Final Days before Morocco

Tuesday 22nd September:
Work and movie day. Went to see The Gamer - not bad, not a great story line but decent enough action.

Wednesday 23rd September:
Work

Thursday 24th September:
Work, but only a half day as we had an all finance fun day. Half way between the two offices of Birmingham and Cheadle (Manchster). Wasn't bad and a lot of fun was had. Got to do the sumo-suited sumo, coughts, big buzzer, big jenga and a very big operation game.

Friday 25th September:
Last day of work for 2 weeks. Yahh. Was just another day at work, although I had to make sure that most of what I was doing was finished so that I could leave it and not worry about it until I get back.

Off to Morocco tomorrow, and not posts until I get back.

Only a few days left

Tuesday 15th September:
Work had the launching of the new brand and company day today. Got to go in casuals and sit through a company wide meeting for the new brand launch - really exciting stuff!, then a night at the movies to see Dorian Gray. Was an ok movie, nothing spec and varies quite a bit from some of the out tales told about Dorian.

Wednesday 16th September:
Work and a quiet night at home.

Thrusday 17th September:
Spent the day travelling to and from Manchester and up in Manchester office for a team meeting. Really exciting and almost put me to sleep.

Friday 18th September:
Work, quiet night at home watching a movie, then out for a couple of drinks with one of the fellas on my floor.

Saturday 19th September:
What to say...got up late, posted Greg's b/day present and card, banked a cheque and then went and bought a pair of sandles and jeans, ready for my trek in Morocco.

Sunday 20th September:
Got up early enough to get to church this morning. The afternoon and evening were spent getting the food for the week and watching a couple of programs and movies.

Monday 21st September:
Work wise as always.

Internet always an issue

Tuesday 8th September:
Work, and being cheap-arse Tuesday movie night. Went to see the new District-9 movie. It is well done and considering that I had see a few people who didn't like it, I loved it. Done in a bit of Mokumentory style for part of the movie, it was well created and interesting. It had sub-expressions as to the political situation past and present in South Africa, but these we only minor parts, the rest of the movie was well executed and acted. A movie that had I paid full-price for I wouldn't have been disappointed - as such it is a must see!

Wednesday 9th September:
Work

Thursday 10th September:
Work, then football afterwards where about halfway through the match I got my right ankle step on and as such pretty much couldn't run for the rest of the night - still having trouble walking on it and generally have to limp around the place.

Friday 11th September:
Work, and Birmingham currently have an Artsfest on, which started today and goes all weekend. So I might head down there later and see what's going on and enjoy the entertainment and take a few photo's.

Saturday 12th September:
Spent the day out at Artsfest, with a couple of stop overs at the walkabout to watch the cricket action (pretty boring and standard Australian teaching England how to stage a successful run chase).

Sunday 13th September:
After doing the weekly food shop in the morning, I spent half the day out at the last day of Artsfest Birmingham. Followed by dinner at home and then went out again to watch Reverend & the Makers play. The were pretty decent as a live act and I wouldn't mind seeing them play again.

Monday 14th September:
Work, work, work, work and more work. Followed by a relaxing night at home.

A disruption and the start of the count down

Tuesday 1st September:
Had an email this morning from the airline that I had booked my flight to Prague with. Apparently they have decided to declare bankruptcy, and as such I no longer have a flight to prague. Luckily I hadn't yet book accomodation, but I will look at getting a different airline to fly there with on the same weekend though.
Fingures crossed, but probably not overly likely to happen. Oh well these things happen, at least I should be able to get the money back through the bank since I paid via credit card.
In the evening I went to see the Hurt Locker at the theatres. Good movie, decent action and interesting enough plot and story line.

Wednesday 2nd September:
Work and quiet night at home with a call from Mum and Dad.

Thursday 3rd September:
Work, then got home to the internet not working again.

Friday 4th September:
Work and a quiet day at work. Came home to cook my lamb steaks for dinner and listen to the first ODI of Australia vs England. Followed by a relatively quiet night at home.

Saturday 5th September:
Just a quiet Saturday spent at home, and at the shops buying food.

Sunday 6th September:
Another quiet day, went with Milin (my new housemate) down to the Walkabout to watch the English batting in the second half of the ODI. While there met an English guy who was over from Ireland with his wife, 2 year old son and parents-in-law. Got chatting and had a few drinks bought for us while watching the English get beaten.
Also it was Milin's birthday, hence the trip to the bar for a few drinks.

Monday 7th September:
Back to work.

A week of new beginings and Germany

Tuesday 25th August:
Work, also went to see Inglorious Basterds at the theatre for my cheap-arse Tuesday movie night. Good movie, typical Tarantino moive and if you don't like his stuff you probably won't like this one. I really enjoyed it. Quite funny, althought the subtitles were a bit annoying occasionally.

Wednesday 26th August:
Work, also showing a variety of people my appartment as apparently there are a few other's around the place that are free and my landlord isn't into, so I'm showing them my room.
Also apparently the guy I thugh was moving into the free room is no longer do so and it's a different (Indian) fella - not overly happy about that and not a big fan off the first visit.

Thursday 27th August:
Work, work and more work. Then Football/soccer at night aswell.

Friday 28th August:
Work, and final day before a long weekend. Nothing else much happened although got a call about just before 5 from my new flatmate asking if I was home (well of cause not I'm at work!). Anyway one my landlord's daughter came around later to give the keys to the new fella - he eventually came (it was the Indian fella - damn it).

Saturday 29th August:
Flew to Dusseldorf in the afternoon, to arrive at about 7.30ish then catch a bus into town. Booked into the hostel (kinda reception closes at 9 and I arrived after that, but they had given me the door code and room number).
Anyway met some Manchester fellas there for a weekend away, and eventually went out for a night on the town with them.
Was a good night wanderering the hotspots of the city and having a few drinks. Saw all the germans, and lots of Hen and Buck's night going on. German women have an odd custom of going out on a hen's night and selling sex toys and shots to help raise money to either spend on the nights drinks, or help out in some way for the wedding.

Sunday 30th August:
Eventually got up at about 11. Had some breakfast and then went out to wander the city and see the sights of Dusseldorf - the city on the Rhine and some other river).
Quite a nice day to start off with but then it started to get overcast and a bit colder.
Made my way back to the hostel for a rest after about 5 odd hours of walking. Went out to for a nice dinner in Altstadt, then back to the hostel again.
Met up with the Manchester fella's again and we headed out eventually for another (albeit much quieter) night on the town. Went up the town's tower for a beer and night time viewing of the city then off to another bar on the banks of the Rhine for another drink.
Eventually made our way back to the hostel for the rest of the night (well for sleep).

Monday 31st August:
Final day in Dusseldorf and I had forgotten to change the time on my phone so I got up an hour later than I was wanting too. As a result I never made it back to the tower to get a skyward view of the city.
Eventually cuaght the bus back to the airport where I had to wait for about 2 hours (buses aren't that regular out there). FLight back to Birmingham was uneventful, but by the time I got home I was extremely tired Said hi eventually to my new flatmate and then did a couple of things, had dinner and then eventually went to bed.