I felt rough towards the end of the last week and, after promising Sarah that if I did not feel better by Monday that I would see the quack, I duly went to see the doctor yesterday. She said that I had a touch of bronchitis and the flu - and prescribed some antibiotics, as well as signing me of until Wednesday.
I took two pills yesterday lunchtime and it knocked me for six. Ended up cat-napping from 2 to 6pm! Took another two last night after eating and, again, was cream crackered by 9 and so went to bed early.
Still felt fluey this am so did not attempt to go back to work. But it was only after taking another two pills at lunchtime (which sent me to night-night-bye-byes for a couple of hours), that I bothered to read the label. It stated 'take one pill twice a day'!
That will teach me to R.T.F.L in future!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Note to Self: 'Stop Reading - And Get Writing!'
“We've inherited the idea that stew is cheap, nourishing and virtuous. We start with an outsized cauldron, a load of cheap meat and veg and keep adding ingredients until it looks right. Nothing beats that Little House on the Prairie feeling that you've made enough food to feed everyone on the homestead through a cruel winter - nothing except the realisation that there are only two of you, in a suburban semi and that you'd probably rather eat the dog than another bowl of stew.”
I have just spent the past hour reading Tim Hayward articles – and they all contain some brilliant pearls – as demonstrated above.
It just reminds me that I need to get writing myself!
I have just spent the past hour reading Tim Hayward articles – and they all contain some brilliant pearls – as demonstrated above.
It just reminds me that I need to get writing myself!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Some choice words from The Guardian's Harry Pearson:
'Fabio Capello has his first meeting with John Terry and the England squad. The initial reaction is positive: "His English is rudimentary, he doesn't know many words, but he gets his point across forcibly." And the Italian's comments about the other players are equally complimentary.'
'Fabio Capello has his first meeting with John Terry and the England squad. The initial reaction is positive: "His English is rudimentary, he doesn't know many words, but he gets his point across forcibly." And the Italian's comments about the other players are equally complimentary.'
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Patronising, embarrassing, lurid - the high street stores have got their Christmas ads all wrong
A quality article from Charlie Brooker in The Guardian:
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well, on TV it is anyway. At this time of year, every ad break turns into an extended brainwashing exercise as one campaign after another hammers its way into your head by dint of sheer repetition alone.
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" is, of course, the theme song of this year's offering from Argos, which affects solidarity with the average hard-shopping prole by depicting the high street as a hellish dog-eat-dog war zone straight out of Saving Private Ryan, the only thing missing being the occasional eye-popping shot of a young soldier getting his leg blown off - which, to be fair, wouldn't really be in keeping with the Yuletide spirit.
Stephen Fry's voiceover complains that Christmas should be "more ... well, Christmassy", at which point it cuts to a shot of an Argos delivery van pulling up outside a suburban home, as though that's the very essence of all things "Christmassy", which it isn't. The birth of Christ, a crowded train, a party-hatted boss drunkenly molesting a co-worker - that's Christmassy, you idiots.
Apart from Boots, whose "Here Come the Girls" celebration-of-vapidity is at least entertaining, all the high street stores seem to have got it a bit wrong this year. Iceland's ads are the most lurid, as they continue to hawk an increasingly terrifying range of oven-ready vol-au-vents (Loaded Prawns, Filo Parcels, Squirrel-and-Onion Swastikas and so on) using the dream-team combo of Kerry Katona and a Nolan sister. These ads precisely evoke the queasy sensation of drifting off in front of a bloated 90-minute festive edition of Birds of a Feather following an over-rich pudding and three Baileys too many. And maybe that's the point.
Celebrities feature heavily in supermarket ads. Asda continues its intensely patronising "stars in the aisles" campaign, in which well-loved faces slum it among the downtrodden workforce. Sainsbury's dumps Jamie Oliver into a sort of Dickensian pop-up book filled with miniature slaves. Morrisons has really dropped the ball, with an excruciating advert called "Lulu's Christmas Dream", in which Lulu wanders through a cosy, snow-caked market town peopled exclusively by a baffling combination of minor celebrities. There's Gabby Logan carving her turkey, Nick Hancock having a snowball fight, Denise van Outen giggling on a balcony, Diarmuid Gavin winking at Lulu as though recalling a particularly grubby one-night stand, and Alan Hansen filling his trolley with 500 tins of Miniature Heroes, all of it backed by Take That's Shine. It's like a low-rent Ocean's Thirteen. If it had used Alan Partridge instead of Lulu, and (I Believe in Miracles) You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate instead of Take That, it could have been the best Christmas commercial ever. As it is, it's just embarrassing.
Speaking of embarrassments, the Spice Girls have managed to imbue their long-awaited comeback with all the glamour and class of a hurried crap in a service station toilet by whoring themselves out to Tesco. The first instalment, in which the Girl Power quartet try to hide from each other while shopping for presents, represents a important landmark for the performing arts: Posh Spice becomes the first human being in history to be out-acted by a shopping trolley.
Marks & Sparks win a nerd rosette from me for managing to authentically replicate the style and tone of late-50s/early-60s movie trailers, although the undertone of its commercial is a tad suspect: it took me three or four viewings to realise it, but Twiggy and co are desperately showing off in a bid to impress Antonio Banderas, who looks a bit like a CEO in a brothel trying to decide which prostitute he fancies using. I keep expecting him to point out two of them at the end, and for the advert to cut suddenly to a grotesque scene where both of them pleasure him at once in a velvet boudoir, filmed in the same style as the slow-mo food porn it uses for its other commercials. All of which isn't very Christmassy either. But maybe that's just me.
Said ad is accompanied by yet another vintage song: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Presumably the ad agencies hold some sort of summit each year in the run-up to Christmas, where they negotiate who has the right to use each track, just so there's no duplication. "You can have Winter Wonderland provided we get to keep Wizzard." That kind of thing. Old-fashioned crooning is in vogue this year. I'm expecting the Bing Crosby/David Bowie take on Little Drummer Boy to make an appearance next time round - in a Currys ad, accompanying a shot of a wireless inkjet printer or something. You know. In keeping with the original sentiment of the song.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well, on TV it is anyway. At this time of year, every ad break turns into an extended brainwashing exercise as one campaign after another hammers its way into your head by dint of sheer repetition alone.
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" is, of course, the theme song of this year's offering from Argos, which affects solidarity with the average hard-shopping prole by depicting the high street as a hellish dog-eat-dog war zone straight out of Saving Private Ryan, the only thing missing being the occasional eye-popping shot of a young soldier getting his leg blown off - which, to be fair, wouldn't really be in keeping with the Yuletide spirit.
Stephen Fry's voiceover complains that Christmas should be "more ... well, Christmassy", at which point it cuts to a shot of an Argos delivery van pulling up outside a suburban home, as though that's the very essence of all things "Christmassy", which it isn't. The birth of Christ, a crowded train, a party-hatted boss drunkenly molesting a co-worker - that's Christmassy, you idiots.
Apart from Boots, whose "Here Come the Girls" celebration-of-vapidity is at least entertaining, all the high street stores seem to have got it a bit wrong this year. Iceland's ads are the most lurid, as they continue to hawk an increasingly terrifying range of oven-ready vol-au-vents (Loaded Prawns, Filo Parcels, Squirrel-and-Onion Swastikas and so on) using the dream-team combo of Kerry Katona and a Nolan sister. These ads precisely evoke the queasy sensation of drifting off in front of a bloated 90-minute festive edition of Birds of a Feather following an over-rich pudding and three Baileys too many. And maybe that's the point.
Celebrities feature heavily in supermarket ads. Asda continues its intensely patronising "stars in the aisles" campaign, in which well-loved faces slum it among the downtrodden workforce. Sainsbury's dumps Jamie Oliver into a sort of Dickensian pop-up book filled with miniature slaves. Morrisons has really dropped the ball, with an excruciating advert called "Lulu's Christmas Dream", in which Lulu wanders through a cosy, snow-caked market town peopled exclusively by a baffling combination of minor celebrities. There's Gabby Logan carving her turkey, Nick Hancock having a snowball fight, Denise van Outen giggling on a balcony, Diarmuid Gavin winking at Lulu as though recalling a particularly grubby one-night stand, and Alan Hansen filling his trolley with 500 tins of Miniature Heroes, all of it backed by Take That's Shine. It's like a low-rent Ocean's Thirteen. If it had used Alan Partridge instead of Lulu, and (I Believe in Miracles) You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate instead of Take That, it could have been the best Christmas commercial ever. As it is, it's just embarrassing.
Speaking of embarrassments, the Spice Girls have managed to imbue their long-awaited comeback with all the glamour and class of a hurried crap in a service station toilet by whoring themselves out to Tesco. The first instalment, in which the Girl Power quartet try to hide from each other while shopping for presents, represents a important landmark for the performing arts: Posh Spice becomes the first human being in history to be out-acted by a shopping trolley.
Marks & Sparks win a nerd rosette from me for managing to authentically replicate the style and tone of late-50s/early-60s movie trailers, although the undertone of its commercial is a tad suspect: it took me three or four viewings to realise it, but Twiggy and co are desperately showing off in a bid to impress Antonio Banderas, who looks a bit like a CEO in a brothel trying to decide which prostitute he fancies using. I keep expecting him to point out two of them at the end, and for the advert to cut suddenly to a grotesque scene where both of them pleasure him at once in a velvet boudoir, filmed in the same style as the slow-mo food porn it uses for its other commercials. All of which isn't very Christmassy either. But maybe that's just me.
Said ad is accompanied by yet another vintage song: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Presumably the ad agencies hold some sort of summit each year in the run-up to Christmas, where they negotiate who has the right to use each track, just so there's no duplication. "You can have Winter Wonderland provided we get to keep Wizzard." That kind of thing. Old-fashioned crooning is in vogue this year. I'm expecting the Bing Crosby/David Bowie take on Little Drummer Boy to make an appearance next time round - in a Currys ad, accompanying a shot of a wireless inkjet printer or something. You know. In keeping with the original sentiment of the song.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Using Your Emotions To Negotiate
I can’t say that I have ever been into (or actually read) any self-help or motivational books, but I came across this quote today: ‘Status elevates both our self esteem and the esteem with which others view us. Everyone wants to feel like ‘someone’ – ie a force to be reckoned with, a voice worth heeding, a person to know. Whether it’s because of our training, accomplishments, family background, job or position in our company, we’re likely to enjoy having a lofty status that is recognized by others and by ourselves.’
It’s from a book called ‘Beyond Reason’ – which promises to reveal how to ‘use emotions to turn disagreements - big or small, personal or professional - into an opportunity for mutual gain.’
The next time I’m stuck for a book to buy a Borders or Changi Airport, I think I may get a copy. Unless, of course, Santa’s reading this blog entry and puts it in my stocking for Crimbo . . .
It’s from a book called ‘Beyond Reason’ – which promises to reveal how to ‘use emotions to turn disagreements - big or small, personal or professional - into an opportunity for mutual gain.’
The next time I’m stuck for a book to buy a Borders or Changi Airport, I think I may get a copy. Unless, of course, Santa’s reading this blog entry and puts it in my stocking for Crimbo . . .
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Last Friday
Last Friday, I played in an ad agency 5-a-side tournament. To find out how my team and I got on, click here. Or, if you've got really good eyes, you might be able to read this:
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Ever wondered why you never hear of anyone robbing a bank in Sinagpore?
Sarah started her MBA course at Nanyang Technology University last week and, as the first tranche of payments were due, she asked me to transfer some money from bank (UOB) to hers (HSBC).
After having some fun and games trying to get the transfer done via the telephone, I was advised by to go down in person to my bank.
So on Friday lunchtime, I strolled down the road to UOB. After only queuing for 15 minutes, I was in. Or, to be specific, I was at Cashier No. 6 – who had the biggest smile I had ever seen.
I duly explained to the person behind the jump that I needed to transfer some money to wife’s bank and passed her a note with all of Sarah’s bank details (e.g. account name, number, bank, etc).
The teller then started to fill in a form and, just as started to think about what to have for my lunch, she stopped and said ‘I’m sorry, Sir, but we’re UOB and your wife’s account is with HSBC’.
‘I know, ‘ replied yours truly. [You have to get up earlier than that to catch me out, I thought.]
‘Well, we could do a Telegraphic Transfer’ said the teller, helpfully.
‘And what will that cost me?’[See the comment above in square brackets.]
‘$15, sir.’
‘Sod that.’
‘Sorry, sir?’
‘It’s ok. I’ll pay it in myself. So can I just have the money in cash and I’ll go to HSBC.’
So with a pocket full of used notes in large denominations, I braved the 32 degree Celsius heat outside and strolled the 2km to HSBC. Once there, I took a ticket and waited for my turn.
There was an interesting programme on the plasma TV screen installed to keep all the queuing punters happy. It was in Chinese, but from the images being shown, it was all about some automated milking machine. And was pretty graphic. So much so, that after seeing yet another poor cow have her udders manhandled by robo-suck, I didn’t fancy lunch any more.
It wasn’t long before it was my turn to provide to be milked.
‘I’d like to put some money into my wife’s account, please’.
‘Certainly, sir’ replied the grinning cashier, who had the largest smile I had seen since the one down at UOB.
I dug out the cash and placed that in front of the cashier and then the note with all of Sarah’s bank details. The cashier picked up the note and started to enter details into her keyboard.
‘And how much are you depositing, sir?’
‘$10,000.’
‘And can I ask where did the money come from?’
‘From me’ said I. [She would have to get up even earlier than the UOB cashier to catch me out, I thought].
‘And where did you get the money from sir?’
‘My bank.’ And with that, I showed her the receipt from UOB.
‘Thank you ‘ replied Smiley.’ I just need to know what will your wife do with the money?’
‘Jesus!’
‘Sorry?’
‘Err for savings and spending’ I said. [I was worried that if I had mentioned the MBA course, that I would have been there all day]
‘Thank you, sir,’ she said. ‘I will just need to seek authorisation from my supervisor’. And, leaving all of the money untouched, she disappeared into an office at the back.
[Now, I know that I may have looked a bit hot and sweaty (it was 32 degrees outside) and I did have bundle of cash (with a receipt from my bank) – but what did she need authorisation for? To accept used notes from a dodgy-looking customer, whose shirt was dripping in sweat?]
After about 5 minutes, she reappeared and said that she had been given permission to bank the cash. She counted the money, gave me a receipt and I was on my way back to the office.
No wonder you never hear of bank robberies in Singapore. For if it’s that difficult to put money into a bank, just how imagine how hard it to steal it!
After having some fun and games trying to get the transfer done via the telephone, I was advised by to go down in person to my bank.
So on Friday lunchtime, I strolled down the road to UOB. After only queuing for 15 minutes, I was in. Or, to be specific, I was at Cashier No. 6 – who had the biggest smile I had ever seen.
I duly explained to the person behind the jump that I needed to transfer some money to wife’s bank and passed her a note with all of Sarah’s bank details (e.g. account name, number, bank, etc).
The teller then started to fill in a form and, just as started to think about what to have for my lunch, she stopped and said ‘I’m sorry, Sir, but we’re UOB and your wife’s account is with HSBC’.
‘I know, ‘ replied yours truly. [You have to get up earlier than that to catch me out, I thought.]
‘Well, we could do a Telegraphic Transfer’ said the teller, helpfully.
‘And what will that cost me?’[See the comment above in square brackets.]
‘$15, sir.’
‘Sod that.’
‘Sorry, sir?’
‘It’s ok. I’ll pay it in myself. So can I just have the money in cash and I’ll go to HSBC.’
So with a pocket full of used notes in large denominations, I braved the 32 degree Celsius heat outside and strolled the 2km to HSBC. Once there, I took a ticket and waited for my turn.
There was an interesting programme on the plasma TV screen installed to keep all the queuing punters happy. It was in Chinese, but from the images being shown, it was all about some automated milking machine. And was pretty graphic. So much so, that after seeing yet another poor cow have her udders manhandled by robo-suck, I didn’t fancy lunch any more.
It wasn’t long before it was my turn to provide to be milked.
‘I’d like to put some money into my wife’s account, please’.
‘Certainly, sir’ replied the grinning cashier, who had the largest smile I had seen since the one down at UOB.
I dug out the cash and placed that in front of the cashier and then the note with all of Sarah’s bank details. The cashier picked up the note and started to enter details into her keyboard.
‘And how much are you depositing, sir?’
‘$10,000.’
‘And can I ask where did the money come from?’
‘From me’ said I. [She would have to get up even earlier than the UOB cashier to catch me out, I thought].
‘And where did you get the money from sir?’
‘My bank.’ And with that, I showed her the receipt from UOB.
‘Thank you ‘ replied Smiley.’ I just need to know what will your wife do with the money?’
‘Jesus!’
‘Sorry?’
‘Err for savings and spending’ I said. [I was worried that if I had mentioned the MBA course, that I would have been there all day]
‘Thank you, sir,’ she said. ‘I will just need to seek authorisation from my supervisor’. And, leaving all of the money untouched, she disappeared into an office at the back.
[Now, I know that I may have looked a bit hot and sweaty (it was 32 degrees outside) and I did have bundle of cash (with a receipt from my bank) – but what did she need authorisation for? To accept used notes from a dodgy-looking customer, whose shirt was dripping in sweat?]
After about 5 minutes, she reappeared and said that she had been given permission to bank the cash. She counted the money, gave me a receipt and I was on my way back to the office.
No wonder you never hear of bank robberies in Singapore. For if it’s that difficult to put money into a bank, just how imagine how hard it to steal it!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Gerry Kane R.I.P.
A very good pal, Gerry Kane, passed away last weekend. He was only thirty-eight.
Thankfully I got to see him on the day before he passed away. It's so hard to say goodbye to someone knowing that you'll never get to see them again. Especially to someone so young.
But Gerry was unbelievable. Happy, chatting and cracking jokes with everyone.
He was even strong enough to hang on until his family flew in from Perth at 6am last Saturday, before he passed away at 2pm.
Even at 1pm he was still sending texts to people. Could you do that? 60 minutes before you met your maker?
Gerry Kane: Loving husband, property and investment guru, (professional) golfer, bullshit artiste and damn good bloke!
A service was held for Gerry last Monday and you can see that by clicking here.
Thankfully I got to see him on the day before he passed away. It's so hard to say goodbye to someone knowing that you'll never get to see them again. Especially to someone so young.
But Gerry was unbelievable. Happy, chatting and cracking jokes with everyone.
He was even strong enough to hang on until his family flew in from Perth at 6am last Saturday, before he passed away at 2pm.
Even at 1pm he was still sending texts to people. Could you do that? 60 minutes before you met your maker?
Gerry Kane: Loving husband, property and investment guru, (professional) golfer, bullshit artiste and damn good bloke!
A service was held for Gerry last Monday and you can see that by clicking here.
Friday, January 19, 2007
It's been a while..
But this made me laugh:
I parked my car in a space reserved for the Disabled. And this jobs’ worth of a traffic warden shouts over to me:
‘Oi! You can’t park there. What’s your disability?’
‘Tourette’s, you prick! Now fuck off!’, says I.
I parked my car in a space reserved for the Disabled. And this jobs’ worth of a traffic warden shouts over to me:
‘Oi! You can’t park there. What’s your disability?’
‘Tourette’s, you prick! Now fuck off!’, says I.
Monday, July 03, 2006
You can't make this stuff up...
This ‘joke de la jour’ is taken a forum on ExpatSingapore – where one can find answers to the burning issues on life as an expat in Singapore (e.g. where your maid goes to on a Sunday, why you can never get a taxi in the rush hour and where to find the best laksa/pepper crab/chicken rice in Singapore):
Q: I'm interested in buying a modest apartment in Singapore to avoid wasting money on rent. Can anyone advise what sort of money I could expect to pay?
A. I would expect you would pay in Singapore dollars.
Quality response! It’s up there with:
Q: I'm interested in learning to play the Spanish Guitar. Can anyone advise where I can get lessons?
A. Spain?
Q: I'm interested in buying a modest apartment in Singapore to avoid wasting money on rent. Can anyone advise what sort of money I could expect to pay?
A. I would expect you would pay in Singapore dollars.
Quality response! It’s up there with:
Q: I'm interested in learning to play the Spanish Guitar. Can anyone advise where I can get lessons?
A. Spain?
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Normal Service Will Be Resumed
What with the wedding, work and other bits and pieces, I haven't entered anything from ages. But will get back into the swing of things this week.
Firstly, though, Sarah, who's off to Shanghai shortly, has given me a tonne of pix to post up on the wedding site. So that's the next two hours sorted.
And then, at 5:30, I get to watch the Liverpool - Chelsea semi-final from yesterdau. Although the game was played at 12:15 this am, I had had a very long day yesterday so decided to avoid the result and watch it while Sarah is on her plane to Chelsea.
Actually, speaking of football, yesterday I got roped in by old football team, Pulau Ubin, to 'appear' in a Tiger Beer commercial. Basically, we got to pretend that we were footballers, drink beer and get paid for it.
Once the ad hits the TV screens, I will be sure to pass you the url to have a butcher's at our football/acting/extra skills.
Firstly, though, Sarah, who's off to Shanghai shortly, has given me a tonne of pix to post up on the wedding site. So that's the next two hours sorted.
And then, at 5:30, I get to watch the Liverpool - Chelsea semi-final from yesterdau. Although the game was played at 12:15 this am, I had had a very long day yesterday so decided to avoid the result and watch it while Sarah is on her plane to Chelsea.
Actually, speaking of football, yesterday I got roped in by old football team, Pulau Ubin, to 'appear' in a Tiger Beer commercial. Basically, we got to pretend that we were footballers, drink beer and get paid for it.
Once the ad hits the TV screens, I will be sure to pass you the url to have a butcher's at our football/acting/extra skills.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Some Golden Rules When Writing
What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have effect?
Can I put it more succinctly?
Have I said anything that is unavoidably ugly?
What words will express it?
What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have effect?
Can I put it more succinctly?
Have I said anything that is unavoidably ugly?
Monday, February 06, 2006
The Hargreaves Have Landed
Sarah’s folks (Pete and Pam) arrived on Weds 18 Jan for their annual visit. To date, their stay has gone something like:
19.01: ??
20.01: Took them to a (great) Chinese restaurant (Hua Zhu) in Farrer Rd
21.01: Took them to a (disappointing) Brazilian restaurant in 6th Avenue
22-24.01: Jan Took (and left) them to Desaru, Malaysia. [Played golf with Pete on the Sunday and shot a 96 – my first sub*century game]
25.01: Jan Eats at ours as Sarah was back from Japan & Korea
26.01:??
27.01: Took them to Coolies in the afternoon and back to Hua Zhu in the evening
28.01: Had a bbq at ours and met up with Kev & Jayne, Nicole and Sandy
29.01: Took Spent the day and night at the Ritz-Cartlton for Pam’s B’day – and to watch the (great) Chinese New Year fireworks
30.01: ??
31.01: Took Pete to Batam for some golf with some of the Coolies boyz. [Normal service was resumed with Pete shooting 90 and me 103]
01.02: ??
02.02: Met Pete and Pam at Coolies to pay for golf and had a couple of beers
03:.02: Sarah had the day off and took her folks to Johor Bahru (across the causeway in Malaysia) for a visa run for her mum and to do some shopping. In the evening they went to the Chingay Festival.
04.02: Pete cam to his first Coolies’ golf day and ended up strolling in at 3 am! [After the golf we went to Est and Andrew’s for some eats and vino, and watched the rugby at 1am]
05.02: We all went down to Tanglin for some 9*hole pitch and putt fun. After a quick beer at Demspey’s Hut, it was back to chez nous for some nice eats with Gary and Fiona, and Mark.
06.02: Bad start to the day with Liverpool losing to Chelsea – despite having the better of the first half. Doesn’t help that all the Hargreaves are Blues fans!
19.01: ??
20.01: Took them to a (great) Chinese restaurant (Hua Zhu) in Farrer Rd
21.01: Took them to a (disappointing) Brazilian restaurant in 6th Avenue
22-24.01: Jan Took (and left) them to Desaru, Malaysia. [Played golf with Pete on the Sunday and shot a 96 – my first sub*century game]
25.01: Jan Eats at ours as Sarah was back from Japan & Korea
26.01:??
27.01: Took them to Coolies in the afternoon and back to Hua Zhu in the evening
28.01: Had a bbq at ours and met up with Kev & Jayne, Nicole and Sandy
29.01: Took Spent the day and night at the Ritz-Cartlton for Pam’s B’day – and to watch the (great) Chinese New Year fireworks
30.01: ??
31.01: Took Pete to Batam for some golf with some of the Coolies boyz. [Normal service was resumed with Pete shooting 90 and me 103]
01.02: ??
02.02: Met Pete and Pam at Coolies to pay for golf and had a couple of beers
03:.02: Sarah had the day off and took her folks to Johor Bahru (across the causeway in Malaysia) for a visa run for her mum and to do some shopping. In the evening they went to the Chingay Festival.
04.02: Pete cam to his first Coolies’ golf day and ended up strolling in at 3 am! [After the golf we went to Est and Andrew’s for some eats and vino, and watched the rugby at 1am]
05.02: We all went down to Tanglin for some 9*hole pitch and putt fun. After a quick beer at Demspey’s Hut, it was back to chez nous for some nice eats with Gary and Fiona, and Mark.
06.02: Bad start to the day with Liverpool losing to Chelsea – despite having the better of the first half. Doesn’t help that all the Hargreaves are Blues fans!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006
Raining geckos and bull-frogs
It has rained everyday since we got back from Oz (Mon 2 Jan). So much so, that the so-called IT super highway was flooded and so I was unable to update my blog. Well, the truth was that I have been busy with other things (like a new job, footy, entertaining etc) but thought that the above excuse sounded better. Besides, there must be something about Seasonal Affective Disorder 'cos when its dark, miserable and wet, you don't fancy doing much.
Anyway, the sun has got its hat on in Singapore today (for the first time since Dec 23 apparently) so thought that was worth shouting about.
Tonight am off to some Chivas Regal bash at the Esplanade (Singapore's attempt to mimic the Sydney Opera House). A free entry and free flow alcohol usually secures my attendance at most places. Tomorrow its golf with Coolies and Sunday, we are mtg up with Fiona and Gary (who we went to W.Australia with) for some local eats and Margaret River vinos.
And on Sunday, I will stick some pix from Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock up on the site. May even stick a pick of Sarah's new rock up here too!
Which reminds me, we need to decide on where to get married. And when. And how....
Anyway, the sun has got its hat on in Singapore today (for the first time since Dec 23 apparently) so thought that was worth shouting about.
Tonight am off to some Chivas Regal bash at the Esplanade (Singapore's attempt to mimic the Sydney Opera House). A free entry and free flow alcohol usually secures my attendance at most places. Tomorrow its golf with Coolies and Sunday, we are mtg up with Fiona and Gary (who we went to W.Australia with) for some local eats and Margaret River vinos.
And on Sunday, I will stick some pix from Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock up on the site. May even stick a pick of Sarah's new rock up here too!
Which reminds me, we need to decide on where to get married. And when. And how....
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Be sure to visit TamaHouse !
Check out Elaine's site, www.tamahouse.com.
[Elaine is my colleague at Grip and helps to keep me sane when all that yucky stuff starts to hit the crowds]
It's all Elaine's work and if you need a quirky multi-media designer, drop her a line!
[Elaine is my colleague at Grip and helps to keep me sane when all that yucky stuff starts to hit the crowds]
It's all Elaine's work and if you need a quirky multi-media designer, drop her a line!
Sporting Quotes of the Fortnight
"If you take the scrum out of the equation, we played well."
Former Australia coach Eddie Jones, defending the Wallabies' defeat by England.
"If you take the assassination out of the equation, the President and Mrs Kennedy quite enjoyed the drive from Dallas to the airport."
Mike Carlton (Australian broadcaster) disagrees.
Former Australia coach Eddie Jones, defending the Wallabies' defeat by England.
"If you take the assassination out of the equation, the President and Mrs Kennedy quite enjoyed the drive from Dallas to the airport."
Mike Carlton (Australian broadcaster) disagrees.
Keeping a diary / blog is easy…
It’s remembering to update it that’s the tricky bit!
In the past month since my last entry, I have omitted to add stuff about:
- the Coolies Golf Tour to Chiang Mai (three days of golf, art galleries and water-painting classes with the lads);
- my birthday weekend (spent a night at the luxurious Sentosa hotel and ate some great seafood at The Cliff);
- Jaffy being spayed at the vets – and recovering very well;
- my resignation from Grip as I start at Tequila on Tues 3 Jan – which I am v. excited about; and
Our trip to Darwin over Xmas / New Year.
But will do at some stage.
Plus, for the first time ever, I will actually publish my New Year’s resolutions – in a half attempt at helping me to actually reach / keep them!
And while I recall, thanks to Holly and Hugh for the posh notebook that arrived in the post last week. Though there was no covering note so am assuming it was you guys! [I also rec’d a Stereo MCs CD through the post – that had no covering note but was signed ‘Peace - Rob’ on the case. After asking around to see who sent it, I found out that I had won it after registering at their site and that the scrawls on the front were the band’s signatures!]
In the past month since my last entry, I have omitted to add stuff about:
- the Coolies Golf Tour to Chiang Mai (three days of golf, art galleries and water-painting classes with the lads);
- my birthday weekend (spent a night at the luxurious Sentosa hotel and ate some great seafood at The Cliff);
- Jaffy being spayed at the vets – and recovering very well;
- my resignation from Grip as I start at Tequila on Tues 3 Jan – which I am v. excited about; and
Our trip to Darwin over Xmas / New Year.
But will do at some stage.
Plus, for the first time ever, I will actually publish my New Year’s resolutions – in a half attempt at helping me to actually reach / keep them!
And while I recall, thanks to Holly and Hugh for the posh notebook that arrived in the post last week. Though there was no covering note so am assuming it was you guys! [I also rec’d a Stereo MCs CD through the post – that had no covering note but was signed ‘Peace - Rob’ on the case. After asking around to see who sent it, I found out that I had won it after registering at their site and that the scrawls on the front were the band’s signatures!]
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Perth, WA
While I recall, our trip to Oz went something like this:
On Saturday, we flew to Perth, took a short mini-bus journey and arrived at our (Comfort!) hotel 1:30am
On Sunday, we were up for brekky by 9 and then strolled around Perth and its shops. [For hours!]. Though must say that King’s Park – which overlooks the Swan River and Perth – is a great spot for a picnic, beer and the Sunday papers. Back to our hotel to collect our bags and then took the free tram to the train station to catch the train to Fremantle (30 min ride). After dropping our bags off at our B+B, we strolled around the seaside town and was glad to have packed a fleece and a baseball cap, as it got a bit chilly at night! Ate at a posh Indian.
On Monday, we took the ferry over to Rottnest Island – where we cycled around, stopped off at some beaches, Sarah took some pix, had some wine and pasty for lunch, Sarah took some more pix and saw some cute quokkas (2 foot long marsupials – that are half-responsible for the island’s name as some Dutch explorer thought that they were rats – well he was two miles off shore at the time!).
We aught the ferry back and met up with Gary and Fiona (two Melbournites that live in Singapore) – for a drive down to Rockingham (about an hour or so drive away).
Rockingham is a proper seaside town – with small pier, promenade, etc – and I think it’s where the oldies go to retire as the whole place was deserted and practically closed up by 9pm! We managed to squeeze into an Italian – run by a guy from Jersey – and while the gals ordered, Gary and I snuck in a couple of Aussie ales in a Pub/TAB - where you can drink and place a bet at the same time.
Tuesday – up at 7 to go swimming with dolphins! Basically you get on a small boat, sail out to the middle of the bay / Indian Ocean, slip on a wet suit (ok ‘slip’ may not be the best term to use when trying to squeeze into a wet suit but it will do for now) and when our guides saw a pod of dolphins, they’d tell us all to ‘Go,Go,Go’. And then we’d all scramble into the water (which was f…f…f….f….. freezing by the way) with our snorkel and goggle and hang onto the belt of the person in front of you, while at the head of each crocodile of would-be snorkels and dolphin-spotters, was a trained guide with a handy device that would propel us along in the water.
The dolphins – which were all wild – would then appear beside you, underneath you, behind you – and almost at touching distance. It was liking watching some Attenborough sea-life program – though with the odd jet of frozen water squirming down your back to make you realise that you weren’t watching the dolphins through a state-of-the-art flat-screen TV. That and the fact that you occasionally swallowed some sea water.
On the ride back to shore – with some hot drinks inside us –the dolphins zipped in and out of the water, showing off as they tried to race us back.
Absolutely awesome experience. Especially as our guides did not feed the dolphins – and that it was simply up to the dolphins if they wanted to play.
That afternoon, we drove off to Dunsborough, which is in the heart of the Margaret River wine region. We booked a seaside cottage through the very helpful Tourist Office, grabbed some provisions and headed off to our home for the next four nights.
The place was very nice – just two minutes from the sea – and was equipped with everything you need – barbie, cooker, microwave, two bathrooms, TV, sofas, open fire…Gary was on fire-duty every evening, while I volunteered for the cooking role.
The next day we drove out to around a dozen local vineyards – will have to ask Sarah for a list of their names as they all kind of blended into one after a while. Especially after all the wine-tasting we did along the way. [Though, must admit, I prefer the term ‘wine-drinking’ to ‘wine-tasting’ as the latter implies swirling the stuff around in your glass and mouth, and then usually spitting it out!]
On, Thursday we gave Gary a day off from driving and went on a BushTucker Tour of some different vineyard. Basically we climbed aboard a mini-bus, got off at loads of vineyards, a cheese producer, a chocolate maker… Anyway, needless to say we drank loads, brought loads and had a good day.
On the way home, Sarah had still to see any kangaroos – apart from the one that was served up for lunch – so our driver, Stevo, went out of his way to find some. And I showed by bush tucker skills by whistling to get a ‘roo (just one of many ‘technical’ terms I collected along the trip) to stand up and look towards us so that Sarah could take a snap of him
Friday was supposed to be golf for the boys and whale-watching for the gal but the stormy weather soon put paid to our plans. So the boys hit the pub, while the girls went shopping.
Saturday was an early start as we drove back to Perth. Gary and Fiona stayed on another night, whilst we flew back home. [And, I must say, Qantas looked after us on the way back as they must have given me alone like 6 quarter bottles of wine!]
Overall, a nice, relaxing trip and we have loads of pix (which I'll stick up shortly), vino and other nice gourmet bits and bobs to remind us.
On Saturday, we flew to Perth, took a short mini-bus journey and arrived at our (Comfort!) hotel 1:30am
On Sunday, we were up for brekky by 9 and then strolled around Perth and its shops. [For hours!]. Though must say that King’s Park – which overlooks the Swan River and Perth – is a great spot for a picnic, beer and the Sunday papers. Back to our hotel to collect our bags and then took the free tram to the train station to catch the train to Fremantle (30 min ride). After dropping our bags off at our B+B, we strolled around the seaside town and was glad to have packed a fleece and a baseball cap, as it got a bit chilly at night! Ate at a posh Indian.
On Monday, we took the ferry over to Rottnest Island – where we cycled around, stopped off at some beaches, Sarah took some pix, had some wine and pasty for lunch, Sarah took some more pix and saw some cute quokkas (2 foot long marsupials – that are half-responsible for the island’s name as some Dutch explorer thought that they were rats – well he was two miles off shore at the time!).
We aught the ferry back and met up with Gary and Fiona (two Melbournites that live in Singapore) – for a drive down to Rockingham (about an hour or so drive away).
Rockingham is a proper seaside town – with small pier, promenade, etc – and I think it’s where the oldies go to retire as the whole place was deserted and practically closed up by 9pm! We managed to squeeze into an Italian – run by a guy from Jersey – and while the gals ordered, Gary and I snuck in a couple of Aussie ales in a Pub/TAB - where you can drink and place a bet at the same time.
Tuesday – up at 7 to go swimming with dolphins! Basically you get on a small boat, sail out to the middle of the bay / Indian Ocean, slip on a wet suit (ok ‘slip’ may not be the best term to use when trying to squeeze into a wet suit but it will do for now) and when our guides saw a pod of dolphins, they’d tell us all to ‘Go,Go,Go’. And then we’d all scramble into the water (which was f…f…f….f….. freezing by the way) with our snorkel and goggle and hang onto the belt of the person in front of you, while at the head of each crocodile of would-be snorkels and dolphin-spotters, was a trained guide with a handy device that would propel us along in the water.
The dolphins – which were all wild – would then appear beside you, underneath you, behind you – and almost at touching distance. It was liking watching some Attenborough sea-life program – though with the odd jet of frozen water squirming down your back to make you realise that you weren’t watching the dolphins through a state-of-the-art flat-screen TV. That and the fact that you occasionally swallowed some sea water.
On the ride back to shore – with some hot drinks inside us –the dolphins zipped in and out of the water, showing off as they tried to race us back.
Absolutely awesome experience. Especially as our guides did not feed the dolphins – and that it was simply up to the dolphins if they wanted to play.
That afternoon, we drove off to Dunsborough, which is in the heart of the Margaret River wine region. We booked a seaside cottage through the very helpful Tourist Office, grabbed some provisions and headed off to our home for the next four nights.
The place was very nice – just two minutes from the sea – and was equipped with everything you need – barbie, cooker, microwave, two bathrooms, TV, sofas, open fire…Gary was on fire-duty every evening, while I volunteered for the cooking role.
The next day we drove out to around a dozen local vineyards – will have to ask Sarah for a list of their names as they all kind of blended into one after a while. Especially after all the wine-tasting we did along the way. [Though, must admit, I prefer the term ‘wine-drinking’ to ‘wine-tasting’ as the latter implies swirling the stuff around in your glass and mouth, and then usually spitting it out!]
On, Thursday we gave Gary a day off from driving and went on a BushTucker Tour of some different vineyard. Basically we climbed aboard a mini-bus, got off at loads of vineyards, a cheese producer, a chocolate maker… Anyway, needless to say we drank loads, brought loads and had a good day.
On the way home, Sarah had still to see any kangaroos – apart from the one that was served up for lunch – so our driver, Stevo, went out of his way to find some. And I showed by bush tucker skills by whistling to get a ‘roo (just one of many ‘technical’ terms I collected along the trip) to stand up and look towards us so that Sarah could take a snap of him
Friday was supposed to be golf for the boys and whale-watching for the gal but the stormy weather soon put paid to our plans. So the boys hit the pub, while the girls went shopping.
Saturday was an early start as we drove back to Perth. Gary and Fiona stayed on another night, whilst we flew back home. [And, I must say, Qantas looked after us on the way back as they must have given me alone like 6 quarter bottles of wine!]
Overall, a nice, relaxing trip and we have loads of pix (which I'll stick up shortly), vino and other nice gourmet bits and bobs to remind us.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
A Big IOU
Apologies - but have been pretty slack in updating this blog but will do so by the weekend. Among other things, I need to ceover:
- Perth (vineyards, swimming with the dolphins, vineyards and more vineyards)
- A Day At The Races (Sarah's top tipster)
- The Ballet (Romeo & Juliet by the Imperial Russian Ballet)
- Chelsea lose a game (or two!)
And other stuff and nonsense. Honest!
- Perth (vineyards, swimming with the dolphins, vineyards and more vineyards)
- A Day At The Races (Sarah's top tipster)
- The Ballet (Romeo & Juliet by the Imperial Russian Ballet)
- Chelsea lose a game (or two!)
And other stuff and nonsense. Honest!
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