Tuesday, October 03, 2006
OK, so last time I lied...
but this time i mean it. Time to start posting again from this increasingly wierd country (assuming i can work out how to post via email).
First up - water. There's tons of it here. It pisses down regularly. Sydney has more rainfall than London. Ignore any Australian who tells you there's a drought - there's just a lack of brainpower.
but this time i mean it. Time to start posting again from this increasingly wierd country (assuming i can work out how to post via email).
First up - water. There's tons of it here. It pisses down regularly. Sydney has more rainfall than London. Ignore any Australian who tells you there's a drought - there's just a lack of brainpower.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
AND WE'RE BACK (for a while at least)
I thought it's about time I had another stab at this blogging malarky, especially as the natives downunder have provided a few crumbs which I hope may enlighten and/or amuse my reader, assuming (s)he is still alive of course.
I'll scribble a few notes tomorrow and update the sidebars etc over time (basically once i can remember how you do that) but in the meantime would any non-australians care to take a stab at defining the following common australian words...
rort
stoush
They crop up all the time down here and I had never heard of either of them before.
I thought it's about time I had another stab at this blogging malarky, especially as the natives downunder have provided a few crumbs which I hope may enlighten and/or amuse my reader, assuming (s)he is still alive of course.
I'll scribble a few notes tomorrow and update the sidebars etc over time (basically once i can remember how you do that) but in the meantime would any non-australians care to take a stab at defining the following common australian words...
rort
stoush
They crop up all the time down here and I had never heard of either of them before.
Friday, August 12, 2005
YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME, I'M PART OF THE UNION....
To - Tony Woodley, General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union – tgwu@tgwu.org.uk
Dear Sir,
I would like to congratulate you on your decision to take strike action against Gate Gourmet and, by default, British Airways.
I do not for one minute believe the cynics who are pointing out that this is the third August in a row that British Airways has been affected by strike action and are claiming that your members are simply a bunch of lazy shirkers who fancied a few extra days off in the summer, but totally accept your assertion that it is the fault of Gate Gourmet and their “intransigent” management.
I also whole heartedly agree with your support of the “low-paid Asian” workers who walked out on Gate Gourmet and then were sacked as a result, and who clearly would be unable to find any other work in the UK, despite the current unemployment rate currently standing at 2.80%, a level many economists believe is below a sustainable full-employment level.
Unfortunately your action has meant however that myself, my wife, and our 2 children, who were all booked in business class on BA0025 to Hong Kong tonight are now going to be flying on Qantas instead. This unfortunately means that the profits from the flight will now be going to Australia instead of the UK (indeed I see estimates of as high as GBP40 million are being mentioned as the losses BA – and thus the UK - will face from this action) but I am sure it is a small price to pay to safeguard the jobs of the people who put the little plastic covers on top of the boxes of “food” that were prepared several days earlier.
This is also the second time in 3 years that our BA flights have been affected by strike action from your members.
Sadly, despite my whole-hearted support for your position and actions, I actually do have a job which I have to be back in Hong Kong for on Monday, and my “intransigent” management does not seem to understand my support for you and your brothers in arms. As a result this does mean that we will never be booking flights on British Airways again and will in future always use Cathay Pacific or Qantas. I do hope that no other regular passengers are as small-minded as we are being and continue to be loyal to BA despite the repeated problems, as obviously this could materially impact the airline, and hence the number of your members they are able to employ.
Good luck with the struggle comrade.
Yours in Solidarity
Giles
To - Tony Woodley, General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union – tgwu@tgwu.org.uk
Dear Sir,
I would like to congratulate you on your decision to take strike action against Gate Gourmet and, by default, British Airways.
I do not for one minute believe the cynics who are pointing out that this is the third August in a row that British Airways has been affected by strike action and are claiming that your members are simply a bunch of lazy shirkers who fancied a few extra days off in the summer, but totally accept your assertion that it is the fault of Gate Gourmet and their “intransigent” management.
I also whole heartedly agree with your support of the “low-paid Asian” workers who walked out on Gate Gourmet and then were sacked as a result, and who clearly would be unable to find any other work in the UK, despite the current unemployment rate currently standing at 2.80%, a level many economists believe is below a sustainable full-employment level.
Unfortunately your action has meant however that myself, my wife, and our 2 children, who were all booked in business class on BA0025 to Hong Kong tonight are now going to be flying on Qantas instead. This unfortunately means that the profits from the flight will now be going to Australia instead of the UK (indeed I see estimates of as high as GBP40 million are being mentioned as the losses BA – and thus the UK - will face from this action) but I am sure it is a small price to pay to safeguard the jobs of the people who put the little plastic covers on top of the boxes of “food” that were prepared several days earlier.
This is also the second time in 3 years that our BA flights have been affected by strike action from your members.
Sadly, despite my whole-hearted support for your position and actions, I actually do have a job which I have to be back in Hong Kong for on Monday, and my “intransigent” management does not seem to understand my support for you and your brothers in arms. As a result this does mean that we will never be booking flights on British Airways again and will in future always use Cathay Pacific or Qantas. I do hope that no other regular passengers are as small-minded as we are being and continue to be loyal to BA despite the repeated problems, as obviously this could materially impact the airline, and hence the number of your members they are able to employ.
Good luck with the struggle comrade.
Yours in Solidarity
Giles
Friday, August 05, 2005
MUD ISLAND UPDATE
Alarm went off at 6.30. It was raining. It's now 9.30. It's still raining.
Still at least it is raining here and hopefully not in Edgbaston. A long lunch in front of the TV in the pub beckons I think.
Alarm went off at 6.30. It was raining. It's now 9.30. It's still raining.
Still at least it is raining here and hopefully not in Edgbaston. A long lunch in front of the TV in the pub beckons I think.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Monday, August 01, 2005
TALES FROM MUD ISLAND…
Finally got here on Thursday night. Haven’t had access to a p.c. till this afternoon though (thankfully).
A few observations so far from the peak of the British summer…
It has rained on average every three hours since we arrived.
Longest continuous spell of sunshine so far – estimated 15 minutes.
Highest temperature recorded so far – 22 degrees.
On the day we arrived the biggest security operation since World War II was in force because of the threat of suicide bombings. This included armed police on trians and tubes, and a very visible police presence across the whole of London
On Friday, a black 18 year old man was killed in an attack which left an axe embedded in his forehead in a racist attack while he was waiting for a bus with his 17 year old white girlfriend.
Today, a man was stabbed to death on a bus by a man who he the victim has asked to stop throwing chips.
God it's a dump.
Finally got here on Thursday night. Haven’t had access to a p.c. till this afternoon though (thankfully).
A few observations so far from the peak of the British summer…
It has rained on average every three hours since we arrived.
Longest continuous spell of sunshine so far – estimated 15 minutes.
Highest temperature recorded so far – 22 degrees.
On the day we arrived the biggest security operation since World War II was in force because of the threat of suicide bombings. This included armed police on trians and tubes, and a very visible police presence across the whole of London
On Friday, a black 18 year old man was killed in an attack which left an axe embedded in his forehead in a racist attack while he was waiting for a bus with his 17 year old white girlfriend.
Today, a man was stabbed to death on a bus by a man who he the victim has asked to stop throwing chips.
God it's a dump.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR NEXT 48 HOURS (all times are local)
Thursday
8pm - CX to Singapore
Friday
8am - breakfast meeting / interview
9am - meeting / interview
10am - meeting / interview
10.45am - meeting / interview
11.30am - meeting / interview
12.30pm - lunch / meeting / interview
2.30pm - to Changi airport
4.05pm - CX to Hong Kong
7.35pm - arrive Hong Kong
8.30pm - arrive home
8.30 - 9.00pm - shower, change, pack
9.00pm - car BACK to HK airport
11.45pm - BA to London with wife and 2 very small insomniacs
Saturday
5.30am - arrive Heathrow
5.30am-8.05am - wait in Heathrow
8.05am - BA to Nice
11.00am - arrive Nice, collect bags, meet stepfather
11.30am - dep Nice in car for 2 hour drive.
1.30pm - arrive my parents house to be greeted by my mother who will not understand why I am so snappy.
2.00pm - arrested by French police for drowning mother in swimming pool.
I can hardly wait....
Thursday
8pm - CX to Singapore
Friday
8am - breakfast meeting / interview
9am - meeting / interview
10am - meeting / interview
10.45am - meeting / interview
11.30am - meeting / interview
12.30pm - lunch / meeting / interview
2.30pm - to Changi airport
4.05pm - CX to Hong Kong
7.35pm - arrive Hong Kong
8.30pm - arrive home
8.30 - 9.00pm - shower, change, pack
9.00pm - car BACK to HK airport
11.45pm - BA to London with wife and 2 very small insomniacs
Saturday
5.30am - arrive Heathrow
5.30am-8.05am - wait in Heathrow
8.05am - BA to Nice
11.00am - arrive Nice, collect bags, meet stepfather
11.30am - dep Nice in car for 2 hour drive.
1.30pm - arrive my parents house to be greeted by my mother who will not understand why I am so snappy.
2.00pm - arrested by French police for drowning mother in swimming pool.
I can hardly wait....
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
JOB UPDATE
It's now 5.45pm and there is a stony silence from Singapore which means that possibility has probably disappeared.
So it's down to beaches, beers, barbies and bronzed babes versus blair, bombs, bus lanes and bloaters from Essex tottering around in high heels screaming into their mobile phones.
What would you do?
It's now 5.45pm and there is a stony silence from Singapore which means that possibility has probably disappeared.
So it's down to beaches, beers, barbies and bronzed babes versus blair, bombs, bus lanes and bloaters from Essex tottering around in high heels screaming into their mobile phones.
What would you do?
SCOTLAND (with apologies to Mia, who seems to love all things Scottish)
It's a very rare indeed that my mother and I see eye to eye on anything, but I just got an email from my mother who is on her way back from her first trip to the Outer Hebrides (my brother-in-law's family have a place there and my sister is there with her family at the moment).
I quote...
sitting in bloody glasgow airport rain fog mist drizzle i HATE scotland never never to return though majestic scenery getting here but granite grubby restarants grubby people who talk fuunny LONG for civilisation no wonder they all emigrated
(that may also explain where I get my notoriously laissez-faire attitude towards punctuation and grammar from)
there's then some family stuff followed by...
never wiil i venture into unknown terriory again cured for life
raining again and fog give me sweaty london anyday
Well said Mum, though even I am appalled at the lack of the odd comma.
It's a very rare indeed that my mother and I see eye to eye on anything, but I just got an email from my mother who is on her way back from her first trip to the Outer Hebrides (my brother-in-law's family have a place there and my sister is there with her family at the moment).
I quote...
sitting in bloody glasgow airport rain fog mist drizzle i HATE scotland never never to return though majestic scenery getting here but granite grubby restarants grubby people who talk fuunny LONG for civilisation no wonder they all emigrated
(that may also explain where I get my notoriously laissez-faire attitude towards punctuation and grammar from)
there's then some family stuff followed by...
never wiil i venture into unknown terriory again cured for life
raining again and fog give me sweaty london anyday
Well said Mum, though even I am appalled at the lack of the odd comma.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Monday, July 18, 2005
THE SOUND OF SILENCE...
Apologies for the long silence.
I was off on a jaunt and thought I'd post while I was away but I couldn't be bothered.
for the record...
The Lions really were as bad in the flesh as they looked on TV.
Auckland is fun, cold and wet.
Wellington is windy, cold and wet.
Sydney is sunny, warm (even in mid-winter) and hideously expensive if you're looking for property (small clue there for the perceptive among you as to how my job situation is panning out...)
More later....
Apologies for the long silence.
I was off on a jaunt and thought I'd post while I was away but I couldn't be bothered.
for the record...
The Lions really were as bad in the flesh as they looked on TV.
Auckland is fun, cold and wet.
Wellington is windy, cold and wet.
Sydney is sunny, warm (even in mid-winter) and hideously expensive if you're looking for property (small clue there for the perceptive among you as to how my job situation is panning out...)
More later....
Thursday, July 07, 2005
OLYMPICS 2012
Felicitations Paris.
Vous avez reussi a eviter les Jeux Olympiques.
Je suis tellement impressione que vous avez aussi reussi, au meme temps, a donner ces "Jeux" a votre ennemi mortel, Londres. Maintenant ca sera les anglais qui doivent payer et organiser ce tournament futile, pendant que vous ne devez faire que de prendre le train pour 2 1/2 heures si vous voulez le voir.
Un resultat excellent.
(Veuillez m'excuser si j'ai fait des betises enormes. Ca fait presque 5 annees des que j'ai du essayer d'ecrire ou parler francais.)
Felicitations Paris.
Vous avez reussi a eviter les Jeux Olympiques.
Je suis tellement impressione que vous avez aussi reussi, au meme temps, a donner ces "Jeux" a votre ennemi mortel, Londres. Maintenant ca sera les anglais qui doivent payer et organiser ce tournament futile, pendant que vous ne devez faire que de prendre le train pour 2 1/2 heures si vous voulez le voir.
Un resultat excellent.
(Veuillez m'excuser si j'ai fait des betises enormes. Ca fait presque 5 annees des que j'ai du essayer d'ecrire ou parler francais.)
Monday, July 04, 2005
THE SPORTS SECTION
Rugby
-----
Lions Kick-off
New Zealand - catch kick-off, pass, run, pass, score try, convert.
repeat for 80 minutes or until those of us who are going down to NZ for the thrid test are sobbing into our Tsing Tao.
Wimbledon
----------
Serve, miss, serve, hit but miss court, repeat ad nauseam or ad infinitum, whichever comes first.
Rugby
-----
Lions Kick-off
New Zealand - catch kick-off, pass, run, pass, score try, convert.
repeat for 80 minutes or until those of us who are going down to NZ for the thrid test are sobbing into our Tsing Tao.
Wimbledon
----------
Serve, miss, serve, hit but miss court, repeat ad nauseam or ad infinitum, whichever comes first.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
MORE WORDS OR PHRASES THAT SHOULD EXIST. TODAY'S THEME - THE WORKPLACE
BLAMESTORMING - Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
SEAGULL MANAGER - A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
ASSMOSIS - The process by which people seem to absorb success and advancement by sucking up to the boss rather than working hard.
SALMON DAY - The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.
CUBE FARM - An office filled with cubicles.
PRAIRIE DOGGING - When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on. (This also applies to applause from a promotion because there may be cake.)
MOUSE POTATO - The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
SITCOMs - Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a "home business".
STRESS PUPPY - A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.
XEROX SUBSIDY - Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.
PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE - The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to worka gain.
ADMINISPHERE - The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the "adminisphere" are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve. This is often affiliated with the dreaded "administrivia" - needless paperwork and processes.
404 - Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested document could not be located.
OHNOSECOND - That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake (e.g. you've hit 'reply all')
WOOFies - Well Off Older Folk.
CROP DUSTING - Surreptitiously farting while passing through a cube farm, then enjoying the sounds of dismay and disgust; leads to PRAIRIE DOGGING.
BLAMESTORMING - Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
SEAGULL MANAGER - A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
ASSMOSIS - The process by which people seem to absorb success and advancement by sucking up to the boss rather than working hard.
SALMON DAY - The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.
CUBE FARM - An office filled with cubicles.
PRAIRIE DOGGING - When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on. (This also applies to applause from a promotion because there may be cake.)
MOUSE POTATO - The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
SITCOMs - Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a "home business".
STRESS PUPPY - A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.
XEROX SUBSIDY - Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.
PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE - The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to worka gain.
ADMINISPHERE - The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the "adminisphere" are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve. This is often affiliated with the dreaded "administrivia" - needless paperwork and processes.
404 - Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested document could not be located.
OHNOSECOND - That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake (e.g. you've hit 'reply all')
WOOFies - Well Off Older Folk.
CROP DUSTING - Surreptitiously farting while passing through a cube farm, then enjoying the sounds of dismay and disgust; leads to PRAIRIE DOGGING.