It's not me, it's you!

Why did the smell follow you on the tram? That's right it's you and not me!

Mint Henge

It's complete! The new wonder of the modern world! Have to start working on a new pillar next.

Businesses doing it tough?

So one of the lunch places I go to have not increased prices but instead they reduced the size of the container you get. Another place I go to use the same container but put less in it. Should just bring my own lunch more often!

RSI

Told by physio I have RSI. Need to change my habit apparently. Started using the mouse with my left hand. Also need to sit better at work.

Back to Oz

Flying back tomorrow morning and will be landing Friday night Melbourne time. Luggage over weight but have taken things out for later. Hopefully we'll miss the hail stones when we get back!

UNICEF 10K Run @ Disneyland HK

Got up at 5 this morning and managed to get to Disneyland by 6am. It was still dark by then and I actually made it there in time for the start of the half marathon. Since I had nothing to do I went to the starting line to look at the competitors. My race started at 7 so I spent some time stretching and lined up for the starting line. The race was alright, jogged pretty much all the way but there were parts of the race where the course was a bit too narrow for the amount of people there. I finished in around 55 minutes which isn't too bad, I can probably go harder but couldn't be bothered. The highlight was when I got to high 5 Mickey Mouse at the start of the race. When I was going home I realised that I didn't really see much of Disneyland but the Disneyland MTR connection is pretty cool. The handle is in the shape of Mickey's head and they have curved couches rather than the regular seats.

Packing Plan

Sunday Evening - File paper work
Monday Evening - Throw away all the crap I don't need
Friday - Clothes
Saturday - Random remaining items
Sunday - Random remaining items

Hopefully everything will be done by next Sunday.

The hills are alive...

In Salzburg, the town of Mozart because the locals here do not know what The Sound of Music is about. Came for the weekend via Munich and I was a bit worried initially because the connections were pretty tight. Luckily for me I managed to clear customs and made it to the S-Bahn in time for my connection to Salzburg at Munich Ost. I was pretty tired after a 4am start and wasn't impressed to find the train packed so I had to stand for some part of the journey. All was forgotten though when I got to my destination as glorious sunny weather was there to welcome me. When I checked into the hotel I asked them about certain tours but unfortunately the afternoon tours were all booked out. It wasn't a bad thing I guess and I decided to have a longer lunch before heading up to the fortress to get a view of the city.

Lunch was at the oldest restaurant in Salzburg and the food was pretty good. Wasn't impressed with the initial service though as the waiter at the front basically ignored me while I was standing in front of him. I was given a small table by the window and the guy who served me was a lot better, so I gave him a tip at the end.

Walking past the funicular entrance I decided I couldn't be bothered lining up so I decided to walk up the hill... damn it was steep and tiring... It was a nice day so the view was pretty good, but the tour inside the fortress itself wasn't that great. Wouldn't recommend unless there is nothing else better you want to do. I took the funicular back to town and had an ice-cream while watching people play with the giant chess board.

I rested a bit back at the hotel before going out for dinner. This place was listed as no 2 on Trip Advisor. I had a schnitzel and I was quite full after that. I walked around a bit after dinner before calling it a night as I was pretty buggered by then.

Woke up the next day by the church bells and after breakfast I went to the meeting point for my Sound of Music bicycle tour. I had a bit of time on my hand so I walked around the Mirabell Gardens before all the tourists start packing the place. I waited for a while and the guide didn't come until 5-10 minutes before the tour start, but no matter because she was pretty hot. Maclaria was probably like some of the girls' experience with Mike the hottie but in no doubt hotter because she is female. The tour itself was great and highly recommended if you don't want to be on a bus singing along to the Sound of Music and want to get some exercise on a nice day while enjoying the scenery of Salzburg. It takes you to all the places you expect to see from the movie. You don't have to be fit either as there was an American family with 3 girls all less than 10 year old doing the tour. Their dad however being American was being an American asking me 'can...you...speak...English?' after telling him I'm from Australia... He then said 'Oh...Australia...so...you...must...speak...English...then...' all in slow motion.

I was pretty tired by then and after lunch I sat in the gardens for a bit before collecting my bag and headed back to Munich. As I was buying my ticket some guy offered to sell me his Bayern ticket so I got it for a slight discount. The only issue was it was a group ticket and when the guard checked my ticket and asked me whether I was by myself I was like I don't speak German and I have no idea what you are talking about. A fellow passenger then offered to translate but it didn't really matter since it was a valid ticket.

Right now I'm sitting in the BA lounge waiting for my flight, probably try to get a bit more food before the flight so hopefully photos will be up sometime later in the week.

Really should update...

but I have no inspirations at the moment. Most exciting thing lately is I have resigned officially, have not felt better!

Will be going to Salzburg over the weekend. Looking at doing the Sound of Music tour and if weather is to hold up I wouldn't mind visiting Eagle's Nest as well since I won't have enough time to do the salt mines.

Next week will probably be going to my final Arsenal game at the Emirates for the foreseeable future so hopefully it will be a good Champion's League win for the Gunners!

Fatman 2 KH 0

Not sure whether this was the same fat man but I think it could be. I offered my seat to a woman 2 stops before but was declined because she was only on for 1 stop. At Earl's Court, the guy next to me suddenly ran off and that was the beginning... the seat next to me became free and at that moment the fat man pounced. His eye must have lit up and everyone else backed off. He got closer and when he was 1 metre away he pulled off a 180 and that was when I first noticed him. His butt crack was clearly visible by then and it was too late for me to escape. When he got to the seat he let gravity do the trick. I felt like I was in a jumping castle and someone landed next to me. I was pushed against the glass panel and was trapped there for the next 3 stops. Fat man 2, KH 0.

Express trip to HK

Flying out tonight, back next Wednesday evening.

Quarter Pounder with Cheese

Had another successful run today without hurting myself so just maybe after a year of on and off injuries my body is going to be OK. This morning's run was full of promise, a crew of 5 but I ended up running with JC and a new running buddy Debbo because the other 2 (JL and Eee) were too soft and perhaps suffering from hangover. Ran down the length of Hyde Park to Hyde Park Corner then made our way back around Kensington Garden to return to Lancaster Gate. It was a nice day with a cool breeze so even though we started at 12 it wasn't too bad.

Afterward I felt like something nasty so after the shower I made my way outside and since there were chicken nuggets request I decided I would just go to the golden arches. They are currently finishing off their Coke Glass promotion and they were doing a buy 1 get 1 free. I decided I might as well since they are probably better than the crappy glasses we have at home and they ended up giving me 3 glasses because he couldn't be bothered pulling them apart (they come in packs of 3s). 3 glasses for £1 what a bargain.

I went home with my food and new glasses and I must be hungry from exercise because my burger was BEAUTIFUL!!!! As usual, I packed my burger with chips before eating and WOW... best... burger... ever... I can't say the same for their chicken nuggets and chips but I must be really hungry and thirsty because the watered down coke tasted so good too! :D

Back and plans ahead

After going away for a month due to our move to Paddington, finally, everything is back in order. We have electricity, gas, phone, and now the internet. Thanks to our neighbour we were able to borrow his connection while we waited for everything to get setup and although it was frustrating at times, we thank him for his generosity.

I will try to catch up and make a few postings in the coming weeks as I have just returned from Munich and will soon be going to Spain which will include going to the Camp Nou to watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (not quite el clasico). If I have time, I wouldn't mind visiting the Santiago Bernabeu but since I will only be there for 1 day, I'm not sure whether I can fit it in.

Since I have to use up all my leave for the year, in October I will be going to Switzerland and Italy for 2 weeks so that should be exciting as well. For now, you will just have to wait until i make a new posting!

No longer a Mexican

Moving north of the river to Paddington at the start of August. Trying to organise everything right now.

So may no longer be a Mexican, although I'm still traveling to Oink Oink flu central in Dusseldorf where there was a new case in the office on the same floor as me this week.

Edit: South of the border = Mexican

September Holiday

Booked to go to Barcelona -> Madrid -> Lisbon. Have pretty much organised everything apart from accommodation in Lisbon. The plan is to try to see if I can get tickets to see a Barcelona game at the Nou Camp. That weekend they are scheduled to play Athletico Madrid. I know it's not quite El Classico but it's good enough. Either way, even if I don't get tickets I want to do the stadium tour anyway.

I still have 21 days of leave left in total and taking 5 into next year meaning I still have to take 16 days off by the end of the year. I can probably get a week off per month until end of the year!

Oink Oink flu central

2 weeks ago someone I worked with in Dusseldorf had contact with another person in the office who had swine flu. Today I found out that there was another swine flu outbreak at the client office on Tuesday and they sent a bunch of people home! I should get like danger pay or something. Hopefully I will be fine.

Experiment

Working away from home for a while now and at Dusseldorf I have been staying at the Hilton Hotel. Nothing really wrong about the place and it is actually quite nice. In fact, they even know my name now which is pretty sad indeed (although this week could be the last week). One thing that I notice though is that each night I get back to my room and I have to brush my teeth, something is just not right. Then one day, I realised what it is... They like to turn my toothbrush upside down. When I finish brushing my teeth I like to put my toothbrush with the bristles end down inside the glass (unless it has a holder like my cup at home). Each night I get back it gets turned upside down. Why do they do that? Am I doing something wrong? Why can't I have my toothbrush that way?

Fixed

Went to the dentist, fixed my teeth, all looking normal now. Hope it stays that way!

Signs of old age?

When I was young I was running around outside the house on a wet day. I was going around the corner and I slipped... falling flat on my face and chipped my front tooth. Had to go to the dentist for a filling and it was all good... for a long time.

This morning at breakfast I was eating and suddenly I felt something weird... when I used my tongue to check my teeth I felt a crack... wtf the filling came off! I have booked a dental appointment on Friday so hopefully I can get it fixed... SIGH

Getting older, probably not any wiser

Another year, and will no longer in the 20's. What a scary thought... Game on!