Around the World: August 2005

I've got two tickets to paradise!!!!!!

Last night we held the Front of House Awards. Awards were given in such categories as Punctuality, Customer Service, Safety Awareness, Morale and Motivation, Commitment and The People's Choice Award. The alcohol flowed freely, in a physical and monetary sense, 'til the wee hours of the morning.
The 3 Managers, the 2 other Head Ushers and I labored over the nominations and awards. We wanted to get it just right. We were stuck on one award - The Managers' Award. We had a few different nominees but couldn't choose between them. In the end, we left it up to the managers to decide. So as you can imagine I was absolutely shocked when I received the Managers' Award. The Prize was 2 return tickets to New York!!! Russell, the Theatre Manager made a speech before presenting the award, saying that it encompassed all the other awards. Then, he said this person has recently been promoted within the company and I cried in my Australian accent (which stands out like a sore thumb amongst all the English) "OH SHIT!" followed by a few no, no, no's. I welled up with tears and then began to shake. I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to me. I started in the theatre industry back in May and it has had a profound effect on me and I'm getting soppy, sorry. I'll stop now. Anyways who wants to be my Plus 1?? The search begins...

The Church Saved Me!

No, I haven't turned into a Born-Again Christian, I'm talking about a different type of church altogether. Those from the Southern Hemisphere who have lived in London at one time or another have most probably visited The Church on a Sunday. A venue with sawdust on the ground, where you can only buy beers in threes, where strippers and boat races serve as entertainment. A place where debauchery reigns free, where men lure women into kissing by wearing t-shirts that proclaim "Hold my beer" on the front, "While I snog your mate" on the back (Bones and I fell for that one - Bones held some bloke's beer, while I was violated).
Corbo, Bones and I went for a "Boys" Day Out while their ladies were out of town a few weekends ago. Scared of losing my shit I transferred my Switch card (debit card), my Licence and my travelcard into a seperate wallet and headed off unencumbered by a handbag. We had a messy day. Well, I had a messy day which consisted of spending a great deal of time on my butt; Converse All Stars have slippery soles. Long story short: I never got around to transferring my essential cards back into my regular wallet. A good thing, as last Wednesday night I had my wallet stolen from my bag while enjoying a post-work beverage (or three) in the pub next door to the theatre. I actually caught the guy doing it and confronted him but he'd already given it to this girlfriend accomplice who had run off with it. Sucked in because I only had 3 quid on me. However, I had my Australian cards and UK credit card in the wallet. Pete, a fellow Aussie who runs the pub was an absolute angel and called his mum is Oz to find out the phone numbers for my banks back home. Shella who was at work in Sydney was also wonderful, and got straight on the case for me. Thank you Shell! Anyways that ill-fated trip to The Church on the previous Sunday really saved me - I still had id, access to cash and was able to get home. Thanks be to the fat MC with the socks stuffed down his pants, my new messiah!

A life in the theatre...

I'm now head usher at the theatre. I feel like I'm spending my entire life there. Which isn't at all a bad thing. Perks include having Keanu Reeves look away when you smile at him as he returns to his seat after the interval, being in the same room as Orlando Bloom, seeing Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski and the rest of the cast sing their hearts out every night and eating out of date Malteasers. Oh and I now have a radio.
10-4.

Barbie

Here's some photos from our BBQ on the weekend. It was such a great day, loads of food, beer and good friends.

Kieran on the barbie

Lazy Sunday

Beautiful Sushi brought her guitar along and entertained us with her songs about creatures of the sea

Russ and I

Hamish on the yukele and Stewart on the guitar

Hannah P and Kieran from the Piccadilly

Me, Renay and Egg

My flatmates, Tom, Egg and Adam

Kate B, Hannah and Russ from the Piccadilly

The Kinross Konnection

We've been out of school 10 years now. Hard to believe really. Our school organised a reunion in Australia but because there's so many of us over here we decided to have our own "super-league" reunion. I've posted some photos from the day. We went on a Thames cruise and I think a good time was had by all. See you all in another 10 years!!!