Last year they were a little known act playing fairly low on the bill at London’s Aussie BBQ. Fast forward 12 months and when the boys revisited Cargo for the 2012 incarnation of the Aussie BBQ, they were the talk of the event. All the bands wanted to have a beer with them and all the punters wanted to hear them play. Alas, it was their day off but they were still good enough to give the Oz-music-gurus-of-London, Paul Judge and Nick Killham, a chat on the Backpack Sounds couch. Enjoy!

Click here to watch the full highlights package from the 2012 Aussie BBQ at Cargo

Don’t miss DZ Deathrays rock Barfly at Camden tonight (17 May)

Giteau, 29, missed out on a spot in Australia’s 30-man squad for last year’s World Cup and had a very public falling out with Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

However the elusive former Brumbies and Force playmaker has impressed in his stint in southern France, spending most of his debut season at inside centre outside English veteran Jonny Wilkinson.

Cashed-up Toulon have not won a trophy for two decades and the pressure will be on big name recruits such as Giteau to deliver at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night.

The match in south-west London is also a chance for 2003 World Cup winner Wilkinson to end his 15-year drought in Europe competition, having been part of Toulon’s losing side in the 2010 final.

Australian Luke Rooney has been named in Toulon’s 26-man squad for the clash against a Biarritz side that boasts the likes of the scheming half Dimitri Yachvili and man mountain Imanol Harinordoquy.

Toulon finished third at the end of the regular season in the Top 14 competition and remain in the hunt for their first championship since 1992.

Toulon’s head coach Bernard Laporte said Giteau, who played 92 Tests during his nine-year international career, was a key player for his club.

“Matt is an extraordinary player,” Laporte said.

“When he gets a lot of possession he is dangerous and I know that well from my time as coach of France.

“When we played against him we spoke about him all week. He is a crucial part of our team.

“He wants to play more and more games at fly-half but he has to be patient.”

Biarritz have endured a topsy-turvy season but Harinordoquy believed his side was on the up.

“That’s the way it is with Biarritz Olympique – we produce the worst and the best.” he said.

“Right now it seems that we are closer to our best and that’s great.” – AAP

Tickets are selling fast for this blockbuster final. Get your tickets now for Toulon v Biarritz in the European Challenge Cup on Friday (18 May) at Twickenham Stoop.

After the shock dumping of replacement Sam Moran in January, original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page returned to the stage, only to announce on Thursday that he’ll be passing on the well-worn top in December to Emma Watkins – the first female member of the group.

Watkins is not new to the mega-earning Wiggles – for the past two years the 22-year-old has taken on the roles of Fairy Larissa, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and a Wiggly Dancer.

Jeff Fatt and Murray Cook will also pass on their famous purple and red tops to a new generation of performers, when The Wiggles wind up their Celebration world tour in Australia in December.

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, 49, will continue driving in the Big Red Car.

“The touring and performing over the past 21 years has meant that we’ve spent a long time away from our own families and friends,” Cook said in a statement.

“We miss them and want to spend more time at home which is a major reason why three of us decided it was time to hand on our skivvies to a new generation.”

Newcomer Watkins will be joined by Lachlan Gillespie and Simon Pryce who will become the new Purple and Red Wiggles.

“We’ve been entertaining children around the world for 21 years and it’s important that we plan for the future so that The Wiggles can keep wiggling in the years to come,” Cook added.

Page, 40, had only recently rejoined the entertainers after leaving in 2006 due to a mystery illness, later diagnosed as the debilitating disease dysautonomia.

“It’s been so great having Greg back with us so far this year, and to finish our time on stage all together again seems so fitting,” Fatt said.

Page came back at the request of the other three Wiggles, after they got together to be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2011.

Although Moran had agreed to step aside for the reunion, fans were outraged at the sudden announcement.

Moran, who seemed bemused at the time at the attention he was getting, said: “All the support I’ve received from families and fans online … has been incredible and really humbling for me.”

Page is not the only Wiggle to have had health problems, with 58-year-old Fatt undergoing heart surgery in July 2011.

Added to a gruelling tour schedule, this caused the group to cancel an appearance at Sydney’s Carols in the Domain last year.

On Thursday Page, Fatt and Cook, 51, thanked their fans for 21 fantastic years in the Big Red Car. From 2013 the trio will take on backstage, creative roles. – AAP

Will The Wiggles still be the same with the new faces? Tell us below:

By Delroy Alexander

Just as news that the once mighty Liverpool FC had parted company with their iconic talisman Kenny Dalglish, his often beleaguered predecessor in the job, Roy Hodgson, was announcing his first England line up.

How life can play tricks on one.

King Kenny dethroned in a wickedly unceremonious way at what is rapidly becoming a footballing disaster. I know it shows my naivety but is there no loyalty left in football. Having reached the FA Cup Final and won the Carling Cup, King Kenny was eased out the door because of “poor league” form.

Granted, as a Liverpool supporter, we expect to finish higher. But eight in this Premier League isn’t all that bad. Chelsea, the sixth placed team, is in the final of the Champions League.

And, we were playing the best football we’ve produced in more than two decades. I suppose the adage, winning isn’t just everything, it’s the only thing-rings true in King Kenny’s case. Especially in the face of owners who clearly know little about the game. He deserved more time and better treatment.

King Kenny’s more human frailties showed through earlier in the season, when his stout and overtly defensive posturing on behalf of our racist talisman Luis Suarez was, in short, ridiculous. His subsequent climb down and apology lacked sincerity.

As a lifelong fan of the greatest club in England I was ashamed then and I am ashamed now. Not because we made mistakes. To err is human. But because of the way we handled them. Shame on the club and its management and that includes, King Kenny.

Liverpool always stood for more than just winning. Winning with ethics, professionalism and style. The club that majestically broke the glass ceiling for black football stars with the purchase of John Barnes from Watford in June 1987 is in crisis. Wow, that hurts. I’ve been in denial for so long, it hurts to accept the obvious.

A crisis not so much in the footballing sense. King Kenny had a handle on that. A crisis of conscience.

I mean, forcing King Kenny out the door after a relatively brief and successful spell in charge again is akin to dethroning the Queen. Other’s may want to sit on the hot seat but they will forever be haunted by the spectre of what we used to stand for and what we have become. Just another club looking to cash in on gullible fans like me. Who, however embarrassed, can’t help but love our team.

The crisis of conscience that men like King Kenny now find themselves engulfed in is all part of a modern game where billionaires and business moguls switch allegiance like chips on a roulette table.

The crisis spreads so deep that even honourable men like King Kenny and his affable if unexciting predecessor Roy Hodgson appear unable or unwilling to stand up for what is right and not just what is expedient.

While King Kenny has found himself caught up in a world he is powerless to control, the new England manager has disappointed illustrating just how little conscience the game now has for moral imperatives.

In his first squad, Mr. Hodgson has chosen to leave out the country’s best central defender in Rio Ferdinand, due to “footballing reasons”. Instead, he has chosen to stick with John Terry, who will soon go on trial for racially abusing Rio’s younger brother Anton Ferdinand.

Do these folk have no conscience. Obviously not. For a start, Rio may have lost a step of pace but he is still and always will be an infinitely better defender than John Terry. The same Terry, who was recently terrorised by Andy Carroll and the very same Liverpool team that Dalglish no longer manages. The same Terry who won’t be available for the Champions League final because he was stupidly sent off during the Barcelona semi-final. And, the same Terry who was stripped by the FA because of his pending racism court case.

The perception of such pragmatism in the face of logic and conscience leaves me wondering what one has to do in football circles to lose out on principle. Maybe sleep with a team mates wife….oops no, that’s all in the game these days isn’t it.

The simple truth is that race, questions of colour and conscience take second, third or possibly fourth place even to winning.

The beautiful game doesn’t look half so rosy as it used to from Anfield or Wembley anymore. Win or lose, I think I’ll probably take more interest during the Euro’s this summer to see how many times a commentator mentions that Terry is due in court on charges of racially abusing the brother of “former England captain” Rio Ferdinand.

Seeking Solutions

Liverpool, at least, has not been immune to the criticism. The club has in fact, secretly hired Amaechi Performance Systems to consult and work with the local community on matters of tolerance.

For those that don’t know, the company is the brain child of John Amaechi.

Yes, that John Amaechi. The behavioural psychologist, social entrepreneur and best-selling author. More importantly, he is a director for the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) Diversity Board that sets strategy for procurement, recruitment and standards for every employee, supplier and volunteer for the 2012 Olympic games effort.

Bet you didn’t think I was going say that did you.

Mr. Amaechi is a truly unique person, who I was honoured to meet recently at a Football Against Racism in Europe gathering in Rome. The hugely important “Game Changers” conference bought together 150 people from 40 countries that form part of the FARE network to discuss issues of race, diversity and equality.

Mr. Amaechi was a keynote speaker who has worked for Fortune 500 corporations and amassed a stinging reputation as a change agent not afraid to speak his mind.

His sharp focus and clearly held belief that sports too often abdicates its responsibility to be a positive change agent could not be missed.

An impressive orator, with an unusually forceful intellect, he was – in keeping with the role of a consultant – tight lipped about his Anfield posting when pressed.
Of course, Mr. Amaechi is no stranger to sports and controversy. And, perhaps knows better than most what it is to bring about a change in perceptions and conscience, especially in the field of sport.

The 6’ 9” social scientist in February 2007, after his retirement from a successful career in top level US basketball, became the first former NBA player to come out publicly in his memoir, Man in the Middle.

Regarded as one of the world’s most high-profile gay athletes, he decries sports administrators for an inability to adapt and change their thinking.

Let’s hope Liverpool take full advantage of his undoubted skills and don’t just continue to talk the talk. Amaechi himself has an enviable track record of actually walking the walk. A fact aptly illustrated by his own holistic basketball programme in Manchester, where he kicked in quarter of a million pounds of his own cash to help build the centre his kids now practice and play in.

Delroy Alexander is the Chairman of the Sacred Sports Foundation

Nicole Kidman features in two of the most anticipated releases with The Paperboy (alongside John Cusack) and Hemingway and Gellhorn, while another famous Aussie female face, Kylie Minogue, is set to grace the red carpet ahead of her movie Holy Motors. Australia’s Mia Wasikowska (of Alice In Wonderland fame) will be glittering in the Mediterranean sun for her role in the Hollywood blockbuster Lawless, and Deborah Mailman and Jessica Mauboy will be representing Wayne Blair’s homegrown Aussie musical comedy The Sapphires, the only Australian feature film at the festival.

Not to be upstaged by the girls though, the men of Australia’s burgeoning film industry are out in force too. Andrew Dominik (director of Chopper) is back at Cannes with his hugely anticipated mafia masterpiece Killing Them Softly, starring Brad Pitt and Australia’s Ben Mendelsohn. John Hillcoat is the Aussie director of Lawless, which as well as the glamorous Wasikowska, also features compatriots Guy Pearce, John Clarke and Noah Taylor, alongside Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Gary Oldman. And just in case this movie didn’t already have enough Australian involvement, it was scripted by the legendary Nick Cave.

Michael Spiccia’s Yardbird is an Aussie short-film in the running for the 2012 Short Film Palme d’or, written by a previous Cannes winner in Western Australian-boy Julius Avery.

The Cannes Film Festival opens today, 16 May, with Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and will run until 27 May.

Are Aussie actors slowly becoming the go-to talent for international films? Tell us what you think below:

What a record! Well almost…

Australian DJ Smokin’ Joe Mehkael thought he’d have a crack last year at the longest continuous DJ set last November. Setting himself up at a nightclub in Sydney he ripped through the tunes for 132 hours straight. That’s five and a half days straight of mixing up the tunes (check out the vid below). 


So there would have been tears from Smokin’ Joe this week when people at Guinness world records declared the attempt was not the longest DJ set. Apparently an Austrian DJ had set the bar at 150 hours in October and they hadn’t updated the website to reflect this new world record. This means Joe’s later attempt was short of the official mark.

Smokin’ Joe has been good natured about the mess up saying he will return to beat the official record. But surely there must be a part of him which is severely… well you know word we’re thinking of.

Brick by Brick
Late last year we reported on the iconic music pub Annandale Hotel who had launched a campaign to save them from closing their doors with a Buy-a-brick campaign. The idea behind the campaign was to get punters, musicians and supporters of the pub to donate money starting from $20 which would help the establishment. Donators would also be honoured with their names inscribed on bricks out the front of the hotel as part of renovations.

The hotel’s owners announced last week they had already secured over 500 bricks and had enough money to begin badly needed renovations while aiming to keep the character of the pub’s original décor and history.

One notorious and more famous part of the hotel will be getting a visit from the decorators as part of the first stage. We are of course talking about the famous Annandale toilets. And they’re not famous because people love them. Thousands of sweaty music fans fresh from the mosh pit has left a toll on the toilets and regular visitors to the pub will be rejoicing some love will be going into making it less of a cesspit.

Play nicely kiddies
One of our favourites at Australian Times, Kate Miller-Hiedke, has got herself into a little stoush with one of the short men of Australian music – Anthony Callea.

Kate recently appeared on political discussion show Q&A to partake in the group discussion and perform some of her new music. Her appearance and comments sparked a flurry on Twitter with mixed viewers divided on her arguments and the former Australian Idol winner calling her an embarrassment to Generation Y.

Now to be fair to both sides, some of Hiedke’s responses sounded quite airy and uninformed especially about the budget, a very stimulating subject matter for all musicians.
But we do have to give her a points decision in this battle as her response to Callea via Twitter was simple yet effective: “Anthony Callea, Pot, Kettle, F*ckwit.’’

Who would you support? KMH or lil Callea? Tell us below:

The couple, who began dating 18 months ago, tied the knot at the exclusive Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in NSW’s Wolgan Valley, around 200km northwest of Sydney.

Clarke and Boldy both announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday.

Clarke tweeted: “Happiest guy in the world. Married @KylyBoldy yesterday in front of our gorgeous families. Couldn’t be happier!”

He also posted three photos, one of which featured Boldy sitting on a grey horse in her white wedding dress with Clarke holding the reins.

Boldy also wrote of the news on her Twitter account: “Luckiest Woman in the world! Married @MClarke23 on the 15th of May 2012. Greatest day of my life, so proud to be your Wife.”

After his much-publicised break-up with Lara Bingle, to whom he was also engaged, Clarke had credited Boldy as a grounding influence in his life on and off the field as he assumed the captaincy from Ricky Ponting and discovered career-best form, including a record 329 not out at the SCG against India in January.

The couple has largely shied away from the limelight, but Boldy has been regularly pictured watching on from the stands during Clarke’s matches.

The Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa resort confirmed the wedding had taken place there but would not offer further comment.

Clarke returned from his Indian Premier League commitments with the Pune Warriors for the occasion.

It was announced earlier on Wednesday that Clarke would try his hand at motor racing in the International Rally of Queensland in late May as part of a promotion with a sponsor.

Clarke will next lead Australia on their one-day international tour of Britain in June and July. – AAP

In a video filmed on set and in period costume, Jackman shows he really is a man with a big heart.

“Happy Mother’s Day to you all – you deserve it! Have a great, great day,” says the Aussie A-List Hollywood star in reference to Mother’s Day which just happened in Australia on Sunday.

Speaking over the noise of a vacuum cleaner, he adds with his trademark humour: “See, we’re getting prepared! All the men are doing the housework.”

Les Miserables, which features fellow Aussie actor Russell Crowe as well as Anne Hathaway and Sacha Baron Cohen, is being filmed in the UK and France and is scheduled for release in December later this year.

Edward Myatt faced court for the first time on Wednesday since his arrest in February at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, where he was allegedly caught with 1.1kg of hashish and four grams of methamphetamines in plastic casings he’d swallowed.

The 54-year-old showed no emotion and said little as the indictment against him was read out in the Denpasar District Court.

He faces three charges, including trafficking and two counts of possession.

Myatt, from Ballarat, Victoria, but who has lived in England for several years, could be sentenced to death if convicted on the drug-trafficking charge.

The possession charges carry a maximum penalty of life in jail.

He was not required to enter a plea on Wednesday.

Authorities remain convinced he was part of an international drug-smuggling syndicate and may have successfully imported drugs into Bali in the past.

Myatt has allegedly told investigators he bought the drugs in Delhi from a man he knew as “Dr Steve” after travelling to India from Yorkshire, England, where he had been living.

He then allegedly separated the drugs into smaller quantities and wrapped them in 72 plastic casings at his hotel before swallowing them and travelling to Bali.

But his lawyer, Maya Arsanti, told AAP outside the court that he only made the trip under pressure from another man, identified as Roger, who he knew in India.

“Roger forced him to do this,” Ms Arsanti she said after the hearing.

Ms Arsanti did not give any more details about the mysterious “Roger”, but said the claim will form a major part of the defence’s case.

She added that Myatt, a yoga instructor, was a long-term user of drugs.

If this is accepted by the prosecutors and judges, it could see him given a lighter sentence.

People caught with drugs in Indonesia are often treated more leniently by the courts if they can prove they have an addiction.

Bali’s chief prosecutor, Gusti Gede Putu Atmaja, however, said he would explore the allegations from narcotics officers that Myatt’s trip to Bali in February was not his first as a drug courier.

“That’s what we want to find out. I hope not, for his sake,” Mr Atmaja told AAP.

“We will find out if this is the first time or second time, or one of many.”

Mr Atmaja added he was yet to form an opinion about what kind of sentence would be sought, but said that the evidence against Myatt was overwhelming.

“This is a strong case,” he said.

The trial continues next Thursday. – AAP

The former News International chief executive said allegations that she, her husband and four others plotted to hide evidence were “an expensive sideshow and a waste of public money”.

She also challenged the integrity of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to charge her with conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

In a statement made outside her solicitor’s London office, the former Sun and News of the World editor said: “Although I understand the need for a thorough investigation, I am baffled by the decision to charge me. However, I cannot express my anger enough that those close to me have unfairly been dragged into this.

“Whilst I have always respected the criminal justice system, I have to question today whether this decision was made on a proper impartial assessment of the evidence.”

The 43-year-old and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie stood side-by-side on Tuesday after being charged in an hour long meeting with Operation Weeting detectives.

Charlie Brooks branded the decision as an attempt to brand him and others as scapegoats and said he believed his wife was the subject of a witch hunt.

“There are 172 police officers, about the equivalent of eight murder squads, working on this; so it doesn’t surprise me that the pressure is on to prosecute, no matter how weak the cases will be,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the lack of evidence against me will be borne out in court but I have grave doubts that my wife can ever get a fair trial, given the huge volume of biased commentary which she has been subjected to.

“We will fight this in court.”

The couple will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 June alongside her former PA, Cheryl Carter and chauffeur Paul Edwards charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mark Hanna, head of security at News International and security consultant Daryl Jorsling also face single counts of conspiring with her.

Mrs Brooks, listed on a police indictment as “unemployed” of Churchill, Oxfordshire, was charged with three counts, including that she removed boxes of material from the News International archive and tried to conceal documents, computers and other material from the Scotland Yard inquiry.

The charges are the first to be brought following Scotland Yard’s multimillion-pound investigations into phone-hacking, computer hacking and corruption, which have led to 50 arrests since they began in January last year.

Alison Levitt QC, principal legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was “sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction”.

Charges against one suspect, a 38-year-old security consultant, were dropped as part of the review of evidence by lawyers since detectives handed over the file on 27 March.

Both Carter and Hanna also released statements vigorously denying the allegations.

It is understood that News International has suspended Hanna and Edwards on full pay pending the conclusion of the cases.

The news of the charges came on the same day that detectives investigating corrupt payments to public officials arrested a British Revenue and Customs employee after being handed information by News Corporation’s management standards committee (MSC).

The 50-year-old man was held on suspicion of misconduct in a public office by officers from Operation Elveden.

He was arrested at an address in northwest London along with a 43-year-old woman who was held on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and money-laundering offences. Both were bailed until August.

The MSC was set up in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World last July.

It is carrying out internal investigations relating to Rupert Murdoch’s remaining British papers – the Sun, The Times and the Sunday Times.

The decision to charge Rebekah Brooks came just days after she lifted the lid on her close relationship with the Prime Minister at the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

David Cameron’s official spokesman declined to discuss the matter, saying it would be “improper” for him to comment on an ongoing investigation.

Rebekah Brooks became News of the World editor in 2000 aged 31, landed the top job at The Sun in 2003 and was appointed chief executive of News International in 2009 before quitting in July 2011.

Days later she was arrested over alleged phone-hacking and corruption, offences for which she remains on bail without charge.

She was arrested again in March in connection with the separate perverting the course of justice allegation, with her husband and four others. – AAP

Australia will be pitted against world No.7 Serbia, 10th-ranked China, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and fellow Asian rivals, Korea, Asian Champions Iran and hosts Japan – all in the world’s top 20 – at the Tokyo event starting 1 June.

The Australians, ranked 22, must either win or finish as the best-placed Asian team for a spot at the Games.

Should the winner be an Asian team then the second best-placed Asian side will also qualify.

The Australian women’s squad is already out of the running.

With the majority of the squad playing their club competition in Europe, the team have now convened at the AIS training facility in Italy to prepare for a four-match series against Holland this week ahead of their crucial qualifying tournament.

“It is going to be a very interesting tournament with Iran the Asian Champions and China ranked 10 in the world and along with hosts Japan they will all be very tough to beat indeed,” Volleyball Australia high performance manager Matt Sebbens said.

“To win through to London will be a huge feat but certainly not beyond them.

“They all know they have to start to close games out and that starts in this week’s tournament against Holland.”

The qualifying teams will join Great Britain, Russia, Poland, Brazil, Tunisia, USA, Italy and Argentina who have already secured a spot in the 12-team Olympic competition. – AAP

The famous Aussie comedy duo, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, are in London at the moment and preparing themselves for what is being billed as a “radio world first!”.

“Considering we hadn’t organised a studio for our radio show from London, our friend Christian O’Connell of Absolute Radio was kind enough to lend us his. The problem was; he’s doing his Breakfast show for Britain at the same time that as we need to be doing our Drive show for Australia,” the pair say on their website.

The broadcast will apparently feature a mix of British and Australian news, sport and feature interviews across both the UK’s Absolute Radio and Australia’s Fox FM – as UK listeners wake up, and Australian listeners make their way home.

To mark the broadcast, listeners in Britain will be offered the chance to win a holiday Down Under, and Australian listeners vice versa.

“Whether you’re a fan of Christian in the UK or Hamish & Andy in Australia, it’ll be a treat to hear the best radio talent from either side of the world join forces.” said Tony Moorey, Absolute Radio’s content director.

Check out what happened last time the boys met up with Christian O’Connell:

Will you be listening to the show on Friday? Tell us below:

As soon as their set began at 20:30, bohemian Londoners who had come to the venue to see headliners Electric Guest, were enthralled by these confident Australian newcomers. As the set went on, heads began to nod and there was a genuine feeling of excitement from an audience who couldn’t believe they had stumbled upon this gem of a band.

With a mid-set medley of Modjo’s ‘Lady (Hear me tonight)’ and Groovejet’s ‘If This Ain’t Love’, the crowd began to sing along and by the time their lead single ‘Time And Place’ was being played the band had won over the watching crowd.

Lead singer Sean gave a shout out to a fan that had approached them earlier in the evening, genuinely happy to have fans in the UK. Speaking to bassist Sam Gethin-Jones after the gig it became clear that their current European tour has the sole aim to win new fans and build up their reputation on a new continent. Guitarist Lachlan Caskey summed up the dream by saying that they just wanted to “make a living doing what I love”.

Synth player Stephen Kempnich spoke to us about how happy the band were to be in London and Europe, acknowledging London’s happening atmosphere and the positive vibe he had got from the gig. Overall, Last Dinosaurs didn’t disappoint, Hoxton Bar and Kitchen served up a great atmosphere as well as great food and the ‘Dinos’ were successful in their quest to win over some more fans!

Have you seen these cool new Aussie players? What do you reckon? Tell us below:

This was the jovial response from the newly re-elected Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, when asked how many more gold medals the Australian Olympic Team would win than Team GB (Great Britain).

“No, no, no… It’s going to be tough but we think we’ve got it covered,” Mr Johnson told Australian Times Editor Tim Martin, crossing his fingers that his British Olympic hopefuls could come out on top over their Aussie rivals.

The Mayor had just announced legendary singer Tom Jones will play for free in Hyde Park in July, as part of BT London Live, a citywide programme of events celebrating the London 2012 Games throughout the Olympic Games period.

“BT London Live is a fantastic way for hundreds of thousands of people to experience all the excitement and live action of the Games for free, and for those inspired by their Olympic and Paralympic heroes to try out different sports.”

BT London Live is set to transform Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square into thriving hubs of activity as the landmark venues play host to all the live Olympic sporting action on giant screens, plus facilitating sports activities, top class music, entertainment and more – and all for free.

“We’re planning an unprecedented number of events in every part of the capital and, combined with terrific entertainment at these three iconic locations, it really will be a summer like no other,” Mr Johnson told assembled journalists at the top of the BT Tower in London’s centre.

And just before humming a few bars of the Tom Jones classic ‘Delilah’, the London Mayor said he was truly excited for the Hyde Park spectacle.

“The atmosphere will be incredible – it’s going to be the place to be in London this summer. There will be entertainments of all kinds, kicking off with a fantastic concert by Tom Jones. All for free.”

Together with the live entertainment, there will be a 55m high BT Observation Wheel giving views of the Olympic Park, have-a-go sports, bungee trampolining, Zip Lines and Zorbing, plus al-fresco Sports Bars and more.

A limited number of Guaranteed Entry Tickets will be available from 16 May for those who wish to ensure they don’t miss out on a particular day for BT London Live (including the Tom Jones performance). For full details head to BTLondonLive.com

Image by Justin Ng

REVIEW | Aussie BBQ, Cargo Bar, Sunday 13 May

HAS it been a year already? The Aussie BBQ is an annual tradition in London which doesn’t involve downing snakebites and heading to the Walkabout. Although we did see some people getting round in Tiger suits but apparently that was in honour of one of the bands.

Fresh (or more likely hungover) from Brighton’s Great Escape music festival around a dozen Australian bands and artists stopped in to play the stage and show us some new Australian music.

I was disappointed to only catch the last song of 10 piece group Inland Sea’s set. The multi-harmony sing-a-long style seemed to have everyone smiling.

The best thing about this day is the bands come in all shapes and sizes covering all the genres. For the next few hours we swayed to Ben Salter, bopped to Oliver Tank and downright danced to The Killgirls who provided some intense beats and a killer rendition of Beastie Boy’s ‘Sabotage.’

The sun stayed out for the duration making it a change from a normal rainy London BBQ and with burger and beer in hand and with the noise of Aussie accents in the beer garden you could easily have mistaken it for a pub in Sydney or Melbourne rather than inner city London.

Jackson Firebird were an electric and awesome duo who filled the stage with a lot of energy and fun (seeing their drummer totally buggered and spent but bashing on regardless was priceless).

The bands played on into the night with popular acts Husky, Sietta and Bonfire Nights rounding off the evening but our standout pick for the day were Jinga Safari who bounced all over the stage in a calamity of multiple drum beats and energy which infected the crowd. You’ve got to get out and see this enthusiastic five-piece, they are simply masterful!

So, another great Aussie BBQ, showing the Brits how it’s done in their own backyard.

Did you go to the Aussie BBQ at Cargo in London? Tell us what you thought below:

By Will Denton

Significant results littered Round 7, giving us more insight into who are gunning for a proper tilt at the title and those who are questioning the point of life itself.

The Kangaroos fall into the latter category and after demolishing Geelong what feels like an eternity ago, the Roos have been nothing short of putrid since. Strong words I know, but when you’re getting towelled up by a rebuilding Doggie outfit with more kids that a goat herd, eyebrows are sure to raise.

Melbourne FC aren’t much chop either, and apart from an intense 10 minute period during the warm up, the Dees showed about as much promise as a take away soufflé as they got totally chopped up by the Hawks. The red and blue fans were a spirited bunch though, and played a game of ‘pass the cyanide’ to quell the cold MCG air.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom however, the Tigers knocked off the Swans (c’mon they didn’t have the ‘Goodes’) and some genuine history was made, as the GWS Giants, notched up their first ever win in the big leagues. Even though it was ‘only’ the Suns, it still meant plenty to Kevin Sheedy’s rag tag bunch of rejects and rookies as they belted out their cold war inspired team song with gusto…and it sounded bloody good too!

The Crows made the once invincible Cats look middle of the road as they ran away with a 10 goal win. Maybe the door is closing on Geelong’s glory days or Adelaide are the real deal? Time will tell.

The bubble burst for the Eagles too, as the Bombers got hold of them to taint their record for the first time this year. Admittedly, the West Coast were missing half their starting 22 and were at the comfy confines of Etihad, but hey don’t tell them that! Essendon are officially this week’s premiership fancies.

Oh and congratulations must go to Matthew Pavlich after he booted his 500th career goal for Freo. This would have been the highlight in the match against the Power had it not been for a good old-fashioned streaker who won the stat for most ‘hard ball gets’.

This data comes from the 2011 Borderless Workforce research which also indicated that overseas talent is of great importance in the ‘engineers’ and ‘skilled manual trade’ categories – where most of these posts are being filled by citizens of the UK, India and South Africa.

Managing director Lincoln Crawley, of the ManpowerGroup, said that this migration of talent is occuring across and within national borders and growing fast.

“Employers need to take a sophisticated approach to managing their talent supply and demand, in order to win the escalating war for talent.”

Crawley also stated that Australia needs to start accepting the idea of ‘borderless workforce’ and be aware of the need for foreigners to fill shortages in skills.

“For many Australian companies, the concept of a ‘borderless workforce’ is difficult to grasp. The hard fact is Australia doesn’t have enough of the right skills to sustain current projects.”

The research also showed that certain territories have accepted this idea of ‘borderless workforce’ more than others. Western Australia, in particular, is one such region and is leading the way with 47% of employers using foreigners in their workforce.

Go to the Move To Australia homepage

However, it wasn’t until I was in the tranquil surroundings of the London Eye last week that this fact really hit home. There is so much stuff here that I haven’t yet done but is on my London wishlist. Every week I look at Bron in the Don’s articles and think, ‘oh, yes, I have to go and do that’. But each week, instead of that list getting smaller and me taking some solid advice from our resident London explorer, my list actually gets longer.

It’s crazy too because some of the best times I have had in this city have been when I have been out and about doing the cultural/touristy/sight-seeing stuff. Take for instance my climb to the top of Monument and the resulting certificate you get when you trek back down the 100,000 steps. Ok, I may not know where that bloody certificate is, and the view from the top isn’t as spectacular as from say the top of St Paul’s, or the roof terrace of the New Zealand High Commission or even the London Eye (on a non-foggy day) but it is the memory of the experience that stays with me. Probably my favourite London experience by far was a romantic trip down the Thames on a ferry, marvelling at the sights of the city whizzing past, then exploring the beauty that is the little ‘village’ of Greenwich at the end. And that was in January! The coldest time of the year.

I guess what I am saying, what I am trying to convince myself, is – our time here (for most of us) is relatively short. Soon we’ll be back home on the beach, boring our mates with stories from the “grey, drab land full of whinging Poms” but secretly cringing inside because you spent more time in a Walkie instead of going to Borough Market or checking out what the inside of St Paul’s looks like. Basically – guys, girls, hermaphrodites, and most importantly – ME – get out there and make the most of London!

What London sights and experiences are you still dying to do? Tell us below:

LET ME briefly introduce EastEnd Cabaret’s ultra egos: there’s primadonna Bernadette Bryne, the glamorous and excessively flirtatious primary vocalist, and Victor Victoria (affectionately ‘Victy’), half-man half-woman, monstrously in love with afore mentioned Bernadette to whom she provides all manner of musical accompaniment.

Victy, blinded by a passionate yearning for the lovely Bernadette and bearing the scars of a difficult adolescence – during which half her body developed some distinctly masculine features – finds comfort in the Cabaret’s welcoming audiences.

“Luckily, most people are willing to embrace me (sometimes literally) for who I am. In fact, many people seem to find my half-and-halfness pretty attractive!”

Apart from the occasional wildly infatuated fan, it would seem the greatest challenge facing communist hermaphrodites in today’s society is clothing.

“As a bilateral hermaphrodite (my right side is male, my left is female), I usually have to buy two outfits, and try to stick them together somehow. This involves a lot of needle-pricked fingers and heartache. And safety pins, when I get lazy.”

Coping with the difficulties commonly attached to a gender confused body, Victy spent a good deal of her adolescence buried in numerous readings of Marx and Engels.

“As a budding teenager, dealing with some very unique physical changes (and obsessing over Bernadette, my one true love and soul mate) my communist readings taught me that everybody is equal, despite first appearances.

“But after hiding out in my room for days on end, I realised that Engels had also said that ‘an ounce of action is worth a ton of theory’. So I left my room, and chased Bernadette to Europe. So, this is the mantra that everybody should remember – no matter how freakish you might think you are. We need to stop hiding away in garrets, lusting after cabaret divas – it’s time to take action!”

And so she prepared to leave Australia in search of her lost love. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, the lusted after diva in question was busy selling her skills in the dirty taverns and darkened alleys of Paris.

“Victy and I have known each other since we were children, and I have been trying to get rid of her for years. I did manage it for a while, when I was travelling Europe with my ukulele. In the end, I did get tired of playing only the same five songs (my ukulele skills are somewhat limited) and decided I needed an accompanist. Victy would always do anything for me.”

Once reunited, the couple moved to London and made the East End their home, exploiting the fact a lover of Bernadette’s left his bed-sit “unaccompanied”, and they have been performing their dark and slightly bizarre brand of Cabaret, ever since.

Throughout their shows, the duo have exhibited a particular talent for corrupting the meaning of popular songs. Having performed dirty covers of singles from Radiohead, Britney Spears, John Lennon and Jimmy Barnes, I couldn’t help but ask where they draw inspiration for their colourful songs.

“We are inspired by life, darling.” Bernadette answered with charm.

“We write about funny things that happen to us, or our closest friends. The things that people won’t talk about until they’ve had one too many gins.”

But with dirtier and more explicitly sexual lyrics wheedling their way into contemporary pop music, the pair are having to change their tact.

“You are right darling, contemporary pop is dirty enough. At the moment we are writing more and more original songs – crazy things just keep happening to us!”

But after a run-in with the ‘queen of crazy’, Bernadette is having to keep a low profile. She is no longer on speaking terms with Lady Gaga after she chose her own Victy above the pop rock princess as her accomplice for the EastEnd show.

“Of course there are some tensions, but I know that I made the right choice. Victy plays a much more extensive range of instruments – accordion, violin, piano, musical saw, the kazoo… and also doesn’t arrive for performances dressed entirely in meat. Victy is just much better for the show, but don’t tell her I said that.”

In their recent tour Down Under, the pair very much enjoyed corrupting the innocence of their Australian audiences.

“Australia was absolutely delightful; perhaps a little more conservative than London at first, but there’s nothing that a song about ping pong ball shenanigans won’t fix.”

“We recruited many wonderful Aussies to our Half-Moustache Army in Adelaide and Melbourne – as you’ll agree, a half-moustache is a distinguished addition to any outfit or occasion.”

But despite the various delights involved in taking their raunchy cabaret act to Oz, the comedy duo are glad to be back in London.

“London is our home, and audiences here are fabulously louche and open to anything from danger-wanking to the phenomenon of camel-toe. We are very excited about our upcoming shows at the London Wonderground on the Southbank,”

Victy adding with gusto, “…and we’ll be handing out more half-moustaches to swell the ranks of the army – join us!”

Bernadette in particular is very much looking forward to their upcoming London shows in the Wonderground’s spectacularly fitted out Spiegeltent.

“I have always wanted to perform in a Spiegeltent, ever since I was a little girl. Victy and I had our first Spiegeltent experience at the Adelaide Fringe Festival this year where we won the ‘Best Cabaret Award’ and were invited to perform with the fabulous ‘La Soiree’. The Priceless London Wonderground is going to be absolutely stunning.”

The pair will be accompanied in the Spiegeltent by their Mao inspired sexual activist, Mr Little Red Book, who makes frequent appearances on their shows as he attempts to bring about a sexual revolution.

“Mr Little Red Book belonged to Bernadette’s father. He had seemingly used this copy of Mao’s handbook as a hiding place for some slightly… sexier reading materials, including a well-thumbed pamphlet on various deviant behaviours. An excellent influence –since Mr Little Red Book was transformed into a small hand puppet, he has advocated and educated our audiences on sexual practices such as the Fidel Fruit Bowl and the Trotsky Tickle. His methods are the way forward into the sexual revolution – you have nothing to lose but your chains (and your innocence)!”

Back in London for only three shows, the EastEnd Cabaret promises to “shock, arouse and enlighten”.

Don’t miss them at the London Wonderground on the Southbank on 24 May, 22 June & 26 July. For more information visit EastEndCabaret.com

The show will be performed at the O2 arena and has been a success since it was written in 1969. The story emphasises the friction between Jesus and Judas building up to Judas’ eventual betrayal.

Although Minchin is firmly atheist in regards to religious views, he recently admitted on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ that the song sung by Judas from the controversial musical – ‘Heaven On Their Minds’ – is one of his favourite songs in the world.

Minchin’s flamboyant stage persona will no doubt embellish the role of Judas perfectly and he admits to having thought that: “One day im going to play Judas. I just love it because it’s just pain and rock.”

Do you think Tim Minchin will make a good Judas? Tell us below:

IT had been 15 years since I last stepped foot on Tallinn’s soil. Estonia’s capital back then was still trying to find its long, lost identity having only recently cast off the oppressive clutches of Mother Russia. I remembered my first glimpse of Tallinn back in December 1997 with the unmistakable sight of the huge chimney of the old power plant acting as a beacon for our creaky Viking Line ferry as we made our way through the early morning mist. Tallinn was cold, dark and sinister and immediately appealing to explore.

Fast forward to the current day and Tallinn is now a leading European tourist destination, promising and delivering on a captivating historical past and a few pleasantly surprising additions as well. According to popular opinion, the quality of food and restaurants has improved tenfold since communist days. Sampling the culinary delights of Tallinn with some Finnish friends was the perfect way to reacquaint myself with this fascinating city. Helsinki’s locals often pop over for a day trip (think of a visit out of London to Oxford followed by a pub lunch, this is Helsinki’s equivalent). I could not believe what a make-over Tallinn has done to itself…..once you get away from the old port terminal, where we docked, which sadly dates back to the grey, concrete ways of the Russians. The city today is alive with hipster locals and happy tourists.

Leave touristy Tallinn behind
It pays to leave the tourist maps at home and deliberately get lost in the old town as aimless wandering around these beautiful cobbled streets reaps rich rewards. The many alluring alleyways tease and tempt one with a mixture of glorious buildings from the past, with the gleaming top of St. Olaf’s church leading the way, and of course a cracking selection of restaurants and bistros to choose from. Raekoja Plats or the Town Hall is the heart of the hustle and bustle of the old town. The old town hall which dominates the square dates back to the 15^th century and provides the perfect setting to Tallinn’s identity with pretty coloured buildings and the old pharmacy completing the square’s make-up.

We decided that a little aperitif at midday was required to fuel ourselves up for a day’s exploration. First stop was the highly recommended Kaerajaan restaurant, located to the centre right of the square if approaching from Viru Street. Named after a popular Estonian national folk dance, we were seated on a table beside the window with perfect views to people-watch over a glass of Merlot. We plumped for a plate of Estonian snacks to keep the wolves from the door and how wisely we chose. A selection of crusted rye bread herrings, smoked cheese and grilled wild boar was the perfect appetiser and we left slightly rosy-cheeked, fulfilled and a need for further culture before picking a venue for the main course.

Torture house to die for
I am not sure why we decided on visiting the museum of medieval torture following a hefty first course and it was certainly one of the more eerie 40 minutes I have spent in a museum. Located on a random second floor apartment on Viru Street and guarded by two disinterested ladies, fifty ways of getting brutally interrogated were simply displayed in two otherwise empty living rooms.  This would not be a place to crash for the night should the nearby hotels be shut. Particularly creepy were the weighing chairs, silently swaying back and forth on their own accord without any assistance. Apparently the jury would decide that your weight would mean that you were a devil worshipper and therefore a painful death was required. We were all thinking the same thing which was how many people had been condemned to the most barbaric deaths courtesy of these contraptions. Also, most of them seemed to originate from Germany and Austria. There was me thinking that Austria was all rolling fields, Apfelstrudel and Mozart.

Boozing in Baltic boutiques
It was nice to step foot back in the sun as we hurried away from the museum in search of some light and happiness. Half the fun about exploring Tallinn is not to follow any set tourist path but to let yourself be taken by the side streets of which there are plenty to entice one in. Around every cosy corner and courtyard there are eccentric merchant houses, church spires and medieval walls. To accentuate the blend of new and old, we came across tasteful artwork in rustic doorways, combining effortlessly alongside antique shops and fashionable boutiques.

After our torture experience we had recovered sufficiently to finish our lunch and we chose Sfaar restaurant close to the harbour. Having a gourmet lunch in what is essentially a posh clothes shop may seem a little weird but there is nothing like the excited chatter of guests at their tables gobbling their food and an expansive labyrinth of wines to choose from. It’s always a good sign when the table next to us had a group of slightly tipsy Finnish housewives on an afternoon’s excursion away from their husbands, clinking glasses and talking about their latest purchases.

I again couldn’t resist the wild boar, which came out piping hot in a delicious creamy herb sauce washed down with an appropriate glass of two of Tempranillo. Our dessert was disappointing only because the promised chocolate cake came out as a vacuum-packed cheesecake but that aside there could be no complaints.  With the warm glow of a little too much wine we walked happily back to the harbour, this time bathed in sunshine and giving us the chance to look back at the gold-glinted church spires and castle walls.

This underrated city has had a hugely impressive makeover since the nineties, emphasised by being awarded 2011’s European Capital of Culture. Tallinn has well and truly stepped out of Russia’s shadow.

Read about: Marvelling in magnificent Malta

WHEN I moved to the UK my alcohol intake dramatically increased. In turn, my consumption of late-night kebabs also skyrocketed, while the number of workouts I did each week plummeted to an all time low.

I blamed this on London and its ‘unhealthy lifestyle’.

I found icy, dark evenings to be more enjoyable in warm pubs with a bottle of happy hour wine, rather than pounding the pavements of gloomy, overcrowded Acton and Clapham J.

I would often reminisce of my healthy days in sunny Australia – where the weather and lifestyle made a run in the park more appealing and salads easier to face.

After an hour on an overcrowded Tube, where standing with my face in the armpit of a stressed suit wasn’t uncommon, hitting the grog just made sense.

So as my time in the UK drew to a close I was rather excited about the concept of finding my healthy Aussie self again.

After five months back in the land Down Under, I’m still looking.

I’m afraid the 24-year-old who LOVED running and managed to balance the pub with work, exercise and domestic duties hasn’t suddenly been reincarnated in my post-UK 27-year-old body.

For some reason I naively thought I’d land in Australia and return to my disciplined ways. I had visions of suddenly having the strength to refuse that lip-smacking glass of red wine after a hard day at the office. And for some reason I am not loving those 6am workouts as much as I did in my early 20′s.

Weird, I know!

I’ve since realised that I might have been a little harsh on poor old London Town.

Perhaps my declining interest in exercise and my heightened enjoyment of nights spent in pubs, surrounded by great company, hearty food and feel-good alcohol could have been better attributed to the ageing process, than the weather.

And thinking about it, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Many, many memorable moments were created in those pubs. We laughed until we almost wet ourselves and while we often felt a little worse for wear the next day, the friendships that were formed made it all worthwhile. I wish I could say the same about the hours spent alone in a sweaty, stuffy gym.

So, on that note, I’d like to publicly apologise to London.

Sorry I blamed you for my ‘naughty’ habits. Instead, I should have been thanking you.

Without such carefree, fun behaviour, my time in the UK wouldn’t have been so memorable.

So on that note, I’d like to propose a toast to good friends, big meals and a few stubbies. Because life’s pretty dull otherwise. Cheers!

Read about:  Why are we so obsessed with the life and times of politician’s partners?

I’M going to admit it. I’m a bit of a smartphone addict. After years of dealing with a trusty but ancient old Nokia last year I branched out and got a Blackberry. And just like that, it was like a whole new lease on life. Having an internet connection anywhere (except on the Underground) I could do anything – look up maps, check the tube lines before I left somewhere and connect to my favourite social networks. This instant connection immediately fuelled my social network addiction as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp were quickly downloaded. A few months later there was the addition of a work phone in form of an Android and I was introduced to Instagram, Words with Friends (among many other games) and of course work emails. 

So you can imagine my horror when recently on holiday I made the rookie mistake of forgetting my power adaptor for Europe. While smart phones are incredibly smart (although with my overuse the battery doesn’t last long), after a day of texting, searching and planning, I was smartphone-less an hour after arrival. Thanks dead battery…

Usually when travelling I won’t even allow data roaming due to the extra charges, however nowadays hostels and hotels usually provide some free Wi-Fi (and there is always trusty Maccas) so I can almost always get my fix of checking in on Facebook and updating my Twitter. I can even usually find a spot to upload my latest photo to instagram and send the photo via email to my Mum who hasn’t quite caught up on other technology.

This time, however, I was off the grid completely. How could I brag to people back home that ‘yes, indeed, I was in Italy, eating delicious food and drinking cheap wine’. They would have to wait four whole days to be jealous when they saw my photos uploaded. Not only that! What would I spend my time doing while I waited in coffee shops, train stations and airports with Wi-Fi connection? The people waiting on my Draw Something masterpiece would think I had fallen off the face of the earth. I couldn’t even check the time because I had forgotten my watch too!

At first, it was frustrating but after a day or so it didn’t matter. I actually became accustomed to not even taking my phones with me. Not only did it make my bag slightly lighter but it lifted a weight off my shoulders with my temptation to check work emails or compare bank holiday weekend Facebook status updates with my friends. I actually spent four days on holiday. A complete break from the rest of the world and instead of spending waiting time on my phone I spent it chatting to others, taking in the sights around me and getting back to one of my favourite hobbies of people watching. Even text messages from friends went unanswered and you know what – the world didn’t end.

By the time I got home though I was ready for a hit and instantly connected my phone to the charger imagining hordes of emails, texts and notifications. In fact I had two text messages, three notifications and about 40 emails which were all newsletters, vouchers and subscriptions. Ok and I had a few games of words with friends to play as well but overall it was under whelming and even more proof that I don’t miss much if I just put my phone away. Still, I can’t break the habit and while I’m in London I’m still as much as an addict as ever. But I know for sure that next time I go on holiday my phone might not be coming with me.

Read about: Getting the royal treatment at Kensington Palace

So, a mate’s dad Geoff drops in for a big family and friends BBQ at my place. He has that little boy look on his face – that look of excitement and expectation. He pulls me a side and says, “I’ve got something special for you gov”. Grinning wildly, he then pulls a four pack of Foster’s tinnys out of a bag and hands them to me.

Now I have a problem. Because this guy really wants to impress me with his gift; this is man to man, a moment where two different blokes can share something special. Foster’s. He knows that all Aussies dream of Foster’s every night, we bathe in it, it rains Foster’s in the Wet Tropics and a tear will present itself at the corner of my eye when he hands them to me. We will be forever friends welded together by this moment.

I don’t ever remember drinking Foster’s! If I try really hard, I think I can muster a memory of my grandpa sitting on the back of the boat at Bonnie Doon in 1972, with a king brown of Foster’s in his hand. But that’s it.

So, what do you say? Do you slap him on the back and thank him on behalf of all the Aussies in the world? Because, of course, this gift will ensure our two countries remain friends and allies eternally. Or do you laugh and ridicule his knowledge of anything Australian? You tell him he really is a fool, this is in fact the biggest insult he can make to me to me and his misguided attempt to win me over has fuelled an argument that will spill into the backyard and disrupt the salad makers, scaring the kids, and generally ensuring the neighbours consider putting their houses on the market in the near future.

What do you do? It’s the thought that counts, isn’t it? Too late, he reads between the lines, he sees the look of shock on my face. It’s that moment, uncomfortable, embarrassing but curiously bonding. I put my arm around him and explain that we need to brush up on his Aussie culture and he really is in the right place for that. We agree that the Foster’s can can go the bottom of the esky and will be used as emergency beers.

As he begins to question everything he has ever seen on TV, he is angry that he’s been duped again but thanks me for my honesty. Bloody hell, what a mess.
So, as predicted, the esky dried up later that night and the Foster’s cans came into play. As it happens, the experience wasn’t too not bad. “Cheers Geoff,” I say, raising the blue tinny. Geoff smiles broadly and enquires, “so what’s happening in Home & Away?” It’s only then that I realise the bastard set me up from the beginning… “Stupid Aussie git,” Geoff laughs heartedly. Now, that’s the special relationship that we all love so much!

Read about: Do I feel more Aussie since leaving Australia? – A Pom’s view

EVERY girl wants to feel like royalty occasionally and so I thought it was best to follow in the footsteps of several of the royal family and visit their old home, Kensington Palace. One of the few historic royal palaces included in the top 100, Kensington Palace, located in Hyde Park has just reopened after a long £12million refurbishment.

At the west side of Hyde Park, the Palace over looks Kensington Gardens and the Round Pond and is easy walking distance from Queensway or High Street Kensington. If you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day it is the perfect destination after a walk or ride through the park.

A £17 ticket gets you access into the Palace where you can slowly work your way around and discover the four stories they have on display. The story we first followed was the one of Queen Victoria and the beginning of her reign and her marriage to Albert. Throughout the whole area they had quotes from her diaries and speeches written all over the walls and ornaments. It was a really interesting way to view her reign through her own words. What struck me the most was her love letters to Albert and how much she seemed to love him. It was only then that I found out that she wore black for the rest of her life after he died. It was a side of the royal family I had never heard of and for a romantic like me, was a great one!

We then visited the room dedicated to Princess Diana which is found at the end of a corridor adorned with wallpaper featuring sketches of her face and figure.  I would have to admit that the room is slightly disappointing as it is quite small and only features a few of her ball gowns and several photo and as there seemed to be so much more to her short-lived life, I was sorry I didn’t get to learn a bit more.

The next story we followed was that of ‘the King’ as we were lead into the King’s State apartments. This area has a card game included for those interested in interacting with the displays. I was more inclined to wander around and view all the different chambers featuring furniture and clothing of the era.

The fourth and last story we visited was ‘the Queen’s apartments’ which is home to quite a scandalous argument if the stories are to be believed. It is also home to the Queen’s gallery where there are many portraits and rugs hung all over the walls. It is tempting to sit in the bay window seats and gaze up at the paintings however let me warn you – the walls talk. Literally! There must be speakers on sensors and as I was sitting there someone started whispering something to me which gave me a bit of a surprise!

I was glad that I finally got a chance to check out the Palace, however I must admit it was a bit different than what I was expecting. It had so many modern aspects to it and I think I was expecting something a bit more traditional. However I definitely learnt a few things about the royal history and I look forward to exploring Hampton Court Palace next to compare!

The Orangery found right outside the palace is a great place to stop in before or after your visit for some tea or a meal.

WHAT’S so good about a curry? It’s tasty, it’s gripping and usually takes no time because you buy it down the road. So while Chris is honing his culinary skills in other lands I thought I would share a winning recipe with you. I’m a stickler for simplicity and taste but sometimes that balance can get skewed. But not so with this little beauty of a chicken curry.

The secret in ensuring you get the taste, is in making your own curry paste. Bottled pastes can be good and they are oh so quick, but they still have the taste of that container they came in. This particular curry, with our homemade paste, gets better with time – so the trick is to make it one quiet night midweek and fridge or freeze it for that weekend later when you have little time and would usually go out to buy a curry.

Flying from Tamworth (NSW) to Tassie one day, for a spot of fly fishing with a group of old rugby mates, I came a cropper at the Tasmanian airport security. For those of you who have not travelled to Tassie and know it only for its position on the map, the airports have sniffer dogs to ensure foreign foods do not infect their near perfect island. Now, part of our fishing holiday (aside from a few quiet beers and hopefully tight lines) was cooking some stonker dishes for each other and I had made up my special chicken curry. However you can imagine my consternation when the other nine lads had retrieved their bags from the carousel yet mine (with the chicken curry neatly packed inside) was hemmed between two sniffer dogs.

“Any fruit, meat or seafood in your bag sir?” “Well, yes, just a tasty cooked curry,” I fessed up. “No problems with cooked items, sir, on your way.” Phew! And while that little episode made it quite a special dish, time and distance made it a real winner (although the beers & red probably helped too).

The trick with my chicken curry, and this is only if you are going to eat it sometime later, is to not fully cook the chicken (almost but not fully). When you reheat it in a pan at a later stage, this will finish the cooking process keeping the chicken succulent and moist (doesn’t work with microwaves – so if you are going to microwave it second time round, fully cook the chicken initially). Another tip I found from my Tassie experience was to leave the coconut milk out of the dish, only adding it when you reheat it. This works just as well as adding it first up, and makes storing a lot easier as it is less runny.

Margin’s ‘Tassie’ chicken curry with coconut milk

What you need:

• 750 gms boneless chicken thigh; cut into cubes
• 2 lemon grass stalks, cut into 3 and pound a little
• 6-8 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice
• Salt to taste
• For the paste:
• 1 ½ inch galangal
• 4-6 fresh red chilli (seed & slice)
• 5 shallots (sliced)
• 1 inch ginger
• 6 macadamia nuts (or similar); soaked in warm water
• ½ inch of fresh turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon belacan (shrimp paste)

What to do:

1. Blend all paste ingredients to a fine paste
2. Heat a little vegetable oil in a wok and then stir fry the paste until aromatic & thin layer of oil rises to the top
3. Add chicken and lime juice and continue stirring until almost cooked (cook right through if eating immediately). If storing in the fridge or freezer, place in a sealed container & fridge/freeze immediately to slow the cooking process
4. Add the coconut milk and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat
5. Add salt to taste and serve hot.

Serves four with some absorption cooked rice (made while the chicken is simmering) and a few condiments. Enjoy (and think of Tassie)!

Learn to make :

A right Royal spud to crown your taste buds

Saturday’s season opener ended months of anticipation as clubs scurried to sign anyone with even the vaguest idea of what a Sherrin is.

The London weather gods played their part too, providing warm, clear conditions after a fortnight of drizzle.

The Demons, tormented by last year’s 32-point grand final loss to the Wildcats, sprung out of the blocks at Clapham, posting a 25-point win over a Putney Magpies side that looked every bit as good but simply ran out of legs.

After a tight opening period, Wandsworth – barely recognisable after the break – piled on five goals to two in the second term to set up the 12.13 (85) to 9.6 (60) win.

No one got near diminutive Demons midfielder Daniel Broderick, who was easily Best On Ground. Mark Brescacin, a major contributor for the Demons last year, was impressive up forward before moving into the midfield where he was a class above the rest.

The Magpies were not disgraced by any means, with several winners despite the scoreboard. John Cutten, last year’s club champion, was solid at full back, Josh Dykes battled hard in the ruck, and Aaron Knapmann held his own in the middle.

The Putney selection committee will have plenty to ponder during the week, though, with several lower grade Magpies showing seniors potential after their Conference game victory: Putney winning 15.2 (92) to Clapham 7.3 (45). Jared Jones, brother of St Kilda’s Clint, looks a handy recruit, with a quality showing of dash off halfback. Captain coach Pat ‘Farva’ Mahon booted seven goals, while South Australian Luke Jackson was too big and strong up forward, particularly in the first half.

Sparks flew in the second and third terms with two yellow cards issued: one to giant Demon Markham Johnson for losing his cool and Putney’s Jackson after a separate scuffle.

Across town, North London Lions looked anything but comfortable at home against reigning premiers West London, the Cats purring their way to a 15.12 (102) to 6.8 (56) victory.

Levi Fernandez was the Lions’ best, while Anthony Bull was dominant for the Cats.

Shepherds Bush Raiders (Cats seconds) showed they’re again the team to beat in the Conference division with a demolishing 27.11 (173) to 0.3 (3).

Craig Marshall, in his final AFL London season (thank god!), defied his age to take best afield honours while Lachie Dowling benefited from some handy work up the ground, bagging six majors.

Expect Marshall’s responsibilities to be limited to onfield duties only in the coming weeks after his players watched the tube doors at Russell Square close with over £1000 worth of conference kit on board after the match. Some smooth talking and some two hours later, it was recovered at Uxbridge, the final destination.

At Shoreditch, South London Swans booted six goals to Wimbledon Hawks’ none in the second half to snatch a 12.11 (83) to 8.12 (60) win.

It was a double act, with the Swans winning their Conference match too, against the Dragons – 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) with the lead changing three times in the last quarter.

After some impressive results and displays across the whole competition (and the cobwebs well and truly blown away); players, officials and supporters will be anxious for more AFL London action when Round 2 kicks into gear this weekend.

Round 2 Match-Ups: West London v South London at Barn Elms; Putney v North London at Putney Heath, Wimbledon v Wandsworth at Motspur Park.

Australian Times keeps the UK’s most comprehensive and up-to-date concerts and events listings for Aussie music lovers in the UK.

Tickets are on sale right now for Hilltop Hoods, The Cat Empire, Cold Chisel, Xavier Rudd and loads more.

Latest gig announcement: Colin Hay (of Men At Work) @ Bush Hall, London

Get the full UK Australian music concerts listings, here

We always appreciate your help, so make sure you let us and your fellow readers know about any Australian bands (ok, New Zealand bands too) playing in London or around the UK, no matter how big or small, that may be missing from the list by emailing the details to editor@australiantimes.co.uk

IMAGE: The Cat Empire, live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, sent to us by die hard Aussie music lover and Australian Times reader, Christine Kreidel.

Also see: WIN tickets to The Cat Empire, live in London

Also see: Australians at the 2012 British music festivals

Also see: WIN tickets to Reading, Download, Wireless and Hard Rock Calling festivals

Independent MP Tony Windsor has called for a review of the code of conduct for politicians, following damning civil allegations against Mr Thomson and Speaker Peter Slipper.

Ms Gillard said she was open to debating the issue in parliament.

“There are various rules now for members of parliament but I’m obviously open to suggestions for a code of conduct and clearer set of rules,” she told reporters in Queensland on Sunday.

Mr Thomson, who is accused – in Fair Work Australia (FWA) findings – of misusing union funds on prostitutes and personal expenses, as well his election campaign, was entitled to a presumption of innocence, she said.

He claims he has been set up by members of the union’s executive, who threatened to ruin his future political career before he entered parliament by setting him up with hookers.

“I understand many Australians would have seen Mr Thomson’s interview yesterday and they will have drawn their own conclusions but ultimately the only way this matter can be resolved is properly before the courts,” Ms Gillard said.

Mr Windsor said the public wanted a higher standard from parliamentarians and politicians would face a test in the next few weeks as to how they would grapple with both civil and criminal offences of their contemporaries.

“Under current rules within the parliament, there’s not a lot that can be done in terms of those (FWA) findings,” Mr Windsor told Sky News.

“If those findings become a criminal matter, if there’s fraud or other issues involved in terms of the union or even in my view some civil matters, there may well be need to change the rules in the parliament so that those issues can be dealt with in the parliament.

“We can give someone a slap on the wrist but I don’t think the general public is too interested in a slap on the wrist.”

Mr Windsor has flagged a referendum to deal with the issue.

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey said Mr Thomson’s explanation was unbelievable.

FWA’s 1100-page report into activities at the HSU were a “damning indictment” of Mr Thomson and other people at the union, he told the Nine Network.

“They were findings, not allegations, and it is a very serious issue.

“He has a lot of explaining to do.”

Mr Thomson has promised to provide a more detailed explanation, including naming names, when parliament resumes on 21 May.

Mr Hockey said he was unaware of claims by the previous member for Dobell, Alan Ticehurst, that the then Howard government had a file of allegations against Mr Thomson.

Mr Ticehurst said he could sue Mr Thomson for lost earnings after losing the seat of Dobell to him in the 2007 election, Fairfax Media reported.

Senior Labor minister Anthony Albanese said it was important to maintain a separation of powers between political and legal systems.

“I don’t know the facts of these matters. I’m not a lawyer, let alone a judge,” he told the Ten Network.

The idea that union funds had been abused by anyone was abhorrent to him and to the union movement, Mr Albanese said. - AAP

Phipps scored two of his team’s three tries in the 28-19 win at AAMI Park to chalk up his second successive star showing.

After an indifferent start to the season when he found himself coming off the bench, the 23-year-old looks a different player since Kurtley Beale moved to five-eighth; their blossoming combination a constant threat to the opposition.

Rebels coach Damien Hill said Phipps, who played one match for the Wallabies at last year’s Rugby World Cup, had lost confidence in himself.

“He went through a bit of a patch where he was starting to doubt himself,” Hill said.

“Based on a lot of encouragement from those around him and some good training effort, he really backed himself against the Bulls and did it again (against the Crusaders), the performances are coming.

“I thought last week was probably on par with some of his best performances from last year and this performance exceeded them.”

Hill said he couldn’t think of any stand-out faults in Phipps’ game and believed Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who was watching in the stands, would have been pleased.

Phipps was set to be the Wallabies No.2 this year behind Queensland’s Will Genia but looked to have been eclipsed by Brumbies in-form No.9 Nic White.

The Rebels next face the Force in Perth before a tough away trip to take on the Highlanders in New Zealand as they look for their fourth win of the season, after matching last year’s tally of three.

Hill said they needed to continue to deliver, particularly in defence which was a highlight of the victory over the Crusaders with credit going to their defence coach John Muggleton.

“We only missed six or seven tackles for the entire game which is tremendous,” Hill said.

“We spent a lot of time on defence this week and John has persisted with the small things and the systems and they clicked and I’m really happy with the team and for him.”

Hill said such a solid win over the seven-time champions was very satisfying.

“You can’t under-estimate what it means to these guys to play that well against a team of that calibre and to come away with a win,” he said. – AAP