Crossed fingers You can uncross your fingers, the launch was last Thursday and it was successful. You've let me down Meg - I've put all my energy into not insulting dumb Americans and there you go letting the side down...
There's not much sun to soak up at the moment as it has been pissing stair rods for the last couple of days. I still have a few days to at least make it look like I've seen the sun.
gaters You call that a gut?? Not quite, but I do like the sideburns. Its windy and cold here in the high desert, so I'm pretty jealous you're soaking up the sun. Glad you're having fun again! I'm crossing my fingers for the shuttle launch!
Thanks for your comments Anna, I think you're being a little paranoid and you read through the blog again - you'll notice that I said the language was hard to understand, which it is - it wasn't a criticism of Moscow. I'm not sure why you think I was surprised everything was in the native language. And it's not really the same as French and Italian as they use the Roman alphabet so you can work a lot of words out.
rocket Was that a toy rocket cos it looks really small in the picture where it is in the sky? I know all about scale and that and the smoke ploom is extremely narrow and unlikely to be that of a rocket. I would estimate the actual 'rocket' to have been 6 inches tall, about the size of the average dick - although nowhere near the size of mine, which is massive. With this in mind, I can only presume that you are prevented from being any closer than six miles from the 'launch' because the rockets are tiny and man has never actually been to the moon.
Dear Matt!
I'm upset you to have so negative impression about Moscow!
What about English and Russian, you visited Russia where the native language is Russian as in France - French, Italy - Italian, etc. So, don't be surprise when you arrive to any country and there is everything written by native language. I visited last year Italy, there nobody speaks English! But you could see names of streets and metro stations written Russian and English both.
The second one is your foto with unknown Cathedral - it is Church of St. Vasiliy.
If you want to answer me and argue you are welcome to ICQ 198189868.
Best regards,
Anna from Russia, Moscow.
Back to geordie land Hey matt, just been reading your last installment, sorry to hear that it hasn't worked out too well with the travelling lark, I agree though - hostels do just not sit well with us posh birds and boys - the word itself has one too many s's in it for me...
Anyway if your heading to the north east you can come party with me as, to be fair, I think I may have been unwittingly duped by my new employer and might be there slightly longer than originally planned - bugger! I was looking forward to sun and noodles too, will just have to make do with you for entertainment value!
birds (the feathered variety) Matt - that bird with the blumin great beak - one of those chased me across a bridge in Darwin last April - I swear its the same one, watch out for them, those critters get everywhere.... Ps try Singapore for civlised asian-ness the orchid gardens have lots more flourescent flowers and they can't hassle you as they chop peoples hands off for less.... justice...
im so jealous! Hi there!! sitting here at storys being bored out of my mind, i figured i wud c how matty boy was getting on!! n oh my god u seem to have been bloody everywhere!! n just for the record this blog web crack has taken me ages to figure out, n after a few mis haps i seem to have found most ov ur entrys ( u no computers arnt my thing the amount ov times i used to ring u for help!ha!) but now ive red them i must admit u hav gave me a laugh or 2 or 3!!!! ur mole shout has cracked me up!!! n it is the hairyest ive eva seen!!! shame on wife n daughters for not having them out of his face!!! n the train forwards n backwards that has totally tickled me2!!!!! anyway heading home or not uv done it mr!!! well done its an achievement in its self!! good luck in newcastle !! c u soon!! Shell x
Coming Home! Surprised to hear your're coming back so early, but it'll be great to see you when you move back to sunny Newcastle, definitely on for a night out now that i'm a student again!!
Hot stuff Quote "I've got a t-shirt on because it's hot, I've got shades on because it's sunny. Bliss" - Just like your brother - where are your shorts bruce?
The old tea scam On reflection I am somewhat surprised that you were fooled by the scam. How many times have Deano and I pulled the old tea scam. Remember last time Dean did it and it cost you £10k, your house and your dignity.....you must have a short memory......
sucker! Oh Matty, they got you! But help a girl out...how much is 150 quid in US dollars? I can't fully and completely feel sorry for you until I know just how bad you got ripped off.
Something about their names You got scammed by Jane the Plane and sickly Vickly the scammest of scammers the East has ever seen I bet both of them have dark chinese hair and eyes and speak with a chinese accent you dumb fool I told you to watch out for this two hoodlums. Anyways £100 sounds like a bargain what else could you spend £100 on these days?
From more sound crap advice visit DeanoMatteomoe the Madcrappers@craptalkin'.com
Rail Gauge Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the sleeping-cars are shunted into a shed, each car is separated and jacked up to have its bogies (wheelsets) changed. You remain on board while this is done - quite an experience..! ----Quote from a fellow traveller, that's what was going on apparently.
ways to keep warm hey matt, just logged on this for the first time sounds like your having a good time already, just got back from budapest at the weekend so am offering sympathy for the cold weather and recommendations for keeping warm - simple really - large quantities of finlandia vodka - I have discovered a new talent for drinking it straight, must be the cold weather you know how teetotal I usually am. Sounds like you may already have discovered my little tip though judging by the photo's! Keep having fun - unlucky for me have to start work in the joyous location of Sunderland on tuesday...hmmmm not convinced I've done the right thing!
Confirmation There seems to be a bit of hysteria developing these rail gauges (especially for trainspotters like Dad). I can confirm that Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½". They must somehow widen the track as well to fit the wider gauge sleepers.
Yes Stephen is spot on. I guess they lifted it off one set of bogies onto another or does the train carry 2 sets. If it had been the UK they would have vacated the train and the station while that was going on. Yes Craig ,we are losing sleep as well wondering just how many times the train went forwards and backwards
Bellcore
Matt Bell
Crossed fingers
You can uncross your fingers, the launch was last Thursday and it was successful. You've let me down Meg - I've put all my energy into not insulting dumb Americans and there you go letting the side down... There's not much sun to soak up at the moment as it has been pissing stair rods for the last couple of days. I still have a few days to at least make it look like I've seen the sun.