Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
R&R.
Yes, this week I have been feeling exceedingly lazy and, with the generousity of Don, I have been able to stumble around in blissful wonder. Very relaxing. I have been furiously gardening and have constructed a two-layered brick flowerbed abutting the rear house. Oi has planted Marigolds and some vegetables.
The ideas for the garden are coming thick and fast and we have both been working on it. I water morning and evening now and we sweep everyday too.
It has been great spending lots of time with Grace too. I can feel a real importance to this and feel sorry for the kids who don"t see their fathers enough.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Dinner
Last night I had to teach a private class at Gee's house. She thankfully offered to cancel todays (Saturday morning), so I could let loose last night.
I dashed over to Patrick's house where Ben had spent the afternoon making a Christmas dinner for all us filthy pagans, and boy was it good! That guy can cook and I had about three helpings and declined Don's request to pick him up from the station which caused him some distemper. In retrospect I made the right choice. I had an awesome Christmas dinner which I scoffed down lovingly. There was leeks, roast spuds, roast chicken, carrots, gravy, turnips. Holy Hell, it was good. We had wine and Guinness too. I suggested we leave Thai beer off the menu and keep our palates rich. We had a right old hoot that lasted until the small hours and included my punk rock version of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" which the boys seem fascinated by. I woke up at six and biked it home.
Ben is a new recruit on the scene and works with Patrick and Shaz at my old school near Big C. He is English and about thirty. He has been here for a long time, since he was about eighteen. He bears a passing resemblance to the Milky Bar Kid, has a bright and pleasing nature and seems quite at home here in Thailandia.
I am now on holiday for a full week which I will relish to the maximus and I want to get some country bike rides in at about 5 o'clock when it cools down.
Tonight or Sunday the boys might come over. I have suggest that either Don or Thomas invite Lee. I haven't seen him in a year and maybe he has calmed down since storming out of the party when he could not accept I didn't want to buy a house. And me with a family. Disgusting!
I have tried to explain that I am a contrary but I think it is few that can comprehend this concept.
The festive season continues...
...and will get some more family snaps for the hordes of screaming fans in the Outer Worlds.
I should also note that I got a lovely note from mum who lit a candle for friends that have gone before us. Namely, Egg, JK and dear Matty. May their spirits watch over us.
I dashed over to Patrick's house where Ben had spent the afternoon making a Christmas dinner for all us filthy pagans, and boy was it good! That guy can cook and I had about three helpings and declined Don's request to pick him up from the station which caused him some distemper. In retrospect I made the right choice. I had an awesome Christmas dinner which I scoffed down lovingly. There was leeks, roast spuds, roast chicken, carrots, gravy, turnips. Holy Hell, it was good. We had wine and Guinness too. I suggested we leave Thai beer off the menu and keep our palates rich. We had a right old hoot that lasted until the small hours and included my punk rock version of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" which the boys seem fascinated by. I woke up at six and biked it home.
Ben is a new recruit on the scene and works with Patrick and Shaz at my old school near Big C. He is English and about thirty. He has been here for a long time, since he was about eighteen. He bears a passing resemblance to the Milky Bar Kid, has a bright and pleasing nature and seems quite at home here in Thailandia.
I am now on holiday for a full week which I will relish to the maximus and I want to get some country bike rides in at about 5 o'clock when it cools down.
Tonight or Sunday the boys might come over. I have suggest that either Don or Thomas invite Lee. I haven't seen him in a year and maybe he has calmed down since storming out of the party when he could not accept I didn't want to buy a house. And me with a family. Disgusting!
I have tried to explain that I am a contrary but I think it is few that can comprehend this concept.
The festive season continues...
...and will get some more family snaps for the hordes of screaming fans in the Outer Worlds.
I should also note that I got a lovely note from mum who lit a candle for friends that have gone before us. Namely, Egg, JK and dear Matty. May their spirits watch over us.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
It's just over 3 hours to Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
Photo of us trio tomorrow.
Joy-Joy
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
Photo of us trio tomorrow.
Joy-Joy
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Hoe Hoe Hoe
First day of the Christmas break, and boy do I need it.
Unfortunately, Gee has me signed up to teach three more days of private classes that I don't want to do, but there you go. When I stop working, I like to stop and have a chance to recuperate and not think about teaching, so to half stop is just a pain in the arse for me. Luckily, the spotty teenage class I teach who are hard to satisfy, I remembered I had promised to do portrait painting with them with our newly acquired watercolour paint sets. So that should be a laugh anyway. It worries me that these kids have NO hobbies or activities outside of studying, apart from computer games, of course, so a big part of my teaching is to let them do something different and creative. Try to prevent them turning into drones.
So, whilst in the kitchen with Oi, we heard a tune outside which meant the garden tool van was doing its rounds. We ran outside and secure a hoe, a hammer and a knife sharpening stone. The man tried to flog us a hoe with a metal handle, but I insisted we wanted the hoe with the wooden handle. This meant he had to fix the actual hoe to the handle in the street which required some manual work from himself. Of course, he was cool about it and I got to watch him tapering the end and fixing the tool. We gave him an extra twenty for his efforts. Now, we are good to go and don't need to borrow tools from the neighbours any more.
Oi bought a bunch of new plants yesterday which I put in the ground this morning. Our dust-bowl garden is starting to come together and the layout of the plants is forming itself. Maybe during this break I can get some work done out there, like paint the rear wall, varnish the doors etc.
Sat down to watch "Palmetto" with Woody Harrelson. A steamy detective story set in Florida. It promises to be good.
Dragon Age is taking a break as I don't feel the urge to converse with dwarves right now.
I have begun downloading a copy of Mass Effort, which I am led to believe, it a bit like Dragon Age, but set in space. Oh God, another quest awaits, and I still have Thief Deadly Shadows to complete.
Unfortunately, Gee has me signed up to teach three more days of private classes that I don't want to do, but there you go. When I stop working, I like to stop and have a chance to recuperate and not think about teaching, so to half stop is just a pain in the arse for me. Luckily, the spotty teenage class I teach who are hard to satisfy, I remembered I had promised to do portrait painting with them with our newly acquired watercolour paint sets. So that should be a laugh anyway. It worries me that these kids have NO hobbies or activities outside of studying, apart from computer games, of course, so a big part of my teaching is to let them do something different and creative. Try to prevent them turning into drones.
So, whilst in the kitchen with Oi, we heard a tune outside which meant the garden tool van was doing its rounds. We ran outside and secure a hoe, a hammer and a knife sharpening stone. The man tried to flog us a hoe with a metal handle, but I insisted we wanted the hoe with the wooden handle. This meant he had to fix the actual hoe to the handle in the street which required some manual work from himself. Of course, he was cool about it and I got to watch him tapering the end and fixing the tool. We gave him an extra twenty for his efforts. Now, we are good to go and don't need to borrow tools from the neighbours any more.
Oi bought a bunch of new plants yesterday which I put in the ground this morning. Our dust-bowl garden is starting to come together and the layout of the plants is forming itself. Maybe during this break I can get some work done out there, like paint the rear wall, varnish the doors etc.
Sat down to watch "Palmetto" with Woody Harrelson. A steamy detective story set in Florida. It promises to be good.
Dragon Age is taking a break as I don't feel the urge to converse with dwarves right now.
I have begun downloading a copy of Mass Effort, which I am led to believe, it a bit like Dragon Age, but set in space. Oh God, another quest awaits, and I still have Thief Deadly Shadows to complete.
China Busts Copenhagen
How do I know China wrecked the Copenhagen deal? I was in the room
As recriminations fly post-Copenhagen, one writer offers a fly-on-the-wall account of how talks failed
• Ed Miliband: China tried to hijack climate deal
• The key players and how they rated
-
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 December 2009 19.54 GMT
- Article history
A woman listens to Barack Obama's speech at the Copenhagen climate change conference on 18 December. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Copenhagen was a disaster. That much is agreed. But the truth about what actually happened is in danger of being lost amid the spin and inevitable mutual recriminations. The truth is this: China wrecked the talks, intentionally humiliated Barack Obama, and insisted on an awful "deal" so western leaders would walk away carrying the blame. How do I know this? Because I was in the room and saw it happen.
China's strategy was simple: block the open negotiations for two weeks, and then ensure that the closed-door deal made it look as if the west had failed the world's poor once again. And sure enough, the aid agencies, civil society movements and environmental groups all took the bait. The failure was "the inevitable result of rich countries refusing adequately and fairly to shoulder their overwhelming responsibility", said Christian Aid. "Rich countries have bullied developing nations," fumed Friends of the Earth International.
All very predictable, but the complete opposite of the truth. Even George Monbiot, writing in yesterday's Guardian, made the mistake of singly blaming Obama. But I saw Obama fighting desperately to salvage a deal, and the Chinese delegate saying "no", over and over again. Monbiot even approvingly quoted the Sudanese delegate Lumumba Di-Aping, who denounced the Copenhagen accord as "a suicide pact, an incineration pact, in order to maintain the economic dominance of a few countries".
Sudan behaves at the talks as a puppet of China; one of a number of countries that relieves the Chinese delegation of having to fight its battles in open sessions. It was a perfect stitch-up. China gutted the deal behind the scenes, and then left its proxies to savage it in public.
Here's what actually went on late last Friday night, as heads of state from two dozen countries met behind closed doors. Obama was at the table for several hours, sitting between Gordon Brown and the Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi. The Danish prime minister chaired, and on his right sat Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the UN. Probably only about 50 or 60 people, including the heads of state, were in the room. I was attached to one of the delegations, whose head of state was also present for most of the time.
What I saw was profoundly shocking. The Chinese premier, Wen Jinbao, did not deign to attend the meetings personally, instead sending a second-tier official in the country's foreign ministry to sit opposite Obama himself. The diplomatic snub was obvious and brutal, as was the practical implication: several times during the session, the world's most powerful heads of state were forced to wait around as the Chinese delegate went off to make telephone calls to his "superiors".
Shifting the blame
To those who would blame Obama and rich countries in general, know this: it was China's representative who insisted that industrialised country targets, previously agreed as an 80% cut by 2050, be taken out of the deal. "Why can't we even mention our own targets?" demanded a furious Angela Merkel. Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was annoyed enough to bang his microphone. Brazil's representative too pointed out the illogicality of China's position. Why should rich countries not announce even this unilateral cut? The Chinese delegate said no, and I watched, aghast, as Merkel threw up her hands in despair and conceded the point. Now we know why – because China bet, correctly, that Obama would get the blame for the Copenhagen accord's lack of ambition.
China, backed at times by India, then proceeded to take out all the numbers that mattered. A 2020 peaking year in global emissions, essential to restrain temperatures to 2C, was removed and replaced by woolly language suggesting that emissions should peak "as soon as possible". The long-term target, of global 50% cuts by 2050, was also excised. No one else, perhaps with the exceptions of India and Saudi Arabia, wanted this to happen. I am certain that had the Chinese not been in the room, we would have left Copenhagen with a deal that had environmentalists popping champagne corks popping in every corner of the world.
Strong position
So how did China manage to pull off this coup? First, it was in an extremely strong negotiating position. China didn't need a deal. As one developing country foreign minister said to me: "The Athenians had nothing to offer to the Spartans." On the other hand, western leaders in particular – but also presidents Lula of Brazil, Zuma of South Africa, Calderón of Mexico and many others – were desperate for a positive outcome. Obama needed a strong deal perhaps more than anyone. The US had confirmed the offer of $100bn to developing countries for adaptation, put serious cuts on the table for the first time (17% below 2005 levels by 2020), and was obviously prepared to up its offer.
Above all, Obama needed to be able to demonstrate to the Senate that he could deliver China in any global climate regulation framework, so conservative senators could not argue that US carbon cuts would further advantage Chinese industry. With midterm elections looming, Obama and his staff also knew that Copenhagen would be probably their only opportunity to go to climate change talks with a strong mandate. This further strengthened China's negotiating hand, as did the complete lack of civil society political pressure on either China or India. Campaign groups never blame developing countries for failure; this is an iron rule that is never broken. The Indians, in particular, have become past masters at co-opting the language of equity ("equal rights to the atmosphere") in the service of planetary suicide – and leftish campaigners and commentators are hoist with their own petard.
With the deal gutted, the heads of state session concluded with a final battle as the Chinese delegate insisted on removing the 1.5C target so beloved of the small island states and low-lying nations who have most to lose from rising seas. President Nasheed of the Maldives, supported by Brown, fought valiantly to save this crucial number. "How can you ask my country to go extinct?" demanded Nasheed. The Chinese delegate feigned great offence – and the number stayed, but surrounded by language which makes it all but meaningless. The deed was done.
China's game
All this raises the question: what is China's game? Why did China, in the words of a UK-based analyst who also spent hours in heads of state meetings, "not only reject targets for itself, but also refuse to allow any other country to take on binding targets?" The analyst, who has attended climate conferences for more than 15 years, concludes that China wants to weaken the climate regulation regime now "in order to avoid the risk that it might be called on to be more ambitious in a few years' time".
This does not mean China is not serious about global warming. It is strong in both the wind and solar industries. But China's growth, and growing global political and economic dominance, is based largely on cheap coal. China knows it is becoming an uncontested superpower; indeed its newfound muscular confidence was on striking display in Copenhagen. Its coal-based economy doubles every decade, and its power increases commensurately. Its leadership will not alter this magic formula unless they absolutely have to.
Copenhagen was much worse than just another bad deal, because it illustrated a profound shift in global geopolitics. This is fast becoming China's century, yet its leadership has displayed that multilateral environmental governance is not only not a priority, but is viewed as a hindrance to the new superpower's freedom of action. I left Copenhagen more despondent than I have felt in a long time. After all the hope and all the hype, the mobilisation of thousands, a wave of optimism crashed against the rock of global power politics, fell back, and drained away.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday Rainy Night
Friday and, as usual, I am fairly exhausted and, with the prospect of a kindergarten class at 10.30 tomorrow morning, not to excited about life.
I did however call Tom, who is hovering about the local Lantern Festival oggling beautiful girls, so he may call around once he has checked out enough skirt. Hopefully happiness rides with him.
Old Man Don is back in town next weekend from his new job up country in Ranong and is bringing good times back with him. He does do wonders at times.
Christmas next week and I am booked to teach at night and O, Egg's best friend in Sadao, is getting married. I am not keen on the prospect of having to ride and return 50k's in the dark up to old Sadao or having to teach. I would much rather be getting lashed with my pals. We shall have to see what concurs.
Whatever happens tonight I shall definitely hook up with Tom and Patrick tomorrow. We have become great friends and always have a hoot. The loss of Don and Danny (and Lee last year, who disappeared up his own arse) hit hard and new friends are hard to come by now I am hitched and with babe.
I am back on Dragon Age and combating mercenaries in the city of Denim, taking a little time out of the main quest and building up my party experience a tad. I am getting quite clever of leaving games alone for a few days before going back to them.
2012? What a shit film. A total joke and so embarassing for Will Meredith lookalike, John Cusack. So fucking bad.
More later... Dragon Age beckons...
I did however call Tom, who is hovering about the local Lantern Festival oggling beautiful girls, so he may call around once he has checked out enough skirt. Hopefully happiness rides with him.
Old Man Don is back in town next weekend from his new job up country in Ranong and is bringing good times back with him. He does do wonders at times.
Christmas next week and I am booked to teach at night and O, Egg's best friend in Sadao, is getting married. I am not keen on the prospect of having to ride and return 50k's in the dark up to old Sadao or having to teach. I would much rather be getting lashed with my pals. We shall have to see what concurs.
Whatever happens tonight I shall definitely hook up with Tom and Patrick tomorrow. We have become great friends and always have a hoot. The loss of Don and Danny (and Lee last year, who disappeared up his own arse) hit hard and new friends are hard to come by now I am hitched and with babe.
I am back on Dragon Age and combating mercenaries in the city of Denim, taking a little time out of the main quest and building up my party experience a tad. I am getting quite clever of leaving games alone for a few days before going back to them.
2012? What a shit film. A total joke and so embarassing for Will Meredith lookalike, John Cusack. So fucking bad.
More later... Dragon Age beckons...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Get Onboard
Wednesday afternoon and a breather from rigorous teaching, though this week I am having to sit through 4 screenings a day of "The Snowman". I still love it surprisingly and am now analysing the tiniest part of the movie (like the 2 sheep on the mountain) and the inconsistencies.
Back at home and picked up Red Faction PC game for some blasting fun. Will head back to Dragon Age presently, but also utilizing my rapidshare account. Got hold of; Collapse, new Eric Bibb albums, The Who (Tommy live in New York (1969), Edward O. Wilson on ant society, 2012 (don't bother - even Oi thought it was "impossible") among others.
Bought a bunch more plants for the garden and back on to the BBC podcasts. Actually, on the Film Programme this week they were talking about that awersome movie "The Queen of Spades". It makes my top 5 movies of all time;
1. The Duellists.
2. Murphy's War.
3. The Queen of Spades.
I have seen some other blinding flicks lately. I urge you to check out QoS as it is unbelievably spooky.
Christmas is here and with it comes seasonal glumness and the desire to drink. Patrick and Tom make good company at this time and Tom brings a weekenders ration of happiness with every visit which is horribly welcome.
BIG NEWS...Grace, as of 5 o'clock this morning, can flip onto her belly.
Driving to work I tend to yell obsenities at the high speeding utes as they go wizzing past me, and I remind myself of the theory I heard that that cunts and bad people tend to wipe themselves out through their own mis-doings - so I vocally remind them of this and send them on their way. Horrible to see Thai folk turn into materialistic, mean and grim-faced wankers but there you go.
I see Gordon Brown is claiming to save the world again by piping up at Copenhagen. I still support anarchy and see it as a far more peaceful and long-lasting regime than monetary institutions can provide. I still believe that the greatest danger lies in personal corruption and the simple equation that power leads to corruption and that anyone who thinks they can obtain these things and remain pure of heart is almost certainly wrong. Good people will not pursue these things by its very nature, so those that do inevitably fall to corruption even if they are ignorant of the fact.
I heard there is less than 50 Siberian Tigers out there now. 'Twil be a day of shame when the last of the animals leaves us to our own fate. Yes, we will die alone when we have taken all that is good out of the world. Maybe the odd cockroach, rat, cat, dog. Ho Ho Ho...
Meanwhile I'm going to kick back with Eric Bibb's newish album "Get Onboard".
Happy holidays, folks. Oh, I forgot, you're too busy working.
Back at home and picked up Red Faction PC game for some blasting fun. Will head back to Dragon Age presently, but also utilizing my rapidshare account. Got hold of; Collapse, new Eric Bibb albums, The Who (Tommy live in New York (1969), Edward O. Wilson on ant society, 2012 (don't bother - even Oi thought it was "impossible") among others.
Bought a bunch more plants for the garden and back on to the BBC podcasts. Actually, on the Film Programme this week they were talking about that awersome movie "The Queen of Spades". It makes my top 5 movies of all time;
1. The Duellists.
2. Murphy's War.
3. The Queen of Spades.
I have seen some other blinding flicks lately. I urge you to check out QoS as it is unbelievably spooky.
Christmas is here and with it comes seasonal glumness and the desire to drink. Patrick and Tom make good company at this time and Tom brings a weekenders ration of happiness with every visit which is horribly welcome.
BIG NEWS...Grace, as of 5 o'clock this morning, can flip onto her belly.
Driving to work I tend to yell obsenities at the high speeding utes as they go wizzing past me, and I remind myself of the theory I heard that that cunts and bad people tend to wipe themselves out through their own mis-doings - so I vocally remind them of this and send them on their way. Horrible to see Thai folk turn into materialistic, mean and grim-faced wankers but there you go.
I see Gordon Brown is claiming to save the world again by piping up at Copenhagen. I still support anarchy and see it as a far more peaceful and long-lasting regime than monetary institutions can provide. I still believe that the greatest danger lies in personal corruption and the simple equation that power leads to corruption and that anyone who thinks they can obtain these things and remain pure of heart is almost certainly wrong. Good people will not pursue these things by its very nature, so those that do inevitably fall to corruption even if they are ignorant of the fact.
I heard there is less than 50 Siberian Tigers out there now. 'Twil be a day of shame when the last of the animals leaves us to our own fate. Yes, we will die alone when we have taken all that is good out of the world. Maybe the odd cockroach, rat, cat, dog. Ho Ho Ho...
Meanwhile I'm going to kick back with Eric Bibb's newish album "Get Onboard".
Happy holidays, folks. Oh, I forgot, you're too busy working.
Global Insanity
Is it just me, or is the world completely insane these days?
The more I see the less I want to know.
The more I see the less I want to know.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Jingle Bells
Just finished a Sunday session with Tom and Patrick. Tom brought six cans of Guinness and we sat outside and listened to some great tunes. Then we watched The Who Live at Kilburn 1977, which was one fucking good gig. Totally rocking. Keith's penultimate performance.
Tom had some happiness so we all got buzzed into the evening, rocking out to more tunes.
Now Tom has gone. I am downloading "The Snowman" for the kids tomorrow.
I just have to find Jingle Bells too.
And my work is done.
Tom had some happiness so we all got buzzed into the evening, rocking out to more tunes.
Now Tom has gone. I am downloading "The Snowman" for the kids tomorrow.
I just have to find Jingle Bells too.
And my work is done.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Just got hold of The Who live at Kilburn 1977. Holy fuck, it looks amazing. Find it if you can.
Watching Christian Bale in The Machinist which is fairly good.
Feeling pretty exhausted after waking up at 2 last night and staying up 'til morning. The continued the quest in Dragon Age. A quick recap of the adventure to date. Having got the urn and got the Earl better, I set off to the Elven forests and disbatched a bunch of ugly werewolves. Then I took a trip to the city of Deremin and took out some hoods. Now I have ventured into the Mages circle tower which has been overrun with demons. Right now, I have been sent to a dreamlike state from which I must escape. Then I must gain the backing of the forces within this strange world and together defeat the Darkspawn once and for all! It's awesome.
Have noticed that we get a lovely wind most of the time at the new house as we are in a valley. It's fantastically refreshing and surprisingly cold at night. Almost too cold, causing discomfort.
10 days off at Christmas looming to which I am looking forward to very much. I don't think we will be going anywhere but I am more than happy to stay at home and relax with Oi and Baby Grace.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Walmart and Audio Books
Some great docus including a scathing attack on Wal Mart. Tescos are the ones I hate. I would love to spray "SCUM" over their signs at the store up the road. Only occasionally am I forced to go there.
I noticed the baby food for Grace is cuntishly expensive. Nearly 600B a tin. Of course, like the great razor blade monopoly its one of those things you have to buy so the kid can eat, so the fuckers can charge what the fuck they like for it. Such cunts are they they even have the electronic security tag bolted to the top of each tin. What fuckers I ask you!
Anyway check out the doc on Wal Mart and help to destroy their evil empire.
On the rapidshare files I have moved onto Audio books and have found some beauties, including a telling of the life of the pirate Captain Kidd which I am really looking forward to, Collapse by Jared Diamond and a History of Europe that looks fun. Still relishing the book by Paul Thereoux about the Hong Kong handover or Chinese Takeaway as the dotty lead character calls it.
Other docs including a Smiths biography, The unseen London (1967) with James Mason, Louis Theroux docs to name a few.
Audio books are great at bedtime, though I usually have to resort to a re-listen as I am asleep before chapters end.
I noticed the baby food for Grace is cuntishly expensive. Nearly 600B a tin. Of course, like the great razor blade monopoly its one of those things you have to buy so the kid can eat, so the fuckers can charge what the fuck they like for it. Such cunts are they they even have the electronic security tag bolted to the top of each tin. What fuckers I ask you!
Anyway check out the doc on Wal Mart and help to destroy their evil empire.
On the rapidshare files I have moved onto Audio books and have found some beauties, including a telling of the life of the pirate Captain Kidd which I am really looking forward to, Collapse by Jared Diamond and a History of Europe that looks fun. Still relishing the book by Paul Thereoux about the Hong Kong handover or Chinese Takeaway as the dotty lead character calls it.
Other docs including a Smiths biography, The unseen London (1967) with James Mason, Louis Theroux docs to name a few.
Audio books are great at bedtime, though I usually have to resort to a re-listen as I am asleep before chapters end.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Fun with Don and Tom
The boys came over last night as today is another holiday. Hanging out on the back porch is ideal and we down several bottles of yukky Thai beer, smoke some pipes and put the world to rights, dissing the bullshit that is religion and all the control mechanisms put upon folks to prevent them from creative thought and free ideas.
Incidently, just downloading a docu on Walmart which, according to Don "Hell in a Handcart", makes you want to go out and start smashing things.
So we had a lot of fun.
Last week we lost Danny and Don as Don got sacked from his college where he worked with Karl and got a new gig up in Ranong near the Burmese border. He seems quite happy about it and the countryside is awesome up that way. Danny has gone back to Aus for a spell but is due back in a few months after a space in the real world.
Last night I was hoeing and sweeping. The back yard is looking good and slowly we are getting some plants in by the occasional trip to the plant shop at the end of the road. Oi is enjoying the new house and has done a wiz job getting some groovy furniture to make it look nice. Baby Grace gets regular guided tours of the garden and has started eating bananas. She likes standing up these days. Lying on your back all day must get mighty frustrating.
Back to the school house tomorrow and then its the weekend, so not long to wait. Then, as I work in a Catholic school I get 10 days at Chrimbo. I knew religion was good for something.
Incidently, just downloading a docu on Walmart which, according to Don "Hell in a Handcart", makes you want to go out and start smashing things.
So we had a lot of fun.
Last week we lost Danny and Don as Don got sacked from his college where he worked with Karl and got a new gig up in Ranong near the Burmese border. He seems quite happy about it and the countryside is awesome up that way. Danny has gone back to Aus for a spell but is due back in a few months after a space in the real world.
Last night I was hoeing and sweeping. The back yard is looking good and slowly we are getting some plants in by the occasional trip to the plant shop at the end of the road. Oi is enjoying the new house and has done a wiz job getting some groovy furniture to make it look nice. Baby Grace gets regular guided tours of the garden and has started eating bananas. She likes standing up these days. Lying on your back all day must get mighty frustrating.
Back to the school house tomorrow and then its the weekend, so not long to wait. Then, as I work in a Catholic school I get 10 days at Chrimbo. I knew religion was good for something.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Weak News
I find the news so weak. I am very happy to see Dubai World in serious trouble though - talk about building on the sand.
Just got hold of a new Micheal Caine movie, "Harry Brown" which appears to be good. Still sifting through the archives of Rapidshare, doubled up with Dragon Age and breaks leaf sweeping and taking Grace around the garden. Back to school tomorrow but another day off on Thursday. I commented to Oi about the doctor's forbidden palace that abutes our house saying did she think it was right that doctors get stinkingly rich off of people's ill health. I know Chinese families loose their life savings when granny gets sick and she has to go into hospital. I side with Bob Marley on this one and let nature take its course.
Sat through "The Devil's Advocate" yesterday. That is one good flick.
Just got hold of a new Micheal Caine movie, "Harry Brown" which appears to be good. Still sifting through the archives of Rapidshare, doubled up with Dragon Age and breaks leaf sweeping and taking Grace around the garden. Back to school tomorrow but another day off on Thursday. I commented to Oi about the doctor's forbidden palace that abutes our house saying did she think it was right that doctors get stinkingly rich off of people's ill health. I know Chinese families loose their life savings when granny gets sick and she has to go into hospital. I side with Bob Marley on this one and let nature take its course.
Sat through "The Devil's Advocate" yesterday. That is one good flick.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Island of Doomed Men
Peter Lorre is amazing in this flick. Totally evil and warped. Catch it if you can.
The quest for the urn is over and I successfully completed the gauntlet which led to it. I can now return the ashes to the Earl which will cure him of his affliction.
Upon leaving the temple however, the brother monk who lead me to it declared he would tell the world of the temple and open it to pilgrims. I murdered him before he could leave. The secret of the temple shall remain. Or was I feeding a desire for power?
The quest for the urn is over and I successfully completed the gauntlet which led to it. I can now return the ashes to the Earl which will cure him of his affliction.
Upon leaving the temple however, the brother monk who lead me to it declared he would tell the world of the temple and open it to pilgrims. I murdered him before he could leave. The secret of the temple shall remain. Or was I feeding a desire for power?
Three Days Rest
Saturday and His Nibs birthday, so Monday is a public holiday. Hooray!
Patrick, Tom and Karl came over last night and we got rather tight out on the rear porch before falling asleep watching The Story of The Who (totally awesome). It was a great craic with good music and conversation. I had a couple of coffees with Patrick the next morning. It is so lovely out here in the sticks. Everyone who comes here falls in love with it. There is often a breeze which is very refreshing. We are so glad to have moved to the country.
So now we can relax for a few days. I got some movies to watch and to continue the quest for the sacred urn. I have just encountered a mirror image party of ourselves and, of course I must kill them.
Watching Peter Ustinov in Hot Millions with Maggie Smith which looks a hoot.
Patrick, Tom and Karl came over last night and we got rather tight out on the rear porch before falling asleep watching The Story of The Who (totally awesome). It was a great craic with good music and conversation. I had a couple of coffees with Patrick the next morning. It is so lovely out here in the sticks. Everyone who comes here falls in love with it. There is often a breeze which is very refreshing. We are so glad to have moved to the country.
So now we can relax for a few days. I got some movies to watch and to continue the quest for the sacred urn. I have just encountered a mirror image party of ourselves and, of course I must kill them.
Watching Peter Ustinov in Hot Millions with Maggie Smith which looks a hoot.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Quest Continues...
A day away from a small holiday. With Christmas approaching I get some days off which I am tres relieved about. Unfortunately I am totally hooked on Dragon Age. The story is great and I am on a quest for a sacred urn to heal some dying earl. The quest has led me to some strange cultish village in the mountains and into an ancient temple beyond. It's bloody fantastic. A recently swapped my war dog for an assassin, only to discover the dumb schmuk can't pick locks - the very reason for trading him and he is shit in battle. Oh well. Hopefully we can make it through this icy tomb and I can get rid of him later. This tale is epic. My dear Peter, you must do everything you can to get this game. You will cherish every moment. The re-equiping of armour and weapons is great and beefing up your team to maximum killing power is imperative.
One great point is that quite often it is unclear to see the consequences of the choices that you have to make, and you may bitterly regret something you thought was a good idea at the time, yet so far back that reloading a previous save is unthinkable, therefore you are stuck with the consequences of your actions; like this stinking assassin.
Looks like there is a whole industry based around this game. I just hope I don't get bored before I finish. I am being very sensible and playing only when I have checked myself that I actually want to play, and not being driven by some obsessive, unhealthy urge.
Grace is doing really well. I will take some more snaps over the break and get them posted.
Oi is fine and enjoying the new house.
One great point is that quite often it is unclear to see the consequences of the choices that you have to make, and you may bitterly regret something you thought was a good idea at the time, yet so far back that reloading a previous save is unthinkable, therefore you are stuck with the consequences of your actions; like this stinking assassin.
Looks like there is a whole industry based around this game. I just hope I don't get bored before I finish. I am being very sensible and playing only when I have checked myself that I actually want to play, and not being driven by some obsessive, unhealthy urge.
Grace is doing really well. I will take some more snaps over the break and get them posted.
Oi is fine and enjoying the new house.
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