TP LAN
So the LAN went well (Saturday night). Lance and Rance didn't make it, kicka did and Ben _finally_ came late at night. I think he was scared of us. Earlier we bought supplies at Safeway and got Crak's new BBQ gas bottle filled. We got most of the computers up and running - 'Flatout 2' was first (but I couldn't get that working on the laptop) then BF1942. I finally got it working by doing a full reinstall. Between doing that and helping to get all the others set up I didn't end up playing much. It was fun though.
Kicka had a remote control plane simulator program and control device. I don't remember the name of the program but it did make me realise that remote control planes are tricky to fly. I might look at getting the same setup as him as it was quite fun, and cheaper than destroying a real model plane :)
Dinner was beer and a BBQ - I got to be the BBQ man and cook the food. It looked and tasted alright, hope I didn't give anyone food poisoning :s If anything it was overcooked than under. We had found a nice 'Smoky BBQ' sauce at Safeway and it tasted really nice - a bit like the 'Hickory' sauce from Hog's Breath. I left the BBQ in a real mess so I hope Crak is able to clean up his nice shiny new BBQ without too much trouble (he didn't have a decent brush handy).
The night drew on and we took a group photo, I'll have to track down a copy, but it will probably end up on the TP website. It ended around 2.30am after Ben taught Garny a lesson in guitar hero on the PS3. Aaah to have the dexterity and commitment to repetitive tasks of an 18 year old.
All in all the TP guys' appearances were not at all what I was expecting from photos. If I had my eyes closed I could easily pick out every one of their voices in the room after hearing them for 2+ years on teamspeak. Their voice mannerisms matched their other mannerisms perfectly. It always helps to put a face to a name and I think getting together was a good team building experience. I hope that helps us win some matches in the near future as we've had a bad run of late.
Sunday morning we woke up and had a light breakfast. Swoop and I were up at 9.30am and had coffee while waiting for Crak to wake up. Garny didn't managed to wake up before we left for the airport at 11.15am so we missed out on a goodbye. After saying our goodbyes at the airport, I grabbed a coffee and waited for 5mins until Uncle Peter came to pick me up.
Since it was lunch time (a bit earlier than I had planned since Swoop was going back a day earlier) Uncle Peter took me to 'Threshermans' in Carlton for lunch. It was very nice and that whole area shows how much class Melbourne has over other cities. Auntie Josie met us there then we headed back to their place.
Sunday afternoon was spent resting and talking to Peter and Josie. Auntie Josie as usual cooked up a storm (garlic and lemon prawns in linguine, battered fish, scallops and calamari, and the usual antipasto delicioso). From the bakery she'd picked up some 'home style' garlic bread which she told me was just garlic and olive oil (no butter). I'll have to try my had at that because it was so much better than normal garlic bread.
My sister Amanda came for dinner too and it was nice to catch up with her as I didn't think I would have time to. She finishes JMC on Thursday and only has a vocal exam and a written assignment left to do. She's planning a trip back to Wollongong with Patrick for sometime soon after baby arrives. Amanda looks really well and seems happy. She's moving in with Patrick next week to a flat in St Kilda.
All in all a good weekend.
