Noel Gallagher, now he would understand, how could he not after Definately Maybe?? Ricky Gervais too, he must of felt it after writing The Office. Even Dan Brown might be able to empathise, he's still struggling to match up to the Da Vinci Code even now. I know what your thinking, your thinking how possibly could these global supergods of their respective mediums possibly, in anyway whatsoever, relate to the feelings of such simpletons as Alex Neary and Joshua Don?? Well its simple really - we too now feel the crippling weight of expectancy upon our shoulders bred by the underwhelming successes of this site so far. We found a benchmark, a standard so high, our blogs and photos verge on a visual masterpeice. But now you want more dont you?? Not only that but you want it wittier, braver, bolder, sexier and just a hell-of-a-load-better than it ever was before. So its time for us, together, to stand and deliver. I know the critics (or should i say critic, Gavin Jackson??) are queing up to knock us off our ever-so-high pedestal, to kill our glowing reputation in one clean swoop, but im really feeling this one - this one will be my best yet - this ones gonna be my Wots the Story.........

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Just three weeks ago, following my impending "epic world adventure" I was the Neary families blue eyed boy, I had walk on water-esqe stature, my mother was simply beaming with pride as she let her boy of his leash around the world. I bet she gloated to all her friends, even her friends friends, about me touring the planet, doing things, seeing places that they could only dream off. She probably even gave them the address of this very site. No doubt then she is currently feeling both a tad hurt and embarrassed - I have seemingly brought more shame upon the Neary name by enduring, what she has now dubbed, nothing more "than a round the world piss-up". The problem is mum..........I ain't half enjoyin myself!!! So here's a message to my closest family and their friends friends friends - STOP reading this blog now(!!!), because my evening antics did not change come Christchurch, after all the first night was St. Patricks Day!! And everyone knows thats the only day of the year where its completely excusable to wear hideous green hats, dance insanely to The Pogues and (this ones my favourite) drink copious amounts of all things alcoholic!!!!

Our chosen port of call to undertake the evenings activities was O'Sullivans, which clearly marked St Paddy's Day as its most profitabel of the year with Guinness a hefty eight dollors, much to the distain of Josh. The place was typically heaving and the atmostphere throughtout was incrediably jovial, much helped by pints being swigged at rates unseen before by my innocent English eyes. Their were live bands throughout the evening playing everything from U2 to Franz Ferdinand to Pink Floyd with a varying level of success. The combination of music and alcohol unfortunatly managed to convince (wrongly) many a person they had a new found abilty to Irish Dance. It was more Ronald McDonold than Riverdance, but it had Josh and I in stitches for large parts of the evening. Special mention too, to the drunk blonde who attempted the Irish jig upon the high altitude of a bar stool - literally, as the words "it will all end in tears" slurred out my mouth the unfortunate female decked it at quite an astonishing rate. Needless to say, we didnt see her strutting her stuff for the rest of the evening.....

Now to clear something up. I was somewhat appalled to find as I awoke the next day, that graffittied upon the message board on this website was Mr. Don gloating at his lack of hangover whilst I was crawled up in bed trying my best to recover. Well I'll let you into a little secret....may i suggest a reason for the blonde-don's hangover free demenour was that he went home some two hours earlier than me. A measly one o'clock he managed!!!! Beer was still being belched and Pogues were still being played as he was tucked up in bed down the road. And what a two hours he missed!!! Not least for the fact that I have never, ever experienced the unequalled pleasure of listening to inebrieated Irishman with their unfathomable ability to swear in one sentence more than I can in a whole lifetime!! Neways, a great night was had by all, and it was every inch worth the bangin head and empty wallet that came Sunday afternoon. Now then.......whoes Saints Day is it next??!!

The rest of Christchurch seemed to promote itself as New Zealands only quintessential English town. Whats that all about??? If I wanted a "quintessential English town" I'd go to Norwich - for what greeted us in Christchurch in our four days was a mix of inanly boring gardens, remembrance statues, remembrance bridges, remembrance benches, remembrance roads, remembrance museams and overly affluent local population. Consquently Josh and I spent a fair amount of time in the hostel, which was well situated and pretty plush, where Josh's reading rate continued to quicken (he read a whole Star Trek book in for days!!he describes the experience as "crazy!!"). I too finished two books, one called Bleedout which was pretty awesome and one called The Rotters Club which was not so. Either way we cant be criticised for lacking culture, we're turning into a duo of literature connisuirs. As I said, Christchurch hurt the wallet, as everythings seemed a couple of dollars more expensive than anything in the North Island. It was as a result of this that we finally gave into temptation in rather extreme style and preceded to utilize every fast food outlet in the city. I would say I felt a sense of guilt in my actions.....but i was too busy munching my way through the Bargain Bucket or Big Mac in question.

Christchurch was our rather muted end to our New Zealand experience. I personally adored every inch of the islands and enjoyed every second of our fourteen days there, even rain sodden Wellington. The scenery eveywhere was absoloutly sensational, and on some rare moments as I looked out my hostel or caoch window I thought to myself -"its sights like this that could even convince me about the exsistance of the big man upstairs". So its with regret that we leave this idyllic place, we do wish we could of ventured and discovered further beauties in it, but there is also great excitement as we prepare for our Oz adventure. I mean Sydney...its not exactly second rate is it???

So there we go. How did I do??? Do. Your. Worse. I'm use to all the unnecessary, unfair and relentless abuse you can throw at me - I'm friends with Gavin Jackson......

Quote of the Week - "Ducks!!! F**king Ducks!! Get a picture of them, everyone loves a token animal!!" Alex to camera man Josh on our last day attempt to get some pictures of Christchurch. We struggled.

Beer Test - Speights 6/10. Really miss Stella, really really really!!!!!