~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN ~~

It was with great pleasure that we recently were able to give Ian a bit of a surprise for his birthday, the event taking place down at Maroubra Beach.

Nice weather, great food, awesome friends and a selection of outstanding hornbags.

Join us as we celebrate Ian's big day.

The shots are obviously not in order, however I am in a hurry with heaps of society work to do tonight.

This is, hardly surprisingly, the moon at night, taken from our site at Maroubra Beach.

The ever beautiful Lyra and Gina surround my good mate Bernie, all partaking in copious amounts of tasty goodies.

Another tasty goodie of the oriental kind was seen enjoying the sunshine at Maroubra Beach.

Being accused of being desperate to young girls - I thought I better snap a shot.

MMWMWHWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

"HONEST MUM- I didn't eat all the chippies"

OK - Getting a little arty farty again.

Lightpole at Maroubra Beach.

FERLIE PHOTO REMOVED

Gina Princess and Ning enjoying the lovely night air at the beach.

Ning and Scott.

Ali assured us that all was OK after a brief moment of panic.

In the end it just turned out to be a kids kite.

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Its always surprising who turns up at a G-Spot Barkada gathering.

Tonight we were surprised to see Alum turn up and join us with a interesting collection of news pieces. He is seen here with Bernie, Princess and Ian.

Casey doing Tai Chi?

Nah - it was frisbi playing time!!

The birthday boy himself, Ian celebrates with the customary tinnie.

~~ BROCK AND SCOTT'S BIG BIRTHDAY ~~

BASH!!

PART 1 OF 3 PARTS (Yep it was that big)

Oooooooohhhhh Ali has an aching head!



What a silly aswang I was, two bottles of scotch, 12 stubbies of beer and what looked to be half a glass of port.


I mean, I can't even explain why I woke up at Mascot shops with no pants on, while this sore bottom has also got me significantly stumped. Thankfully at least I am still alive, it could have been much worse, could have passed out around Eastlakes.


Due to severe intoxication old Ali can't remember much of the nights activities, including why his bottom got so sore, however I shall try to explain the photos I took here with my good friend Mr Credi Bility.

Thank you to the wonderful G-Spot Barkada for allowing Ali to attend this wonderful event and thank you for the food. It be much enjoyed by this lonely aswang.

Thanks to the generosity of the G-Spot Barkada and others attending the party we were able to raise an awesome amount for our Philippine museum charity.

More on this will appear in part 3.

Lattrell preparing for some heavy partying!

Brad popped by very briefly to catch up with some old Filo mates before heading back into hiding under police protection.

Here he is seen with his ol mate Gina.

Wish you could have stayed longer - But we know the danger.

Ali is seen with his new friends Ana, Hiding Ferlie, Bernie and Gina. A little Lattrell can be just seen trying to inch a biscuit.

I tried to pinch a peanut in Pakistan once and had two fingers removed!

Ali need not say more about this one.

The maganda Riza with her cousin Ana.


Chris and Riza share a moment in front of Ali's camera.

The ever beautiful Gina getting plastered on heavy quantities of H2O.

Great to meet you to Cindy and also your cute friend.

"Piss off Ali - I'm trying to sleep"

Many apologies to you Ms Gina, please no lashings, not like the old days in Lebanon when I was caught trying to smuggle a packet of condoms across the border.

What a cutie. Baby is pretty cute to.

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Ahhhh yes, I think I was getting a bit drunk here.

Not sure if Ali's offer was taken up - don't imagine so.

Thanks be to all the wonderful G-Spot Barkada for allowing Ali, a poor peasant Arabic aswang boy from Eastlakes, to attend your auspicious event. I be forever in your debt and carrying wood!

Please join us tomorrow for part two of the coverage.

Peace to mankind - Ali TAA

ALI THE ARABIC ASWANG
AND
THE G-SPOT BARKADA'S EASTLAKES RETURN.

As-salam alaykum. (Thats Arabic for hello)

Yo Stooges, thanks for joining the all new website of the G-Spot Karaoke Barkada.

Some pissers have been threatening me main man Brad, who has asked me remove the digit from the caboose and run the website for him until he can again roam the streets without fear of death, excluding perhaps Redfern and back home in the Gaza Strip.

So who am I?

I am Ali obviously, a street urchin from Erskinville. Originally from the Middle East, I came to Australia to be a lawyer for 20 years, before I got the calling.

Yes the calling!

That calling from the streets to live for free on cake crumbs and the last remaining dregs of ones last bottle of beer.

A chance bite while rooting through the garbages at BKK Eastlakes for some edible treasure has rendered me with a problem, that of turning into a half man and half beast at night. Since joining the 'CARING' G-Spot Barkada I have learn't that the name for me is aswang.

I'm now paid a pie a week to run their website, rather generous, even for IR laws.

Yesterday I fulfilled a long time promise (about a week) to return the G-Spot Barkada to their former stomping ground of the Eastlakes Reserve for some seafood, wildlife spotting and fun.
Despite risking our lives and limbs, a great evening was had by all and a promise made to do it again soon.

All agreed it was a shame Brad could not go, but the threats has made sure that Eastlakes remains an exclusion zone for his visits.
He has however promised to post something to this website when he arrives in Parkes on the weekend.

In the meantime - enjoy the photos of last nights

G-SPOT BARKADA'S BIG EASTLAKES RETURN.

Memories

Rajin and Scott showing support for their new friend Ali!

Ali fits right in with the gang ever since he purchased his first can of deodorant.
Here we chew on the remaining calamari and a bit of chicken pie
left on a park bench.

Ali's beautiful daughter!
Ahhhh she is the pride of Palestine!

Yes hi gang!
Ali's wonderful new friends, caring, sharing and without
the rubbish Ali receives when sleeping in a gutter.

All to soon it starts getting dark and the group become growingly concerned
about the weird creatures flying overhead.
They certainly weren't pigeons, they had all left. Even the seagulls had fled in fear long before these weird airborne things started circling above
Eastlakes Reserve and the nearby Mascot Drive.
Despite Ali's assurances of his years of tactical military training and extensive experience in hand to hand combat with mythical creatures, fear still was setting on on everyone present in the park and they all were soon
screaming and running for cover.

THANK YOU

For joining me in my first posting to the group.
Join us next week when we cover this weekends huge two day party
celebrating Ali's acceptence into the barkada.

Ali is excited.

Ali is thrilled.

Oops Ali has WOOD!

Ma'a salama OR Goodbye

Cherry Picking Pt3

~~ PART 3 ~~

Before you all start emailing whinging about my missing part two of the cherry trip I should tell you it is because Blogger seems to be farting around yet again.
Seems you are likely to find a more reliable seller of Balut in Tondo than be able to get reliability from these sites sometime. Still it is a free service, something you ain't likely to get off a Balut vendor anywhere.
So anyway, I will try to get Part 2 up at a later date. In the meantime you will just have to persevere with Part 3 won't you................


Sadly 'Part 2' contains all the cherry picking bollocks, so this part of the report commences with the ride back to pack and pay for the cherrys we had picked.
The ride into the orchard and back was via an old Australian Army jeep built in November 1969, so it was only marginally younger than me, although it was probably in far better bloody condition.


We were running extremely late following the picking and we set sail pretty much straight away for, what was planned to be, a direct (and fast) trip back home in order to drop off the hired van.

Clouds were scattered for most of the trip back, with various patches of rain experiences. However this was not to be our only hassle of a water nature.


About 30 kms out of Bathurst (Blayney side) Ron and Gina's car overheated and needed more water. The problem was traced to a bodgy thermostat and they struggled onwards, regularly filling up with water until we got top Yetholme where Ana's brother attempted some temporary repairs.

Ning had here own special seat in the Tarago allocated to her.

Despite the temporary repairs and the unloading of much of the weight, including people, into the Tarago, problems were experienced all the way back to Sydney.
One of the more interesting stops being on the extremely steep hill out of Lithgow on the Bells Line Of Road.

Of course Gina can make light of any situation and as such still had a smile on her face.

At one of the many stops the lovely ladies joining us popped out to get some flowers and a photo.


Thus concludes all the riviting details and exciting drama that was the Young Cherry Trip, I do hope it was as enthralling for you as it was for us, although somehow I think there may be buggar all chance of that.
If Blogger can be half arsed to co-operate with me tomorrow then hopefully I shall be able to tingle you all with what you missed.

Cheers

Bing's Surprise Birthday Party

~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY BING ~~

Saturday saw Bing's REAL friends get together for a party to celebrate her birthday.

Although Bing was otherwise occupied with the 'Eastlakes Aswang Bakada' who were busily making her feel like she was accepted, we were able to get a photo of her as a replacement.
We felt this may be a good replacement, however, unlike Mrs Credibility, Bing has more character than a piece of paper with an image on it.

Attending the big event were Ning, Gina, Ron, Analiza, Ferlie, Maria and Honey from the 'G-Spot Barkada'.
Also civilians Jun, Cecile, Annie, Inday, Rowena, Jessie, Rose, Gerry and a number of other unknowns.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BING
L to R
Annie, probably another gossiper, Honey, Maria, Gerry, Cecile.

Steve Miller, who wasn't actually there, sings Bing's photo a birthday song!

Bing's photo enjoys a shot or 10 of Tanduay.

Cecile and Ning having a private discussion about aswang!

Santa visits briefly to share his sack with Bing's photo.

Bing's photo is taken to the Neath Hotel for a scrumptious dinner and birthday drinkies.

Ronnie sings up a storm with his drink bottle karaoke system.

Bing's photo enjoys a chat with more friends.
Actually it is fake, these people are all in the Philippines, but since the real one seems to enjoy fake friends we thought "what the heck".

Colonel gives a special display of his pissed dancing for Bing's photo!

Colonel experiencing a moment of extreme happiness after
finding out that Mrs Credibility wasn't going to be attending!

Everyone had a great night and much alcohol was consumed.
Thankfully Bing's photo offered to drive all her REAL friends back home.

~~ PART 1 ~~

It took two months to plan, five days to organize and two days to complete, but our '2008 G-Spot Barkada' pilgrimage to Young to pick cherries is now over.
So why spend two days driving around the countryside to pick fruit that can be got around the corner in the local Woolworths or other grocery store?
Well for a start, cherries straight off the tree taste bloody awesome. I would never have believed it, but they are far better than those you buy in a shop that have been off the tree for a fair amount of time already.
Also it is a chance to get out into more civilized parts of our nation, away from the stresses of home. For me personally, it was a chance to return to all those beautiful country towns I once spent half my life in, especially my beloved Cootamundra.
Please join us on our journey to Young and back. I will be covering it in a number of parts over the next couple of weeks, so please come back for a look.

NOTE: Click on pictures for a larger version!

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Good god, the alarm rings at 2am signifying the start of our first day.
We were due at Gina's by 3am and I knew it would not be easy to get the rest of the families bums into gear, despite the fact they would be able to sleep the whole day while I drive.

Having only gone to bed at 10am, and subsequently getting woken by the wife at midnight, two things had become apparent.

1) It was going to be an awfully long drive to our first stop at Goulburn.

and

2) I was going to need copious amounts of my favourite sleep delaying product.

I think we ended up meeting at Cecile's place, or perhaps it was Gina's. Who knows - I was after all asleep while driving. We did leave rather later than planned though, heading past the airport around 03.30.
Despite plans to go non-stop to Goulburn for breakfast, Pheasants Nest become our first stop to load up on Red Bull, examine the local bushpigs and evacuate our bowels before the second stint.
This is as far as most of the woman got before sleep time hit and they passed out for the balance of the way to breakfast time.

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Arrival at Goulburn was in unison with a southbound train. While my railfan urges were trying to force me to set chase, my wife, and no doubt my mates in the other car, certainly would not have allowed such activity. Ahhhhh als, the life of a railfan is hard when traveling with 'non-believers'. :-)

Soon enough we were to arrive at Goulburn's iconic, and New Zealand's wet dream, GIANT SHEEP. It was here we had a 1 hour wait for the roadhouse to open so we could obtain their famous bacon and egg rolls.
Masarap, these bacon egg rolls which almost utilize a pig each are something not to be missed. But be warned, they are best in the morning, because at night they seem to be a bit tight arse when it comes to content.
Their Big Breakfast also rates very highly in the railfan community.

Anyway while we awaited breakfast we decided to get a group shot in front of the previously mentioned big sheep. Seen is our group, minus myself who was taking the shot and Gina who was still fast asleep in the car.

Some of us wanted to do more with the sheep than just get our photo taken.

While awaiting breakfast some rather impressive trucks rolled past with all the parts for some of those energy producing windmill thingies. Bloody impressive watching the drivers negotiate the roundabouts.

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L to R
Maria, Cecile, a rather stunning looking Ferlie, Ning's brother Onyo and Ning.

Goooooooooood morning darling - glad you could join us.
Gina is awoken by the lovely smell of bacon and eggs, as well
as numerous photographers.

Soon we were off from Goulburn and headed for the lovely town of Yass. This once busy place as turned into a quiet backwater since being bypassed by the highway.
Most of the group went for a walk down the main street looking at such exotic shops as 'Go-Lo' and 'Target' while your beloved barkada webmaster took off to the local railway museum to see whats been happening and then to the old Dutton Street railway line to get photos given it is now in danger of removal.
Soon enough I meet up with everyone again at Go-Lo and help to carry back the bags and bags and bags and bags and bags and bags and bags and bags and bags of shopping. Ay Naku.

This sign is probably one of the most photographed McDonalds
ones in Australia, if not the world.
It takes a rather smutty mind to work out why. Can you?

Yass - The towns main street and shopping strip.

Tarago reflections!

Sticking with my usual tradition, I took the back road to Cootamundra from Yass. It is a bit longer and, obviously, follows the railway line, but it also allows one to look at the rather sad looking towns of Binalong, Bowning and Wallendbean along the way. It also gives chance to see the rather large township of Harden (thats an 'e', not an 'o'. A common mistake for those smutty minded ones again).

~~ COOTAMUNDRA ~~

It is my favourite Aussie rural town, a friendly place, large enough to cater for almost any need.
Cootamundra is famous for being where Don Bradman (Australia's most famous cricket player) grew up, being the Wattle town and, hmmmm, well thats about it really.
For many years I would travel to Coota almost monthly in search of train shots and I made many friends, mostly with railway employees, down there. People in the shops I frequented were often surprised when I told them I actually live in Sydney.
I've long had a desire to live in Cootamundra one day, though now it would be hard to leave all my dear Pinay friends back in Smogney.

Scotty in Albert Park, Cootamundra.

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Lunch in Albert Park, which was situated, rather conveniently,
in view of the railway line.

Our place of residence in Coota was this huge 16 person tent which was built while I was busily driving down to Junee in search of trains while others rested. My search was quite successful incidentally, the results of which appear on my railfan blog should you be hugely interested.

Thus this brings us to the end of the first day. Join us later in the week when we go cherry picking at Young and encounter automobile dramas on the way back to Sydney.

Brad