It has been an action packed couple o' weeks, starting with seeing Madonna last last (22nd) Wednesday night!! That woman is 100% muscle, it's incredible what exercising 20 hours a day and refusing to eat anything tasty can do for you. The show started off very well with our ebay-purchased-tickets actually being proper legitimate tickets, and we were lucky enough to be quite close to the front (row H) although we were quite far around the side. We managed to get a few photos (although I appear to be very very bad at taking decent photos at gigs) despite the fact that we saw a few people getting into strife with security for taking photos (why can't we have strapping security guards at UT?). One of the guys sitting in front of us was dancing his absolute heart out, much to the dismay of his girlfriend who tended to sit down for the slower parts of the show and couldn't see anything when he continued to sway and thrust into her line of vision. I think however that her sadness really stemmed from the fact that she was beginning to realise neither of them could continue to deny the fact he would rather be going home with the guy sitting next to him.

Luckily I got myself back into some sort of Aussie frame of mind with both Ross and Jona visiting Montreal that week, because it was Aussie to the Maxxx on the Friday night at the 'Aussies in Montreal' event. There were flags, framed photos of our beloved historical figures (Bob Hawke, Scott & Charlene) and of course classic Oz rock. They had also organised a choice selection of Australian meals including an Aussie burger (with beetroot and egg and pineapple), fish & chips and even a good old pavlova. Unfortunately the pub seemed to think that noone in their right mind would eat any of this because during the course of the night they ran out of pretty much everything. Firstly the guys sitting at our table were told they had to wait 20 minutes for their burgers because the kitchen had run out of meat, only to be told later that in fact there would be no more burgers at all. Jona and I decided to go for the fish and chips, and after complaining about the stinginess of only getting about 5 chips each with our $14 meals we were told they had run out of chips. Jesus, it was the disappointment of no stuffed spuds at half time at Subi all over again. However we were told not to fear, we would receive some pavlova to make up for the chip shortage. Hurrah we cried! Pavlova! During our wait for dessert we heard that they had also run out of batter for the fish. I'm sure it will come as a surprise to read that in fact we did not enjoy some delicious pavlova, oh no, it had run out. We were however given some "apple dessert" which was some baked apples served with icecream, apparently the only two things left in the kitchen apart from a frazzled chef and a few tumbleweeds. A round of shots was also brought to our table to make up for the palaver (and pavlova). Oh, they also managed somehow to run out of beer glasses, and had to serve it in plastic cups.

Whilst all of this was going on, there was a trivia competition!!! Given my penchant for trivia and the fact I'm a big geek with a competitive streak I found time during the week to brush up on the state emblems and numberplate slogans etc. Of course as it always the case, nothing that I brushed up on came up in the quiz but........ we won!!! Decisively too I might add, despite the fact that the only Aussie know-how at our table were myself, Jona, and a Sydneysider (by the way, did you know the emblems of NSW are the Waratah, Kookaburra, Platypus and Blue Groper?). After divying up the loot I scored some timtams and a plush kangaroo stubby holder (made in China) and Jona got some vegemite and a Chokito (the rest included aeroplane jelly, another stubby holder, Cadbury animal choccies and some other stuff I can't remember). There was also a mighty fine Aussie care pack hamper up for grabs in a raffle, but I think the guy who spent $60 on raffle tickets ended up winning it.

Many beers later we somehow found ourselves eating poutine, before home to get some sleep in preparation for the train trip to Quebec City the next day.

Continuing in the great tradition of Jona and I madly dashing to catch some form of transport, the next day saw us running late for the train due to his phone dying in the arse and the wall clock at his hostel being an hour or two slow. We got there in in time though, and soon enough were on our way to Quebec City. When we arrived it was pissing with rain but we braved it to follow the culinary suggestions of the Lonely Planet and had a wonderful meal for our troubles.

Upon awaking the next day I was very happy to see the rain had stopped, given that we would be doing the tourist thing all day. After getting downstairs we were lucky enough to meet who we could only assume is the mother of the woman who runs the 'hotel' we were staying in. We were stuck talking to her for a while before the hotel woman came out and told her to bugger off (well, she said it in French but some things don't need translating) but the old woman insisted on opening the door for us first. A lovely gesture, if she hadn't closed it immediately after Jona had walked through it, trapping me in the door frame in the process. I think perhaps she was a few croissants short of a picnic.

The next couple of days saw us being very good tourists, seeing the sights recommended by my trusty Lonely Planet (including "one of the most interesting streets in the city" which was a shitty alleyway that used to be the red light district. Sadly these days it is home to some weeds and garages and a particularly fluffy white cat, we were somewhat disappointed by the lack of ladies of the night swinging their feather boas suggestively.

Our final morning in Quebec City was quite leasurely, and included enjoying a lovely four course lunch overlooking the St Lawrence River. Unfortunately, though not surprising, it was a tad too leisurely and we once again found ourselves madly dashing to catch our train. Thank god taxis are more plentiful in Quebec City than in our home town because otherwise we would have been stuck there eating escargot and pheasant legs for another day.