Summer Games

Let me whet your appetite with my list of summer games to play;
Crysis
Crysis Warhead
King's Bounty Armoured Princess
Thief Deadly Shadows
Settlers 6
Dragon Age Origins (final battle)
Mass Effect 2
Alien V Predator
Napoleon (if I get around to DL it)
The Movies

If you never played the Crysis games they are indeed a mighty blast and well worth the gametime.

Free at Last

Camp Crusty No. 2 is over. The kids have all gone home. We return to our respective abodes.

I stayed in. Sober. Clean. Early night. Sat through a bit of Changling. Stayed in bed in the morn, instead of early morning news and web surf. Played with Gracie.

Free at last, and the prospect of days full of nothing. It's a good job the garden is outside so I can lure myself away from the technology. It's the disease of the Western world. And an unhealthy one at that. Everything in moderation. Some exercise beckons and restful peace in the garden.

I hope to formulate some new ideas now I have a chance to take a breather.

Just DL'd a bunch of albums to put on the Ipooed for the summer break. Including Ram by Paul McCartney and Nirvana unplugged album.

I suspect the urge to write quite frequently will smatter the holidays.

I will tool up on Company of Heroes, if any Heroes wish to meet on the battlefield at the trumpets of dawn. By infinite chance there is an original copy floating around at Lee Gardens. The probability of this is unfathomable, but yet it exists. Yet, I fear this is deafeningly close compared to the possibility of woeful friends and family acquiring the feeble hardware required to fire up some spark and meet me in the void.

Ah! But it is mere fancy. Couldn't really happen. Could it? Or could it? Or maybe it could. Or could it?

The End

Today was the last day of school.

I was due for an evening class at Gees in the evening, but I had the good sense to cancel as I felt myself going into serious meltdown.

I am pulling the plug on private classes for all but one day a week. It's all been getting very stressful not being able to escape constantly having to think of and prepare a lesson plan. There was not one day in the week when I didn't have to think about it. No Thai person can understand my reasoning and given the opportunity they will work unquestioningly around the clock as long as there is money to be made. And, in fact, the money earnt from these classes is pitiful in any other currency. It just ain't worth it. Gee was in tears when Oi told her I am cutting back but I will not been drawn into a mercy shoot. It's the goose that laid the golden eggs syndrome and I am sure they would see me dead before they thought anything was wrong, and still not "get it" as my lifeless body was put to the fire.

So, I am forced to take things into my own hands and deliver some justice on my own. From now on I am going to be merciless in pursuit of my own needs and wants.

So I have some crap to do tomorrow and some other classes in the next few weeks but nothing too big and plenty of time to recharge and stop my brain from being fried like a banana.

Last night Oi and I watched Avatar which was great. Oi totally loved it as it has all the ingredients to suit the Thai pallette. Forest, injustice, pretty scenes. It must have been great in 3D.

Now looking forward to easy days of nothingness.

The End

Three More Days

Of course, the big question is whether I will break before the end of term.

I just got home from my evening class with the girls. 8 year olds. Yes, they are colourful. I noted the fat cunt former Prime Minister of Thailand who died recently, the one who lost his job because he was in receipt of a second salary - for a TV cooking show, responsible for the deaths of many student protesters in the 70's when he ordered the police to open fire, was described as "colourful" in his obituary. There was a warning to anyone expressing negative comments about him on the ThaiVisa forum that their comments would be removed. Anyway, the girls were colourful to such an extent that I bought a bottle of vodka, orange juice and ice on the way home to take a little colour out of my own palette. Note; being governed by nuns is not necessarily a good thing. The girls once released from the strict school yard then become volcanic in their behaviour; screaming and shouting and doing anything but anything sensible. Normally, I encourage craziness, but when I see a potential long term damaging effect, I might think twice. This school is famous for producing dykes and no, Grace will not be attending. In fact where young Grace will go to school is a bit of a poser.

Anyway, so its back home and I could not hide my stress from Oi. I made myself a couple of strong ones and have locked myself away in the workroom with The Hummingbirds blasting and the air con on. Hopefully, I can cool down a bit.

I heard Phit mutter at the end of teaching today, "Three more days". Funny, these were going to be my exact words, yet somehow I restrained myself from uttering it. Phit eclipsed me.

Holy fuck, I can't wait to the end of term!

How the Hell will I feel when I have to go back!!!!!

The Great Railway Bizarre

From the wonders of Rapidshare comes my second audio book from my new found hero, Paul Theroux.

The Great Railway Bizarre is amazing. A journalist travelling from Europe to Asia. He is currently in Istanbul conversing with Turkish Nobel prize seeking writers. Hilarious and intelligent, it was recommended to me by Australian Danny, after I had read his amusing interview with Micheal Jackson, followed by his Hong Kong novel.

Glad to learn Danny is due back in Hat Yai in April. Currently, it is Tom and Patrick soley for company, which although great fun, could use some expansion. I guess Don will be coming back from his stint in Raynong.

Check out the book if you can. I guarantee it will put an adsorbed look of contentment on your craggy faces.

Camp Crusty

Sunday, and finally a day of rest.

Yesterday I was up at four to get ready for the first camp. Phit picked us up and drove myself, Oi, Grace and another teaching couple to Satun. It was a long but fun day and the kids were very sweet. Satun seemed really nice and very rural. I thought of moving there. Hat Yai is a seething car park these days. A lot different from when I first came here.

It was great to see all the boys; Shaz, Ben and others and everyone enjoyed the company and had the same "whatever" attitude at the camp. Pee Dtoi took charge. We just danced about and did our thing. Grace was a star attraction and she didn't cry once.

It all ended with a giant tug of war which was a hoot. I saw Patrick falling under the rope and being dragged along the ground covered in children. Later he showed me the nasty rope burn on his ankle.

Determined to have my weekend, Tom and Patrick came over for a session which ended, or me, at 4:30 in the morning. Today, is for rest alone. Though I still have to churn out a worksheet for the kids tomorrow.

Only one more full week of regular school left. Then the holidays begin!!!!

Camp Bullshit - Happy Time Camp

Friday night and feeling gloomy with the thought of the first of 4 English camps tomorrow. Up at 5:30 and a ride to Satun on the Andaman side of the long, thin bit at the bottom of Thailand. I think everyone is feeling pretty similar. Especially sad because most of us know that Shaz (the artist) is going to be sacked after he has done the camps. Yes, the bosses will get him to do the hard work before they put the knife in. I guess that language is the same the world over. I was resolute that I would not let the camps interfer with my downtime, so I bought 4 cans of black to help me relax.

Tom and I exchanged sms's today about the Happy Time Camp with the line up of white monkeys for the Kids to gawp at. Yes, it really is like that. I think these kids are poor though. It's always much worse when its a herd of white, chinky-chonk spoilt brats in front of you, who are substantially richer than the entire families of every white monkey on stage put together. Those camps are yet to come.

Last time we were herded onto the stage, we looked like a bunch of convicts on death row. I kid you not. Let's face it, a lot of teachers are kicking around at the bottom end of humanity; ex-junkies, alchoholics, tattoos, pock-marked faces, beer bellies - it's all there, in the latest stupid bright pink polo shirt with a logo of a bee on it. Half of them clear off to the back of the stage for a smoke break while the kids are handed party balloons. All rather seedy. But considering English camps are lumped onto the end of the contract, if you even have one, no one gives a fuck. Except for the tug of war.

Nearly (the end of term)

I am absolutely busting to break up and finish with teaching for the summer. The last stretch is crucifying, though admittedly, I have slipped into neutral and free wheel the last couple of weeks. No point getting stressed out. Actually, I have got a little bliase around the classroom. Especially when I find out our boss has lost money on us working here. How is that possible? I hear doth cry? Believe me, in this swamp anything is possible.

Here's an odd one. A falang here, who I had just met, got the shit kicked out of him by four soldiers outside the Swan pub. 200 stitches in his face and his nose destroyed, as a co-worker put it. Anyway, our sweet and dotty manager put the word out he was in a bike accident. Not 24 hours later the truth comes out. Why, I asked my assistant Phit, did they say it was a bike accident. Since then, the news has spread all over the region. Gee thinks the soldiers were paid by a dissed girlfriend, and the only reason they didn't kill him, as is normal in these parts, was because he is a falang. The guy got the next train out of town, without his nose.

Games and movies galour being DL'd including; Jospeh Campell Mythos (influenced Lucus on Star Bores), Bill Bailey, Meet the Ancestors, Life after People.

Garden is looking very cool and the girls are doing well.

Really for the holidays I want to get happy and have some vid and game time at home for a while.

Had a fun night with Tom last Saturday. We got wasted on Guinness and happiness and watched Fry and Laurie and QI. Very fun.

Enjoying a return trip to Crysis and Warhead which is a great blast in the Korean jungle. What with Bioshock 2 arriving, I can't keep pace. Karl mentioned he wants to get a PC like mine and get gaming. I am anticipating some Command & Conquor virtual battles over the net. My Tesla coils have remained standing useless for far too long.

Dreaded English camps coming up ruining my weekend. I will be sure to take a back seat out by the trees and take it very easy in, what is now, a long, hot summer.

War! Let's Play

I will only post this once as responses from numbnuts around the globe are pitiful at the worst of times, but by lucky chance, I found a link to the game that I advised my brother, many eons ago, should replace much loved "Sudden Strike" for global, internet bashing, childish fun.

Company of Heroes is awesome, even as a single player. Here is a link to all parts available for free.

To save time get a months sub to Rapidshare so you don't have to wait around downloading the next part.

Here you go, you lucky bleeders;

http://rapid.org/board/showthread.php?t=333669

General J. Edgar Numbnuts.

Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

Again, through the wonder of rapidshare I acquired a great four part biography of Winston Churchill. Having consumed four cans of Guinness and a couple of Vodkas, my loins were twitching as I watched the story of this great man unfold. It is such an extraordinary story.

Please advise if you wish to view. I can provide the address.

Tom Baker

Just got hold of an amzing interview with Tom Baker taken in a dressing room in 1990 or something. It is incredible and he blows the top of religion and the preposterous things people believe regarding religion and the belief bestowed upon him as a child that it is good to be poor. And people buy it.

 

Yet to burn and watch in its entirerity. If any of the teeming masses wish to view it.

http://rapidshare.com/files/332754725/TBIFB9s.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/332790350/TBIFB9s.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/332826905/TBIFB9s.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/332859407/TBIFB9s.part4.rar

Approaching the weekend and glad to see brother Rob happy with baby Alex. Yes, fatherhood is not to be missed. Like I said before it is a gift in the middle of your life when things start to get drab, and totally changes your perspective. I hear of the boys destroying themselves and I think, "If you had kids you wouldn't be so self-destructive." Then again, how can these cunts like Bush and Blair who have kids send other people's kids off to war and live with it? It's beyond me. Don't compute. Mai Kow Jai.

Horribly, Seriously into Kathleen Edwards right now and risking crucifying her albums by over play. Oh Well. Never was my strong point. Get Asking for Flowers if you dare.

Tons of downloads. Too many to mention, yet including Winston Churchill bio, one on men in love with blow up dolls, WWI dogfighters, Stephen Fry (printing press doc), tons of French movies, Patrick Moore, astronomy.

Enjoy.

PS, For Tom Baker fans - Who On Earth is Tom Baker? as read by himself. It's only one DL. Go on, do it!

http://rapidshare.com/files/343886206/WOEITB.rar

HMS Defiant

A special effort saw me watching a Sunday movie, and yet to thus finish I might add.

Anyways, the chosen sacred item was HMS Defiant with Alec Guinness and Dirk Bogart. Indeed, a fine movie and up alongside "Billy Budd" which was most excellent.

Currently acquiring "The Sagossa Manuscript", "Cannery Row", "The Magnificent Seven", "Mind Games" (Jap Manga),"Benjamin" (60's French period drama). Seemingly odd choices for a hungry pallette.

Sunday

Sunday morn and the joy of playing with young Grace in bed. There are so many babies about right now I cannot keep track. Anyway, word from Spain is that all is well and Mater arrived yesterday.

This weekend I did not hook up with the guys as, looking at Grace, I realised how quickly this time will pass so I must cherish every moment. I am aware though how fortunate my working hours are, so that I do spent more time with her than your average dad.

I had a notion to buy some land in the country then employ and work with an architect to build a house. A French chap here called Alex has done it for 1,000,000 Baht (300,000 for the land, 7 for the building). Anyway, it is mere fancy, pure folly.

Everyone thinks I am mad for wanting to live even further out of the town, but I love the Thai countryside and being surrounded by alien-looking plants and fruit trees. Also, the people are especially cute in the country. The thought of returning our garden to the owner of our current house is not a pleasant one (you have never met a lazier, more boring woman), but Oi has vowed to dig up every shrub and bush if and when we must move.

Such is the climate here that every time I try to watch a movie in this ever-growing backlog of films, I think that it would be much nicer to sit outside on the porch and gaze up at the leaves glistening in the sunlight. I should state however that I am in love with "Kingdom" with hero Stephen Fry as a town lawyer in Norfolk. Check it out. I was also thrilled to see there are three seasons, so the well won't run dry in a couple of days. I highly recommend his readings of Oscar Wildes children stories.

Mass Effect 2 is still amazing, but again, I have been falling under the desire to rush the game. I don't know how the programmers can get around this one.

I have also been thinking of acquiring a telescope. Patrick said they sell them in Carrefour. Might check it out one day.

Today, I promised Oi I would attend the village meeting. I note came through the door for local residents to meet the village chief, discuss problems and introduce new residents. Might be fun, as long as I don't get inundated with, "You can teach my son English" demands. It would be nice to know a few more people though.

Three weeks to the end of term. I have to write tests today and there are four English camps that we have to do as well. Smart English is still unfathomable, as thus, I treat it merely as a job. I was getting really bored a few weeks ago due to the limits of kindergarten teaching. But then I figured where else would I get to only work in the mornings.

Snaps

Shadow

gARDEN fUN

Mass Effect 2

Life has been quite cosy of late. I have taken myself down a gear. Stayed in bed a bit longer, gone to bed earlier, not done so much PC and I have felt much better for it. Sitting outside on the porch is awesome therapy too. The garden is actually looking a little bit full now. Or not so empty. My three big rocks are amazing. I love standing on them and gaining another foot or so in height. I left Grace crawl on the so she can feel the stone; hard yet smooth.

The PC blew up briefly and the PC lady did an incredible job as per usual. Someone picked it up from my home and brought it back a day later. And now Mass Effect 2 has been running where it used to crash. And what a game! Words cannot do justice. The most exciting laser blaster fights "Star Wars style". Incredible fun and you can pause the actions and instruct your teammate to fire of a special ability then flick the game back on to see the resultant action, an enemy robot bursting into flames or being blasted with a biotic explosion, rendering shields useless. Play it and weep! Weep, my children. Never before have I seen the like of this game. And it follows an epic story and, if your not too stoned, you can actually remember what it is you're supposed to do. Mindless blasting suffices though and having chosen to play as a Solider class and I miss all those groovy Psy powers, I do get some great weaponry options and use of an excellent sniper rifle.