Category: General

Back from North America

I’ve started packing this evening. Early Friday morning I will leave San Francisco, having sat my final two exams for the term Thursday. The journey won’t be overly long, only about 150 miles. It’s a trip I usually make twice a month. Living in the second most crowded city in the United States can become a bit overwhelming at times, especially for someone who had spent the previous 25 years of his life in either small towns or the countryside. For twelve days I will be there. “There” is Amador County, where my father largely grew up and where my mother chose to make her life. It’s one of those places that’s difficult to duly appreciate until one sees the lesser aspects of more exciting places. For that matter, the lesser aspects of excitement. That there is always something “happening” isn’t always for the best.

On the 28th I will leave again, this time to fly to Germany via Switzerland and Luxembourg. One of my friends who will join me in Amador County after he sits his last exam will see me off at the aeroport before he packs his belongings and prepares to move to Minneapolis to finish his degree in finance. It will be the last time that we see each other for a while. Continue reading “Back from North America”

Perks of the job

Acting as a villain on an old episode of Kojak the other night was an actor that made my blood boil: Armand Assante. In his earlier film roles he always got to “date” beautiful actresses that I adored. Seeing him brought to book by the good lieutenant gave me a certain schadenfreude as I have unhappy memories of those pictures where he was kissing the face off of my girls. Naturally, those actresses have now weathered slightly but double A got to smooch with them in their prime. All the women are A+ and his first victim was also an AA. Continue reading “Perks of the job”

A biblical parable (sort of)

It is a strange world when our leaders do not learn from history but believe they can build empires on sand or moving platforms; such is the case for the Euro. The basic idea of a single currency ruled by one finance ministry and tax regime is an excellent idea, and from this idea the politicians decided to go madly ahead and introduce a single currency without first building the strongest foundations possible.

The politicians decided that all countries within the Euro zone were at the same level of wealth, that all countries had strict tax regimes and that all countries played by the same rules. However this was far from the truth, the northern European countries had rich manufacturing economies and very rigid tax regimes with people that played by the rules; while the southern states had very little in regards to manufacturing industry and relied mainly on farming and tourism, with a tax regime that is laughable at best and absolutely non existent at worst. Continue reading “A biblical parable (sort of)”

A new competition on the Chariot?

No, not really. However a Liberal MEP has noted one of the EU’s sillier expenditure of money. They claim that studies prove that prunes do not have a laxative effect. He has challenged them to a prune eating contest to see what the truth is :-). I have no idea, as I do not really like prunes and I do not have any problems in that area, but I think we should be told!

It is a good job our 50 million pounds a day contribution to the EU coffers is not wasted! I wonder what other competitions we could envisage?

Should we adopt the Euro?

Should the UK adopt The Euro?

A cross-sectional survey of 1000 people in the UK, made up of Afghans, Albanians, Pakistanis, Indians, Poles, Iraqis, Somalis, Bosnians, Turks, Moldavians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Bangladeshis, Ethiopians, Russians, Congolese, Zimbabweans, Portuguese and Nigerians were asked if they thought Britain should change its currency to the Euro.

99.9% said no, they were happy with the Giro.

End of an Era.

Johnny finally acknowledges what we all knew and hangs up his International boots…

To say I have played through four World Cups, two Lions tours, 91 international games and a ridiculous number of injuries and other setbacks gives me an incredibly special feeling of fulfilment.

Not a bad achievement at all, I would hazard to say.

Not just a kicker…

Smitten by a kitten

Well, considering I wasn’t too bothered about a new cat, not yet anyway, I have been knocked sideways by this little bundle. Here she is (no we still are not sure, but I seem to feel she is a she) on our previous, much missed cat’s chair, quite bold now, though a little out of focus!

and five minutes later asleep

Continue reading “Smitten by a kitten”

In the Festive Spirit.

A gentle reminder. I’d like to share an experience that I had this weekend regarding drinking and driving. Its obviously very relevant during the forthcoming festive season.

Many of you will know people who have had brushes with the authorities on their way home from the odd social session over the years.

Well, a couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had a few too many light ales than maybe I should have had – It happens.

Knowing full well I was very likely over the limit, and knowing I’d had a close call from being pulled over by a traffic cop to take a breathalyser only the week before, I did something I’ve never done before – I took a bus home!

Anyway, I arrived home safely, enjoyed the ride and it was all free of worry about police pulling me over and testing me.

I know we often avoid doing this and take the risk of using the car we came in to go home in, BUT DON’T DO IT! The police will eventually catch you, you will lose your licence and maybe even your livelihood!

I’m sharing this experience with you because the incident was a pleasant surprise to me, particularly since I had never driven a bus before!