sign off from this blog, start of a new one

With the end to my Big American Tour, its pointless continuing with this page with updates to whats going on with my life. So I have created a new one thats all about me and whats going on in my life. I hope you will continue to follow me on my one Big Adventure called life

Shush! I'm trying to concentrate

This is why I still call Australia home

Apparently the ad is "inappropriate" because it promotes the "use of beer in water sports" and "sexual connotations." Ridiculous! Have you played water sports without booze? It's boring! You need booze to keep water sports interesting. And certainly couldn't detect any "sexual connotations" in the ad. All they say is "nothing goes down better than a Bondi Blonde". There's nothing suss about that!

You have got to love a good old Aussie Beer advert: Bondi Blonde

Two months on being home

Its been over two months now since I have returned home and have got back into reality, well the reality where I now have to work to pay my bills and pay my own way. Things haven't been so straight up and smooth sailing, and I don't know why I thought they would have been. Most of my friends that I left behind here to go travelling, are still left behind, and those that I love dearly appear to me at times to be making it harder for me to fit back in. Maybe I don't fit in anymore, and my positioning in the hierarchy of things has slipped down a notch or ten. Like they say, use it or loose it. I disappeared for nearly a year to follow a dream and to give myself the opportunity to be my own person, and during that time new people have come into the lives of my friends of which they have now asserted their dominance. In fact I on my first evening back into Sydney an old friend gave me attitude and proceeded to tell me how unexcited they about me being back. And only recently I have been told how I'm not wanted around.

So it has been a further growth period for me as I spend my time actively finding a place for myself, and not spending my time worrying about others. So far I have done that and have easily created a new life for myself that has included finding a new place to live, slowly getting into my favourite physical activities such as walking and swimming, enrolling into a Spanish course for beginners (now in week five), and strengthening the relationship I have with those friends who do want me around and appreciate me for who I am.

Work itself has been a drag. After two months I am still without a position at work. Day after day I have been coming back into the office and sitting at a desk passing the time playing on the Internet. I did apply for a vacant position that was in an area that I have been trying to get into for years, but last week found out I was unsuccessful and the job had been given to an external applicant. I have tried way to many times to get into this area and I have the skills and have proven myself over the years, so I'm not taking this lying down. I have gone through the Banks guidelines for the interview panel and have found a number of deficiencies in the process conducted by them. I have as of today formally written to H.R about this and plan on taking it as far as I can.

This could be the last sign that here is not where I am suppose to be. My extensive time off to travel was to allow me to see if there was bigger and better things out there for me, and if Sydney is truly where I am suppose to be. If it wasn't for the mortgage I could easily leave tomorrow and head back to my home away from home....San Francisco. I miss it there, I miss all of my friends there, and I miss being welcomed there. But things just need time to get better here. Its only been two months and all good things take time and come to those who wait, or so they say. I will keep going with my walking, swimming, Spanish classes and fighting for what I believe rightfully should have been mine here at work.

My friend Dan recently begun his travels too. He is off for four months covering a number of continents. His travels can be followed by visiting his blog. By following his trip on-line and seeing him with my friends that i put him in contact with makes me jealous that I'm not there with him.

Dont be a dummy

Dont fall victim to this. Its crap and they obviously can't count

Hello
I am Barr. Peter Moore, Attorney to Late Mr. George Williams a foreigner and an Engineer with Renold construction company (RCC). Late George Williams has an account with a Bank here, which he opened in 2003. He died here in U.K 2004, I received a memo early this year from the Bank remittance department for an interview about $14M USD that belongs to my client Late Mr. George Williams, the bank informed me on their policy to freeze the account of Late Mr. George Williams, I was asked to redirect the ($14m usd) back to government treasury because they saw no next of kin in his entire file within the bank and his account has been dormant for years which is against the policy of the Bank. I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner as the foreign beneficiary to that fund. I have resolved to share the money in this ratio. 50% for me, 35% for you, 10% for the remittance manager in the bank who has agreed to guide us for the success of our objectives and 5% for expenses we might incur in the processing of this transaction. The entire process is this:

1: I will need your full name and address.
2: Your age and Occupation.
3: Contact telephone and fax number.
3: I will also need any of your identity for more trust. is either you send your international passport copy or drivers license. I am going to submit that information for the internal processing as soon as you provide your information to me. Once I am through with the documents, I am going to submit it to the bank for approval of the fund in your name. If bank certify the documents okay and genuine, they will contact you for further directives.

Regards,
Bar. Peter Moore esq.

Kates Birthday

The night of my arrival back into Sydney was the same day as Kates birthday. Kate picked me up from the airport in her and Andy's new sport hatchback, and wisked me back to her and Andy's palce. After I showered and got settled we then lunched with friends before heading home to get ready for a night of partying. It wa a great Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon, but thats were it finished for me. Come 5pm Saturday arvo I crashed and crashed hard. After a long flight and partying for 24 hours, my jet lagg took over and I put myself to bed never to be awoken. Which was unfortunate as it was another friends birthday that Saturday night and I totally missed it.

Kate & her little sister Claire

Chris, Brett, Damien & Nicholas

Kate to the far left, Dan & some 'peace' girl who's name I don't know

(l-r) Zartu, Andy and someone

Kate with a bunch of her friends

Brett & Kate think they are auditioning for 'Dancing with the Stars'

It wasn't me!

Back at Kate and Andy's - Lawrence & Suzie

Shannon & Claire - the blossoming of a new love

Bunny finally arrives

Its late Saturday afternoon and some of us just want to lay our heads down to rest

Home now - so where the bloody hell are you?

The trip of a life time has ended, but it has only left me with dreams of further travels abroad. Im dieing to get back to Brazil and to travel through the other South American countries, I need to get to London and Ireland to see my friends Phil and Helen, and now with my new buddies in Spain its a must for me to get there too.

I've done my fair bit of travel so now its up to others. We've saved you a spot on the beach - so where the bloody hell are you?

Time to say 'see you again soon' - not a goodbye

Where did those ten months go. Seriously can someone tell me what happened? I can't believe, no sorry I don't want to believe its time to head back to Sydney Australia. It seems weird, just as weird as it was when all those ten months ago I left Sydney with way too much luggage and only a ticket to New York City with the return home from San Francisco. Back then I had no fucking idea what I was going to do with myself, but all I know now is that I have a big bunch of great friends all over this country as well as in Madrid and in Brazil. My heart has been hurt along the way, and I know that I have done the same to others, others that i never ever intended on hurting or disappointing. But I left Sydney with not knowing where, when or how I was going to be living or traveling. But here I now stand, at San Francisco International airport with three of my close friends who couldn't just let me go without giving me that last one big hug, a kiss and a 'dont go'. But I need to go home to see my friends, pay off my debt, and most importantly to see my parents. I haven't seen them in over a year and I need to do just that. They are the two most important people in my life, and throughout the past ten months they have been there for me all the way. Taking care of my rental property, paying my bills, doing my tax and giving me advise along the way. They are the best.

William, Silvia, Courtney & myself @ SFO


Last look back through the security gates @ SFO

SUPRISE !!!

I spent Saturday out with Scott and Jarek at a party hosted by friends of theirs. Someone was leaving to go overseas, all a bit familiar. It was a cool day and it was raining, but that didn't damper anything and I had a great afternoon. William was having some people over for drinks that evening and we were to leave this party and join William for his drinks. I guess we were suppose to leave by 7.30pm but at 8.30pm we were still at the first party. I didn't think anything of it as it was Will's friends just coming over to have a drink with him, well that's what i thought until we finally rocked up. Scott and I were giggling drunk as we walked up the stairs of Will's apartment to which we were greeted by a big 'finally' from Will and the faces of all my friends, even Parker from New York was there. William had thrown a suprise farewell party for me, and Scott got me there late. There were more drinks, food and a absolutely fabulous cake created by Silvia which she apparently based on the photo of me lying on Haulover Nudist Beach, Miami. I was stoked, and then of course I got drunk. The party attendees was of everyone that I had become close to while in San Francisco, people I call true friends. After spending a lot if time in San Francisco I ended up knowing a lot of people, but these people were the important ones

The following day we hit El Rio. I like going to El Rio even though I'm not a salsa dancer. Its usually a great afternoon to sip on 2 or if I dare 3 of Christina's margarita's. They are strong but good. I don't know of an outdoor salsa bar here in Sydney, not sure if we have the Hispanic community to influence such an activity. Afterwards we had a spot of dinner in the Castro and then off to the bars. Parker and I were the last ones standing, and finally when we got home proceeded to drink and make a mess of Williams kitchen by trying to pack portions of the left over cake into zip lock bags and putting them into the freezer. What a mess!

Receiving my gift with the now infamous AussieBum cake in the background


The unvailed present, a singlet top with a print on the chest of my naked body lying on Haulover Park Beach




Courtney & myself


Myself & Kevin


Courtney & Kevin, with his sexy face


Myself & Silvia with that incredible Aussie Bum cake


(l-r) Parker, Scott & Jen


Nick & Silvia


(l-r) Kevin, Silvia, Nick & Courtney - the downhill progression








Myself & Silvia - yep Im geting tipsy


Johnny its like the old days in South Beach - Vodka Soda was it?


William & I


Coutrney & I getting drunker


Jarek, Sasha, Johnny, Wayne & Jarek's b/f Troy (noice)


Nick stop eating my......cake!


Little William & myself


Kobus & Olivier


Kamran


Serious, guys stop it with my cake


Olivier & William.....oh & me int he background not wanting to be left out


Silvia & William


Scott, Silvia & Steven

Voting in the NSW elections - Take a stand.

All you New South Welshmen and women have to vote this coming Sturday. All I have to say on this matter is that I all hope you GLBTI and GLBTI friendly people have completed some research and will cast your vote in favour of the party that has as part of its policies a commitment to bringing equality and recognition to our relationships. Voting any other way would be a shame and a let down for our community.

I have read the party policies of the The Australian Democrats, The Greens, Labor and Liberals, and only two of those have contained in its policies the above mentioned. The other two parties do not. In fact the other parties do not mention a single word about fighting for our rights. The Australian Demoncrats and The Greens do. Please vote for the right for our relationships to be legally recognised so that we may enjoy the same benefits as hetrosexual relationships.


Additional information on The Greens policies

The final coutdown

I'm into my final two weeks of this great trip. Its a strange concept that I will be heading back to Australia soon, where I will have to go back to work. I think that is the worst part of it, the going back to work. This non-working lifestyle is perfect for me. I can go whee I want, when I want for as long as I want. I've had no responsibilities and been totally care free. Why would we want to live any other way? But of course to do that I would need someone understanding partner by my side who loves to work, and works hard to earn the money required to keep me in the lifestyle I have become accustomed to over the best part of the last year.

I have been telling myself that I need to do a practice run in packing my luggage. I came way with a monstrous bag filled to the brim with clothes telling myself that to save money I will bring everything I need so that I didn't have to spend precious cash buying stuff I already had. Absolutely no will power. I shopped and I bought and now I'm packing boxes to ship unnecessaries back to mum and dads for collection later after I get home.

One of the things I was going to do during my time here was to find myself a job, a career change of sorts. Not permanant, but something to give me an experience that I could use at home. But I don't think I needed a job for that. This whole thing has been the experience that I was in search of. The people, the places, the the the the everything. I am more confident within myself, I dont need someone there to lead the way, I can approach an unfamiliar situation and know that I can handle it. I feel good about myself and that people are genuinely happy to see me.

William took me to the Eagle for beer bust on Sunday. I always wanted to go and finally here is my chance. I presumed there would be a bunch of hairy bears, but it wasn't that at all. I actually liked it it and would definately go back again. We didn't stay for too long, we left to go and see the movie 300.

But now I sit and I stare around my bedroom at Williams place. It looks like a bomb has gone off as there is just clothes and belongings of mine everywhere as I try to sort myself out. I dont want to go home, I now feel at home.

Sunday beer bust @ The Eagle

From Palm Springs to San Francisco

Some how I managed to squeeze into my suitcase all these extra clothes I know had from my shopping extraganzza. William did say before we left S.F not to pack much as we would be buying alot, but I didn't heed his warning. The flight out of Palm Springs was a bumpy one. Those hills definately stirr up the air currents and we were rocking and rolling. I have experienced worse before, first time flying back into Sydney at night after being to Launceston Tasmania to see family. I actually thought we had the possibility of dying. Second time was flying out of the old Hong Kong airport on a 747 to London. On this take off for every part of airspace we climbed, we then suddenly dropped about half of that before he start to climb again. Everytime the plane dropped your stomach would climb under your ribcage.

The landscape around Palm Springs is breathtaking from the air. The people I met in Palm Springs were great/friendly. It is a good place to be, and I say that again not knowing what summer is like.

Palm Springs

A few days after or ski trip, William and I flew down to Palm Springs to see Renata. I had always wanted to go to Palm Springs and William had the week off work, so we took a mid week flight down. The first two days were spent shopping, and boy o boy did William and I shop. We shopped for nine hours over the two days and collectively spent just over $2,000. And amazingly enough me not working and all managed to spend the largest chuck of that amount. I now have way too many clothes to take back home to Sydney, but I will manage.

William and I did the rounds of the bars in Palm Springs. It was fun. We met and chatted with boys, worked our charm, flirted, and of course I got a little tipsy. I really like Palm Springs but not sure how it would be in the height of summer.

Renata and I


Over looking Palm Springs. The town is in there amongst all the palms


Friday evening out for Tims Birthday








Cable car ride up the hills behind Palm Springs