Friday lunchtime is alive and well

It's officially Autumn now so as the Northern Hemisphere prepares to warm up, we're going to get cold. Well, colder. It was only 14 degrees last night.

Music week this week - going to see a friend of Mark from work playing in the Stork Hotel in the city tonight. Thursday, Dan's mates band are playing somewhere in Brunswick and at the weekend it's the Golden Plains music festival in Meredith. Their terms and conditions say "No Dickheads" but I'm going anyway. Steve and Lynn have donated a tent and esky for the trip so that means a warm sleep and more importantly, cold beer. Will head down to Torquay on Friday night to meet up with them before setting off. There should be a good crowd of people from work at the festival and I've a lift with a lad called Kim.

Was at the Comedy Club on Saturday night. Was meant to go with Tara, her mum Gail and Gail's mate but Tara pulled out. That meant going out with two older women for company. An interesting night. Stopped off for some beer on the way home and Gail, my cousin whose daughter is 27, got asked if I was her man. "No", says I and got asked then about where I was from. The Aussie comedians were good though. Plenty of swearing, not surprisingly.

Managed to watch Utd beat the scousers but fell asleep before the end so missed the goal. Had breakfast at that Galleon place again on Sunday. It's the absolute nuts I'm telling ye. Then went for a walk on the beach and watched some headers kite boarding. Few quiet beers and an illegal copy of Borat to watch.

Nearly forgot, but last Friday was one of those brilliant unexpected occasions when a trip to the pub at lunch time turns into a full day session. Reminded me of those happy, non-productive days in Leeds. Had some kangaroo steak for lunch at a place called Pint on Punt, which is an Irish/UK pub - their sign appears to be a leprechaun wearing a Union Jack waistcoat!? I'm assured it's a bit of cliched place. That didn't stop us drinking there until around 10.00. Met an Irish couple who'd just arrived from touring the Far East. The lad was sound enough but asked if I was a Rangers or Celtic supporter. Why do some people still feel the need to do that? Headed for the Espy next but there was an entry fee of $25 for some reason so the Aussies baulked at having to pay. Went elsewhere instead, but not sure of names. That's when I got persuaded to go to the music festival - never say no.