By Producer Gareth
We’ve been back from Australia for over two weeks and I still find myself thinking about the literally turbulent journey home. Nicola and I spent 5 hours delayed at Singapore airport and to make matters worse I’d not allowed enough time to change back into jeans from my comfy shellsuit bottoms (yes, what I lack in an up to date hair cut I make up for in ridiculous 80’s based clothing) so, much to Nicola’s amusement, wore them tucked into my workman-style boots for the entire duration – I looked stupid, I stomped around that place like an angry Bob the Builder. Since returning Nik, Russell, Jack and I have all fallen victim to jetlag, its effects noticeably more potent than on previous trips – although I find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the drowsy results of jetlag and my crippling infatuation with Night Nurse.
Australia was a wonderful, friendly country. We all agreed that it’s easy to see why so many travelling Brits fall in love with the place and never return. I only have two gripes. One – at no point during our stay did I hear anyone utter the phrases “G’day mate”, “Fair dinkum”, or “Put another shrimp on the barbie” – now what sort of loopy, backwards country refuses to adhere to prejudicial foreign stereotypes? And two, I didn’t get to visit the set of Neighbours. My fascination with Neighbours, as with most people my age, dates back to childhood. I lived and breathed that cheery soap opera all through my adolescent years and far too long into adulthood. Its stars were my heroes. As a teenager I took a picture from the Jason Donavan Annual to the hairdressers for two years – he had a wonderful centre parting, that guy. The thought that one day I may actually be able to go to Ramsey Street would’ve blown my tiny mind as a youngster so imagine how excited I was at this prospect when we landed in Melbourne – the home of Neighbours.
Unfortunately my suggestion to visit that sacred street was met with laughter and derision by our travelling band of goons. I did sense that Russ was momentarily curious but he was quickly bullied out of the idea by the other jeering twits I call colleagues/friends. So this magical moment was not to be and as if the Gods where taunting me, my Neighbours torment intensified when I came to within touching distance of meeting one of the stars of the show – Libby Kennedy. Well, apparently. On our penultimate night in Melbourne a few of us went to a nightclub to celebrate a successful gig. Unaware of my fascination with the show, one of our Australian party informed me that we had just missed Libby, who was (allegedly) seen darting from the club – drunk. “No, no”, I insisted, “I won’t have that, not Libby. You must be mistaken. Libby would not be drunk”. “Yes, Gareth – it was her.” Libby, top rate journalist turned teacher, devoted mother, supportive daughter to Karl and Susan – granted there was that bad patch when she dated bad boy Darren Stark, but that was just a silly phase. Drunk? You may as well tell me that Harold has gone nuts and embarked on a mad spree of systematically injecting unsuspecting nightclubbers of Melbourne with the HIV virus. It’s just not in his nature.
Well they do say never meet your heroes so maybe it’s all for the best. In any case, I’ve just seen Libby on BBC Breakfast News promoting Neighbour’s 25th anniversary and she was sober as a judge. Now, the BBC is in London White City, right…?
Haha … Come to Brisbane next time and I’ll personally greet you with G’day mate .
Hi Gareth!
Tweet me next time you’re here and I’ll take you there personally… Ramsey St (it’s not really called that though obviously!) is just near my house…..
http://twitter.com/AmberlinaM
Russell, you are welcome back anytime to Australia!
A shame the people of Perth didnt get to see you. Probably because are the most isolated city in the world and are on the West Coast of Australia. Glad to hear that you had a great time and we hope you venture out to Perth in the future!
as an Australian, I am shocked that no one uttered the phrase “G’day mate” at least once!
I hear and say it way more than the other two!
Neighbours, was just on in the next room, I could really spoil it now by telling everyone what just happened in that episode, because I think you’re a tad behind, but I won’t..
What I will say is that Toady is a hero, granted a sweaty one at that.. so keep an eye out Brits
xx
See, now if only you had come to Perth, then you would have received your, ‘G’Day mate!’
Gareth you idiot!
i told you you would have time to go on the neighbors tour i even offered to take you!
i think you could of bullied the others a bit more to go with you ;)
xxx
<3 neighbours, have watched it for nearly 10 years and i am now 18… embarassing but it really is just SO GOOD!
Gareth you should probably get twitter :D
also when you coming to Perth, i will hold you to that forever :)
still all staying at mine??
Haha glad to hear you reported about neighbours.
My sis and i would’ve come with you if we didn’t have to leave on that earlier flight. Just means you’ll have to go back to Melbourne and if you’re gonna do that come to Perth as well!
Also Olli- They went back to the orignal Libby after having a face swap for a few weeks. that was very odd but glad its back to normal now. Crisis over
:) xox
No one say G’day mate to you while you where here? I am both shocked and appalled. Let me repair the damage.
G’Day Mate! Fair dinkum, if you ever come back over here come to my place and I’ll throw a prawn on the barbie for ya!
(By the way, Aussies call them prawns not shrimp. Shrimp was used ’cause the ads where for Americans. )
Gareth, Thanks for posting this. Good luck with the jet lag and LAY OFF THE NIGHT NURSE–Russell knows what he’s talking about on that score. Try warm milk or camomile tea instead…
x o x o x o to all
<3
Waiting for the Revolution–Standing By…
Gareth Alfie
You need to return to Australia and spend time in Brisbane and Queensland! Sunshine, crocodiles and beaches!
:)
On grade 6 camp, at the Melbourne Zoo, I had the utmost privilege to meet Dr. Karl Kennedy.
It was frigid, overcast day. I was Huddled in the Butterfly House when THE one and only Dr. Kennedy casually brushes past (as though he wasn’t an international televeision star, but rather just an ordinary guy, your average joe bloke) I don’t think so! Try Dramatic Genius..Don’t be modest Karl. I chose that moment to interrupt his lovely ZOO outing to express my adoration, love, infatuation, obsession for him, the divine, and for him to sign the corner of my butterfly fact sheet. Then I noticed that he was with a woman…NOTE: NOT SUSAN KENNEDY! I found myself raging inside, how could he do this to Susan? After all they’ve been through! That’s when I realised that I was obsessed..brainwashed….
From that day onwards I began to ween myself off Neighbours. It was hard, they’re so friendly. Now although I only watch the occasional episode, the thought of Ramsay st and its inhabitants comes crawling back into my mind. It’s just so fucking addictive!
I still love you Karl. And although I’m over 30 years your junior, I would indeed have your babies.
I once put a bunch of flowers together for one of the Neighbours birds, as I worked at a supermarket not far from Ramsay st/Channel 10 studios. Gareth, my son, next time you’re out here just let us know and someone will volunteer to take you for a bit of a look. And maybe your web namesake for some delightful vegetarian grub ;) Everybody needs good Neighbours… xx
hey was stuck in sinapore to..it sucks they do have showers and aromathearpy sleep rooms now but i just crashed out on airport chairs. the classy laddyy i am…when travelling always carry toothbrush/toothpaste spare cloths and night nurse ..i,m glad your not following the jesus revoution keep your hair as it is that style will have its turn again .. winston church hill would be proud of such a fine gentle man as your self xx