Thursday, April 28, 2005
World Cup Final Losers
It really would have been easier to get into Australia in times past, with the obligatory criminal record of course. Anyway, without wishing to draw on hackneyed maxims, here's the full SP on proceedings.
Having secured my (yet another) visa on line - for a relatively mere GBP8, it has to be said - we got to the gate ready to board. Cinders breezed through without any trouble at all, but it seemed that my paperwork wasn't all in order. So having assured the woman on the desk that I'd successfully applied for a visa, she was straight on the phone to Canberra (where it was 3am or something ridiculous) to find out what the jackanory was. Anyway, it turns out some pen pusher in that attractive capital city hadn't done his job properly, and before you could say David Blunkett, my visa was swiftly approved and I was ushered on to the plane.
Not that the fun stopped there. On arrival into Perth, we were greeted by the Wood Police, who kindly ask you to tip all your luggage out to see what natural products you might be carrying - just what you need after an eight hour flight, with six hours jet lag thrown in. So after we'd declared the backgammon board and the safari farm set (along with a couple of tins of baked beans for good measure) we were eventually allowed to proceed - a mere seventy minutes spent in customs. In the unlikely event they'll ever be allowed to take the Urn down there, I trust we'll have packed it with woodborers beforehand.
We had only three nights in Perth, most of which was spent struggling with jet lag, or drinking beer. Ashcroft very kindly picked us up at the airport (with Easter eggs) before chauffeuring us around half of WA looking for somewhere to stay. It seemed that all the backpackers' joints were full, unless we wanted to share a bunk bed in a sweaty box room. Funnily enough, we decided against this and opted for the local Best Western - which, for a paltry GBP12 per night more than the backpacker places we got a decent room and everything that goes with it - nice.
Mark then proceeded to look after us extremely very well indeed over the next couple of days, showing us the sights of Perth and Fremantle (cheers Mark, we really appreciate this) of which there are stunningly few photos below. And thanks to Justin for cooking us dinner one evening - see you in the U.K.
Then it was back on a plane for the long haul down to Auckland, with a change of planes in Sydney. It was here that were ran into the ACT Brumbies, who were also on their way down to Auckland (to be beaten at the weekend as it turned out). Despite being the current Super 12 champions, they were holed up down the back the plane with the rest of us. I was going to have a word with Mortlock, Giteau, Gregan and co about the events of a couple of Novembers back, but I couldn't get near them for someone melting at their feet (ooooh, but they're all so gorgeous. Whatever sweetheart).
Having secured my (yet another) visa on line - for a relatively mere GBP8, it has to be said - we got to the gate ready to board. Cinders breezed through without any trouble at all, but it seemed that my paperwork wasn't all in order. So having assured the woman on the desk that I'd successfully applied for a visa, she was straight on the phone to Canberra (where it was 3am or something ridiculous) to find out what the jackanory was. Anyway, it turns out some pen pusher in that attractive capital city hadn't done his job properly, and before you could say David Blunkett, my visa was swiftly approved and I was ushered on to the plane.
Not that the fun stopped there. On arrival into Perth, we were greeted by the Wood Police, who kindly ask you to tip all your luggage out to see what natural products you might be carrying - just what you need after an eight hour flight, with six hours jet lag thrown in. So after we'd declared the backgammon board and the safari farm set (along with a couple of tins of baked beans for good measure) we were eventually allowed to proceed - a mere seventy minutes spent in customs. In the unlikely event they'll ever be allowed to take the Urn down there, I trust we'll have packed it with woodborers beforehand.
We had only three nights in Perth, most of which was spent struggling with jet lag, or drinking beer. Ashcroft very kindly picked us up at the airport (with Easter eggs) before chauffeuring us around half of WA looking for somewhere to stay. It seemed that all the backpackers' joints were full, unless we wanted to share a bunk bed in a sweaty box room. Funnily enough, we decided against this and opted for the local Best Western - which, for a paltry GBP12 per night more than the backpacker places we got a decent room and everything that goes with it - nice.
Mark then proceeded to look after us extremely very well indeed over the next couple of days, showing us the sights of Perth and Fremantle (cheers Mark, we really appreciate this) of which there are stunningly few photos below. And thanks to Justin for cooking us dinner one evening - see you in the U.K.
Then it was back on a plane for the long haul down to Auckland, with a change of planes in Sydney. It was here that were ran into the ACT Brumbies, who were also on their way down to Auckland (to be beaten at the weekend as it turned out). Despite being the current Super 12 champions, they were holed up down the back the plane with the rest of us. I was going to have a word with Mortlock, Giteau, Gregan and co about the events of a couple of Novembers back, but I couldn't get near them for someone melting at their feet (ooooh, but they're all so gorgeous. Whatever sweetheart).
# posted by William and Lucinda @ 5:24 am 
Comments:
<< Home
I recounted the ACT Brumbies to my technophobe wife yesterday (she's not worked out how to get on to the website yet - and as a result I can write disparaging remarks about her!!).
She laughed out loud, and then followed it with a "wish I was there" look!
Don't worry mate, you're not alone!!
BEar
She laughed out loud, and then followed it with a "wish I was there" look!
Don't worry mate, you're not alone!!
BEar
# posted by 
: 12:50 pm
: 12:50 pm
I recounted the ACT Brumbies to my technophobe wife yesterday (she's not worked out how to get on to the website yet - and as a result I can write disparaging remarks about her!!).
She laughed out loud, and then followed it with a "wish I was there" look!
Don't worry mate, you're not alone!!
BEar
She laughed out loud, and then followed it with a "wish I was there" look!
Don't worry mate, you're not alone!!
BEar
# posted by : 12:51 pm
: 12:51 pm
It appears my computer got attacked by the Djemba-Djemba virus yesterday!!
Bear
Post a Comment
Bear
# posted by : 3:13 pm
: 3:13 pm << Home
