Offski

Its now 3 days and counting ... India is indeed calling. Emotions are a little mixed @ the moment, excited but also a little trepidation. But hey should be good either way. A change is really what monkey needs right now.

Its also change on the accommodation front, I'm now staying the Oberoi which, if is half as nice as it looks will be something special. Its quite simply somewhere you'd like to go on honeymoon .... but best of all is that free cocktail deal. I'm really not sure however if this good or bad, having been so used to traveling on a budget and having previously stayed in some of the world worst flea pits. But watch this space, will shall see...

So, all that's left to say is that the visa is got, flights are booked, and hotel is sorted. The Hindi is quite simply crap, so I guess that I'm as ready as I'll ever be ... Bon voyage!

Busy weekend

Well, after a failed cost saving iniative on Friday, and no great plans for the rest of the weekend - things really hoted up. My quiet weekend was rapidly shelved as I ended up in Leicester on Saturday helping to celebrate a friend’s birthday (happy birthday Greg!). A good night was had by all I feel, although I can't help but think that my failure to go clubbing with some young, attractive and rather nubile students was an opportunity missed... but no matter, there always next time!

Sunday was a funny day, having decided that the opportunity to go home and say hi to the family was too good to miss (since I was already 1/4 of the way there) Leeds was indeed calling. I popped in to see the folks and then promptly went to the pub. Several gallons of Stella later, and Monkey was a bit the worst for ware... same old, same old I hear you say - well not so!. For once I was lucid and still capable of speach (albeit stellarised) ... The funny and bizarre thing is, now less than a week away from foreign climbs and nice women have started to take an interest in me again .. Odd place this world in which we live!.

Yesterday was a day of recovering, the adventures in the Stella zone saw to that. Dinner with the folks @ the Mill Race (which was nice) and few beers with my new friend was about all I could cope with... all in a great way to spend Monday!

Radio Silence

After what seems to be an entirnaty of radio silence my big brother finally emailed today. All is apparently well in Iraq.... despite the obvious dangers of being in a war zone. But hey he's alive and well, all be in a little bit of harms way....

Cost Saving

Concious that I'll need every penny I've got, and the simply fact that no one was going out last night - I decided to stay in on a friday. This has been a rare choice recently, but being sick as a parat last week probably signalled it was needed. Anyways on paper ... this is great cost saving iniative. O how wrong can you be?.

I woke the morning to find that 3 bottles of wine and the power of the tinternet had induced me to spend a small fortune. My email indicate I am soon to the proud owner of a silver IPod mini , if this wasn't bad enough I then proceeded to spend no less the £200 @ Hard to Find on backdated vinyl. So much for a cheap night attempting to learn Hindi .... Total spend £500... skint now!. Going home to Leeds, getting twated for 3 days would have been a far cheaper option..

Anyways to late now, going shopping now to cheer self up!. Power to Visa!

Mighty Mighty Leeds

Well its taken all day, of mostly sleeping on the sofa - but my hangover has subsided. To say I was pissed yesterday, is to understate tremendously. What occasion prompted such behavour I hear you ask, well two fold ... Firstly my friend Johns birthday, but also if that was not reason enough, it was also the day of the super league grand final.

The show piece event of the sport was made all the more spectacular by the fact that Leeds had made it through. Having finished the weekly rounds top of the pile, and also having lost to Bradford two weeks ago, the stage was set for a rip rawing final. Boy did it not disappoint.... with Leeds producing the display of the season to claim victory. What a team effort .... I'm afraid to say however the sheer volume of ale consumed left me a little partied out... but hey one of the most memorable days of my life.. today I'm happy to say 'I'm Rhinos till I die' ...

Destination the 'Garden City'

Well today my fate was decided, Bangalore is the way forward (In Sunny India). As a result I spent the morning being poked and prodded by a nurse ... long and short of which ending with lots of extra inoculations. Needles are the one thing in the world I hate - so not too nice an experience. On a plus note I can now get bitten by all kinds of creatures, without fear of foaming @ the mouth. I'll save that trade mark look for occasions when too much Tiger is involved!.

It seems Bangalore is nicknamed the 'Garden City of India' so am beginning to expect great things. That of course combined with the fact that Diwali falls not long after I arrive. The chaps out there keep telling me this is a party to behold ... fingers crossed eh!

Grand Final day is also looming large on the horizon. Leeds are indeed looking like the team to beat ... So good luck to the lads for Saturday. I now wish I'd got that ticket two weeks ago ..

Man of Steel

Somewhat surprised I am today to see Andy Farrell named man of Steel .

To be honest I would have liked to have seen it go to one of the younger players in SuperLeague, be it Shaun Briscoe or Danny McGuire ... but hey as was voted for by the player themselves I guess they know's best....

Happy Birthday greetings today must also go to John H ... well into the 3rd decade now I am led to believe...

Back to normality

After a rather hectic, and drunken weekend its back to the normality of life in Leamington. Leeds as good as it is for nights out can get a little to intense. I tell you the two day hangover is testimony to that. On the plus side the rhinos won again, I caught up with some friends and the world is a positive place.

Further update on the migration south, three weeks and counting. Hopefully I can stay off the beers long enough to start to pack this week.... But not holding my breath, especially with a friends birthday up and coming.

Head Hurts

After opting not to enjoy the sunny heights of a night in Leamington, I decided a quiet night in Leeds was a far better option. Being my home town, its easy to get carried away in the spirit of catching up with chums .... and that's exactly what happened....

Several pints of wife beater, combined with some mysterious German lager that ma dad had in the fridge, equate to a brass band playing loudly in my head. Never again I hear you say, not on your life, bigger bolder and messier tonight...

monkey out .... For the count!

Moving offshore

Today was the day that monkey got his marching orders for abroad ... India bound I am!. Thus, to keep things ticking over, and people remotely informed of my where abouts, I've decided this is a good way forward....

Therefore watch this space ... Something of interest in future posts, me hopes ... Monkey out!