On the Hunt for "Brangelina"...

Well folks,

It's been a while and I know I've been very quiet but I thought you'd forgive me the indulgence of this wee post, for you see, my job has taken me to the USofA for a couple of weeks.

Thanks to a horrendous journey from Brisbane to Atlanta via a long stop-over in Los Angeles Airport, I found myself taking the opportunity to find those most sexy of people, Brad and Ange, out and about doing some shopping around Beverly Hills.

Unfortunately, I arrived as the shops were closing, so I had to make do with driving about in my rented car - or as I referred to it, "The Pimp-Mobile":

After a couple of hours driving about Santa Monica Boulevard...

...Rodeo Drive...

...and of course Beverly Hills...

...star spotting really did start to get a wee bit tiresome, so it was back to the Hilton Hotel, LA airport, for some dinner and drinks before heading off on the next leg of the trip.

Gosh, those paparazzi have got it tough, eh?!

Shame that the shops were closed. You can see how disappointed I am outside Tiffanys. Phew - that was close!

Next up: Going deep, DEEP South. South Georgia stylee.

Y'All come back now, y'hear?!

ROOOOOAAAAARRR!!!

Well Folks,

It’s time to come clean with you all.

This blog (as well as my previous one: www.belgiumisboring.blogspot.com) have in the past often provided a cathartic medium for me to vent my spleen, to bare my soul, to share my thoughts with the unseen masses out there in Internet Land and this entry is no exception.

For you see, I've only gone and sold my soul to the devil....and went to watch a live "SOCCER" game.

Having bought the Foxtel Platinum package and further lined the pockets of Rupert Murdoch’s bulging pockets, I am facing up to the harsh, cold, reality of a lifetime of watching Liverpool and Rangers matches in the wee hours of the morning, on my own, lying on the couch with the volume turned down, so as not to awaken Krissy from her sweaty, snoring, slumber.

Ironically enough, I now see more of my beloved football than I ever did in the past. Even more games than I saw when living 20 minutes from Anfield.

OK, so I’ve maybe had to sacrifice many hours of much needed sleep to do so, but thanks to the digital revolution, Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers are now being fed into my living room on such a regular basis that sleep – or indeed the lack of it – is such a part of my “Australian way of life” these days that it’s become second nature to me.

But my life still lacks the live experience of cheering on 11 heroes as they play The Beautiful Game on the smooth, green, baize of a pitch in front of a packed stadium roaring my team on to ever greater and greater achievements.

In the absence of all this, I’ve plumped for supporting my local soccer team, The Queensland Roar, in Australia’s A-League.

Now don’t get me wrong – the standard isn’t too shabby and the stadium is fantastic but “soccer” is very much the poor cousin in relation to Rugby League, Rugby Union, Australian Rules Football and Cricket. With a capacity of 50,000-plus, Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is a great place to watch FOOTBALL (no more soccer for me). Unfortunately, however, crowds barely trouble the 17,000-mark, which results in a lot of empty seats, much to the detriment of the game’s atmosphere.

OK – so perhaps I’ve been spoiled by watching games at Anfield and Ibrox – nay, I know I have - and with that in mind, I am quite enjoying the experience of “Roaring on the Roar”

We’re sitting pretty in second place and this Sunday, we played host to the top-placed Central Coast Mariners and we turned them over 2-1 to come within one point of them. So things are looking up for my adopted team. With a bit more success, who knows? Perhaps one day in the not too distant future, I’ll be proudly sitting cheering on my team as they pick up their league winner medals.

It’s been a while since I was able to do that.

Click on the video link to sample some of the “atmosphere”…

PS – A big shout out to my REAL home team, the Ballyclare Comrades (www.ballyclarecomrades.co.uk), as they play in their first major final for over a decade – the Steel and Sons Cup on Christmas Morning. This is an opportunity for a very young team to play in the biggest occasion of their lives. Usually, a very well-supported game (as the menfolk run from Christmas Dinner duties), here’s hoping The Wee Reds pick up the trophy and do my home town proud!

One day is not enough

Having spent a lot of my life in Belgium, there were constant reminders for those of us fortunate to share in the experience - lest we forget.

Indeed, at the Menin Gate Memorial in the Belgian town of Ypres, every night at 6pm a bugle sounds and everything stops, as the people of Ypres stop to pay homage to a group of young men who changed the course of history and the very nature of the world as we know it.

The Menin Gate Memorial at the eastern exit of the town of Ypres (known as "Ieper" in Dutch) in Flanders, Belgium, marks the starting point for one of the main roads out of the town that led Allied soldiers to the front line during World War I.

Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and built by the British government, the Menin Gate Memorial opened on 24 July 1927 as a monument dedicated to the missing British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the fierce battles around the Ypres Salient area who have no known grave.

The names of 54,896 British and Commonwealth soldiers, who gave their lives in the First World War are recorded there. And this list does not include those missing in action. It is of course only one of many memorials around the world. People I did not know, have never met, will never be even remotely acquainted or familiar with, have laid down their lives for me…for my children…and my children’s children.

They sacrificed their hopes, their ambitions their dreams, in order that I, and thousands of others could realise our dreams. That we could enjoy the freedoms, which alas many of us, take for granted without a second thought. Freedom of association…of worship…of political persuasion to name but a few. The vast array of uncensored books in our libraries - encouraging freedom of thought and expression without recrimination or persecution.

And as the dark shadow of Fascism and Nazism rampaged across Europe and Africa with its ethnic cleansing policies, laying waste to all before them, it seemed our world stood on the precipice of its darkest age.

But from that darkness was born an inextinguishable light, a light which shone as a beacon to the rest of the rest of the world and for generations yet to come. Where did it come from ? From the glens of Scotland and Ulster, the valleys of Wales, the dales and the shires of England, from a Commonwealth of people from around the world, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, united in their stand against tyranny, oppression and persecution.

Determined, resolute, steadfast, and courageous unto death – driven by a desire for good and to protect the values their fathers and forefathers passed down to them.

They were the light that brought an end to the darkness which threatened our world.

The bible tells us there is no greater love than a life laid down for friends. But what of thousands of lives laid down for complete strangers ?At the going down of the sun and in the morning….we will remember them. But not just on the 11th of November.

But yesterday…today and forever.

Glenariff Forest Park

Waterfall heaven!

The traveller returns home

A couple of months ago, we were lucky enough to get home for a couple of weeks. To say I was a happy wee bunny, would be an understatement of epic proportions.

In this clip, I show off the jewel in Northern Ireand's crown, The Antrim Coast. A two hour drive which often appears in the top ten drives in the world, it is my favourite place in the whole world.

It was great to be home!

The view from the apartment

Well folks,

It took us a few weeks and after going a wee bit 'rental mental' we found ourselves a modest wee apartment in the heart of Brisbane city.

The apartment may be modest but the view, as you can see from the pic above, most definitely is not. Just across the Brisbane river, you can see the skyscrapers of Brisbane's Central Business District (CBD).

To the right of the pic, you can see the impressive Story Bridge dominate the skyline. It may not be Sydney Harbour but it's more than enough to please this country fella.

Yep - I'm deifnitely in Australia!

Pulling an Aussie Bird...

Taken from a recent camping trip to Moreton Island, just off SE Queensland.

Whilst trying (unsuccessfully) to fish for flathead fish, this friendly pelican came over for a wee nosey. And some free grub.

And I was only too happy to oblige.

The trip was a welcome respite from the bustle of the city and although we didn't catch any fish, we saw dolphins, stingrays, kookaburras, lizards and snakes.

And of course, managed to sink a few XXXX along the way.

I could used to this lifestyle...