26/02/07

SITE UPDATE
I have added some of the pictures I've taken since arriving in Australia to the Photography section of the site. So far I have added pictures from Sydney, Byron Bay and Manly.

Cool as has now been viewed by over 11,100 people.

20/02/07

SITE UPDATE
I have added an extra 20 or so caricatures of friends to the illustration section of the site.

LIVE MUSIC
Nirvana's performance at Reading Festival in 1992 has been named the band's greatest moment by fans today, by a poll conducted on NME.COM. I was fortunate enough to be there and witness it first hand. I have put a link to a streaming movie of Nirvana's performance of Smells Like Teen Spirit below, as well as two more of my favourite gigs from last year.

Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Live at Reading Festival '92

Foo Fighters
Best Of You: Live at Hyde Park '06

Brian Jonestown Massacre
Nevertheless: Live at The Zodiac, Oxford '06

06/02/07

SITE UPDATE
I seem to be constantly tweaking my site these days. I'm almost happy with it but there's always more to do. It's a lot harder to get things finished now that I have a surf board and a beach on my doorstep.

VISIT
Nichola, my girlfriend from England, came over to visit on 20/01/07 for two weeks. She is hoping to get a design job over here in Oz when she comes back in April.

Link to a pdf of Nichola's portfolio: Nichola

The day Nichola arrived we went her friend Nicky's 'P' themed costume party (as in the letter P, not the other kind of pee, before you start getting ideas). I put on my best Pirate outfit and Nichola went dressed as a police woman. There were some good efforts there, a shame I didn't take more photos. Whilst Nichola was here she caught up with a load of friends over here we also saw Muse play at Horden Pavilion. A great gig, they were over here to play the Big Day Out, which sold out before I arrived in Oz unfortunately.

Nichola is now back at work in Blighty, I can't say that I envy her. Although I am about to start my job search. My website and CV (resume as they call it over here) are up to date, so I have no excuses now.

Link to a pdf of my Resume: Allister

18/01/07

SITE UPDATE
I have updated my Design Portfolio adding some streaming movie samples of DVD content to the multimedia section. I have added pictures from my surprise leaving party to the Photography section of the site in: England: Al's leaving party.

I have lots of pictures to add to the site from my time in Australia. My friend Will, from Thame, who I met up with in Sydney, has been adding lots of pictures to his site. Check it out here: Willard

Cool as has now been viewed by over 10,900 people.

BEYOND EDEN
Despite the extended holiday I have been more than happy to afford myself since arriving in Australia, I have managed to complete some freelance work. Putting the finishing touches to the website for Beyond Eden. Award winning, London based landscape gardeners, click here to visit: Beyond Eden

LIFE IN MANLY
I moved into my own little studio apartment in Manly on the 10th of January. It felt a bit strange to be leaving Darrell and Gemma's place in Rose Bay as they had made me feel very welcome.

I'm 2 minutes walk from the beach and 5 mins from the Wharf. I've bought myself a surfboard now, a 7ft 6" Mini Mal, so I plan on spending a lot more time in the water.

I played my first game of football in 3 years last week with my friend Dan and some guys from his hostel. Hard work. My legs did not appreciate the exercise.

I went to a BBQ at Mark's place in Curl Curl on Sunday. Mark is a friend of my old boss Ian at Chepping Media, he moved out here 10 months ago with his girlfriend and kids. I had a good time at the BBQ, much food and drink was consumed, although I got eaten alive by Mosquitos.

04/01/07

A NEW YEAR ARRIVES
I've been a busy boy of late. New Years eve was good fun. Darrell, Gemma, Gail (their friend who's been staying), Will (my friend from Thame) and I went to a beach down the road in Rose Bay. A lot of alcohol was drunk, drunk being the operative word. We had a good view of the bridge and fireworks in the distance. I was actually waist deep in the water when the main fireworks went off, there was nothing to do but lay back and enjoyed the view.

On the 2nd of January I went to the Blue Mountains with Will for a couple of days which was tiring good fun. It was a lot colder there and rained a lot of the time. We went on a long hike the first day past some of the landmarks and through the forest. The next day we had booked up for a day of absailing and Canyoning. We did a few absails in the morning the highest was about 25 meters. Great views from the top. In the afternoon we went on a bit of a hike to a canyon, then we got into our wetsuits and walked, swan and dived through the canyon to a 30 meter waterfall which we absailed down. Very hard work, I was upside down at one point. But good fun. The walk back to the top nearly killed me, very hard going after the two days of activities.

Will is on his way to Melbourne now, he's been spending far too much money in Sydney and grabbed the chance for a lift with someone in his backpackers. I've also been hemorrhaging money at the moment, but I guess that is to be expected at this time of year. I just got my tax rebate which was nice so I'm not quite destitute yet. Although I may have to cut my retirement short and find a job soon.

29/12/06

CHRISTMAS AND BEYOND
Christmas day was spent at Gemma and Darrell's friend Mark's place in Tamarama. Smoked salmon and Champagne was followed by BBQd prawns and a trip to the beach. I attempted to surf but Mark's board was a bit too insubstantial for a man of my stature. A great meal of Roast (BBQd) lamb was followed by a game of Trivial Pursuits and several drinking games. A great way to spend Christmas day.

After Christmas the drinking continued in ernest, although Darrell had to go back to work unfortunately. Heiress Paris Hilton and her entourage , famous for being famous, dropped into Darrell's local, The Sheaf, in Double Bay when we were out drinking with his mate Karl one night.

25/12/06

MERRY CHRISTMAS
It's almost that time of year again. To mark the festive season I have a new put together a new animated Christmas card, to check it out click here: Xmas Card

To see last years disturbing homage to Salad Fingers click here: Salad Claws Xmas Card

24/12/06

UPDATE FROM DOWNUNDER
I've been over here in Oz for about seven weeks now. I'm still trying to get used to the fantastic weather and beautiful women everywhere I look. Although It has just started to pour with rain, now that I have written that. I spent the first couple of weeks with my mate Darrell and his girlfriend Gemma in Sydney. Darrell and I got through a fair amount of Goon (Boxed wine) in that time.

I went paintballing with Darrell and a bunch of his hates the first Sunday I was here, great fun. Huge areas in a massive forest. Darrell got bitten by something that resembled a red back spider. But he didn't die so it probably wasn't one.

I also managed to meet up with my friend Gemma from Thame, she's been traveling for almost a year. So several pints were consumed whilst we caught up.

I flew up to Brisbane with Darrell and 10 other English immigrants. Brisbane was good fun, despite England not doing too well at the cricket. The first night was quite a heavy one, finishing about 3am, we had to be up at 9am the next day for the cricket. I managed to get a ticket but it was away from the others in the sun. So I had to keep returning to the bar to get cool. That evening we went out for a meal before going to a few bars. We ended up at one with a live band. Most of the crew were flagging by the end of the night, until it was just Darrell and myself left.

From Brisbane I got the bus down to Byron Bay, for 3 weeks of surfing. I'm staying in an apartment split into 2 rooms of 4 with a central lounge and cooking area. I arrived to discover I was the only boy sharing with 7 girls. I went out with a few of the girls from my room the first night but we didn't get too far as the club they wanted to go to was closed for the night. I'n the end we went back to the hostel to their friends room, which happened to be the same room I stayed in last time I was here.

Halfway through the night some big german guys who were sharing the apartment came back and had a big row. One hit the other then started crying. They all went onto the balcony and shouted at each other for a while before kissing and making up.

The next day I borrowed a surf board from the hostel and met some of the others at the beach. The waves weren't great so we ended up at a bowls club. We had a couple of games and a couple of jugs of beer, each.

The second night was a little messy starting on the Goon, boxed wine, and a drinking game before everyone at the flat hit the town. I was up drinking until 6am, some of the others went to watch the sunrise but I had to be up at 9am for my trip to Nimbin. An interesting ride, some fantastic scenery around the place. Nimbin looks like it's still well rooted in the 60's. We went to a jungle that had been planted by a hippy out there, he was quite out there himself. Quite a jungle though.

The next few weeks were spent surfing in the day and drinking in the evening. I had a close call one day when I was out surfing. Getting dashed against some rocks and constantly pounded by the waves, I managed to survive with just a few scratches and bruises. The nightlife in Byron was as good as I remembered it, I had plenty of drinking sessions over the three weeks I spent there. The last night there was a particularly heavy one, finishing at about 6 in the morning.

After a couple of hours sleep I got my flight back to Sydney, getting back on Saturday afternoon. I went out with Darrell and Gemma in the evening and several of their friends. I ended up staying out with Gemma and her friend Penny after everyone else had gone home. It was another late one, finishing as the sun came up and the birds started squawking. The birds look pretty over here but they make a hell of a racket.

Christmas day should be a good one. I'm going to one of Darrell's mates, who I met at the cricket in Brisbane. He lives close to one of the beaches. There will be about 10 of us heading over for shrimps on the barbee followed by some beach cricket and swimming/surfing then a big meal of roast lamb, and a drink or two I dare say.

Tonight, Christmas eve, I am going on a harbour cruise with a friend from Thame in England and some other friends from his hostel. It is all you can eat and drink for four hours, whilst DJs play, so it should be good fun. I've met about 5 people from Thame since I've been here. A small world.

12/11/06

GOING DOWN UNDER
My flight to Australia and a new life in the southern hemisphere, hard to leave everybody behind. Enough said.

11/11/06

LAST SUPPER
My last family meal with Mum, Andrew, Sharon and Nichola. We had an early Christmas meal as I was to be in Australia and Andrew and Sharon in Glasgow for the real thing. A great meal followed by games and complimented by much drinking.

04/11/06

WILL'S LEAVING DO
My friend Will was heading out on a years travel, the day after I set off for Australia. For his leaving do he organized a night out in Oxford, starting with a few drinks in Thame, followed by a trip in to Oxford to watch the Dog racing in Cowley. My luck was not in that night, I proceeded to lose on every dog I backed. After the dogs we headed to Cowley road for a few drinks at the Bully followed by a jaunt into town to the bar Thirst, for more drinks and a bit of dancing. We finished the night in Jimmy Figgs, I'm afraid to say, back in Thame.

26/10/06

BJM IN BRISTOL
My last gig in England for a while. Steve, Pete and I enjoyed their last show at the Zodiac so much that when we heard they were playing another gig in England we jumped at the chance to see them again. Another fantastic set, not quite as intimate as the Zodiac and no gurning Joel with his tambourine, but great none the less. Lead singer, Anton, wandered off for more drink about an hour and a half into the gig, followed by the majority of the band when he did not return. We were entertained by a lone guitarist creating a lo-fi wall of sound and feedback with his guitar before the others returned for another song, lasting a good half an hour. The band were still playing when the venue lights were switched on and half the audience were heading for the doors.

23/10/06

HOWLING BELLS
One last gig at the Zodiac in Oxford, watching the Howling Bells an Aussie band. Very good gig, well worth seeing live.

14/10/06

MY SURPRISE LEAVING PARTY
My Mum did a great job organizing a surprise leaving party for me before I emigrated to Australia. A complete surprise, a good turn out, including some friends I hadn't seen in years, and a great night. We almost managed to drink the venue bar dry before heading out to a couple of the pubs in Thame. I was offered a drink every five minutes, I think it's the first time I've ever had to refuse a drink. I have put pictures on my website in Photography: England: Al's Leaving Do.