Saturday, February 28, 2009

changes they are here

things are going to change around here - now.

As of Friday i am no longer a man of leisure (now it appears i have two jobs rather than none). Shit. I liked being "retired/redundant" (dont you find redundant a strange term for a degree educated person with 25 years business experience). I never felt redundant (i just was). the jobs will help the bank balance (and it will certainly please my mum - now i have a "real" job).

Also it looks like travel (for 2 years minimum) to a foreign land is also in this family's stars. London here we come (well we think so) in September. Know anyone that wants to rent a house or buy a car or two? Sue looks like she is going to work for the WA Government in their London Office. Looks like Ash and I will just have to tag along and see what happens. I should be able to work as i am actually a british subject (yep) and Ash should be able to as well as she can also get a passport.

the next few months are going to be interesting. New job, work out how to "emigrate" move house, sell cars etc, get passports, actually move and get accomodation/set up in UK.

oh what fun.

do you believe in Karma? well it looked like "she" just landed on Ashby St.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

horoscope

tomorrow's horoscope (thx to astrology.com):

Daily Overview: February 27, 2009
AQUARIUS
January 20-February 18


It's easy for you to blow minds today -- your big ideas are just a bit farther out there than most people are comfortable with. The good news is that you're setting the stage for what's to come.

watch the space - changes are a coming!!!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

humour - you just have to laugh

the following was sent to me by Paul (thanks mate). I am sitting here in tears - i hope you enjoy some of them too. Apparently they are based on US Court Transcripts.

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are
things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now
published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while
these exchanges were actually taking place.

____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
________ ____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep,
he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney.
Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.

____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition
notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead
people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK?
What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________

And the best for last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a
pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began
the autopsy?
WITNESS: No .
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing
law

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

50 + 1

well this "special" day cameth and wenteth (do you like that). in many ways it was not so special, but u know what in most ways it was. i was contacted by people close to me (thank you), i got some really nice presents and i had a really nice dinner (at Galileo). We drank some nice wines (and we thought of absent friends).

now its back to the real world (well sort of) - if only i could find a nurofen (kidding).

it will be real interesting to find out what the next year will bring to me and our flock.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Happy Birthday 2 Me

in 1:30 mins i will turn a big fat 50 so happy birthday to me.

not much planned - breakfast with Sue, a visit to a "hospice" my dad will be spending some time in March (after my mum has an operation), an appointment with the dentist (an emergency - i cracked a tooth in half on the weekend) and then dinner with Sue, Ash and Cam (at Gallileo). probably have a nice bottle of red (or two) to celebrate.

other than that i am sure the day will be just like normal. I have already received a couple of presents in the mail (thank you) and i will probably get a few more tomorrow (not that i need anything really).

______________________________________________________
horoscope (courtesy of Astrology.com)

Daily Overview: February 17, 2009
AQUARIUS
January 20-February 18


Your easy social energy makes it easy for you to make new friends today. It's one of those days when you can really see the best in people and that makes you want to get to know them better

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

so what would you take if you only had a minute

the recent fires/floods in australia have demonstrated that natural events can leave you with but a minute or two to choose what you would take if you had to "run for your life" and when (or if) you came back everything you had ever had as a possession was gone. in other places man-made events (wars) continue to have the same affect.

so what would you take (and how would you prepare) for such an event. its strange but when i think about all of "my possessions" i cant think of any single physical object i would feel compelled to pick up and put in the car. i dont think i have a sentimental attachment to anything i own (is that weird).

there are things i like but would never consider taking like:

- my bike
- my collection of books
- any of our electrical products (i might try to take the laptop and camera and a memory stick or two but thats about it)
- my clothes (i might take a change of clothes but only if i had time)
- there are some photos (not many) but i could live without them (i have the memories)
- music (cds/records) - i could live without them (but i might try to grab my ipod)

so (other than the people in your life) what would you simply have to take (couldnt live without after the event) if you were forced to run for it?

On reflecting on how i might "prepare" for such an event i think i will develop a little stash of memory cards/thumb drives with key things on them (identity information, copies of key banking, insurance and other papers, photos, music) and always keep them handy somewhere safe just in case.

if you ever find yourself with a few minutes and you are "not ready" its too late and as experience shows (at least in our fires) even if you are ready and get it wrong at least sometimes its too late (sadly)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Cleaning Day

i have decided i dont like cleaning much (certainly not as much as i like clean).

the house hasnt had a top to bottom clean for a couple of weeks so it took me longer than usual but it is now done.

While i dont like the job i am grateful (in the circumstances currently occuring around Australia - fires and floods) that we have a nice house that is safe and secure and now clean.

My heart goes out to all those who have lost life, limb or property. I am struggling to comprehend the horror that has been faced by so many over the past 48 hours. It will take many years i am sure (if ever for some) to recover from the losses that have been suffered and the experiences they have had.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

a prayer

today in Australia a lot of Australian people (~100) - men, women and children - lost their lives to fire and whole communities were "eaten" by the wildfires.

_____________________________________________

this is a quote for them

Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand.
Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC), Regimen

____________________

the only question is - NOW WHAT?

at this time i simply dont have an answer

Some days you just realise those "small" things in life really dont matter - no matter how much we want them to or make them out to. its only when you are smacked in the face by real tragedy that your sense of perspective is re- adjusted.

May whatever divine force is looking down - protect the volunteer firefighters, and the communities they seek to protect, from the ultimate sacrifice.

Monday, February 2, 2009

because - 2 mins is better than 1 min

has anyone been watching golf lately - we do - if so you might have seen louis. no he is not the lead singer here, but he could be his relative (what's the link between South Africa and New Zealand i wonder)



i havent worn my business socks lately - need everyday to be Wednesday (maybe) or a different haircut, different attitude, new socks or jocks. I am still trying to work it out!!!