Its been awhile since we found the time to get online. Paris was all everybody told us it would be and the Loire Valley is fantastic for chateau fans. Today however I'm just wishing to make some observations on matters that have played on my mind over the last few weeks:

1. I often wonder when a song ceases to be played on Australian radio what the radio station does with the CD single? Do they store them up in a big room, do they donate them to charity or do they in fact send those CD singles to radio stations in Europea so that those stations can play English language songs all day every day? There is no other explanation for hearing John Farnham's Age of Reason played twice or the consistent dragging out of hits from Mariah Carey's debut album Musicbox. The greatest crime however was not the day that we heard "What if God was one of us?" or the day that we heard that crazy "Birthmark" song from a few years back. Remember the one that went "Once there was this girl who had these birthmarks, she could never quite explain it they had always just been there" Remember that one? Quite Ridiculous. Anyway the "highlight" was the day we heard Starship's second single "Sarah" in its full and uncut glory. Do you remember that one? "Sarah, Sarah, the stars get caught in your eyes" it says with the full power of a band coming off their hit "We Built This City" (A track recently voted by a UK Magazine as the worst song of all time). I couldn't believe hearing "Sarah" and I now greatly look forward to an Australian Idol contestant singing it on 80s night in full 80s big hair fashion.

2. I'm missing the footy greatly and wait anxiously for text messages telling me the scores. I wonder whether any citizens of Malmo, Sweden also look forward to receiving those same scores as we saw an AFL ground with goal posts, two 50 metre lines and a centre square marked out on the ground not far from where wild geese were raising their young. Very interesting indeed.

3. Its nice reading English language descriptions in museums isn't it? I mean citizens of the country may in fact speak German, Swedish, Danish, Spanish, Nederlands, Slovenian or Tunisian but the museum always seems to find itself able to translate the message into English. Its appreciated. Well nearly everyone can do it. Apparently the "best museum in the world" The Loevre is not able. Those Frenchies are funny about their language. Before WWI French was the language of international diplomacy. Since their capitulation in both WWI and again in WWII, English has taken over. Their way of fixing us English speakers is by forcing us to walk around their museums unable to tell what is going on. It can't be that hard to find an English speaker to translate for them but they apparently will not do it. All in all we found the French to be quite hospitable (once you revealed you weren't American or English) but this repeated failure to make any effort in the museums was just ridiculous.

4. We had our first theft in Paris. We have defended our stuff admirably till now but we lost something that was very dear to Cathy's heart. It was purchased for her after much consideration and searching through numerous shopping complexes. I thought the gift was overpriced to begin with but a man has to spend a lot of money to buy his wife Belgian Chocolate. After leaving the room to go out for the day, a cleaner or someone else busted into our room and stole two chocolates - nothing else, just two Belgian Chocolates. Those chocolates were precious commodities, specifically chosen for their delicate taste and quality. Their theft hurt deeply and since that time, the Belgian Chocolates have joined the iPod, Photo storing Hard Drive, Passport, Wallet and Train Tickets in the never leave our sight bag that we carry everywhere 24 hours per day. A shame really. You can't trust anybody these days!

5. Animals in the Lowlands of the Netherlands and Belgium are the happiest domestic animals on earth. The cows and the sheep actually lie down in the long grass to eat and were often seen rolling on their backs with their hooves in the air. We initially thought they had died but closer examination revealed they were simply having such a great time. Australian animals look sullen and disinterested in comparision to these fun seekers munching away on their well watered grass. Check it out next time you are in this part of the world.

6. Getting a couple into a photograph is difficult at the best of times. You don't want to give your camera to just anybody as chasing down a thief who knows the streets and has your camera is not a fun way to spend your afternoon (remember Chevy Chase in European Vacation?). You also don't want someone to photograph you and miss the background (which I like to do to obnoxious Americans with old style cameras). The best way to ensure photographic success is to watch people take their own photos first and to watch their compisition strategy. If they appear to be able to capture everything in their own shots, we hand them our camera. So if we are standing behind you staring at your photos, don't be offended, we are probably just about to ask you to take a photo for us. Thanks for that.

7. Is there anyone left in Australia? It seems that every Australian was crammed on to the Eiffel Tower the night we went up. There were that many people saying "no worries mate" that I felt that I could have been in the food court at Doncaster Shoppingtown. Nevertheless, a great time was had as the sun set and the new light show played in full force each hour.

8. We were woken up by fireworks and what sounded like missiles launching over our heads last night. We were extremely concerned as we tried to work out which Axis of Evil country had launched an attack against Santorini at 1:30 in the morning. Panicking we turned on the TV to learn that Greece had just won the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Number One". Honestly you would think that one of their sprinters had just won an Olympic Medal or something. Knowing people actually give a shit about the Eurovision Song Contest is reassuring having grown up in a nation that laughs at the contest when its replayed on SBS on a Sunday afternoon.

Cathy has also posted today. Her comments are below. Enjoy.