Snow Days!

After weeks of being told that it was going to snow here in London, it finally dumped it down in about 30 minutes last night.

Thankfully we were just about to go into Tesco just around the corner from our house and with everyone fleeing, we were able to have pretty much the entire supermarket to ourselves (yet it still strangely took 20 minutes to get served for a Lottery Ticket - some things never change).

Traffic was already queueing up on the roads and we were thankful for the short walk home. A quick snowball fight for the benefit of our neighbour's video camera (try as we might we couldn't get her 18 month old son involved) and we were safely ensconced in the house with the central heating blasting out.

Last year, London received about two inches on the 30th January - so it seems to be becoming an annual event. Maybe it could be a tourist attraction a la changing of the guards? You read it here first.

Glory Supporting Boro Fans

As mentioned last Tuesday we went off to Highbury last night to see the underdogs Arsenal take on the league leaders Boro (for reality's sake please reverse the two adjectives describing the teams) for a place in the Coca-Carling Cup Final. We went with heavy hearts after the battering the lads received a couple of weeks ago at the hands of Arsenal.

We had just got through the gates as kick-off happened and took our places (nobody was seated) in the packed Boro end. What ensued was a fantastic game. The Boro end continually outsung Arsenal (do their fans not sing at all?) and our players responded magnificently. Although there was a lot of Arsenal pressure early on, they never looked like really finishing off their overly-tricky play and after several good chances (especially Juninho's shot bouncing off the post), we rightfully went ahead with a Juninho goal. They again applied pressure but were unable to break through our defence and we were unlucky when a couple of shots went wide. The game finished 1-0 to the good guys for once.

Our long journey home was improved by seeing lots of glum Arsenal supporters on the train who were occasionally broken by ecstatic looking Boro fans grinning back at us.

Fingers crossed Arsenal will stick to their youth mixed with crap older players policy and we'll stick a couple of goals past them at the Riverside and make the final at Cardiff. Bring on Bolton or Villa.

Note for international users - Boro never beat Arsenal. Ever. Well except for once in 2001, but apart from that never. Boro have never won an important cup in their history (going back over 100 years) and this could be our best chance yet. COME ON BORO!

The Future is bright, the Future is Boro

Last Saturday the mighty Boro played some team you may have heard of called Arsenal. Plucky Arsenal came through and beat us 4-1. Fortunately despite our attempts to get tickets to the game, all away tickets were sold out. Unfortunately, we're playing them three more times before the month is out (twice in the Carling Cup semi-final and once in the FA Cup). We'll be subjecting ourselves to next Tuesday's (20th January) game at Highbury.

The one bright spot that we were able to take out of last Saturday was the MSS Supporters South Ball. This is an annual event which we've attended over the last three years. This year one of the highlights for me was meeting two of the young players that the Boro have coming through, Andrew Davies (left) and Stewart Downing (right).

I probably won't be getting a start for the Boro for another couple of years, but with the way our strikers are playing, I might get a go up front this season.

A Picture Really is Worth a Thousand Words

The sign outside our house when we got home last night.... Says everything really.

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Everything in its right place

It is six months and one day since I last walked into the office that I had previously worked in for the past three and a half years. You would think that it would be completely different, but apart from some banter about the Rugby World Cup (and everyone being happier than they usually are due to the England win), it was exactly the same and I don't feel like I'd been away at all.

If only our bank balance felt the same......

We're kind of approaching D-day with the flat and fingers crossed we'll have some positive news soon....

Just found a great blog that gives you an alternative view of current affairs with an Aussie perspective. Check out Tim Blair's blog.

After being inspired by DBC Pierre's drawing of his life showing him taking a turd for a walk, Banz has got all artistic and done a representation of our life at the moment....

Update to the Gallery

Just to let you all know we've added a few more piccies to the site in the Gallery.

Let us know what you think.

A great day out in London....

We had a fantastic day out in London on Friday. It's one of the main things that I will definitely miss when eventually arrive back in Australia.

First of all we headed to Waterstone's in Oxford Street and get the latest Chuck Palahniuk novel, "Diary" signed by the great man himself. As you can imagine we were extremely excited about this and even tried to calm down enough to explain to the Italian guy outside who was handing out leaflets who had caused the huge queue that was snaking through the store and out into the street (the Banseys had done well by getting there 10 minutes early and being fifth in the queue). After saying it was Chuck Palahniuk, we got a blank look. After showing him his novel, we got an even blanker one. We then mentioned "Fight Club" and when we still didn't get any response, we gave up and decided to hit the road.

We then went to the Cycle Show. There was a lot of beautiful (and ridiculously expensive) bikes there to drool about. Quite an enjoyable afternoon seeing all the new bikes that are coming on to the market next year. Definite highlight of the show was seeing Banz do a one and a half kilometre time trial on a Tacx Virtual Reality Trainer. In jeans. Tucked into his socks. He did manage to break the current record (unfortunately there's a whole weekend of seasoned cyclists yet to try so its unlikely to stand for too long) and impressed the guy running the stand by doing it as a fixed wheel (only in one gear). I think this is because he didn't know how to change the gears (same as mine - Shimano 105s), but he says it was to show off how masculine he really is....

As you can imagine we were quite peckish by this stage and were fortunate enough to be able to track down a Wagamama's which is fast becoming our favourite chain restaurant around London. One Ebi Katsu and Chicken Kare Lomen for me, and a Duck Gyoza and a Chilli Chicken Men for Banz and we were on our way.

We managed to track down a cinema down the road showing one of our growing list of films that are out at the moment that we want to see (Matchstick Men, Belleville Rendevous, Cypher amongst others). This is probably the one we were most excited about - Spirited Away. This is a fantastic film fantasy that we would highly recommend.

All that and we got the train home in time to watch Sex and the City followed by Peep Show. All Fridays should be like this (apologies to those of you currently working....).

Silver Linings

Well we finally have some good news to share with everyone, though we're still not going to get carried away until we're signed sealed and delivered.

WE HAVE AN OFFER ON THE FLAT!!

I'll calm down a bit now... Anyway, Banz showed two lots of people around on Tuesday afternoon. The first guy really liked it and was saying about how much he likes the high ceilings, big rooms etc and was going to bring his wife back yesterday (Saturday) morning. After him, there was a couple who really didn't comment or say much about the flat and were very quiet. Anyway, Banz gets a phone call the next morning and the couple have made an offer which was only £1,000 less than the offer we had previously accepted. Of course we took it. When my Dad was selling Real Estate he used to phrase it as "biting their hand off", but we weren't quite that bad. Just salivating a bit.....

Again we're not getting ourselves too worked up after last time, but its definitely a step in the right direction. They brought round their Dad (not sure which one's, but a Dad nonetheless) and he was very positive about the flat also, so that should also remove that obstacle.... My Dad lost a few sales with parents coming round and stopping their children buying a house that they didn't think was quite right. So everyone, keep your fingers crossed and the Banseys may be finally able to leave London.

News and Views

Well we're settling back into London life. All the usual things are here, two trips to the cricket (Banz watching SA just beat England and both of us watching Surrey cruise past Gloucestershire), a visit to Wagamama and a furnitureless flat.

Well, the flat does have some furniture, it's just limited. We have our futon (which was the first bit of furniture we ever bought as a couple - unless you count the crisp boxes we used as a bed side table initially), a tv stand (on which to stand the smallest telly ever which has been most kindly donated by Nick H) and the mattress in the unregistered loft conversion to complete the skag den appeal. We also managed to be indian givers (I guess that's not a PC term these days, but there's no other way to describe it) and got our wok, fry pans, saucepans and microwave back off Spence and Cath - cheers guys - you can really have them when we actually do leave.

Time has been spent tidying up the garden for that buyer that we're sure is just around the corner as well as toning down the paint in the lounge. All those episodes of "House Doctor" haven't been wasted.

We've also been doing a bit of job hunting. I've had a couple of good phone calls today saying that I've been put forward for a couple of roles. Fingers crossed I get the one with more money. That's what my standards have been reduced to these days. Oh well it is only for six months (we hope). Banz has also applied for a few - including one at £50 an hour - that's if his postcard is still in the telephone box outside Kings Cross station.

Banz's time has also been taken up training for his century ride which is next Sunday, 17th August. The roads outside Harrow are not quite as inviting as those near Darlo but there are a few decent hillocks to contend with. The tarmac melting temperatures (no post could pass without a "Phew - what a scorcher" comment) have been a novelty but one which is wearing off. Perhaps our original plan to tackle southern Spain in August with panniers stuffed to the brim with kitchen sinks was not the best idea.... Maybe this is the "everything happens for a reason" excuse we've been looking for since the flat sale fell through. That makes two, the first being Maca's Wedding.

Keep your fingers crossed and hopefully we'll be back amongst the employed in the next couple of weeks. The taxman's gain is Quincy ME's loss.

Bizarre

I've just seen the strangest thing ever. Watching a list of the Top 100 sellers ever in the UK, they had "Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree" by Tony Orlando was somewhere in there in the high 80s. That in itself is wrong, but it then showed Tony Orlando in concert and who should be in the audience, but the thin white duke himself, David Bowie. He was sitting there with Angie enjoying the show. Very strange....

Gallery On-Line

Two posts in one day! Just to let you all know that we now have our Gallery on line. A couple of pictures of us at home when we first received the bikes, as well as our pictures from the Coast to Coast (check out our forced smiles!).

Many thanks to HiG for supplying us with the space for this.

The coolest cycle shirt ever....

I have just seen the coolest cycle shirt ever - check it out at Foska. Even though I don't like Marmite (Vegemite is miles better), this is pretty damn cool. So I thought I'd mail them and see if they were going to make a Vegemite one and got a mail back the same day from David there who said they were trying, but Kraft wouldn't let them use it. Surely its free advertising for Kraft? I can feel a campaign coming on.

I may just treat myself to the Australian jersey there when I finally get back into the workforce. Maybe then I'll get off my butt and back on the bike and get a few miles in - instead of just watching Robbie, Stuart and Baden pushing themselves in Le Tour (we would've been in France by now - sob sob). It's either that or Le Tour King of the Mountain's Jersey - though unfortunately when I wear it, it would be ironic.....

Life is slightly better....

Well, the dark cloud has risen a bit. Thanks to all for the positive thoughts - they've worked.

Martin is down in London at the moment sorting a few things out like tidying the flat and seeing the real estate agents. He's also managed to get into some of the boxes that we'd sent home (thanks to the guys at Interpak - especially Hilary for restoring some of my faith in humankind for their help there) so that we can find all the documents that we've kept from when we bought the flat. We weren't sure if we had anything from our solicitors which showed that they were aware of the loft conversion but he has managed to find a document from them which mentions it, so hopefully we'll be to prove how ineffectual they were, and sue the arse off them! That does raise my spirits a bit.

HiG has also been touting us around (does that make him our pimp?) and he may have a contact for us at Adecco here in Darlington. He's been the best mate (well he was our best man) possible and has offered us to stay with him for as long as we need. His house needs a bit of redecorating and we figure we can repay his kindness by giving him a hand with a bit of DIY which he has motivational issues with doing. As long as we can make enough to cover our mortgage in London until the house sells it will definitely be viable.

I've also finished the new Harry Potter (unemployment will do that to you - finishing ~750 page books in just under five days). I enjoyed it - the death wasn't really that much of a shock - I thought it would be a more major character. I'm looking forward to the next two and what will happen to Harry eventually - I reckon he'll marry Hermione and end up with 2.4 kids with her, or him and Ron become gay lovers. Not sure yet.

The sad thing is I now have to choose another book. I'll probably start one of our classics that were going to be our Big Trip reading. It doesn't feel right to be reading them in a house as I had envisioned it more reading it under a tree whilst we stopped for lunch in France.... oh well, if our Estate Agent gets his act together it may still be achievable this year!

The Best of Times, the Bloody worst of Times...

Well our nightmare has come true. Our house sale fell apart yesterday. The buyers pulled out as they couldn't handle the pressure to do with the loft not being approved by the council. They really must be the stupidest people I've met in my lifetime (and I have met some prize idiots), as everything was set for it to go through and they obviously couldn't grasp the fundamentals of what happens in a house sale.

So we're now trying to decide what we're going to do. We don't have furniture, jobs and a loft conversion that isn't regularised.

Big Trip is on hold, at least for the next three months. I don't pray, but if you can send some positive thoughts into the world for us it would be much appreciated as you can imagine our's are pretty damn negative at the moment. Oh, and if you know anyone who'll give us a job, that would also help.... Thank god for the latest Harry Potter book - I don't know how I would've entertained myself otherwise when we got the news yesterday.

Counting the cost

Well the house still hasn't gone through... still to do with our loft.... and its just not that much fun anymore...

Please don't ask about the house as we're starting to bore ourselves with the talk of it.... needless to say when it does actually go through, you'll all be the first to know. As long as you're looking on our website that is....

We're now back up in Darlington visiting Mr HiG as all of our furniture was sent back home to Australia on Thursday 19th June. We have left in the house the futon and a beanbag and Cath and Spence are eyeing up the futon, so soon we'll just be down to the beanbag with the two of us fighting over it in between playing games of football with a tennis ball in our living room (note to any interested purchasers of our property - we're not really doing this, you know creative licence and all that). We were sleeping on a mattress in our bedroom (the f*$king unapproved loft) to complete the skag den appeal of the flat. As we've grown tired of saying goodbye to everyone on a weekly basis in London we thought we'd head back up to Teesside and then maybe head up to Scotland to do a mini-tour up there with all the bags as a bit of a tester. We figure if these people are going to mess us around we might as well actually enjoy the time off instead of endlessly playing "Age of Empires" on the PS2 (not that that's all I've been doing of course).

Anyway, its off to the pub tonight to meet up with Ted and Carole and to drown our sorrows with a few vodka and oranges.

By the way, check out our new counter - I can't make it any more obvious that I haven't tampered with it (last count as at 23/6 was one!) so get our numbers up and keep visiting. We hope to have good news some time..... Hope you won't all be bored of my rants before than....

It's that elbow again

Well, yet again it seems I have not yet mastered riding a bike... We arrived in Darlington last night on time (I think the first time ever on our journeys up here!) and prepared for our first longish ride with the bikes fully loaded.

Bloody hell, there's definitely stability issues involved here. The ride from our house to Harrow and Wealdstone station wasn't too bad (it is only about half a mile to be fair) and the train journey into London Euston also ran quite smoothly (apart from the morons who obviously thought it was more important that they get on the train before I get off with my (do I need to repeat this?) fully loaded bike). From there, it was a short ride to King's Cross, but not wanting to risk London peak hour traffic with our unstable bikes, ended up pushing them the kilometre or so to King's Cross. Train journey passed without incident and we arrived at Darlington at 22:30. Here we go. A couple of roundabouts and a few cheeky calls from cars with boozed up occupants (England vs Slovakia for the European Football Championships had been on just down the road at the Riverside after all) of "Can I get a lift?" and, most charmingly, "Get a car". I would've liked to have stopped the occupant of the Ford Focus and asked them how much they earnt last year and compared it with my salary. I'm not saying that salary is an indicator of standing in society, but these people obviously think a car gives them some kind of status and I would've like to seen how that other indicator of status (according to society) racked up against each other. I would've also liked to explain that I can afford a car, but I choose not to drive. Cycling is fun - driving a car isn't. It is as simple as that. I don't expect everyone to get out of their cars, but I would like a bit of respect for at least trying something different - I know I'm dreaming! Anyway, rant over.

We had a slight downhill after the roundabouts and I changed through the gears and was able to get a decent speed going. We then got to some lights and I was unable to change back to a decent taking off speed. Result. I can't get any speed up on the slight uphill after the lights change to green and fall over on the pavement landing smack bang on the already swollen and bruised left elbow. The familiar agony started again and I'm ready to call the whole thing off. Who's bloody idea was this anyway? I know, half mine, but I'm sure everyone has had one of those moments where you can just have enough - and we hadn't even started. Anyway, I pushed the bike to HiG's, had a cup of tea and iced the elbow. Huge lump coming out on it now as well as a lot of bruising. Felt better and am now determined to thin out everything in the panniers to make this riding to Australia thing a bit easier. I didn't say easy. Easier. Than what, I don't know....