London, England

Today is the start of our trip around London on the Big Bus Company, but not before Tim cooks up a storm for breakfast. We decide to stay on the bus for most things, just because of the time factor. We can come back to the things we really want to see later.

The bus started from Paddington Station, went past the London Planetarium and Madame Tussaud’s before heading down south past Marble Arch, Park Land and then west to Kensington Gardens. We got off here and walked through to Kensington Palace (home of Princess Diana) and then walked back to the stop via Royal Albert Hall.

Kensington Palace, London, England

Royal Albert Hall, London England

Back on the bus to Marble Arch to join the red route. The next stop was Trafalgar Square, via Piccadilly Circus, where we got off and had a look around and walked down past Whitehall to 10 Downing Street (home of the Prime Minister).

Me, Trafalgar Square, London, England

Back on the bus past Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. From there we went South west to Buckingham Palace, where, of course, we got off and had a look around.

We went back to Piccadilly Circus and caught the bus back to the Mansions for dinner.

After dinner we caught the tube to Hammersmith with Kern, Beck and Hayley, an adopted Mansions member and local bartender. We met up with a few of their friends, Nobbsy, Sarah & Pete, at Wetherspoons. Also, there were Hayley’s friends Megan from New Zealand, Andy from Oz, and Shane from Canada. A good night in a great pub ended with us catching the last tube home.

Hong Kong to London, England

Big, big, big day! We arrived at Heathrow at 5.20am after a 17-hour flight. Thank God for sleeping tablets!

We got a free bus ride into Marble Arch which, as it turns out, is at the bottom of Edgeware Road. A 20-minute walk and a right turn later, and we arrive at the Mansions to wake everyone up at seven am.

Beck, Me, Reggae & Troy at The Mansions, London

We started the day off with a walk up to Church Street Markets and had a great fried breakfast.

We headed into central London to take a look around. Caught the No. 6 bus (my first Red London bus) down to Piccadilly Circus and saw the famous neon signs. Then Roberta, Troy, Beck, Reggae and Mansion Family members, Johnny Joiner, Lena & Alyssa, met up with Brett and Simone, and Brett’s cousin, at Leicester Square before heading over to Sheila’s (a dodgy Australian restaurant) for lunch.

Afterwards, we walked through Covent Gardens to the Naag’s Head pub for a couple of local ales. Then back home where the rest of the house begin their night out. For Roberta & I, jetlag kicks in and we are done.

Sydney, Australia to Hong Kong

So, the holiday of a lifetime finally begins! We all meet at Sydney Airport at 10.30am (Mum, Kel, Nan, Aunty Trish, Uncle Greg and Roberta's family). Surprisingly, I’m still not nervous.

The flight to Hong Kong was great, well, exciting enough to stay awake and enjoy all the creature comforts, i.e., food, movies, hot towels, etc. We arrive in Hong Kong at eight pm local time, and into the 30ºC heat. It’s a two hour wait in the departure lounge for the next flight.

Swervedriver & Magic Dirt @ The Metro

What I remember (in 2014)

Went on my own.

Last show before overseas trip to Europe.

Went on the basis of Son of Mustang Ford and Rave Down. Overall, Swervedriver were pretty disappointing.

The Crap Facts

This is my 148th concert.

This is my 28th concert at The Metro.

This is my 32nd concert in Sydney.

This is my 146th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 148th concert in Australia.

This is my 5th Magic Dirt concert.
Swervedriver are the 190th band I've seen

Tea Party & L7 @ Selina's

The Crap Facts

This is my 147th concert.

This is my 21st concert at Selina's.

This is my 21st concert in Coogee.

This is my 145th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 147th concert in Australia.

L7 are the 189th band I've seen.
This is my 4th Tea Party concert.

Reservoir Dogs @ Harold Park Hotel

What I remember (in 2024)

Wet with Roberta.

Her friend Christian was in the show, as was Bill Young, Stan from Hey Dad!

Great show.  Very true to the movie.

Primus, Jesus Lizard & Fini Scad @ Selina's

What I remember (in 2014)

Went on my own.

David Yow falling into the crowd and being passed over everyone to get back to the mixing desk, like he did in 96 supporting Rage.

After leaving the Coogee Bay Hotel, saw Jeff Martin of the Tea Party coming in.

The Crap Facts

This is my 146th concert.

This is my 20th concert at Selina's.

This is my 20th concert in Coogee.

This is my 144th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 146th concert in Australia.

This is my 3rd Fini Scad concert.
This is my 4th Jesus Lizard concert.
This is my 3rd Primus concert.

Green Day & Mavis' @ UNSW Roundhouse

What I remember (in 2024)

Went on my own,

Billie Joe pulled someone out of the crowd to play a song with them.  When the song was over, he gave a couple of t-shirts to the kid and made him stage dive to get off.

The Crap Facts

This is my 145th concert.

This is my 2nd concert at UNSW Roundhouse.

This is my 2nd concert in Kensington.

This is my 143rd concert in New South Wales.

This is my 145th concert in Australia.

Mavis' are the 188th band I've seen

This is my 2nd Green Day concert.

Jebediah & Living End @ UNSW Roundhouse

The Crap Facts

This is my 144th concert.

UNSW Roundhouse is the 39th venue I've seen a concert in.

Kensington is the 30th city I've seen a concert in.

This is my 142nd concert in New South Wales.

This is my 144th concert in Australia.

This is my 3rd Living End concert
This is my 3rd Jebediah concert.

Foo Fighters & Ammonia @ Selina's

What I remember (in 2024)

Went on my own.

Selina's packed to the rafters.

Two drum kits set up on stage, Dave played his set on only one song.  Can't remember the song, but the crowd loved it.

The Crap Facts

This is my 143rd concert.

This is my 19th show at Selina's

This is my 19th show in Coogee.

This is my 141st concert in New South Wales.

This is my 143rd concert in Australia.

Ammonia are the 186th band I've seen.

Foo Fighters are the 187th band I've seen

Midnight Oil @ Mingara

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Mum.

Midnight Oil used the raffle wheel again (like they did in November 1997 in Coogee), where whatever song spun up was played.

The Crap Facts

This is my 142nd concert.

This is my 2nd show at Mingara.

This is my 2nd show in Tumbi Umbi.

This is my 140th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 142nd concert in Australia.

This is my 5th Midnight Oil concert.

Homebake @ The Domain

The Crap Facts

This is my 141st concert.

The Domain is the 38th venue I've seen a concert.

This is my 31st show in Sydney.

This is my 139th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 141st concert in Australia.

This is my 3rd John Reed Club concert.

John Reed Club are the 50th band I've seen in Sydney.

This is my 2nd Lantern concert.
This is my 3rd Shihad concert.
Something For Kate are the 185th band I've seen.
This is my 7th Frenzal Rhomb concert.
This is my 5th Crow concert.
This is my 5th Custard concert.
This is my 2nd Superjesus concert.

Vans Warped Tour @ Kierle Park

Mighty Mighty Bosstones Setlist

The Crap Facts

This is my 140th concert.

Kierle Park is the 37th venue I've seen a concert.

This is my 2nd show in Manly.

This is my 138th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 140th concert in Australia.

This is my 5th Front End Loader concert.
Front End Loader are the 350th time I've seen a band.

Royal Crown Revue are the 180th band I've seen.
Reel Big Fish are the 181st band I've seen.
Die Toten Hosen are the 182nd band I've seen.
This is my 4th Porkers concert.
This is my 2nd Living End concert.
This is my 2nd Blink-182 concert.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones are the 183rd band I've seen.
This is my 6th Frenzal Rhomb concert.
Pennywise are the 184th band I've seen.

Irresponsathon @ Hordern Pavilion

What I remember (in 2024)

Went on my own.

The night after silverchair, this was an afternoon/early evening show.

I went because it was supposed to be the last ever show at the Hordern.  They had already moved the Easter Show, out the OLympic site, and were going to build Fox Studios in the area.

Can't remember why I didn't see Frenzal Rhomb or Grinspoon.  Maybe they were the last 2 bands, and I was done.

The Crap Facts

This is my 139th concert.

This is my 20th concert at Hordern Pavilion.

This is my 28th show in Moore Park.

This is my 137th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 139th concert in Australia.

Dogbuoy are the 177th band I've seen.
Dogbuoy are the 50th time I've seen a band at the Hordern Pavilion.

Nancy Vandal are the 178th band I've seen.
Pridebowl are the 179th band I've seen.
This is my 6th Hard Ons concert.

silverchair, Magic Dirt & Lantern @ Hordern Pavilion

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Roberta.

Not my favorite silverchair show.  Most songs were of the new album, Freak Show, which I didn't like as much as Frogstomp.  But you could see they were trying to move on from the album, as they didn't even play tomorrow.

The Crap Facts

This is my 138th concert.

This is my 19th concert at Hordern Pavilion.

This is my 26th show in Moore Park.

This is my 136th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 138th concert in Australia.

Lantern are the 176th band I've seen.

This is my 4th Magic Dirt concert.
Magic Dirt are the 100th time I've seen a band in 1997.

This is my 8th silverchair concert