Notes on a few trips

Ok I've had enough. I'm boarding a plane for London (via Singapore) shortly... Goodbye Brisbane and hello Singapore then London...

230720071888 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Brisbane is home to the most ugliest tall buildings in Australia... After Sydney, The Gold Coast, and Perth... This one is a particular favourite. The angle doesn't give the penis er fin of the building on the top left justice, but captures the concrete bunker visuals quite well I think... Tall buildings in South East Queensland are all the rage. Even if doctors on work visas want to blow them up ( they don't but the story did sell the Sunday papers )... Mind you after visiting the Q1 tower the best thing for it would be to demolish it. Like everything else on the Gold Coast it's tall, big and looks pretty cheap. Word is that only aspirational flight attendants live in it as it makes them feel posh...

220720071863 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . All a bit wearying...

220720071821 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . I hear it is the biggest cock in New Farm...

200720071746 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . When you've gotta go...

190720071705 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . USS Kitty Hawk is in town for a weekend... If you look hard there are people on board...

Scenes from... , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . If you go down to Collingwood today...

Scenes from... , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London .

Scenes from... , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Not that I would like to admit it normally, but on Friday I did see Miss Saigon as it was either that or Menopause the musical (making its third return to Melbourne)... Miss Saigon is a show that takes itself a little too seriously and does go on forever (especially during the prancing er marching soldier sequences)... The cast seemed a little tired as well as if they were over the show before it closed... Although when lead David Harris appears in a floating bed in his boxer shorts in the first act (don't ask) I was hitting Adrian for his binoculars so I could get a closer look at the production... I was disappointed that the little brat in the show (who yawned at least once) didn't get his own song too... I think he could have done with a number like "There is a rice paddy in a field"... But I guess we can't have everything... Finally I think the message for the show is that if you are going to giv...

Scenes from... , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Sand boobies...

Scenes from... , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . A telling reminder never to eat on the Gold Coast... The fish at Q1 Beach House tasted like some frozen dead sea beast... And how it was presented was pretty hideous too... Well at least they are consistent...

Scenes from New Farm Riverwalk Wednesday , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Or in other words, this is the only part of the river that the council hasn't flogged off to developers to build gray and silver flats so they can't get them to pay for it...

090720071369 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Every household in New Farm has at least one coffee machine so it makes sense to have cardboard cups and lids available at the local supermarket when you want your Gaggia to go... The New Farm supermarket is an interesting place. Apart from a great cruising zone I saw a woman who looked Cruella De Vil in the toiletries aisle. Melinda didn't appreciate me hissing "Kill the puppies make the coats!" behind her... Really I should have asked her how many polyesters died to make that carpet she was wearing...

090720071366 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . A trip to the new GOMA can be a bit of a freakin' trippy experience...

080720071313 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . In the drought it is all about bragging who has the bigger rainwater tank... Especially with these tough new rules around...

070720071284 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Kubb in the park (not near where the trees were down )...

A major cyclone (Cyclone Shazza) and earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit Ipswich in the early hours of Friday with its Epicenter in Queen Street, Ipswich . Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, muttering "Faaackinell". The hurricane decimated the area causing approximately $30.00 worth of damage... Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed. Many locals were woken well before their Centrelink cheques arrived. The Ipswich Times reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered and were still trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened in Ipswich. The Australian Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of Bacardi-Breezers to the area to help the stricken locals. Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, including Health Care Cards, Jewellery from Kmart , and Bone China from Big W. An appeal has been set up t...

040720071162 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Brisbane boasts more performing arts venues than any other city in Australia... There is a venue on every corner...

030720071128 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Remains of a piece from Expo 88 or is it air conditioning ducting...?

Woman behind counter (on telephone): Yeah... Yeah... You are? Yeah... Nah... Hold it a mo'. Paul (to woman): Can I just get these slippers? Woman behind counter: Oh ok. But could I interest you in some beaaaautiful tea towels? They are three for ten dahlars. Paul: I think I'm right for tea towells I just need the slippers. Woman behind counter: Oh ok then. And the purchase ensued...

No not my nephew, but the news that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the Glasgow and London bombings in Brisbane. First of all... It isn't me. Mind you some people here would be happy to see me arrested after being here less than a week and disrespecting a local clairvoyant to the stars. I suggested that her predictions were a bit of a fraud after noting she was passing off 2-year old pics of Ricky Martin with his half brother as proof he has a current gay lover. Her other prediction was that she was in a London pub and saw only skeletons (clairvoyant-speak for seeing impending DEATH). I have been to Comptons on Old Condom Street in Soho too and seen the same thing... It's a shame really but at least the older gays get out a bit. Anyway from one soothsayer to another, I particularly liked the fearless reporting of the local newspaper The Courier Mail , and the graphic (sampled below) which captures the terror hunt from Glasgow, Liverpool, London all the way to Go...

A national obsession (for the last three weeks anyway) in Australia has ended. The Pasha Bulker has been freed. It is such a shame as the container ship that run aground near Newcastle is probably the most exciting thing that ever happened in that city. It has prompted loads of creative output on Youtube (as the movie below demonstrates) and had mothers with their babies queuing up to be photographed alongside it (wait a minute that's my sister)... Newcastle just won't be the same again...

010720071036 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Humps of cauliflower are a popular side for the Sunday roast here... Best not eaten alone (or without the chef's special white sauce)...

29062007971 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . As temperatures plummet to 19 degrees, the coats come out... Ok it was a bit breezy...

28062007950 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . After a long flight one needs coffee, muffins and fruit toast... Oh and some water to keep the fluids up...

As I prepare for flying to Australia on Tuesday evening, I have been taking care of the essentials: Packing noise cancelling headphones Burning DVDs to iPOD Trying to pack only one USB cable... Hmmm I'm sure I will have forgotten something... Oh passport... Spare money from last trip... Thank heavens for electronic tickets...