Time out: Entertainment news

Having recently read the book, I admit the piccy I had in my mind's eye of Sophie Neveu was a good one. So I'm a bit upset that Kate Beckinsale didn't get the female lead in the movie make of 'The Da Vinci Code'.

"While Howard, a former star of TV show Happy Days, wanted a French actress to get the part, US studio bosses were thought to prefer a better known actress, with Britain's Kate Beckinsale tipped as one of the possibilities."

That would have been awesome :)

Kangaroos are as stupid as Rabbits [Edit]

Which is why I hit one last night. And before anyone assumes I was driving too fast I can honestly deny you the pleasure..

We were driving at night making our way up further North and were already aware that there were loads of 'roos about 'cos we had seen a few. We came up to this big dude on the left, facing away from the road, so I thought he was cool, just taking a chill pill as they all seem to be doing at that time of night. Just when it was too late he turned around, and I changed my mind about his chilling tactics as he looked at us with panic in his eyes and skipped into the road. I hit the brakes and we skid, boshed the 'roo one with a nice big bang and he bounced off the car (as they do, I suppose) and hit the road laid down sideways. At that point, I thought 'Shit! I killed a 'roo!' but he scraped himself off the floor and bounced off into the night. Mike then said he heard the light smash and we got out to see a busted left front light and dented bonnet, which sucks, 'cos technically we were still driving (although a long way from) the garage where we had just had the car fixed, and I joked that the car was about to be in perfect working order for the 1st time since we'd hired it.

So that's my 'roo boshing story. We're proper Aussie now..

We have a nice piccy of the offending animal traveling carwards just before the smash (thanks Mike..) so I will post that up soon.

18.1.5

We are currently waiting for the air-con in our wonderful wagon to get fixed, as the belt fell off somewhere South of where we are now and it is very hot. So hot that I am a lovely red colour and it hurts to touch my belly... And shoulders, chest, knees, face, etc..

It got really hot in a place called Monkey Mia, a small resort on the tip of a peninsular 2/3 way up the West coast. We took a trip on a nice 60ft Cat to check the dolphins that all hang out there, and also the sharks, sea snakes, dugongs (odd things), turtles and more. It was a scorcher and there was no wind either, and so it became the place into the most beautiful place I have ever seen. This is not an exaggeration: I have photos and they are on my site, you will only do yourself justice if you check them! I think it counts as the nicest place I have been to, although we were on a boat so i dont know if it's bending the rules a bit.

Sounds like Glos is going to be a void of people just after I return.. so you should all change your plans and hang around. For me. Thanks.

Good day from Kalbarri

To be fair there isn't much to write about since we left Perth.. It's all been 'you had to be there' kinda stuff: Views and places etc. We're living in tents for this journey making it right proper camping.

We're traveling up the West Coast from Perth to a spot called Exmouth. It's gradually getting hotter and windier as we do so, and decidedly more Outback Australian. Some of the roads here are straight as the eye can see. We've seen dried up salt lakes, beautiful beaches, sand dunes, huge gorges.. The list continues. I've got no pics 'cos I got no picture machine but Mike's got a load on his website.

As far as the big plan goes, I think due to having earned no money since my wonder-daze in brick cleaning and 'cos my visa application has been so full of hassle that I will be coming home earlier than once thought. I reckon mid-March, after I have been to the Ozzy GP... And just before my third summer in a row. :) Who'll be in Glos then?

So

I was out last night, in a state as per.

I had a really long conversation with a gay couple about the contradictions a hetero faces when trying to accept gays. (Same old: Nice people, weird hobby.)

It was quite surreal actually as we talked very candidly. They told me that Dan, Mike and I are "gorgeous" and offered me things I cannot write down here.

Funny things happen eh?

ps. Don't worry Dad, I like girls.

"Do a Katie"

So, to "do a Katie" - the new Gloucester rhyming slang for leaving a night early for fear of sick. Nice one Katie. Apparently also lucky for Rich that he didn't beat you to it? Sounds like glos is getting hardcore!

Happy New Years (ooof)

Ooooof. I feel a bit confused/tired/lazy/blank/etc. Definately a predominance of blank. I think it's got to a point where I am beginning to lose the brain cells that I rely on for normal function when I go drinking.

Last night was good fun in Perth, have to say that although the place is different, the feel wasn't very different to being in Gloucester! So don't fret at home, it's not all that bad. Maybe less chavs, but more trouble from other types round here. In a small public square we managed to celebrate the turning of year at about 3 separate times, so that was nice. Good to speak on the phone to all I did last night, hope the party continued in good fashion... We drank some beers in a park, followed by house gathering and then our move to Perthan Suburbia was executed.

On a rather sad note, my camera joined the extreme tarmac jumping (ETJ to those in the know) club last night and failed to live it through to 2005. RIP little Pentax, good times were shared. There is a small ray of hope: Dr. Insurance might be able to cure him, but the outlook's not good.

As far as roadtrippin' goes, we have to get our car fixed (another hire vehicle broke - haha!) before we can set off to the North. Not sure how long that will take so could be in Perth for a few days longer than planned. That's about all for now. I am having trouble enough writing this.

Pinch punch first of the month to everyone. I'm off to watch Notting Hill.