Why does it always rain on me/Tiny bubbles

It never rains but it pours! Left work early to have a meeting with our good friends at Thomson Reuters and they were so pleased to see me that they crossed my palm with a couple of Stella Bella's. It was only as I sipped my last mouthful that I advised that Sydney office would not need their system as their Compliance will be supported from HK and Edinburgh. I appreciate that I will be in front of Miss Marple Thornton when I return home, but I can assure him the liquid was purely medicinal and required to mitigate dehydration and was no way intended to be any form of inducement from their part.
Things got worse when I stumbled across the Opera Bar, post work, and having purchased a SB I relaxed by the water enjoying a sunset over/under the bridge. Guy next to me asked if I was enjoying view, I said loving it and then he enquired if I was a jock. Turns out they were a bunch of Investment Bankers out for their standard Friday libation and they had another posh jock, Bearsden, in their company. Friday night is Veuve Clicquot night mainly to impress the females, however as an honorary jock I was invited to join the Friday tradition. 5 glasses later feeling really guilty I bid my farewell. Anyway feeling a bit better now as I compose this over another Stella Bella purchased by my own scheckles, SPs favourite tipple. life can be a bitch.
Tiny bubbles in the wine, make me feel happy, make me feel fine!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Basket Case/Dazed and Confused

Got a yellow card from the moll this morning, when I made her aware of the wonderful food I had eaten since I arrived. Slow cooked beef rib, beef sandwich, chicken salad, PB&J every morning and Aberdeen Angus steak. The common theme appears to be that they are hardly classified as Aussi tucker. The moll says unacceptable and that if I don't start on the tucker I may be deported! So I arrive at work this morning and before I can say fair dinkum, the wonderful Muriel shouts out PB&J on Wholemeal with an OJ. How could I disappoint her. I will try better and promise to update with a tuckericious episode in next 24 hours.
Do you have the time, to listen to me whine?












- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

On Top of the World/I Can See for Miles

Well it was time to say goodbye to a couple of the Aussi Angels, Di and Nat, who made my stay both productive and enjoyable. They would give Aileen 'butter wouldn't melt in my mouth' Ramage a run for her money when it came to organising. We all went to Bar O on the 47th floor of Didgerreedoo Tower and watched the sunset over the Blue mountains, although the red and blue didn't end up with purple. For the next 5 hours the wine, scran and banter flowed and thanks to Nat generously sharing her hot spot, I was able to share the views with my wonderful Edinburgonian colleagues. Appreciate they probably didn't appreciate the gesture at the beginning of a hard working day, but I wanted to share what was one of the most breathtaking views I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Particularly loved The Rock's unflinching expression, even views of the harbour bridge and Opera house did not impact his judge like expression. The Antipodean ladies appreciated the cameo roles from some of the other male supporting actors, but I quickly gave a reality check on their real looks and explained that the lens the other side must have been distorted. The camera never lies, by jingo it does; ever seen Tom Cruise close up? After our 6th revolution we were escorted off the premises with legs slightly unsteady, must have been the altitude. I managed to say my farewells to Di and Nat and could swear I felt moisture in my eyes.....must have been the altitude.


Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in 'most ev'ry thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New Adventures in Wifi/Lost in Translation

Well almost another international incident created. When recalling my adventures in the swimming pool this morning, the wonderful Di, said she hoped I was not in my 'budgie smuggler's'. I had no idea what she was talking about until they explained this was the Aussie word for Speedos. Thereafter followed some humorous banter that probably fell short of the standards expected at a premier nee leading global asset manager.
Roll forward 2 hours and our very own Jill 'let me tell you a story' Shaw returned from another positive session and started logging into her pc. Being hitec the office is fully wifid and unknown to Jill her old keyboard had been set up for me. So as Jill is trying to update on her pc, I am trying to remember the hysterical budgie reference but couldn't recall the phrase. So as I google 'budgie smotherer' in a 6th Sense moment, Google morphs up on her screen with the phrase 'budgie smotherer' appearing letter by letter. It's not often that Jill is lost for words, but I did witness it. Was totally affronted but was rescued by the others as to my reasons. Bizarrely 2 minutes earlier I had been looking for an article on Thomson Reuters about Finland's additional requirements for KIIDs that came out yesterday. I fear explaining 'Finnish KIIDs' may have been a more difficult explanation.
Please don't let me be misunderstood.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Locked Out/Freak

At last another Frank Spencer moment. Clearly forgetting who or what I am, I was intoxicated by the local fitness regime and decided to go for a swim/paddle when the pool opened at 6.30. They operate an electronic locker system, like Dalmahoy. I used my usual 4 digit number, but lo and behold when I finished my paddle/paddle kaboom it didn't work. Tried another 4 times, as its the only number I ever use. Then disaster as a piercing alarm is triggered. By this time there is a couple of jet lagged poms who clearly did not appreciate this added inconvenience and clearly on hearing my accent assessed that I was probably at it. A security guy arrived and switched off and then another arrived and asked me for a description of the contents. Fortunately no one else likely to have a bath robe and a pair of lime green socks with a hotel key card stuffed in them. I leave the scene with my tail between my sea legs. I don't belong here.....



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Running to stand still

The one thing that strikes you when you stroll around Sydney is that you are the only person strolling around Sydney! Jogger Central, everyone jogs at any time, it is a shell-suited shangrilla with the various colours passing you by every step of the way. It looks to me like joggers have right of way over cars and the constant sound of rubber meeting tarmac and the gentle excess breathing is new music to my ears. As you can see from below the Sheerlaghs also don their finest makeup for the activity. Am sure I saw a joggerwash yesterday where the joggers can get a bronze, silver or gold wash while on the run with an extra buff for those choosing the gold service! I can only watch with awe and great appreciation (whoever they are). Let me hear your body talk.
















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Our House

Having finished my tingling taste bud pure healthy chicken and coriander salad I head for the kitchen to clean up my fine bone china bowl only to be advised put it in the dishwasher. Cleaning my ears out I ask Nat to spray that again and she repeated 'put it in the dishwasher'. Not only do these guys have a view from heaven, but to save them chipping their finely manicured nails they also have a kitchen that wouldn't look out of place in an Ideal Homes Exhibition. As I explore the tardis that is on the 30th floor of Theyshallnotbementioned Tower, I come across foot spas, massage chairs, sauna and steam room in the stationery cupboard! As well as that the office is fully wifid up and never any need to leave your seat, unless of course you want to chill out in their indoor ski slope that is behind the photocopier. The decor us so pure and untouched that I felt guilty powdering my nose, the male palace of convenience looked pristine and I felt the same guilt when being the first to walk on the first snow if winter.
Based on a true story!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad