Homecoming Queen

12 months have flown by without anyone the wiser (I definitely haven't learnt anything new anyway). It seems like only last week that I was trying to hide my sniffles as Pinko jetted off to the States for his first post doc appointment, and now here he is sucking on a cocktail like there isn't enough tail!

He loves it!

Mid October Pinko returned to our sea-girted land and when he flew into Sydney the boys were there to meet him.

Pinko, Marty and Roberts living the good life (spare a thought for the under appreciated photographer)

We had a gay old time rocking out in downtown Sydney. The first night we drank ourselves silly at the bar associated with the backpackers we were staying at.

Many friends appeared for the first night and I leaned a valuable lesson - Sydney requires pants that cover the ankles.

The next day morn Pinko and I revived ourselves with a shaky 5 km run and some kebabs. Then the team headed to Manly so that Pinko could swim at a beach in a cool summer rain, while Marty and I enjoyed some tasty cocktails.

Marty and I enjoyed a competition of pick a cocktail from the menu they no longer have the ingredients for.

Our third and final night took us on an eventful journey to Surry Hills to watch the French valiantly overcome an undermanned welsh squad in the Rugby World Cup semi final.

The Dolphin hotel is Australia's only known sideways drinking hole.

I managed to procure a reserved sign from the Hotel which I will use for dastardly deeds in the future (look out Canberra).

Here I am reservin' some beer

Somehow, amidst the extreme bigness of Sydney I ran into Mel Stammell at the Dolphin Hotel, despite the fact that she too lives in Canberra.

Mel and Me

After many beers Roberts and I took a walk down Oxford Street before finding our way to a rooftop bar with Marty to finish off the night. All in all it was a splendid trip and wait for the moment we do something similar again.

Not every establishment we visited was classy. Here are the boys bashing there way through some bathroom doors.