Shaun (a.k.a Xonnie)'s Australian Experience

Friday 3rd November 2006 (Sasha & Digweed @ Home Nightclub)

2006-11-04T23:11:00.001+11:00

I worked that day, and all I could think of on my mind & listening on my mp3 player was just Sasha & Digweed !

After I finished work I headed home, changed quickly, got out, and hopped on the train on my way to Sydney's Darling Harbour.

I never been to Home Nightclub, but all I could hear are very good things about this well known club. Especially by the well known dj's that spin every now and then at this club.

But I just simply couldn't miss out this night seeing Sasha & Digweed play a set!!!!

I seen Sasha twice in Malta, but I never seen Digweed spin, everrr. So seeing them both together was just a rare occasion I just could not miss. They play few occasions together around the world every year.

Once I arrived at Home Nightclub, there was a good line waiting to get in. But once I got in, I seen this local aussie progressive house dj Ben Korbel, which did play one hell of a very good prog house warm up set, getting everyone pumped up and ready for some Sasha & Digweed.

Sasha & Digweed came on stage, right away the dancefloor was packed, literally packed, you can't move, but once I heard the music I was just taking into this journey, while 2 of the best dj's are playin quality tunes with great beats & melodies.

Later I moved outta the crowd, and I found a great spot at the back, and I just danced away, and they just kept playing more and more great progressive house tunes one after another. Progressive house with a tiny touch of everything, at times mixing in bit harder material, at times mixing a bit of trance, at times mixing a bit more minimal.

Through out the whole night, they both had turns, at times Sasha goes for an hour or a bit more, then Digweed would take over, and they kept going on like that.

They played an awesome set !!

After a few hours of dancing, this night had to come to an end, as Sasha & Digweed closed up their set.

Sasha & Digweed played from 1am - 6.15am !!

Every person at the club, got their moneys worth thats for sure.

I went in the club 22 years old, but once I got outta the club I felt like an 82 year old. I could barely walk, my back was aching, a tiny buzz in my ear. But it was all worthed !

But I'll never forget exiting from the club, watching people tired from one hell of a night, everyone sittin down trying to rest.

After half an hour, I got up headed on the train. It was simply one of those nights once again, heading home in the early morning after one hell of a night with a smile on my face.

For a great review of that night check out this link by clicking here

And check out the photos below from that night that I found on the net :

Thanks & full credit for the photos goes out to InTheMix.com & ResidentAdvisor.net & 3D World Online

I also found this clip from that night on YouTube, when they played Pryda - Frankfurt:

Friday 4th August 2006 (WWE Raw Summerslam Tour House Show @ Acer Arena aka Sydney Superdome)

2006-09-17T19:29:00.000+10:00

It was one rainy day in August, I taken the day off from work. And I just simply couldn't stop thinking about going to experience my first ever WWE show.

Since I was a kid I always seen wrestling on tv, and everyone tells me about what an expierence and such a great show they give out.

I was really young since having my first glimpse of this great entertainment here in Australia, and then when I moved to Malta, all I could see it was on tv, videos and magazines. So now since coming back to Australia, I had my first chance to see one of the best sports entertainment live.

I hopped on the train to Lidcombe, then change to Olympic Park.

It was a rainy day and walking to the arena, I could see loads of people of all ages.

I got in, and bought myself a DX shirt, and I just waited a bit in line for the doors to open.

Then I walked to my seat, and I was just so happy about how good the seat was, it was not that far away from the ring, few metres away.

I was in between 2 fathers and their very young kids. Talkin about a great father & son moment, taking them to watch their first wrestling show. I was just happy to see everywhere but people with such a happy mood to live the moment and see what this sport entertainment is all about.

First off Howard Finkel (WWE's very own announcer) came to the ring, and welcomed us for this WWE Raw Summerslam Tour (House Show), and then moments later Matt Striker came to the ring and went against Harry Smith (son of Brittish Bulldogs Davey Boy Smith). Harry Smith won the match with his late fathers signature move the running powerslam. It was a very good match, and it also was great to see Harry Smith. He isn't wrestling currently on wwe tv shows at the moment, but I can guarantee you that he'll be on WWE Tv shows in the coming future.

Next match was Gene Snitsky against Charlie Haas and it ended with Snitsky givin two of his clotheslines and a Big Boot to get the pin. Not bad match. But at the end of the match all of a suddeny Umaga & Armando Alejandro Estrada came to the ring. Snitsky & Charlie Haas received a good beat down by Umaga. When Armando Alejandro Estrada Estrada, a lotta people sang along with his usual Armando Alejandro Esstrrrrrrraaaaaddddddaaaaa line.

Next up was a divas match between Trish Stratus & Torrie Wilson against Melina & Mickie James. Trish got the pin on Mickie after the "Chick Kick".

A triple threat intercontinental title match, between Johnny Nitro, Shelton Benjamin & Carlito Heat. It was a good match with full of high spots. The match ended with Nitro retaining his intercontinental title.

Next match was Randy Orton against Kane. With Orton entering first to the ring, and I totally like the wrestler, even though a lotta fans don't like him, I just like his style he brings to the ring. The match was alright, and the match ended with Orton gettin the win finishing it with his signature move the RKO on the second try.

Then that match, the Spirit Squad hit the ring, and taken the mic and gotten some boos from the crowd. Then all of a sudden DX music hits the whole Acer Arena, and everyone got wild. I finally get to see finally my favourite wrestler, the heartbreak kid, Shawn Michaels. You can see the entrance video I taken with my digital camera down below, its just at some seconds I just went crazy and lost direction and didn't take notice of the camera lol. Nobody knew who was going to be as Shawn Michaels tag team partner to go against Spirit Squad but HBK introduced his partner as "For one night only, an honorary member of DX, but he's no Stranger to being a degenerate". I enjoy the Spirit Squad. You can see they are trying, and have some talent. Perhaps more acrobatic than wrestling, but they play their character's off really well, and work to the crowd an opponent reactions very well. They are certainly capable of some high spots, which give their input to the match. All the usual High Spots from Flair and HBK, including The Flair Flop. You know it's coming but you still gotta love it. Pinfall came after HBK hit the Superkick.

The final match of the show was next, and legendary wrestler Ricky The Dragon Steamboat came to the ring to be as the special guest referee for this match. Edge came to the ring alongside Lita, and then John Cena came next, and he received the biggest pop of the night.

Special guest referee Ricky Steamboat had been knocked out and missed Edge tapping to the STFU. Lita's interference caused the DQ. She had dragged Steamboat out of the ring during pinfall count. Another ref came to the ring to make a count, But Steamboat got back in and broke it up, calling
for the Bell and the DQ against Edge.

Overall great experience, I totally enjoyed the atmosphere from the audience. I really enjoyed myself seeing my first WWE show.

These are the photos I taken from the WWE event:

Sat. 17th & Sun 18th June 2006 (Great Sydney Weekend!)

2006-07-11T21:48:00.000+10:00

This weekend, well my mate Martin decided to take me out with him to this singles night event at this club, and well I had this feeling that I would see all but 30+ year old females.

Well the event was at Jacksons On George.

That night I gotten to meet Martin's mate Joe, which was really cool, and glad to meet.

So we arrived at the club and the music was no bad, and I had a few drinks and got myself a bit pumped up to have fun.

Then afterwards through out the night I meet this girl, which was half scottish & half egyptian, and she was just amazing, nice character, nice smile, and just my type.

We spoke to one another, danced, had a few drinks ....

And well as we were leaving one another that night, I asked her for her phone number and she gave it to me.

Just an hour later, I sent her a goodnight message, and well she didn't message back ....

Sunday the next day, I woke up and Martin took me to the city once again,

Just this time to Sydney's fish market, and it was one great aussie experience, once going in all you see is pelicans,

Then you see the best fish you can get, and the best fish restaurants. We later had a bbq'ed fish tuna steak, it was just delicious.

Later on he took me to Darling Harbour to go watch the IMAX, well since the past few years in Malta I didn't go watch one, it was way better to see it the first time in Sydney.

We seen this movie called Deep Sea 3D, it was a sea documentary, and IMAX just blown me away, couldn't believe such a thing the way cinema has evolved, and how it can change your visual perspective.

Well this was a great weekend, just had a great time, thanks to Martin for giving me a nice tour around some places in Sydney.

And about that female I met in which I won't mention her name, well I messaged her the next day and no answer, so I think I saved the wrong number ............

Monday 5th June 2006 (My First Day At My New Job!)

2006-07-11T21:47:00.000+10:00

A day or two before this post I received a phone call from the interview I went recently, and I got the job !!!

So today I had to go for training for the first few weeks, and the times were 4pm-10pm.

I went there and seen what the whole thing is all about, everyone enters data from the sheets that get scanned from blood tests, urine tests ....

And well those scans show up on one monitor, and on the other monitor I have to enter all that data,

I liked the working area, all kinds of nationalities, nice people and I'm more than happy to be part of SDS Pathology.

Just the first few weeks is training. The only problem was that I was finishing at 10pm, and getting back home was a bit of a trouble, bus, then train then taxi home.

Thursday 25th May 2006 (My First Job Interview !)

2006-07-11T21:46:00.000+10:00

Since being in Australia all I did was apply for jobs over and over, and I just kept trying more harder day after another.

Well I been phoning non stop everyday and crossing job ads from the net and newspapers.

But there was this data entry operator position for a pathology lab that I seen on a local newspaper and well after months of trying I receive a good response, that I have an interview.

I decided to go that day itself, and hours later I went for the interview.

I went very confident and ready to get this job.

I did the typing test, and did well in the interview.

All I had to do was wait a week and see if I gotten the job ....

Friday 5th May 2006 (Went Out To Club 209 & Reunited With Jack Daniels)

2006-07-11T21:45:00.000+10:00

That night, I was going out to Club 209 with Bernadette (my cousin), and well I had one thing in my mind.

To get loose and reunite with my friend Jack (Jack Daniels).

Since being here in Australia I haven't gone out and properly gotten loose and at a club.

At first we met up with Noeleen and her boyfriend Robert, and his mate Zelko.

I clicked well with the guys, and we were jokin around at the club.

But then I had one jack after another, and I just got myself loose and had a great time.

On our way back home, all I did was like my usual self after drinkin Jack, is just make everyone laugh and show them that Jack is da man !!

Great night, I had a great time.

Thursday 20th April 2006 (Bernadette's 21st Birthday Night Out)

2006-04-22T13:47:00.000+10:00

That night Bernadette invited me, amongst also her close friends to Winston Hills Chinese Restaurant, for dinner celebrating Bernadette's 21st Birthday. But actually her Birthday was the next day.

So she invited her friends such as Adriana, Christina, Todd, Aubrey, Noeleen & Nicki.

I gotten to meet Todd & Christina for the first time, which was very nice to speak to.

The chinese food tasted really good, and afterwards we all headed to The Tav, to go partyin.

So I gotten the chance to speak to Todd, and well we have this thing in common, we adore dance music, and we totally know our dj's, and he likes progressive, so we clicked really well.

Then afterwards from the chill out area, we went to the club, and I met my friend Jack Daniels at the bar, and I gotten loosed up, and ready to partayy !

I gotten to meet also Bernadette's friends Ash, Carlo & Kaylib, which were really cool and happy to meet me, they totally know how to dance and do the shuffle,

Later on after The Tav was closed, they gave us a lift, and they felt hungry so we went to McDonalds, and hang out in the car park, and they started showin their stuff and doin the shuffle.

We arrived home at around 5am, and I woke up 2 hrs later to go to this job seeking course, but I made it, and everything went alright.

Monday 17th April 2006 (Sydney Royal Easter Show)

2006-04-22T13:27:00.000+10:00

I woke up early in the morning, and my uncle Joe & I headed to the Blacktown train station, to go to Sydney's Royal Easter Show.

Sydney's Royal Easter Show is usually going for 2 weeks, but we had a chance to go that day. Coz this easter shows ya gotta spend the whole day, coz there is so much to watch.

So once we arrived which was around 9am, it was packed with people ready to go have some fun. Families and friends all together to have a great time together which happens once a year.

The whole thing is like a trade fair, but with a touch of Australia to it.

You see companies all next to each other advertising their product, such as chilli sauce to green tea to wine, all giving you samples to see what its all about. All kinds of products you could think of that exists here in Australia.

I seen a wood chopping contest, in which you see these huge aussies, choppin that wood in a matter of seconds.

I seen the most wicked rides but I didn't go on one, coz they were too scary for me, maybe next year ....

I went to the show bags area, and I bought myself 3 show bags. Over here in Australia, its like a tradition to buy show bags, that's filled with either sweets, toys ... So it was like taking me back when I was a kid buying show bags and gettin that feelin once again. So I bought 3 show bags, one shopping bag was with Smiths chips, one bag had those wizz fizz, and another shopping bag with zombie chews

The place is huge you just keep walking for the whole day, always seeing new stuff.

I seen a dog show, and it was amazing to see the dedication they give to it, coz I seen the owners of the pets, they stay their for like few days next to the dog, and they sleep in a chair, just so they are stand by to their dog.

I seen also this cows/bulls show, in which you see all kinds of types of cows/bulls, and my god they are so freakin hugeee, I seen a few that weighed a tonne.

At night, my uncle & I, we went to the NAB arena, and they were doing the final closing show there. So while we were waiting there was this horse polo match.

After that we gotten to see this chick that gets shot from a cannonball, which was pretty cool.

Then the Holden Stormriders which are 5 Holden UTE's doing car stunts all over the arena.

There was also this Australian Rodeo, which was soooo cool to watch, and everyone was so into it.

I seen also this motorbike stunts, doing all kinds of moves in the air, it was really cool to watch, I just kept hoping that they won't fall, totally amazing, especially when all 4 motorcyclists were doing all the crazy moves in the air.

Then at the end they started to do the fireworks for like 5 - 8 minutes straight non stop which was all timed together. A great finale for the night.

I had a great time that whole day, coz I seen it sooo well organized, and you get to see all kinds of stuff, from companies well advertising their products, to rides, to show bags, in other words a great day out.

====================================

This is a Wikipedia.org description of Australia's Sydney Royal Easter Show:

The Sydney Royal Easter Show (RES) in Sydney, Australia, (also known as the Royal Easter Show or simply the Easter Show) is an annual show held over two weeks around Easter. It is run by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. The Sydney Royal comprises an agricultural show, an amusement park and a state fair and combines the elements of each, showcasing the judging of livestock and produce. This comprehensive fair has many competitions including arts and crafts, photography and cookery, as well as tests of strength and skill such as wood chopping. The Sydney Royal also has shopping, restaurants, commercial stands and exhibits, a horticultural display, a national accredited conformation dog show and cat show, and stage and arena shows. The Royal Easter Show used to be held at Moore Park in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, but since 1998 it has been held at the Olympic Park site at Homebush Bay. The former site showground at Moore Park have since been converted into Fox Studios Australia and associated development around the film production site known as The Entertainment Quarter. The Show organisers received public criticism for the pricing of the 2006 show. The cost per adult was approximately AUD$30 per adult and AUD$20 per child for entry, but including food and souveneirs the estimated cost per person ran to AUD$80 (source: Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales Chief Executive Roger Perkins in the Sydney Morning Herald, 20th April 2006). This could price the Show out of reach of low income earners and poor families.

And to visit the Sydney Royal Easter Show Official Site: www.EasterShow.com.au

Saturday 15th April 2006 (Spent My Day With Wine, Spent My Night Clubbin @ Plan B)

2006-04-16T22:55:00.000+10:00

My Day

I woke up early in the morning around 5.30am, and went with my Uncle Joe, off to the Flemington Markets in which there would be all kinds of stuff, from fruits, fish, cheese, vegetables, herbs, you name it.

It was great to see the people all wakin up so early just to get the freshest stuff for sale.

But the main purpose that we went to the Flemington Market, was to choose the right grapes to make wine. Drinkin wine is great, but there is an art behind it all to make some good wine.

My uncle has a wine cellar. And I also knew the past few years that its got a lotta work to making good wine, but listening to my uncle I found it quite interesting.

So we went to the grapes section at the market, and there was people selling their grapes, and offering the best prices.

Me and my uncle were just tasting the grapes and seeing which one is best,

People selling them, people buying them, mainly they were all either italians, greeks, maltese, so I felt that european atmosphere,

Minutes later after browsing a few people selling their grapes, we found the usual guy that usally sells the grapes to my uncle, in which his name is Paisano, a pure italian name. He was selling them with the cheapest price and the most sweetest grapes out there. So my uncle bought 21 cases of grapes.

And off we went to go squash the grapes through the grape grinder at home in a matter of half an hour.

===========================

My Night

Me and my cousin Bernadette met up with her friends Chris, Adriana, and James, and off we went to Sydney's city.

We were actually going to this dance event called 360, which was gonna have a few good djs which were Felix Da Housecat, Audio Bullys, Tom Novy, Stacey Pullen and many more ....

It was gonna be my night to see once again Felix Da Housecat, but we had to change plans, which was okay with me, i'll get to see felix some other time,

So from Plan A we had to go to Plan B, and soooooooooo we visited this club called Plan B get it ?

Plan B was a great club, I had an amazing time, the dj's were playin some damn good house music,

The best 2 songs of the night for me were Similou "All This Time", and a house remix of the classic 80s song of David Bowie "Let's Dance".

Tuesday April 11th 2006 (The Rolling Stones Concert @ Telstra Stadium)

2006-04-12T15:32:00.000+10:00

The day has arrived, and it was the day I get to see one of the best performers through out the past 4 decades, which are The Rolling Stones,

Since I was here in Australia, and they were making a concert here, I just had to buy a ticket. Its like one of those bands that do one of those concerts, that you just can't miss, such as like U2, Pink Floyd, Kiss ....

Well I went a bit early to catch the train, and go cool calm and relaxed, to find my spot, since it was my first time going there to the Telstra Stadium, all by myself.

I hopped on the bus, went to the Blacktown train station, went on the train that goes to Lidcombe, then from Lidcombe I started to feel the atmosphere of people coming from Olympic Park, kids coming from the Easter show, and others wearing black shirts with the famous Rolling Stones trademark the red lips :

Then from Lidcombe, I taken another train, and it takes me straight to Olympic Park.

Once I arrived there, I saw loads of people going to The Rolling Stones concert, and it was a great atmosphere.

I bought myself a Rolling Stones t-shirt with the trademark red lips on it, and a program.

I went in the N-Gate section, and waited in line till the gates open, and around 6.30pm they opened up, and I got in.

I found my seat, and the stadium was still quite empty.

At around 7.30pm the supporting band for the concert was an australian 3-piece band called The Living End. In which they played a good couple of songs, and in my opinion, they have some good talent, their style was more of a touch of alternative pop rock and punk rock revival.

At 9pm sharp, screens started to show up video effects for a minute or two, and red fireworks came out, and the whole band except Mick Jagger, started jammin to my favourite Rolling Stones song "Jumpin Jack Flash", and then Mick Jagger came out, and everyone went nuts. Totallyyyy great intro for a concert !

They played great classic tracks from their past, and also playing 3 new songs "Rough Justice", "Oh No Not You Again" and "This Place Is Empty" from their recent new album A Bigger Bang.

One of the great parts of the concert, there was this middle pathway, and I think everyone expected Mick Jagger just to walk down through it. But :

"Halfway through the set something odd happened. The chunk of stage carrying the band detached itself and began moving into the crowd. The Stones were performing their disco hit Miss You at the time, Jagger having reappeared wearing a guitar and what can only be described as a gold blouson. The result looked very much like a Mardi Gras float.
When the mini-stage finally came to rest, Jagger told the audience how "laaverly" they looked for the 20th time and launched into Get Off Of My Cloud. It was a neat trick, and the sound never faltered. Watts then struck up the distinctive backbeat of Honky Tonk Woman, and the Mardi Gras float began its stately progress back to the mothership."
Source: Richard Jinman (The Sydney Morning Herald - www.smh.com.au)

Towards the end they were playing "Brown Sugar", once the song was finished, the band said goodnight, but myself and the crowd all knew that The Rolling Stones, always finish a concert with their most recognised song which is "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". So they came back again to the stage, and they played a slower song instead which was "Can't Always Get What You Want", but then they shown everyone the sign that its the last one by playing "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".

Looking around and seeing the atmosphere was great, people from age 20-50 up to their feet dancing, and really getting into it, and singing along to the song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".

The band bowed down to the standing ovation, and they left the stage.

A minute or two later lots of fireworks from the stage, showing everyone that its the end.

Once I left my seat, people were all singing and in a great mood, thanks to the alcohol, and headin in the train, everyone just talking and expressing themselves their experience about the concert, some were singin over and over and over the chorus of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", once again thanks to the alcohol.

What I liked most of all is that, parents taken their teenagers out to the concert, a great father son moment to watch a concert, and live the memory together.

I sure wished my dad was with me to see this concert, but heh what can ya do if we're so far away right now.

I enjoyed the concert, and I think the rest of the attendance in the Telstra Stadium which was around 60,000 had a great time.

One great night in Sydney.

============================================

Here's the set list of The Rolling Stones concert:

Jumpin' Jack Flash
Let's Spend The Night Together
You Got Me Rocking
Oh No Not You Again
Dead Flowers
Angie
It's Only Rock And Roll
Tumblin' Dice
Night Time Is The Right Time
This Place Is Empty
Happy
Miss You
Rough Justice
Get Off My Cloud
Honky Tonk Woman
Paint It Black
Sympathy
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Can't Always Get What You Want
Satisfaction

These are VIDEO CLIPS I found on the net from The Rolling Stones Concert Live @ The Telstra Stadium (11-04-2006):

Remember these ain't mine, i just found them on the net, thanks to some people to put their clips on the net. Now there are 3 clips which were taken with someone's mobile so they are shit quality sorry ...

The following clips you gotta click on the click here link to take you to the page to show you the few seconds clip of the concert.

Intro Of The Concert (Part 1): Click Here
Intro Of The Concert (Part 2): Click Here
Intro Of The Concert (Part 3): Click Here
Jumpin Jack Flash: Click Here
Honky Tonk Women (This Is When The B-Stage Was Movin Back To The Main Stage): Click Here
Miss You (This Is When The B-Stage Was Moving): Click Here

Angie:

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Pics I found on the net of The Rolling Stones Concert @ The Telstra Stadium (11-04-2006):

Monday 3rd April 2006 (R.I.P Michelangelo Meilak 1927-2006)

2006-04-11T14:19:00.000+10:00

I woke up that Monday morning, and I had this feeling any day that it was going to happen, and my dad phones, and he gives me the bad news, my grandfather that his day has arrived and that he left us.

My grandfather was my hero, i'm not saying this just coz he passed away, but I always looked up to him since I was a kid. Back in the day when all the maltese were finding it hard to earn some good money, they used to go overseas, to the States (New York), Australia (Sydney or Melbourne), Canada (Toronto) or the UK.

Well my grandfather, was one of amongst a lot of Maltese that went to Australia. He went to Queensland and to him, it was a total change. From a tiny island Malta going all the way down under.

He spent lots of years here Melbourne, and well all the time through out my childhood he always tells me about the good times he had those days, and I always opened my ears to his stories.

My parents did live here in Australia for quite some time, but I left when I was 5 years old. So they mentioned here and there the good times they had in their life here in Australia, and I always was the felt left out.

My grandfather told me before leaving Malta to Australia, that I won't see him again, and well he was right,

He was my godfather, my grandfather, my hero, and I'll never forget him.

I'll miss you nannu (grandfather in maltese prounounced nun-nu),

R.I.P. Michelangelo Meilak 1927-2006

Wednesday 29th March 2006 (I Passed My Drivers Knowledge Test!!)

2006-03-31T18:57:00.000+11:00

Well the week before I didn't pass my computer drivers knowledge test,

So this time I was more than ready to pass this computer drivers knowledge test.

I went to the RTA, and I thought since I applied before and it was my 2nd time, I didn't need to bring any proof of identity, like proof of residence, bla bla bla....

So I had to go back home, and bring back the papers and book for an hour later,

Then I went to the RTA again, and I took the test, and this time only getting 1 wrong from 45 questions !!

I left the place feelin like a thousand aussie bucks !

Here the drivers license its :

Learner Plates (6months) --> P Plates (Red) (1 Year) --> P Plates (Green) (2 Years) --> Full License

So since I have my maltese drivers license, and I passed my Drivers Knowledge Test, I'm gonna have my Learner Plates. But whenever I wanna book for the driving test, I'm gonna skip everything, not like everyone else here, i'm gonna get my full license, and skip 3 years instead of like everyone else :)

And then I would be able to get my drivers license, and it would be in my hands for in case in the future.

Monday 27th March 2006 (I Won $15 @ Bingo!)

2006-03-31T18:56:00.000+11:00

That day, I decided to go catch up with my auntie Tonina, so Mary and I went to meet up with her at bingo,

I thought the bingo was a bit slow paced like in Malta, but here they are so fast, i had to catch up,

But when it came to the last game, i won the full house, 15 aussie bucks in which i can spend at coles or myer !!!

Totally liked the bingo atmosphere here

Lotta old people from Italians to Maltese to Aussies.

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th March 2006 (My First Tryout Job & Fishin In Balmoral Beach)

2006-03-06T14:50:00.000+11:00

The day has finally arrived, and I woke up early in the morning, and I was there at the place 6.20am, on my first tryout job, Paint Ball.

I gotten to know how the place works, and all the rules, and what can I say its a pretty cool job, I gotten to check out the people in action, shootin like they are in World War 3,

I got shot 4 times with paint balls, and boy did that hurt,

I really liked the people working there, they really have a good sense of humour, and I wish they phone me again to go work for them from now on, coz I'm still waiting for an answer.

The next day, I woke up early once again, and headed off with my Uncle Joe, and we went to Balmoral Beach, and this time I really had fun, I had my fishing license, so I was free to fish how much I bloody wanttt !

I caught 4 fish, and I just totally enjoyed the action, made me know how that aussie bloke Rex Hunt feels each time he caught a fish.

Later on that night, I went to the Chinese Restaurant in Winston Hills, and celebrated my cousin Tim's birthday, gotta love that chinese lemon chicken !

Overall a good weekend ...

Saturday February 18th 2006 (My First Wrestling Show & My First Rave In 1 Night)

2006-03-06T14:46:00.000+11:00

Well the past few weeks, I didn't go out that much, but I pretty much decided to go to 2 events in 1 night :)

An aussie wrestling show then afterwards a rave in the Sydney Superdome called Prophecyyyy !

Around 6pm I went to Blacktown's RSL, and they had a AWF (Australian Wrestling Federation) wrestling event, and I always wanted to go watch a live wrestling event, and that night I had my chance to see some guys go at it

The first few matches were okay, there was this wrestler Kid Dynamite, he was pretty good, but I really enjoyed the TNT vs. Mad Man Pondo match, it went into the crowd. Mad Man Pondo is a big name in the wrestling independent scene in the states, and also japan. So it was pretty cool to see the wrestler in action.

Overall it was a great wrestling show, and I totally, and I mean totallyyyy enjoyed the audience, they had so many jokes, and were really into it.

After the wrestling show was finished, Bernadette (my cousin) picked me up, and we headed off to the Sydney Superdome,

Once we got there, I noticed all the people wearing their ravin clothes, and candy bracelets, and glow sticks, all pumped up for the rave,

This was my first rave, so my cousin Bernadette, made me a special t-shirt with the words in front :

SHAUN

THE RAVE VIRGIN

ALL THE WAY FROM MALTA

And in the back in tribute to my best friend paul, and clayton, I had the back of my shirt written like a sports jersey: RAVER BOY 03

I totally enjoyed the atmosphere of the rave once I got inside, great lighting effects, people dancing non stop, and a friendly atmosphere everywhere I went,

The music I totally liked it, its called Happy Hardcore, really hard dance music, its like hard trance,

I totally liked the music, just it was too hard for me, and I couldn't catch up lol, but I totally gave a good focus on the rave culture thanks to my cousin Bernadette,

At the end we stayed for an hour or two outside talking with people, making new friends, and on the way back it was just like my summer nights out on my way home from Grotta in Gozo at 7am,

Just this time it was in Sydney Australia, and it just gave it a nice magical touch to close the night off, and to keep it in my memories.

29th January 2006 (Nearly Fined :D)

2006-02-04T13:49:00.000+11:00

Went for the 2nd time to Balmoral Beach, with my uncle Joe, and well since the week before the fisheries officer didn't show up, I decided to just start fishing right away,

But my uncle told me to keep an eye for them, but they usually walk pass you, but this time they came with their speed boat, and my uncle yelled my name Shaunnn to go near him, so I went slowly slowly with the fishing road,

And well they noticed, they came near me, and told me if I have a fishing license, and well I told them that I didn't have one yet, so he said that he has to give me a fine, but then he found out that I just came from abroad, and he gave me a warning,

But I had to get the license, and send it by fax in 14 days.

So I was really close getting my first aussie fine :D

To tell ya the truth I'm happy I didn't get the fine, but seeing this tiny bit of action was cool :D

Well Uncle Joe caught 2 flat heads, and well when he was gonna bring them in, they both fell in the water, poor Uncle Joe, they were pretty big.

Thursday 26th 2006 (Australia Day)

2006-01-28T12:22:00.000+11:00

I'm not gonna be posting everyday from now on, coz nothing much been happening lately

But Thursday 26th was a special day here in Australia, everywhere you go, you would see people waving the flag,

People having their flag on top of their house,

People having their aussie flag in their car,

Well that day everyone mainly celebrates it the aussie way, with an aussie bbq, so my uncle Joe, took out that aussie lamb and started bbq'ing,

My cousin Tim & Carolyn came over and we ate all together,

Later on that night I went to The Tav, and the music was pretty good, but everyone was having a great time, and the dj was making it more patriotic, by shouting "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIEEEEE OI OI OIIIIII".

Glad I gotten myself to experience this special day here in Australia, great day overall ...

Sunday 22nd January 2006

2006-01-23T19:07:00.000+11:00

Early in the morning I went with Uncle Joe for my first time to Balmoral Beach, to go fishing, it took us like an hour to get there,

Really nice beach, blown me away,

I caught this 1 small fish, but thrown it back in the seaaaa to swim with the rest of the other fish ....

Oh yeah, I got sunburnt, Mister Shaun forgot to put the sun tan lotion,

Here's a picture Of Balmoral that I found thanks to Google Images, click on the image to see a bigger sized version :

Later on that day Bernadette & me, we went to this St. Paul's Maltese Feast in Richmond, and it was alright for a feast. Really different from the ones in Malta, but overall its nice to see these Maltese organizing and trying to build a maltese community in Sydney to gather up,

I gotten to speak with a few maltese people here and there, it was really cool for me.

Saturday 21st January 2006

2006-01-23T19:00:00.000+11:00

Early in the morning I went to the Windsor Auction,

It was cool to see all the Aussies betting on everything from lawn mowers to cows to pigs to a monitor screen,

Really cool, okay whose going for 25, 25, 25, 2555555, okay whose going for 30, 30, 3000000

We hooked up the wires for the internet,

Carl Cox played @ Home Sydney, I didn't get to see him, ahh well, I seen him twice in Malta, I'll get to see him another time,

I gotten my chance to see Freddy Got Fingered, reallyyyyy weird and crazy, but overall a funny movie !

Later on that night I went to La Vallette (Maltese Club) and I gotten to speak to some old guys that were Maltese, I totally liked the maltese atmosphere, people playing bocci, bingo, guys circling up talking and catching up.

Friday 20th January 2006

2006-01-23T18:55:00.000+11:00

I woke up, and Uncle Joe dropped me off at the Blacktown City, went to the public library like usual and went onlineee once again,

Didn't do much through out the dayyyy

Ahhh well ....

Thursday 19th January 2006

2006-01-20T11:01:00.001+11:00

I went to the public library to go online, applied for few more jobs.

Nothing much through out the day,

Usually Thursday nights I go out, but I didn’t go out, I stayed home watching the Lleyton Hewitt tennis game he had against the Argentinean Chiela.

Chiela last year at the Australian Open, he spitted towards Hewitt, so there was some heat between them since last year.

I was supporting Hewitt, he played good, just I noticed he was really tensed and nervous the poor bloke, and he made mistakes here and there. But the game ended with Hewitt losing the match, and the Australian being kicked out of the Australian Open this year :(

Wednesday 18th January 2006

2006-01-20T11:01:00.000+11:00

Same usual morning routine, I went to the public library to go online,

I went to get some information regarding a few Tafe courses, coz I might be taking a Web Design tafe course that would take a year and a half.

Later on that day I did nothing special, but my cousin Bernadette came back after few days at her friends beach house.

And oh yeah that night me and Bernadette we watched The Bachelor, since it was the final episode, and the bachelor gets to choose either one babe or the other. I liked it since it was all dramatic and they were trying to make suspense in the air. But finally he chosen Tiara the one I had a feeling he will choose.

This was the first time I seen an actual Bachelor episode, don’t even think I watch it all the time.

Tuesday 17th January 2006

2006-01-20T11:00:00.000+11:00

I went to the public library to go online againnn !!!

I tried to make sure I wouldn’t see those 3 chicks I met the day before, they made me feel embarrassed.

I went to buy a frame for my mum so I send her a photo of me, so that she keeps.

Not that much through out the day, but I seen that Lleyton Hewitt tennis match against a little-known Czech Robin Vik, and he was veryyyy close, but overall I totally liked the tennis game. I totally have become a Lleyton Hewitt fan!

Monday 16th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:59:00.002+11:00

I went to the public library to go on the net and check if I received any replies, and I didn’t receive that many :(

I met these 3 girls, while I was outside Westpoint having a smoke, and they just wanted to be friends with me since they noticed I just came from abroad. 1 was 21 her name is Samantha, the other 2 I don’t know their name but 1 was 16 and 1 was 13.

I totally didn’t like their attitude, they were too aussie, and they were too immature for me to hang out with. They called a hot chick a slut while she was passing by, simply coz they didn’t like the way she looked.

While I was at Westpoint I had a haircut @ Hairport, I gotten to make friends with Chris, the dude that gave me a haircut. I’m sure as hell gonna go back there next time, he was totally cool.

That night I watched Supernatural on Channel 10, it’s a cool new show, I liked it.

Sunday 15th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:59:00.001+11:00

Nothing much, I went out with Mary & Uncle Joe to a few shops and also to Westpoint.

I bought a birthday card for my mum while I was at Westpoint, so that I send it in time.

Then we went to Mary’s parents house (Bernadette’s grand parents). And I right away I went with Martin, Jerry & Mitchell for a drive on the M7, since it was the last day free, and here and there around Mount Druitt.

Saturday 14th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:59:00.000+11:00

Woke up, watched Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure on Channel 10, I’ll never get bored watching that movie!

Nothing much through out the day,
But there was 2 Arnold Schwarznegger movies on Channel 10 that night, Twins then they shown The 6th Day,

That was my boring day, ahhh well.

Friday 13th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:58:00.001+11:00

I stayed home most of the day, watched TV, lazy day sad to say.

But heyyyyy I went to Woolworths close by and bought some Lebanese bread, and Tic Tacs!

Then Bernadette taken me to a club called 209, which is close to where Noeleen lives. I liked the club overall, it had a great atmosphere. I was feeling the vibe, the music, the happiness in the air, just some people were too happy and they were really big, that they kept bumping into me every few seconds, and it just ticked me off a bit. But I really was glad that Noeleen wanted to show me her usual club that she goes to.

Most of all I totally liked the area where Noeleen lives, it totally is more in the countryside, you can feel more nature around you.

Thursday 12th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:58:00.000+11:00

I went to Blacktown City, went online at the public library,

Went back home,

I watched the Johson’s Family Vacation movie, it was a good comedy overall, sorta like the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, but this was the 2005 black version :D

After finishing the movie, Bernadette arrived home from work, and she taken me to a school close by and in which I could use the Internet thanks to her student pass,

So I applied for a few jobs thanks to Seek.com.au & CareerOne.com.au . I applied for a few data entry and web designer jobs, so all I have to do is just wait for a few days hopefully I’ll get a reply *fingers crossed*

Later on that night, Bernadette, Noeleen & me we went to The Tav, and I actually had a good time, I gotten to make a few friends, one his name was Pat, he was a cool guy. He totally understands what I’m going through leaving my family and friends. And he really was willing to keep in touch and hang out and party. I also got to meet Simon, which was totally into music and raves. He was soooo much into the same stuff Paul and me are into. When he was speaking to me, I straight away told him that I soooo wish that my friend Paul was here, coz they are totally into the same music and goin to raves.

Overall great night out for me.

Wednesday 11th January 2006

2006-01-20T10:57:00.000+11:00

Nothing much just went to Blacktown City, and went online at the public library.

I didn’t do much today :(

Monday 9th January 2006

2006-01-10T13:12:00.000+11:00

I went to the blacktown city area, and I went for a few places to take care of the paper work at centre link, and also at the bank,

Then I went to a job centre, and they told me they will be able to help me out after 3 months, so in other words I gotta find the job and apply, its okay with me, just I thought they would help me a bit more,

Then afterwards I came back home by bus,

Later on that night, Bernadette's friend Aubrey came to pick us up and we went to Mario, which is another friend of Bernadette's, I finally gotten to meet them, they are pretty cool,

That night we were just playing pool and all of a sudden we gotten to make this hilarious advert with Mario's video camera. The hilarious advert was about Pop Tops, can't wait for Mario to video edit it, and check it out.

Sunday 8th January 2006

2006-01-10T13:09:00.000+11:00

I woke up and went to say farewell to Phillis, George, Auntie Mary & Paul, as they were packing and going back to Melbourne,

After that I gotten to see the maltese news on SBS, felt so weird watchin the same TVM news reporter in Australia.

Then afterwards we went back home, I was so tired, and went to take a nap for around 2 hrs,

Then we went to Bernadette's grandparents house, and Martin gave me a good set of dvds to watch and the recent raw video,

Nothing that exciting for that day.

Saturday 7th January 2006

2006-01-10T13:05:00.001+11:00

Saturday 7th January 2006

I woke up early and just typed up the blog’s past few days.

Around lunch time, we went to my cousin Janet's place, and we had lunch together, we gotten to speak and catch up and also taken a few photos.

After that we went to Uncle George's house and we had a bbq, we gotten to speak and catch up,

Afterwards the neighbours drove me home,

Damn that day I ate so much :D !!

Friday 6th January 2006 (Tip Top Day 2)

2006-01-10T13:05:00.000+11:00

I woke up and went again with Bernadette, for my 2nd tour around some other supermarkets, and most of all see the locations and site seeing while we go from one shopping mall to another.

So I had another great tour of the supermarkets, seeing all kinds of people doing their daily shopping.

I also had Sushi again, and also tried out Laichi fruit for the first time.

Then after Bernadette was finished, we headed home, and just chilled out.

Thursday 5th January 2006 (Tip Top Day 1)

2006-01-10T13:04:00.001+11:00

I woke up in the morning, and I joined Bernadette to go to work with her. She works with Tip Top, which is a bread company. Her job is to go from supermarket to another, putting bread in the shelves and tidying them up.

So I had a great tour of the supermarkets watching all kinds of food products, and most of all seeing all kinds of people doing their daily shopping.

Thanks to Bernadette, I had my first Sushi, and what can I say, it’s very good, very healthy, and fills you up with small contents of food.

Later on that day, we went to Quakers Inn, damn I love that place, and we met with Chris, and also Phillis & George.

Afterwards we went to The Tav, and we went before 9pm and we got in for free. Damn there were so many hot chicks that night compared to the week before.

Wednesday 4th January 2006 (Sydney City)

2006-01-10T13:04:00.000+11:00

Early in the morning Uncle Joe & I, we went to Auntie Tonina’s house, then afterwards Phillis & George invited me to go to the city with them, so Bernadette came with us, and we all went together.

We went to the city and we were walking around, then we found this great boat for just $30 bucks they give us a tour around Sydney and they show us the best locations.

We had a great view of the Harbour Bridge, and we went underneath it, then we passed by the Opera House, and talk about a great view!

Then afterwards we seen this small castle, then we seen this park.

Overall the day was a bit cloudy, but still we seen great Sydney sites.

Afterwards we went to take a coffee, and then we headed back home.

Later on that day Bernadette & me decided to go to the closest Woolworths, and we bought some food products, and made a great salad, came out so good.

I tried out also that day my first Mango, one great tropical fruit.

Tuesday 3rd January 2006 (Boring Lazy Day...)

2006-01-03T23:16:00.000+11:00

I woke up, grabbed the DVD my cousin Chris lent me "Fat Pizza - The Movie" which is quite famous here in Australia.

Two thumbs up for Fat Pizza, its my kind of show, plus one of them is Maltese in real life, and he says in the show that he's maltese. So havin some Maltese pride in this comedy was fantastic.

After that Uncle Joe, Auntie Mary, taken me to Westpoint shopping for few hours, then we headed home, then we just chilled out at home.

And now I'm here typing the past few days, in which I'm finishing.

Thats it, hope people are enjoying this blog so far.

Monday 2nd January 2006 (Second Day Of The New Yearr)

2006-01-03T23:03:00.000+11:00

I mainly stayed home that day, chilled out, watched tv, gone online,

Nothing much really,

Watched Family Guy again, gotten to see few good episodes,

We noticed a character had his last name Muscat, which is a Maltese surname, in which we found pretty amusing.

Also we had this debate over the Family Guy credits ... Carolyn could of sworn that she saw Seth Green, while we all disagreed that it was Seth McFarlane. We then replayed it, and found out that we were all right because Seth Green & Seth McFarlane was in the credits.

In one of the episodes of Family Guy, the main character Peter Griffin, he picked up a cherry with his ass, and all of a sudden Tim my cousin, just got up outta nowhere and got a cherry from the fridge, a tried it out, and he actually managed to hold it with his ass cheeks. It was sooo funny, we were all pissin ourselves.

Sunday 1st January 2006 (New Years Dayyyyyy)

2006-01-03T22:52:00.000+11:00

I slept few hours, and I woke up to help out my auntie and uncle with the BBQ, as I promised, while Bernadette was still in dreamland.

Hours later all the relatives started to arrive, and most importantly I gotten to see my cousin Phillis, her husband George, Auntie Mary, Uncle Paul, Auntie Tonina, cousin Janet, and her daughter Anastasia.

Bernadette, Timothy, Janet, Me & Phillis (5 From Cousins):

The BBQ was lushhhhh, Uncle Joe, when he does a BBQ, he means a BBQQQQ, he had enough to feed a whole army.

Well the whole day was just everyone catchin up and simply enjoying each others company.

My Loveable Cousin Bernadette:

After everyone left, Bernadette, Tim, Carolyn and me, we just chilled out in the lounge room, and started watching Family Guy episodes,

That Stewie character really annoys me, as Bernadette would say "Gives Me The Shitsss !"

After like one episode, I just slept on the sofa right away.

Saturday 31st December 2005 (New Years Eve In Sydney Cityyy)

2006-01-03T22:37:00.000+11:00

Through out the day, I don't remember much what I did, just forgot :(

Nothing much really,

But it was new years eve, and we were going to the city, I was all happy and pumped up.

So I wore my porn star t-shirt, and I was ready to partayyyy.

Me and Bernadette stopped by Adriana's house were us 4 (Adriana, Chris which is Adriana's brother, Bernadette & Me) walked to the train,

I was a bit excited to tell ya the truth coz I haven't went up on a train since I was a little kid, so practically it was like my first.

Me Gettin Pumped Up Before Hoppin Inside A Train:

Bernadette & Adriana (Bernadette's Best Friend, Really Cool Chick):

Well then we went to the city, and my god talk about all kinds of people,

We just went in and out of clubs which were free, and afterwards we sat on this grass area for ages, talking to strangers, from bums to gays, all kinds of people. Everyone being nice and wishing us a happy new year.

Bernadette & Adriana:

I just felt that nice atmosphere of everyone being happy and wishing everyone a happy new year.

I seen the sydney fireworks a bit far away, but they were perfectly clear, my poor cousin Bernadette was filming it with her digital camera, and by mistake she accidentally forgot to press the button hard enough so it didn't tape anything, everyones takes mistakes, so Bernadette was devasted, but the most important thing is the memory.

Afterwards we met Tim & Carolyn at a bar, and we gotten to wish them a happy new year.

Carolyn, Tim (In Zombie Mode) & Bernadette:

Carolyn, Tim, Bernadette & Me:

Later on around 4.30am we got the train home, and arrived around 6am.

And I just really admired the morning view of Sydney areas from the train, while the others were tired from the night out.

I just always love watching morning views after nights out partying, gives a great ending, so this was my first one to admire in Sydney, just gave the night an amazing closure.

I also liked the peaceful walk to the car from the station,

On Our Way Home From The Station:

We arrived home, and we had a well deserved shower and went straight to bed, only to wake up in a few more hours to help auntie & uncle with the new years family gathering BBQ.

Friday 30th December 2005

2006-01-03T22:26:00.000+11:00

I woke around 11pm, then Bernadette taken me to Westpoint to the Medicare centre, then I bought a cool faded 3-quarters, and had Nando’s I taken a extreme hot chicken with chips, really good & spicy !

Then after that we headed to Centre Link, and I given my tax form,

I arrived home and typed up the past few days the blog. So I finally post this.

Thursday 29th December 2005 (The Tav, Jack Daniels Mixed With Cola In A Bottle Far Outtt)

2006-01-03T22:25:00.000+11:00

Woke up and chilled out with Tim, while he was fixing up some lights for his friends place, then we went to Prospect in which there was a bar and restaurant, had some good steak :D

After that Tim and Nagi went to meet up some friends, while we were waiting in front of his house, his parents told us that they're soon coming, then they found out that I just came from Malta, and they just told me to step right innnn !

This family welcomed me so much, coz they are maltese also, afterwards Tim's mates came, and that was it, and we went back home.

As for that night, me, Bernadette & Noeleen, we went to The Tav, but this time to the club, which was pretty cool, nice music mainly hip hop & house, but the DJ was damn good mixing from song to another, but at the end I gotten a bit bored

But most of all I found out they sell Jack Daniels bottles mixed with colaaaaa !

Wednesday 28th December 2005 (Wave Pool)

2006-01-03T22:24:00.000+11:00

Me, Bernadette & Noeleen went to the pool that day, and it was packed with kids, and they also got a wave pool, which was fun.

Later on that night Uncle Joe, Mary, Bernadette, Noeleen & Me, we all went to this Chinese Restaurant, it was pretty good.

Bernadette & Noeleen (Bernadette's Cousin):

Well Thats Me On Our Way To The Restaurant:

Tuesday 27th December 2005 (Day In The City)

2006-01-03T22:19:00.000+11:00

I woke up early and my cousin Danielle picked me up, and met her boyfriend Matt, and a friend of Danielle’s in which I forgot his name.

Then they taken me to Mandy Beach, which was pretty cool, hugeee beach, taken a few swims, then afterwards I had fish and chips.

After that they taken me to the City, and I gotten pass by on the Harbour Bridge, and also seen the Opera House through the car.

Then we headed to Myers shopping mall, and it was packeddd with people exchanging their presents or buying stuff with a good deal. But seriously the people was packed with people, I saw a guy picking shirts and throwing them behind him, t-shirts on the floor, it was a shopping mall frenzy.

After that they taken me to Uncle George’s place, and I ate dinner there, and gotten to see my cousins Anthony & Stephanie, Danielle I met up earlier in the morning, she taken me all around Sydney, and met Uncle George’s wife Joyce.

Then I went home, and me & Bernadette we went online, and didn’t know what to do, so we opened up a bottle of red wine, and we drank nearly all of it, and gotten all HAPPY PAPPY! We had a few laughs, then headed off to bed.

Monday 26th December 2005 (Boxing Dayyy)

2006-01-03T22:16:00.000+11:00

We went to the Blue Mountain’s and headed to this sorta area called Jellybean pool, its basicly lotta trees and water, it’s dirty but you can swim in it. But for my aussie return, that was a pure aussie swim.

Blue Mountain's Jellybeam Pool:

Later on that day Bernadette & me went to Hog’s Breath restaurant to meet up with Chris & Julie, Timmy & Carolyn, and 2 of Chris’s friends.

Then we went to catch a movie @ Hoyts, “The Chronicles Of Narnia”, and we went in cinema 5 in which its currently that it’s the biggest cinema screen in Australia.

My 3 Cousins (Timothy, Bernadette & Chris):

Me @ Hoyts, Behind Me Is The Biggest Cinema Screen In Australia:

The movie was really good, music, dialogue, and storyline to it, but the only thing that was pretty funny was that all of a sudden in the middle of the movie, there was a power serge and there was no sound and picture, and people starting shouting REFUNDDDD, there was this guy he also shouted LETS GO TO NANDO’SSSS (which is a portugese restaurant near by). It was hilarious everyone laughed. Tim thrown a bottle at the screen, and the first few rows quickly gotten up and I think they thought this place was gonna go crazy ! But overall we lost around 10 minutes of the movie. After the movie finished they gave us a free ticket to go to Hoyts.

After the movie we headed home and we all decided to watch Wolf Creek (Australian horror movie) but after half an hour we all gotten tired and didn’t watch it all.

Sunday 25th December 2005 (Christmas Day, My 22nd Birthday twenty-tooth)

2006-01-03T22:13:00.000+11:00

I woke up at a reasonable hour, and me and my new family with exchanged our presents, this was the first time I haven’t had Christmas/My Birthday in Australia since I was a kid.

The presents I received:

• From my cousin Bernadette was a Ministry Of Sound: Kid Kenobi Sessions CD, which was a great way to introduce to me, one of the best DJ acts from down under. And Bernadette also gave me another present for Christmas a cool T-shirt.
• Timothy & Caroline bought me a JB Hi-Fi voucher.
• Chris bought me a Jack Daniels bottle, gotta love JD!
• Mary & Uncle Joe bought me 2 t-shirts, and fudge hair products.

Me & Timothy:

After that we chilled out at home, and we just were fooling around and taking pictures and recording video clips.

Carolyn, Timothy, Bernadette, Mary & Me:

Then we visited their family gathering at Bernadette’s nanna (grandmother in Maltese) & nannu (grandfather in Maltese) house, which is in the countryside, very niceeee.

Me & Timothy Again:

Their I gotten to speak with all Bernadette’s aunties and uncles which are from her mother’s side, which aren’t related to me. I have gotten to meet with Bernadette's:

• Nannu David and Nanna Salvina
• Uncle Martin
• Uncle Lawrence, Aunty Francis and cousins Noeleen, Lorraine and David
• Aunty Josephine, Uncle Jerry, and cousins Mitchel, Alicia and Chantel
• Uncle Raymond, Aunty Michelle and cousins Brittany and Anthony

After that we visited Chris’s place and chilled out for an hour their.

Saturday 24th December 2005 (Christmas Eve)

2006-01-03T22:12:00.000+11:00

I slept in that day, woke up around 10-11am,

I stayed online for a while, spoke with my friends online and gotten in touch,

Later on that night I went to La Vallette, which is a Maltese Social Club in Sydney, where a lot of maltese meet up. I went there for their midnight mass, which was cool to experience the maltese atmosphere in Sydney, having a maltese mass for midnight.

Thursday 22nd December 2005 (My First Night Out In Australia)

2006-01-03T22:03:00.000+11:00

I woke up early that day, and my cousin Timothy (Bernadette’s Brother) took me to Centre Link, to register for work since I deserve it, since I’m gonna be looking for a job, so while looking I get some money in my pocket. So I went there and it totally looks different from the job centre in Gozo.

I applied and then afterwards I went to the West Point shopping mall, and to me it was like a Disneyland of shopping malls compared to the one we got in Gozo. Very nice!!

Me & My Cousin Chris (Bernadette & Timothy's Brother):

Later on that day I have gotten my chance to meet my cousin Chris (Bernadette & Timothy’s brother) and his girlfriend Julie at Quakers Inn, which was a nice pub & restaurant place. I ate a steak, egg and chips plate for just $10, was pretty good actually. I also gotten to meet some pure aussies, and there was this guy that looked like Steve Irwin, and he totally made me feel welcome, coz he knows some Maltese himself and started to say some words to me in Maltese, but was a guy really glad to meet. And most of all seeing this atmosphere of the aussies at the place, all different races having a great time. Plus it was karaoke finals and I had fun watching this old guy singing AC/DC’s “TNT”, he was pretty good actually, his voice sounded like Bon Scott from AC/DC.

Afterwards Bernadette stopped by Adriana’s house to pick her up, and I gotten to meet her for the first time, and she’s Bernadette’s best friend, so I was more than happy to meet her. Then we headed straight to The Tav which is a bar/club place, had some decent music.

While I was there I gotten to meet some friends of Bernadette, and also while I was there I saw this fight, which was some great action for my 2nd day in Australia, then afterwards they kept going at it outside till they chucked them both in the police cars. And also it was cool to see the police cars coming to the place with the sirens and everything.

Most of all I was glad to see great security around this place, everything on stand by, big difference compared to Malta.

Wednesday 21st December 2005 (My First Day In Down Under!)

2006-01-03T21:55:00.000+11:00

The day has arrived, Sydney Australia. The Destination I been waiting to come for yearsss !

Bernadette (Cousin), my uncle Joe & Mary was there at the Sydney Airport to pick me up, my cousin Bernadette gave me a nice welcome present, a book titled “This Is Sydney”, which is a great book to read about every detail I needed to know one of the most famous locations in the world Sydney.

My uncle Joe drove me to his place, and it took less then an hour, and on my way, I just couldn’t stop noticing that the trees were never-ending, and the roads were just simply too perfect for me. I noticed also this new motorway in Sydney, the M7, it was such a smooth drive.

I gotten to meet one of my close cousins Tim (Bernadette’s Brother), after almost 10 years. He totally hasn’t changed one bit.

I taken a shower and a nap, and slept for 6 hours, and felt so much better.

At night my cousin Bernadette took me around with her car, and the first place she shown me was Woolworths, it was late, but entering the place, the smell of the place, it suddenly gave me a flashback of when I was young, my dad taking me in the trolley in the supermarket.

Then she stopped by and shown me these houses that were decorated with lots of lights, it totally gave me an aspect of December in Australia, coz usually in Malta its just few lights outside, and a Christmas tree showing through the window, which isn’t that special, but here in Australia the Christmas lights is so much cool, and seeing them in the summer.

Then while admiring the houses, there was this cute Australian kid that came up to us and said if we seen a car with a license plate that says AKA. He was so cute, but his accent was sooooo aussie, and through out all the days, on my first day here, he totally sorta gave me a welcome to Australia feeling with his accent.

Then my cousin took me around the streets of Sydney, passing by The Tavern, coz she wanted to show me what we would be going the day tomorrow. And also passing by Adriana (Bernadette’s best friend) house to show me were she lives.

After that she stopped by and filled her tank, and I got my chance to go inside my first 7-11 service station, and it was just like The Simpsons, and the guy at the counter was like Apu Nahasapeemapetalon.

Then finally Bernadette taken me to a local lake, and after few minutes I seen this hugeee bat, in which they call them over here a Flying Fox. As soon as I seen it, I thought it was an eagle or something …

That was my first day back in Australia since I was 5 years old and I just loved every second of it. I realized I have two passports of 2 countries that literally are 2 different worlds.

19th - 21st December 2005 (The Flight)

2006-01-03T21:53:00.000+11:00

The day has arrived, my dream for years, to make my big step in my life, and move to Australia.

My parents drove me from Gozo to the airport, and well, I had to say goodbye to my parents, my brother Jason, and also my uncle Paul.

It was really hard to say goodbye to them, always standing by my side through out the years, but it was time to say goodbye so that I move to Australia and have a better opportunity in my life. You always need to have some negativity by your side to succeed in something.

So I grabbed my bags and left. Got up the escalator, then I got inside the plane, and moments later, the plane departed, and once it was flyin in the air, I realized to myself that I’m makin a big step, and I gotta stay focused.

From Malta the plane landed in Cyprus (near Greece), then they filled the tank with fuel. I had gotten to meet a Maltese priest that lives in Melbourne while I was waiting for that 1 hour until the plane leaves once again.

Then after that hour in Cyprus, it departed to Dubai, and it took a few hours.

Emirates gave out a great service in my opinion.

I didn’t want to sleep one bit, I just wanted to admire the view through my window.

Once it arrived to Dubai, then I went into this bus, and I met 1 family that was Maltese and they were also going to Sydney,

So thanks to them they guided me to know where to go to the bus that takes us to the Millennium Hotel, so that we would sleep for a few hours.

So I got my keys, and I headed straight to bed, and I slept from 3am – 6am, only 3 hrs, I had breakfast in the morning, got all ready, went to the bus, and then it taken us to the Dubai Airport.

I browsed through the shops so I buy something, and I bought a few CDs:

Mötley Crüe - Red, White & Crue (Greatest Hits)
Peter Gabriel - Hit (Greatest Hits)
Guns n’ Roses – Greatest Hits
Van Halen - The Best of Both Worlds (Greatest Hits)
The Prodigy - Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005 (Greatest Hits)

Afterwards I went to the plane, coz I had 15 minutes left, so I went quickly, and I couldn’t find the gate, so I told this person, and he gave me the wrong directions, so by the time I arrived at the correct gate, the plane was soon about to leave.

Then once I arrived inside the plane in time, the pilot told everyone that it was going to wait 45 minutes. So in other words I panicked and rushed for nothing 

Then the plane departed, and it took a good couple of hours, so I decided to watch a few shows here and there, and I decided to watch War Of The Worlds, and it was pretty good at first, just then when the robots started to come out, the plane started to have turbulence so it gotten me more tensed.

But then I gotten the hang of the turbulence a bit, and I continued watching.

Then I started to get tired but I just admired the views, from Dubai to Bangkok, and it was very beautiful.

It arrived at Bangkok, and then we waited for an hour or a bit more than hour, and I didn’t want to leave the plane and go look at stuff, coz I wasn’t interested into buying anything.

Then it left once again, for the last time, and I just stayed up, and kept watching shows and the movie Big, which is an old 80s movie, I never get bored of watching that movie since I was a kid. Its about Tom Hanks, he has a wish to be older, and his wish comes true. good movie in my opinion, especially while you’re on the plane.

The flight taken a good couple of hours and I started to get tired, but I stayed strong.

Then it was close to Australia, and I just stayed up, and really wanted to see it, and it was all dark.

I’ll never forget that once I arrived on Australia, a sudden light came from the plane on the land, and I saw a small creek, it was really nice, something not that special, but for me it was really amazing.

Then hours passed by and we were getting closer, and once it was near Sydney, I started to get nervous, since I had no sleep, because I wanted to stay up, but then when it arrived near the Sydney airport, I’ll never forget the view, veryyy nice.

Once it landed, I just felt like Men At Work was playing behind me the song Down Under.

1 Week Left ...

2005-12-13T06:45:00.000+11:00

Hey MySpace Friends,

2 weeks ago we finished our website project, and its at www.VallettaSocialPortal.com

We also made a sorta meeting to launch our site, which was also shown on the news, and I made a speech and few seconds on TVM (Maltese Channel), in front of the Valletta Mayor & ETC Manager.

We also won a youth award, and also we been recorded by a documentary film crew from Brussels, which can be shown here, which has a small segment talking about our project and also me speaking in it saying one line, talking about our project, the small 10 min type documentary will be shown on maltese tv, and used in EU youth activities.

Here is the link to see the footage streamed on the net of the 10 min documentary showing us, you gotta have windows media player, and you can choose either 56k or DSL: Left Click Here

Now today its Monday 12th December 2005, and I have one week left to leave Malta,

I picked up my ticket, and its gonna be:

Malta --> Cyprus --> Dubai (sleep there for the night) --> Bangkok (Bang Cock!) --> Sydney, Australia.

I got this feeling my friends are gonna do some surprise party behind me back, gotta wait and see,

Gonna miss my family and friends :(

Shaun

December 19th, Date Is Set, I'm Off To Sydney !

2005-11-23T07:44:00.000+11:00

I was phoned yesterday about the website portal, which is the project work I'm working on, and they told me that the launch date is going to be early december, so I'm all set to book the fligh so ...

Today I made the big step and booked the flight ticket !

December 19th !

I just booked my one way ticket to Sydney, Australia,

Its gonna be with Emirates Airlines,

The flight will go to Cyprus --> Dubai (sleep the night there) --> Singapore --> Sydney, Australia,

I'll be leaving Malta on the 19th, and arriving on the 21st in Australia,

I would have gone earlier its just the stupid dickhead that I am, didn't renew his australian passport the past few years, so I had to wait a week or two extra to be sure I get in time

Big step in my life, coz I ain't just goin for a holiday, I'm going for a new step in life, a new change,

Been waiting for this day for sooooo long !

Shaun

Welcome To My Blog For My Upcomin Australia Vacation!

2005-10-24T00:13:00.000+10:00

It's Sunday 23rd October, 2005, and recently I decided that instead of writtin down everything through a normal diary during my Australia vacation, I would write everything down in my new blog for my vacation.

If you didn't know I been working in this small project with a group, all together we're five people and they selected me as the group leader. The project is to make this valletta portal (website) in which would advertise the NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) that would be for the European Union. I started it in mid-July, and it supposely will be finished by end of November.

So hopefully my dream to go to Australia will be happening in December 2005. As of now I have no date confirmed yet,

But I just wanted to make this post here so that I would start it with a fresh beginning and show everyone the current status about me going to Australia.

This blog I'm intending for it to have pics and info day by day of me in Australia.

I'm going to Australia for a few months, and see how it goes, and the main thing I wish is to get a decent job and earn good money, and if things go great I might get my own place and take it from there since Malta there ain't any decent jobs if you don't have experience, and nobody is giving me the opportunity to have experience, so going back to where I was born from, which is Australia, is the best idea for me to get some experience, and improve my IT Skills.