Karl New York City, United States of America.

I can finally take a break and update my blog. Yay! I bought a ticket to London with Ryan Air, and hearing all the horror stories, I was a little worried that everything will be delayed or the plane will fall out of the sky or something, but for 3 KR:- (Aus $0.80), who can complain?

Ryan Air wasn’t that bad, apart from the 2 hour bus ride from Stockholm till Skavsta, in which I slept, everything went smooth as silk, and would fly with them again. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones.

So I got into London at about midnight on Friday/Saturday, and having gotten used to being able to drown out conversation for lack of understanding, the first thing that happens while I site on the train is get bombarded with drunken Australians. I was praying they wouldn’t talk to me as I think my social skills in terms of communication with other native English speakers is now somewhat limited, especially when you speak Swedish-Australian, it’s hard for people to pick if I’m full of it or not!

Saturday afternoon was the TCR BBQ in Camden Town. Man, I forgot how crowded London is. Camden was packed to the rafters, you coudn’t even walk down the footpath, we were walking on the road to beat the slow plodding tourists. It has been raining so it was very humid and no wonder the swine flu is getting about in that type of environment.

I caught up with “G” B.L.I.M whom I hadden’t seen in a few years, also Rennie Pilgrem was playing a lovely selection of breaks as well. Nice to hear breakbeat again. We then left and managed to taxi it over to the Lot 49 Boat Party, where I was catching up with other old DJ aquaintances and mates. Meat Katie, Dylan Rhymes and Evil Nine were all playing on the boat which summed up a mad day of music and good times.

I also caught up with another ex-Melbournite Mr Dave Valuetime who is enjoying the quiet life of looking after other Australian larrikins like myself.

The next day I picked myself up and went down to the pub to meet up with a very old friend from Brisbane, Sarah, and also Fi’s flatmate Dan (above) happened to be in town for a single day, and made the effort to swing all the way out here for a beer, great to see you dude!

That was a long day…

Yesterday, I hooked up with yet, another ex-Melbourne personality, Mr Brendan Brogan (E-55, Blackcat, Workshop creator) and we hit the pubs again. I saw a lovely exhibition of students (which school I can’t remember) final graduation graphic design work. I saw some the best typography and fine art that I’ve seen in a long time and picked up several business cards so I can head hunt them all back in Stockholm.

We went from there to Tam’s house a little further East from here. She has a lovely Victorian style house with a garden and was growing the spiciest rocket that I’ve ever eaten. In fact, it was like eating chili lettuce. Lovely though. I also caught up with Chris Carter and G again and had a nice chat in the sunshine. Carter and I will be watching the Ashes together later in the week, should be lovely.

Sarah and I then left and went to watch Brüno, which is unbelievably shocking, funny and in some places, awkard. It’s genius, but don’t take your mother to go see it with you! You have been warned! I made the stupid mistake of leaving my wallet on the seat, and only realised when I didn’t have my Oyster card that indeed I am a fool and had to race back to the cinema in hope of Good Smaritanism. Turns out it was right where I left it (thank-you, God!), and we could continue on our way.

On the way back I got a message from yet, another ex-Melbournite, Trish, who invited me to an exclusive rooftop bar with a pool. Turns out it’s impossible to get into this place (even the cab driver was willing to wait for us outside while we get denied), but turns out once a month it’s open to invitation. This is where the celebrities get up to mischief, and no cameras are allowed, but I managed to fire this off. Lots of people swimming at midnight on a Monday being very drunk. The funny thing though is that the staff are super tolerant, and were always tending to your every need, no matter what state you were in. It’s £500 per year for membership, but it comes with rooftop pool, bowling alley, bars, hotel rooms, you name it… Shoreditch House, look it up.

And that’s that! 3 days of catching up, I’m a little exhausted. Can’t wait to kick back, watch the Tour and relax.

Speak in a few. x

Wow, what a whirlwind tour of Australia. I’m back in good ol’ Stockholm and I’m completely knackered. There is much to say so I will break everything down of a couple of days as I really need to get back into the blogging habit. I seem to be sprawling my life across various social networking services and I fail to neglect the core of my life online which is my humble blog, the place where you get the juice, and not just meanlingless bleets.

So I’m back. Australia was amazing. It was really lovely to see everybody again, you’re all looking well! I survived the 24 hour trip back and went straight into my mate Bob’s bucks night and got home and some rediculous hour which, while it was nice to catch up with everybody, it elongated my jetlag by about 4 days and I had a hard time over coming it.

This was taken just before the photo. Kris, Fiona and I all looking very sharp, I might say… stay tuned!

Matthew Hayden has announced his retirement from international cricket nearly 15 years after he was presented with his baggy green cap.

Fronting a press conference at the Gabba, the Kingaroy export called time on a sparkling career in which he played 103 Tests at the top of the Australian batting order, plundering 30 centuries at an average of 50.73.

“Today I’m announcing my retirement from representative cricket, effective immediately,” Hayden read out from a statement.

“Now is the time to move on to the next stage of my life.

“I’ve lived the dream of every kid who’s ever picked up a bat and ball…

“It is a privilege and an honour that I’ll always remember.”

Hayden said he wished to concentrate on charity work – both in helping find Australia’s next Aboriginal cricketer, and supporting the McGrath foundation – as well as pursue his other passions such as cooking, fishing and boating.

“Importantly for me today I’m retiring from cricket but not from life,”he said.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting chatted with Hayden for several minutes outside the press conference before fronting the media alongside his long-time lieutenant.

Hayden is expected to receive a rousing farewell during a lap of honour at tonight’s second Twenty20 match between Australia and South Africa at the Gabba.

The 37-year-old’s exit comes after a tough summer where he averaged just 19.5 with the bat during Australia’s 2-1 series loss to the Proteas.

His 39 at the SCG last week was his highest score in five Tests.

After a modest start to his Test career, Hayden secured his place in the team after scoring 549 runs on a three-Test tour to India in 2001 at an average of 109.8.

From there, he quickly went on to become one of the world’s most feared batsmen, scoring 8625 runs, including more than 1000 Test runs in five successive calendar years from 2001-2005.

The disdain with which he treated some of the world’s best bowlers was legendary, often batting outside his crease and walking further up the pitch to belt them to the boundary.

Hayden’s powers of concentration were also widely praised. He set a then world record for the highest score in an innings by a single batsman with his 380 against Zimbabwe at the WACA in 2003.

Hayden also played 161 one-day internationals, scoring 6133 runs at 43.80 and was a pivotal member of Australia’s World Cup winning teams in 2003 and 2007. His highest score of 181 not out in ODIs is still an Australian record.

Australia tour South Africa next month and there are a number of candidates to replace Hayden including NSW openers Phillip Hughes and Phil Jaques, Chris Rogers of Victoria, Michael Klinger of South Australia and Shaun Marsh of Western Australia.

- with Conal Hanna and AAP

Snipped from the Age. A sad day for Australian cricket indeed. I wish I was in Melbourne to watch his farewell, and I’m sad I didn’t get to see him play more. Haydo, we salute you!

If you’re in Melbourne on the 16th, then do not miss this.

This is going to be the biggest race in history. Grand prize you ask? $1000, a return ticket to the Cycling Messengers World Championships in Tokyo, one of a kind Crumplers and legendary status.

This is what it’s all about. God speed, and ride safe.