Happy 55
Well Happy Birthday to me. My surprise Birthday trip from the good lady wife to the Philippines pretty fantastic.Part Holiday part recon it was a success. I can state categorically, no phone no wifi no TV is actually the best. Unplugged with intermittent free wifi when its needed..
So first the birthday bit, went to Bohol to Pangalo Island and stayed in the same cottage at Alona Kew White Beach as 25 years ago before I asked the good lady to marry me. Its a good job I did it back then as the photo evidence from this trip definitely puts my chances nearer to ZERO. Also Stayed in the Fox and Firefly Echo Lodge pretty awesome and lots of other places.
Well the second part of the trip worked on the LOT surveying the best location for the cottage.
Well lots of work here are a phew photos of the proceedings
How the hell do you start one of these weed whackers
just like the old time miners staking out my claim( well marking up the property lines)
Haul of new tools.
fixing a handrail to stop Drunk white people falling to their death.
Finished job together with an arm rest ( now mostly safe)
One last romantic image and a warning to fellow travelers.
Ah the food and the company and the hot tropical nights.
Don’t let any one tell you standing a fat bloke on a slab of polystyrene and floating him down a river is a good idea. Bloody mental if you ask me, never again.
all the best for the New Year until Next time….
Cry Freedom, Cry Freedom 60!
Mad professor here, Cry FREEDOM I say cry Freedom 60. Well it seemed like a great idea last Christmas, and is still a great idea but I came back to CANADA and the dream started to slip away as if it was beer fumed illusions. No I don’t think so, I blame Langy, its always his fault. Canada does not like LANGY very much, apparently very annoying and Bolshy. NOT only does Canada not like him my family is a bit resistant. The change back to Richard was very bumpy. Management gave me a good kicking when i was down, I cant remember lots the Family had to send me to Hospital in an Ambulance as I unraveled. I hung on to myself and reckon Richard can also hanker after Freedom 60. Even though it looks like Freedom 65 or even as Interest rates sky rocket and the Inflation inflates and the wages stagnates and the profits rise, Climates destabilases and Apocoliptic portents stack one on another. ( And they want me to stop drinking LOL) I am wondering if all we have to look forward to is Freedom 80 all done and Lights out. Well here they are and you can see Langy (Pip) peering over my shoulder. However Having lost My # 1 Lab Technician to a much better job he has been replaced with a very fine individual also of the Gan Z who has actually written a 147,000 word Epic Fantasy Novel if you can believe it. Now not to put too fine a point on it I felt very embarrassed and my creative hat came out and I volunteered to Beta read. (Foolish I know but lightning strikes) Funnily enough I also discovered another employee builds 40K so , and and people (Well sisters-in-law started demanding my cooking.) I also bought a fantastic 50mm lenses for My Olympus very fast 1.8f and normally $599 . so it appears the unconscious and some times invisible me is actually a Chef, Writer, Photographer, Raconteur, Antique dealer & Mad Professor. Just the man to be involved in the worlds, well Sheffield’s most potentially Awesome pop up Venue ,eatery gallery and Watering hole. etc. So just need to win the LOTTERY. With this in mind and 59 Birthday approaching Leo and I are committed to A UK visit around my 60th, So one year to finish my book gather up the money and learn how to play the Bass now I have forgotten. Definitely sorted out the Compost bit Mantis will work on the rest diligently. I think I may try a Norse persona see how that goes Riker Lanksfijord. Sounds about...
read moreAlive and Kicking.
So here I sit Alive and Kicking, Double Vaccinated and long missing from my social media profiles. Well lots have gone on # one wife has a YouTube channel see social media Icons and I have added my Flickr which in all honesty was already available and my second Flickr account and Instagram iPhone photography really. Well this is last year, as we have not got to Christmas yet. # one Daughter in year three of here degree, # one son has decided to give up on his Degree(Hopefully only temporally), he has moved out with some comedy friends and is perusing Stand Up Comedy as a career. Who am I to say whether its a good Idea or not I always suspected my life to be a bit of a comedy act. Grace is 3 and Diego is about 10 as far as we can tell. so let the Comedy Commence. NaNoWriMo, remember that thing I was dubious about well as therapy and my doctor tells me I need lots I have signed up for 50,000 words during November. As everything else has stalled why not start another book. (LOL). “The Last Kiss” A YA historical Fiction Novella of all things. The plan to catapult me back into the writing habit and complete the second half of my Magnus Opus and, well and. And what am I listening too all recent purchases from 1001 Albums things I missed along the way. Not sure if they are a good background, soundtrack for a Historical novella base in 16C Istanbul but what is? All a bit noisy would be my guess. I shall post weekly accounts of my progress and the words I have written and not worry too much about the ones I have not. Have had big hits on my Blog recently can only assume its an error, lots of redirections and such but the world moves mysteriously. Comments are off because I can’t figure how to switch them back on. But the contact in the main Menu gets to me fine. Oh yes if accidentally visiting and want to find out how NaNoWriMo is going subscribe. Any encouragement at this point will help me remain compost Mantis as they say....
read moreThis was then, This is now.
So had it changed, The Philippines my Wife’s home town. Of course it had. For the better or for the worse? Its hard to say but Its probably just right; just right for the me that is me. Or the me that is going to be me if you see what I am saying. So what started this why the heck did I get so captured by the Philippines. Stupid question relay I got captured by a very silly woman who took a shine to me (who wouldn’t). Here she is. I bought the ticket and got on the plane to visit even though I had no reply saying she would be at the airport to pick me up or even that my presence was require. I am a bit like that. That’s her with the perm and the Mango ears. So what does 25 years change look like, I sort of know as the good lady wife traveled home every year or two returning with pictures and videos (You have probably seen my blogs, well probably not) but I had to visit, there are certain things that can only be experienced, lived, remembered, field tested and the like. Alona Kew White beach first, and I was pretty ahead of the curve here pre Instagram etc. Pre tourism actually that’s the boat me and the wife hired for the morning 1995, and that’s 2019. What else changed well, without being indelicate I did. That’s me in the middle. and that’s me with a middle. I would like to point out that the silly kids cycle helmet actually makes me look sillier than I normally look (Honest) I reckon it adds a whole 10lb to 20lb to the photo. Transport sort of changed but I prefer the old school Bangka took them in preference so here is a before and after, the modern one is the one that exploded and drifted off down the coast but hey I am all about the adventure. Biasong spring well not going to show you what happend this time, pretty crap typical disaster by the locals. Here instead is a moonlight boat trip on the way back from Biasong 1995. These gents are what I believe are called my posse or entourage, more of them later. You can see the wife’s mind working here, all those trips she took in the name of recon, idea pinching etc have started to pay off, you will recognize this, sorry forgot no one reads my blog. And here they are my friends who keep us safe when we visit, not all are still around but I love them all. ( The wife also has her Class Mates a huge bunch of awesome people, but if I need keeping out of trouble well these are the guys.) So here we are last night 2019 still helping me stay drunk and out of trouble, All the best until the next time…....
read moreIts the Final Countdown—-
So here we are the Final Countdown the big one the last one, the final decade. 2020 to 2030, if we are all still here and everything has gone to plan no WWIII or Climate Apocalypse, Solar Flare, Alien Invasion etc WE CAN RETIRE. Done, no more working for the MAN with that in mind I reckon that gives us 120 opportunities to do something meaningfull in preparation. Surely one step a month should be doable. Obviously reviewing Crappy Pension ™ options it occurs to me I will either have to eat Pasta every day or spend some time somewhere cheap especially when the Snow and -45 c takes hold. Hence the winter escape plan. and of course street BBQ all sorts of delicate bits on sticks. Lots to keep me busy there appears to be many Antique houses and storefronts that need rescuing and travelling about by pump boat is lots of fun even if occasionally the belt comes of and they explode in a cloud of smoke or that I am a bit too heavy and occasionally tip them over. I have been working on it in the last 2 years down from 233lb to 213lb only 10lb to go to my 14s7lb target. Its possible that I may be able to get closer to hearing all 1001 Albums before the end. 120 x 2 = 240 pay days at 2 CD for $10 that’s 480 CD plus the few hundred I already have means I may make it it also means I will have to spend $2500 + but seems very reasonable to me.. With that in mind my 15 year thank you from the company, points to spend on Amazon. See my new Marantz CD & Media player . And for Christmas from #1 Daughter and Santa some CD’s That leaves me with the 2019 Family portrait not my best work but you get the...
read moreHappy 55
Well Happy Birthday to me. My surprise Birthday trip from the good lady wife to the Philippines pretty fantastic.Part Holiday part recon it was a success. I can state categorically, no phone no wifi no TV is actually the best. Unplugged with intermittent free wifi when its needed.. So first the birthday bit, went to Bohol to Pangalo Island and stayed in the same cottage at Alona Kew White Beach as 25 years ago before I asked the good lady to marry me. Its a good job I did it back then as the photo evidence from this trip definitely puts my chances nearer to ZERO. Also Stayed in the Fox and Firefly Echo Lodge pretty awesome and lots of other places. Well the second part of the trip worked on the LOT surveying the best location for the cottage. Well lots of work here are a phew photos of the proceedings One last romantic image and a warning to fellow travelers. all the best for the New Year until Next...
read moreOn the way to the Phillipines
Well standing in Honk Kong airport, arse numb after 22 hour layover view outside marvelous. Off to layout my Beach cottage, here is a scale model. Will check in again on my 55 birthday from the Alona Kew White Beach...
read moreIts Wet, very Wet, 54 days of summer rain Wet!
We did have 3 days sunshine. Fortunately the three days we went camping. The rest of the time the weather has drowned my tomatoes, Chilies and hot peppers and high winds snapped the branches so had to make chili curry chutney. Various levels of spice all the way to scotch bonnets so not all is lost. Written absolutely nothing but have just finished the adjustments to my new Antique Oak writing station and have a new Bluetooth keyboard, just need to update the wheels to brass and porcelain, currently 1970 hostess trolley wheels. New old truck making me very happy. Truck version of the ZR 2 4 x 4 SUV my son rolled. 31″ x 10.5″x 15″ BF Goodrich all-terrain Tyres, 4″ lift and 3″ wider than stock track axles ( Hence the wide Fender flares) positrack locking diff, Bilstine off road shocks from the factory 4.3l V6. nice exhaust, sounds the part, especially when you put your foot down oh and Bright Red, Victory Red. #1 Daughter starts year 2 of her Degree #1 Son starts year 4. And that’s about that, hope everyone is well and things are going to plan. ( Actually thinking about it i did write 490 words in the last chapter of the book. Shame I haven’t done the middle bit or I would have finished by now. Oh well best laid...
read more# 1 Son thinks it’s Funny!
Merry Christmas and what I am hoping is going to be a Happy New Year. # 1 Son thinks it is funny, I am going to try to finish my long awaited book. No not that one or the other one but the one that is Fantasy Fiction. ” The Dark Antiquarian” . # 1 son has no respect for any of my attempts? No he will not edit, no he will not help with the play , maybe the film script somewhere down the line. For some reason he seems to think to be a writer you actually have to finish a book. Poppycock I say. Where does he get this from? # 1 son at University year 3 Professional Communications, writing, editing and goodness knows what. My story telling. No surely not, but I have to admit he does stand up and is irreverent of me.I was OK, but in early December he rolled my pride and joy , rolled over in the snow and crushed it beyond , well beyond. Yes they are OK, his beat friend and the surprise puppy for Christmas, Grace I love her but Collie, German Sheppard & Mastiff. Well what else has happend in glorious 2018, well # 1 Daughter graduated high school and got a place at Grant Mc Ewan university and is doing a BA, undeclared Major yet but probably Psychology, Sociology or Anthropology. I had Santa send me a prezzie via Amazon and for some reason it was stolen off the door step so they sent me another, Someone is going to be very surprised. Talking of pressies I was attempting a Birthday blog and I tracked down some of my recent presents to myself well going back to about 1978, not in any particular order and excluding the ones I drank or ate. So it only remains to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ...
read moreOn Holiday —-Sort Of!
Hello Mother, hello Father – Iv’e arrived at camp pajama. Well of course that’s not right and I am not that old and probably neither are you (You may be able to ask someone.) Back there in the blog. I mentioned Peter S and I guess this is the time. But as I frame and flash back it may make no sense, so all will eventually be mumbled out and no conclusions made. I have none myself but this is sort of how it happened…… What were you doing in the summer of 1983? I have a letter. kindly forwarded to my by my Father that I sent to them, Mum and Dad.( I received this in 2010 and have been staring at it ever since. right up to the point it took me two days to find.) Dad was an adventurer and I am sure much to Mum’s disquiet paid for my 1983 Inter Rail card. For you North Americans one month of unlimited rail travel all over Europe, I am sure you can imagine, (Well sorry, I guarantee all your imaginings fall short, I don’t have a word for what It, it was weirder. Your imaginings will be short of the mark. Most of what you are thinking has been over done. (By lots of uncouth Americans ,lol) (see modern language sneaking in). Exploding trousers! (Pants, well either or are quite alarming, we will leave that for another day, I will unedited, unexplained and without a safety net re-veal all.( I mean I will type it out as written only adding photos and the like to illustrate. To you I leave the burden, of making any sense of this at all, Dear Mother and Father, I thought it was about time I wrote to inform you of all the events that have taken place in the last two days. On the night of the 12th July or the morning if the 13th.Peter suffered some form of heart problem, he had difficulty breathing,his pulse dropped and he was going unconscious. A local dude I found up the carriage could speak English, he had some medical knowledge. He gave Peter a heart massage and he improved a bit, we stopped the train and were taken to the local medical center. Peter was given an injection and some tablets, we were put back on the next train. I was unable to find out what was wrong with him, because the Doctor only spoke Serbo-Croat. I am at a camp-sight outside Bar with five Yugoslavs. . Peter considered it dangerous to stay abroad, I thought rest would be better. The landscape from the train ride down had been valleys and crazy long span bridges no sign of anything, rugged. A long hard third class train raid seemed a bit much. (In 1983 there was no spell checker or back space so I will type what is here and crossed out.) He decided that it would be safer for him .( TO MAKE ME GO WITH HIM) This might seem selfish but I was not going to travel; back across half of Europe at the expense of my once in a life time long planned adventure.You will probably have heard about it from Peters folks by the time this letter...
read moreHot and Cold
well not a lot of thinking going on over here summer turns to winter and I once again wonder why. Not why the seasons come and go but why here in the bloody cold. I know I prefer hot to cold . SEE Well not sure where I am going with this but it dawns on me that If I am to keep memories alive they need to be somewhere other than in a cardboard box. Maybe there is a randomness to it all that does not need to be so heavily curated. I met this guy in a bar has something to do with a local entertainment free paper bands and the like and I remember all that stuff at University so for the heck of it some photos to remind me I Like Rock and Roll. ...
read moreA KInd Daughters Words.
