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This was then, This is now.

This 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...

Its the Final Countdown—-

Its 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...

Recomendations From the Grumpy Elf

Recomendations From the Grumpy Elf
Well you would be a bit grumpy if someone had shoved a bell up your nose. So how did 2014 go and what’s in store for the New Year?  I am pleased to report a pretty stellar year all round many highs a few lows (Car repairs and the like just before Christmas). Many things on the Rise and a few things met  their Demise. So the plan for 2015, well there is no plan because I am still working on the list of 40 or so items from 2012 (Which I may include in a blog just to remind people how silly lists can be, or should I say how silly my lists can be). But if you were to push me I will give you this image in reply and I think that’s the plan.     Gibbous Tyke ‘The Dark Antiquarian” is getting written first four chapters are with my secret beta readers ( Kim and Hill, sorry I guess not so secret then) we are full throttle into chapters 5 to 9 and just crashed trough 25,000 words so just under a third of the way so FINISHED by the end of 2015. That is the one concrete thing I set my mind to. As for distractions no doubt. So what was I listening to? Well all sorts, Satan’s helper (sorry Santas helper)  #1 Son gave me three albums currently on the radio here in CANADA:-  Hozier / Hozier,  Milky Chance/ Sadnecessary  &  July Talk / July Talk (Santa actually picked and wrapped them put them under the tree etc on the understanding it was #1 son who was giving Dad a present not Dad.) Also three other bands have been on heavy rotation here also big air play in Canada but may not have trended high in the UK. Finally three albums from “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.” The Grumpy Elf recommend them all. If I was to pick just one July Talk / July Talk is awesome well they are all worth the time but that ones a little bit more awsommeeemmn.  The Kongos  album suffers a bit from intermittent production but has what sounds like a washboard in there somewhere and I am all for that. And the music is great but they all have lyrics that apeal to...

Shades Of A Blue Orphanage

Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
Well here I sit listening to Thin Lizzy, ‘Shades Of A Blue Orphanage’ no less.  Yes I have a copy on CD digitally re-mastered and all sorts of bonus tracks that disturb me. So the question you are asking did I sell my Soul and whats the story with Eddie Prevost? And shame on you who are wondering what I am talking about, do you know nothing ? Did you not read THE FUNKY NOMAD provisos, its what it all about. Now click the link and catch up will you, goodness gracious me unbelievable. ( Yes I know I asked you to subscribe and thanks) So now we are on the same page did I sell my soul, well I don’t think so but it had me a bit worried, had I accidentally made a deal at the crossroads. Does making an offer on the interweb constitute a contract with unknown arcane powers? Probably not, or maybe yes, its hard to tell at this point. In truth I found out a while ago 2010 that this had been re-released, I bought a copy a few months back but have not admitted to it for various reasons. Will the journey now be over for riseanddeardemise.ca has the purchase of Shades killed the whole premise? And of course what of Eddie Prevost. Nothing is straight forward in the world of the Funky Nomad, if it was what would I have to blog about, what would keep me up at night. Question, why didn’t I just go buy it when it came out if it was so important to me, walk over to HMV place an order and just buy it. To be honest it seemed a bit like cheating. In theory I could take the whole list of missing albums pay the price and there they would be. But its not the same, I went to the record store the first time round, both new and second hand (Impulse in this case, that’s where I found Shades. (Of course I did not buy it new, it came out in 1972.) So for those of you sinners asking who the hell is Thin Lizzy? I feel truly sorry. I can say this. Thin Lizzy played their last gig 28th August 1983 at Redding Festival (Well at least for me) Phil Lynott died...

The World of Gibbous Tyke

The World of Gibbous Tyke
I know someone is going to point out that I should probably put this in the control docs or the book its-self, but having already penned 3600 words in those docs and a severe need to get on with it and as I only figured it out Boxing day I thought I would world-build right here. To give assurances to the naysayers and show it can be done.   (There is no reason it can’t appear later in the story. This is an incognito Blog after all and I have no followers, who the hell is there to read ahead.) So sitting here listening to Jethro Tull  “Broadsword and the Beast”  and well if you are going to free-form a fantasy world you need suitable music, if it takes too long I have my Led Zeppelin ready to go. (I did a map thing the other afternoon and am going to use some of my daughters colored pencils to tart it up a bit and no doubt I can post it on the blog for you all to marvel at. One time pass no erasing, what you see is what it is going to be.) Talk of the devil here it is and NO THAT’S A CAMEL (of the dromedary persuasion, I know a song about that but that’s off the point a bit.) So how far do you have to go with this world-building lark? Probably not all the way Tolkien, probably not the Earth just enough stuff to tell the story. Just in case you think I am a real moron I do have some idea what I am doing, I know how Geography, Weather, Land masses, Ecosystems, Populations, Cities, Industry Farming and many ancient and modern societies operate. I know about churches, religions, weapons, fighting systems, sword weights ( looked it up ) and I think I am shifty enough for viable work around’s for most of the pit falls so that even the most bum puckered retentive Fantasy World Watchers can toddle off and go do something more worthwhile. I have fixed the Magic there isn’t any so to speak. I have fixed the Elves and Dwarfs and Dragons, we don’t have any of these either. Language is fixed they all speak English ( or more accurately the same language but we can have some...

Charlie Don’t Surf, West Street.

Charlie Don’t Surf, West Street.
Well Charlie Don’t actually surf on West Street but were playing Live at the West Street in Sheffield. On my recent trip home to the good old Steel City I get the opportunity to use my camera for more than taking pictures of beers. Its been a while since I photographed Live Bands not since my student days. To get the opportunity to see my good buddy Mark (who has had the pleasure of knowing me since before infant school ) and Charlie Don’t Surf in action was something I was looking forward to, It seemed only reasonable to offer my services to take some photos. Having been a Professional Photographer for 12 years+ it seemed like the perfect idea. And to be totally honest as ideas go one of my better ones, however this now requires me to actually put my money where my mouth is. How is this going to turn out? I had been hearing rumors of West Street its changed they say, we better warn you, you might be shocked. Well this was certainly a turn up for the books, I had spent many a year ploughing up and down West Street crawling from pub to pub. I moved in just off West Street ate at the Bombay 3 times a week ( Still don’t know what was in their curry) worked at the Job Center it was everything I knew. How crazy could it be? I remember Pajama Jumps  and other very dubious happenings. I also remember early mornings walking down to the bakery and getting fresh Parkin in November, buying cheap Bavarian larger at the corner store, lunchtimes drinking in the “Frog and Parrot” just because. On a hot summer night just returned from Europe a case of Alsace white in my hands, being collected from the station by the usual suspects. That night it was hot,we went to see “Haze” upstairs at the Hallamshire, oh what glorious days. What ever happened to Gabadon?( Don’t trust my spelling) I have photos of it all, hang around a bit follow my blog, I am not as big an ass as you think. Well probably not. Turns out they were warning me about the girls! Girls on West Street, I knew about meeting girls on West Street, well the ones hanging around the Hoover shop...

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