Cornwall Part 1

Just back from 2 weeks in Cornwall with all the family; Tish and Andre and The Godfather Joel. It was a hoot. There was so much going on I will relate the episode in parts.

World Out of Control

Besides all the fun we are having in UK, the international news is pretty gripping stuff right now. The triple disasters in Japan may give rise to a push for new energy resources as well as making a large chunk of Japan off limits. Be interesting to see how they're economy survives this. Japan has no natural energy resources and are horribly in debt too. Also, a ton of global manufacturing comes from there especially in tech and cars.

Middle East. Horrible. Bahrain awful as an army from Saudi brought in to do the king's dirty work. How can he survive or the country go on or return to normal conditions. Libya? Gadaffi winning the war by bombing his own people and rebel armies. No support from the West, rightly or wrongly, so it looks like their fate is in their hands.Gadaffi's future on the world playing field won't be up to much though. Other countries in the Middle East will be having similar problems.

It would appear we are definitely moving through changing times and unchartered territory. I guess we will need to watch global prices as things hot up. All this activity might put things like air travel out of the reach of the common man and we may find ourselves living a different life without some of the luxuries we currently enjoy. But, like I said, these problems may force us to look at some viable alternatives which we have been oh so very lazy to address for many years now. Or, we could just be losing the game ever more badly and descend further and further into chaos as parts of the world scene collapse.

One thing though, USA is truly a marginal player right now which is quite satisfying. The world's stage is shifting and they ain't where it's at right now. You can see Obama and Hilary busting to get a word in, and all the time the giant shadow of China looms higher and higher emerging from the darkness. Lord knows what will happen if they ever descide to exercise some of their might.

Southsea

A fun day in Southsea where we walked along the seafront. Oi and mum played the 2p coin drop arcade games which Oi loved. I promised her another visit. We had a bad coffee in the Still & West pub in Old Portsmouth, watching the ferries go past. We went up the Round Tower, saw the door that Nelson came out of before boarding the Victory for Trafalgar, had some excellent fish and chips, bought Grace some super Clark's shoes and went down to the seafront for some stone collecting and sea gazing. Excellent all round. Now back at home enjoying Spitfire and Bulmer's Cider.

Birdworld

Monday, and a fantastic day out at Birdworld. It was great fun and Grace and Oi had a lovely time. It was so good to see Grace running about after the farm animals and having a ball. The weather was fine, clear and crisp. After that I took Oi to see Rake and Milland Church. Stain glass windows I had stared at for years and years as a boy bored to death in the weekly church service I was forced to attend. It was really startling to see these images I knew so well but had not laid eyes on for over 25 years.

After that we went to the old school at Rake, Bushmead house, the triangle, Milland, Rogate and South Harting, where I showed Oi the infamous stocks outside the church. It was, a splendid day.

Luncheon With Charles

Ok. We have been in England a few days now and are settling in, though our sleep is still out of synch and after a bracing fresh air walk at Selbourne or around the Heath, we all get a little dozy.

A trip to the docs has put Grace right and shown up the Thai doctors are money grabbing vermin as the UK doc said no medicine was necessary and she would be fine in a day or two.

Today, we met Dear Charles at the Pub with No Name and he and Carolyn treated us to some lovely grub; Fish pie for Oi and Steak and Ale pie for me. UK prices are frightening, but the food was scrumptious.

Times are easy at Mum's house. There is a cupboard full of Spitfire Real Ale and a fridge full of pork pies and chocolate mousse.

Grace and Oi have been loving it.

UK's Great

Revolting Peasants

With the protests in the Middle East spreading to other nations, keep your eye on China. BBC journos have been attacked and beaten up as they state crack down on any form of protest or aggrevation from the masses. There are some interesting reports on the BEEB website.

One wonders if all this build up of arms by countries across the world is intended for an external enemy, or a rising poor population within its own borders. Then again, I often surmised that the whole idea of countries and nations is just an illustion for the masses. The real global divisions between rich and poor. Countries don't really exist. In fact, the more I think about it the more it makes sense. Especially with China announcing record budgets on military build up this year and witnessing Gadaffi bombing his own people this week. I wonder how Greece is getting on. The brutal rich people getting more brutal as their fear grows and that their unjust ways fall more and more into question by a waking, realising populus.

Sickening Dread

OI and I have been through fucking Hell this week. Poor wee Gracie has been ill day after day and only now might we be finding out why. It has been exhausting and so saddening as she is constantly vomiting, coughing and crying at the prospect of more injected medicine, body wash or trip to the doctors. Both Oi and I are at our wits end and with the approaching flight to UK coming up on Wednesday, things have been mighty stressful. It should be okay, but its been so fucking tough. On top of that the weather has decided to get scorchingly hot, so I will be pleased to leave this sun baked country.

Tom left for USA today for gigs a-plenty. Patrick still displaying true engrained Irish hatred, or Absolutism as a friend puts it. With some pre-history knowledge, I know how the Irish can be. Like Lee, he is lucky to be able to  dispense with friends so freely. Or weak, as not to attempt to resolve minor issues. Though it is sad, at least I know I have tried to approach resolution, and have received no comeback. Such is the way of Man.

Talking of Man, In Our Tme has featured widely again. I dispatched with a bunch of oldies and loaded on a bunch of new broadcasts, including (here you go, get this); Zoroarthruism, Muslim Spain, Consolation of Philosophy, Sassanian Empire, Mughal Empire, Probability, Art of War to name a few. Each features various Melvin Bragg crack up moments. The depth of the discussions is mind-boggling and hughly enjoyable, especially in these troubled times. I should have been an academic locked away in some dorm somewhere.

The PC gaming season is well and truly open and I am going to miss a bunch of releases during the UK trip. Hopefully, they will still be available to DL when I return to still-life life in Thailand.

Actually, things will be changing for us when we get back. Grace will go to Nursery, Oi will start work (apparently), we might move, we might but a car. Who knows? One thing we have in common is that we both like a stress free life and if that means simple stuff then that is fine.She has been great during G's sickness and has really proved herself, whereas I always fall into sympathy with G.

PC Gamers desperate for a game? Dawn of War: Redemption is pretty good.

Fever

Final Saturday in Thailand and Grace has had to go to hospital for the night. She has a fever and we need to get her well before Wednesday. Hopefully things will be fine.

It has been a quiet week. Oi's mum has arrived to take care of the house while we are away. I am a bit sorry for her as she likes to be busy on the farm and will be hanging around here for 7 weeks.

Tom is off to the States on Monday, and Patrick, sadly, has seems to have lost his marbles abit and gone off radar. Up to him.

On the Rocks