Australian Grand Prix: Race Day

So our first live Grand Prix was here and man it was bloody hot - must of been near 40°C. After three full days of racing action, we decided to skip the support events and wander along to Albert Park just before the F1 cars were coming out, partly due to the heat, but mainly because we intended staying to watch the KISS concert after the race and didn't fancy another all-day session.

No doubt the racing fans watched it on the telly (and the non-racing fans couldn't give a monkey's) so I won't give a commentary on the Grand Prix itself, but it was an exciting enough race despite Lewis Hamilton dominating all the way.

After wandering with the crowds along the track, we stopped to see KISS rock out. Unfortunately only one beer tent was opened and the queue was massive, so after finishing our first round we still weren't pished enough to truly appreciate the old grandpas antics and we made an early exit.

All in, it was a great event over the four days and the F1 bug must have caught, because I've since managed to stay awake during all of the Malaysian GP.

Australian Grand Prix: Days 1 - 3

For the past few days we have been at our first, and possibly Melbourne's second last, Grand Prix. Thursday's session was in sweltering 39° heat; at one point Kathleen thought she was going to pass out, while I had to self-administer can after can of icy cold beer just to stay hydrated.

In preparation for dual-nationality, I proudly sported my new Red Bull Racing cap to fly the colours for both DC of Scotland and Aussie-boy Mark Webber. It was pretty quiet on Thursday, probably because there was no F1 action (although I did see one of the BMW Sauber cars take on a production Ferrari and V8 Supercar in a handicapped race... it came in last!). Still, we did see the first race of the Carrera Cup, which was pretty cool, and the big Aussie V8s practice racing.

Friday had much more of a buzz, with the Grandstands packed for the first F1 practice session. We had great seats in the main Grandstand (Fangio) getting us up close to the action. It wasn't until Saturday's F1 qualifying session that I finally "got" Formula 1. After all the years slagging off motorsports in general, it's a bit of a climb down, but I will admit to being pretty excited despite it not even being a race format. I don't think I will ever be as fanatic as Del, James and Ann (maybe when I finally get my license!) but I am looking forward to the big race tomorrow.

 

Burn's Night

We had a very drunken time round at my mate Neil's hoose for a belated Burn's Supper. I worked with Neil at RBS on a few projects and it's great to have him in town for a while as he and his girlfriend Rhianon work their way round the world.

I had dropped off the haggis the day before and it was cooking nicely as Kath and I arrived, wine and whisky in hand. Another ex-RBSer, Ewan was there already with his wife, wrapped about a can of Tennant's Lager no less. We joined in with a Boag's.

Neil toasted the haggis with the Selkirk Grace, but nobody wanted to attempt the Ode to a Haggis... we certainly didn't know more than the first few lines, but we'll practice for next year. The cranachan for pudding must have given me the taste for whisky, because we cracked open the bottle and I took a wee dram. It's not a drink I usually go for, but seeing as it was Burn's night I thought I'd have a wee one. Or two. Or six. We managed to destroy most of Neil's bottle and all but a tiny bit of mine and everyone was suitably merry as 3:00am rolled about. I knew it was time to go when I went to the toilet and found Kath sleeping on the floor - apparently it was nice and cool.

A good night had by all, and a stinking hangover had by me all the next day.

Update from Melbourne

A big G'day to everyone from our new home here in Australia!

Before I update you on our news, I'll apologise for not letting you know before now that we are not, in fact, dead. We've had a bit of a mad time getting everything sorted, and I've let communication slip.

 

We arrived here in Melbourne on the 22nd of December during a massive downpour. That wisnae in the bloody brochure but, given that they are in the grip of a ten-year drought, I can forgive a bit of rain.

We've moved between hotels and hostels a few times since arriving, and every time has been a pain. After our four-month long road trip we really needed to get settled, and the good news is that we have finally got a flat. The rental market over here is a nightmare for tenants at the minute and the search for a property has been very frustrating. Once we learned the tricks we managed to get a twelve-month lease on a great apartment, just a short walk from the beach. No pool unfortunately, but it will do for the time being.

I have resumed my contract with Hilton which, despite some teething troubles with working remotely, is going OK. Kathleen is busy networking and gathering contacts.

It's not all been work though, and we are loving being back in Melbourne and have even been out on the VB once or twice to meet up with some old friends. We spent Christmas with Clair (Kathleen's Aussie pal she met in Canada); had a good old fashioned Scottish pissup with Neil (who I used to work with in RBS) and his missus, Rhianon; met up with our Aussie truck buddies Shaun and Belinda; and went on a late night beer and vodka bender with Clair and her boyfriend Mark. Despite our new pals, we are both missing everyone terribly. It's another reason we haven't been in touch yet - as soon as the trip was over and we landed in Australia the homesickness set in with a vengeance. Once we get a bit more settled, we will be on the phone, webcam, facebook, messenger and e-mail more than we ever were back home.

Just so you know, this blog will be the main place for our updates, photies will probably be on faceboook, and Kathleen is getting her own exciting blog at http://thenippysweetie.blogspot.com. Nothing on it at the minute, so don't go rushing there just yet.

 

We'll be in touch soon!
Your favourite Aussie bawbags, Thomas & Kathleen.

Resurrection

The blog is alive!

But not for long... While we are skiving en route to Australia, we'll be using a new site to keep you up to date with our traveling tales, location and general mental health. GetJealous.com/GingerTommy is the site and it's a lot easier for us to update and post pictures to while on the road, which hopefully translates to more frequent postings. Best of all, it has an Indiana Jones stylee map that shows our current location and forward route and a message board for you to keep in touch with us.

I'll most likely merge that site with this one at some point after we land in Oz, and this one will have a few more entries before we leave (I promise). In fact, I have completed the West Highland Way trip notes for your reading pleasure - lucky youse!

WHW - Day 9: Drymen to Milngavie (12 miles)

We woke feeling worse for wear on this, our last day on the West Highland Way. Despite the rest, my shins were still agony and Kathleen's blisters weren't looking too pretty. We patched them up as best as we could and prepared for the off. It was at this point that James delivered an absolutely cracking bit of satire on our wigwam: he comes into the hut and tells us that "a six-foot chicken is outside and says he wants his hoose back!". Class!

We skipped breakfast as we wanted an early start, so James and Susan drove us back towards Drymen where we left the path the day before to ensure we walked every mile of the Way. After saying our goodbyes, we set off feeling hungry, tired and sore and not really in the same cheery spirit as when we started this trip so many days previously. Still, we only had to get through the day and beer, baths and bed would be our reward.

We hobbled on, and almost immediately started fantasising about breakfast. Unfortunately, it being Easter Monday, all the wee shops and cafes we passed were shut. It was approaching noon and the combination of pain, tiredness and hunger was making us a bit grumpy. We just put our heads down and got on with it, as neither of was in the mood for anything else. We eventually found our oasis at the Beech Tree Inn in Drumgoyne. After eating we came up with an cunning plan to get through the remaining miles - self medication with beer and painkillers. Despite being only just lunchtime, we washed down a few ibuprofen with a couple of pints of Stella and waited for the blessed numbness to come. It seemed to do the trick so we hauled on the packs and were off, much restored.

This last stage couldn't be more different from the morning's walking. We felt much better and enjoyed the easy walking and chatting with other walkers who were just starting their treks up to Fort William. We were impressed when we spotted huge buzzards circling above at exactly the spot where the map in our guide book had a drawing of buzzards. Once we had passed through Mugdock Country Park we knew we were on the home straight. We had great fun reminiscing about the previous days and remembering the wrong turns, dramatic scenery, booze-ups, hangovers and laughs along the Way.

We got into Milngavie and posed by the obelisk for the obligatory victory photo, although for most people this is the starting point. A guy working in a nearby cafe commented that we were a bit late starting the walk and Kathleen took great pleasure in telling him that we were, in fact, finished and heading home! We strolled over to the train stop, noticed the train in the station ready to go and used our last bit of energy to run and made it on with seconds to spare.


West Highland Way... done!

WHW - Day 8: Rowardennan to Drymen (15 miles)

James and Susan declined our invitation to join us on the next stage of our walk, opting instead to drive to Drymen. The good news was that they would ferry our bags while we trotted on behind. We made arrangements to meet in Balmaha for lunch and Kath and I headed off. The section of the loch between Rowardennan and Balmaha is absolutely chocka, due to road access so close to the water and it being a nice Easter Sunday, so it felt increasingly like we were heading towards civilization and the end of the Way as we marched on the road dodging walkers, jetskiers, caravans and campers all out to enjoy their day.

As we approached Balmaha, Kathleen started developing blisters, and I got agonising shin splints. This wasn't good as we still had miles to go to Drymen after lunch, and that included a walk over the top of Conic Hill just outside Balmaha. We decided that a good long lunch stop might be the best remedy, so we met up with James and Susan and went to the local watering hole for beer and food. They had already been up Conic Hill earlier in the day, and we even seen pictures of James at the top to prove it. From their accounts it wouldn't be too difficult, but with our various ailments I wasn't looking forward to it.

After lunch we headed off and made slow progress. Despite my shin splints getting worse, we went for the optional diversion to the summit of the hill. It was definitely worth it, as the view across Loch Lomond was stunning. What followed was a bit of a slow trudge as blisters and shin splints reduced our enjoyment of the next stage of the walk.

We traipsed into Drymen and headed to the pre-arranged meeting point pub. James and Susan were nowhere to be seen, and after a quick call we discovered that they were in the swankier Winnock Hotel bar, as the other pub was a bit too skanky for their tastes. We all agreed that the pub grub on offer in the hotel was beneath us as well. So, despite me and Kathleen looking like tramps, we went to the hotel restaurant for a slap-up meal and some good wine. Perfect! Dinner was a nice, unrushed affair and after the last drop of wine was drunk we got a taxi to our lodgings for the night.

We had a "wigwam" booked at Easter Drumquhassle Farm and I must admit to being a bit underwhelmed by the accomodations. It was basically just a hut, with bench-style seating around a central table that converted into beds by laying the back boards around the table. After literally making our beds, I took a look a Kathleen's blisters. The plasters on them where looking a bit filthy, so we decided to take them off and let the blisters dry out overnight. Peeling the plasters slowly was causing Kath too much pain, so I convinced her to let me yank it off in a waney. This turned out to be a very bad move, as a massive chunk of skin came off and the raw, exposed wound started to ooze blood and wouldn't stop. We tried to cover the blisters with "liquid skin" stuff and eventually got the bleeding to stop. After all this stress we all just crashed out, while Kathleen cried herself to sleep.