All Blacks vs Les Bleus

Yes, I went to see a Rugby (Union) match. How could I not. In Kiwiland, this is there n°1,2 & 3 sport. When the Kiwis talk about footie, they don't mean the sport with the round ball which you actually kick most of the game with your foot, they mean Rugby Union, the game they throw a oval bowl around the pitch. I presume they are practiced in throwing sheep to each other - ok, I know a sheep joke & a cheap joke, sorry Léna, but it will be the only one - so Rugby is the perfect game. And of course its the All Blacks and its the French who were in (Dunedin) town, I thought I may as well go and support les bleus. Not a classic game. The All Black looked indifferent and les Bleus - in difference to their name were in white - seemed supprised that they were in front all through the match. Les bleus finally won 27-22.

Around Dunedin, NZ Or Oh My God I am 40!

Yes, after nearly 8 months of travel, I have reached my 3rd pre-planned stop after the wedding in Kathmandu, The Dilks in Perth and now Claire in Dunedin, NZ. A friend of old from the UK. I have been in NZ since the 25th May. Claire has been living in NZ for the past 8 years. At last I am able to annoy Claire in person. It has been a while. Claire lives with Leonard, her boyfriend, and Oliver the dog - the dog is 15 yo and sleeps as much as a Koala - in Port Chalmers a small town 10 km up the harbour from Dunedin City, in the Otago Region. Yes Léna I have made it to your city and I have not yet made a sheep joke. The area is stunning. Even in the rain...

Dunedin, is where I celebrated reaching 40, i prefer to think it more as 20+20 or 2x20. And yes John I was not far far behind you. What did I do on my my birthdays. Well I went on the Cadbury's World Tour. Dunedin is the NZ home of Cadbury. I thought why not; I lived in Birmingham not far from Bournville, the home of Cadbury, and I never visited Cadbury World. I though why not. It was fun but it was no Charlie/ Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Experience. It past a hour before I headed to my sofa in Starbucks - Yes, I know that there are lots of small coffee shops in Dunedin, but none had comfy chairs to spend a few hour reading before dinner with Claire & Leonard - thanks for dinner - and a Falafal Burgers by the Ocean - It was dark and I believe the Ocean was out there somewhere. How many years I have eaten Falafals I have never thought of making a burger. Radical but simple. I will like to thank everybody who sent me a Happy Birthday by post, email, posted on this blog, Facebook etc...

Enjoy the photos taken by myself, Claire & Leonard.

Of my birthday



& from around Dunedin - Cheers everybody

Brisbane, Lonepine Sanctuary & a Very Wet Moreton Island

Yes, the bad spelling is back! Read on...

From Sydney, I flew north to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia's 3rd largest city. Surprisingly I spent a few days just visiting the city, reading and of course drinking Flat Whites. In Brisbane I met up Emilie - I knew Emilie already from France and has been au-pairing in Brisbane for the past 8 months.







I spent a day outside the city I visiting the Lonepine Koala Sanctuary. They have up to 130 Koalas, Kangaroos & Wallabies, birds of preys, Wombats and more... I discovered that the difference between Kangaroos & Wallabies is just a height classification... Here I met my first Canadian, Cheyl - who is currently picking fruit in the outback . Over the next couple of days, Cheryl did assist me in my vigorous investigation into the Flat White/Latte mystery. Thanks for that. I had a great day at Lonepine. I touched a Koala and stepped a Kangaroos paw. The kangaroo did not seem to mind. It just moved it out the way.










The day I booked to visit Moretone Island is the day it decided to start pouring down with rain; The down pour lasted for 3 days solid. Did not mean that I did not have fun on the Island. Due to the rain, my camera stayed in my bag - most of the day anyway...




In Brisbane I stayed at the Banana Bender Backpacker, chosen of course because bananas was in the name. I discovered later that Banana Bender is a nickname for Queenslanders. A good crowed a good. Lots o Germans - including Thomas also heading into the outback to a farm - and of course a lot of French people - oops sorry and one Belgium. I have no photos. It was too wet...

I liked Brisbane but - to the shock of all those from Brisbane - I prefer Perth...

Hopefully the writing will get better...