Always the bridesmaid...

Too sunny!, originally uploaded by Kong_.

So, Leo had a bit of fun dressing up today - first nana's sunhat, then dad's beanie; a scarf wrapped up like a turban; and then, before you could say Les Dawson, one of Rach's handbags was out, hooked over his meaty forearm. He ended up helping out in the garden wearing one of Rach's blouses ('nice an' cooool!') and an Alice band.

Bless him for not giving a damn.

Segogs at Kew

The Seed Walk - amazing willow sculptures by Tom Hare, originally uploaded by Kong_.

I haven't been to Kew since I was eight or nine. I remember it well - it was an overcast/rainy day, so I was wearing a horrendous cagool, scratchy and plastic; we had a clutchful of activity sheets to do, including sketching one of the manmade pools; and, most memorably of all, my NHS glasses steamed up when we entered the famous Palm House, and, briefly, all eyes were on me.

More than twenty years on, and without raincoat, specs or 2B pencil, I found an extraordinary, sunbaked paradise of twisted trunks, flowering scrub, bees and birds and soft, soft grass, pine cones (Leo's 'segogs' - hedgehogs) - and two ladybirds making love amongst the aphid-heavy roses.

Caramba!

Up on the roof

The rooftop paradise at work is sorely neglected.  It's white and bright and it's got highly reflective furniture. It gets windy not perfect - at times and if it's cloudy it can be damn cold.  But where else can you flick bits of sandwich onto the floor and gaze at Old Street's digital natives?

Beside the seaside

Bournemouth seafront, originally uploaded by Kong_.

This is a picture of Bournemouth seafront. The sand was actually rather lush, and once you ignore the fact that everything's made of concrete, this could easily be Waiheke.

If you squint a bit.

Kiwi dude - good news

...so I just got an email from my man at the immigration dept, and - YESSSSSSSSSS!! - they're not going to make me re-do any forms or medicals or any other paperwork.  Just get the errant certificate resubmitted and then we're sorted.

Marvellous eh?

Palace Beer Festival 2011

Palace Beer Festival 2011, originally uploaded by Kong_.

Oh, what a lovely hoppy biscuity malty brew of a day. Palace's first beer festival was a great success with over 1,000 attendees, music, food, live football and the FA Cup final shown on screens - and even at one point a bit of a dubious cheerleading exhibition.

I started off with a pint of Dark Star Espresso Stout, watching the game on the pitch while slamming down the rich coffee-ground flavours. Then, given that the measures seemed more than generous, I switched to halves: Toad Chocolate Stout (not as sweet as the first and a bit disappointing); the showpiece beer brewed especially for the occasion, Morrissey Fox Palace Ale, a light and hoppy, easy drinking glass, which will be on sale next season; Sambrook Brewery's Wandle Bitter, thrilling because we're so often out walking next to the River Wandle and the beer's brewed up the road in Battersea; Mauldon's Black Adder stout, which again I found a bit bitter; a sumptuous porter called Old Slug from RCH in the West Country; and a few I don't remember too much about, including Oldershaws Alchemy blonde ale, Hopback Crop Circle blond ale, and Springhead Bramley Apple (blonde ale not cider). Must remember to try RCH beers if I see them on sale cos their Steam Pole Bitter, which Martin let me try, was outstanding too.

Other beers worth a mention, of which I had a little tasting sip, were Ringwood Old Thumper pale ale, Kelham Island Pale Rider IPA, Exmoor Gold bitter, and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.

Given that we were treated to music, an exhibition match on the pitch, the freedom of the Upper Holmesdale, and an engraved glass, and all for a fiver, leads me to agree with James - we really do have the best owners in football.  Hats off to Palace, this was a great idea executed well.

Kiwi dude

Kiwi residence application, originally uploaded by Kong_.

So, this is a picture of me on Monday, holding my fat pack of documents and photos and bills and forms and stuff, all serious and windswept and big of hair. I took the photo quickly cos a big rabble of prickly lads was busy emptying itself from the Sports Bar next to NZ House.

Inside this pouch is the key to our future. It's taken five months to assemble and I've been absolutely meticulous in putting it together.  Along the way we've found out that no, neither of us has anything approaching a criminal record; yes, all the authorities and officials are on the take at every opportunity; and yes, I do have the well-trained body of a long-distance runner (the doctor doing my medical said so!).  The chap at Immigration was really helpful and checked it all through saying it all looked in order.

Imagine my surprise and disgust, then, to find, only four days later, and only a few short minutes after my file was handed to a case worker for processing, that one of the forms is bloody wrong! And as it involves Rach having to get her fingerprints done at New Scotland Yard, and then sending off to Australia for another police certificate - which will take a couple of months - I might have to sharpen my biro and fill in forms (and cheques) all over again?!

Hoping for better news on Monday when I find out what this all means and whether we have to start all over again...