World Cup fever

The World Cup, its all over now but it sure was a good party!

Gav's mate Stuey Barnet got married a few weeks ago and to celebrate his last few days as a single man, 12 of the fellas headed over to Hamburg in Germany for a long weekend of football, German beers and plenty of laughs. Despite almost missing the flight and leaving one of the guys behind it was a great 3 days. Staying in a 5 star hotel was definately a major step up from the standard boys holiday away and I think the hotel staff are only just recovering from the 12 of us raiding their lolly jar at reception every few hours!

Here are some of the pics from the weekend

Ghana fans celebrating a goal at the Hamburg Fanfest.

The boys enjoying some of the local produce in one of the beer gardens

Stuey getting into the world cup spirit with a few Portugese and Italian fans

Enjoying a bit of Fussball on the worlds biggest table (11 a side!).

Watching the footy at the Hamburg Fanzone.

Did you throw that coaster?

Paul checking out the local cop car. Good for parking, speed in a car chase...?

Our new pad and other random pics

Just squeezing in a quick update before GP heads back to Oz for a whirlwind week of fun.

Here are a few pics from our new pad in Islington. It's pretty small but it definitely makes the housework easier!

View through our kitchen window

Lounge/dinning/guest bedroom - all in one! Note the fireplace works (even though it's fake gas style) so we're looking forward to cranking this one up in winter!

Back yard and the shed

Em's cousins' dog Isla wandering through a carpet of bluebells in the English countryside near Bramley

Em's uncle doing a little bee keeping in the Bramley back garden (Just for you bev & nat!)

Passing time on Greenwich mean time

Em and Tars

GT on his short london stopover during his latest round the world in 180 day adventure.

Landing in London

The last two months have gone by very quickly. After leaving the Alps in late April we flew straight into London and had to face the harsh reality of looking for jobs again! Getting back into the suits, skirts and ties for interviews certainly took a bit of getting used to after 8 months of jeans and t-shirts.

Gav has been very fortunate to have lined up a 3 month contract role with his old company First State Investments in the City and is looking to land a permanent role soon. Meanwhile Em is now into her third week of new job with a listed softdrinks manufacturer. One of the company's brands is a key sponsor of Wimbledon, so on Em's third day at work, she was taken on a backstage tour of Wimbledon and then this Friday will be spending the day going between centre court and the corporate suite! Tough life for some! Unfortunately for Gav the hospitality doesn't extend to family.

The accomodation situation has all been going well. We were really lucky to have been able to house hop between the Em's Aunt and Uncle's, family friends the Atkinsons', Tara and Caius' and Em's uni mates Katherine and Sarah . Thanks heaps guys!

But at the same time it was great to have found a place of our own and finally unpack all our bags. We are renting a little 1 bedroom flat in Islington (in zone 2, just north of the centre) which is only a 15 mins bus or tube ride from the centre of the City, or the West End. Islington seems to be a pretty cool neighbourhood so far and we've been checking out all the funky bars and restaraunts at our doorstep.

The flat itself is pretty small, but it definitely feels like home and has a lovely green garden out the back - perfect for a summer barbie and even comes with its own shed! The weather has been cranking and we have had hot (even by Aus standards) sunny days for about a month now! It's been good getting back into the singlet tops and walking around in thongs - a big change from the big jackets and snowboots in the alps!



Catching up with Tam and Jake and the London contingent at Fort and Jen's local pub

The boys firing up the barbie in our garden (shed in the background!)

Chilling out in the backyard

Last days in France... long overdue part 2

Its been a while! Here are a few more parting shots from the alps, even though its starting to feel a bit like a fond distant memory!


When all the fresh snow has been tracked out and the sun is shining, there is no better plan than to grab your board, a few beers and a shovel and set up an off piste "kicker" jump! Soft snow on the other side reduces the chance of injury and the presence of our mate Dave's video camera meant that everybody throws themself of the jump that little bit harder...


Gav hitting the Kicker

Dave having a go at a 360 grab.

Em taking on the jump......

..and Em landing the jump.... well kind of!

Girls hanging out in the sunshine

Clair and Dom, our NZ friends working in one of the other chalets on their last day in the mountains. Poor Caire broke her thumb with 1 week to go in the season! But at least they have another season in Les Arcs to look forward to next year.

Hannah, Dave, Caz and Em at the Mont Blanc watching the seasonaire's end of season ski movie.