So we are now a nation of Soccer fans!

Since Australia won a place in this years World cup we are seeing some strange rumblings back home.

SBS one of the 5 national TV stations it's the multicultural channel and has long enjoyed an association with the leather But it gets a pittance from the government so it's the most budget conscious. Well they must have spent half their yearly operating budget to secure the rights for the World Cup, Then you have to have a brand new groovy set, I pitched on the design & production of it but lost (Bugger!) and a plethora of hosts. There is about 6 of them.

Now don't get me wrong, i love the game, in fact I will drive my son MAx to soccer in the morning tomorrow and then again over to the club rooms in the afternoon for the team photos. No i am not one to be jumping on the band wagon at this late date, I had already added our game dates to all my calendars.

But the win in the friendly against Greece last night has sent a wave of Ozzie-ness through the community. People are driving around with the tacky little flags the Sun Herald gave out with last Sundays newspaper. Once staunch rugby fans are softening their stance on 'other' codes of football. The wave has hit but the tide is still low. It will be an interesting one to watch in the coming months.

Go Ozzie go. Oy oy oy

peace.

One door closes and another opens. Oh look, It's a nice wood one this time!

Been a while and a billion gallons of water has passed under my personal bridge. That's a happy (sic) snap of me on the left outside the Summer Palace in Beijing, mind you it's the middle of winter!

10 years ago I started an Exhibit Design company with an old friend, TV. On May 1 this year I sold my shares in the companies and have just started my new vehicle, Blue Sky Design Australia Pty Ltd. I am now an event designer. The difference may seem subtle to the untrained observer. Let me tell you without the long winded explanation that nothing is further from the truth.

Gone are the 12 full time employees, now it's just my wife Gabi & I. Millions of dollars turnover also go to be replaced with (hopefully) hundreds of thousands. The weight that seems to have lifted from my shoulders, although I had partners I tended to take on the overall burden, is amazing, mind you I am already finding that I am overworked now I have to do all the designing myself.

The release from the burden has given us a broader horizon. We're starting to look at the world differently. More importantly how why and where we live differently. At this point in our lives, (we have two boys in primary school) we have a window of opportunity where we can get out there. Where we can experience another culture, maybe even learn part of another language. So we are now planning the sabbatical for a year or so at the end of the year (End of the Australian school year)

Bali seems to be the go even though I receive peoples misgivings everytime i mention it. Perhaps the perceived danger of terrorism makes it a new frontier. Personally I think we have more to worry about with Bird Flu. Either way we are all excited about the idea. The ability to live amongst a beautiful race, learn there customs, go surfing, learn Bahasa, go surfing, and generally travel around the region makes it a wonderful base.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, did I mention going surfing?

Anyway, watch this space for news and updates as we make the SEA change.

Peace