Oh Oh Oh Oh

09/08/11 oh oh oh oh

The plan had been somewhat optimistically to wake up at 9am and have breakfast. As it happened I managed to surface at 12 and forage some food and chicken well he managed to get up at 1.30 and James well he never made it out of bed until 6pm.

When chicken did wake we stumbled over to Subway for a hangover butty. This was nearly the end of chicken and the world was looking pretty bad for him. Managing to keep the grub down but not rid himself of the shakes or the sweats we headed into Melbourne. Our pass very slow conversation somewhat halted but after an hours walk we were on a tram taking the Melbourne tour.

By the time we had walked home we were feeling much better and convened in what has become known as our corner. Here we wolfed down an amazing kebab, kicked back and surfed the internet before heading back to yes you guessed it bed!

10/08/11 chickens, monkeys and zoos
We actually managed to make breakfast today. Well chicken and I did. James had suffered with the ever coughing Luke and had opted for an extra hour shut eye. Never the less we were on the metro by 10.30 and heading into Melbourne. James and chicken went to the Zoo and our guest editor the one the only Mr Mallen will shortly provide a commentary on that event.

Whilst the monkey and the chicken toured the zoo I worried that they may not be let out again but never the less got on with my shopping expedition. Several hours of determined looking and I Came away with a tent, three roll mats, two German army canteens, two sleeping bags and a gas stove. Nowt like being prepared!

After dumping the stuff back at the hotel we reconvened for lunch… our first hot meal in 3 days. Yes I can almost hear your heart strings snapping but food is so chuffing expensive here. As an ever ready boy scout I had found somewhere cheap to eat and even let James order off the full menu!

The afternoon was spent touring the old Melbourne goal. Hear were saw and leaned about the appalling conditions, executions, the roll of hangman and flagellator and scared chicken half to death taking him up to the third floor balcony. Next we were processed into the holing centre of main Melbourne police station. The woman in charge was somewhat scary. She had us standing against the wall, shouted at us and only chickens arse scared us from a strip search. After being banged up in the holding cells which were in use until 1994. We all left with a mug shot and no desire to ever be processed in such a way.

Pining for home we hit yes you guessed it an Irish bar where we drank Guinness talked and listened to the banter.

11/08/11 Jimbo goes 29

Something very strange occurred this morning. Even more strange than James turning 29. At 10 am on His birthday we were in the GYM for a proper work out. The three of us cut a dashing gaggle in what can only be described as the gayest gym on earth. Think preening men, adverts for gay night clubs and lots of fit camp staff. Now as exsting readers will know James had signed up for a week’s pass. Chick and I found a free two day pass giving us free reign of the venue. After a very cursory induction we were off and an hour and half later we were ‘feeling the post gym burn’

After a quick wash we treated ourselves to a foot long subway before heading off to the cinema to watch some of James mates in action. The film… the rise of the planet of the apes. Not only did it feature James life like kin but actually was ‘amazing’ in James words and pretty good in mine.

Leaving chicken to oversee the washing we had a nap before returning to our corner to meet up with chicken. Here we had found that he had put his two hours to good use and had been chatting up two ladies one of whom was a teach but less excitingly from Wigan… yes yes my xenophobic rugby league bent is still with me.

After getting the low down from chicken we headed off to the Melbourne technical catering collage. I wanted to take James for a nice slap up meal but did not want to pay the slap up price. We were rewarded with excellent food and wine with somewhat nervous service as many of the waiters were on their second shift. It was very clear that some of them had never eaten in a nice restaurant as nothing came naturally. They were shy, would fumble with well everything, told us that the cheese plat was in fact a cheese flan and then after checking again elaborated as far a cheese with apple, nuts and crackers. That said the food was fab and the night a very enjoyable way to end Jimbo's last birthday of his twenties.