A Gangster and a Sausage- Sizzle.

Jonesy had been invited to a 50th birthday party with a 'gangster' fancy dress theme. he became re-invented as the notorious 'Al Ca-Jones', the Mafia Don of Hamilton. While he was mixing with the 'underworld' of Newcastle, I was watching the Newcastle Knights losing yet again, this time to St.George Illawarrah, live on national television.

Alleyway Express Cafe.

$5 breakfast..what a bargain!

Saturday morning and we started off by having a $5 breakfast at the Alleyway Express Cafe on Beaumont Street. To work off this excess, I went for a cycle along the Newcastle Foreshore and then a great walk along Nobbys Beach.

There off..what mayhem!

What about us?

Stockton Ferry weaving through the traffic.

The foreshore was busy, both on and off the water; a yacht race, kayaking, the Stockton Ferry weaving its way through the traffic and a huge cargo ship being escorted out to sea. Cyclists, joggers, power-walkers and strolling families all vying for space and utilising the cafes, restaurants and public BBQs found here. I'll say again how lucky the people of Newcastle are to have such a lovely environment to enjoy.

That evening we had been invited to a 'sausage-sizzle' by Stephen and Trudie Bull. They had been the first of Jonesy's friends that I had met on my first visit to Newcastle back in 2002. On the way we stopped at a drive-through 'bottleo', no messing in Australia when it comes to buying your booze!

They laid on a fantastic feast for us, not just the 'snags' and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We ate out on their terrace until the flying beasties forced us inside. Thanks guys for a great night and for helping me put on a few pounds!!

Trudie, Stephen and Tyler.

Blimey! It's a sausage -sizzler!

Drive through 'Bottleo'

On the way home we called into see Drago, Jonesy's Slovenian friend to watch the second half of the English F.A. Cup semi-final match live from Wembley Stadium. We were obviously the bad luck that Everton didn't need, as their Merseyside rivals Liverpool, overturned a 1-0 half time deficit to run out 2-1 winners. Drago kicked us out as soon as the final whistle sounded as he had to be up at 6am to watch his beloved Barcelona live on television. Still, a better bet than the Knights, eh Drago!