First training session with Barnes RFC

So I decided to get along to a training session to give rugby another crack. Tony (an old work buddy from Brisbane) put me on to the team.

The rugby team is called Barnes RFC and they based in West London, down the road from HammerSmith tube station. The location via Street Map.

The training session went well. It was mainly fitness work but we also did some contact drills.

It's a slight mission to get training after work.

1. Leave work at 6pm
2. Walk to the WestFerry DLR which goes to the Bank tube station.
3. From Bank tube its 3 stops to Holborn where I switch to the Piccadilly line.
4. From Holborn tube its about 15-20 mins to HammerSmith tube
5. Then I catch a 10 min bus ride to where the ground is.
6. Then about a 5 min walk to where we train.
7. Get changed just in time for 7.30pm session

So it is a mission and I do miss my car. Someone suggested I should get a bike, then I can ride to training. So I'm thinking of getting a bike anyways just to scoot around town more easily.

I have never walked so much in my life, I'm starting to get used to it though and it is good exercise.

But dam my legs are sore everyday.

Work Trip to Switzerland

Well this ended up being a massive 24 hour trip.

We were all picked up at 5am from work via a cab to Gatwick Airport.

We checked in fairly early so we had some time for a quick bite and coffee.

The airport had this ridiculous smoking booth or section. You walked past and felt as if you had smoked a thousand chookers of your own.

The flight using EasyJet to Milano was about 1 hour and 40 mins and landed in the Malpensa Airport. Too easy.

When then jumped on another cab ride to head north of the border into Switzerland.

We got stopped at the check zone by some serious looking Swiss patrolmen.

He checked our passports after some dodgy looks our way but soon enough he sent us on our way.

Almost immediately leaving the border you are in the Swiss alps, massive mountains everywhere and houses lining the foothills. The road snaked its way to our destination passing some amazing scenery. The weather was beautiful, 28 degrees.

We had a 3 course Italian lunch, but I did not realise that. I stuffed my face with bread on the first course not realising a pasta and 3rd chicken course was to come.

That got a few laughs.

One of the partners mentioned to me that "morto" in Italian means "death". So I will no longer be using "morto" in my nickname on msn, lol.
http://www.wordreference.com/iten/morto

The meeting went well and the next thing its 6.30pm and we jump back into the cab on our journey back to Malpensa. On the way out though I got some sneaky pics on my mobile of the bosses massive house and his Ferrari parked in the garage.



We arrived at the airport, checked in, grabbed a massive slice of pizza in a meal deal for €6.40. I only has pounds on me so I cashed in £20 to be converted to the euro equivalent. I got screwed by the Italian doing the conversion. She couldn't speak English and totally ripped me off and was really rude. She gave me a straight £20 to €20 euro swap (there was a $3 fee but the conversion should have gave me more euro).

Then the real nightmare begin. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 9.20pm but a storm just hit delaying our flight till 1.20am!

So we had a 3 hour wait at the airport after a massive day of travelling. They gave us a food & drink voucher which we used, then waited the hours out.

Cameron (another brissy buy I work with) bought some vodka in duty free which we mixed into a Gatorades, but the Gatorades were almost room temperature and it tasted awful.

Finally 1.20am arrived, we jumped on the plane, arrived in Gatwick, jumped on another cab for another 1 and half hour ride home. I was in bed by 4am, making the day a 24 hour trip, lol.

Last Day in Oz

Well this is my last day in Australia for a while. I had my last surf at Ann St, Caloundra. The water was fresh but the sun was shining.

I fly out to London tomorrow on a monster 23 hour flight with a stop over in Hong Kong. I received a few photos of the flat i'll be staying in. It looks pretty sweet, overlooking the Thames.



I'll be trying to post fairly regulary blogging my overseas adventures and tales.

Chris.