Operation Europe

The Swiss..."We're the Nice Germans" Ya !!

2005-07-27T15:22:00.000+01:00

Live from Basel today and tomorrow high atop the 11th floor of the Tallest inhabited building in Switzerland, complete with Portable Production Studio and Beautiful View...Sometimes I really love my job... We're here shooting and editing a conference and workshop for a Pharmaceutical Company... Probably safer than in London right now...but I miss Jess...She would have loved this place . The Hotel is really swanky...although If you thought the British had a lot to learn about Customer Service...Never come to a Hotel in Switzerland. The elevators here have no controls on the inside...everything is programmed before you get in...This took a little time to get used to...and about 10 visits to the wrong floor.

The Bathrooms are really interesting too...Have a look at the Pic. See the flouro's on the floor....they looked cool, but everytime I went in there, I felt like I was a bloody X-ray photograph.. ----
IN OTHER NEWS...
We are Moving !!!!!!!!!!!!

It's official...We'll be moving to Chiswick (a waaaaaay better area of London) on August 6. I can pack away the Sari and never eat curry again...We Cannot wait !!!...I wont have to get bashed anymore for doing my Apu voice from the Simpsons....More information as it develops...Write me if you want the address to send me stuff...Vegemite, Tim-Tam's, Cash...(ok, it was worth a shot)

Ok...Computer has finished capturing video....back to edit mode....Am back in London Thursday night...just in time to play the Russian Roulette Game that is the London Underground....These Days...its so tense on the train...People freak out when someone sneezes, for fear its a bomb.

Mission Log - End Transmission

Rumours of my Death...

2005-07-07T21:26:00.000+01:00

Writing from Killarney, Ireland...

Just a quick note to let everyone who was trying to contact me know that I am safe and sound. I have been travelling here in Ireland with Jess's Family since Sunday. I'll have pics and a full update here next week on my return to London.

What happened today in London was quite a shock for me, as I now think of London as "my town".

Even scarier was the fact that Jess and I pass through Kings Cross Station almost every day. The fact that we were over here in Ireland this proves that someone up there likes us...

Unfortunately, some werent so lucky...So if you could keep those people in your thoughts for the next few days, I would really appreciate it.

Thank God It's Friday!!!

2005-07-01T11:32:00.000+01:00

Man, What a week !!!

Our place has been like a Halfway House with visitors coming and going. Jess's friend Laura came into town for a few days. She hung out for a few days and only just left now. Nice girl...very down to earth, we both had fun taking the piss out of Jess.
Got to look at an apartment down at Shepherds Bush....Very nice, a little smaller than what we have right now...but its a lot closer to town, only thing is...they want 10 weeks rent up front which is going to be a serious problem....

Am trying to negotiate that down now....

Good News...Had a very successful interview for some regular freelance opportunities using all my talents in Audio & Video Production....Will find out more when I get back from Ireland. Also have an interview with Bloomberg Television for when I get back as well...

Am sitting here waiting for the director to arrive to finish the edit. Was working with her as a D.O.P and Editor for a short film...We finally get to finish the picture and lock it off today. We were waiting for the composer to put the music together so we could add to the piece...

She is now 32 mins late....Lovely girl, good friend....but would be late for her own bloody funeral !!!!

What makes time tight today is Jess's Brother Tim...He just arrived in London this morning. Im trying to wrap up my editing session early so I can meet up with them later.

Also...on top of that...Our New Roommate arrived last night. Her name is Sealy and is a Louisiana Sorority Girl (With a name like Sealy...All I think of are mattresses). She seems nice...Very different from Aimee, whom..after 6 months I finally became used to and actually miss her around the house now...Early Days Yet...Time will tell !!

2 Days to Ireland....Going to go swimming in a pool of guinness. Especially after this week...hopefully things will be cooking well on our return...

Batman Begins...FINALLY !!!

2005-06-25T00:22:00.000+01:00

Let me just say, Batman Begins is the best superhero type movie ever made. Dont be put off the previous Batman stinkers (especially Batman & Robin). I always wondered whose idea it was to put nipples on George Clooney's Batsuit... Anyway...This is the way it should have been done back in 1989. An actual Backstory. We always knew Bruce Wayne became Batman because his Parents were murdered. I used to always think he put the Batsuit on straight away, and was Batboy...hahah!!! This tells the entire journey. There is so much in the way of backstory that has to be told, you dont even see the Batsuit for the first Hour...

I thought Christian Bale would be terrible (As I hated him in American Psycho), but he really fits here...And any movie with Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman AND Michael Caine has to be worth the Price of Admission alone...Michael Caine plays Alfred the Butler, who seems to have modeled his performance more on Parker from the Thunderbirds, than Michael Gough from the previous Batman Films.

Downside...Katie Holmes...or should I say "Wonky-Faced" Katie Holmes, as she always talks out of the side of her mouth. Totally unnecessary. Find an Actress who looks older than 12 !!!!

Best Part....The new Batmobile....talk about "Pimp My Ride"

Final Score - 9/10. If it wasnt for Katie....it would have got a 10

Adam Gets to Play Tour Guide

2005-06-24T18:11:00.000+01:00

Today was an interesting day...Got to catch up with Andrea from Cannes. (Out of all the models, she was the most normal. We were both missing our partners which made us instant friends). She came in to London for a few Hours on the Eurostar (Train from Paris).
I had never played Tour Guide before in London. For the last 5 months, I've been the tourist. Showing her around my city (Its weird calling it my city) made me feel like a local more than I realised.
I took her up the Thames from Waterloo to Vauxhall. (I love showing people the Mi6 building, its my favourite building in London), then across the Vauxhall Bridge and down Millbank to Parliament Square, up Whitehall (where Tony Blair lives) and into Trafalgar & Leicester Square. On the way back to Waterloo Station. We walked down through Covent Garden, onto the Strand and past the Evil Empire (Savoy Hotel) where I gave a mental 2 finger salute to all inside. Tried to meet up with Jess for lunch, but she cancelled at last minute...Too much work to do !!!

Finished the day by going to the Gym....Tonight Jess and I go to see BATMAN !!!!

2005-06-20T22:29:00.000+01:00

A contrast of the Old & New....

2005-06-20T22:28:00.000+01:00

Berlin's TV Tower at Sundown...

2005-06-20T22:21:00.000+01:00

Jess and I by the Brandenberg Gate. Dont know who the guy on the right is....He looks lost !!!

2005-06-20T22:18:00.000+01:00

A Beautiful Day in Berlin

2005-06-20T22:17:00.000+01:00

The home of German Parliament and the site of the famous Reichstag Fire

2005-06-20T22:16:00.000+01:00

Potsdamer Platz...During the Cold War, this was the spot where the Russian, British and American Sectors all met each other. This whole area was a wasteland dubbed "No mans land"...Anyone caught in this area was shot...Now its been redeveloped (with a sense of Irony) as the Commercial Centre of Berlin

2005-06-20T22:11:00.000+01:00

A Relic of the Cold War. One of the Original East Berlin Wall Watchtowers. Basically...if you were in range of one of these...You were too close and were shot !!! Maybe Mt Druitt needs these

2005-06-20T22:09:00.000+01:00

Another Shot of WEST Berlin. Can you tell the Difference ?

2005-06-20T22:08:00.000+01:00

This is the East Berlin from the TV Tower. 16 Years after Reunifcation, and there still a noticeable difference between East & West Berlin. I think it will take at least a century for Berlin to Totally recover

2005-06-20T22:04:00.000+01:00

This was the Main Gateway from East to West Berlin diring the Cold War. Now Checkpoint Charlie has been cheapened into a Tourist Attraction...Sad.

2005-06-20T22:02:00.000+01:00

West Berlin from the TV Tower

Freedom is a Wonderful Thing...

2005-06-17T20:38:00.000+01:00

Today was my first free day in a long time. Especially seeing as I didnt have to work my notice period at The Evil Empire...
Tomorrow we leave for a whirlwind weekend in Berlin, but today...I have to finish making a DVD Showreel for this Music Video Producer here in London that I am now hooked up with. My Jonahs Road video is on this showreel too, so with any luck, I'll be working on some Music Video Projects in the coming months. Will keep you posted....

Thats all for now...Will write on our return from Berlin.

FREE FROM THE EVIL EMPIRE

2005-06-16T15:47:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm finally free from the Evil Empire at the Savoy Hotel and back in Freelance world. Seriously...Who would have thought a hotel would cause that much stress...I just got home from work and I couldnt wait to write to this, to report just how much of a bunch of Toss-pots they are

The hardest part was dealing with some of the Morons in the Hotel !!!. Their Holier than thou attitudes were killing me (oooh, look at me, I work at the Savoy) !!!There is so much politics in a hotel its not funny!!!. The Events Director is Pure Evil !!!!, (He looks like Dr Evil too. I always had to work to keep a straight face at meetings)...Because I worked for an external company who is based there, Certain departments in the hotel were unhappy about this, and while I cannot prove it, some are starting to resort to sabotage and manipulation to get us kicked out....e.g, Event orders going missing and then suddenly appearing at the last minute and then dropping us in the shit when things go wrong!.

Bottom Line...It's over, I didn't belong there...its not getting me to where I want to be Career-wise...so it had to go. I feel bad for the guys who were working for me who are left behind, as they are left to pick up the pieces. They are good guys who will do ok in the Long Run.
The Operations Manager (My Boss) was not too happy about me leaving. btw...He enters a room like Darth Vader (Breathing & all)...

Chalk it all up to a Learning Experience...Never work in Hotels, and never work for Morons in Hotels !!!

I already have 3 Interviews for next week and some Freelance work already lined up...So its not all that bad...Finally now I can have some time to finish editing "The Tutor"

2005-05-16T23:39:00.000+01:00

The Best Concert Shot I Have Ever Taken !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-05-16T23:36:00.000+01:00

Keith Urban Rocks the Scala

KEITH URBAN Rocks LONDON

2005-05-16T23:31:00.000+01:00

Tonight was a Great Night in London Town....The man with the 6 string banjo (ganjo) Keith Urban rocked the Scala on a Cold & Rainy night in Kings Cross with a small showcase of his songs, as they are repacking tracks from Golden Road and Be Here into a special "international" album called "Days Go By". Keith is also in Europe supporting Bryan Adams. For Jess...this was her 2nd Keith show in a week. Her, Aimee & Jenny went to the Bryan/Keith show while I was in Cannes...The Best part ??? Totally free...Which is a rare thing now that I am not working in Radio. (Miss the Free CD's & Tickets)....Scored the Tickets the Old Fashioned Way, Standing outside the venue asking if anyone had spare tickets. It worked...We ALL Got in...One couple gave us 2 spares but made us work for them by naming 3 Keith songs. (That's a tough one !!!!). I was going to give them to Jess and Aimee because I was the one who came back from Cannes early and threw a spanner in the works...and besides, they are fanatics. I would never live it down. Jess never relented and made Aimee and I go in together. Needless to say Aimee and I felt like crap for the whole support act (He was crap anyway).
Being raised a Catholic was raising its ugly head...The guilt was enormous, so I walked out, went to give my ticket to Jess on the way out and go home to a night of Bad British Television. At that moment...Jess scored a spare ticket...JUST AS I WAS WALKING OUT...How Freaky !!!!!
Fast forward to the end and a Fantastic show was had by all..And I took some of the BEST Concert shots of my Life !!!!...See, and let me know what you think !!!!, Especially of the Guitar Shot

2005-05-10T12:42:00.000+01:00

Master meets Apprentice (Me with Steven Spielberg)

2005-05-10T12:41:00.000+01:00

Kylies' Bum helping to keep my hand warm

2005-05-10T12:39:00.000+01:00

Sean Connery's Aston Martin DB 5 from Goldfinger

2005-05-10T12:38:00.000+01:00

Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day

2005-05-10T12:36:00.000+01:00

Sneaky Footage of the Sistine Chapel. Cameras are usually Verboten !!!

2005-05-10T12:28:00.000+01:00

Kylie Lighting up Earls Court

Mission Update 002 (April 2005)

2005-05-10T08:21:00.000+01:00

This has most certainly been an eventful month for me. From seeing Pope John Paul II the week before he died, to a Tasmanian Visit in London. Throw in lunch with the Queen, an Aston Martin Festival and a Kylie Minogue Concert and that has been April for me.

Capital Capers
My life here in London has taken an interesting turn. My latest assignment lands me at the World Famous Savoy Hotel as Director of Audio Visual Services. It’s an interesting job and quite a learning curve for me. This is an extended assignment expected to last for several months with an option to extend. The financial security alone is a nice change. Recently Jess and I were treated to a visit by our friend from Sydney Mick Walker. Needless to say it was an interesting transition from Tasmania (His original home) to Sydney, and now London. For us it was great, because it was the first time we got to show off our new home to a visitor. With visits to the Tower of London, Madame Tussaud's and what do you think his highlight was ?
Camden Markets !!! (Just for the 2pound food feasts).
Anzac Day saw a special treat. As this year was the 90th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing, I originally wanted to go TO Gallipoli, But the finances werent there. This is when I learned about a special service being planned at Westminister Abbey. The only way to get tickets for this is to apply to the Australian High Commission months in advance. To cut a Long story short, Jess and I were able to get tickets to the service, Which was honoured by a visit from Queen Elizabeth. Being there made me feel a little closer to home. I’ve accepted the fact that no matter where I live in the world, I will always be proud to be Australian.
Most of you who know me, know that I am a fan of the odd James Bond film or 2..or 20 even. So you could imagine my expression once I discovered there was an Aston Martin Car Festival just outside of London on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Killing 2 birds with one stone, Jess and I decided to check it out. The whole thing was to celebrate St Georges Day (Pommy Equivalent to St Patricks Day) and there has never been a rally of so many Aston’s in the one place before, Over 200 to be exact ranging from the old racers to my Dream Car, the V12 Vanquish. Imagine my surprise to discover 3 original James Bond Astons (I recognised the Registration plates from the movies…How sad am I?). These included Sean Connery’s DB5 from Goldfinger, Timothy Dalton’s Aston from The Living Daylights and Brosnans Vanquish from “Die Another Day” (This one even had the missiles and guns still in it…Sadly, it didn’t go invisible…

And what a way to wrap up a month in London by seeing my other girlfriend in Concert…Kylie Minogue. Excellent show..This was Jess’s first kylie experience and she loved it…Until 4 Drunk English Tarts with Bums the size of Imax Screens started Dancing in front of us…It was like a Kylie Eclipse. Luckily for them there were spare seats a few rows across, otherwise a few people might have had Flying Lessons that night…over the edge of the Balcony !!!!

Expeditions
For Easter, Jess and I made the trip to Rome. We had no idea at the time, but it would be the last time anyone saw Pope John Paul II alive in public.
Rome is one one of those places that you only visit once. Personally the pollution made me quite ill. Only on my return to “London Air” was I cured. Having said that, Rome does have some wonderful treasures, like the Forum, Coliseum & Vatican, Nothing could beat spending Easter Sunday at St Peter’s in the Vatican with over
10,000 screaming Catholics, eager to see a
glimpse (albeit final) of Pope John Paul II.

As I write this…I am getting ready to Fly to the Cannes Film Festival for 9 Days. I have taken on a job as DOP of a Docudrama Pilot based on this Hugh Hefner type Hollywood Producer. I have full Media Accreditation to the whole festival and will be living in a villa with Him, the crew and 10 models he is flying over for the week…Guys..will have plenty of pics and footage in my next mission update.

Coming in The June Update…
· Your all access pass to the Cannes Film Festival
· Jess and I tackle Berlin
· More Capers from the Capital…

Feel free to drop me a line from your neck of the woods…Would love to hear from you….I was going to talk more about Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and other UK Entertainment news…but I have a plane to catch and am running late…will have to wait until Next month..Bye !!!

Mission Update 001 (March 2005)

2005-03-31T07:09:00.000+01:00

Well, I've been in London for just over a month now, and ONLY now am starting to acclimatise. I've mastered the tube & bus system here now, and am getting used to the swarms of people that frequent Central London. Already checked out a play...Patrick Stewart's (Capt Picard) perfoming in a play with Joshua Jackson (Pacey-Dawson's Creek). Its called "A Life in The Theatre"...Great Play. Jess and I took our chances at the stage door to try and Meet Patrick.. .Unfortunately, Patrick never came out, but Jess got to meet Joshua Jackson

Sydney is a Country Town in terms of hustle compared to this place. Jess and I have both developed into routines now and are starting to feel like locals.

In terms of work. I've been making contacts in both the Radio & TV industries here and have already scored Freelance Camera/Editing & AV work. Freelance pays very well, and allows freedom to travel etc...People I have met have been great too. I am up for a few good positions at the moment including Producer of Hit40UK (Britain's answer to Take 40 Australia). Last night I had an excellent meeting with a Music Video Producer about coming aboard as a director/editor.

The problem is....Because SO MANY Australians come over here and work in Pubs. It has now become the Stereotype, and is almost

expected for Australians to pull beers. And when someone (like myself) comes along with 12 years of Media Experience tries to do better, Some people just dont know how to react.

Emancipation from the Pubs for All Australians !!!!!!.
Since when Did i become the Australian Equivalent of Rosa Parks? (For those who dont know...she was a black woman who refused to get to the back of the bus like all the other black
people, and thus triggered the entire US Civil Rights Moment)

Have been on several trips since we've been here. Havent travelled much around the UK yet, that is planned for April.
We just got back from Amsterdam last weekend, and Paris a couple of weeks ago.

Basically everything that has been said about Amsterdam is true...Sex, Drugs, Toys....its all there.
Amsterdam is a city you dont want to breathe too deeply in, as there is Pot...EVERYWHERE. Until 2 years ago, you used to be able to buy "Hash Brownies"...but alas, no longer. However, you are able to buy and carry hash in small doses all over town. You are only allowed to smoke them in Licenced "Coffee Shops"...which Dont usually sell Coffee...Go figure !!!

I'd heard stories about the red light district, so I had "sort of" prepared myself. It was nothing like I expected. Basically Women in revealing lingerie (Some less than others) standing behind glass windows like animals in a zoo. How the system works...You pick one, negotiate a service & price, she opens the door...takes you in, closes the window...and the rest...well, you can figure it out. It was actually quite depressing seeing Women degrade themselves like that. But, being in a stranger in a strangeland....I try to keep an Open Mind. Ironically 3 doors down from our hotel was the "Amsterdam Sex Museum"

One place to visit in Amsterdam, if you like beer Is the Heineken Experience. Basically..for 10 Euro’s, they plaster you with Beer..you can take an Interactive tour of the Factory and get your own souvenir glass & tin to take home.

The next day...something a little more G-Rated....with a trip out to the windmills and a Dutch Cheese Factory (See Picture Attached)

Well, That’s all for this month from London. I hope everyone is doing well back in Oz. Please write and tell me all about it. Yesterday, we just got back from Rome…Still going through the Pics and videotapes. Will write more about it in my next mission update…Meantime…Here is a sneek peek.

Btw…London is Now in Daylight Saving Time. Please keep that in mind when making Time Calculations. Its still not summer yet though by Australian Standards. I laughed the other day when a weather forecaster called a 21 degree day “Scorching”.
Sometimes I feel like an alien visiting another planet…but the adventure continues…

Coming in April…
· Adam and Jess survive Easter in Rome…
· Mick Walker tackles London with us…
· Adventures in Bath, Stratford-Upon Avon and Alton Towers
· Stargate:Atlantis finally hits the UK…and its great, more on that next month.