Attention tarts, fruits, pirates, circus folk, batkids, superwanks and people not in the loop: Casey is taking another step forward in his journey to becoming the oldest person alive with the least ammount of wrinkles and the hottest body. Please join us in celebrating this, his 27th milestone on this journey Sunday night (October 29) at his place around 7.30 or so. BYO Booze.

For those of you that haven’t been to Casey’s place before it’s in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast highway. If you need directions, give me a bell!

We might BBQ, we might get a little maggot, we might hang from the rafters and Trudy thinks it’s going to be a Halloween theme. There are also rumours going around that Laura is baking a cake made entirely of (wait for it) melted fish tanks and I’ve heard on the street that Sarah is tracking down the general knowledge trivia game to end all general knowledge trivia games. Bodie is furiously reading comic books to come up with a suitable costume (he thinks it’s a Halloween partt too) while Anna and Ash work on their feminist/anarchist critique of whatever he chooses. It’s said that Zoe Lee Wilson Pogmore L*nz (*’d for legal purposes) may be making an appearance with constable husband. Alinta and Dan may also consider coming down off the mountain at a fashionably late time if the beer is cold. A series of actors have also been hired to appear at random times throughout the night in a ‘This is your life’ format. People invited to join the payroll include C&G, Geev&G, toe-nail, dee, michelleTheSly (non-eel variety) & Matty, plus anyone I can pull in at the last minute.

If you can come or if you haven’t been mentioned in this invitation and you want to be, let me know. We all know how Casey is, and he expects a complete list of everyone that will be potentially spilling shit on his couch by Sunday morning. Good day.

I’m really hungover from Zoe’s wedding yesterday. I blame the groomsmen for feeding me beer all day and all night. The ceremony was beautiful down near the Currumbin rock pools. Zoe looked very beautiful and it all came together without a hitch. I still can’t believe they’re actually married. I did a bit of a speech at the reception, and it was great driving around all day in the wedding party limo with champagne.

Also had my 21st which was great. Bit of a party on the boat with the family and a few friends. Hopefully will be having another party soon so I can invite more people. Also had dinner on Wednesday night. Got some really cool stuff - the ‘rents got me a new flatscreen for my computer, Casey got me a beautiful fossil watch, Michelle got me a horde of goodies including a James Dean beanbag! Adam got me some amazing champagne flutes, Zoe and Jason got me scrubs season one and two and a cool Dean poster. Trudy got me a very cool wooden box to put my nostalgic crap in, and I got other random stuff I can’t remember. My name was in the paper too! I’m a very spoilt boy. I need to go lie down now before I die. Bye!

So it’s been about four weeks since we got home. I’m in this weird holding pattern. Uni doesn’t go back until the end of July, I’m getting no hours from work and I feel like I’m wasting my days. But what I’m really doing, if I think rationally, is having a break. And it has been good to relax, catch up with everyone, go to the movies, travel around the place, go out and not have to worry about getting up in the morning, read, do some design work, etc. So I’m OK, really. I’m looking forward to Uni going back though.

Aside, my 21st is coming up! Weird, 21. It’ll be just another day, but it’s weighted with such significance. Why is that? A marker of maturity. A threshold of adulthood. Odd, right? So yes, 21 soon. I think I’ll have a few gatherings with celebration as an excuse and lure. The first is this weekend on Dad’s boat with family and a few friends, then a bit of a house party in a few weeks that I can invite more people too which will be good. A then not this weekend but next weekend, Zoe is getting married! MARRIED! There’s something I knew was coming but didn’t consider properly. Zoe. Married. Soon there will be little Zoe’s and Jason’s. And I am bridesman! Whoo!

Due to popular demand (mainly pressure from my Mum and Jamie), here is the thrilling conclusion to Brady’s travel blog. Sorry it’s been such a long time coming. The last few legs of our trip were quite draining, and by the time we got home the last thing we wanted to do was jump on the computer and type things. And after that.. well, I just got lazy.

So anyway, we left Washington DC after an early morning wake up. Trudy flew to California, Marcella caught the bus back to London and Casey and I were off to Florida! We arrived in Orlando and got a car, which by this time Casey was quite comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road. So we were off. We went to Cape Canaveral where the rocket ships take off, then we spent a night in Palm Bay, and then we were off to Miami. It was a great city - very similar to the Gold Coast. I even did some illegal underage drinking! Whoo! We went to this funky club called Twist and a had a great dinner by the beach. So we spent a few days in Miami, then we drove down the keys. It was a bit overcast, but it was still a great drive. Key West is an amazing town too - only 90 miles from Cuba, you can really feel the influence there. Roosters and chickens wandering the streets, people rolling cigars all over the place, alcohol stands as abundant as hot dog stands in New York! It was a great place. We even met this crazy Australian lady who started travelling the States in ‘67 and was still there!

After staying there overnight, we drove back to Miami and hopped on an aeroplane to San Francisco. The plane went via Atlanta, but was delayed for like an hour because the door wouldn’t close! Way to instill confidence in your passengers. Anyway, we passed the time by playing that trivia game they have built into the back of the seats. However, this game was distinctly geared towards the American players with 50% of the questions about baseball, American football and American states! But we struggled through. Casey managed to win one round.

So eventually we arrived in San Francisco. It was a great city, one of my favourtie. We spent a few nights there. Drove and walked over the Golden Gate Bridge, went to the MOMA, did a bit of shopping, caught a tram they call a ‘trolley’, went on the compulsary pilgrimage to the Castro, and we even went on a bushwalk through some creepy and enchanted sea side forrest thing. Jesus Octavio Rodriguez, we will never forget you.

Next up was Vancouver. Met up with a few more internet friends there; had burgers and beers with Jesse and Andrew. We also saw the Da Vinci code, did some more shopping, and spent a unique evening in a sports bar that was filled exclusively with a horde of dancing Asian kareoke singers. It was fantastic! A great way to end our trip. The next few days were spent wandering airports, trying to sleep on planes and a mind spinning time warp. We were in Taipei for a while, and the next thing we knew we were greeted at Brisbane airport by some familiar faces with banners and big hugs.

It’s great to be home. I think I’m still taking in the trip, and getting used to slowing down my daily routine a little. Back to work soon, and Uni after that. Now it’s up to all our Canadian friends to mosey on down to meet us! That means you Jamie. Michael and Kenny are on track to be down here for New Years Eve, so that’ll be fun. I hope everyone is well! Photos soon, I promise. They’re all still on Casey’s computer.

Our journey continues! We left Montreal on the 4th after having a great time in this truly bilingual city. The bus to Boston was quite rough. For starters, the bus ride begun around 11 at night and it was full so we were all squished into the back seat next to the toilet. When the main inside lights went off these stupid blue lights came on over our seat (anti-needle lights perhaps). Next up, after trying to sleep and failing miserably for a few hours, we reached the U.S. border. It wasn’t as insane as we were told. We were asked a few questions, had our prints and photos taken, we paid our $6 entry fee into the amusement park that is America and we were on our way!

The situation on the bus didn’t improve, but I kind of drifted in and out of consciousness until we arrived to Boston. From there, everything was good! We were luckily able to check-in to the Holiday Inn very early (about 8.30AM) which was excellent because we had virtually no sleep and their normal check-in time was 4PM. So we all crashed for a few hours, then got the handy courtesy bus downtown. Boston was very beautiful. Lots of green spaces, plenty of activities and friendly people. The waterside was amazing.

So we spent the 5th cruising Boston and recovering from our hellish bus ride. It was a very relaxing day by the end of it. On the 6th we went to Harvard, down the road from out hotel, and then started our trek to New York City! After getting off the bus we were thrown onto the confusing, very busy and ‘every person for themselves’ subway system. We made it, after discovering the lack of elevators and having to lug our luggage up seemingly endless flights of stairs. But after all that we arrived at our hotel on 94th and Broadway, mid-upper Manhattan. The place wasn’t as good as Boston, but it was a place to rest our heads - and we needed it! The next four days were an insane whirlwind of cramming one of (if not the) most famous city in the world into a few days.

To sumarise, here’s what we did. Statue of Liberty (from a distance, on a boat, up-close and personal AND on a helicopter), Wall Street, the United Nations buildings, Time Square, shopping on the famous 5th avenue, the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, an errie glimpse at ground zero where the two main buildings of the World Trade Centre once stood, a brief stint in Central Park, Stonewall, Grenwich village, chocolate frappe in Trump Tower, some random wandering around and a bunch of time getting familiar with the subway. It was insane, the experience of a life time, exhausting and exhilirating all in one. I’d like to come back one day and spend some more time here, but not for a while yet.

We left NYC on the 10th and arrived in Washington DC. It’s a nice place to stop in for a day or so, but I wouldn’t want to stay here any longer than that. The place we’re staying - and from the feel of it, anywhere outside the core of the city - is a bit of a dump. But we did go to the White House, the Capital Building and a few parts of the Smithsonian which was great. We also met up with a friend of mine Kim and her friend Hollie who showed us around and took as on a tour of the un-National Aquarium. Free the turtles!

Photos coming as soon as I can get them off Casey’s computer. There are some amazing ones! But now, I must sleep for our early flight to Florida. I’m missing everyone very much, and looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone.

Just very quickly, an update on our travels. On Sunday we left London thanks to help from Kenny, Michael, Tom, Yemisi, Frank and Meghan. Death couch now lives in the basement, beware travelers. We arrived in Kingston and were picked up by Jamies parents. Then Jim and Jordan, Jamies dad and little brother, took us to Ottawa on Monday which was amazing. We went up the peace tower, around parliament and to the museum of civilisation. We also saw the PMs house and the Governor-Generals house. Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and it’s a beautiful city indeed. Then Tuesday we went to Montreal again with Jim and this time Jamie had work off so he came too! We went to this amazing Oratory of St. Joseph. It was a massive church with several smaller churches inside. Very grand. Then we went to a smaller basillica in the city called Notre-Dame where Celine Dion was married. It was beautiful too, but they charged us to get in! Church fee! How ridiculous.

Then we checked into our Montreal hotel and went to meet a friend of mine Chun who later that night introduced us to her friends Jessica, Jean-Francois, Alex and.. some other people. We had many many beers and now I am paying for it. Well we have to check out in ten minutes and Casey is freaking out, so I better go. I hope all is well.

Dear London Ontario,

You were once a far off and foreign city, but for the last four months we have called you our home away from home on this strange new side of the world. Each time we see you, you reveal another corner of yourself - another intricate detail that can only be seen through the light of your people. And what amazing people you have given to us. Friends that only now we realise how important have been to us in our times of need. When we feel like we can’t fit one more thing into our suitcase, or when we desperately need help getting death couch into the basement. When we’re broken and tired, when we’re sore and ill from longing for familiar sunshine you and the angels of your city are there for us. Please thank these - your people - for everything they have done for us. The laughter, the fun, the embrace of family and friends when everything in the world is unfamiliar. The words to express these things to you and your people too often escape us, so we leave it to you to pass on our thanks and our wishes and all of our love.

Always yours,
Brady

It’s been a very intense few days. With exams all finished up on Monday, we spent the rest of the week relaxing and slowly packing the endless piles of ’stuff’ we have accumulated. When Friday arrived we were ready for a party - which is what we did! We had a great night. Michael, Kenny, Vicksan, Tom, Hussein, Yemisi, Danielle, Andrew, Grayson, Frank, Meaghan, Andrej, Christine, Katie, Dan, Sid, Victoria, Jenn and a bunch of people I know I’ve forgot. It was very special that all of you came to see us off. And the police (or the fuzz as Frankie called them) only came once!

We spent all day today (Saturday) packing, moving furniture, recovering from hangovers and just wasting time bascially - but we had good company. Michael, Kenny, Yemisi, Tom and Grayson couldn’t stay away for long so they were back today to help us. Here are some photos..

It was a blast. We’ll be very sad to say goodbye to our home for the past four months. =(

So three exams down, one to go! This week has been horrid. Sick all week. Psych and Life in the City exam on Friday were not too bad. Had a drink with Michael Friday night at the Spoke, stole some caution tape from the PrideWestern closet. Studied all day Saturday, still a bit sick. Today (Sunday) I had another sociology exam which was a bit trickier, but hopefully I should pass. So down to Dante tomorrow. I’ve gone OK with the last two exams from that course, so this one shouldn’t be too hard. Then it’s all over but the laughing. Aaaand the drinking.

Wow, I don’t even know where the last week has gone. I’m quite sick at the moment, so this post might seem a bit random. I was fine until Saturday night. Everyone else was sick was me, so I was like Captain Immunity! But I woke up Sunday morning with that prophetic little irritation in my throat and it’s been downhill since then. But not to worry. It only got really bad last night, and after sleeping all day today (Monday) I’m feeling a bit better.

So on with the official news. Classes have ended. Now we’re heading towards some hateful exams. I have two on Friday, one on Sunday (for shame!) and the last one on Monday. So I’m trying to force myself to read and read and study and study.

On Wednesday, after our final Dante class, we had a Dante party at Professor Miller’s house. It was excellent! James was making some mean martinis (Dantinis), we met his infamous dog Manfred, there was some t-shirts given out for the people in the class that had completed three of the four Dante classes in the cycle and we met some cool people! Here are some photos…

Here is James with the hat he created for this semester. He has one each semester that reflects parts of the cantica we’re studying. You can’t really see it here, but he even included our very own Southern Cross constellation in the stars for Trudy and I.

Some girls from my class and I - Lauren, me, Danielle, Maggie and Vanessa.

In other news we had a relatively quiet week. I got my hair cut, went and saw Lucky Number Slevin with Tom, and on Saturday Michael took Kenny, Casey and I to Toronto where we did some clubbing. I can now say I’ve been to Woody’s and Babylon from QAF. Although Babylon is actually called Fly. Woodies was really fun. We also went to this other club called 5ive where the air conditioning was broken and we met Frankie and Grayson. After standing in a confined space with about 500 other people for an hour, the Canadians were ready to die (we were having flashbacks of some oppressive Australian summers). We stayed at this really nice hotel too, and Michael and Kenny gave us a foot-tour of Toronto on Sunday. Unfortunately everything was closed because it was Easter Sunday, but there were still a few things going on so we were quite entertained. Photos from Toronto soon.

Not long until home time now. But first, I shall focus on exams. I hope everyone is well!

Another busy weekend. Thursday night was the last pridewestern coffeehouse, so we went and had a few drinks with the crew. We’ve been there almost every thursday night since we’ve been here, and it was such a great way to meet people and get involved with Uni. Then Friday night we had a bunch of people around again for spaghetti bolognase - Kenny, Michael, Vicksan, Frank, Megan, Grayson and Hussein. It was quite fun. We played a series of card games that involved drinking and truth or dare which included Michael having to make a friend from our playstation playing next-door-neighbours apparetment, and Hussein putting on all the coats in our coat cupboard.

Saturday night we went to Michael’s to drop off the salad bowl he brought to the party the night before and then onto Jamies for some tasty goodness and some more drinks. We met some new people and saw some people we hadn’t seen in a while. Alas, we’re getting closer and closer to the time where we’ll be leaving. It’s going to be very sad to leave Canada. We’ve made alot of great friends, some of whom will hopefully come down and visit us back home in the not too distant future.

How cool are these little tickers that count down to things..

In other news, it was a big weekend! Friday Trudy and I went and saw V for Vandetta. One of the best movies I’ve seen in quite a while. VERY effective and powerful. Trudy cried the whole way through.. but it wasn’t a sad movie as such, just very powerful. Then that night we went to Vicksan’s surprise party! It was very fun. She got quite the surprise! Then we headed into town and went to this cool club called tantra I think, but it was a bit wanky. Then Saturday slept in until 3, got up and headed off to Grayson’s ‘fantasia’ birthday party which was.. educational. Then off to 181 to wait for like twenty minutes in the line to get a drink. Blast!

Sunday again was spent in bed, sleeping through the dreaded hangover which was now building up after two big nights. But wait, there’s more! Off to the PrideWestern end of year dinner at this funky italian place called Fellini Koolini’s where all these bottles were hanging from the roof. That was fun. Lots of people there I knew too. Then we went back to Michael’s with Kenny and Hussein to watch the Simpsons, but we ended up playing the old ‘philosophical question’ game. So in conclusion, big weekend. Caught up with heaps of people and met some new people too.

Hello! It has been brought to my attention that some people visiting my blog have not been commenting. If this is you, comment now so that it looks like I’m more popular.

In other news, there was sunshine in Canada land! I didn’t even wear a jacket today. Just one jumper a t-shirt and some jeans. 13 degrees! Practically Gold Coast weather (or something..) It was funny to see all the people out and about running around, playing sports, walking their dogs or just sitting in random hills that I’ve only ever seen snow on before.

Then I went to the library only to be distracted by half the people I know in Canada. So no study for me. Yay!

Last Thursday we went to the usual coffeehouse at the spoke which was taken over by a battle of the bands. I’m usually fan of such events, but this one was a little over the top and crazy faced. So we went to Kelsey’s which was fun. Then Friday night Casey, Tom and I went to see 3 Needles, a movie in the Canadian Film Festival. It was really good. It was a story about the AIDS epidemic in three different countries - Africa, China and Canada. It was very powerful. A bit depressing and quite sad, but really effective.

On Saturday Trudy and I went over to Andrew’s to do some Dante study. We got quite a bit done too. Then Saturday night we had a few people over here which was fun. Kenny, Vicksan, Michael, Court, Andrew and Hussein. We played spoons, had spaghetti bolognase and many drinkies. Here are some photos!

Michael and Kenny on the floor suffering a horrible spoons defeat.

Our latest Canadian friend, Court!

Then we went back downtown to Andrew’s where we said hello to Jane, then we went to 181 and met up with Jamie, Tom and Derek! It was an evening of fun had by all, ended with a slice of pizza. And yes Bodie, we were talking about you all night.

Vicksan and I. Vicki is the new Bodie, and settled into her role as dishpig last night.

Everyone (except Trudy) on deathcouch.
Casey, me, Court, Michael, Kenny, Andrew, Hussein and Vicksan.

In other news, not much school left now! I have one essay, a presentation and four exams left. Whoo! Then travel and home which I’m really looking forward to. As much as I’m loving Canada, there’s no place like home..

I definitely spoke too soon on this spring business. As punishment, the day after I made that post I was walking to school and then I was bashed around by some freezing wind for the duration of my twenty minute walk. On stairs, I actually had to grab the hand rail to stop myself from being thrown down them. So that was great.

I had two hateful exams this week, which are now over and done with. The Sociology one was OK, by the Psychology one was a complete screw up. It began late because of a ‘communication problem’ whereby the exams weren’t printed, so this class of 200+ had to sit in this lecture theatre for 20 minutes - half of them bitching on about how they’d need to take a make-up exam because it would run over time. The injustice of it all! So anyway, that was fine. Eventually we started. But then I got to the end and the short answer questions and I froze. I totally forgot everything. By the time things came back to me, I was nearly out of time. Yay. So I came home, pittied myself, then went back to school for the joy that is my six hour Dante course. I ate a carrot at some point too. At least that entertained me. Not the carrot, the Dante course. It seriously is intense. I wish I could take the other two cantica. Then to the spoke for drinkies where we hung out with Kenny, Vicksan, Hussein, Jamie and then Frank and Grayson briefly.

And now I think I’ll sleep after a week of what seems like solid study. Hateful, hateful exams. I pity people whose entire academic careers are made up of exams. Like science students. How horrid. Give me a 3000 word essay over a 30 question multi-choice exam anyday. I’m kind of looking forward to writing a 15000 word honours dissertation now. Anyway, St. Patricks day tomorrow (lunchtime beers) followed by Sweeney Todd musical at 8 and then onto Michael’s and some going out down town. Ah yes, my good friend the weekend. I’m glad you’re here to meet me on this cornice of purgation. Apostraphe! It’s all down hill from here, pilgrims.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.. Hi there and hello! My days as a Canadian eskimo (as pictured below) are over. Spring has sprung!

This was a week or so ago from Collingwood on our ski adventure, but over the past few days the Canadians have just been wearing shorts and shirts. It got up to 16 degrees today! Heat wave! Trudy has just told me it’ll be back to the subs tomorrow, and snow will soon follow, but Spring’s gentle song has certainly been sung here in London Ontario. It was bizarre seeing people out and about running, playing volley ball, walking their dogs. It was like they’d never been outside before!

In other news, we’ve been having a grand old time here in Canada. Despite these insane-o death exams my good friends the sociology professors keep throwing at me. El presidento of the Arts and Humanities School at Western, Dan, is in our Dante class and he was organising a formal for Saturday night. By the by, Trudy is in love with President Perry and wants to have his children. Anyway, Dan invited us to this formal (titled the PoMoFo or Post Modern Formal) which fortunately didn’t turn out to be much of a formal at all (being PoMo and all, this should’ve been obvious) as there were people dancing around in bunny costumes and jeans. Also, Dan’s girlfriend was wearing large gold sunglasses and (avert your eyes mother) introduced herself to me by rubbing her boobs all over me. ANYway, Kenny and Grayson were there so at around 12 Casey, Marcella, myself and the boys headed over to 181 for some more drinking. When we got there, Jamie was dancing on the box so we joined him and several hours soon passed. I think I know why I always have hangover legs..

Anyway, it was a great night. At around 2AM I’m told I ate a napkin, but I wasn’t going to let that ruin anything! Thanks go out to Trudy’s art friend Katie for getting me water. The end.

So I’ve got two massive exams next week. For one I have to read another 300 pages of interesting yet very dense sociological theory before I can even start studying, and the other I have to revisit 100 or so powerpoint slides that I must’ve slept through (or read the Uni gazette) during class because they don’t seem familiar at all. So that’ll be fun. I had intended to study all weekend, but I seem to have tickets for the Arts and Humanities Formal this saturday night.. and I have no formal clothes! Huzzah. That will be a slight deviation from the study.

Back to news of our ski trip.. as my parents have discoverd, Trudy gets her pictures up quite quickly on her blog (click to it on the right). But I’ll put some up eventually. So go check Trudy’s blog and come back later for some of my pictures.

In other news we got some mail from Laura this week! We love you Loz! She sent me not one but TWO items featuring James Dean. One of the post cards was all the way from Paris - and it’s a picture I’ve never seen! Thanks Loz. It was a nice surprise.

We’re also missing our dish pig Bodie who has returned to Oz safe and sound to the opressive heat, sociological wombs and a never ending cacophany of the OC, Charmed, Buffy, Angel and more. We’re currently debating the cost effectiveness of either shipping dirty plates home or simply adopting a disposable approach to dishes and cuttlery.

Time for some sleeping now. Goodnight world!

Our skiing week has come to an end, and we’re all safe and sound back in London. We had a fantastic week with many photos that shall soon find their way web-side. This is a very short post though because I’m pooped and am heading back to school in the morrow. More soon!

Hello!

We’ve been having a great time over the past few days. We caught the train to Kingston (two hours on the other side of Toronto) to Jamies home town to pick up his parents van. We really felt like a part of a family there with the home cooked meals, puppy dog and ‘homely’ home. I don’t know if it was a relief from homesickness or if it just made me more homesick. We had a great time anyway. Jamies mum is a grade two teacher, so we went to class as show and tell and all the little kiddies asked us questions. It was so cute. We really feel like we have a family here in Canada now. Thankyou so much to the East family for having us!

Then we drove back through Toronto, hung out for a while and back to London. Today we’re heading back to Toronto to drop Bodie at the airport (we’ll miss you dish pig) and then onto Collingwood for a week of skiing and general winter-like shenanigans. Speaking of which, I have to go get read for. I hope all is well at home.

And to Adam if you read this: Sorry about the phone dropping out on us again this morning. I claim it has something to do with your psychic powers that are also responsible for turning off street lights as you pass underneath.