Back from outer space.
 

well, St Petersburg anyway.

Just wanted to pop back into the bar and say hi again. Been away a bit but it's good to be back.

Quick update if you're at all interested.

Russia happened - Journey To Russia - didn't go quite as according to plan as I'd hoped - but learned loads. Like Russian roads really are as bad as everyone says.

I left the BBC and have gone to work for Lonely Planet. Which is nice.

Oh yes... and I've moved to Australia!

So a whole new list of places to go exploring, but importantly. Somewhere I can use the swag bag. I appreciate it's a bit much to have jaunted to the other side of the world to simply win the whole swag bag argument thing. But they really are quite good here ;-)

m

Welcome Matt! (sorry I couldn't resist) You have been busy. I wondered why the videos had dried up. I'm looking forward to some new Oz inspired viewing.

Maybe you'll be able to tailor your Lonley Planet copy towards us bikers a bit more. You'll have to do it under the radar though as I'm sure we're not their target audience.

Cool - thanks Doctor :-)

Yes it has been a bit busy, but in the whole mess of moving around I've bought a new camera and intend hitting the outback and rain-forests of Australia with new kit just as soon as I get my bike over here....

Was going to buy a new KTM, but that involved borrowing some money, and given the vagaries of the world market right now...um, well, Mrs Cashmore said no :nono: so the faithful beautiful CBF600 will soon be on a plane heading south, I hope.

m

Hi Matt, you make very interesting videos, better than some of the garbage out there at the moment !

Best of luck down under.

I may post some more pictures of the welsh countryside shortly so you can take a look when you feel homesick.

All the best and g'day

Lee

Isn't that just left one part of the BBC and gone to work for another part of the BBC?

But at least you're down under, and hopefully enjoying it, loads to see, and Christmas in shorts (spare us the pictures). Which part are you in?

don't worry back in the UK for Christmas so doubt there'll be any pics of me in shorts.

Having said that.

Me paddling at St Kilda on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

...please don't send me pics of home.... or I'll just respond with...

Great Ocean Road on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

which to be fair is a stunning road complete with stunning beaches, but still, not as nice as the Gower.

Alex - yes have left BBC Public Service to go and work for Lonely Planet which is 75% owned by BBC WorldWide - the dirty commercial arm.

m

Good to see you back Matt:thumbup1: And congratulations on your move to a new home, you lucky fecker! When you visit the UK at Christmas, bring some of that Ozzy heat with you, it's kin freezing here:(

All the best


Trophymick

Honda Transalp adventure touring - a set on Flickr

Sorry matt !

Hi Matt,

Glad to hear you got back OK :thumbup1:

no no no :-( stop sending me photos of Wales!

I shall otherwise have no option but to respond with shots from here when I get a bike sorted!

I shall do what-ever I can to bring some nice weather back to the UK - although at the moment I appear to have simply brought the wet weather to Australia - wettest November on record.... and it's supposed to be Summer!

m

IT RAINS IN OZZZZ?

Wow, and i thought it only rained in Wales :eek3:

Yes it rains here... A LOT, well it's been a lot this month, and my ozzy friends are beginning to blame me! :helpsmilie:

That's what happens when you live in Melbourne, have you not been listening to Crowded House?

Rain, rain , more rain and plenty of sheep,.........just like a home from home :thumbup1:

Lee

Cheeky sod :laugh:

I suppose you could say New Zealand was more like home - but yes I have to be honest moving to Australia has had virtually no cultural problems at all. The only thing I have to get used to is that it is warmer - not massively so - but generally when it rains it doesn't get cold. Which I find very very odd!

Having said that - I've not seen many sheep.... I did see these guys however!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/...ffdcc7.jpg?v=0

When I did my first run down the Great Ocean Road

Not quite sheep - but they'll do I suppose. Beggars can't be choosers!

dwarf hairy geeeraffs? :blushing:

How did you know my wife's pet name for me?

m

:oops2::eek3:

Gentlemen,
Being a man born and raised in Melbourne I am finding this banter most interesting. Hope the rain keeps coming down in Melb, they need it !

Glad you are liking it there. I too will be looking forward to any tales from the homeland.

Lonely planet from a bikers point of view sounds great !!

Cheers

Good for you fella... Good for you !! :thumbup1:

Thanks guys :-)

Melbourne is currently 'struggling' with 39c heat. When I say struggling I mean HAVING to sit in air-conditioned cafes whilst weather the terrible terrible sun.

Life is hard here in the out-back, today it was so nice, um sorry I mean tough, that I had to come out without a jacket on and roll up my sleeves - do you know the cancer risk I'm taking just doing that ! I'm happy to take these hardships as they come so I can bring you a picture of the harsh environment I live in.

I can almost keep a straight face when I say that too ;-)

Anyway - nice to see you all again.

m

Matt,

You can stick your 39°

We all know that you long for a fresh and bright frosty morning; sucking the clean, cold air into your lungs.

:freezing:

Would love a nice cold morning - this week has been hell... allow me to show you this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/...5d3b7b.jpg?v=0

Which resulted in my brand new XT sitting in the garage for way too much time because my boots started to melt.... grrrr... now of course it's only 29 - much better - and of course I'm back in work....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/...af5806.jpg?v=0

Matt,

Have a look what we woke up to this morning

BBC NEWS | UK | Heavy snow envelops much of UK

Have fun sweating. I'm off to dig out me long-johns

OK OK OK Matt, you have had your fun moaning about the damn sunshine.

I was out late last night salting my drive and the road in front of my house just so i could get out this morning. The snow came at about 5 AM and its still snowing now, I just dropped the wife off at her work and the temp is -1.5.

Thats probably as cold as you have got your air con switched to.!!! You wait, the winter will come in Melbourne aswell and i bet the temps will drop to around 15 degrees then... now thats hardship..... (firmly tongue in cheek)..

Seriously, high temperature can be as bad as rain and cold in a strange sort of way as you cant function properly in either. But i think i would rather be unfunctional in the heat.

All the best
Lee