G´day!
At first I would like to apologise for the radio silence the last days but I have an excuse or at least an explanation. I have spend so much time in front of the computer with organizing, researching and applying for new jobs that I just couldn´t be bothered to write the blog. Sorry...
A special welcome to my congregation, Hello Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (maybe) and Andrew, I hope you are well and have a good time.
The second leg of my trip back home (Abu Dhabi - Frankfurt) was not baby infested but it was a smaller plane and I didn´t have as much space as in the plane before. Ah, and of course the customs in Abu Dhabi wanted to know what I transported in the jars in my pockets. "Yeah, I know t looks like weed but it´s a native Australian spice mixture...". I seemed to be convincing as they did believe me. No customs officer did even smell at it. So a little tip if anyone wants to become a drug trafficker: get yourself a jar of native Australian spices, use the spices and re-fill the jar with weed...Good luck! Let me know how it went and don´t sue me if you find yourself in a jail somewhere...
When the plane descended over Frankfurt I saw a color I haven’t seen in quite some time: Green trees, green grass and green vegetables everywhere, real green not this grey-brownish color of Victorian plants. For a moment I thought "mmm, green" but then I saw the other famous German green: my first encounter with the local authorities and German police´s color is not blue like in most countries but green and there they were. Even though I was waiting in the queue for EU-residents the check-in was in snail pace and that was not even for customs! The immigration guys had apparently all the time in the world and seemed even disappointed when they didn´t find anything wrong. Finally I was officially inside Germany and could proceed to the baggage claim.
Here all the advantages of my butt-ugly suitcase became apparent, other travelers had to check if the standard blue/black suitcase is theirs by looking at the labels but I could identify my butt-ugly suitcase instantly!
So finally I could change out of my heavy clothing into something "normal" and got ready for the final customs confrontation regarding my spice mix but Lo! and behold, the German customs didn´t fucking care. Then I met my parents for the first time in two and a half years. Both looked quite like they did when I left. They haven’t aged much and I can only hope that I have inherited those genes. My father is over 70 but still has all his hair so I have hope not to be bald too soon...
Then we tried to find where they have parked the car and that was a little challenge but eventually we succeeded and we drove home. On the German Autobahn at approx 160km/h…and I thought of all my Australian friends who would love to do that…hey, come and visit me while I´m here and wego driving…
That´s enough for today, take care and cya soon
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Friday, 24 April 2009
Journey home Part#2, travelling with erbs, the colour green and smoking in Abu Dhabi
G´day,
After the intermission "bitching about Germany" yesterday I continue the tale of my journey home. A special welcome to Emily, Josara, Jula, Cord (probably) and Andrew.
On Monday morning I woke up with a slight headache (Cherry Rock only had VB in cans if you know what I mean and I´m pretty sure you do...) and the feeling like a prisoner on death row who´s time has finally come.
It was gloomy and misty outside which resembled how I felt inside so I decided to make some coffee and crawl back into bed which was a really good idea. The second attempt to get up was more successful and I embarked on doing the last chores in Australia. I had to say Good-bye to Spunkie and collect my sunnies from my old place, deliver y DVDs to Mel and had to give back some (extremely) over-due boos from Monee Ponds public library.
First part of the task was good, thanks to Ben who placed the house key under the door-mat for me and I got my stuff, said good-by to my beloved ex-cat and left the house key on the kitchen table.
Well, that was not the best of ideas as Ben was not home, as I thought but on some chores of his own and when he came back the key was gone. When he rang me to ask where I´ve put the key and I told him "kitchen table" he wondered how he should get into his own house. The issue has been solved but I want to use this opportunity to apologise again in public. Ben, sorry, sometimes I´m just a little stupid...won´t happen again any time soon...I promise
When I went to the library to give back the over-due books I learned that if books are over-due for a long time the librarian is pissed off and you have to pay quite a decent fee but if books are over-due for a REALLY long time, the librarian is just happy that they found their way back and you don´t have to pay at all...
So I went into the library with 3 book I´ve borrowed there in March 2007 *blush* and which have moved with my from Ascot Vale to Kensington, Brunswick West, Windsor to finally Regent, o of them has spend also a year in Ricks car and I was a little afraid that I would have to pay $100 for each of them. So I approached the librarian and said: "G´day...this might be a new record for late returns...mumble...over two years late...mumble" and I explained that I will leave the country today and just want to return them before I go and that I was sorry that I forgot...well I didn´t tell the exact truth but a kind of half-trueish story. The librarian checked the books and they were already removed from their system. So she confirmed that this was a new record for late returns and told me that she appreciates that I bring them back even after two years. Most people wouldn´t have done that...I had the impression that I made her day...
In the afternoon I had the chance to take some more cute dog-cat action pics:
Willem using the laptop as cat heating
Buddy and Pixel sharing a seat (Buddy is a hell hound)
And dog licks cat action...
Then the packing of the butt-ugly suitcase had to be done and I have put quite a lot of thoughts into the problem how to get around 50kg on a plane if you are only allowed 20kg suitcase and 7kg hand luggage. I solved the issue by wearing quite a lot of the heavy cloths and stuff the pockets of my jacket with the heavy stuff (including 2 glasses of native Australian spice mixes and two hard drives). In the end I had a butt-ugly suitcase weighing 26.5kg and around 9kg of hand luggage and additional 20kg on my person...
Around 7.30pm Josara and me left for Melbourne International airport and the airline didn´t give me too much trouble in checking my stuff in. I only had to move a little more stuff from my hand luggage on my person and then they gave me the thumbs up. 15 minute prior to take off I kissed Josara good-bye for now and went through customs. "You are pushing it a bit, sir?" was the comment from the customs guys. Well 15 min is enough, isn´t it? You don´t have to wait in the queue and when yo finally enter the plane everybody is already seated and just waiting for you. Actually I wasn´t the last one on te plane, so that was all good. When they X-rayed my stuff the two glasses of herbs got customs excited. "Sir, could you please show us what´s in there?" and I took the glasses out and yes, the contents looked a little like weed but then I asked the officers "Well, do you really think I would smggle drugs OUT of Australia? Australia is a country to smuggle drugs IN not out." That got a laugh and the customs officers decided that it´s awesome that Natives Australian herbs get introduced into the wide world. "Good on´yer!"
This is the last picture taken on Astralian soil:
The flight itself was a long one (14 hours) and let me tell you, I fucking hate babys on flights. Two of this little buggers were place in my vicinity, one in the row in front of me the other one two rows behind and they turned what could have been a pleasant night flight into a scream contest. As some parents told me there might be actually baby noises or sounds that are pleasant to the ear but this two carpet-rats screamed in a range that could rival any death metal singer. And they just fuckin didn´t stop. The only way to escape this noise was to overpower it with Slayer on the iPod but even though it prevented me from hearing fucking baby screams all night, it also prevented me from getting any sleep.
Anther experience was the thunderstorm when we reached the Indian subcontinent. For half an hour the plane felt like a roller coaster and I was unleasantly reminded of the first Episode of LOST but fortunately the oly time the plane got actually down was at Abu Dhabi International airport.
Abu Dhabi airport is quite ugly and more or less just an artificial oasis in the middle of nowhere. I had a little over 6 hours there and -my luck- the transit terminal was quite new. So new in fact that only the "important" bits like this
decadent, nobel shops and this 
were finished. Please note that toilet and prayer rooms seem to have about the same importance. So the message is maybe praying is important as pissing or is it religion = shit? For you to decide...
The unimportant bits were unfinished, about 100 of this nice free internet machines were placed all over the teminal:
Fuckin hell. At least they had a smoker "room"
With some strange signs, I havn´t figured out what this should have said to me...
As I have to go now to visit of friends of mine, I´ll continue with the rest tomorrow. Have fun and take care
After the intermission "bitching about Germany" yesterday I continue the tale of my journey home. A special welcome to Emily, Josara, Jula, Cord (probably) and Andrew.
On Monday morning I woke up with a slight headache (Cherry Rock only had VB in cans if you know what I mean and I´m pretty sure you do...) and the feeling like a prisoner on death row who´s time has finally come.
It was gloomy and misty outside which resembled how I felt inside so I decided to make some coffee and crawl back into bed which was a really good idea. The second attempt to get up was more successful and I embarked on doing the last chores in Australia. I had to say Good-bye to Spunkie and collect my sunnies from my old place, deliver y DVDs to Mel and had to give back some (extremely) over-due boos from Monee Ponds public library.
First part of the task was good, thanks to Ben who placed the house key under the door-mat for me and I got my stuff, said good-by to my beloved ex-cat and left the house key on the kitchen table.
Well, that was not the best of ideas as Ben was not home, as I thought but on some chores of his own and when he came back the key was gone. When he rang me to ask where I´ve put the key and I told him "kitchen table" he wondered how he should get into his own house. The issue has been solved but I want to use this opportunity to apologise again in public. Ben, sorry, sometimes I´m just a little stupid...won´t happen again any time soon...I promise
When I went to the library to give back the over-due books I learned that if books are over-due for a long time the librarian is pissed off and you have to pay quite a decent fee but if books are over-due for a REALLY long time, the librarian is just happy that they found their way back and you don´t have to pay at all...
So I went into the library with 3 book I´ve borrowed there in March 2007 *blush* and which have moved with my from Ascot Vale to Kensington, Brunswick West, Windsor to finally Regent, o of them has spend also a year in Ricks car and I was a little afraid that I would have to pay $100 for each of them. So I approached the librarian and said: "G´day...this might be a new record for late returns...mumble...over two years late...mumble" and I explained that I will leave the country today and just want to return them before I go and that I was sorry that I forgot...well I didn´t tell the exact truth but a kind of half-trueish story. The librarian checked the books and they were already removed from their system. So she confirmed that this was a new record for late returns and told me that she appreciates that I bring them back even after two years. Most people wouldn´t have done that...I had the impression that I made her day...
In the afternoon I had the chance to take some more cute dog-cat action pics:
Willem using the laptop as cat heating Buddy and Pixel sharing a seat (Buddy is a hell hound)And dog licks cat action...Then the packing of the butt-ugly suitcase had to be done and I have put quite a lot of thoughts into the problem how to get around 50kg on a plane if you are only allowed 20kg suitcase and 7kg hand luggage. I solved the issue by wearing quite a lot of the heavy cloths and stuff the pockets of my jacket with the heavy stuff (including 2 glasses of native Australian spice mixes and two hard drives). In the end I had a butt-ugly suitcase weighing 26.5kg and around 9kg of hand luggage and additional 20kg on my person...
Around 7.30pm Josara and me left for Melbourne International airport and the airline didn´t give me too much trouble in checking my stuff in. I only had to move a little more stuff from my hand luggage on my person and then they gave me the thumbs up. 15 minute prior to take off I kissed Josara good-bye for now and went through customs. "You are pushing it a bit, sir?" was the comment from the customs guys. Well 15 min is enough, isn´t it? You don´t have to wait in the queue and when yo finally enter the plane everybody is already seated and just waiting for you. Actually I wasn´t the last one on te plane, so that was all good. When they X-rayed my stuff the two glasses of herbs got customs excited. "Sir, could you please show us what´s in there?" and I took the glasses out and yes, the contents looked a little like weed but then I asked the officers "Well, do you really think I would smggle drugs OUT of Australia? Australia is a country to smuggle drugs IN not out." That got a laugh and the customs officers decided that it´s awesome that Natives Australian herbs get introduced into the wide world. "Good on´yer!"
This is the last picture taken on Astralian soil:
The flight itself was a long one (14 hours) and let me tell you, I fucking hate babys on flights. Two of this little buggers were place in my vicinity, one in the row in front of me the other one two rows behind and they turned what could have been a pleasant night flight into a scream contest. As some parents told me there might be actually baby noises or sounds that are pleasant to the ear but this two carpet-rats screamed in a range that could rival any death metal singer. And they just fuckin didn´t stop. The only way to escape this noise was to overpower it with Slayer on the iPod but even though it prevented me from hearing fucking baby screams all night, it also prevented me from getting any sleep.
Anther experience was the thunderstorm when we reached the Indian subcontinent. For half an hour the plane felt like a roller coaster and I was unleasantly reminded of the first Episode of LOST but fortunately the oly time the plane got actually down was at Abu Dhabi International airport.
Abu Dhabi airport is quite ugly and more or less just an artificial oasis in the middle of nowhere. I had a little over 6 hours there and -my luck- the transit terminal was quite new. So new in fact that only the "important" bits like this
decadent, nobel shops and this were finished. Please note that toilet and prayer rooms seem to have about the same importance. So the message is maybe praying is important as pissing or is it religion = shit? For you to decide...
The unimportant bits were unfinished, about 100 of this nice free internet machines were placed all over the teminal:
Fuckin hell. At least they had a smoker "room" With some strange signs, I havn´t figured out what this should have said to me...
As I have to go now to visit of friends of mine, I´ll continue with the rest tomorrow. Have fun and take care
Intermission: fuckin´bureaucracy, fuckin´banks and fuckin´energy supply
G´day,
And the special welcome to Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (perhaps) and Andrew.
I´m already fed up with Germany. Yesterday I have phoned with the Federal Employment Office and the Social Welfare Office regarding my legal duties in order to get myself registered in timely and orderly fashion (like a true German). They told me that -even though- I wouldn´t get money from the employment office I would need to register there in person in order to get a form which states that I won´t get any money from them to be able to get the welfare money. So far so good but my hometown consists of two towns that are approx 5km apart so I repaired my dad´s push bike yesterday and got up early this morning.
First blow was that the fucking alarm clock went off 2,5 hours early so I was up at 4.30am instead of 7am but so what? I enjoyed quite a lot of coffee as my parents have this awesome sophisticated coffee machine and enjoyed the sunrise. Then I went on the bike and pedalled 7km to the other part of town. And then I was -again the true German- 10 minutes early before they even opened. I went in thee and explained that I´m here to get registered and get the form that I won´t get any money from them. But the fuckers told me that they are not responsible for that issue, I would just need to register with the welfare. I explained again that several Federal offices explained that I have to register there but they told me that this is bullshit and I only have to register with the welfare. I pedalled 7 km back and before I had breakfast I have already biked 14kms for freaking nothing!
The welfare office took also some time and in the end they provided me with approx 50 different form to fill out...fucking hell...now I know what to do the next days...
After I realised that I can´t plug my Australian devices into German power plugs I tried to get an adapter Aus-Eur but learned that there are none. In Melbourne you can get Eur-Aus adapters in every shop but Germany seems to be a little different...
The asshole in the shop I was told me smugly that "Usually people buy adaptors before they travel". Up yours, cunt! Eventually I fond the ONLY online shop in Germany that sells Aus-Eur adapters and ordered one...should be here tomorrow.
The next blow was my unsuccessful attempt to change my AUS$ into EURO. I went to 3 banks and they only change foreign currencies if you have an account with them. The pox on the banks!
Ok bitched enough for today...maybe I´ll continue my original blog entry from yesterday this night, maybe not. Have a great day and cya
And the special welcome to Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (perhaps) and Andrew.
I´m already fed up with Germany. Yesterday I have phoned with the Federal Employment Office and the Social Welfare Office regarding my legal duties in order to get myself registered in timely and orderly fashion (like a true German). They told me that -even though- I wouldn´t get money from the employment office I would need to register there in person in order to get a form which states that I won´t get any money from them to be able to get the welfare money. So far so good but my hometown consists of two towns that are approx 5km apart so I repaired my dad´s push bike yesterday and got up early this morning.
First blow was that the fucking alarm clock went off 2,5 hours early so I was up at 4.30am instead of 7am but so what? I enjoyed quite a lot of coffee as my parents have this awesome sophisticated coffee machine and enjoyed the sunrise. Then I went on the bike and pedalled 7km to the other part of town. And then I was -again the true German- 10 minutes early before they even opened. I went in thee and explained that I´m here to get registered and get the form that I won´t get any money from them. But the fuckers told me that they are not responsible for that issue, I would just need to register with the welfare. I explained again that several Federal offices explained that I have to register there but they told me that this is bullshit and I only have to register with the welfare. I pedalled 7 km back and before I had breakfast I have already biked 14kms for freaking nothing!
The welfare office took also some time and in the end they provided me with approx 50 different form to fill out...fucking hell...now I know what to do the next days...
After I realised that I can´t plug my Australian devices into German power plugs I tried to get an adapter Aus-Eur but learned that there are none. In Melbourne you can get Eur-Aus adapters in every shop but Germany seems to be a little different...
The asshole in the shop I was told me smugly that "Usually people buy adaptors before they travel". Up yours, cunt! Eventually I fond the ONLY online shop in Germany that sells Aus-Eur adapters and ordered one...should be here tomorrow.
The next blow was my unsuccessful attempt to change my AUS$ into EURO. I went to 3 banks and they only change foreign currencies if you have an account with them. The pox on the banks!
Ok bitched enough for today...maybe I´ll continue my original blog entry from yesterday this night, maybe not. Have a great day and cya
Thursday, 23 April 2009
My first true love...
G´day,
Update as I announced it already...my first true love and me are re-united:
The last days in Australia, Cherry Rock 2009 and fun with customs (Part1)
G´day,
This is the first blog entry from good ole Europe. A special welcome to my congregation and apologies that I have neglected you over the last days but I had better things to do than spending my time writing the blog. So Hi! Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (maybe) and Andrew.
Short report on last week, I have moved out of my old flat on Thuesday and got my last stuff out on Wednesday. This is a pic of me and my old flat-mate Ben. Ben was ne of the best flat-mates I ever had and I use the occasion to say again "Thank you for everything mate!".
I used the next days to organise stuff and spend as much time as possible with the persons I like most. And I also took some pictures of typical Melbournian signs. I like this one from a park next to my old house. By the way, the park is approx. 100m by 150m but somehow the council felt it necessary to put up some of this signs to prevent people from playing guerrilla golf...
And I also have payed Melbournes best toilet a visit...
And Friday was one of the best days in my life. I will never forget that day! Was just fucking awesome but I didn´t take any photos. Saturday was my Farewell/Birthday party and I was surprised who showed up and who didn´t. And I was really happy that Rick and Iris were there as I havn´t heard from them for quite a long time. Thanks that you´ve been there!
And then of course Peter Pan Speedrock. They are one of my favorite bands of all times and they just rocked ass...
This is the first blog entry from good ole Europe. A special welcome to my congregation and apologies that I have neglected you over the last days but I had better things to do than spending my time writing the blog. So Hi! Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (maybe) and Andrew.
Short report on last week, I have moved out of my old flat on Thuesday and got my last stuff out on Wednesday. This is a pic of me and my old flat-mate Ben. Ben was ne of the best flat-mates I ever had and I use the occasion to say again "Thank you for everything mate!".
I used the next days to organise stuff and spend as much time as possible with the persons I like most. And I also took some pictures of typical Melbournian signs. I like this one from a park next to my old house. By the way, the park is approx. 100m by 150m but somehow the council felt it necessary to put up some of this signs to prevent people from playing guerrilla golf...And I also have payed Melbournes best toilet a visit... Best view while pissing...
And Friday was one of the best days in my life. I will never forget that day! Was just fucking awesome but I didn´t take any photos. Saturday was my Farewell/Birthday party and I was surprised who showed up and who didn´t. And I was really happy that Rick and Iris were there as I havn´t heard from them for quite a long time. Thanks that you´ve been there!
Bart was only mildly surprised to see Jimmy Snuff and me (in full uniform)...
The line-up was quite nice and I can recomment Six Ft Hick. Fuckin awesome band and a great show
And then of course Peter Pan Speedrock. They are one of my favorite bands of all times and they just rocked ass... 
And after the concert we spend a little time in Cherry and at 11pm I was already fast asleep to wake up next day to one of the strangest birthdays of my life.
Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow. Have fun and take care...
Friday, 17 April 2009
The real life is just too busy right now...
G'day,
And a special Welcome to my congregation, Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (if that's you) ad Andrew. Just a real short update: I sold my comp and delivered my books to Katy. Now I only have to get my DVDs to Mel and I'm sorted. I still think I have too many cloths but I might dress up like a Michellin man for te flight. I will sweat like hell but so what? Doesn;t bother me that much and well my flight neighbr will just have to live with it...
I will say farewell will style. On Sunday 19th of April (which is my last complete day here) I am going to attend Cherry Rock 2009 and will surprise my friends from Peter Pan Speedrock who I saw last time a month before I left Germany to move to Melbourne and I recall that we said Good-bye with the words "Next time we'll meet in Australia...". Haha, and that on my last day, if that ain't fate at work.
Ok, I'll keep you updated when I have the time and please stop complaining else I won't log in to Facebook anymore...
And a special Welcome to my congregation, Emily, Josara, Julia, Cord (if that's you) ad Andrew. Just a real short update: I sold my comp and delivered my books to Katy. Now I only have to get my DVDs to Mel and I'm sorted. I still think I have too many cloths but I might dress up like a Michellin man for te flight. I will sweat like hell but so what? Doesn;t bother me that much and well my flight neighbr will just have to live with it...
I will say farewell will style. On Sunday 19th of April (which is my last complete day here) I am going to attend Cherry Rock 2009 and will surprise my friends from Peter Pan Speedrock who I saw last time a month before I left Germany to move to Melbourne and I recall that we said Good-bye with the words "Next time we'll meet in Australia...". Haha, and that on my last day, if that ain't fate at work.
Ok, I'll keep you updated when I have the time and please stop complaining else I won't log in to Facebook anymore...
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Flea bombing, vacating my room and lots of computer stress
G'day,
And Hi! to my congregation, Emili, Josara, Julia, Cord (perhaps) and Andrew. Today was pure stress, I had to pack all my stuff and get my room clear as my successor Rob has to leave his former room today and needed to get his stuff in. Luckily I don't have that much stuff but it was still a challenge. The we had to re-locate the cats and us for 2 hours as we have flea-bombed the house because Toby (and maybe Spunkie) have cat fleas.
I used the time and went external hard drive shopping as need disc-space for my files and burning the whole shit on dvd would simply take too much time. But as always it's not just simple plug-and-play with Microsoft the damn computer didn't recognise the harddrive and I had to waste at least 1,5 hours to get the whole shit working. Fucking hell! And now I'm copying files like a madman as my comp get's picked up tomorrow and I'll deliver my books and DVDs tomorrow and bring my stuff over to my second disciple who has kindly offered to let me stay for the last days.
Ok, so much for now, more tomorrow, cya and take care
And Hi! to my congregation, Emili, Josara, Julia, Cord (perhaps) and Andrew. Today was pure stress, I had to pack all my stuff and get my room clear as my successor Rob has to leave his former room today and needed to get his stuff in. Luckily I don't have that much stuff but it was still a challenge. The we had to re-locate the cats and us for 2 hours as we have flea-bombed the house because Toby (and maybe Spunkie) have cat fleas.
I used the time and went external hard drive shopping as need disc-space for my files and burning the whole shit on dvd would simply take too much time. But as always it's not just simple plug-and-play with Microsoft the damn computer didn't recognise the harddrive and I had to waste at least 1,5 hours to get the whole shit working. Fucking hell! And now I'm copying files like a madman as my comp get's picked up tomorrow and I'll deliver my books and DVDs tomorrow and bring my stuff over to my second disciple who has kindly offered to let me stay for the last days.
Ok, so much for now, more tomorrow, cya and take care
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