Calum Visits (and Defends) the Colonies

2008-06-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

2008-04-25T06:52:00.000-07:00

This is the result after my first session sparring. Cheers Mike for taking it so well.

2008-04-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's almost been two years since my last post? In that time i have sailed the seven seas, been a salve to 9-5 and.....signed my life away to Her Majesty. And still not one post from me. Well standby fans...your favourite Eblogger is back with more artistic zest than ever before!

Above you can see a photo of myself infront of the Old College at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (my new place of work) and to the right of that you can see my patrol attempting to navigate its way off of 'x-ray' in the Black mountains in Wales. It shows the stark comparison between the type of work i am putting myself through (or they are putting myself through!) on a day to day basis.

2006-08-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

Janelle & Me
Paul & Me
Dr K. & Me outside the Susan's home

Hello one & all,
since i am obviously no longer giving you and educational update about my experience (and Ross is, PAH!) i shall just show you some more aquatic blond photos! Or more specifically Neighbours photos! Are you ready for Stephan Dennis? (Thats Paul Robinson - who actually has family in Bearsden!)

Enjoy!

x

2006-08-15T03:36:00.000-07:00

OK, so i am attempting to upload some general photos i have accumulated over the last 6 weeks....enjoy

calum x x
The girls on tour with me(our impression of japoneese tourists)
Skippy getting a good scratch
Out on the Snowy River
Team Extreme (white water rafting team)
Obvious
Obvious
Douglas, Jonny & I in La Joya
Jonny & Myself rehydrating
This rust bucket was the worst auto mobile imaginable (with Zozza and Sam)

2006-08-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since i last updated this blog. Well it certainly feels that way. The last 5 or 6 days has been actioned packed. Whilst still in Sydney i did the Wake up tour and met some good people to party with.

So i left Sydney on a bus tour called ""The Oz Experience" headed for Melbourne. During these four days i saw the most stunning (and i mean the best i have ever seen) scenery, stayed at a budist retreat and meditated, visited the Australian Parliament and, to cap it off, partied last night away with some of the cast from Neighbours.

The party was wicked. I managed to win a free trip along "The Great Ocean Road", how i did this i think best remain a secret.

I am staying in a hostel in Melbourne with some girls that i met on the tour(Oh thats another thing...on the bus it was only me and 6 other girls...hard life) and we are just touring the city over the next couple of days. Will venture farther out into the national parks next week i think.

Anyway, everyone play nicely.

Peace

Calum

p.s. sorry not more photos, but the computer runs on steam!

2006-08-09T03:05:00.001-07:00

Sydney..................man its big. I have only been here one day and i love it. Arrived yesterday after a great 8 days in Cairns, with the difference in temp quite startling. People might try to remind you thats its winter here and that Sydney is cold, but it never really sinks in....it has now.

I spent my day just getting lost in the city and wondering through places like China town, the opera house, the bridge, bondi beach and the rocks. I am back at hostel and i am fairly tired!

I am only here till friday when i jump on the Oz Experience bus to travel down the west coast to Melbourne. Plentys stops on the way to see the stunning sights of New South wales and Victoria. Very exctited.

A change of plans has occured..those of you who know Dave McNeil or "Chef Dave" will be under the impression he would be joining me. But due to his humungous success at the Commonwealth Rowing Champs, he will sadly be absent from this great voyage of discovery, as he is preparing to move to down south to take up rowing full time. Outstanding Dave...Extremely proud of u.

Speaking of success, well done to my brother Ross on knocking the living daylights out of his 4th year(and final) medical exams. One more year and Dr Ross "Lurve" Stewart will be a reality. Bloody good job dude.

He is in South America (not sure where) at the monent on another big adventure, see his blog at www.bigrossonabigadventure.blogspot.com for more details. See the subtle diference? I know....sly!

Anyways, sorry no pics, cameras had no battery today...woopsie.

Peace and love

calum

2006-08-09T03:05:00.000-07:00

2006-08-05T04:44:00.000-07:00

Me at an angle
Yuki at an angle
(Wakka)
(Fellow students & I)
Dear freinds,
during the past week i have completed my open water diving certifigate allowing me to dive to a depth of 18 metres. Then (for a little extra cash) i did my advanced course.....allowing me to dive to the depth of 30 metres! And i did this without suffering from "Narcosis". So Ross, you may be able to make fire, but i can suck on an Oxygen-Nitrogen mix at 30 metres for 25 min! HOOAHH!

It has been without doubt one of the most adventurous weeks of my life. Diving at that depth in the dark of night in The Great Barrier Reef is an experience that shall keep me grinning from ear to ear until i am old and grey. The Barrier Reef is remarkable. It really is its own little world down there. The variety fish is just unimaginable. I could never get tired of the sharks (yes Christy..big ones!) turtles,surgeons and of course nemos.

I should say that i am in Cairns, Australia, and have been for the last 7 days. I am staying at the Gilligan's Youth Hostel which, if honest, is really more like a cheap resort in Spain somewhere, full of bloody drunken teenagers making arses of themselves. Not really what i had come to expect of a youth hostel. Mr Burrow, you trained me well.

During my time with "ProDive" i have made some wonderful friends, in fellow students (Scott. Rachel, Zozza, Illka, Simon, JC, Minsoo & Stefan) and in my instructors, Wakka & Yuki.

I am not going to sat anymore, i shall just leave you with some photos. The next time you hear from me i shall have been white water rafting down the Tully rapids!!! Oh and i will be in Sydney.

Love to all

Calum

p.s. after spending 3 days on a boat, i am sitting typing and yet i am still rocking from side to side!

p.p.s A big thank you to Wakka and Yuki. You were outstanding.

2006-07-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

In Cairns safe and sound.....after 17 hours of flying. Going to sleep x x x

2006-07-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, on Thursday last i packed my little duffle bag in Neenah, kissed my friends good bye and headed for The Windy City.

This trip to Chicago gave me my forst opportunity to sample the American Greyhound and Amtrak services. Both of which were on time, clean and extremely pleasant.

My late arrival into Chicago only allowed me to shop in the Magnificant Mile for one hour. Needless to say i managed to spend!

The following Friday morning i was up with the lark and treated myself to America's No1 breakast at the Famous Lou Mitchell's in N.Jackson Street. The pancakes melted in my mouth. Great start to the day.

I love Chicago, i love the big city, the different types of people all running around the place. Makes you feel insignificant in a comfortable way. I could have spent alot of time in this wonderful city.

However, San Diego, the city of bikinis, palm trees and beaches is a satisfactory substitute. I have been here with Jonny, Kenna, Douglas and Hugo ( a ten month old siberian huski) for 3 days, and the place lives up to expectations.

Tomorow Jonny and i are going into the ciy itself (rather than the region of San Diego) for the city tours etc... Am extremely excited.

So below you shall see pictures of us al except Douglas (he is too ugly for my camera!)

Until next time, the adventures continue........

Oh i should say before i go, a big thankyou, to all those back in WI who gave me such a wonderful reception and three weeks. I had a wondeful time. In particular i would like to say a special 'thanks' to Karen, Pam,Scott, auntie Jess and Christy. Love you all lots x x

2006-07-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Greettings everyone from Onaway Island! Well actually i have been back now for two days but the majority of this installment will cover all the fun and mayhem that occurred there over the last week.

As predicted the magic at Onaway kept the sun beating down on us the whole week. I managed as always to be burnt within the first two days. But dont worry friends, i now have a lovely cookie brown tan.

Camp ,this year, was obviously going to be a challange for Big Calum. Coming from the fine institution of The BB, Girls Camp 1 was a terrifying thought. However it turns out that girls camp is pretty much like every other camp i have ever attended. Girls like to do all the stupid stuff that boys from The 1st Bearsden like to do (I dont know what that says about our boys!).

Some of the major events during the week were ,in no particular order, (Excecpt chronologically!) 1) Carival of culture
2) Leader hunt
3) Trip to Tom Thumb Mini Golf
4) Cross country race
5)High Council

Added to these star attractions were the daily events of chapel, singing,singing,singing,chapel more singing and cabin inspection.

Ally, you would have been proud, i made two different girls cry this week at cabin inspection!

Since leaving the island i have toured Scotland wia the magic of whisky. That was Saturday night at the Jileks' house. Where most leaders from camp destressed and unwind.

Then last night i went to see the largest concert i have ever been to. It was Faith Hill & Tim McGraw at the Bradley Centre( Home of NBA side Milwaukee Bucks). Now country music is not my thing but these guys were fantastic. Voices were amazing and the show was top drawer.

Below are some random pictures: 1) Myself and camp leaders
2) The soul2soul concert
3)Sue vine on the ski boat
4) Marnie and Christy trying to hitch a ride back to
Onoway after being kidnapped and experimented on
by aliens
5) Scott trying to play a problematic hole of mini golf

So dear friends, until next time, the adventures contiunue............

2006-07-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the trip around the world to visit the British Colonies is well and truely underway.

I am currently residing with the Fosters' in Neenah, where i have been for just over one week now. Tomorrow i leave for Girls Camp 1 on Onaway Island. I must admit that i am somewhat scared of the experience that awaits me, but i am assured by Brigade Officials that all the girls have been warned that i am a gentle giant and that they are to be gentle with me.

Since my arrival in WI i have spent 4 days in Door County. This county is regarded as the 'Martha's VineYard' of the state. It actually rates in the top ten American vacation destinations!

I spent my four days up there with the extended Foster family including Karen's Parents and wee sister.

The Fosters did not lie when they said we wouold be relaxing for the four days. We did some light shopping, went out for eats, sat by the pool and generally avoided a heart rate above 60 beats a minute.

Since our arrival back from DC we have had the 4th of July celebrations. Slighlty ironic considering the title of my trip! never the less i did not let Britis defeat dampen my party spirit. I spent the day down at Riverside Park with Brigade selling 'Brats' and other BBQ food to the thousands of Neenonians that had turned out to watch the late night fireworks.

The picture above is of me at the batting cages at funset boulivard. Note i am at the fast cage!!! Just a born natural athlete i guess.