Pictures!

Mia making pavlova to complete aussie dinner of prawns, meatpie and pavlova.




Airport, Sydney...




Malcolm in London - first day (tropical weather)




Download... "all good" stage on Friday...




And "will this shite never end" stage on Sunday.




Results of drinking 17 pints will vary, beware. Not for everyone, we have been training for years and are professionals, do not try this at home.









Dingle, southwest Ireland




SWEDEN, and our house!

Midsommarafton

Arrived in Sweden yesterday! Is so good to be here, finally. Family has built mini-cottage (instead of guestroom in house) for us!
Is huge holiday today. Today and new years eve all swedes get smashed. Even those that do not drink. Tradition is to dance around huge cross dressed in flowers and leaves (midsommarstång) and sing songs - though contrary to what tourists often think - that someone died and we have raised cross and are worshipping in memory of the dead, this has nothing to do with God at all; but is merely an excuse to drink. Also people usually set long tables outdoors and eat potatoes and pickled herrings. Unfortunately is bucketing down rain, so not sure what plan is. Eat indoors?

Whatever happened to the fish?

Galway - backpackers. In room is myself, Craig and 6 absolutely bloody huge and hairy men in mid-twenties that are, unfortunately for us, on binge-drinking trip of lifetime. First night we missed out on all the fun as slept at Nolita's parents house - but gathered upon arrival that roomies might have had a biggie... Bottles, clothes and cigarette ash present all over room, including my bed (where surprisingly also found someones one-day contacts which threw on floor in fit of rage). Managed to sort out beds and be on our way for the day. Had witnessed scary men get head start on drinking in morning, and knew they were about to spend rest of day and night at pub. We got back to go to bed (as tired and hungover) around 9pm - only to realise that men had stopped by hostel in between pubs, to deposit two goldfish in bathroom sink. FISH. SWIMMING. IN. SINK.

No other room available, and fish alive in sink. Craig thought scary dudes might DRINK the fish upon return later at night. Do not know that this was intention, they did not do it anyway - fish still alive and well when we departed in morning. This leads to my question; Whatever happened to the fish?

Dingle, Kilkenny back to Dublin

Might elaborate further at some later stage when in Sweden, and computer settings are not all in russian... But just for an update; rented car. Travelled out of Galway south to Dingle, then east to Kilkenny and back to Dublin today - flying out to Sweden tomorrow - HURRAH!! Can't wait to eat the food. Seeing family and friends will also be nice.
But have long list of food that want, including yogurt, fil, bread, chocolate, lollies, coffee, and so on.

Kilkenny was really good, went out to pub at night and everyone was singing and reading poems; all so happy and not cold and suspicious of others as people would be at pub in Sweden. There really is a great pride within people here to be Irish, at the same time a real sadness, with everyone remembering the famine like was yesterday.

The best part was still seeing Nolita in Galway and going out for 17 pints. Had a look at photos the other night - we look SO pissed. Pictures to come of course.

Whole story of CAR is, well, long. Bloody salesman at Budget in Galway tried to rip us off, but we got much cheaper price on internet (73 for 3 days instead to 76 per day!) and his explanation was "ah well you know... the INTERNET..." Hmm. We know now. Then he proceeded to say that having an automatic would be 50 euros per day "for the upgrade," so we went with the manual... Suffice to say I am very grateful at this moment to still be here; able to complain about the weather when there are far worse things indeed.

Galway

Galway is great, more soul than felt Dublin had. Spent great night last night at pub with Nolita and Paulie, was good to catch up - Nolita is very happy. Probably getting car later, to drive around Ireland for a few days. Flying out of Dublin on Thursday.

Summer??

Tired of being cold and wet. Cannot believe what passes for summer around these parts of world. Have only got one pair of shoes (wet), so must urgently get new ones - problem is to fit everything into backpack.
Now how did we get selves into this situation? ;)

State of Origin - Dublin

No they lost. Had two jugs of beer and the greasiest food in history at aussie pub called Wool Shed in Dublin, so all very good, apart from loss.

Hiya Dr Nick, cool that you are following our adventures! Craig was bit more low key than previous year according to rest of crew (not because of me, hope) but yes, he did join them for drinks on the final night - riot night... aaahahaha... Well. Don't know how crazy things got over at camp OZ - as I was in own tent with fever-hallucinations, and fearing for own life as mad children considering burning tent and so on.

Am OK now tho. Incredible the luxury of being able to have shower at whim, and not having to search for recycling for an hour in order to buy tea! :)

Really tho. Festivals are great idea, and should not be negative. Going to another one soon!

xx

Dublin!

Just arrived in Dublin, but first thing's first - Download festival in Donington. Had always deep down suspected that festivals were in fact a bad idea to begin with - and this one had its moments... But will not be bitter and remember bad stuff (will just brush on briefly) but rather shall remember the good bits. Children with tents near us were absolutely mad. On final night kept shouting "Hurrah - riot night" and similar. Was sure at one point the children were trying to set our tent on fire. They did not sleep all week. If did, they woke again after 2-3 hours and bravely resumed drinking, whilst discussing which items they had not spewed on overnight. Did this used to be me?

Entire crowd of approximately 70.000 pax all went mad on the final day, throwing bottles, breaking toilets and so on. Really felt at that point like was not a dignified situation to be in at current age, and would rather stay at five-star resort in Greek islands. But oh well. Saw some bands and drank some beer as well, which was good. Let's see... Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson (!!!), Korn, Evanescence and Papa Roach were some favourites. Manson was especially super.

Ran out of money with two days to go, and also VISA cards decided not to work. So was not beneath self to scurry through thick crowds looking for empty beer cups in order to recycle - you earn lots doing that, ended up funding beer for one whole day and food for the final day. Ha.

Due to extreme lack of personal hygiene (shining examples; no toilet paper provided at all, very little running water and no soap) and very unhealthy food, have now got cold. Though after night of luxury at the Travelodge outside Donington (own shower!) am now better already.

Staying at hostel in central Dublin, have already ventured to pub for first Irish Guinness (good for cold surely)- and hostel seems really nice, especially in comparison with camping-situation of previous week.

Will be here for a few days, then heading to Galway for the weekend. Then some touring through Ireland on way back to Dublin to fly out in about 10 days. Hope can update before then.

Will just post some pictures when get home to Sweden.

London

Airplane food delicious as usual; other people on plane annoying and in the way, as usual. Overall went very well, and arrived in London (for first time) at 6am in morning yesterday - Sunday. Was sad leaving everyone is Sydney, but excited now to be here. Megan sent along some fluffy animals, pictures later.

Malcolm very nice and have moved in with a friend for a few days just so we can have his flat to ourselves! Really height of generosity. Sunday was brilliant, weather hot and sunny - got impression London was Mediterranean city in manner of Barcelona where sun always shines, birds sing late at night and early in morning and everyone sits around in parks (half naked) and drinks beer from the pub, bottles of vodka etcetera. Pictures later... Don't know why but had thought that London would be boring. Seems anything but! Lovely markets seem to be everywhere, and people seem lovely so far. Only thing not sure of is tube-system, after taking bloody three hours to get from airport to city. But must give it more time.

Also just had little look in Tesco and Salisbury - and must just say prices seem very good and much like Sydney or Stockholm, so really was no need for certain people to be so negative and imply that we would never eat again. Hmm. Also selection of beers impeccable, and reasonably priced.

Anyway, only here til Wednesday, the heading to Download which is in Donnington. Getting bus there. Festival lasting over weekend, the off to Dublin.

The day has come!

Leaving for airport in around an hour and a half. Almost done with packing, and also just managed to finally purchase some travel insurance! Ha ha! Is so not necessary to be on top of every little detail months ahead, buying it today worked just fine.

Craig's parents here, had aussie meal yesterday which was prawn cocktail, meatpie decorated with map of Oz and kangaroos, as well as pavlova. Did not even get too pissed, as had huge night (bit unplanned actually) on Thursday. But good, because free of hangover today.

Good week. Think might be heaps of people at airport. Nadia, Megan, Brodie etcetera.

Hate airport though. Maybe will take some valium, have it in bag just in case.