Champs Elysee!!!!

Well we managed to get a great spot on the Champs to watch the Tour yesterday mainly because I made us get there early but had misunderstood when they were coming in - by about three hours! Still it was worth it once the helicopters appeared overhead and the crowd started buzzing then, suddenly there they were, zooming past with me frantically trying to spot a peach coloured number 41. It was really amazing to be there and we ended up with some older aussies who were entertaining and helped us out with our yelling and Aussie Aussie Aussies. Such a great experience but kind of funny because the crowd doesn't really know what's happening, and the French didn't really have anyone to cheer, plus when it finished everyone just kind of looks around til they work out who one. Mind you the riders all look very happy and relieved when they cross that finish line! If you saw Cadel on the podium, Maddy and I were over his right shoulder about fifty metres back in the crowd (finding a well deserved place to park our arses after about 5 hours standing in the one spot).
Paris is treating us both well and we have a wonderful little piece of Montmatre to spend our evenings in. Today we're headed to the Louvre and tomorrow to Versailles, so we're keeping busy and I'm sure the time will be over before we know it. Hope all is well, love to everyone,

Ben xoxoxo

Smartarse!!!

Mum just told me (via Skype - you must try it!!) that you got a HD at Uni!! Are they giving them away these days???

The photo is sunset last evening!!

Where are you (both?) is it Paris yet??? Remember we'll always have Paris!

I'm having great fun on the farm at Junee. Looking after the sheep. The old term is Shepherd, nowadays it is called sheep husbandry (very NZ). The ewes are lambing at a great rate at the momet so most of the work is in checking the sheep andbeing midwife if necessary ( or executioner if it goes wrong!!) and move the sheep to fresher pastures (very biblical) (Should that be greener or is that new age?)

If you don't think we are doing any work check http://www.fontenoymick.blogspot.com

I hhope all is well and thet you both are surviving the heat!! Evans is the only one who isn't on drugs on the tour!!! When you look at Vinakourov I think I'll try a transfusion myself!!

LOL

Dad (Mum by proxy)

From Berlin

Currently sitting in Berlin after a week here and not nearly enough time to see this crazy town. I've been all over the place with Toby who left on Monday morning. I'm staying with Joseph (friend from Sydney) and Emmanuelle at their amazing house in Neuköln, which Joseph affectionately refers to as the Cabramatta of Berlin, still, like everywhere in this city, even this place is not without it's hidden charm. So many things to see and do in this place, day or night. Toby and I did a wonderful walking tour that showed us most of the main sights like the Brandenberg Gate, the last remenants of the Wall, Bebelplatz (site of the Nazi book burning and now one of the many incredible, understated, powerful memorials throughout Berlin, our wonderful guide Charlie described it as the presence of absence, Germans have a great awareness of this). We've also done our own touring and have seen Checkpoint Charlie, and it's rather useless musuem, Potsdamer Platz (formerly no man's land between the walls now swanky expensive shops and restaurants) and today I went to the Zoo and got to see the star attraction KNUT! The cute cuddly polar bear who is now kind of dirty and teenaged but still quite a sight, especially with hundreds of people trying to catch a glimpse.
Yesterday I went to the Jewish Musuem which was an amazing experience, the building itself is quite breathtaking and the musuem has a great history of the Jews in Germany. I also went to a record store in someone's apartment that is the best for reggae in all of Berlin. If this sounds strange consider that I have so far been to a five bar club in a run down shopping mall, a drum n bass party at what looked like housing estate but turned out to be several clubs and a cinema, and a bar on a deserted street that was totally open air. In Berlin nothing is easy to find but everything is worth looking for. Tomorrow Joseph and Emmanuelle return after being away for the last few days so I will have company again until I leave for Paris on Thursday night to reunite with Madeleine! Not sure how tomorrow will pan out, I had plans to see some more musuems or maybe just revisit some great places in this great city.
That's probably the best update I've given on anywhere so far and it's probably because I love this city.
Love to all and everyone,

ben

P.S. I need postal addresses please, I have more postcards than I know what to do with, start with MattClareLes, Sue, & Jack and we'll go from there.

Here's Les

A cold winter's day in Ashfield!!

Money transferred

I put $500 over. Let me know if you want more!!! It's not my money!!! yet!!!!

All well here.

Will send a video probably tomorrow Dad

Remembering to use this thing

Hi All,
Thought I'd send you a message to say that i'm doing well and enjoying Amsterdam with Toby, plenty to see and do, we've most liked biking all over town, usually getting lost but eventually finding our way. The coffee shops and red light are seedy as expected but the city itself is beautiful and so easy to get around. We've been to the Van Gogh musuem which was great and still have a day and a half to do things before heading to berlin. I'm not sure if i'm goin to Vienna but I'm gonna sort it out from Berlin. Hope everyone is doing well in Sydney, sorry for my lack of contact but Amsterdam is expensive and difficult when it comes to phones and internet. But it is still and very cool city and we've got more of it to see today. Keep me posted on happenings at home! Maddy's on the plane now which is pretty exciting and it won't be long til we meet in Paris! Love to all!

Ben

p.s. can dad please check my balance and maybe transfer some cash in my savings?

Singing to Matt

A word from Mum and Dad

From Ade with Wags and Licks

I'm learning too!

Dad's like a pig in mud working out all this 'stuff' So I thought I should at least say 'hi!'

Go the Blues!!!

Bird was outstanding!!!