A New Que!!!!

Exciting news, we will soon have a new addition to the family. We are very excited and have just had our first ultrasound. (ten fingers and ten toes were counted)


The video of this looks a lot better

Fanmail for bopo!

We got an email regarding a customers experience using the bopo card. I want to share this, as it made us feel pretty good about the work we are doing:



"I just thought I would let you know that I have finally started to use the BOPO card and it was far easier than I thought it would be.

I had some online purchases to make and decided that I would rather use BOPO than my personal Visa or business Diners cards. I looked on your website for the nearest location to my office which was in Malvern. The website provided an option which was only a few hundred metres away.

I went into the newsagency and said to the cashier that I wanted to put $100 on the card as a starting point and within 30 seconds it was done, I had my receipt and was on my way. I thought I may have needed to try and explain what BOPO was etc etc but didn't need to do any of that.

Within 10 minutes from the time of placing the money on the card, I had made an online transaction and had used the card to secure a reservation at the Hyatt. I used your online facility to view the transaction which confirmed that all had gone through as planned.

I have just spoken to my staff and have encouraged them to get a BOPO card for their personal use. In addition our business will also obtain cards for staff due to the convenience of being able to transfer money between cards and without the credit risk or employee risks associated with our current MasterCard and charge cards.

Thought it might be worth letting you know."

The Best Way to Watch Footy!

Last night we were lucky enough to get to see the Tri Nations Rugby League game between Australia and New Zealand from the St Kilda corporate box at the Telstra Dome. It would have to be one of the best experiences watching footy I've ever had. (bettered only by seeing Wests win the Grand Final during a 4 day Bucks Party - and that could have been better if they were still Magpies!) I don't think we got too rowdy, considering the alcohol was free. The night was made better by Australia winning in a thriller. Not so good for our 2 kiwi brothers, Ian and Peter.
To view all the photos, click here.


Nelle and I soaking up the pre match atmoshpere


This pics a bit dark, but you get an idea
of what the box was like.

bopo

We have just released a prepaid VISA card called 'bopo' (www.bopo.com.au) .

It allows you to have a VISA card and "top it up" at newsagencies. Then you can shop online (or anywhere that VISA is accepted) with your on money and limit your exposure. You can also transfer money to other bopo cards, by web or SMS.

Bits of Antigua

It's time I put something new up, since dad told me a few people actually read this blog. (G'Day Wazza). Just a few miscellaneous shots around Antigua.



This is the van across from the place where we sometimes get breakfast (Philton's). It's very popular, but I'm still too scared to try anything from there.



This is a couple of blokes that sing at the beach. One bloke does, the other just shakes maracas. I wonder if they split the money 50/50 ?



This is what turned up when I asked for a "medium" sized pizza....

If Ned Flanders had a pub...

We have discovered an Irish pub in St Johns, Antigua (Shamaroony's). They are playing the world cup matches on the telly there. It's best to order the local beers though. I watched on as the bartender poured my warm Guinness out of a can, that doesn't quite fill a pint glass.


English Flag draped over the balcony!


Warm Guinness .....

Weekend at Airport

I have just spent the weekend stuck in the Orlando international airport, waiting for Nelle to arrive. Well, at least I was staying in a hotel located inside the airport. Killing time included looking at all the shops, which were really, Disney, Sea World and Kennedy Space centre stores repeating themselves. The food court was the place I would get my daily $14 tuna sandwich. It was also fun watching the McDonald's staff try to understand what I was asking for, my accent must be really thick ! I have been mistaken for being from England, South Africa, Ireland and Massachusetts since being here and no-one has picked Australian !

I watched a world cup match (Sweden Vs T&T) at the fox sports bar, where the 2 bartenders supplied me with Fosters and went on about what a great band Wolfmother are (after establishing I was Australian).

Then Janelle turned up and all was right in the world again. The first thing she did was get a picture taken out the front of the Disney Store.....

Back In America

I'm back in America for the next few days. I arrived in Orlando on Saturday night. On Sunday I went ot the Epcot Centre, which is one of the "lands" at Disney World. There was a ride there that I think would be the closest you could ever get to the sensation of flying. The ride was called "soaring".



Soaring !

Separated At Birth ?

Neville and Dad.

Strange Television

One interesting thing about being overseas is to be able to see what sort of TV shows are on in another country. In Antigua, you really only get a stream of US stations. One of these channels is a Christian channel. On this station I have seen some amusing things (like the fitness show, which is just 3 guys stepping from side to side for half an hour!), but the weirdest show so far has to be "Bibleman". From what I can gather, he is some sort of mutant protestant who fights evil with a light saber and quotes from the bible.


Waiting for a showdown with Quranman!

SS Washington

During the week, the SS Washington was in Antigua. It's the first time I've seen an Aircraft Carrier. The town was full of US sailors for the week, so all the good places to eat were always full. The ship has a crew of 6000. Pretty cool to see it out in the water. (See Pic).


I took this from an old fort which used to protect the harbor.

The Unhealthy Meal

With all this fresh fish I'm eating in Atigua, I'm reminded of the meal my mate, Andrew made while he was staying with us. I had just gone down to the fish and chips shop to get some chips to make chip bouties. Andrew got some potato scallops and made a Meat Pie and Scallop sandwich, actually it was 2. Not real healthy, but he tells me they were great.


A heart attack in every bite !

Working In Antigua

Now I'm in Antigua (pronounced an-tee-ga). Working pretty late into the night to allow for the work hours 'crossover' with Australia. My first impressions of the place were not good, but over the last couple of weeks I have gotten to discover the character of St Johns, and I've also had a chance to see some of the beautiful parts of the island.


The office :-)


Yes I like pina coladas....And gettin' caught in the rain

5 Minutes in L.A.

Well, now I can say I have been to America! On the way to Antigua, we had to change planes in Los Angeles. I managed to get a five minute look outside LAX, before having another dance with homeland security. I only really got to see about 100 metres into the distance, as that's all the smog would allow.
















Just to proove I was here.

Piss Weak World

Nelle and I recently went to the town of Rye to see the Sand Sculpture Exhibition. While the sand sculptures were pretty impressive, most had been damaged by vandals. And the best thing was the very poor 'Extra attractions". (see the pics)




Now even pissier !

My Trip to Flemington

I recently went to the Flemington race track for my mate, Huw's birthday, for the Australian Cup. It was a great atmosphere and far less crowded than it would have been for the Melbourne Cup. We all had a great day and I only managed to piss away about $50.


Getting tips from dad, and at the same time, impersonating a petrol bowser.

Click here for more photos.

Media PC

As my first post, I thought I'd show a few pics from my recent attempt to build a media pc. It all went fine (eventually). I am using the Media Portal program and, after the headache of setting up everything how I like it, it is a brilliant system.




And the finished product.