He's Back From The Dead

Pictures (Update Below)

2006-09-24T20:14:00.000-04:00

More Piccies (Update Below)

2006-09-24T19:56:00.000-04:00

I've Resurfaced

2006-09-24T19:07:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone sorry I have been off the planet for the last few years so it seems since my last blog. I've just had a good few months of having a pretty full on schedule. For those ready for an update here it comes.

Since I last wrote I was offered a contract with a professional soccer team which I signed so now I'm being payed to play which seems absolutely ridiculous to me but I'm loving every day of it. I'm still working at the restaurant Montana because of the social scene and it's always good to have a little extra cash (although I spend it all).

I had a few days off work so I made plans with my manager from work Ryan to go with him to his cottage at Port Perry and spend a day and night of pure mayhem. It was nothing short of that. Let me paint a picture for you just by mentioning the following words: Jack Daniels, Beer, Jet Ski's (or seadoo's here), beer, open lake, no work the next day, beer, big fire, Jacuzzi, Jack Daniels and Beer. Ok so now you get the idea the afternoon started with putting the seadoos into the water at the boat ramp and riding them back to the cottage.... Good times. When I arrive at the cottage Ryan has already driven back from the boat ramp and welcomed me at shore with a shot of Jack (Let the games begin) We have a few drinks then go to pick up Ryan's mate Al who lives across the lake so it's onto the seadoo's and heading across the lake at around 90km an hour splashing eachother like immature males love to do. We pick up Al and head back to the cottage but on the way almost drop his wallet and firefighters badge into the lake. But we did manage to drop his bottle of soft drink and his full packet of cigarettes which I'm going to totall blame on Ryan (because he was on the back of my seadoo holding Al's stuff). We get back to the cottage and continue the drinking and chilling. That basically consumes the next few hours up and we are joined by Sherry and Jenn. Yadda yadda yadda jump onto the seadoo as it starts to get dark and fall off the thing going about 50km an hour and for some reason had a sore neck and bruises on my right shoulder blade. All in all good times as we continue the night drinking away with some crazy shenanigans happening. The next day we all were feeling pretty good except for Ryan who thought the house fell on him and us giving him a hard time didn't really help his situation out. It was a wicked time and we are planning to definately do it again sometime soon. I'll throw some pictures up to help with those words provided above.

August 18th was a special day for some reason.... I'm not really sure why because I don't remember much of the end of the night but had many people around me who could fill me in on how I ended up on the night of my birthday. It all started at the Black Bull with pints and meeting random people. Kat, Rebecca, Andrea, Sarah and I after a few beverages made our way to..... I think we went to Fez Batik straight after but don't quote me on that one. We drank some more, danced up a storm (ok the others danced up a storm I had random seizuring spasms on the dance floor) and were met a little bit later by the people who worked at Montana's for the night and continued onwards. The last thing I remember is going to an afterhours bar and walking out into a lit up sky and tripping over on the way to my taxi.... Mum I was totally sober I swear...... ok I had a few I'm sorry. HIGH FIVE JANELLE!!!

I'm currently in the process of packing up my stuff and getting ready to move to a new dwelling. Still in Toronto mind you but there is possibly another little holiday in the making for me.

The cold is slowly starting to creep in and I'm starting to get more anxious for winter and snowfall. I can't wait to walk the streets in 27 layers of clothing playing in the snow but not downtown because the snow gets all disgusting and dirty because of cars, pollution etc.

Shelley came for a week and hung out here seeing all the sights Toronto and Niagara Falls had to offer. She even went on the hippo bus which is like the aqua ducks at home (you know the stupid aquatic buses) Here I am mocking the aqua bus thing and the person who invented them is smoking a fat cigar and drinking whisky in his/her (gotta be careful there) mansion made of $100 notes. Now theres an idea.

Sadly even though it has been a long time since I have updated my blog I really don't have a great deal more to say. I just bought a wireless card so I have the internet again (another reason I have been slack with updates) no internet is kind of hard to do that you know.

Well to all of you reading this remember to smile, dance, laugh, have fun and take care.

Love you all except the boys.... ok maybe a few of the boys.

Nath

Montréal and Trois-Rivières

2006-06-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Retourner à Montréal

2006-06-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

After waking up in the morning of Friday the 23rd and realising I had 13 minutes to get to the bus station without my bag packed I somehow managed to still make it there (Thank you taxi driver).

What a weekend! I arrived in Montreal with a small sensation of deja vu and met up with Amelie. We went for a quick bite to eat then went to check out all the excitement leading up to the Grand Prix. The streets were packed with people as we squeezed our way through everyone looking at the promotion stands and a few cars. Mya met up with us a little later as did Shayla and we all went out to have some dinner in the Old Port. The streets down the old port are gorgeous and if I overuse that word in this blog it's because my weekend was just that.

Further down the track we met up with Genevieve but only briefly as Shayla, Amelie, Rob and I head out for some beverages in Montreal. We had a nice range of shots and drinks and I even managed to bump into a girl who I work with in Toronto which was a pretty funny encounter. We kind of just stopped and started looking at eachother as if to say.... Uh what are you doing here?

The next morning after that fun fun night we were up and heading to Mont Royal which gave me a view which put me to silence. When I can see a whole city from one point I can just stare forever and it will never cease to amaze me and Montreal was quite a spectacular sight.

We jump into the car and go pick up Shayla and make our way to Trois Rivières. The drive was a good relaxing, calm drive and when we arrive we go to meet some of Amelie's family. What an awesome bunch they were. They were funny and being immersed in a French speaking surrounding was great. The steak we had for dinner was absolutely breathtaking and compliments to Andre. The word for the night was "Easy going" or is that words???

After birthday cakes, desert wine and some conversation we jump into the car and head to the main strip of Trois Rivières for some more drinks again. The night was a short one but I must say that listening to the live music was a pleasurable experience.

The next day we had a nice breakfast and we said our goodbyes and made our way back to Montreal. When we get there we drop Shayla off at the bus station and decide to walk around the city and check out the streets. 3 words for you "Notre Dame Basilica" and heres another word for you "WOW". That was such an amazing basilica to go into and look around. We found ourselves in Chinatown at one stage where we bought some tea from the friendliest girl and afterwards head to the Old Port to have cheese fondu and salad but to top it all off a creme brulee to seal the deal.

We learnt that there were fireworks that night so we came out later to the Old Port again to see the action. What a way to finish the weekend and now it's back to that work thing everyone loves so much.

Well apart from Australia being knocked out of the world cup (I don't want to talk about it) I hope that everyone is well and enjoying life.

SOCCER TIME !!!

Ciao

We Tried Our Best

2006-06-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

Although we went down to the strong Brazilian team I would have to say I'm still damn proud of the boys.

Sunday here was insane with the MMVA's which is the Much Music Video Awards which was being held across the street from where I work. People were screaming their heads off about bands I had never even heard before. The only people/bands I knew were Simple Plan, Tori Spelling, Nick Lachey, Paris Hilton blah blah blah you get the idea. The whole night was just out of control with people flooded everywhere throughout the streets screaming and yelling and trying to get photos but all in all were quite well behaved.

The Stanley Cup Final between Carolina and Edmonton in the NHL ended in tears for the Canadians. As they went down 3 - 1 many drank some more beer with heads down while others stared at the big screen in disbelief hoping that their eyes were playing tricks on them and that the score would magically changed...... it didn't.

Well it's coming up to another weekend in the land of Quebec. I just learnt that Genevieve is flying in from Australia this thursday and will be joining us for supper on friday. There will be a case of deja vu until I look around and realise we are not in Kansas anymore toto.

Time to go kick the ball around

Rock on peoples.

P.S. The picture above is of a work mate named Wendy. For a chance to win $10 we had to convince 10 people in the bar that we were related....... there were only 8 people in the pub.

Game Time

2006-06-17T09:37:00.000-04:00

Well back to the real world now which means it's time to work to make back the cash I spent over the weekend. The last few days have been awesome thanks to the world cup. Every morning it's been 6am rise n shines to go to Toronto Island or some nearby park with a big group of people and play some friendly matches. Met a few people from Germany who constantly were asked "Well why aren't you home watching the world cup live?". So I have finally had some time to break in the new soccer boots I bought a week ago and these things do the job and then some.

Tomorrow being Sunday the 18th there's a big indoor 5 a side comp which has free entry but 1st prize takes home some sweet new Nike gear and a little bit of cash so it's game on. Can't wait it's been a good 2 years since I've played an indoor game.... Cross your fingers.

Apart from hanging out and watching as many world cup soccer games I can there really isn't a great deal to report. So I will leave you with this.

Go the Blues, Go the Socceroos and Go the Wallabies.

Montreal & The Townships

2006-06-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

Well I have to say that it was an interesting weekend in Quebec. I arrived in Montréal on Friday afternoon around 2:30pm to be immersed with French signs and French speaking people everywhere. It was awesome as I walked to find a taxi to meet up with Amelie at her office hearing all the people having conversations as I walked by them. After 2 taxi drivers didn't have a clue where it was I was trying to go (even though I thought my French scrubbed up ok) the 3rd one was the lucky one until he pulls into a supermarket car park and gets temporarily lost. The weather was looking grim but wasn't going to wash away my first impression of Montréal. Although I didn't get to see much of it over the weekend because most of my time was spent in the Eastern Townships what I did see kept a smile on my face and the surreal feeling that I was in fact in Montréal.

I arrived at Amelie's office and go up to meet her. Asking directions in French was not my strong point but I did understand the directions given by the humorous security guard at the front desk. I met up with Amelie and check out her office (nice setup) and after meeting a lot of work colleagues we did a little bit of shopping on a few of the main strips and met up with some of Amelie's friends for a light dinner.

Afterwards we make our way to Shayla's which was awesome to see her again and after many refreshing beverages we made our way to the Lion (Photo accompanying this) to continue the saga. I met so many people who I had heard about before and even a few people who I had the pleasure to meet in Australia. After a good night it was bed time.

The next morning it was a glorious morning of piss pouring rain and chilly winds. We get ready for Amelie's graduation and after arriving to the university to discover no cover for the students graduating or friends and family who came from a long way we knew it was going to be an interesting day of cheap plastic ponchos and umbrellas galore. So after many grumbling people and seeing everyone graduate Louise (Amelie's Mum) and I make sure we finish the job by terrorizing some puddles on our way to the gym for light refreshments and finger foods. We depart the university and make our way to Louise's cousins place for a quick stopover and then on our way to a restaurant where all the grads and family met up for dinner. The patio area was swimming in water which was overflowing from the river but being upstairs we knew if the place flooded we would be the last ones who would have to swim. The dinner was superb and the night went well especially with an encore appearance at the Lion.

The next day the rain still blessed us with its unwanted presence but still driving around the area and seeing some of the amazing houses was quite a sight. We drove around for a while and made our way into Knowlton (hope I spelt that right) where we had a coffee, tea a muffin and some soup in a cute little cafe and met yet again some more people. I have a sore neck from snapping my head left to right trying to see everything we pass. The area is so quiet and so green the vegetation is everywhere. It's a little like the drive between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga where there's a sprinkling of houses and just open fields with scatterings of trees.

After a scenic tour where the sky was starting to clear up we eventually made our way back to Montréal for un chocolat chaud and then the adventure had to come to a halt when I had to go to the bus station to make my way back to Toronto.

I really enjoyed the weekend and can't wait until I return there in two weeks time.

Keep it clean people.

G'day Peoples

2006-06-06T19:17:00.000-04:00

A person who I work with suggested I try this blogging stuff so I decided to take off my shoes and walk in the door of discovery. Sure enough it was pretty straight forward and I think that this will be easier for me to post brief news updates and pictures for you to enjoy. For those of you who don't enjoy just pretend your having the time of your life and fake it.

So a brief update for you all. I just moved into a new house in Toronto and am so glad to have a big kitchen, a laundry, bathroom and a wicked bedroom. As much fun and convenient as it is to be living out of a backpack and generally sharing a room with 3 other snoring individuals I would have to say that I'm enjoying the space I have now.

I'm currently working at a place called Montana's which is a awesome restaurant in downtown Toronto with a club on the 2nd level. It has 7 bars in total, 2 massive dining rooms, outside patio area, rooftop patio, 2 dancefloors, awesome staff and a really good looking Australian working for them. The money is better than what I thought..... A lot better. Despite the fact I'm getting paid $8.25 an hour I seem to be making double what I was making working two jobs back in Australia.

This coming weeked I'll be making my way to Montreal as Amelie is having her graduation and I want to bug all the french speaking people so I'm really looking forward to the end of the week. I'll be sure to post pictures up of Montreal because from what I have seen and heard from everyone who has been there that it is just one amazingly beautiful place.

Till next time people. Keep safe, keep smiling, take care and most importantly have fun.