>This is Sydney from the zoo.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=zoocity.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/zoocity.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And now a hair solution for all you ladies in Edinburgh (you know who you are) who get charged £80 a cut by a certain Edinburgh lady barber. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=monkey.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/monkey.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The next day we went to Bondi beach. Sian needed lasting evidence of her presence.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bondisign.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bondisign.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Danger-Woman was in action again. She is trying to pretend that she is practising for the rip-tide surfing but let me tell you the only beings in danger here are the hunky Bondi beach lifeguards you see fleeing in the background.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=danger-1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/danger-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=surfer.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/surfer.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, I have at last found a way to make my fortune. Arrangements are already in hand for the grand Australian opening of my next money making venture. 'Brady’s Bar' (finest wines and beers) will open on 23rd January next year.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=alco.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/alco.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/08/new-south-wales-1-sydney-daft-hats-and-hunks-5005565/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/08/new-south-wales-1-sydney-daft-hats-and-hunks-5005565/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/06/victoria-2-the-melbourne-cup-4992073/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-06:/2008/11/06/victoria-2-the-melbourne-cup-4992073/Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:18:21 +0100 <p>The direction in which we are travelling around Australia was determined by the timing of the Melbourne Cup.</p> <p>To mark the occasion we stayed a couple of nights in a Melbourne designer hotel complete with thoroughly impractical angular seats. However, the staff provide a pre-bedtime rub down with warm aromatic oils - altogether less shocking to the senses.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=adelph.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/adelph.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>This is ‘the’ event of the year in Australia and we were lucky to have the help of Dale and Diane to get us tickets for the full days racing at Flemington.</p> <p>There’s a real carnival atmosphere in Melbourne in the run up to the Cup. Here’s some pics of people getting ready for the parade the day before (we walked into all this by accident).</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=kids.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/kids.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=horse.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/horse.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=clown.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/clown.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=stolts.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/stolts.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Followers of fashion might note that Sian produced a brand new outfit complete with mini-hat for the event. I think it was sneaked into the extra case that does nothing but cart her shoes from place to place around the world.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=uscup.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/uscup.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We arrived early to secure a table in our private tented area. It was not long before we got the day of to a flying start with a bottle of vintage champagne. Pity our early horse selections were not similarly ‘fleeing’. But more of that later.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=dduscup.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/dduscup.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Flemington is a first class race track with an amazing view of Melbourne city as the backdrop. On the day everyone gets togged up and the colour, weird outfits and general merriment of over 100,000 race-goers creates a fantastic atmosphere. </p> <p>Early on the betting record was not so good with only a few modest place wins to keep the ship afloat. But come the eighth race my superior horse selecting skills shone through and ‘Annenkov’ stormed past the winning post. But this was not the end of my good fortune. When placing our bets at the tote window I had suffered a momentary lapse of memory (nothing to do with Boags stubbies) and bet twice on the same horse. Instead of one $5 each way ticket I had placed two producing a handsome $170 towards the entertainment fund.</p> <p>Next stop Sydney. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/06/victoria-2-the-melbourne-cup-4992073/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/06/victoria-2-the-melbourne-cup-4992073/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/victoria-1-the-great-ocean-road-4975230/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-03:/2008/11/03/victoria-1-the-great-ocean-road-4975230/Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:20:14 +0100 <p>We arrived at Melbourne airport in 29C of heat. Phew.</p> <p>It was getting dark so we had to dash to Geelong in our free upgraded sporty car (strong approval from Danger-Woman).</p> <p>Checking into our motel involved shining my main beam car headlight into a dark passageway so that essential information could be exchanged between the proprietor and I over a small phone nailed to the wall. I will spare you the details save to say I was well ready for the merest moothfie by the time I made it to our room.</p> <p>Following a hearty breakfast (Australians have yet to discover ‘portion control’) we took the easy way out and posed with some of the wooden statues that occupy the rather sophisticated waterfront (nice tip Derek).</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=band.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/band.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=swim.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/swim.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We had sunshine to watch trainee surfers in Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road. Where we also discovered the irritating Australian fly – sluggish - easy to kill – but endless supply.</p> <p>On our way down the weather turned foul. But this made the seascape even more spectacular – huge waves crashing onto beaches and rock formations.</p> <p>We stayed the night at Apollo Bay. Next morning, we woke up to a vehicle that would not start - somebody had broken into the car and switched the parking lights on so as to drain the battery. Strange things these Aussies do.</p> <p>Several pies later we arrived at the Otway Tree Top Fly Walk. Warning – the faint hearted should stop reading this episode now. Not content with running up the wobbly Tower of Terror – Danger-Woman decided that abseiling down the world’s tallest tree was the very thing.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tower.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tower.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=danger.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/danger.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We stayed the night at Port Campbell just after we went to the twelve apostles (originally called the Sow & Piglets) on a glorious sunny evening.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=piglets.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/piglets.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=us.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/us.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And this is an amazing formation called the grotto.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=grotto.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/grotto.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, Danger-Woman prepares her toes for the Melbourne Cup. I dread to think what they will make of mine at the toe inspection point on the way into the races.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=toes.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/toes.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/victoria-1-the-great-ocean-road-4975230/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/victoria-1-the-great-ocean-road-4975230/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/01/tasmania-4-a-little-more-4965542/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-11-01:/2008/11/01/tasmania-4-a-little-more-4965542/Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:21:00 +0100 <p>Due to circumstances beyond our control - Aussie airline ‘Virgin Blue’ (yes - it’s that bearded twit) – decided to cancel our afternoon flight to Melbourne and put us on a flight two hours earlier in the morning. One minor problem – they forgot to tell us.</p> <p>Notwithstanding, the local ‘Virgin Blue’ manager ruled that we were at fault as he had called out our names to get on the flight we didn’t know about and we failed to materialise. Don’t try to persuade me that he wasn’t headhunted from ‘Ryanair.’</p> <p>Never mind the four hours wait gave us time to visit the gorge at Launceston for a fine lunch, a hurl on the world’s longest span chair lift and a bridge dive.</p> <p>My brother John and I look on as Dale takes a swoop at a Tassie burger. And the moral is - don’t order a burger in Tasmania unless you are really, really, exceptionally hungry.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=john.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/john.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=burger.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/burger.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Here is Sian preparing for her gorge leap. Let’s hope we make it intact to Melbourne – the Cup and the Great Ocean Road.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=jump.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/jump.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/01/tasmania-4-a-little-more-4965542/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/11/01/tasmania-4-a-little-more-4965542/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/29/tasmania-3-bye-bye-4953167/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-29:/2008/10/29/tasmania-3-bye-bye-4953167/Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:31:39 +0100 <p>With sadness we leave Tasmania. We have had a tremendous time here. And that’s not just because it’s a beautiful island – our family have made this part of our trip something to remember. We just can’t thank them enough.</p> <p>We are now heading towards Melbourne to do the Great Ocean road and the Melbourne Cup. At this stage it’s only right that I thank Dale, his Dad and his son Dave for the really fantastic horse racing and greyhound tips they have given me over the last two weeks. Some of us will be meeting again for the Melbourne Cup so it’s only right that I repay you with a hot tip of my own. Look out for this ‘fella’ - to put in your boxed trifecta.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=winner.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/winner.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, I’ve got her under control. This is the prison at Port Arthur where the ‘transportation’ convicts were welcomed to Australia. Another little piece of heaven that mankind has carved out to behave like beasts.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=jail.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/jail.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And now to Orford and the best motel room view in the world. This is taken at dusk from our balcony whilst sipping chilled chardonnay. Ye cannae whack it.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=orford.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/orford.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> Here we have Sian talking to a wallaby in the car park at Frecinet National Park. We walked from there to the outlook (Australians call them lookouts) point for Wineglass Bay. We wished we had a lot more time to spend in these parts.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wally.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wally.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wineglass.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wineglass.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And just before we returned to Somerset we drove from St Helens to the Bay of Fires. The Tasmanian landscape changes so rapidly you can get shocked into thinking you are somewhere else. This place is like the west coast of Harris – right down to the single track road and sheep. Sian decided it was time to show a bit of leg.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=legs.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/legs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/29/tasmania-3-bye-bye-4953167/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/29/tasmania-3-bye-bye-4953167/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/28/tasmania-2-danger-woman-dives-again-4942759/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-27:/2008/10/28/tasmania-2-danger-woman-dives-again-4942759/Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:47:07 +0100 <p>We have made our way south to Hobart – the nearest place to the Antartic you can get a cappuccino and chunky chicken pie.</p> <p>Having regard to the global credit crisis we have had to moderate our on-the-move accommodation specifications. Our Hobart budget penthouse may not look much but it has great TV reception.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hut.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hut.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Perhaps I should retrace a few steps before we swerved southward. </p> <p>This is Cradle Mountain where we had a splendid picnic at Dove Lake with Dale, Diane and Andy.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cradle.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cradle.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The only small blot on the day was missing the mini-bus into the National park. Sian and Andy were surprised that the bus did not stop at the nearby viewpoint they chose to visit 30 seconds before the bus arrived on time.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bus.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bus.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>On our way to a serious bout of wine tasting in the Tamar Valley we called in at Mole Creek to examine the local wildlife. This is as nice as these little ‘devils’ get. They run about with a sort of shambolic shuffle before they pounce on their prey. As this blog may be read with small family members present I have omitted the picture of a gang of them ripping a rabbit to shreds.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=devil.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/devil.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>After I comprehensively beat Dale (my niece Diane’s husband) at Australian rules longneck golf we set out for a day of wine tasting in the sunny north of the island. I cannot say much about what happened next as I became anaesthetised for medical reasons. Fortunately, we discovered a boot full of wine bottles when we got home (Somerset/Burnie) so at least someone had remained sensible. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wine-1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wine-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>My brother John and his partner Connie took us to the Nut at Stanley. It’s a volcanic stump which appears right in the middle of picture postcard white beaches. My family spent a lot of time ‘growing up’ here - so it’s quite special as well as beautiful.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=nut.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/nut.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The Tasmanian branch of my family has spent many years refining the small pleasures to be had whilst doing seemingly ordinary things. Here I am learning the art of ‘wine-fishing’. I have to say it does take the edge away from not catching fish. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=fish.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/fish.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>I have been a little surprised at the amount of ‘concerned’ mail I have received about the exploits of ‘Danger-Woman’. Be assured – I have done everything possible to calm her wild urges but - believe me – when she gets that look in her eye nothing will stop her. </p> <p>When we arrived at Dismal Swamp it looked like a nice rain forest sink hole with interesting plants and so forth. Little did I know it featured the ‘Dive-of Death’. Without pausing for breath Sian had her crash helmet on and was plunging, at break-neck speed down a vertical chute known for causing heart attacks and breaking bones.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=chute.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/chute.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/28/tasmania-2-danger-woman-dives-again-4942759/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/28/tasmania-2-danger-woman-dives-again-4942759/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/19/tasmania-1-tulips-and-cheats-4896994/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-19:/2008/10/19/tasmania-1-tulips-and-cheats-4896994/Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:29:26 +0200 <p>On our way to Tasmania we had a long stopover at Sydney so we took ourselves to the opera house and Sydney harbour bridge for lunch at the Portobello café.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=sydlunch.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/sydlunch.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Due to its geographic location Australia is upside down. Most people already know that Aussies only stay on the planet due to gravity - which we invented - but don’t expect any gratitude. After extensive research I can now reveal that Aussies are not only upside down but back to front.</p> <p>The condition reveals itself in many strange and unusual ways. Take this man for instance – notice how his pigtail has subtly changed position from the back of his head to his chin. Luckily this does not interfere with his superb piano playing skills.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=pigtail.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/pigtail.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We are staying in the spectacular home of Diane and Dale. This is the view from the window - it looks out over the Bass Straight.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=view.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/view.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> On our first day Diane and her son Andy took us to nearby Table Cape (you see above). Here they grow tulips and have vistas wonderful to behold.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tulip.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tulip.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>I now come to a shameful episode in our travels. Sian has let the team down badly.</p> <p>Together with some family members we entered the world famous “Burnie 10” (a road race for elite athletes from around the globe). It was a glorious sunny day and we arrived at the starting line straining at the bit after several minutes of tai-chi warming-up procedures. The race went very well – we even managed to pass one of the wheelchairs (its battery had run out). </p> <p>Towards the finish Sian, my buddy Dale and I – sportingly agreed we would cross the line together to scoop-up joint 3568th place. But just 10 yards from the line Sian suddenly sprinted ahead to clear the finishing line in front of us. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cheat.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cheat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Dale and I are - this morning - making an application to the race authorities at Burnie Council to have Sian stripped of her medal for gross un-Australian behaviour.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=medals.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/medals.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, this family picture was taken at a barbie. Next to me is my brother John and Sian is holding my great-great nephew Hamish. I’ll let you know all about the other wonderful people in future episodes.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=family.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/family.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/19/tasmania-1-tulips-and-cheats-4896994/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/19/tasmania-1-tulips-and-cheats-4896994/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/15/new-zealand-5-bye-bye-4873694/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-15:/2008/10/15/new-zealand-5-bye-bye-4873694/Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:18:22 +0200 <p>We have been so lucky with fine sunny weather for the last week. Queenstown is surrounded by snow-capped hills. Due to a shortage of wine I woke up at 5am (normally 3am) – this is the view from our toilet window.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=toilet.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/toilet.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And this is from the balcony where the merest moothfie is had before dinner.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=boat-1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/boat-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We took the full day bus tour to Milford Sound. Breathtaking scenery and more amazing pies at Te Anau comfort stop.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hills.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hills.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mitre.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mitre.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Before we set out on the very long drive to Christchurch Sian insisted on going to the bungy jumping. She’s now six foot seven and will hardly fit in the car. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bungy.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bungy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Finally, a relaxing day in Christchurch. Close encounter with a tram. Next stop Tassie.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tram.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tram.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/15/new-zealand-5-bye-bye-4873694/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/15/new-zealand-5-bye-bye-4873694/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/new-zealand-4-ice-wood-wind-amp-ladies-toilets-4853276/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-11:/2008/10/11/new-zealand-4-ice-wood-wind-amp-ladies-toilets-4853276/Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:48:07 +0200 <p>We have just arrived in sunny Queenstown and plan to stay here for a few days as we have been on the road in rugged country for a while.</p> <p> So in the bin go the Kraft cheese sandwiches and down to the trendy waterfront we go for some cappuccino and light wine sipping amongst people who are clueless as to where the crutch in their trousers ought to be located.</p> <p>But as we haven’t had an internet connection for a while I’ll just report on a few incidents as we made our way down the west coast.</p> <p>After we landed we stayed a couple of days at Nelson (Tasman Bay) – very pleasant with well maintained art deco buildings. </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=deco.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/deco.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Perhaps it’s not too delicate to report that Sian has been suffering a few (age related) memory lapses. As an aide-memoire she has taken to recording every “convenience” on her camera – that way she can retrace her steps when caught short.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=women.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/women.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>No surprise – in one of the world’s most beautiful countries – we managed to find the most awful place. Cape Foulwind delivers everything the name suggests including NZ’s premier cement works.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=foul.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/foul.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>It was nicer a few miles down the coast.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=rugged.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/rugged.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The west coast is ruggedly wild and we saw some spectacular blow-holes and rock formations at Punakaiki where we stopped for the night. The New Zealanders are very service orientated, they will quickly fill any gap in the market place. I was much impressed with the tasteful early-morning expired infant collection vehicle solution.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=infant.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/infant.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We treated ourselves to a semi-swish hotel at the Franz Josef glacier (magnificent) but we liked the Fox glacier better (wilder looking place).</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=franz.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/franz.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> Back to the hotel. Whilst cleaning my teeth in the bathroom I heard a torrent of curses coming from our Alps-view lounge. What she wasn’t going to do to the receptionist for providing a broken ‘remote-control’ to operate our state of the art Sony Bravia flat-screen telly. I’m saying nothing – here’s a picture of the ‘remote’ herself was trying to work the telly with. Any resemblance to a Tesco ‘value range’ 50 pence calculator is purely coincidental.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tesco.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tesco.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Anyway Sian cheered up when we happened upon a beach full of stupid bits of wood. It also had some wispy plants called ‘Tane’s eyebrows’ with a plaque which explained how they got the name. Her grandson’s name is Taine (Maori) so she is sure there is a connection.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wood.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wood.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=taine.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/taine.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> taine </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/new-zealand-4-ice-wood-wind-amp-ladies-toilets-4853276/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/11/new-zealand-4-ice-wood-wind-amp-ladies-toilets-4853276/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-3-we-are-sailing-4831352/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-06:/2008/10/06/new-zealand-3-we-are-sailing-4831352/Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:03:08 +0200 <p>We had a fine sunny day to cross the Cook Strait.</p> <p>Goodbye North</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=gbyenorth.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/gbyenorth.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Hello South</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=hellosouth.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/hellosouth.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>I’m so accustomed to looking at maps with the north and south islands separate it was a surprise when the ferry from Wellington went north for most of the way – then it drops south to Picton so you end up no further south than when you get on in Wellington. </p> <p>Looking cool on the boat brought a few challenges for Sian here she is working on the cockatoo look.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cockatoo.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cockatoo.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>On the way to Nelson, where we plan a couple of days rest and recuperation, Sian insisted we visit the holy ground from whence our happiness springs.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=vino.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/vino.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>There was an overwhelming vote in favour of the wooden Winnebago transport for our New Zealand adventure. However, having applied the Mugabe Zimbabwe vote adjusting factor I win – so it’s Datsun Sunny all the way.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=datsun.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/datsun.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-3-we-are-sailing-4831352/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-3-we-are-sailing-4831352/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-2-the-great-dash-south-4831178/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-06:/2008/10/06/new-zealand-2-the-great-dash-south-4831178/Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:23:21 +0200 <p>Our starting point in NZ was a scenic area called the Coromandel Peninsula. Seemingly the people from Auckland like to come here at weekends. From my observations their favourite sport is getting drunk – I’m growing to like these kiwi folk.</p> <p>We stayed in a small place called Hahei where you can dig out hot pools on the beach. In the evening we had a meal at a converted church which was having a wine tasting for the local business-folk. As couple after couple fell through the door it become clear that they had done a little wine tasting at home before the event. Sian was attracted to the chap wearing a rather format blue suit with flip flops and wandering hands.</p> <p>Earlier in the day I had made an important bottle shaped acquisition in one of the small wild-west looking towns, </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wine.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wine.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>all of which have charity shops. Sian has already bought more stuff than will fit in the boot so we are thinking of hiring a trailer.</p> <p> I know! You are asking the obvious question – well ask her – she just frowns at me.</p> <p>I’m writing this in Wellington before we catch the ferry in the morning. We had to make a bit of a mad dash south (in north) so we can have more time on the south island. On the way down we stopped at the volcanic smelly places by Roturua. Here is Sian wearing her Salvation Army sawn-off anorak next to a traditional NZ “extreme-sport” vomit pool.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=vomit.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/vomit.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Sian has finally located somewhere to wash her smalls.</p> <p>The next interesting feature in an otherwise grey rainy experience came at the edge of the Rangipo Desert (Rannoch Moor). The Angkor Wat Bakery is run by a delightful Cambodian family who have awards for making the best steak pies in NZ. Deservedly so - they are magic - I’ve done experiments to prove this is true. The family escaped from Pol Pot and spent five awful years on the Thai border in a refuge camp before getting a visa for NZ. Not all New Zealanders are happy about immigrants (regardless of pie making skills) as can be seen from the tank across the road with its gun trained on the bakery.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=bakery.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/bakery.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tank.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tank.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>On the boat next.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-2-the-great-dash-south-4831178/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/06/new-zealand-2-the-great-dash-south-4831178/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/03/new-zealand-1-to-winnabago-or-not-you-decide-4814038/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-03:/2008/10/03/new-zealand-1-to-winnabago-or-not-you-decide-4814038/Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:59:22 +0200 <p>We have swithered and dithered for months about whether to “do” New Zealand in a motor-home. I have to be honest and tell you that cost was a consideration – when we checked prices on the internet we discovered that even modest motor-homes with unfeasibly small toilets and pencil-thin beds were hideously expensive.</p> <p>What we didn’t know about at the time was the power of local knowledge. I won’t go into all the details but I met an NZ man on the Sydney/Auckland flight who told me he could get a “real-home” style Winnebago at an affordable price. It’s located in prestige premises at our first stop - Thames - on the Coromandel Peninsula. </p> <p>But - truth be told - Sian is somewhat reluctant – she might agree subject to us hiring a sewing machine so she can make new curtains for the cute windows.</p> <p>This is a “Reality-Blog” – so you the voters will decide whether Sian and Tom tour New Zealand in this luxury motor-home or drive about in a boring old Datsun Sunny (all calls are monitored to ensure that you spend much more money than you intended). </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=motohome.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/motohome.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/03/new-zealand-1-to-winnabago-or-not-you-decide-4814038/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/03/new-zealand-1-to-winnabago-or-not-you-decide-4814038/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/01/bangkok-5-bye-bye-4804201/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-10-01:/2008/10/01/bangkok-5-bye-bye-4804201/Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:22:31 +0200 <p>We jumped on a 'tuk-tuk' for the first time last night and went up to the night market area on the Silom Road again. The waiter from the restaurant we had been in had to push it to start because the battery was flat. The driver needed to rev it like mad every time we stopped at the lights to make sure it didn't die on him again. We offered to push for a free ride! He was a great guy and we all found the whole thing very amusing. It was such fun that we came 'home' in one too. I noticed that, when we got to the hotel, the security guards didn't check it for bombs on board or underneath (as they do with the taxis)! </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=tuktuk1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/tuktuk1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>We bought a 'Prada' bag for £3 and an ‘Omega’ watch for Tom for £6! Then we ended up in a bar called Radio City which features - not pole dancers like all the surrounding venues - but Elvis and Tom Jones impersonators. A seven piece band came on dressed in black satin shirts and red satin trousers that were really, really good and belted out a lot of the old Commodores songs, a falsetto rendition of Night Fever (a la Barry Gibb) and a 'medley' of Beatles songs ......brilliant. Sadly we decided we couldn't wait for the Elvis impersonator to perform as we needed to get to bed reasonably early. I suspect we would have been there until the early hours otherwise if Tom hadn’t been firm about leaving as I had suddenly discovered the pleasures of Jack Daniels and coke! I told the lead singer in the interval that I was from Liverpool and how much I'd enjoyed his Beatles stuff. "Aaah! Lilipool..yes, yes" he said and shook my hand! He had a superb voice. I was thinking of Taine and India while I was bopping about in my seat (Tom refused to dance, of course). They would have been up disco dancing with India's little hips swaying from side to side (and perhaps a few aerobic exercise movements thrown in) and Taine would have been doing more grown up dance and acting like Mr Cool! </p> <p>It's nearly 10 am here now. We have just had the usual wonderful breakfast on the open air terrace by the pool. It's cloudy and raining this morning but you can see the sun lurking behind the clouds and, of course, it's still really hot and humid.</p> <p>At 5.30 pm this afternoon we fly to Sydney (9 hours) and, after a 2 hour wait, fly on to Auckland (3 hours). It will be l pm NZ time when we get there – heaven knows what time it will be to our bodies! It’s 16 degrees there today. A big change from the heat here but I suspect that we will feel instantly ‘at home’ in their climate! We collect a car at the airport and drive to a small place called Thames - which I think is about a little over an hour away towards the south east. It's just a motel stop-over and then we'll busk it from there. Our good friends, John and Patience (also from South Queensferry) are on holiday there too at the moment and we hope to meet up for a few ‘wee moothfies’ if our itineraries allow!</p> <p>It's been so good here. I'm sad to leave. Everything has been perfect - it feels less threatening than walking round some areas of Edinburgh at night, the people are so smiley, helpful and enjoy a joke, the food has been a real treat, we haven't gone down with any 'lurgies', the city is sophisticated, exciting and full of wonderful places to see and travelling around is easy using the river boat and Sky Train services.</p> <p>And finally (from Tom), I hope the authorities in NZ provide as many helpful notices as you find in Bangkok. (Dougie – you didn’t say you had been here). We’ll not have a state of the art internet connection in NZ but will do our best to let you know what we are doing.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=wily.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/wily.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/01/bangkok-5-bye-bye-4804201/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/10/01/bangkok-5-bye-bye-4804201/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/bangkok4-latex-in-the-city-4800936/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-30:/2008/09/30/bangkok4-latex-in-the-city-4800936/Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:02:15 +0200 <p>In Bangkok you can eat some pretty strange things. In some pretty strange places. With some pretty strange people.</p> <p>Our first and only real encounter with the monsoon came moments after we sat down at the Rut & Lek Chinese restaurant in – where else – Chinatown. The Rut and Lek does not exist during the day – it’s a pavement outside a jeweller shop. By night it’s bedlam with food.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=rut.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/rut.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Not long after we ordered – thunder and lightening – and rain so heavy buckets were floating under our feet in 30 seconds. But this did not stop business at the “Rut”. The staff just upped umbrellas and jumped about as Boss Lady the Queen Mother barked even louder commands.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=qm.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/qm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>All the food had to be got from across one of the busiest roads in Bangkok (where the QM’s kitchen was). At this moment of high drama Sian decided she needed a pee so a Chinese toy-boy was found to help her dodge the traffic there and back:</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=lek.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/lek.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=toy.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/toy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>Even though scooters were casually driving through the restaurant; music was playing at ear splitting levels and people were balling and shouting at each other it really was a most enjoyable meal. I went for the grilled sea-bass with lime and peanut topping instead of the splattered pigs head.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=pig.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/pig.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The evening before we had a fine Thai meal (very tasty) at Cabbages and Condoms. It’s part of a family planning project supported by the queen (if the crown fits wear it). Implausible as it may seem it’s Father Xmas and his assistant and not me that’s made of condoms.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=xmas.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/xmas.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And finally, on the subject of sex and food this is Sian on the mince with a lady-boy at the Wat Pho. I am not at liberty to say of whom this reminded her.<br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=mince.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/mince.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/bangkok4-latex-in-the-city-4800936/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/30/bangkok4-latex-in-the-city-4800936/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/29/bangkok-3-i-hear-you-knocking-4794082/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-29:/2008/09/29/bangkok-3-i-hear-you-knocking-4794082/Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:58:50 +0200 <p>Bangkok3 – I Hear You Knocking</p> <p>There are times when your partner really stuns you with something you didn’t know about them. For example, I was quite taken aback (20 years into our marriage) when Sian sat down at a piano, read the music and started to play.</p> <p>Well I had a similar experience at Dusit Park Zoo yesterday. The sun had put his hat on so we decided to take a break from the intense street life of Bangkok for a few hours. Dusit is a fun zoo with lots of things for kids to do – ideal. You can take a pedallo on the lake where six foot lizards swim alongside you in the hope that you dip a finger or toe in the water.</p> <p>After a while we saw a crowd gather round one of the zoo attendants – she was offering passers-by a shot at holding an anaconda. I immediately melted to the back of the crowd but Sian stepped forward, grabbed the snake and started petting it as if it was a fluffy toy. Heat does strange things to the human mind.</p> <p>Don’t believe me? Look at this: </p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=snake.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/snake.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>And if you think tortoises never do anything take a look at this. Despite their frantic knocking this lady tortoise refused to make an appearance. I like to think she was singing the 70’s hit:</p> <p>“You went away and left long time ago<br> Now your knocking on my door<br> I hear you knocking<br> But you can't come in<br> I hear you knocking<br> Go back where you been”.</p> <p>WARNING: This video contains scenes of Sian’s artistic inclination to show you what’s happening above the action:</p> <br> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/29/bangkok-3-i-hear-you-knocking-4794082/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/29/bangkok-3-i-hear-you-knocking-4794082/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/bangkok2-stuck-in-a-lift-and-cooking-4784287/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-26:/2008/09/26/bangkok2-stuck-in-a-lift-and-cooking-4784287/Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:28:38 +0200 <p> I had some reservations about coming to Bangkok but they certainly didn’t include Tom and I being stuck in a lift on the 22nd floor of our hotel this morning when the power failed! </p> <p>We’d had a ‘ratty’ start anyway because we had had to get up at the crack of dawn suffering from hangovers to get to the cookery class we’d booked. A simple question from me about exactly where the class was taking place (there were 2 addresses on the information leaflet) led to a near divorce and a rush to the lift to get to reception to ask them to phone ahead to confirm before the taxi arrived. We belted into the lift, pressed the button to go down and the next thing we knew there was a systems failure which left us in complete darkness and expecting to die! Tom groped about and by sheer chance managed to press the alarm system and we were ‘saved’. Not sure exactly what the mechanical blip was but a basket of exotic fruit and an apology card from the manager was delivered to our room later on so all is forgiven.</p> <p>I’m glad we survived to attend the cookery class – which took place in a ramshackle outhouse/classroom in an entry at the back of a Thai vegetarian restaurant in one of the busiest areas of Bangkok. Nick Nairn’s it wasn’t! BUT in the middle of what felt like total chaos we went out as a class to buy vegetables at local stalls, prepared numerous mini Thai meals on a rickety old table using a primitive gas burner, met the owner’s numerous relatives and new puppy, made friends with our fellow students (except for one obnoxious American boy), rehearsed for a Thai song and (to Tom’s horror) performed it in the restaurant. Fab! And all for £20! </p> <p>Here’s our ‘class of 2008’ with May Kaidee, the owner and teacher, in traditional dress and also one of us at our state of the art ‘work station’ (Tom did the cooking with me as back-up – as usual!):</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=groupbucket.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/groupbucket.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cookery.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cookery.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>I could have brought the little puppy back (he’s in the picture) I would have done. He was gorgeous, running round our feet the whole time and wanting his tummy tickled. </p> <p>Luckily, despite it being the rainy season, we have had no rain yet. It’s reached 32 degrees everyday so far and the high humidity has taken a bit of getting used to….but it has its upside. Neither of us can face a glass of wine in this heat so our livers are getting a rest! Well, apart from last night when we found ourselves in the Patpong area at the night market. Needless to say, because it’s the red light area too we just had to sit in a street bar drinking beer and watching the world go by (some world it was too!). Tom was NOT impressed by being addressed as ‘Pappa’ by the caller’s trying to attract him into the girly bars! Suddenly, he felt his age!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/bangkok2-stuck-in-a-lift-and-cooking-4784287/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/26/bangkok2-stuck-in-a-lift-and-cooking-4784287/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/25/bangkok1-false-teeth-crabs-and-cake-4776099/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-25:/2008/09/25/bangkok1-false-teeth-crabs-and-cake-4776099/Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:10:43 +0200 <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=cake1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/cake1.jpg" border="0" alt="cake"></a></p> <p>This is my sixtieth birthday cake presented with a little note from the “Ladies and Gentlemen” of the Lebua hotel Bangkok. </p> <p>So here I am amongst the elite bus pass class – next stop ‘coal allowance’. I can’t wait to get home to claim my free omnibus trip to Lidl’s Kirkcaldy store.</p> <p> Meantime, travel here in Bangkok is by river boat on the Choa Phraya. The pier is only a few minutes walk from our hotel but that didn’t stop a helpful man from the Danish Embassy telling us we were walking in the wrong direction. He offered to put us in a tuk-tuk and take us to a pier where a very cheap (£35) private boat would take us up-river – this was needed (said he) because no public boats were allowed to sail on Buddhist holidays (thanks for the warning - Bob). This scam artist apart the people have been kind and dignified.</p> <p>I declined his kind offer. And it wasn’t long before an orange flag boat dropped us off at Pra Athit pier at a cost of 12p each.</p> <p>It’s about 30C and humid so we made our way slowly through the thicket of stalls to the ‘old-hippy’ Khao San Rd. There is nothing you cannot buy or have done to you on the streets of Bangkok. We watched an old lady, surrounded by pots of glue, file down a waiting businessman’s false teeth; next to a cobbler repairing stilettos, next to a one-legged man selling live miniature crabs from a gently heating oil drum. In the end Sian decided against buying the rug.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=rug.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/rug.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> </p> <p>Before long we had to settle down for a cold beer served in a café cum (steamie) laundry and do some people watching.</p> <p> They have more varieties of police here than in Italy. And they were making life hell for the stallholder opposite us. Every few minutes he would get a warning call on his mobile and have to hide his stall behind a tree just before the police cruised past. I suppose that - even in Thailand - selling fake driving licences, medical qualifications and suchlike is illegal.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=dome.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/dome.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> </p> <p>In the evening we had cocktails at the Dome bar on the 64th floor of the hotel before we were driven to an old teak rice barge on the river where we had a 12 course Thai meal with traditional singers and dancers twirling about. Just as I was feeling like the exploding fat-man (Monty Python) the lights dimmed and (much to my embarrassment) the crew and fellow diners all sang the birthday song as they gave us a large glass of champagne each and a birthday cake with candles. Burp.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=boat.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/boat.jpg" border="0" alt="boat"></a></p> <p>Outside our hotel is a small Buddhist shrine – where locals offer up flowers and food – including bottles of pop. I’m going to try to find out what it’s all about. Meantime, (below) you can see Sian donating the cute floral tributes they gave us on the boat.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=shrine.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/shrine.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>My next technical challenge is to set up this blog so that Sian can post her own remarks. If it goes all wonky – “normal service will be resumed as soon as possible – your call is valuable to us”</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/25/bangkok1-false-teeth-crabs-and-cake-4776099/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/25/bangkok1-false-teeth-crabs-and-cake-4776099/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/people-4688033/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-05:/2008/09/05/people-4688033/Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:24:26 +0200 <p>More training at Edinburgh Jazz festival - free event in Prince's Street Gardens.</p> <p><a href="http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/?action=view&current=jazz1.jpg"><img src="http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/tombrady_bucket/jazz1.jpg" border="0" alt="Jazz"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/people-4688033/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/people-4688033/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/early-training-4682760/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-04:/2008/09/04/early-training-4682760/Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:16:36 +0200 <p>Sian develops her anti-malaria Mosquito swatting skills. The swat, by-the-way, carries an electric charge.</p> <p><br> <img src="http://www.milkymulder.co.uk/swat.jpg"></p> <p></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/early-training-4682760/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>travelhttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/early-training-4682760/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/where-amp-when-4678276/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-09-03:/2008/09/03/where-amp-when-4678276/Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:44:50 +0200 <p>As I hack my way through all the technology and weird terms of the ‘blogosphere’ I’m beginning to wonder if saving on postcards was such a good idea after all. But I will persevere.<br> We are almost set up for our “Brady & The Buspasses – World Tour”. Just a few more hotels and hire cars to sort out. The full list of gigs is given below:<br> Bangkok 23/09 - 01/10 (8 nights)<br> New Zealand 02/10 - 16/10 (14 nights)<br> Tasmania 16/10 - 30/10 (14 nights)<br> Melbourne 30/10 - 05/11 (6 nights)<br> Sydney 05/11 - 12/11 (7 nights)<br> Cairns 12/11 - 16/11 (4 nights)<br> Brisbane 16/11 - 27/11 (11 nights)<br> Hong Kong 27/11 - 30/11(3 nights)<br> Home on 01/12</p> <p>You may have noticed that we are due to go to Bangkok during the most violent civil strife of the last century. This has echoes of when we went to Zimbabwe after seven years of drought and it never stopped raining. To say nothing of the catastrophic stock market crash as soon as we invested in an ISA.<br> Today I am working on a new family business to be called “Don’tDoWhatWeDo.Com” – the inside knowledge. You know it makes sense.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/where-amp-when-4678276/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>travelhttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/where-amp-when-4678276/#commentshttp://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/08/31/early-training-session-4661795/tag:sianandtom.blog.co.uk,2008-08-31:/2008/08/31/early-training-session-4661795/Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:48:36 +0200 <p>The picture shows Sian and I limbering up for our World Tour by bus pass. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/08/31/early-training-session-4661795/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://Sianandtom.blog.co.uk/2008/08/31/early-training-session-4661795/#comments