In my job, the office isn’t always the office. Sometimes its a cinema, a cafe, a sound studio, a winery, a news printer, a gallery, a museum, a bowling alley… I have to admit, teaching English rocks! Check this out for just a few reasons to like work:

• with my previous class, we went out for coffee and yacked about soccer and watched Bend it like Beckham
• in my class at Victoria University we are studying films, so we get to watch movies as part of the course! (Last Friday we saw Gorillas in the mist)
• sometimes we listen to music, like Cat Stevens (unfortunately not his best song)
• at Melbourne University our class excursion ended up with wine tasting at the Rochford winery
• students brought a rich chocolate cake to class for my birthday last Monday

  

To top it all off, next month I will be taking up an invitation to work in China! Nothing has been confirmed yet but the details so far sound pretty good to me: a free return flight, free travel insurance, free accommodation, 1 week of holidays between the two blocks of 6 weeks. So stay tuned and catch me hanging out in Shandong province . I wonder if I can wear Chacos on hot days…

And whatever you do, don’t work too hard!

Hi everyone,
Please remember to bring a plate of yummy food (it can be anything, so long as it tastes good) and whatever you want to drink (we have plenty of water!) Also, the way the weather is looking, it might pay to bring your warm clothes. See you at our house! Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning! Time to open the presents. Kate of course received a game of Postie Kate! Gill received the penguins cup, and I have started wearing my new Union Jack boxers.

Afternoon feasting began shortly after everyone arrived. In a spookily similar fashion to last Christmas, this year we spent the day with international friends and one of Kate’s family members. Last year it was her brother Matthieu, this year it’s 100% Gill, the flamenco dancing, kangaroo-ears wearing, often shopping and always fun loving mum of Kate.

chucking Christmas chocolate on Vimeo

Lots of eating, drinking, talking, playing games and staying in out of the freezing cold wind, hail and rain, filled a wonderful day with cheer, merriness, great company and a good time.

Last night we held the opening screening of my digital slide-show Japan - a year in the life. A great night and a big thanks to all who made it. Copies of the (all regions, PAL) DVD are now in the mail. Thank you to the people that made it a lifetime in a year experience for me. Also thanks to my cousin Lynette for motivating me to produce the show. The poster and the YouTube preview for those still waiting to see it.

Is it the end? Not by a long shot. There’s a sequel in the pipeline which takes a different angle and course. The next project aims to cover my tourist-style travelling through China. The final chapter will take us through Tibet, a return to Japan and my odyssey to Australia.

My housemate shouted me a ticket to join him and another of his workmates to see The Audreys play at the Northcote Social Club. What a great band! Such a fantastic variety of instruments and talented musicians. The Audreys sound is excellent and somewhat like an Australian blend of, say Cowboy Junkies. You a fan of Weddings, Parties, Anything? Then imagine a more country than folk sound and you will enjoy it.

As well as their own material, they also performed a few ’80s covers, one being a superb version of Don’t Change from the Michael Hutchence days of INXS. Yay, go the ’80s! Interested to sample, get your ears around to http://www.theaudreys.com.au/listen.html