StewBlog

I finally received notification from Australia this morning that my visa has been approved. I'm just waiting to find out if they're happy with my proposed start date of 04 Jan 2010 and then it's all done!

Not sure exactly what this means, but apparently this paves the way for the visa application... Still no idea when it'll finally arrive though. Bugger.

Firstly, Billy Wilder's bar in the Sony Centre - It's expensive, perhaps a little out of place in Berlin and a bit touristy, but it's very comfortable, the service is excellent and they serve the most fantastic Gimlet - my latest cocktail of choice.

Adagio nightclub, is equally out of place in Berlin. In fact, it's everything you would expect to find in a Las vegas nightclub/hotel. The place is adorned with huge faux Roman fountains and sculptures, which are tacky, but it somehow works! The main nightclub area has a gothic theme.

For some reason, I have a desire to see this film again... Right now. A rental copy is currently being downloaded from iTunes. It's called 'The Road Warrior' on there, but I always thought it was called 'Mad Max'. Hmmmm....

Booked my flight with Emirates this morning in anticipation that my visa will eventually appear...

Leaving London Gatwick on 30 Dec 2009 at 20:10

Via Dubai

Arriving Sydney Kingsford Smith on 01 Jan 2010 at 07:05

So, I will be spending new years eve on an Airbus A380 - "Cheers!"

My manager sends a puzzle out to the team each week. Here is the most recent offering which I got pretty damn quickly

Which number goes in the space?

Having finally cleared up the mess with HMR&C my company is now officially de-registered for VAT. Woohoo!

Following a 'dream' of Stephan's we paid a visit to an old haunt, Dante's, after tapas at Vivolo. They had a free bar for an hour which was veritably plundered. The music was predictably awful and the clientele weren't much better. It was strangely fun though - good company, I guess!

I hadn't been here for a while but the food was very nice, as always. Scallops, steak, fish, homemade ice cream, local ale

There was a change in legislation on 14th September 2009 just before my Subclass 457 Long Stay Business visa was approved, so still waiting for that to come through... I've extended my contract here in Berlin for a year so that I can just hand in one months notice once everything is in place. Because of the delay, it's now looking like a January start in Sydney, right in the middle of their summer

Basically a giant Paulaner tent at the Festplatz, Berlin. Maß of beer, sausages etc etc.

This weekend I'm back in Canterbury for Mother's birthday meal in the Goods Shed, a bit of more work on the parent's extension, and hopefully, a bit of Rock Band Beatles action!

The only drink to have at Erdbeer is the daquiri!

Need to do a bit of catching up on here, I think!

First though, lunch at the Italian place around the corner...

Buon appetito!

Hertha were absolutely awful, losing 3 - 1. The first was an own goal and the next two were scored within minutes from identical goalkeeping errors. I have never seen a football match like that before!

This is an excerpt from the match report on the Hertha Berlin website:

What then followed towards the end of the first half left both sets of fans shaking their heads in disbelief. Ochs was taken off with a thigh problem and was replaced by Burchert on 30 minutes. Only nine minutes later the game was turned on its head. On 38 minutes the 19 year old keeper came way out of his area to reach a cross-field ball meant for Berg, heading the ball away, but only to the feet of Jarolim who produced a superb lob from 25 metres out to give HSV the lead. Moments later an almost identical goal was scored as Burchert once again ventured out as Berg was played into space. This time the ball fell to the feet of Zé Roberto. The Brazilian veteran lobbed the ball home while standing inside the centre circle. HSV somehow led 3-1 at halftime.

Never managed to make it up the tower before but the bros were keen, so up we went. There is no lift up there either, just many stairs to climb.

My parents had recommended this place on my road for breakfast so Matty, MJ and I gave it a go. Bizarrely, they had some kind of English option which I plumped for and rather enjoyed - essentially, an egg and bacon fest which I forgot to photograph...