Tony's Blog Rocks

Super thrilled to see and read young Tony's blog. It would be nice to witness other beloved fiends and vagabonds doing the same thing so one can peruse the wanderings of the tribe across the globe. I won't push it. It's a personal choice and I know how busy some people are. Still, it is nice to see some snaps of the next generation, and the old generation, of course. Personally, I love my blog and it get great mental therapy from doing it.

There will be some snaps soon, but I am now playing host to three giant rocks in the garden. I have been pestering Oi for ages about them and finally today some men appeared in a truck with rock in tow. Baby Grace will enjoy sitting on them. I want to get her a little gardening kit so she can help with the leaf sweeping and watering. Right now she is into grabbing everything and putting it in her mouth (paper, headphone foam ear cover etc.)

Great work, Tony and please, please, please keep it up.

"Who the Hell are you people?", "What the Hell is going on here?"

A sleepy Friday night and I declined any invitation to go out and chose to watch Close Encounters with Oi.

I think she liked it.

For me, and first time on the big TV, it affirmed my selection to my Top 5 movies of all time. I just find it so captivating. I love the mystery of the airplane re-appearance at the beginning, the scene at the level crossing and Richard Dreyfuss in general. The hope is staggering.

I proudly nominate it to the top 5.

As stands, if memory serves;

1. The Duellists.
2. Murphy's War.
3. The Queen of Spades.
4. Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The final nomination remains to be seen.

Last week I watched "My Left Foot" with Oi which she loved, and it was great.

Home Address

For fans wishing to bestow gifts, here is my address;

152 M.6 Soi Monpattra
Punnakan Rd. T. Tung-Yai
Hat Yai,
Songkhla 90110

I await gifts.

Alexandra

Brother Rob and Mojo's baby girl, Alexandra. Valencia, Spain. International family.

Eel Pie Island

Wednesday night and have spent a pleasant evening with Oi and Grace. I moved her play mattress into my workroom where we can all lie down and watch TV an d Grace can loll about making grabs for the remote control. I have acquired "Kingdom" with old Stephen Fry which seems very English and relaxed and pleasant viewing.

I have managed to get my behind down to the pool twice so far this week and doing a now increased 15 laps. 12 just wasn't enough. Hence, I am feeling energised and my muscles warmed. I also put in a few more plants we bought the other day. The garden is starting to fill up now.

One fun thing about Grace is her bossy nature. Actually, Oi called her The Boss as she has a little anger spate when she is bored of the current activity and required a change. Her body stiffens, normally there is a agonised frown across her face and the right up thrust up and then dramatically down as she emits a "GRRR!" sound. Not dissimilar to Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show. We quickly launch into action to determine what activity she requires; milk, walking around the garden, hurtling through the air etc. Yes, she is quite the little madam. She always needs a little walk with me before bedtime. Only Papa's comforting arms can send diddums to sleepybyes. Oi gets immensely frustrated by this secret I appear to possess.

Still fairly busy but more in control now. Fitness, as usual, is the answer to it all.

Nearly forgot...an awesome Coast and Country podcast took a visit to Eel Pie Island in London. It was fascinating and great fun. Anyone, wanting an adventure should go check it out. I wish I could go. It sounds magical. Anyone been there?

Oh well...back to Stephen Fry.

Uncle Jim

I am now an uncle.

On another note, my brother's good wife has given birth to a baby girl. Alexandra, I believe, after Mater.

Great congrats in order, and I felt surprisingly touched and special about this. My mood is elevated and feel very cosy tonight. I am sure my brother will love being a papa as much as I do. It really does give life a wonderful sparkle and takes away that shit feeling of endless nights in bars talking drivel.

Mother sounded good on the phone, despite illness and baby Grace seems to have fully recovered after her bump on the head. Oi is happy again too. Seeing Oi in tears really makes me feel awful.

All the best on this starry night.

12 Hours

A horrible 12 hours where I discover brother's wife, Mojo is into her 41 week pregnancy. That's overdue to the uninitiated. Mother has developed nasty sores on her legs and nose, and for the second time, has had to cancel her trip to Spain, and thirdly (it always comes in 3's) Grace fell off the bed this morning. I was on the PC at an early hour as usual and even above the headphones I heard the thump and resultant wailing. Oi came running in in floods of tears and poor Grace was screaming.

I took control.

"Give her milk now" I commanded. Consoling noises and a lightning trip around the garden. The screaming stopped and she recovered snappily and soon broke into a smile. The trick was to get her busy and not focusing on the pain. It makes me HATE Thai floors which are ALL hard and deadly for adults and babies alike.

The woes of parenthood.

I am hoping all these ills are brought swiftly to an end.

The Selfish Giant

I can remember crying in the Toy department of the Army and Navy store when I first read Oscar Wilde's short story. I had to go and hide somewhere.

I have just rediscovered an audio version narrated by Stephen Fry, along with all the other stories, like The Happy Prince. The thread where is was posted had folks stating they had caught themselves crying in the street as they listened to it.

I printed out a copy and sat with Oi as she listened and read it simultaneously.

Once again, I had to leave the room as the tears welled in my eyes.

I don't know how Stephen managed to get through it without bubbling. And, of course, his soft, nurturing voice fits it perfectly.

Weekend

Sunday and I stayed sober last night and enjoyed a night with Oi and Grace watching, "The Dreaded FC" about Leeds Football Club. It was brilliant and I had a much needed restful evening, declining Pat and Tom's invitation to meet.

Gee has been finding more classes and students now we are quite sought after as teachers, but I have had to decline as I am so tired and my mood not good. Other employment opportunities have also been evident which is of interest.

I guess now I am hanging out for the hols, though I have heard our bosses have 4 English camps lined up for us to do. Fuck that.

Rapidshare is just so awesome and I got a copy of new epic game, "Mass Effect 2" which plays like some amazing sci-fi movie. Also, I got beloved Stephen Fry reading Oscar Wilde's short stories which are wonderful.

Time to enjoy my Sunday. I have recently found in the posh supermarket in town a French strawberry jam and it's not as expensive as I would have imagined, unlike so many of their products. Coffee and toast beckons.

Workin'

Still working hard for some strange reason and knackered in between that.

No games playing and a dozen movies half watched and abandoned.

Gracie is fine as is Oi and my relief comes on the rear porch where I can gaze up at the sky through the leaves and listen to the peaceful sounds of the countryside.

I am cutting back on classes at last to give myself some breathing room and will try to maintain a little more fitness. Maybe it's the whole turning 40 thing.

BBC Radio podcasts are the thing I enjoy the most these days and the acquisition of an enormous library of unwatched movies. Hopefully in the summer break I can strike a few off the list.

Today, Oi went into town and bought various buggies for Grace.

Watched some of Pirates last night. Roman Polanski with Walter Matthaeu. It was awesome. Maybe one day I can see the rest of it - when I'm not so tired....

Sunday Post

Sunday morn and suitably hung over.

It's been a gruelling week and I am exhausted. I did however summon enough energy to hook up with Pat and Tom last night however. Once again, Patrick slept under the stars. Tom, sadly, is a little out of sorts right now. But we hope he feels better soon.

Grace is really the order of the day and, for some reason, loves to be with me. Now she can sleep in the hammock with me. In fact it has become a daily ritual, which suits me fine.

I have been so busy working lately, that I haven't had much time or imspiration for games right now, but I have a bit of a backlog to explore when the opportunity arises. Dragon Age is nearing completion, Thief lies unfinished, Mass Effort and Armoured Princess are ready to go. And this year there are some stonkers coming out which I hope to acquire.

So serious was my mood this week that I asked Oi to watch something funny with me. Kingpins was a fantastic laugh and The Rocker was good fun too. I have some sick Asian movies to sift through and a Korean buddist flick; Spring Summer Autumn Winter...And Spring is amazing though, as yet, unfinished viewing.

The garden is Oi and I's main focus right now, after Grace of course, and we spend nearly all our time out on the porch is watering, sweeping or yesterday burning a few leaves. I love it and it is great. It is all I want now. I can take a little trip to the shops down the road and buy some fried chicken and sticky rice, a few veg and stock up on bread and milk and lots of juices. It's all rather embarrassingly cozy. I am well integrated with Thai people now and, as most of them just want to be friendly, I am well-liked and welcomed by nearly everyone I meet. I know the power of silence is a way to earn respect from a Thai. Slow movements, polite and pious is want they respond to. It's still quite funny to witness the odd falang blowing his top when he doesn't get what he wants. I recall the minibus ride with Joel when an irate Malaysian man was ranting and insisting he got dropped of first at the train station to the van driver. He tried to involve me as I spoke a bit of Thai. I did a good job of not supprting him. Sure enough, everyone was dropped of before him and he made some snide comment to me as Joel and I jumped off to go wherever we were going. Fun.

Smiler Edits

In the Hammock

Smiler

Mr Happy

My self-generated flashcard collection. Sometimes Google clip art searches just aren't up to the task and one is forced to immortalise ones own 'tween moulded plastic. A wonderful thing the laminator, flashcard immortality designing out next years drawing effort. Just a touch of re-design and the odd new word on the agenda I perceive.
Got the whole days collection now from; Wake Up to Study Maths and Playtime. Amazing how a picture of a round yellow man can focus the mind.
I hope Rodger Hargreves doesn't mind.

Saturday Sun

In these new snaps it should be noted that the strange-looking plant is the one Egg gave me years ago. It suffered during the move quite badly but seems to be making a recovery. It has been valued at about 10,000 Baht now.

Last night Tom and Patrick came over. I bought 8 cans of Guinness and a bottle of vodka. We drank a lot and had a real giggle calling each other names. Oi said I was snoring very loud. She found both Patrick and Tom asleep outside. Patrick threw up. A consistency mainly of yellowy crisps. Tom told me that he hates The Smiths, but I think this is associated with the gay people in the States that he finds annoying and are who in love with group. I think it has to do with knowing England and being in England at the time. To actually live with The Smiths lyrics when life was sitting on a bus every morning going to Alton college and things were generally quite glum. Apart from getting hammered with Rowland and Joel, of course. Oh happy days at The Harrow. I always remember Joel's face giggling and smiling whilst taking a pee in that famous toilet. The cider tasted just as good on my return trip to Blighty last year. Great fun, and Charles and Steve were lovely company. I had fun in the Queens Head in Sheet with Steve too.

A recovery day today and Tom, bless him, always leaves a little present for me to hum away the day in blissful wonder.

Oi and I do a good job of sharing little Grace. Oi is definitly the mother, providing milk and natural love and warmth. Then she needs spells with her wicked and naughty dad, for whisks around the garden and being hurtled through the air at high speeds. Yes, she's quite fearless. I dread the first time one of those pesky red ants gives her a nip.

I started watching Gerald's movie "Police", also with Sophie Marceau and it is totally excellent. You can tell G loves throwing his weight around with the suspects trying to get a confession. Catch it if you can.

I now have in my possession a copy of The Browning Version.

In The Garden

The Smiths - Gerald Depardieu

Seriously into both these types right now and there is a huge backlog of Gerald's movies to obtain. Even Oi can see the charm of this man. She cracked up to Tais Tai (Shut Up) which we are yet to finish watching. Shame the subs were a bit lame. Just got Police (1984) which looks great and some movies I am opting for the DVDR version which is a copy of what you buy in the shops (what are they?) as opposed to a cheap rip. There is still some Smiths I haven't heard yet too, namely Meat is Murder album tracks, and I know only a tiny amount of Morresey's solo works. I have viewed some awesome docs on The Smiths which have also been great, of course.

Tuk-tuk drivers here are getting their just desserts. Multiple attacks on tourists who resist paying the extortionate taxi fares is attracting international headlines.

School is fun but hard work right now. I note I only received two Happy New Year messages from folks I know here. I didn't send any. I think it reflects the general mood of knackeredness bods are experiencing right now. Still, only another 2 months and I got my paid 10 week vacation.

The week off I had I spent with Oi and Grace and I could see how valuable giving undivided attention to Grace was. Like, I really got to know her. I would decree that spending undivided time with your little ones is time best spent. Helps one shut out the world outside too.

Funny, I did a class last night with my teenagers on winning the lottery - good and bad points. It was a good class. I wake up today and the headline on the Daily Snail is some 17 year old winner (now 29) took himself out of the game unable to cope with it all. Similarly, I watch all these prescription-related deaths of the Hollywood rich-kid pack. Britney Murphy and the Johnson girl. I remember watching ads in the US. Nearly every one was for some pill or other. I went to pay the rent to the Chinese landlady this week. She happens to own a pharmacy. I said I had a sore throat, probably from starting back at school and shouting at children. First thing she did was offer me some anti-biotics. I declined and went for the lozenges.

One Planet is worth a listen this week. It's about animal testing stemming from a film made in the 60's with Julie Christie. One fugitive scientist states that very little info is gained from testing animals and the talked about this feelings of slicing up dogs at work and then going home to play with his pet dogs at home. He turned to his boss who exploded when he questioned the validity of what they were doing. Various profs state that the whole industry is driven by money and the unquestionable belief they bestow on governments and public alike that what they do is off imperative importance and must be continued to be funded and researched. The reality was that there was very little evidence that there is any real benefit, but (a bit like General Motors and the electric car), they daren't stop doing it in fear that the whole industry will collapse and all those big rich cunts will be exposed as fraudulent and loose their precious millions.

Those who support the system unquestioningly, best avoid such questions.

Dorian Gray

Watching this adaptation of the Oscar Wilde story. Excellent.

Back at school and going surprisingly well. Phit and myself seem to be steaming ahead with the kids. I did a particularly good job on the flashcards this weekend, so they look quite spiffy.

Grace is coming on leaps and bounds and is great fun now.

Patrick has given up the booze for the new year and I think I shall follow suit. Feel better for it and am doing some exercise at last. Though struck down with a terrible toothache. I resist seeking medical attention.

Having a bit of a Gerard Depardeu fest at the mo. Love that guy.

Ain't seen much of anyone for a while. I guess being married and living in the sticks is taking root.

Garden is looking good and life is pretty stress free. Oi does wonders with Grace.

Dragon Age Extras (free)

Oh, what fortune!

Stumbling around the games list on rapidshare did I notice all the cost money extra quests one can pay for and download. These quests, objects and characters become incorporated into the existing game.

I got them all for free.

Soldier's Peak. Here I come!

Christmas Reviews

I almost forgot. The Black Sheep's famous Christmas review list.

Well, this year, I have to say, was quite disappointing on the media front. Many times I began a movie, only to turn it off in bitter defeat at another mortifying heap of smelliness to churn out of the arse of somewhere. Many America, I concede.

What did we have? God, in whatever form you exist, Can I even recall. Such was the absolutement of my boredom, disgust and general vile flesh-crawling mucus-covered misfortune to watch such shit. Where was I?

Forget Me Not. Sorry. Forgotten and never to set disc on my tray again.

Bad to the Bone. Sorry. Just couldn't see into this B&W skit about a gold-digging slut in town.

Half-Light. Demi Moore in a creepy Scottish tale. Worth checking out, but a little like a BBC Sunday night murder TV fix.

The Tournament. It was fun. Stupid fun, and Kelly Hu is a favourite of mine.

Space. BBC docu with Sam Neil. Awesome.

The Air I Breathe. Flashy, yet ultimately crap.

Dorian Gray (new one). Looks promising.

The Smiths. Had a big load of this band this holiday and really enjoyed it. Fantastic lyrics and Johnny Marr's guitar. Found a couple of good vids too, including a 1987 South Bank Show with Melvin Braggers.

Collapse. US docu. I know its happening. Get over it, dude!

Paris Brothel. Nice docu on Paris mischief in the 1930's.

Total Western. French gun flick. Not bad at all.

Goodnight, Mr. Tom. An old favourite of mine and totally by accident it had subtitles so Oi could watch it too. At the end she said, "That was a really great movie." Neither of us admitted we were in tears all the way through it. John Thaw.

The Great Race. Natalie Wood. It does look good if I am feeling silly enough. Or high enough. 60's buffoonary in vintage racing cars and flying machines. Blake Edwards.

Asterix and Cleopatra. It was ok. Oi liked Obelix. But who doesn'y love Gerald, eh?

Tias Tio. A French escape flick with Depardeu and John Renni. Very funny. Gerald is a master clown.

Heartbreakers. Hollywood puke.

Fred Dibnah. Catched an awesome show of Fred blowing up chimneys and driving steam engines. Brought tears to the eyes.

Black Rain. An escaped Ridley Scott and looks fun with Micheal Douglas being a wound up shit in Japan. Not completely PC but a hoot. A little off kilter for Mr. Scott. Suffers from distinctly 80's neon lighting, the dreaded keyboard synthesisers and Japanese hair dos, cheap beards and moustaches.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Yes, the old school bell is ringing and once again I must don my garb and set forth for the schoolhouse gates. Oh...and I was so enjoying doing nothing.

Actually, I pulled a muscle in my neck after spending a whole day building Oi's brick-lined vegetable patch. The one that abuts the house wall. It's been three days and I am still in pain. The sort of dull pain that after a protracted time space, starts to wear you down. I have also had a bit of a gum ache. Today, whislt riding to get some much needed Guinness, I got a flat tyre. I thought, "This is not my day." However I got it fixed and got the beverage.

I am aware however that I am in need of healing time. Yes, next week will be swim time and gym time as I drag myself up and get a tad fit again. I always recall Jonathan Snowdon's reasoning for walking 30 miles every weekend. "Otherwise, I would just sit around the house feeling ill." And he was 56, I believe. "The human body was designed to move." He explained to me. "And if you don't keeping it moving, it ceases up, like an old engine." Such great words from a long lost hero.

School.