A bit more Oz

Thought I ought to put a few more photos up to do my trip more justice although it really was worth flying there just for the fish and chips. After all, there were pies, bacon rolls and decent coffee, too.










This was a superb bacon and egg roll and frothy coffee that I had for breakfast the morning after my adventures in the Blue Mountains.

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And this masterpiece was a steak pie, pronounced, 'Poii', from a corner shop during my run from Double Bay to Bondai Beach. Less interesting photos to follow ...

Down under

I was fortunate enough to go to Sydney the other week to attend the Global ICT Summit. This in itself was a very interesting event which provoked a lot of thought and lead to my being able to create a number of new contacts in the education technology field, as well as pick up some useful information on what is 'in' at the moment and where I might save myself some reinvention of wheels through collobaration.

However, conference and Sydney Harbour boat cruise done (nice grub!), the Blue Mountains beckoned, as only mountains can do, ina kind of stern, rocky way.

So I hopped on a train and ended up scoffing an excellent plate of fish and chips on the guesthouse veranda upon arrival. When one lives in the tropics, small pleasures such as vinegar and a light drizzle don't come one's way too often so thanks to nature and the Asian chippy employee I was in fair Antipodean heaven.

Amari Watergate Midnight Charity Run

Well I didn't get to listen to my new Ska records because the damn earphones kept slipping out despite my taping them to my ears - must have been the iced water I was throwing over myself at every occasion. Shall have to get some new 'ear-hugging' over-the-lobe type ones, er .. this afternoon! Yes, I love shopping at weekends! It was rather hot last night even though the race started at midnight!

Anyway, I ran my race of 12km in what I think was a respectable under 70 minutes and that was with a really slow start getting through the starting gate as there were apparently over 3,000 people racing last night.

Not suffering too many aches or pains so this has given me a real incentive to step up the training for the big one on Novemeber 26th. I hope I can both beat my time and raise more money this year.

There was even a free beer thrown in last night so 'big-up' to the Amari Watergate and all their sponsors - I think about 3,000,000 THB was raised for the AIDS orphans in Lopburi so its all worthwhile.

Ska Pants

Was doing a bit of weekend shopping just now, as you do, at the weekend and it is also Saturday today so all is quite in order really.

Anyway, bought a few shirts and a pair of shoes and finally some Ska pants. That's pants in the British sense not the American sense as trousers were not on my shopping list for today.

Anyway, Ska is the name of the brand and it reminded me of that genre of music and the fact that I used to quite like it when I was a mere lad of 13-14 so I've looked some up and put it on the radio thingy for anyone who virtually stumbles over this Blog. Hadn't heard of all them and or listened for that matter so I shall stick them on my MP3 player and enjoy listening to them this evening when I am doing the Amari Watergate Midnight Charity run - that's another Blog for tomorrow.

Hope you enjoy it and if you have a favourite Ska tune then let me know and I'll add it to the radio thingy.

Dualbase :: Montreal webdesign :: the home of FLAM player
Flam Player :: Macromedia Flash mp3 player :: the home of FLAM player

Coffee anyone?

You can't deny there's a lot of it about and there are certainly numerous coffee shops in Phuket where 'The Gift' once enjoyed one of the daily specials around breakfast time.

It is also reported that he may have additionally indulged in a 'doppio'. Anyway, it was right there in that very coffee shop where this new song from the Gift's new experimental 'noughties' phase, 'Combat the Flesh' album, featuring possibly a new rendition of some timeless Alvin Stardust vinyls, 'Mocha' was born.

Love it or hate it, we think it'll cause a stir on the dance floors of RCA come Christmas.

A Statement from 'The Gift of Yahweh'

In a statemant made earlier today, Chairman of the CoB's Thai Fantasy Football wing , 'The Gift of Yahweh', gave his official blessing to the administrative reform group who recently ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, erstwhile buddy of 'The Gift' yet now seemingly out of favour.

It appeared that the military had stressed that it had 'no intention of becoming the administrators of Thai Fantasy Football and would leave all of that to 'The Gift'.

The Gift maintained that, "Now the administrative reform group under the democratic system with 'The Gift' as the head of Thai Fantasy Football, comprising commanders of the armed forces and the national police bureau, has gained, without any resistance, full control of the situation in Bangkok metropolis and nearby provinces, everything will be just fine.

You can continue to go about your daily and fantasy lives as you wish and may tie yellow ribbons to soldiers guns or have your photo taken next to a tank. Up to you!"

Name that tune!

the bushpilots are back!

After four years of inactivity, we have decided to bring the band back together on a new website to be launched in early October. We will be attempting to re-master some of our old songs, produce videos for these and we will also be re-releasing our Christmas song, Yule Regret, which was made back in 2001 in downtown Tokyo, ready for Christmas 2006 with a tasteless video.

We will attempt to take ourselves too seriously, in true internet band website fashion so stay tuned for some awful shots of us in leather jackets leaning over expensive cars that aren’t our own or standing at the tops of multi-story car-parks in black and white.

We have not re-formed as we never disbanded. Check out our songs in the radio below.

Look out also for new music from 'The Gift of Yahweh' with his new 'Combat the Flesh' project. New single, 'Mocha' to be released online soon.

'A long time since 'Hursty' scored those three goals!

What with World Cup 2006 fever gripping the nation and also whipping us Ex Pats around the globe into a frenzy of ridiculously optimistic thoughts of getting past the group stages, I've been doing a bit of research for one of the websites I run as part of my 'job'.

I thought I'd have a dig for some of those really special World Cup 'songs' that come our way once every four years never to be seen or heard of again. Thankfully!

Here's a selection of the best of the worst from this year and years gone by.

Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Klinsman?

Hurry up England!

London to Berlin

That's England alright!

World in motion

This Time!

Back Home!

Is this the way to the World Cup?

World at your feet

Brand New Story

What's your name? England!

Sabah Malaysia

Well, I haven't been here for a while but thought I ought to write a bit seeing as I am now on holiday and have a bit of time.






Just came back from Kota Kinabalu, which is the capital city of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. I was there working (yes!) and had to run a three-day web communities workshop for students on a project called, 'Dreams+Teams', at a secondary school.






I was very well looked after by the school - Malaysian hospitality is second-to-none - and I was taken out to various dinners each evening and sampled a variety of great food.





Spent Sunday & Monday relaxing after my weeks work - I did have to get up at 6:00 every morning and missed all the hotel breakfasts! - went to a small island fifteen minutes by boat away from the mainland and did a couple of afternoons of snorkelling. There were ots of really beautiful fish which I fed with bread and was even able to touch them as they were busy gorging themselves on my sliced white.


There are some really good diving spots around Sabah, a very high mountain to climb, Urang Utangs and Proboscis monkeys to see plus the worlds largest flower - the Rafflesia - growing in the lush rain forests.

I'll be going back there September or October so I'll be doing all of the above and then some.

Lovely people, too.

Well done the Boro'!

Congratulations to the Boro in what has been an incredible week or two from them. Firstly coming back from a 0-3 deficit to put out the Swiss herbs and now booking a place in the Semi-finals of the FA Cup. Unprecedented!

You must be over the moon, Mr. Stonewall!

Nice New Year

It's been a nice one so far - not too hot and a couple of interesting days, despite not leaving the Bangkok area this Christmas period.

Went to the horse racing on New Year's Day, which was a lot of fun and have just come back from fresh water fishing expedition just outside Bangkok . You can see the photos below .

The only low point of today was when I was nearly killed by a motorbike . I got out of the taxi to, ironically, go and visit the local hospital for a second session of physiotherapy on my leg. I looked to my right to see if there was any traffic coming in my direction on the strictly one-way street, as the traffic travelling in the other direction happened to be over on the other carriageway , and saw that there were no cars coming . I therefore started to walk over to the central embankment, in order to complete the crossing, when I was suddenly hit by a motorbike and rider traveling in the opposite direction on the wrong side of the road . Naturally, I was a little shocked and slightly hurt as the machine grazed both of my shins at about 30kph . It also ran over my right foot . The rider went flying and so did his bike and they were both fortunate not to be run over by the cars that were coming in our direction . Needless to say, I was more than a little upset about the fact that this chap had run into me and nearly knocked me over but I was also concerned that he might be injured, too . As it turned out , he wasn't that badly injured and neither of us needed to go to the hospital , except me that is for my physiotherapy.

We checked each other out to make sure that we were both all right , he apologized , which I think under the circumstances was the right thing to do, I accepted his apologies and we went our separate ways .

Moral of the story . Look right. Look left. Look, don't cross the road if there is a chance that you might be run over by a motorcycle going in the wrong direction . Use the footbridge !

More about the trials and tribulations of living in Bangkok, including trying not to eat meat for at least a month tomorrow .

"Hi Guys! This is Brian and I'm not so keen on being here so please put me back in the water! Already, OK?" 

Come to Papa! 

This is me at Bung Sam Lan, just outside Bangkok this afternoon, reeling in the mother of all catfish, Brian. Brian is not going to come into my net without a damn good fight! 

The name of the casket-makers below where my apartment was where I stayed for three weeks. The apartment had no windows. A bit like one of David's caskets, I suppose. I didn't notice the name of the shop until I looked up just before I caught a taxi out of there, nearly ten years ago. Sent a bit of a chill through my spine, I can tell you! Good to go back and visit and find the shop still there. 

Rich English, Taipei, Taiwan. This is the place where I took up a post as an English teacher in January 1996. It wasn't to be. After three miserable weeks working in a cram school I left. I had the chance to re-visit Taiwan last month to attend a regional ICT conference, representing the British Council, Thailand. 

Much happier times!

This is me, standing by one of David (Taiwanese Undertaker)'s finest caskets. 

Also had the good fortune to catch David, the owner of the establishment arriving on his luxury motor-scooter. After explaining why I was loitering around his shop, he kindly asked me in and gave me a bit of a tour of the place. The unit I'm standing by is made of finest mahogany. There were others in teak and even some Italian imports. I guess if you're gonna go you may as well go in style!

Medicine

Raised over 10,000 baht for my efforts in the BKK marathon, thanks to generous colleagues at the British Council, Thailand. Here I am handing over a big box of medicines for the babies and toddlers of the Pakkret Babies Home, Nonthaburi.  

A couple of the real sweeties from Pakret babies home. Hopefully there'll be fewer runny noses for a couple of weeks ... 

Finished

Finished. Literally! Seemed like the finish line would never materialise as I got to the 39km mark but after corner after corner, the cheerleaders started to appear, crowds lined the pavements and eventually, eventually, there it was! Nearly tore all my arm muscles as I punch the air in triumph like a geriatric bingo winner but was proud not to have walked any of the way.

Bring on Phuket, June 11th!

I would've had you if I was really trying! 

Finally did it!

Put the kettle on, love! 
Me and my mates from Africa cool down after completing the Bangkok Marathon 2005. We placed first, second, third and one thousand one hundred and tenth respectively. I'll leave you to work out who came where!