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Ever been to stage in life where you want to 'start over again'? Perhaps you'd like to just start again on things that didn't quite go so well learning from the experience of it all. Would you drop everything you've worked for to walk away and start again from scratch?

An interesting story has been brewing across the globe from Perth, Australia of a Briton's bid to sell his entire life on auction site eBay. Ian Usher, 44, has done just that. After a marriage breakdown with his wife Ian just wanted to start over again by selling every asset he owns. This includes his 3 bedroom house with everything inside, a 19 year old Mazda sedan, his close friends and even his job as a carpet salesman.

Perhaps this sounds a little 'extreme' but for Ian it was probably his only way out of the pain of a marriage breakdown. Moving on and starting afresh. The memories were too painful for him.
The auction ended earlier today and his life was sold for $399k Australian (£192k/$400 US).

The man is brave doing this giving up everything he worked for, even introductions to his friends were included in the auction. A lot of people would call him crazy, to say the least. Certainly the final price tag is somewhat of a bargain considering the contents of the auction.

For the winner this is certainly a unique opportunity. A few reservations. How would Mr Usher's friends feel being introduced to a replacement? What about his current job as a carpet salesman? What if the auction winner is a high flying City worker? What about the current immigration rules for Australia if the winner is not an Australian citizen or possesses Australian permanent residency?

Ian will now use the proceeds to go traveling and start afresh. Passport in hand I wish him all the best in his quest for a new and happy life.

The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

This evening was the concert of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in Southend-on-Sea, UK. The event is organised by the Rotary Club of Raleigh Mill in aid of numerous charities both local, national and international. The concert is now in its 13th year.

This was my first concert of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and what a delight it was. Listening to the performance of the finest works of musical art from film scores to classics to a crescendo finale of British patriotism. The show did not disappoint. And we were blessed with the finest of British summer weather (but not the mosquito bites that came with it).

The orchestra has a long history of working with international artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Careras, Russell Watson, Lesley Garrett to name but a few and have delighted audiences the world over. Coming to a seaside resort in the south east of England, this was no exception. The crowd young and old sitting on the soft grass picnic style, others with more elaborate portable tables and chairs. The champagne and wine was endless, bottles being opened and drunk left, right and centre, punnets of strawberries and cream being eaten and the endless amount of Pimms being served made for a great way to lossen the spirits for a concert. And the Great Britain Union Jack flag and the Cross of Saint George (the patron saint of England) English flag being flown everywhere. This was an event of good patriotism and towards the end of the concert when patriotic songs such as 'I vow to thee my country', 'Rule Britannia', 'Jerusalem' were being performed and sung by soprano Janet Mooney, the whole crowd was on its feet and everyone was singing and waving flags.

I don't think I have ever been to a concert where the music sent a tingle down your spine, just being able to listen to the instruments one by one was incredible. And as the sun set, the temperatures dropped, the music warmed the atmosphere and the unity of the crowd at the end brought a sense of greatness to an amazing display of musical geniusness led by internationally renown conductor, David Arnold. As dusk settled in and the final words to Rule Britannia were sung the fireworks display capped of a tremendous evening and lit up the night skies of Southend.

Apparently the orchestra will be back for the same concert next year. If it's anything like what was played tonight, I'll be back again next year also. These guys blew me away! Wow! Thanks. My photos of the evening are available here.

As this is my first blog post, I thought I would kick-start it with some great news. The last 24 hours have been quite surreal and I never thought my life would pan out like this. Coming home from work last night I pondered the issue of my parents deserting me for a few weeks as they travel to the home of my father in Mauritius. Originally I was unable to come to due to other commitments but things change and I've managed to grab a week away and booked my flight to join my parents in Mauritius. I have only been once in my short life of 25 years and 3 months in this world. The last time was in 1988, I can't really remember it in great details, but anyway, it was a really long time ago and I was still in infant school.

So skip along 20 or so years and we still have family and friends there. Some I have hardly seen since I last returned to my cultural home. I do not hold many memories of my family in Mauritius nor have I ever had an adult conversation with 90% of them. Occasionally we keep in touch over email with the odd phone call here and there and exchange photos but still being able to put voice to face and having a grown up conversation to catch up over the last 20 years is going to be a surreal experience and one I am looking forward to.

The voyage is also for me to comprehend my own cultural roots. Visiting the country, the town, the house, the school where my father grew up. This is where I came from. This is the culture that is part of me yet being in the West I have hardly come to experience it at all. I know I will arrive with a sense of excitement at finally meeting far-afield members of my family, some whom I have never met before, and will wonder how they will view my Western approach to their culture.