We all see Somerled off to Japan

Mr Merls and I had been at the Queenscliff Music Festival all weekend, then we had to head to Melbourne to see Somerled off to Japan.

He was on whole new adventure where is going to spend a whole new year there.

We caught up with Somerled and Lady Bear there and had dinner with him, then as we had time to spare before the flight we went for a gelati.

We all had dinner with Somerled before he left for Japan
[Photo: Mr Merls]

A gelati was a great idea while we were killing time before Somerled's flight
[Photo: Og Bear]

Final photos before Somerled's departure
[Photo: Og Bear]

Finally we got to the airport, which was nearly deserted at that time of morning, and made our way to the departure area.

When it finally was time to leave he made his way to the plane and was quite upset at the prospect of not seeing him again due to my health situation.

Bah! It was only a few days later when I caught up with him on Skype, ha ha, and that with FaceBook, it hardly bothers me now.

UCI Road World Championships held in Geelong!

The real hilight of 2010 for me was the UCI Road World Championships held in Geelong late September to early October.

A lot of Geelong locals just didn't realise the significance of having this event in Australia and really grumbled about the inconvenience.

UCI Men's Race Map - Melbourne to Geelong 2010

I missed the time trials and womens road race which was disappointing, but the I went for Men's Road race on the Sunday.  The City was packed, there were many friends there and heaps of stalls and music.

UCI Men's Race - Melbourne to Geelong 2010 [Photo: Liam]

UCI Men's Race - Melbourne to Geelong 2010 [Photo: Liam]

I finally got to see John Mayall

On my 14th birthday my older brother's best friend gave me an album. He told me, 'it may not mean much now, but one day it will change your life.' And that's why I am here now in 2010 to see and meet John Mayall at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, 41 years later

• John Mayall at the Theatre Royal

Me and Mr Merls went to the 2010 Australian Blues Music Festival

I would like to go to a festival every year that I don't normally go to, but with my health and dialysis it can be so difficult to arrange that there is a point where you give up.

However Mr Merls and myself made a concerted effort and got ourselves to the 2010 Australian Blues Music Festival.  As a collection of acts it was great; as a festival it was quite a disappointment.

• Australian Blues Music Fest 2010

Apollo Bay Music Festival 2010, another one for me and Mr Merls

The Apollo Bay Music Festival is starting to become perrenial for us, the Badges and Mr Merls and myself.

However, the weather in 2010 certainly put a damper on it!

• Apollo Bay Music Festival 2010

Caught the end of the 2010 Ocean Grove Summer Festival

The Ocean Grove Summer Festival was on again in 2010, but without the Young Performers Stage, which I was disappointed about and felt missed the point about the objective of the Festival.

I must have turned up late because that's when the photos start.

Chubby Rae & The Elevators playing at the 2010 Ocean Grove Summer Festival
[Photo: Og Bear]

Craig playing with Chubby Rae & The Elevators at Ocean Grove
[Photo: Og Bear]

The crowd dancing to Chubby Rae & The Elevators
[Photo: Og Bear]

Mixed ending to 2009

The Maldon Folk Festival this year turned out to be a real stinker with the weather, but that is better than it pouring down!

• Maldon Folk Festival 2009

I ,mentioned that Greg Chandler wanted to see my at the Festival.  A week later passed away, massive heart attack just before being prepped up for open heart surgery.  A sad lost of my oldest friend from Maldon.

In November and December our Tasmanian accident in 2006 was brought back to us with a very nasty Xmas present from Budget.

• 4 Years Later Our Tasmanian Accident ...

The real plus was the reforming of Turning Blue to play their first full gig in 10 years at the Black Hatt (De La Ville)

I went to the Blues Club's New Years Eve event, Bluestone, which turned out to be the last one at Modewarre.  We were glad it was not as hot as previous year, and no swarms of bugs either!