REAL estate....?

Well Andy & are finally looking to purchase an abode...and all our friends who have been through the ORDEAL I think are quietly laughing on the inside - knowing exactly what we are going through...

To date we have only seen 6 houses so it's only the start of the journey....of these:-

1 was missing a living room ceiling as well as hot water pipes & system

1 had so many cracks in the walls it looked like it was built on a fault line.

1 was so foul inside that it made your average prision look like a Hilton (no pun actually was intended)...

( I bet she is regretting this photo shoot!)

So there was 3 that were good - but even they had there sore points...

1 was sold for well over $100K more than asking price ( yes folks half a million buys you an unrenovated semi detached 1940's house without a garage in Melbourne today)

And 1 had so much interest that they have added on an extra $50K - and now it will go for > $500K.

And the final one we saw - now this was it ( for me at least) - 5 bedrooms 2 bath cape cod house in our price range - built late 1960's - (other than the decor being Mrs Brady's house before she moved in with Mike & the boys in the 70's dream home) - so very Desperate Housewives - so perfect except...... from the fact it had no back garden and was on a 6 lane main road.

So we are seeing 2 more today - another semi detached art deco house unrenovated etc which I know for a fact is going to sell for well over $500K...and a 1940's post war timber home which has had partial renovations...and is in our price range...

Hopefully this one will have a living room ceiling without a highway out front!

And the Winner is....Serbia - Eurovision 2007 (Pt 6)

Apparently being a lesbian singing a song in Serbian is song du jour - Marija Serifovic from Serbia wins with 'Molitva' - now if someone could just translate...

Belgium - Love power - Eurovision 2007 Pt5

Ok so Belgium missed the whole 70's discos revival of the early naughties...and now have come up with this Jackson 5 esque

Serebro - Song number one (Eurovision 2007 Pt4)

Ok so mix Britney Spears with the Veroncias and you'll get Serebro with Russia entry...and it's actually a bit of alllllright

You Tube:UK Entry for Eurovision (Pt 2)

Meet Scooch - the Steps/cheesy/gay/pop/flight attendants with their song 'Flying the flag'for the UK...hmmm

YouTube:Top 20 Songs of Eurovision 2007 (Pt 3)

These are a selection of the top 20 songs...audio only - be warned listening to these songs may cause ears to bleed

Eurovision 2007...Pt 1

OMG - I almost forgot - It's that time of the year for EUROVISION... to think that every crappiest pop song ever conceived has been born from this historical festival of a united Europe ( and apparently Israel is part of Europe but that's not for here Ishmael).

This completion has now been running for over 50 years and still countries get it wrong... There are at least 2 drag queen entries - Denmark's ' I'm your drama queen tonight' - I'm not kidding - and the Ukraine's - 'Danzing'...Other entries include a boy band from Spain that still need to rehearse their 'chorey' dancing ...Lookey-likeys of the pop group Steps from the UK called Scooch - and even more gay than Steps - Rappers from Poland -again I'm not kidding...Poland at least is singing in English this year...(mind you I'm not sure how many boys in the hood are in Warsaw)- now can someone please tell France that they are never going to win singing in French...

I will be posting some of the worst and the even more foul of this years competition- at least the UK get's the joke that other odd euro nations ( like Albania, Moldova, Estonia etc) do not get - that Eurovision is pure entertainment - and not to be taken too seriously...

Spunk Alert - Rodrigo Santoro

Ole/buena stiuas to hottie Rodrigo Santoro.

This boy from brazil is usually plays the eye candy in films...whether the bad boy surfer in 'Charlie Angels - Full Throttle' ( another bad sequel to what was an enjoyable film)...

To Karl -the love interest of Laura Linney in 'Love, actually'...To a very gay-like king in '600'...

He is even hot when getting the milk from the 711!

...And most recently he has appeared as yet ANOTHER survivor in 'LOST' (PS - does anyone actually watch it anymore??? - please let me know if you do)

Soon he will be appearing in films - Talking with Dog, Black Oasis & Dare to Love Me - which I hope he has world wide success with...but really he could just be naked in a film and I will go and see it. Yet again another Brazilian Hottie on our screens. Lordy.

Fabulous Architecture: The Opera House...Part 2

I almost forgot to post the 2ND half - the interior.
I accidentally joined a tour group to get these - which I might add is a really easy thing to do!

These are shots are taken after the recent restoration - Utzon resigned in a cloud of controversy and did not complete the work.

The work was completed by a team of architects and the NSW Board of Works - they only had some basic sketches and rough guides left by Utzon as the Opera house was an evolutionary piece - plans, elevations and perspectives were being refined and changed - sometimes daily.

Thankfully a change of government and opinion has meant that Utzon was asked for engaged again 30 years later for the restoration - although he didn't come back to Sydney(due to health) he supervises via the Internet web cam to his team in Sydney.

The 2 shots below are courtesy of the web - although impressive - these are not Utzon's original interiors - we can only now wait until they have been changed to Utzon's original scheme - which included a gigantic circular revolving stage in the main hall- which was scrapped after he left - so the metal frame was sent to SIlverwater Jaol so prisioners could cut it up!

Thank god opinions and tastes change - and in this case for the better!

Fall(ing into you)...

Summer is over...finally.

OK... so I shouldn't complain - Summer was a real Summer this year- it was hot, it was dry, it was long - and we have had so much sunshine Melbournians even have colour in their faces. (And with the summer life experiences I endured...best to put it behind me and to embrace the change of season - anyway I have always liked the term 'trans-seasonal'.)

Summertime this year slowly faded away (usually it's an abrupt plunge over a cliff) and autumn has appeared in it's place. The days are still sunny but the mornings are cold - not quite frosty cold - the type of cold when the hot air from your mouth can be seen - no sight of rain though - and because we are still in the drought it's going to be one of the coldest winter on record.

I'm looking forward to the trees on St Kilda Road losing their leaves, and watching them fall to the ground - so you hear that great crunching sound when you walk on them.

I'm looking for days inside watching dvd's and eating roasts and drinking wine and just talking shit - which really isnt much different to what we do now.

I'm looking forward to wearing coats and scarfs and other winter woolies...and yes I may even try to pull off a hat of some description (which I wasn't going to do until I was 50 but I thought I'd give it a go now seeing the current winter fashions are such rubbish I have a better chance getting away with it now).

So I'm essence - this year I'm really trying to embrace the Autumn and the idea that I will be able to wear a Fedora in June.

Or a Skull Cap in the evening.

It still could go either way really.

ANZAC DAY

For those (like me) who slept through the dawn service -
lest we forget our Anzac's.

Quiz Time - Californian Dreamin'

I found another quiz to do - Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Ok so suprise suprise - I'm Orange County - Barbra & I neighbours - can you imagine!

You're rich, pretty, and living a charmed life. (Or you seriously wish you were.) From Disneyland to Laguna Beach, you're all about living the California dream life. Just make sure to marry rich - so you don't have to work for it!

Damn I got it wrong on all accounts!

Actually this quiz is really for Jez (I expect you to post your result JS) - but I would to read others too.

Are you a fellow OC'er or a Buff Baysider or from LA(H) LA(H) Land?

http://www.blogthings.com/wheredoesyourinnercalifornianbelongquiz/

Fabulous Architecture: The Opera House...Part 1

Possibly the Sydney Opera House is one of my favourite pieces of Architecture...ever...
Designed & built in controversy over 3 decades, what was seen as excessive and ugly - has become one of Sydney's Icons- and a symbol for modern Australia.Its been described as sail boats, clouds and even copulating turtles... the joy of expressionist Architecture - it's open to your own interpretation.

Jorn Utzon's design curves are actually based on cutting sections from an sphere - I think he used an orange at one stage to get the proportion of the curves right.
Even the detail of the roof is amazing - almost art deco!And it even continues within it's walls...to be continued...

You Tube:Starship Trooper

Remember 'Hot Gossip' from The Kenny Everett show? Well this was Sarah Brightmans start well before Lloyd Weber, Phantom, the 3 tenors etc - everyone has an 'idol' show before they become famous...doll.

Cyanide & Happiness - Tribute to JT

Is it wrong that I love this one a bit too much?

Site to check out - World Travel Guide

This is a new site I found thanks to Eddy from (http://tummyguts.blogspot.com/) - its all about travel...where you have been, where you want to go, your travel profile and information - the LOT.

You can make up maps of where you have been - ( I have added these on the blog at the bottom of the page) - given my love of maps I adore this feature.

The shaded RED area is where I have been ( only 4% of the world I have visted apparantly - or 9 countries).The GREY area is places I would like to go...

You can plan holidays, or even write up articles for it - and free to join.

Definately worth a look - check it out at http://www.world66.com/

Perth Trip Highlights...(however a bit late)

Okay so after the drama that was Mardi Gras in Sydney and starting a new job then the illness then bloody Easter etc this is the first chance I have had to upload highlights from the Perth trip...The city from Kings Park - the postcard (or money) shotThe beach at the end of Andrew's parents street - yes the sand is that white and the ocean is that aquamarine colour - for real!

The best bit is...no one is bloody there so you can have a beach this beautiful to yourself!

...or share it with mates - Bek & Damo last two days of their holiday was our first two.Needless to say after a long day at the beach...drinks on the patio was well deserved.

My parents had us over for dinner so Andrew could meet my clan...and my favourite nephews and niece...Richard (or Rich)

Elizabeth (or Lizzie...or apparently Witchy-poo)

And Jonathon ( or Jon-Jon).

Although we spent most of the time at the beach (the tan is already faded) mum took us out to lunch in the now very posh redeveloped East Perth (originally an industrial neighbourhood - now hot spot and the 'it' place to be).

Needless to say it was 30 degrees and sunny pretty much the entire time we were there...

Oh Mum's cat - Tabitha.And Andy's Parents - Carol & Tony - who not only were wonderful hosts but made me feel like I was part of the family - that was probably the best highlight of all.

Cyanide and Happiness...for April Fools

Spunk Alert 17: Rugby Lads

Remember Cronulla Sharks player Michael Sullivan?

This Strapping lad was hot on and off the field...Well if you don't remember here's a reminder

Ps - Its about the SPUNKY league boys...NOT the union...

YouTube: GOD WARRIOR

OMG - if you havent seen this be warned - from USA wife swap - this wife and mother of 3 freaks out - and she's a crazy...enjoy

On holidayz.....

On Holiday until next week - Perth is great - family is being lovely!!!! Am confused...

Have decided now not to expect anything from anyone so when something good happens it is all the better!!!

Will be back bloggin soon...too much beach, sun & relaxing to do...Andy is having a ball too

X b

Beware the Ides of March ! JC was right!

So I have been a slack bastard with blog entries for March.

It appears that I'm having a poor relationship with time in March. There doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything of not anything in March.

I have had my best friend over from the UK with his lovely partner and their lovely friends visiting - which was brilliant....I get back from Sydney (Mardi Gras was not for me this year hence why no post on the subject - although the Sydney trip was good) I start a new job and come down with a cold...

Today is the first day (Sunday) I am starting to feel better...I still have one more week of work then next Friday night we fly out to Perth for a holiday. Both our families live there. Andrew's parents are looking forward to meeting me and having us to stay while mine haven't even bothered inviting BOTH of us to dinner....in fact my father who I thought had accepted my homosexuality has now let me know that his homophobic attitude has never gone away after 16 years. Goody.

Now (this is bit which I feel like I'm Julius Caesar being stabbed in the back) why have I been lead to believe that all is right when it obviously was not...and the worst thing is I don't have time for this right now. The sad thing is that I don't want to make time either.

Sydney Sights

Just got back from Sydney - here are some shots of the Emerald City...
Darling Harbour at Lunchtime
I thought I would attempt posts similar to 'Melbourne Moments' shots- but called 'Sydney Sights' instead - Enjoy!