On this day ...

It was exactly one year ago that I came back to Australia after the trip of a lifetime. Anyway, I just thought I'd say that. Tegan and Sara might ask where does the good go, but at this point I've got to ask: "Where does the time go?"

Over and out ... for now.

The vote is yours (and the lines are open) ...

The weekend was spent resting up for a big month ahead. There's been very little - of substance - happening in The Life And Times Of JB. I can't talk fantasy basketball because my team, Sex Panther By Odeon, is coming dead last having been decimated with injuries. It's also a faux pas with the female readership. The females? Well, there's nothing to speak of. Yet. The beard? Gone. Again. Being back in G-Town has put paid to my concert going activities lately and I've been in a general malaise anyway. A funk. I think it's called routine. I'm not a big fan of it. Big surprise that.

So I thought I'd keep things fresh and post some pictures that didn't make the cut over the past few entries and, in turn, review my Spring Racing Carnival this year by seeking a little audience participation. Feel free to talk about the amount of facial hair and the potential state of inebriation in the above two pictures. The one on the left was taken at BMW Caulfield Cup Day and the right as you may recall was at the buck's party held for Neil Steel in conjunction with Emirates Stakes Day in Flemington. Far from this being a brand dropping blog. Which hat do you like better? How about the choice of ties? And, finally, how about the pose? Madonna gets few mentions on this here blog, but as she would say: "Strike the pose!"

It never gets old here. Yes, sir. I eagerly await some of your replies. Maybe.

Picking the trifecta - beer, babes and betting ...

He could quite possibly have been the biggest jockey in the history of the sport of kings. And had Neil Steel jumped on the back of one of the horses at Emirates Stakes Day yesterday at Fabulous Flemington, who knows what would have happened. What did occur (or what I can remember anyway) was an awesome day. I'll say from the outset that KL would have lamented being a late scratching. The day started at 11am and finished - for me anyway - at 1am this morning. So? What happened?

Well, around 30 men met at the Carlton Central in Geelong (confusing, I know) and got on the bus to the big smoke for the buck's party of Neil Steel. I've known the guy since our teenage years but in recent times Rogan Josh has also become great mates with him, mainly through their love for shooting and four-wheel driving. They also work at the big lion.

I'm happy to report that we were all well behaved. Sort of. Rogan Josh was disappointed to pick the winner of race 3, only to arrive at the TAB just seconds after the horses had bolted. But it was a pretty good day for younger bro considering he lost his new phone - probably through the hole in the left pocket of the slacks I lent him - only to have one honest punter call my mobile and return said Nokia back to its rightful and relieved owner. He's in the background speaking as the Rayman and yours truly pose for one of many picture opportunities.

It might have been an omen, but I picked the winner of race 4 which virtually paid for the day. While the beard I have grown during my holiday resembles more of a five-day shadow, the winner of that race - Five O'Clock Shadow - helped me collect $115 that allowed the drinking to continue.

Apart from the buck's party, I caught up with a couple of people from the esteemed broadsheet, including Geezer, who has made several appearances - from both here and abroad - on the blog. Unfortunately for him, he had to go to work after race 7, so apart from not being able to have too many drinks, he also had to put up with a tired and emotional yours truly who was definitely roasting in the afternoon sun and buzzing, especially after also picking the winner of race 5, Magnus. Again, another tidy little earner of around $35.

Not surprisingly, the group were denied entry into a Maribyrnong pub after the races, so instead we went down by the banks of the river of the same name nearby and had a few more beers. For a sum of $70, Big Tone swam a couple of laps of the river and lived to tell the tale. I think. Sadly, my camera died at this point. You'll just have to believe me.

A couple of my older married mates - Hilly and Grassy Knoll caught the train up from Geelong and it was good to catch up with them before the bus ride home where I feel asleep against my better judgment. Not that anything happened, it's just generally not a good idea to get a kip with a group of inebriated mates. I couldn't have been too tired though, as I walked about seven kilometres home from Geelong in the early hours of this morning in a futile search for a late-night snack. Kardinia Park was open, so I went in and had a look around. On the subject of the Cats, I saw The Future yesterday. Like many, he looked to be having a good time.

Apart from yesterday, it was a fairly uneventful week. I finished my photo album of my California trip today. It was looking at my trip that I began pondering the lack of material for the blog as of late and thinking that I needed to travel again in order to have many more stories to share with all of you. Hopefully, yesterday's assorted tales will keep everyone entertained. And perhaps even amused.

Things to do in Oakland (when you're bored) ...

We waited ... and waited ... and waited some more.

Something had to keep Slugg and I entertained as the train from Oakland to Santa Barbara was five hours late. I don't know much about the bronzed man holding my pack of Fritos other than he was a prominent civil rights campaigner. Allegedly. Even though it's now almost one year later, I only mention this less-than-memorable anecdote because I started today on a photo album of my 10-day trip around California with the self-proclaimed Slugger. Needless to say, this happy snap (and 300 others) will form part of the massive project.

And didn't I just mention something about needing to be kept entertained?

Insert headline here ...

Hello! Is anyone out there? It hasn't been so much as a long time between drinks but rather a long time between posting on this here blog. Apologies for the lack of updates. I'm reporting from Richmond on my first day of holidays but my second-last day of housesitting in Tigerland. I've just returned from kicking the footy with Murfuoso at The New Pie Park on Punt Road. Yes, it's November and Collingwood's home turf, but it's also a good way of keeping fit, staying in touch and having fun. As usual, Murf was a sharp-shooter in front of goal where my kicking, like my week in general, was interesting but indifferent.

There's been plenty happening lately, some is fit for blog consumption, while I have neither the time, patience or energy to talk about some other stuff that's been going on. My female readers apparently want to hear more about what's happening on the romantic front but I can report that in basketball parlance, I became a free agent earlier this week. That's the way it goes, I guess, or to quote singer-songwriter Josh Rouse on his song Life: ''Life is good/Sometimes it's bad/It has its ups/It has its downs/Just sing a song and feel all right/Cause that's just life." So in an empty house, with just Muggie the cat and a large school of fish, I may belt out a song or two.

Or maybe not.

On that note, say hello to another passion: my fantasy basketball team!

The eagerly awaited fantasy basketball draft was held last weekend and I was satisfied with the way the picks fell. My first round pick, Kobe Bryant, played his first game today after a preseason hampered by a troublesome knee but I got my boy, Brandon Roy, thus abandoning two long-held strategies of not drafting injured players or rookies. It's only early days yet, but I hope to have a good season.

To quote Ice Cube, it was a good day. When I arrived the beers were on ice in a supermarket trolley and there was quite a selection. Pizza and a variety of snack food followed. Some chose to get into the spirit of things by wearing jerseys, like yours truly. Here I'm pictured with KL -sporting an Andre Miller jersey from his days as a Clipper - and C-Bas, who would have drafted Dirk Nowitzki had he been able to. Instead, he just had to settle for wearing the German's jersey.

And it was an act of friendship (as opposed to being a dog act) that saw me catch the last train from Geelong to Melbourne to attend AP's 30th on the same night. It was a good show, although I'm not sure what Blondie had in mind with the glove. This picture was taken around 3am (which was 4am because of daylight saving) and shortly before AP was taken home by a member of the constabulary. Don't worry, she's not in trouble. It just so happens that she's going out with a copper.

Until next time, be good or be good at it.