I Remember When...

I remember when I used to be able to go to a friends place down the bottom of my road after school and we'd play games on the street or inside and we'd have so much fun, because we didn't have a care in the world and time didn't matter. We just knew we had to be back in time for dinner, or before it got dark. Whichever happened first.

I remember when we weren't allowed to ride our bikes to school even though we about a 4 minute bike ride away.... well two and a half minutes because it was mostly down hill on the way there. And if we walked home, there always had to be about 3 of us walking together and we had to be aware of 'stranger danger' and know to look out for the 'safety house' symbol on mailboxes.

I remember when we'd done all our homework and eaten dinner we were allowed to sit down to the classic aussie soaps 'Home and Away' or 'Neighbours' so we could see what was happening with Scott and Charlene. Now, I'm too ashamed to admit I used to watch those shows... though, what Australian hasn't?

I remember when I used to play round robin sports on a Friday afternoon when I was in primary school and during the school week I always looked forward to that the most, because it was a time for one last bit of sports fun with my friends before the weekend came... and then we could have all the fun we wanted.

I remember when we used to lay a tarp on the grass in the backyard because there was the slighest hill and we'd spray it with water from the hose and then pour washing up liquid over it... then take a big run up and go sliding head first down our make shift bubbly water slide.

I remember when I didn't know what a computer or a Playstation or an X-Box was. We had Atari and Pacman rocked! And we knew that we weren't meant to sit there for 3, 4 or 5 hours at a time because it's not good for your eyes, it numbs your brain and you get no fresh air or excercise.

I remember when we tried to be sneaky and went into the neighbours underground cubby house in the big empty grassy land area out the back of our house. The land stretched for about 500 metres and everyone was entitled to be there, because it was a free, open space. But we tried to go into their cubby house and we got kicked out because we were in their territory... even though the land belonged to the city council. The underground cubby house has since been filled in with dirt over time, but if you look closely, there's still a little dip in the grass thats about 5m x 5m wide.

I remember when we used to ride our bikes down the same grassy area because it had a good gentle slope to it and we used to try and find any little crevasse so we could ride really fast and then jump our bikes over it and we'd go flying through the air. Ok, we weren't exactly flying and it was probably about 2 metres that we were airborne for, but for those fleeting nano seconds nothing else mattered. Then we'd get all the way to the bottom of the hill, turn around and pass the 15 or so houses that backed onto the spacious land as we hiked our way back to the top of the hill.

I remember when I used to find a rock in the front driveway and my younger sister and I would use it as a piece of chalk and then draw out the hopscotch squares and play for an hour at least. Or we'd take a piece of elastic and start jumping in and out of it until the elastic got too high and we couldn't jump anymore. And some days, we'd play tennis on the road and the game would often be interrupted by yelling 'CAR!' as the locals drove by.



I remember when we used to play in the front yard for hours, doing cartwheels, or playing chase, or throwing a ball around and we didn't have to worry about strangers or people watching us when they shouldn't have, because we lived in a good neighbourhood.

I remember when we used to play jump rope in the school yard or at home and we could skip that skipping rope for hours on end. Now, I don't think I could do the 'jump rope for heart' even if it was my own heart I was trying to save!

I remember waiting all week for Saturday morning to come so we could get up early and watch cartoons, because unlike the youth of today, we didn't have TV channel devoted entirely to cartoons and nor we were allowed to watch them before we went to school. But for those few hours on Saturday morning, it was well worth the weekly wait.

I remember when we used to go to our friends farm out in the country and we'd run around the vineyard or down the dirt road riding our bikes and playing hide and seek... all the while, hoping we didn't see any snakes.

I remember when my younger sister and I tried to set up a make shift lemonade stand. Only, we didn't sell lemonade, we sold home made mini flags. They were made out of material and we cut all sorts of shapes made with all sorts of colours together... and we sold them for 5 cents each. And when we made 50 cents because the neighbours felt sorry for us, we didn't care... we had 50 cents! Looking back, those flags were terrible... I can't believe we were so impressed with ourselves.

I remember when we used to put our gumboots on so we could go and splash in puddles in the rain on the road out the front of our house. Although we didn't realise that us getting sick was a burden on our mother, we always thought a play in the rain was worth catching a cold for.

I remember when we had sports day and our parents used to come and watch and we just hoped we'd win a ribbon to do them proud. Some years I got one of every colour - Blue, Red and Green. And sometimes I was more than lucky and got more than one of every colour, in either athletics or swimming. I still have my ribbons and trophies tucked away in a drawer.

I remember when we used to go to the 'Ekka' (our annual exhibition (hence Ekka) State Fair) and we used to ride the rollercoaster and the dodgem cars and every other ride we could until our heads spun and we had to sit down. And then we'd go and buy our showbags and have too much sugar and then we'd go on some more rides until we felt nauseous. We did this every year and yet we never learnt to not eat before having our bodies thrust every which way on a rollercoaster ride.

I remember when we went on school camp and we got to tell stories and drink hot chocolate. Then we'd stay up later than we should have, being all giggly and girly. Then there was the year 8 camp where we had to attend the 'garbage bag' formal with our dates whose named were selected randomly on a computer, but it was fun, because everyone was dressed up in colourful garbage bag dresses and garbage bag tuxedos. At that same camp, one of the activities the teachers had planned for us was to put the girls in one room and the boys in the other and we'd get 'the talk'. At least they threw in some kayaking and some rock climbing for fun!

I remember when I used to be able to ride my bike down the street and I'd wear that silly Australian orange 'stack hat' bike helmet that I thought would make me invinsible if ever I fell off my bike. It didn't make me invinsible... I still got scratched and bruised, but I'm sure the awkward looking bike helmet made people laugh.

I remember when we used to spend our Sundays at the beach at Bribie Island and the choice of the day was did we want to swim in the 'calmer' side or in the 'surf' side. We almost always chose the surf side, because getting dumped while body surfing a wave in the Pacific Ocean was far more fun than sitting in the shallow end of the water where there were no waves, but only ripples.

I remember when my sisters and I used to jump up and down on the trampoline for hours on end thinking that we could touch the sky. And sometimes, we overjumped and our legs got stuck inbetween the springs and it hurt, but we didn't sue the spring makers for our slip up. Once we stopped crying, we just got straight back on there and started bouncing around all over again.

I remember when iPods and MP3 players had never been heard of and were light years away from being invented. We barely knew what a tape deck was. And when we needed to play a song to hear it again, we'd have to press the rewind button and wait for what felt like ages for that one song to rewind on a tape. Or if you wanted to save the battery on your walkman, you'd take out the tape, stick a pen in the hole and start spinning it so you could rewind the tape manually.

I remember when we used to be able to eat whatever we wanted within reason and it didn't matter that the words 'Sugar content' or 'fat content' weren't written on the back of a label... because we were young and healthy and we used to play sport pretty much every day.

I remember when I used to 'walk like an egyptian', when I could do the moonwalk (not so well) and when I used to think I could win a fight with my sister if I took the Karate Kid stance and stood with one leg held up and poised my hands in that funny way.

I remember when we weren't allowed to stay at a friends place overnight on a Monday, Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday because it was 'a school night'. But Friday was my favourite, because that night was perfectly allowed.

I remember when I thought New Kids On The Block was the coolest band around and I was annoyed at my older sister because she was allowed to go to their concert, but I was still too young. But only by 2 years, Mum!

I remember when my younger sister and I used to play tennis on the front lawn and and we'd hit the ball on the brick of the house and hope we didn't hit a window. And then when we did, our mum would yell out to us to go and play out the back and then we'd say 'OK!'.... but we didn't move and continued playing out the front.

I remember when I had no idea what a mobile phone was, but I knew that a phone shouldn't be answered at the dinner table because it was rude and people should still believe in good values and manners. I still know it shouldn't be answered at the dinner table... and let this be a warning to you... if you answer it at mine, I'll show you the door!

I remember when I used to watch Fraggle Rock and My Little Pony and the Cabbage Patch Kids. My sisters and I bugged our parents for a Cabbage Patch Doll and one Christmas they finally came. I got the sporty one, because that was the one that was most like me and I raised my right hand and took the oath - 'I promise to love my Cabbage Patch Kid with all my heart....'. I have no idea where that doll is now.

I remember when I wished life would move faster so I could hurry up and grow up because I thought being an adult was cool, as they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. But you never realised that it was actually the adult who envied the child. After all, the most responsibility you had was ensuring your rooms were kept clean. Now, I wish life would just slow down and that it wasn't so complicated and I didn't need to make all these decisions.

Some days I yearn for my youth. Most days I ache for it.

Life was a lot easier then. I just never knew it at the time...

An Answer For Caity

I met someone through this blog months ago. A new friend. We are 10 years apart in age; she is younger. Our interests are incredibly similar as are our thoughts. I never dreamt to meet a friend through this blog. I honestly never thought a friendship would blossom from me stumbling across a webpage. I never thought I'd 'meet' someone who is so similar to me, yet she is so wise beyond her years. I always think it's harder to trust as you get older, so making a friend is difficult.

Not with Caity. We just clicked. I think we're on the way to becoming good friends. I like that she asks me things and I hope she doesn't mind me giving her advice. I also like that she makes me forget that people I actually know read this blog, but I'm still able to write about my deepest darkest fears as well as my hopes and dreams.

She has asked me a question. Ironically, it's a question I've been asking myself a lot in recent months. My mother asked it of me just the other day. I don't have the strength to tell her my aspirations. I think she thinks I'm destined to be an office worker for the rest of my life. I pray I won't be. I'm afraid she wouldn't understand my dreams. Caity would. And for that, this answer's for you...

I have always loved movies. Always. I go to the cinema once a week. One week, when I was living in Toronto, it was snowing and I was so bored I went every day. It is my personal best, seven days in a row. Before that, it was five days. But I didn't mind, because I'm so passionate about movies.

When I was younger, I dreamed of being an actress. I wanted to be on the big screen or do theatre. One of my drama teachers told me when I was 16 that I should get an agent. I never did. That is my biggest regret. You are already living a life I would love, Caity. You are getting the experience and putting yourself out there. Some days, when I read you blog, I feel that I am living vicariously through you. I wonder if you mind?

I often still dream of being an actress, but I'm 27 now. Well on the way out for Hollywood. And I just don't have the physique. The dream is still there, but I am now certainly convinced that that is all it'll ever be. Some days I accept it, most days I don't. Still, I try to move on to a different dream. Still in the entertainment industry, but taking a different direction. I wonder if it's too late. I'm crossing my fingers and toes and hoping it's really not. I have just found out one of the ladies I work with is leaving her career that she's been in for 10 years to start afresh. She's off to study to become a teacher. She's 38. If that's not an incentive, I'm not sure what is.

I want to write movie scripts. I want to write plays. I want to write short stories. I want to write about travelling. Basically, I just want to write. I wrote a short 15 minute play when I was only 15 years old. It won second prize for the State. I haven't written like that since. I have a few ideas for some scripts. A couple of good comedy lines. A drama piece that I hope will have you thinking about it long after you've seen it, but I don't know if it should be for the stage or screen. Also, I'm not sure how to get the thoughts from my head onto paper. My confidence and self esteem are not where they should be and I always ask myself 'Who on earth would want to read what I've written?'. I fear it's not interesting. Boring. Mundane even.

I also didn't study writing at university (even though I have a major in drama and did a semester on scriptwriting). Because I haven't studied it, I wonder if I can take it up as a profession? I have recently been given advice by a writer I know to 'put myself out there' and send out parts of my writings to publishers and see if anything happens. It won't happen overnight, that much I know, but I need to learn perserverence. I need to learn patience. I need to learn confidence. Most importantly, I need to stop procrastinating.

I understand with a job like this there is a lot of travelling involved, research and what not. I'm sure there'd be days when I mind. I'm of an Italian background, so family is very important to me. But I'm of the new generation and understand that getting a job nowadays - especially that dream job - means you'll probably have to move away from family and friends and all things that you find comfortable. It's difficult, but I've been doing it for about 4 years now. I travel, go home and make some money and then travel again. As hard as it is, it's a lot easier than it sounds, what with telephones and emails. And at the end of the day, home is only a plane ride away.

I just want to be happy. I don't want to do this job for the money or the fame, I want to do it because it's what I want to do. I don't want to have to wake up in the mornings and wonder why I'm doing a job I don't want to do. I don't want my first thought in the morning to be a curse word because I'm getting up to go somewhere I don't want to be. I don't want to have to keep thinking 'What if?...'. If I had the choice to be an unhappy dot com executive making millions of dollars or a cleaner making less who is contented with life and has a loving network of family and friends, I'm the kind of person who'd choose to be the cleaner. I just want to be happy.

So that's my dream job. Writing. Script writing in particular. It's hard to get into and I wonder how I'll deal with 'writers block', but there's plenty of time to worry about that. I think this is the year to start working towards it. God knows it's just not going to fall into my lap. So although I haven't found it yet, I hope I eventually will.

I hope one day I'll walk that red carpet with you, if you'll let me.

I didn't mind you asking. I'm glad you did. Infact, I was wondering when you would.

I hope your question's answered now.

A Theme Is Beginning...

A new friend has asked a question of me. I'm working on the answer.

For now, I'd like to post this poem. I think it fits in with the 'What am I doing with my life?' theme, which seems to be on my mind all the time lately. It's one of my favourite poems (although it is written in the male form).

It was found written on the wall of an anonymous prisoner's cell on death row. It's called...

'The Man In The Mirror'

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, your mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
But the man, whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest.
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You can fool the whole world, down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.


(I have just found out that the poem is incorrectly titled and should be 'The Guy in the Glass' by Dale Wimbrow, 1934)

I Kept On Walking

I was playing the tourist. Singapore. I had been out all day seeing the sights and it was raining. A gentle rain, but rain nonethless. The air was muggy, humid and sticky. The pavement was slippery.

I stood at the traffic lights and looked around around at my surroundings. I took it all in like a child at at a fair. The sound of the cars, the rain tapping lightly on the ground, people talking. It was a regular day for a tourist.

And then I looked up to watch the 'walking man' underneath the traffic light. I was waiting for him to turn from red to green, to tell me it was OK to cross the road.

Then the yelling begun. The loud, high pitched screams of a female voice. I don't know what she was saying as it wasn't in english. But she was screaming... at him. She was angry. Mad. Furious. They stood on the opposite side of the street and like the other one hundred people around me, I stopped to stare. I don't usually. I'm curious, but not curious to get involved in things that don't concern me. I'm the person that DOESN'T slow down to see the car accident on the side of the highway.

But here, there was nowhere else to look. So I stood. And watched. My surroundings have gone silent. I have unintenionally blocked out everything. I didn't realise I had done this until later. It must've been a subconsious act on my part.

She was a tiny woman. That small asian body that makes her look childlike. Her voice angrier now. She is yelling at the top of her voice. She raises a hand. She slaps him. Once. Twice. From what I could tell she used all her might, but to him, it would've been like a child had connected their palm with his face.

He's not accepting of it. He yells at her. As though it's played out in slow motion, I watch his right hand move up to his be in line with his head. He swings it back as far as it will go and then, with the greatest force, I hear him capture the wind as he brings his hand back to slap her face.

She loses her footing on the wet ground. There is a thud. I am standing across the street and I realise I have just heard her head connect with the pavement. Her eyes close. One second. Two seconds. She opens them. Startled. Confused.

The crowd grows bigger. Some of them continue walking, many of them looking back to still see what's happening. The man turns green and I begin to cross the street, transfixed on what I've seen. I look to my right, I am in line with them now, they are so close. He leans over her, still yelling. How can he be yelling at her when she is lying akwardly on the ground? I have passed them now. I continued to move. I heard the voices behind me. I didn't look back. But I kept on walking.

I take a few steps and battle with my conscience. Should I go back? What would I say? Why is nobody else going over there? I took a few more steps and then looked back. He then bends down to pick her up and scoop her in his arms. She is awake, but I'm not sure if she is aware. A man has approached them. A big burly man. Their attitude changes. It's almost like he has to deal with her now because she's in his arms and he's suddenly paid attention to the fact that people are watching. The man says something to him. I don't know what because I was too far away and I'm sure it wasn't in english.

She lays limp in his arms and he begins to drag her away, towards the train station and out of my sight. Slowly I begin to walk away. But I look back. Once. Twice. Then I stop. I notice the crowd is thinning. People begin to cross the street. I begin to hear the cars again. I begin to hear other voices. Voices that don't belong to those two. Voices that aren't yelling. I turn around and head off in the direction I need to be going.

When did we become immune?
When did we become accepting?
When did we become inconsiderate?
When did we become tolerant?

When did we decide it was OK to keep on walking?

Time Has Escaped Me

It has been some time since I looked at my blog. Four weeks since I left a post. I never meant for it to get that way. I wanted to at least put something on here every two weeks. But it seems lately, time has escaped me.

I have returned home to Australia for a brief moment. One month. Four Weeks. The same amount of time that has passed since I wrote on this blog, will again pass soon enough and I'll return to London.

It is nice to be back in the Southern Hemisphere, seeing friends and staring in astonishment at all the new things this city has created. There are buildings and houses and streets and shopping centres that weren't here when I left 14 months ago. Can something so concrete be created in such a small amount of time? I would never have believed it, but now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I guess that it is possible.

There are more housing estates being built to accomodate what is the country's busiest growing corner of the map. There are more cars on the street. There are more people when I go to the shops. Everyone has jumped on the band wagon to join the hustle and bustle. I wonder why people can't just slow down.

I guess, at one point or another, time escapes us all.

Rocky Balboa London Premiere

I am running behind with my movie premiere posts, but I have always wanted to take a leaf out of my friend Hughe's book and post one the actual week it happens. So here it is...

Last night (yes, I'm on the ball) was the premiere for 'Rocky Balboa' at the Vue Cinema in Leicester Square, London. I arrived at about 4pm after work and my friend 'D' had saved me a front row spot. There was no one else behind me until about 10 mintues later, so I didn't feel bad going to the front. We weren't standing in our regular spot, we were down the end near where the cars stop. It's usually a good spot if you want autographs, but you can never be sure. If you just want photos, it's probably not the best spot. Usually I go for photographs, that way, there's no disappointment. That said, I do usually print up a photo... just in case.

At about 6:30pm three cars pulled up and Sylvester Stallone jumped out of the middle one. When he got out of the car, he did a full circle and waved to the crowd. We had a great view of him, but unfortunately my basic digital camera decided it was too dark and wouldn't take any good photos. I am only putting up the two good ones I was able to take and yes, that's another watermark for CitizenImage.


After giving the crowd a wave, he then proceeded to walk around the barriers at the end of the red carpet and went and shook hands with pretty much everyone in the front row, which I thought was nice of him. The dealers (ebayers and such) went into a bit of a panic wondering if that was all he was going to do.

He then went and gave and interview for about 5 minutes, doing a couple of arm muscle poses and stopping to wave to the fans as he spoke. After the interview, he then went over to the barrier and started signing autographs. And that's when the pushing began - fans, dealers and tourists who'd just stumbled into Leicester Square and were trying to ge that perfect photo on their camera phone.

He was very quick and by the time he got to me, I had just enough time to get a quick photo of him signing as well as hold out my photo to get signed. It's not a big photo - about 10cm x 15cm - and his autograph pretty much takes up the whole photo, but I don't care, it's just for me, for a frame, it's not for sale. Ever.

He basically signed for everyone that was in the front row and even knelt down to put a nice full autograph on some of the poster boards. The autograph my friends and I got was very rushed and I think it says 'Sly' because I can't make out that it says anything else. I was impressed at him signing too because he was weaving back and forth between the barriers, but he'd always remembered where he'd stopped signing. I guess he's been doing it for some time now. A couple of the dealers thought they'd hit the big time when he started to make his way back but then he stopped and walked off just as he got to them. I could only smile.

He was very friendly and even though he was rushed, he greeted everyone with a big smile as he shook their hand or signed their photo. I wasn't sure what to expect of him, being such a well known celebrity, but he was really very nice. I had heard only good things about him and now that I've met him, I can only add to those comments. But my gosh, he's showing his age (60 years).

There were a couple of other celebs that turned up, but I think they were boxers and as I don't know them, I figured there's no point in posting their photos.

Last King of Scotland Premiere, London

On Wednesday, October 18th (yes, over TWO months ago - I am so far behind with the premieres... sorry readers!) was the opening night for 'The Times BFI 50th London Film Festival' which, as I was about to find out, was a busy two weeks to have a hobby like mine! It started on the Wednesday and finished on Thursday the 2nd of November.

The opening night movie for the festival was 'The Last King of Scotland' starring Gillian Anderson (The X-Files... umm... and yeah... that's pretty much what she's remembered for), Kerry Washington (Save The Last Dance, Mr and Mrs Smith), James McAvoy who's set to be the next big thing (The Chronicles of Narnia) and Forest Whitaker who I really liked and was waiting to see (Panic Room, Phone Booth and he directed Sandra Bullock in Hope Floats). He is tipped to be in the running for the Oscar come February 25th.

I arrived after work and secured a spot near where the cars come out and totally not where I normally stand. I was with a friend of mine and we were waiting patiently for the celebs. They all finally arrived and I managed to get an autograph of James McAvoy only. Kerry Washington walked pretty much past us, said she'd come back then went off to do interviews. She did come back, but not as far down as we were. Gillian Anderson got out of the car, looked at the ground and then walked halfway up the red carpet before stopping to do interviews. I didn't really want her anyway, because I met her when she did a shopping mall appearance in Australia at the height of 'The X-Files'. Plus, I heard she doesn't sign X-Files stuff.

James McAvoy was the loveliest of all the film stars and walked up and down the barrier signing for everyone that he could. He spent the most time with the fans and when I asked if I could take his photo, he was happy to oblige.

While those celebs were coming, we were treated to a few extras... Thandie Newton ('Crash'), Jason Isaacs (Lucias Malfoy in the 'Harry Potter' films), and running very late was Joseph Fiennes ('Shakespeare In Love').

Jason Isaacs was very funny. He is known for always playing the not so nice guys, especially in the Harry Potter films, but he was really nice and he was running late.



We were calling him down and he's like 'Oh F*ck... I can't I'm going to be late... I'm going to get in trouble'. We were yelling out to Jason to come down and he's like 'Eerrr.... F*ck ok, I'm coming'. We called him down cause we yelled that I was from Australia, so he came and signed for me. I asked if he liked it when he was there filming and he was like 'Oh yeah, it was f*cking great... I wanted to stay'. Mouth on him like a trooper... but a really nice and funny bloke!



Thandie Newton was really lovely, she's in town filming 'Run Fat Boy, Run' which is directed by 'Friends' star David Schwimmer (who I am still YET to see in London and he's been here for months!). I got my photo taken with Thandie and when she finished posing, she patted me on the shoulder and said 'That's going to be a lovely photo'. She was very sweet.

I missed out on Forest Whitaker, he almost headed straight up the red carpet, but the autograzzi were yelling out to him and he stopped to do a couple. I don't know why, but he signed for the blokes on either side of me, but missed me and my friend! Great... now we were going to have to try Friday night for him at the National Film Theatre (he was due to do an interview).



After Jason, I was about ready to leave and then a car pulled up and out jumped Joseph Fiennes. He was terribly late, but the dealers on either side of me were yelling for him to come over, so he rushed over and signed about 4 autographs before doing a mad dash up the red carpet. I just loved him in 'Shakespeare In Love', but then, didn't everybody?

(Sorry for the CitizenImage watermark on the James and Joseph photos. I've done another Hughe and am represented for the photos).

Seeing in 2007, Parisian Style

After my week in Italy visiting family and playing the tourist, I took a night train to Paris. This was my 3rd trip to Paris. Last time I was there for 8 days, this time I was there for half that.



This is a photo of the Boulangerie I went to almost everyday I was in Paris, it was right around the corner from where I stayed. It sold the best panini and deli rolls as well as some of the most delectable deserts I've ever had the privilege to consume!

I found a lovely hostel about a 2 minute walk from the Louvre and stayed there for 3 nights. I took off the first day without a map, only my memory, to take me to the famous shopping street that is the 'Champs Elysees'.


(The park near the Louvre)

I arrived here late in the afternoon and being a northern hemisphere winter, it didn't take long for it to go dark. The street looked really pretty lit up at night... the trees that line Champs Elysees were lit up with a hundred different lights and there was a Ferris Wheel at one end of the street. The Arc De Triomphe was at the other.


(You can see the Ferris Wheel at the end of the street)


(Sorry the photo's a bit dark - it's the Arc de Triomphe)

Also, while I was in Paris, I managed to take in the Notre Dame church... well, only from the outside. It was raining when I turned up, but that didn't stop the tourists from coming to visit one of Paris' more known sights. It turns out there was a mass on, which I didn't realise at the time, but it explains why the queue of people was so long to get in. I had just seem the Duomo in Milan only a few days earlier and walked right in there, no problems - but there was no mass going on at the Duomo when I was there.

The bridge not far from the Notre Dame Church, where I stopped to take some night photos.

The Notre Dame Church, which is sort of in the middle of this photo. The blurry white light is coming from the top of the Eiffel Tower. I do hope to buy a better camera soon, for better quality night time photos.

On the 31st I went to the Eiffel Tower with two American girls who were staying in the same room as me at the hostel. I spent the day with them and we went to find out about the celebrations that evening at the Eiffel Tower. The police told us there weren't any. We were asking about the fireworks and they kept telling us 'No, no fireworks'. Honestly, we thought, how could there not be fireworks in Paris for New Years?

We went back to the hostel for a bit of R&R and then took off that night for dinner at a little French restaurant. I left the girls about 8.30pm and headed off to the Eiffel Tower. They decided instead to go to a bar. I guess if there were no celebrations, then they wouldn't worry about it. Me, I had extended my trip to go to Paris escpecially, so I was convinced something would be happening at the tower.

So for 3 hours I waited in the cold as it rained on and off. Then, came the countdown... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... and suddenly the Eiffel Tower lights up and it's sparkling. Like diamonds. Sparkling. But that's it. No official fireworks. It just stood there, sparkling for 10 minutes - then the sparkling stopped.

The only fireworks going off were the 'unofficial and illegal' ones that people had bought to the gardens themselves. Also, as they had made the tree 'sparkle' every hour on the hour it was nothing new for me. I was not impressed. I had specifically come to Paris for New Years and I was 'rewarded' with probably the lamest New Years celebrations ever. The place was filled with about 15 000 tourists all asking 'Is that it?'.

The 'sparkling' Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower from a distance. I took this photo as I was heading away from the crowds trying to find the metro station. Apparently there were riots and trouble last year at the celebrations, which is why they didn't do anything this year. As my mother says, it pays to do your research.

I headed back to the hostel at about about 12:30am and then the next day the sky was a lovely blue (though it didn't last long), so I headed off to see the Sacre de Cuor church in the Montmartre district. When I went in there was a mass that had just begun. I sat in on it for about 40 minutes and even though it was in French and I couldn't understand what they were saying, I'm sure the message of the church is universal. It was lovely to hear the nuns singing the hymns in French too. I wasn't able to take photos in there as it's not permitted, but it was a lovely church both inside and out. There are 281 steps to get to the base of the church from the bottom of the hill. There's then another 24 to get inside.

(A photo I took with the sepia setting on my camera. It's a side street near the Sacre de Cuor)

That night, I took a plane back to London, where I am now back at work and back to my movie premieres... which I'll write about when I get the chance. There's quite a few I have to catch up on aswell as those just around the corner!

Just Another Statistic...

I am at work, listening to my music through one earphone. The other sits on the desk so I am still aware of my surroundings. A song comes blaring through the earpiece and suddenly, I wonder if Jackson Browne is singing for me (except for the part about finding a girl... me, I'd prefer to find a guy).

The song - 'The Pretender'.

Words I can relate to and I question if the song was written for me... or all the other statistics out there like me who have 'just settled' into a job, a life, a way of being that I hadn't hoped for or planned yet somehow it's where I am; where I've settled. 'What happened?', I ask myself... I had visions, and hopes and dreams. And here I sit, in an office, on a computer, making sense of my work, coming back day after day, knowing full well it's not where I want to be and certainly where I hope I'm not in 5 years time.

Say a prayer for the pretender....

Here's the lyrics -

I'm going to rent myself a house
In the shade of the freeway
Gonna pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I'll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I'll get up and do it again
Amen.
Say it again
Amen.

I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams
Of some greater awakening?
I've been aware of the time going by
They say in the end it's the wink of an eye
When the morning light comes streaming in
You'll get up and do it again
Amen.

Caught between the longing for love
And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junk man pounds his fender.
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait
For the ice cream vendor
Out into the cool of the evening
Strolls the Pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
Begin and end there

Ah the laughter of the lovers
As they run through the night
Leaving nothing for the others
But to choose off and fight
And tear at the world with all their might
While the ships bearing their dreams
Sail out of sight

I'm gonna find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And we'll fill in the missing colors
In each other's paint-by-number dreams
And then we'll put our dark glasses on
And we'll make love until our strength is gone
And when the morning light comes streaming in
We'll get up and do it again
Get it up again

I'm gonna be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
where true love could have been a contender
Are you there?
Say a prayer for the Pretender.
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender.

Say a prayer for the pretender
Are you there for the pretender?
Say a prayer for the pretender
Are you there for the pretender?
Are you prepared for the pretender?

I Hope...

I have just returned from my 10 day vaction in Europe. I spent a week in the Italian Alps (bordering Switzerland) where I visited relatives. I have 33 Aunts, Uncles and cousins in this area and I saw almost all of them, bar 1 or 2. There's also 7 more on the other side of the Italian border, but I didn't get to Switzerland, so I didn't get to see them. Mind you, I was kept so busy catching up with the other 33, I didn't have time to do much else.

As you can see, it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post, so I didn't have much time to do anything besides being re-acquainted with family and playing the tourist in Milan and Paris, which I'll write about some time this week, hopefully.

I am a bit unsure of what the new year will bring for me. I hope I am happy. I hope I'm healthy. I hope I finally have the strength and the drive to see my dreams to become reality. I hope I meet a hundred new friends like the ones I've met in my travels. I hope for peace, love and joy.

And I hope the same of you.

All the best for 2007!

Carol of the Bells

(Sorry the video's blurry, I just found it on You Tube, but it's more so you get the tune).

One of my favourite Christmas Carols... we don't have it in Australia. It's originally Ukranian. Here's the lyrics...

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling
One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home
Ding dong ding... dong!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

There are 12 months in a calander year and if I have to chose a favourite, it's December. I think... no, I know why I choose this month - it contains both my birthday and my favourite holiday of the year - Christmas.

Last year I had the absolute pleasure to spend Christmas in New York City and it's just like it is in the movies - Carolers, Santa's shaking that bell asking for money donations, and the city is lit up like... well, a thousand Christmas trees. I know it's a hard time to be away from your family, but if you ever get the chance, put Christmas in New York City on your 'things to do before I die' list.

This year, I am in London. No snow, but it is cold. I have to admit, although it's nice to be in another city at Christmas time, I don't think anything will come as close to New York City. They go all out there - the window displays, the lights, the Rocketts at Radio City Music Hall. Here, I feel the lights aren't that great and I don't even know where the 'tree' is. Sorry London. That being said, I have tried to take a few photos while being here... here's some of them...

Christmas Markets, which I don't think we have back home, but they're everywhere in England. These markets were just down the road from where I live. This stall sold a wicked Chocolate Brownie... the best I've ever had!

Selfridges (sort of like 'Myers' in Australia or 'Macys' in the USA) lit up for the festive season. Selfridge's is on Oxford Street, Londons main shopping street.

This photo was also taken on Oxford Street, but I am looking in the opposite direction (Selfridges is to my left and behind me).

The brass band outside 'Boots' on Oxford Street. 'Boots' is the place for all your pharmacy needs in England. This one is 2 or 3 levels.

Debenhams - one of the many department stores that you'll find on Oxford Street.

Jack Black and a Love Song

I skipped a movie premiere last night to do my first 'hotel wait'. The premiere was for 'It's a Boy Girl Thing' and I didn't really know the actors and I really needed Jack Black's autograph on a photo. I missed Jack at the Tenacious D in the Pick Of Destiny premiere in London about 7 weeks ago. He stopped signing at the peron to the left of me. I did get Kyle on it that day, so Jack was my mission. I had heard Elton John was going to be at the movie premiere (inside information - in truth, I can't remember where I heard it but it was weeks ago). Turns out he did show and apparently he signed a few autographs. I wasn't fussed, as I'd seen him at the James Bond premiere in November.

So, I went to the hotel and waited for Jack Black. I felt so ashamed of myself... waiting at a hotel like that. I don't mind premieres, the celebrities are meant to be there, but hotels and restaurants and stuff, that's their personal time. One of the 'dealers' (ebay) guys I met the other day, was nice and liked me because I'm australian, so he told me what hotel Jack was going to be at. Lucky, because I would've waited at another one, where he's stayed at the two previous times he was in London. Anyway, my friend gave me the number plate of the car and I waited. I waited til 7pm and figured, well, I must've missed him because he'll be on stage in a hour or so, plus my friend had the licence plate, so I guess that means he'd seen him.

So, I went off to do some Christmas shopping, then went to stage door for the play 'Love Song', where I got Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock From The Sun and ER), Cillian Murphy (Red Eye, 28 Days Later, Batman Begins) and Neve Campbell who I loved in Party of Five. She was quick and only did about 3 autographs. I said to her 'Don't you miss Toronto?' and she looked up at me and smiled. I said 'I used to live in Markham' and she was like 'Oohhh...'. (It's not so much that I lived Markham - a suburb of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) - but I have cousins there, and I always go to stay with them for 6 weeks at a time... poor them, but they're lovely for putting up with me!) I then asked Neve if I could take a photo of her and she obliged. She seemed to be in a bit of hurry, but she was very sweet.

I then went back to the hotel and got there about 9:40pm... and waited... and froze... and waited... and froze. The doorman asked who I was waiting for and I told him 'I'm ashamed to say, it's a celebrity... I've been collecting autographs for 4 years, and this is the first time I've done a hotel'. At 11:20pm his car pulled up and his bodyguard (typical big black American dude who was like 'stand back... stand right back...') got out of the car and then Jack's wife got out and the nanny (? I'm guessing) and Jack got out holding his baby boy. I was like Shit... I'm not approaching him if he's holding his child. He totally ignored me and I thought it was clever of him - using his child so he wouldn't have to sign - but I was the only person waiting. They started to head in the hotel and the bodyguard held me back (I had no intention of going into the hotel, but I guess he didn't know that). He was inside and the bodyguard waved me off and the wife and nanny were heading in and I was like 'Are you serious? Please, I've been waiting here for hours. Genuine Fan. I just want to put the photo in a frame' (All true). By this time the women were inside talking briefly and I was about to walk off and the nanny came out and was like 'Give it to me, I'll get it for you'. 'Oh.. really? Thankyou SO much!'. She took the photo and my pen and came back a minute later. I was like 'I'm so sorry, I've never done a hotel before. Thankyou so much. I'm really looking forward to the concert tonight... oh sorry, I mean tomorrow night' (I think the cold froze my concentration but made me seem like a genuine fan, plus the concert was sold out, but I had tried to get a ticket on ebay a few weeks ago, but wasn't paying £100 for a £25 ticket. I do however have the Tenacious D CD - it's very funny, but vulgar at times! Rock and comedy... it makes for an interesting listen!).

I didn't take any photos of Jack though. As soon as I saw the baby I was like, nope, I don't want the flash to go off in the childs eyes... considerate, I know! I got to bed about 12:30 this morning! So there you go. It paid off, but I'm not in a hurry to do that again. Hotel waits are VERY boring! On the plus side, it was a chance to see the usually arrogant and self-absorbed Mr Black being all sweet and tender with his baby boy, carrying him out of the car and into the hotel. That's a side you don't see much of him in the movies.

Above is a photo of 'the photo'. Kyle had signed it a few weeks earlier at the 'Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny' Premiere at the Vue Cinema, Leicester Square, London. That little scrawl in the top right hand corner is what I spent 3 and a half hours in the cold waiting for. Sad, but true. But like I said, it'll look nice in a frame!

So Here's My Gripe...

Why, oh why, must people stop when they get to the top of an escaltor, the bottom of a set of stairs, as soon as they've exited an elevator...

Why, people!?!

It's not just rush hour it happens, but it's worse then. Tourists, or people in tourist mode, walking along as slow as anything.... I've seen snails move faster people!!!

Please, please, can you just keep moving... or plant your nose on the direction board so your out of people's way. Know where your going, think ahead... it's called 'Forward Planning' people, it doesn't take much effort, but the people behind you sure appreciate it. A little common sense goes a long way.

Stupid people shouldn't breed.... EVER!

aaarrrrggghhh!!!!

Birthdays are a funny thing, I find.

Not haha funny, but unusual funny. They're both a joy and depressing. It's an annual reminder to go 'Look, you're one year older... what did you achieve this past year?'. I find, for the most part, the answer is always the same... nothing.

I have a birthday next week. Not a big one, but not a small one. Somewhere between 25 and 30. I'm certainly not getting any younger, but I'm in the same boat as everyone else... none of us are.

For someone my age there is much I should've achieved by now. A lot of my friends have settled. They're in committed relationships, some married, some have houses with the white picket fence, some have children, they have careers. I'm the flipside to the coin. I have none of that. That's not to say I don't want it. There's a definite yearning for it. And God knows my mother wants more grandchildren, she's not afraid to say that out loud.

I wonder if I've spent too much time travelling the world. Is that possible? I took my first trip in 2002-2003 and spent 11 months backpacking through the UK, Europe, Canada and North America. My second trip was quicker - 4 1/2 months in 2004. Just Canada and North America. By the time I was 23 I'd seen 21 countries. I am now on my third trip, though I know this'll be my last 'big' trip. I left home 53 weeks ago. I spent 6 months travelling through Canada and North America (I have family and friends there) and took in a new country this time around - 3 weeks in Mexico. Now 22 countries. I wonder if the travelling has been more of hindrance than a help. Though I find the cultural learnings I've gathered along the way cannot be taught to me in a classroom, nor can I read about it in a book.

I know there's a lot I should've done with my life by now and there's still a lot I should do. I don't know where my life's going, though I know where I'd like to be. It's not just this time of the year that I assess and re-evaluate my life and my achievments (or lack thereof) but I do tend to do it more around this time in December.

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, let's be honest, does anyone ever stick it out longer than a month? Maybe this New Year's resolution should be to believe in New Year's resolutions. Maybe when I blow out the candles this year, maybe I should wish for something realistic. Maybe I should wish for something attainable, something I can look back on this time next year and feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe I should wish to see my dreams come true. Maybe.

Birthdays are a funny thing.

'Click' Movie Premiere, London

I have to apologise for not writing more. I've had quite the social life in the past few weeks, which is why I'm so far behind with my blog! I wonder if I'll ever catch up. Even, my mum's wondered what's happened to me, I hardly go out when I'm in Australia. The girl at work says I've been 'Londonified'. (Yes, that's a made up word, but you get the gist). So here's the next post...

This premiere's going back about 8 weeks, but I hope you can all forgive me for the delay. On Wednesday 27 September, 2006 at the Empire, Leicester Square, was the movie premiere for 'Click' which stars Adam Sandler, Kate Becksinale and David Hasselhoff and all three turned up to the premiere. I went after work and I arrived after 4pm. There were no front row barrier spots, but thankfully my friend had and her mum saved me a front row spot (thanks 'L'). Mind you, they mentioned the crowd only started to build up about 3.30pm so I did't feel bad jumping the queue. Had it'd been busy at 1pm, I would've stood where I arrived. By 6pm it was pretty full as the tourists had gathered to do a bit of celeb spotting.

I was interviewed by a TV crew and they asked me who I was there to see - the wanted The Hoff to be the answer, so I played it up for them... 'Don't Hassle The Hoff' I said. They laughed. I'm sure they aired it, though I never knew what station it was for. The premiere was well worth the wait, especially as you don't know who's turning up, so it's all a guessing game.


The Hoff being cool saying 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... G'day, G'day, G'day'. Whoever 're-invented' this man, I would like to sit and have a few words with them! Sorry, the photo's blurry, he was moving too fast.

When 'The Hoff' turned up, he gave out photos that he'd pre-signed earlier. He had these little postcards that he was giving out and stuff - just flicking them into the crowd. He didn't sign for anyone and he thought he was the coolest guy there, you should've seen him posing for the paparazzi, giving them the thumbs up and stuff, he was an absoloute tosser! Good thing I wasn't waiting for him.



Frank Coraci, the director came over and signed my 'Click' mini poster (it was in a magazine, the size of a piece of A4 paper). I later had it signed by both Adam and Kate. All three of them were very nice. Adam Sandler had turned up first, but he took ages to reach me as I was near the paparazzi, so he had to work his way up. Adam spent a good hour, more even, signing for the fans and posing with them aswell.

When Adam got closer to me, I got my friend 'L' to take my photo with him and I took a photo of her with Adam. He was really nice and very sweet. Very gracious of all the fans, I think he was rather surprised by how many people were there, but he was great and stopped for everyone. If people didn't have anything, he shook their hands; he was a genuinely nice bloke. The photo my friend took on her camera is a bit blurry (but not really noticeable) andthe photo I took of her on my camera turned out good. That'd be right! I don't mind though, at least I got a photo with him. Just before I got my photo with him, I said to Adam 'Thanks for being so funny' and he was like 'Oh, hey, thanks dude'. He was calling everyone dude. He was a super nice bloke!


(The photo of Adam and my now cropped friend)

Kate turned up after Adam and she spent almost an hour signing and posing also. Kate and Adam were super lovely. I think I appreciate both Kate and Adam more than I did before meeting them, and I thought highly of them before. As for David, I think he's a bigger douche than before I'd met him, and I already didn't think much of him then. As Kate was approaching, I said to her 'I loved you in Serendipity' (it's one of my favourite films) and she looked up at me and was like 'Ohh.. thankyou!'. Her handler tried to pull her away for photos and interviews and she was like, 'I'll come in a minute, some of these people have been waiting since 11 o'clock'. How nice was that! I was there about 4 hours waiting for the celebs, and I got some photos of Kate on the way out again. Kate had said she'd pose with me, but as I moved after she went in, I lost my spot and missed out on the photo. Not too worry, I got some nice pictures of her as she was doing the autographs for the fans.



(Sorry, I have turned into my friend Hughe and have gone 'Paparazzi' for this and am 'represented' for the photo, hence the watermark for CitizenImage).

After it was all over I ended getting one of the poster boards off the barrier. I went to get another one - just in case I ripped this one when I take it off the cardboard (has happened twice to previous posters) - and I was showing it to my friend when I got back home and I was like 'Oh wow, it's signed'. Adam has signed it in pen and it's a big signature- not like the smaller quicker one on my 6x4 photo. It was a good premiere and I'm glad I met Adam and Kate as they were really nice and they were great with the fans!

Guy Fawkes Night, 2006

I am now here in England (for those of you that don't know me, I'm originally from Australia) and they still celebrate Guy Fawkes night or Bonfire night, as it's sometimes known. We stopped celebrating this back home when I was just a child. I'm sure it was because too many accidents occured with people and their DIY fireworks. The selling and purchasing of fireworks in Australia is illegal. It is only permissable to those who do it as a profession - for example the people that do the awesome display on Sydney Harbour every December 31st, which, sadly I am still yet to witness with my own eyes.

So these are some photos I took just from looking out the window of my room. My (basic) digital camera has a setting specifically for 'fireworks', so I had to have a steady hand (actually, I just leaned it against the brick wall). If you don't mind me saying so, I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.




For those that don't know what Guy Fawkes night is, here's the explanation I took from Wikepedia - 'It celebrates for some the failure of the Gun Powder plot (to others the attempt), in which a group of Catholic conspirators, led by one Robert Catesby, and including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in Westminster on the evening of 5 November 1605, when the Protestant King James I (James VI of Scotland) was within its walls.The celebrations, which in the United Kingdom take place in towns and villages across the country, involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires, on which "guys", or dummies, representing Guy Fawkes, the most infamous of the conspirators, are traditionally burnt. Before the fifth, children traditionally used the "guys" to beg for money with the chant "Penny for the guy", although this is now rarely seen'.