18 December 2010
Liverpool
"Snow pandemonium...frightening conditions...hostile and freezing conditions..." et-fekin-ctra, everything we wanted to do today was cancelled. First they called off the match, mind you it was like 10 o'clock when they decided that the conditions around the ground were unsafe. Bloody Hell! The match wasn't even supposed to start until half past five, and sure enough as we ate breakfast the fekin sun came out, and not another flake fell. But in this victim's society that we live in, where no one wants to get sued...really though...take care and walk at yer own risk, you do that everyday anyway...right!?!
So we are screwed there right, but Hell we've still got Mac's performance at the Cathedral to look forward to...right?!? No that's been called off too, 'course we don't find out until we march up the hill, that cos our Internet is spotty at best. Evidently an email was sent out pro'ly about an hour before the show. But there aint no sign, there aint no one 'round to say, "Sorry" or any fekinthin. And Mac lives in Liverpool...maybe the trucks and stuff couldn't come in with the equipment, maybe the string quartet couldn't come in...who knows. Now I don't blame anyone, it just has to be chaulked up to being one of THOSE days.
Life will go on and things will balance out eventually, but for today...the 18th will live in infamy. Pictures to follow when we get home. I promise.
Cheers,
f
18 December 2010
13 December 2010
You Heard It Here First
Liverpool
I know I promised to keep up with this thing and not have it be such a travelogue...and yet here I am back in the Promised Land talking about my travels. Don't get me wrong being home is great (being back at work maybe not so much) and I wouldn't trade it for the world (unless of course I could live here) but there is just something about travel, yeah.
Anyway I have breaking news (hopefully you're still checking this thing Yohan) the Bunnymen will be bringing the "Crocodiles" and "Heaven Up Here" tour to the States. Straight from the horses mouth as it were. Yeah spent a couple minutes chatting with Will, who pointed me to Peasy (their manager) and they both said the plan was to take the show to the States sometime in May. So lucky days for young Yohan.
The show itself was amazing, so great to hear songs even I have never heard live before. I have a couple videos (actually about 10 or 1) and will post the best of on the You Tube Site. Right now I am not used to using this small keyboard, I keep jumping around on the damn post, doing almost as much erasing as typing. So more later for sure.
One cool thing was that after the screening of the Bunnymen "Atlas Adventure" films we saw tonight, during the question and answer part. Some one asked about Les and if Will saw him often. Will said, "You can ask him yourself, he's right back there." Of course this is for Bunnymen aficionados only but it really was good to see Les again. Maybe if they do a "Evergreen" complete record in like 2013 (I think that would be the 15 year anniversary) he'll even pick up the bass again.
More later...I promise.
Cheers,
g
I know I promised to keep up with this thing and not have it be such a travelogue...and yet here I am back in the Promised Land talking about my travels. Don't get me wrong being home is great (being back at work maybe not so much) and I wouldn't trade it for the world (unless of course I could live here) but there is just something about travel, yeah.
Anyway I have breaking news (hopefully you're still checking this thing Yohan) the Bunnymen will be bringing the "Crocodiles" and "Heaven Up Here" tour to the States. Straight from the horses mouth as it were. Yeah spent a couple minutes chatting with Will, who pointed me to Peasy (their manager) and they both said the plan was to take the show to the States sometime in May. So lucky days for young Yohan.
The show itself was amazing, so great to hear songs even I have never heard live before. I have a couple videos (actually about 10 or 1) and will post the best of on the You Tube Site. Right now I am not used to using this small keyboard, I keep jumping around on the damn post, doing almost as much erasing as typing. So more later for sure.
One cool thing was that after the screening of the Bunnymen "Atlas Adventure" films we saw tonight, during the question and answer part. Some one asked about Les and if Will saw him often. Will said, "You can ask him yourself, he's right back there." Of course this is for Bunnymen aficionados only but it really was good to see Les again. Maybe if they do a "Evergreen" complete record in like 2013 (I think that would be the 15 year anniversary) he'll even pick up the bass again.
More later...I promise.
Cheers,
g
22 September 2010
"I Would Walk Through Hell On Sunday"
Yeah, no travelogue this time just want to talk a bit about Life and all that.
Why now?
Why not?
The quote (in the title, yeah) above is something I heard in less of the context I am going to use it in here. To me this is what friendship should be. Who will you stand with if the End of the World should come? Whose "side" will you be on? These are the questions that I ask myself all the time, not only that but who will be at my side. They say if a man(or woman) has handful of friends at the end of their run in Life, they can consider themselves lucky. I'd like to think that I am one of those lucky ones.
Maybe more than that, when I can honestly consider my Family to be friends as well. Much more if you figure that my Missus is my best friend as well. Not to mention that many of my closest friends and I are bound together by a relationship where we have been prepared to give our lives for (each) other(s). That bond alone makes me one of the special ones I suppose. And I am grateful to my brothers and sister in arms, proud to be counted among them.
I would like to think that regardless of the current situation of between my daughter and I, we would still be on the same "side" should the end come tomorrow. I always knew for years and years that we'd be there side-by-side, "You and me against the World" I'd say to her. It might not seem like that today, but to Hell with the pain and sadness that twists my soul every hour of everyday, it is some comfort to know that she's still my daughter and always will be.
After all, "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter" and in the End we will all be judged not just separately, but by the others that we've touched, and a whole.
I know, yeah... all this talk about Judgment and the End of the World, right. Bit much for a Tuesday afternoon blog... But on the plus side it is Liverpool 1 - Northampton Town 0. Still early days and their Premiere League form has been shite, but I reckon if we can show up in the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Europa League then that's something... And as long as Fekin United don't win the League... we'll be alright.
Okay this is a little more of the randomness that the People should be used to... No Interludes, No Pictures, or videos, or nonsense (or maybe all nonsense...I try not to judge) just words.
Now I don't want anyone to think that the End of the World or anything else has been on my mind more than usual. That I have not become obsessed with Death and any other bloody "Warning Signs." This is just the way my brain works (if you can really call it that) and all is fine with me.
Next up The Party!
Oh and I have seen the Future... and it is hairy! I may have to go back to haircuts and daily shaving this week but soon as I get "out of the bag" the beard and hair will be there too.
Cheers,
g
Why now?
Why not?
The quote (in the title, yeah) above is something I heard in less of the context I am going to use it in here. To me this is what friendship should be. Who will you stand with if the End of the World should come? Whose "side" will you be on? These are the questions that I ask myself all the time, not only that but who will be at my side. They say if a man(or woman) has handful of friends at the end of their run in Life, they can consider themselves lucky. I'd like to think that I am one of those lucky ones.
Maybe more than that, when I can honestly consider my Family to be friends as well. Much more if you figure that my Missus is my best friend as well. Not to mention that many of my closest friends and I are bound together by a relationship where we have been prepared to give our lives for (each) other(s). That bond alone makes me one of the special ones I suppose. And I am grateful to my brothers and sister in arms, proud to be counted among them.
I would like to think that regardless of the current situation of between my daughter and I, we would still be on the same "side" should the end come tomorrow. I always knew for years and years that we'd be there side-by-side, "You and me against the World" I'd say to her. It might not seem like that today, but to Hell with the pain and sadness that twists my soul every hour of everyday, it is some comfort to know that she's still my daughter and always will be.
After all, "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter" and in the End we will all be judged not just separately, but by the others that we've touched, and a whole.
I know, yeah... all this talk about Judgment and the End of the World, right. Bit much for a Tuesday afternoon blog... But on the plus side it is Liverpool 1 - Northampton Town 0. Still early days and their Premiere League form has been shite, but I reckon if we can show up in the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Europa League then that's something... And as long as Fekin United don't win the League... we'll be alright.
Okay this is a little more of the randomness that the People should be used to... No Interludes, No Pictures, or videos, or nonsense (or maybe all nonsense...I try not to judge) just words.
Now I don't want anyone to think that the End of the World or anything else has been on my mind more than usual. That I have not become obsessed with Death and any other bloody "Warning Signs." This is just the way my brain works (if you can really call it that) and all is fine with me.
Next up The Party!
Oh and I have seen the Future... and it is hairy! I may have to go back to haircuts and daily shaving this week but soon as I get "out of the bag" the beard and hair will be there too.
Cheers,
g
15 September 2010
The Garden Island, The City, and The Magic of Television
Kuai'i, Hawai'i
I know I don't usually start with a picture but I kinda promised my brother he'd see one o' these. Yours Truly, At Play in the Waves.
I'll say this the Garden Island sure beats the Hell outta the Garden State, just sayin' yeah. and how could you go really wrong with an island that has one main Road? And when you add the view from our room into the mix...yeah its good.
In my humble opinion, it is the island to go back to, it seems less commercial really, like you really are getting away from it all. And let's face it that is what we all sometimes need. So we set off in the rental car and headed one way one day and the other the next, what more can you do? I think it is safe to say that our appetite has been properly wetted for a return trip.
Coolest thing hands down of the islands has gotta be the wild chickens (seen above), I mean how cool is that? I can't wait to get some for the backyard (or course we'll have to figure out a way to keep the dogs from thinking they are little tennis balls while they are chicks). I think it's cool anyway, guess maybe I am just a dork.
So anyway here they are first up the canyon...
...and then the falls.
And that's it for me I gotta quit before I redo e'ery fekin thing. Not even going to spell check for Fear of deleting the whole thing...
Cheers,
g
I know I don't usually start with a picture but I kinda promised my brother he'd see one o' these. Yours Truly, At Play in the Waves.
I'll say this the Garden Island sure beats the Hell outta the Garden State, just sayin' yeah. and how could you go really wrong with an island that has one main Road? And when you add the view from our room into the mix...yeah its good.
In my humble opinion, it is the island to go back to, it seems less commercial really, like you really are getting away from it all. And let's face it that is what we all sometimes need. So we set off in the rental car and headed one way one day and the other the next, what more can you do? I think it is safe to say that our appetite has been properly wetted for a return trip.
Coolest thing hands down of the islands has gotta be the wild chickens (seen above), I mean how cool is that? I can't wait to get some for the backyard (or course we'll have to figure out a way to keep the dogs from thinking they are little tennis balls while they are chicks). I think it's cool anyway, guess maybe I am just a dork.Interlude: Home
Almost thought I wouldn't have anything to really say this time around, you know the Process continues... And then I turned on the weekend morning news and saw that a Drag Queen was the anchor, not that there is anything wrong with that... but I mean c'mon, yeah.
I don't know maybe I need to think the whole thing through, I won't say it's all roses and Care Bears 'round here, but... I have been trying to stay on track with myself, whatever the Hell that means. The missus and I went to The City (that is and always will be San Francisco. End of story. Not fekin Frisco or San Fekin Fran...The City.) for a night and had a good time. Did some shopping and drinking, what more could you ask for really. It's weird it's only like 90 minutes away and we seem to forget about it here. It really was like going somewhere and still being close to home. There will always be a certain magik that The City holds, for me anyway. We are going to try and go and stay a night each month or so, just to stay in touch.
If I find some pictures I will put them up later.
End Interlude
Almost thought I wouldn't have anything to really say this time around, you know the Process continues... And then I turned on the weekend morning news and saw that a Drag Queen was the anchor, not that there is anything wrong with that... but I mean c'mon, yeah.
I don't know maybe I need to think the whole thing through, I won't say it's all roses and Care Bears 'round here, but... I have been trying to stay on track with myself, whatever the Hell that means. The missus and I went to The City (that is and always will be San Francisco. End of story. Not fekin Frisco or San Fekin Fran...The City.) for a night and had a good time. Did some shopping and drinking, what more could you ask for really. It's weird it's only like 90 minutes away and we seem to forget about it here. It really was like going somewhere and still being close to home. There will always be a certain magik that The City holds, for me anyway. We are going to try and go and stay a night each month or so, just to stay in touch.
If I find some pictures I will put them up later.
End Interlude
Like I said we drove around and did as many of the sights as we could. We also enjoyed actually cooking for ourselves in the condo, so graciously provided by the missus mom. T'was nice cos we had a grocery store and a health/natural food store nearby. We even took a picnic up to the Canyon (the name escapes me and trying to remain true to form even though I could look it up, I'm not going to. Suffice it to say it's the Grand Canyon of Hawai'i. Knowhatamean?)
I just deleted the picture and staying true to form I am not going to bother with bringing it back up. Remind me later, cos I have a video that I haven't downloaded to the computer yet, I know right.
We also went to the "Fantasy Island" waterfall. One thing that
Hawai'i does for you is make your marvel at the magic of television. The waterfall for example looks a whole lot bigger on the TV. Same way with Oahu and the "Magnum p.i." sights. (Oh and with The City too, here is where I can tie the interlude in. Wait for it...) you know a hunk of Road could be anywhere really and getting from one place to another can be glossed over real quick. (Here it comes...) Just like in San Francisco where a car chase can take you from the 3rd Street Bridge to the Richmond District and back downtown all in the space of a heartbeat, with nary a turn. (Gosh I hope that was worth it.)
Anyway here all the falls, there was some folks swimming down at the bottom, so that was pretty cool (for them anyway.) Chrissake I just deleted that fekin picture too, maybe I shouldn't be doing this right now...
I just deleted the picture and staying true to form I am not going to bother with bringing it back up. Remind me later, cos I have a video that I haven't downloaded to the computer yet, I know right.
We also went to the "Fantasy Island" waterfall. One thing that
Hawai'i does for you is make your marvel at the magic of television. The waterfall for example looks a whole lot bigger on the TV. Same way with Oahu and the "Magnum p.i." sights. (Oh and with The City too, here is where I can tie the interlude in. Wait for it...) you know a hunk of Road could be anywhere really and getting from one place to another can be glossed over real quick. (Here it comes...) Just like in San Francisco where a car chase can take you from the 3rd Street Bridge to the Richmond District and back downtown all in the space of a heartbeat, with nary a turn. (Gosh I hope that was worth it.)
Anyway here all the falls, there was some folks swimming down at the bottom, so that was pretty cool (for them anyway.) Chrissake I just deleted that fekin picture too, maybe I shouldn't be doing this right now...
So anyway here they are first up the canyon...
...and then the falls.
And that's it for me I gotta quit before I redo e'ery fekin thing. Not even going to spell check for Fear of deleting the whole thing...
Cheers,
g
11 September 2010
"The Little Voice In My Head..."
Oahu, Hawai'i
The view from our window.
Was nice though, got to see some of the place where TM, TC, Rick, Higgibaby and the rest hung out. I know that "magnum p.i." was a TV show and therefor not "real" yet you can learn a lot about life and the meaning of friendship there. T'was a crying shame to see the way that Robin's Nest has gone to pot though. I mean seriously someone is missing out on a goldmine there, you could charge admission to check out the guest house and all that (I know I'd pay, can't be alone can I?) but whoever owns the place has let it rot. The main house looks like a fire hit it and everywhere else you look everything is overgrown and out of control. We waded our way to the tidal pool and peeked over the fence, no sign of Zeus or Apollo.
The Missus and I at Mr. Master's tidal-pool.
We stayed at the military owned facility the Hale Koa, and got to play our new game of "Guess the Service" ya see everyone there is in some shape or 'nother attached to the military. So we'd sit with our drinks at the bar and it'd go a little like this...
"Retired Navy," I'd say to the Missus as we watched a bearded beer bellied buy with a baseball cap stroll up.
"Specialist," she'd say back as we watched a young woman try and deal with her two kids as her husband played with his phone.
"No, no." I'd offer. "She's a E-5, he's an E-4. She's never been to school, but has somehow risen above him."
And we'd laugh, I am sure this will be lost on some of you, but the present and former military people are pro'ly having a bit of a chuckle too. We've all done it somewhere; at a restaurant, shopping, whatever. And chances are it has been done to us as well, no matter how much hair or beard we put on even in our civilian clothes something shines though.
Paradise? Comparatively speaking...yeah. But then again that can't be fair, by the time we got here I was like what 3 weeks out of Iraq...maybe. Still got to admit, it's pretty nice. Maybe the only thing missing (as I told the missus) was the shit weather we should have left behind, you know if you go somewhere that it is always 80 and sunny or whatever, you don't want to leave 80 degree weather back home.
The view from our window.
Did I mention they had fireworks? This is the view from our Lanai (balcony/terrace) I was okay until the grand finale, one right after another in a valley of concrete, glass, and steel.
Was nice though, got to see some of the place where TM, TC, Rick, Higgibaby and the rest hung out. I know that "magnum p.i." was a TV show and therefor not "real" yet you can learn a lot about life and the meaning of friendship there. T'was a crying shame to see the way that Robin's Nest has gone to pot though. I mean seriously someone is missing out on a goldmine there, you could charge admission to check out the guest house and all that (I know I'd pay, can't be alone can I?) but whoever owns the place has let it rot. The main house looks like a fire hit it and everywhere else you look everything is overgrown and out of control. We waded our way to the tidal pool and peeked over the fence, no sign of Zeus or Apollo.
The Missus and I at Mr. Master's tidal-pool.
Robin's Nest. "Oh my God!" if only Higgins see it now.
We stayed at the military owned facility the Hale Koa, and got to play our new game of "Guess the Service" ya see everyone there is in some shape or 'nother attached to the military. So we'd sit with our drinks at the bar and it'd go a little like this...
"Retired Navy," I'd say to the Missus as we watched a bearded beer bellied buy with a baseball cap stroll up.
"Specialist," she'd say back as we watched a young woman try and deal with her two kids as her husband played with his phone.
"No, no." I'd offer. "She's a E-5, he's an E-4. She's never been to school, but has somehow risen above him."
And we'd laugh, I am sure this will be lost on some of you, but the present and former military people are pro'ly having a bit of a chuckle too. We've all done it somewhere; at a restaurant, shopping, whatever. And chances are it has been done to us as well, no matter how much hair or beard we put on even in our civilian clothes something shines though.
Interlude: Home
I did the same thing I do everyday today; started the coffee, grabbed the paper, and put out the flag. I reckon some folks this is one of the only day's they put out the flag, and good for them I guess. It makes a difference even if it is only a couple times a year where we actually force ourselves to think about the times and how they've changed (and how they've changed us). That is the thing I guess not only how much the world has changed in 9 years, but how much we've each of us changed, I know I am not the same person I was, you know what they say though, "All that ever stays the same is Change." Am I a better person now? I'd like to think so, but I recognize that I am also a more damaged(Bear with me on this one, I know "damaged" isn't the right word. But it is like trying to explain the difference between alone and lonely, or good and bad... they are all different sides to the same coin. So don't focus on the damage focus on the change... the perspective if you will, where I can see new and strange chinks in my armour. Fekinell, I hope this makes sense to someone.) person too. I won't lie to you or myself, it wouldn't be fair or true to the changes that we have all gone through.
I don't want to sermonize or get anyone worried that I am not alright. I do the best I can day-by-day just like everyone else. Just last night I was watching "Dukes of Hazard" not exactly high-brow drama (or comedy for that matter) but there was a nice sense of comfort there. The best part (until I thought about it...) was that it seemed like Waylon Jennings was actually talking to ME (...of course that is when I thought that if he really was he would probably say, "Hoss, why don't you get off your ass and work on your music." Guilt felt, I played around for about an hour.)
Day-by-day, yeah. Don't worry about me, there are way too many things in this ever changing world to worry about besides me.
End Interlude
The Missus and I did get to see some of the typical tourist sites, and some that probably aren't on anyone's map. We checked out some beaches that are either off the beaten path or inaccessible without the ol' Military ID. Which is cool, say what you want about the military they have done pretty good by their people by having all these damn places around the islands...just wish more people knew about them...
Here's another tip, if you can go to the Flea Market at the stadium. Best bargains on the whole damn island. We saw the same stuff at the stalls back where the tourist were for like 50% higher or more. Everyone wants to bring something back (or have something brought back for them, etc etc) and if you leave it to the capitalist they'll take your arm, your leg, and whatever else they can get a hold of in-between. So stick it to the man.
Oil still leaks out of the Arizona, just in case anyone ever forgets.
I was a little worried doing the Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial thing that I might loose it. Part of my brain kept telling me, "it's too close." I wouldn't miss it for the world though, like I give a rat's ass if some other tourist sees me breakdown. I didn't though, but I was considerable moved, and I did come close. You see out at the memorial where all the names are engraved, there's this little bench in front. On this bench are the names of the survivors whose last wish was to be interred with their shipmates. Wow, right? Just like the oil that keeps bubbling up from the wreckage, people's hearts and minds stay with these men who gave so much and never even knew. I guess if there is justice somewhere in the world, they do know... as long as we never forget I guess the world will always know.
I guess I've covered enough ground in this ramble, I'd better go now. I can hear the balladeer saying, "Better late than never, son. But don't loose 'em, keep 'em coming back for more."
Cheers,
g
I don't want to sermonize or get anyone worried that I am not alright. I do the best I can day-by-day just like everyone else. Just last night I was watching "Dukes of Hazard" not exactly high-brow drama (or comedy for that matter) but there was a nice sense of comfort there. The best part (until I thought about it...) was that it seemed like Waylon Jennings was actually talking to ME (...of course that is when I thought that if he really was he would probably say, "Hoss, why don't you get off your ass and work on your music." Guilt felt, I played around for about an hour.)
Day-by-day, yeah. Don't worry about me, there are way too many things in this ever changing world to worry about besides me.
End Interlude
The Missus and I did get to see some of the typical tourist sites, and some that probably aren't on anyone's map. We checked out some beaches that are either off the beaten path or inaccessible without the ol' Military ID. Which is cool, say what you want about the military they have done pretty good by their people by having all these damn places around the islands...just wish more people knew about them...
Here's another tip, if you can go to the Flea Market at the stadium. Best bargains on the whole damn island. We saw the same stuff at the stalls back where the tourist were for like 50% higher or more. Everyone wants to bring something back (or have something brought back for them, etc etc) and if you leave it to the capitalist they'll take your arm, your leg, and whatever else they can get a hold of in-between. So stick it to the man.
Oil still leaks out of the Arizona, just in case anyone ever forgets.I was a little worried doing the Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial thing that I might loose it. Part of my brain kept telling me, "it's too close." I wouldn't miss it for the world though, like I give a rat's ass if some other tourist sees me breakdown. I didn't though, but I was considerable moved, and I did come close. You see out at the memorial where all the names are engraved, there's this little bench in front. On this bench are the names of the survivors whose last wish was to be interred with their shipmates. Wow, right? Just like the oil that keeps bubbling up from the wreckage, people's hearts and minds stay with these men who gave so much and never even knew. I guess if there is justice somewhere in the world, they do know... as long as we never forget I guess the world will always know.
I guess I've covered enough ground in this ramble, I'd better go now. I can hear the balladeer saying, "Better late than never, son. But don't loose 'em, keep 'em coming back for more."
Cheers,
g
07 September 2010
The Process
Home
That is what it is though, really... a process. The re-integration process they call it, and there must be several steps, cos I'm not really sure where I am in it. Or where I ever will be, but such is life, yeah... no easy answers.
So far I've done the usual; trouble sleeping, grumpiness, a nice quiet evening with family, a trip to Hawaii, and a blow out party in the backyard. Pictures of the last two events to come (gorra find the camera first) as for the other ones... well we'll just leave them as they are.
I really don't have much to say (without the pictures anyway) but just wanted to sit down and write something. Maybe just that I am alright, not great (but when was I ever) and it has been good to be Home, to be seen, and to get back to Life. I've had great moments (and a few ugly ones, but he less said about that the better, yeah) with the missus, friends and family, and even alone. So thanks to all for yer support and understanding.
Alone... I guess this deserves a little something to be said. It is different (understatement) here alone actually feels alone, there you always knew you were surrounded by folks and chances are all you had to do was stick yer 'ead outside and there'd be someone there. The noises from next door usually cemented that without really trying or meaning to I guess. But so did the TV, that is the weirdest thing when I think about it now. I know I must have complained about AFN and the idiotic PSA/commercials that they had on there, but they really let you know where you are. I didn't really miss the TV commercials that we are used too, upon being back I can confirm that they are as lame as the AFN ones. But alone, yeah... it's weird but it's good but it's bad. Know what I mean? Cos I don't really know, not yet maybe not ever.
I guess it's all part of the process.
Pictures and words of the adventures to come.... promise.
Cheers,
g
That is what it is though, really... a process. The re-integration process they call it, and there must be several steps, cos I'm not really sure where I am in it. Or where I ever will be, but such is life, yeah... no easy answers.
So far I've done the usual; trouble sleeping, grumpiness, a nice quiet evening with family, a trip to Hawaii, and a blow out party in the backyard. Pictures of the last two events to come (gorra find the camera first) as for the other ones... well we'll just leave them as they are.
I really don't have much to say (without the pictures anyway) but just wanted to sit down and write something. Maybe just that I am alright, not great (but when was I ever) and it has been good to be Home, to be seen, and to get back to Life. I've had great moments (and a few ugly ones, but he less said about that the better, yeah) with the missus, friends and family, and even alone. So thanks to all for yer support and understanding.
Alone... I guess this deserves a little something to be said. It is different (understatement) here alone actually feels alone, there you always knew you were surrounded by folks and chances are all you had to do was stick yer 'ead outside and there'd be someone there. The noises from next door usually cemented that without really trying or meaning to I guess. But so did the TV, that is the weirdest thing when I think about it now. I know I must have complained about AFN and the idiotic PSA/commercials that they had on there, but they really let you know where you are. I didn't really miss the TV commercials that we are used too, upon being back I can confirm that they are as lame as the AFN ones. But alone, yeah... it's weird but it's good but it's bad. Know what I mean? Cos I don't really know, not yet maybe not ever.
I guess it's all part of the process.
Pictures and words of the adventures to come.... promise.
Cheers,
g
14 August 2010
Special Guest Star...Me
Home
I know it seems weird to say, but i's like I'm a "stranger in my own home town" everything seems the same and yet... I don't know I imagine everyone goes through this at sometime or other. I reckon I did last time too, just differently. I's a little like on the Soap Operas where the announcer guy comes on and says, "Tonight the part of Greg will be played by..."
I's all part of the the reintegration process and all that though, that will undoubtedly take as long as it takes. Don't get me wrong here, everyone is great, being back is great. There just seems to be something hanging 'round me, some fog or shadow that I can't explain or shake off. Don't worry about me though all will be right in time.
Here's a little video from the Helicopter flight towards home.
Cheers,
g
I know it seems weird to say, but i's like I'm a "stranger in my own home town" everything seems the same and yet... I don't know I imagine everyone goes through this at sometime or other. I reckon I did last time too, just differently. I's a little like on the Soap Operas where the announcer guy comes on and says, "Tonight the part of Greg will be played by..."
I's all part of the the reintegration process and all that though, that will undoubtedly take as long as it takes. Don't get me wrong here, everyone is great, being back is great. There just seems to be something hanging 'round me, some fog or shadow that I can't explain or shake off. Don't worry about me though all will be right in time.
Here's a little video from the Helicopter flight towards home.
Cheers,
g
09 August 2010
A Time of Leaving: Part the Second- Jolly Ol' Style
London
I hate London, is that wrong of me? Oh well, lemme break it down the best I can. First there are too many tourists. I know technically we were tourists too, but that is besides the point. I think that everyone once they step outside their little boroughs feels like a tourist. So when people from West Ham go to Chelsea they feel like they don't belong. Seems that way too me anyway. Plus heard to much fekin French being spoken. Truthfully I will take listening to Arabic over French anyday. Maybe it is just me but London is just too much like LA for me, or even New York. Too much snooty shite, fer this Northern lad.We did have fun, our apartment was fekall small, seriously it was practically no bigger than the bed. T'was also way more expensive than our place in Liverpool. But truth be told we were a little tired of the vagabond life at that point and knew we had to get back to near the Capitol to fly out anyway.
We did do some cool stuff though. Took a boat all the way down the Thames to the flood gates. Which are quite the marvel of technology. Here are the big beasts below.
We also went to Greenwich where the time is told and all that. Even Jennifer hadn't been there so that was cool. Looked around at the exhibits and did the whole touristo thing and took pictures on each side of the Prime Meridian, the missus represented the West and I the East. She looks very serious below doesn't she?
We also saw a play in the Theater District whatever the Hell that is called again. Sorry but to me London is just a gateway to better things. but the play was pretty good, called The Warhorse. I's 'bout a boy an' his horse during World War One, and yes we both got a little teary eyed. They used puppet like things and they really had the horses movements down, you could actually suspend belief enough that you'd actually stop worrying about the people pulling the strings.
We ate Falafel almost everyday at the place where Jennifer used to go when she studied there. Took in a coupla museums and all that. Walked around a lot, cos the HQ was really too small to do much else in. And of course we had our share o' pints.
That's another thing too, none of the pubs felt like "yer local" they all seemed packed and like nobody cared about anybody but themselves and the people they were with. I guess London really feels like a city full of strangers, all moving self importantly through their little worlds. Like the Underground is nice and all but really it is fekall 'spensive. Like I said I don't see me spending a lot of time there anymore, gimme the north and the Pool of Life.
One more picture for you all. This may seem like nothing special but remember we hadn't seen planes in like two weeks. Might not seem like that big of a deal if you aren't from somewhere there is a big ass international airport (I mean Sacramento still seems too quiet to me sometimes having spent so much time on the San Francisco Peninsula) but fer chri'sakes there are 3 major airports 'round Londontown.
There we are finished and strangely enough the next time I write dear reader I will be at home. Crazy I know seems like a million years. But worry not about getting bored, even being home will be an adventure for awhile. That and we do have Hawaii next and the big Welcome Home Bash on Labor Day. I want to say thanks to everyone who kept me going and stayed with me to the end, both on the home front and here. You know who you are, you are the People... my People.
Thank You Goodnight!
Cheers,
g
I hate London, is that wrong of me? Oh well, lemme break it down the best I can. First there are too many tourists. I know technically we were tourists too, but that is besides the point. I think that everyone once they step outside their little boroughs feels like a tourist. So when people from West Ham go to Chelsea they feel like they don't belong. Seems that way too me anyway. Plus heard to much fekin French being spoken. Truthfully I will take listening to Arabic over French anyday. Maybe it is just me but London is just too much like LA for me, or even New York. Too much snooty shite, fer this Northern lad.We did have fun, our apartment was fekall small, seriously it was practically no bigger than the bed. T'was also way more expensive than our place in Liverpool. But truth be told we were a little tired of the vagabond life at that point and knew we had to get back to near the Capitol to fly out anyway.
We did do some cool stuff though. Took a boat all the way down the Thames to the flood gates. Which are quite the marvel of technology. Here are the big beasts below.
We also went to Greenwich where the time is told and all that. Even Jennifer hadn't been there so that was cool. Looked around at the exhibits and did the whole touristo thing and took pictures on each side of the Prime Meridian, the missus represented the West and I the East. She looks very serious below doesn't she?
We also saw a play in the Theater District whatever the Hell that is called again. Sorry but to me London is just a gateway to better things. but the play was pretty good, called The Warhorse. I's 'bout a boy an' his horse during World War One, and yes we both got a little teary eyed. They used puppet like things and they really had the horses movements down, you could actually suspend belief enough that you'd actually stop worrying about the people pulling the strings.
We ate Falafel almost everyday at the place where Jennifer used to go when she studied there. Took in a coupla museums and all that. Walked around a lot, cos the HQ was really too small to do much else in. And of course we had our share o' pints.
That's another thing too, none of the pubs felt like "yer local" they all seemed packed and like nobody cared about anybody but themselves and the people they were with. I guess London really feels like a city full of strangers, all moving self importantly through their little worlds. Like the Underground is nice and all but really it is fekall 'spensive. Like I said I don't see me spending a lot of time there anymore, gimme the north and the Pool of Life.
One more picture for you all. This may seem like nothing special but remember we hadn't seen planes in like two weeks. Might not seem like that big of a deal if you aren't from somewhere there is a big ass international airport (I mean Sacramento still seems too quiet to me sometimes having spent so much time on the San Francisco Peninsula) but fer chri'sakes there are 3 major airports 'round Londontown.
There we are finished and strangely enough the next time I write dear reader I will be at home. Crazy I know seems like a million years. But worry not about getting bored, even being home will be an adventure for awhile. That and we do have Hawaii next and the big Welcome Home Bash on Labor Day. I want to say thanks to everyone who kept me going and stayed with me to the end, both on the home front and here. You know who you are, you are the People... my People.
Thank You Goodnight!
Cheers,
g
07 August 2010
A Time of Leaving: Part the First - Iraqi Style
Book One:
"Like a Ghost Town"
"Like a Ghost Town"
No shit there we were... the last men standing. The unit is on their way home but someone must tie up the loose ends. Matt asked me and how could I refuse, this was it really to finish, to put the period on the end of our sentence (in more ways than one really) in history.
For One Night Only, my own personal toilet and shower.
Of course we had to repack at least once when we got down to the compound, so we didn't get a lot of sleep in our wet CHUs, but when I had to pee I didn't have to walk fek all around to do so, worth it, same with the shower.
Here's the worst road on base, that they couldn't bother to fix until we left.
I know, I said I'd never set foot on this monstrosity, but I felt like it was finally gonna get used by Soldiers. We really couldn't resist sitting in the custom made chairs (for the previous Brigade Commander and Command Sergeant Major {Hence the Eagle-not a Star})
We finally got to pack, you know that stuff that everyone else did a week ago and move out of our room. We thought we might as well shrink our footprint. So it was down to the compound to the Executive Trailers, so indoor plumbing for a day at least. Bed bigger than a coffin all that good stuff. But with no one around it was like a ghost town, all we were missing was the tumbleweeds. There were the hangers on (the people who decided it would be a good idea to stay with other units) scooting around who came to scavenge from the wreckage that was left behind. No one really offered to help us with anything, except Eraser Zero but since we really hadn't seen any of these folks for a few days anyway who cares? And it was a little like the Fall of Saigon too, as the time wasn't really published for everyone to leave, and it was pretty early in the AM too. But that is why we were there right, make sure all the T's were dotted and the I's were crossed.
For One Night Only, my own personal toilet and shower.
Of course we had to repack at least once when we got down to the compound, so we didn't get a lot of sleep in our wet CHUs, but when I had to pee I didn't have to walk fek all around to do so, worth it, same with the shower.
Here's the worst road on base, that they couldn't bother to fix until we left.
Book Two:
"Turn the Lights Off When You Leave"
Of course all that was left then were a few emails and phone calls before we turned all that stuff off, I guess besides being a good friend that was my real job, shutting the network down (and I gorra say it felt kinda good too, that) and collecting up everything that still had to be turned in. So I locked the back gate, something that pro'ly hadn't been done in years, neither of us had ever seen it closed. The we burned our last batch of nonsense and made a final sweep of the compound and locking the front gate said, "So Long Suck Hole!"
Now all that was left was sleeping on metal benches at the airport and hoping we could get an early flight out. Helicopter, airplane, pterodactyl... we'd have taken anything. It was still 105 at 2200 or so when we headed out to the airport for the last time, and though we wouldn't quite be leaving Iraq yet, that was okay too. We were shaking off the shackles that had bound us (of course we traded them in for uncomfortable metal benches and the bruises and aches and pains that went with trying to "sleep" on them and headed to meet up with the rest of the company.
And when we finally did get there (we almost made the first flight out, but they only had one seat) the lads (Tim, Top, and the Bomber) were very thoughtful and had gotten us a CHU to sleep in so that we didn't have to go to the tent and General Population. A few hours later we were actually on the plane that would take us out of Iraq, until the 20 year reunion at least.
I have some pictures and video from the helicopter ride across Iraq to the Wild Wild West that I will have to put up later. Till then...
Cheers,
g
"Turn the Lights Off When You Leave"
Trips to the incinerator made, keys sorted and turned in, stuff mailed off, arrangements made for the connexs (that should have really left a couple of weeks ago) to head on their long sea journey home. Check, Check, and Double Check, yeah now it's starting to feel real. Long days of getting all this stuff done and figured out are all worth it, cos now we can go go go. Hanging out with the truck drivers and working on Iraqi Sign Language 130 degree heat, frustration, and whatever else all worth it. Watching those big boxes get lifted really gave me feeling of true something...completion, closure, reality... can't really put my finger on it but there it is.
Of course all that was left then were a few emails and phone calls before we turned all that stuff off, I guess besides being a good friend that was my real job, shutting the network down (and I gorra say it felt kinda good too, that) and collecting up everything that still had to be turned in. So I locked the back gate, something that pro'ly hadn't been done in years, neither of us had ever seen it closed. The we burned our last batch of nonsense and made a final sweep of the compound and locking the front gate said, "So Long Suck Hole!"
Now all that was left was sleeping on metal benches at the airport and hoping we could get an early flight out. Helicopter, airplane, pterodactyl... we'd have taken anything. It was still 105 at 2200 or so when we headed out to the airport for the last time, and though we wouldn't quite be leaving Iraq yet, that was okay too. We were shaking off the shackles that had bound us (of course we traded them in for uncomfortable metal benches and the bruises and aches and pains that went with trying to "sleep" on them and headed to meet up with the rest of the company.
And when we finally did get there (we almost made the first flight out, but they only had one seat) the lads (Tim, Top, and the Bomber) were very thoughtful and had gotten us a CHU to sleep in so that we didn't have to go to the tent and General Population. A few hours later we were actually on the plane that would take us out of Iraq, until the 20 year reunion at least.
I have some pictures and video from the helicopter ride across Iraq to the Wild Wild West that I will have to put up later. Till then...
Cheers,
g
03 August 2010
"Ringside Seats... There's A Rumble In Brighton Tonight"
Brighton - Hove
Day ? Is it Monday?
Brighton isn't the Brighton that Jane Austin wrote about... if it ever was. Once the playground of royalty and the rich,Brighton is now...
I's not bad or anything, just different than what either of us expected. Like I said the missus knew about Brighton and the like from ol' Jane, me I expected nothing I guess. I don't even thing the Brighton alluded to above is even the "right" Brighton. But since we were down south might as well take it all in, "don't know when I'll be back again" and all that. Guess I am just a northerner at heart, Northern California, Northern Brition, northern Iraq was okay too, you know if you like brownish gray snow. But (as usual) I digress...
Simple fact is that it's matchday, and we are trapped (pleasently though) in ol' Blighty so why not back to the Promised Land to watch the Reds take on the Hammers? I asked, I mentioned it more than once... not that we had a bad time in Brighton, but... I know, I know get over it yeah. Okay as of now i won't mention the fact that we shoulda gone back to Liverpool. (Well maybe once more, but it will all be in context, promise.)
We had a good walk around though, checked out the pier and all that. Didn't really get caught up in the games or attractions, but I reckon we simply aren't those kinda folks. Yeah no sand on this beach just these lovely sand coloured rocks.
Best part though was the fact that once we finally found a place to watch the match, we got to do so in our own private lounge. Or so it seemed, they said they were going to be showing it upstairs at a Whetherspoon's but they hadn't opened the velvet rope yet, The missus being who she is once the clock struck she was over the rope and up the stairs. Clocked out a couch right in front of the giant tele, and I eventually brought up the ale. I didn't see where she went at first, and was thinking she was coming back. She came and got me eventually and we took our seats to watch the Reds hammer the Hammers. Only thing though (yeah here it comes again) we saw all these empty seats at Anfield and inspite of our good fortune we felt a little homesick. The picture at the top of the blog (the banner, if you will) is actually taken from that night. That's me reaching for a Bombadier as the Men In Red score.
Tonight I will download the last of the Iraq pictures and get ready to close down that chapter. Still a couple days from the Capitol to ramble on about as far as Jolly Ol' so stay tuned if you want to hear the venom and frustration that is London.
Back in the states as of way too early today.
Cheers,
g
Day ? Is it Monday?
Brighton isn't the Brighton that Jane Austin wrote about... if it ever was. Once the playground of royalty and the rich,Brighton is now...
I's not bad or anything, just different than what either of us expected. Like I said the missus knew about Brighton and the like from ol' Jane, me I expected nothing I guess. I don't even thing the Brighton alluded to above is even the "right" Brighton. But since we were down south might as well take it all in, "don't know when I'll be back again" and all that. Guess I am just a northerner at heart, Northern California, Northern Brition, northern Iraq was okay too, you know if you like brownish gray snow. But (as usual) I digress...
Simple fact is that it's matchday, and we are trapped (pleasently though) in ol' Blighty so why not back to the Promised Land to watch the Reds take on the Hammers? I asked, I mentioned it more than once... not that we had a bad time in Brighton, but... I know, I know get over it yeah. Okay as of now i won't mention the fact that we shoulda gone back to Liverpool. (Well maybe once more, but it will all be in context, promise.)
We had a good walk around though, checked out the pier and all that. Didn't really get caught up in the games or attractions, but I reckon we simply aren't those kinda folks. Yeah no sand on this beach just these lovely sand coloured rocks.
Best part though was the fact that once we finally found a place to watch the match, we got to do so in our own private lounge. Or so it seemed, they said they were going to be showing it upstairs at a Whetherspoon's but they hadn't opened the velvet rope yet, The missus being who she is once the clock struck she was over the rope and up the stairs. Clocked out a couch right in front of the giant tele, and I eventually brought up the ale. I didn't see where she went at first, and was thinking she was coming back. She came and got me eventually and we took our seats to watch the Reds hammer the Hammers. Only thing though (yeah here it comes again) we saw all these empty seats at Anfield and inspite of our good fortune we felt a little homesick. The picture at the top of the blog (the banner, if you will) is actually taken from that night. That's me reaching for a Bombadier as the Men In Red score.
Tonight I will download the last of the Iraq pictures and get ready to close down that chapter. Still a couple days from the Capitol to ramble on about as far as Jolly Ol' so stay tuned if you want to hear the venom and frustration that is London.
Back in the states as of way too early today.
Cheers,
g
27 July 2010
The Unwonderful World of RDoF
Nah, i's not that bad really, just hard and long. See RDoF stands for the Responsible Drawdown of Forces, that's the President's Plan anyways. And that means not only Soldiers, but all the things that they use. We are turning out the lights here basically. And there are a lot of lights, if you get my meaning. We've spent the last few months planning and working out what to do with all the equipment, from computers, to trucks, to desks, and more...even pens and paper. It all has to go somewhere, the old days of driving tanks into the ocean are over.
People banty around words like "historic" and all that, but it is just work same as any other here. Doing the right thing, not just by us but by the folks that live here and will be here long after we are gone. So its been long days and late nights and all that, but then again with communications and supply and the like, its always first in last out. The hardest work is usually done right at the beginning and at the end. You'd be amazed at how much stuff acumulates over 7 years or so. Almost done though...not only with our piece of RDoF, but this whole long strange trip.
Should actually be finishing the vacation portion too, just in time to get home and then head off to Hawaii. More adventures for me and the missus.
One more note...
Has anyone else noticed the similarities of the two gents above? Hopefully our new "Doctor" is up to the task ahead of the Men In Red, not really sure who his Sonic Screwdriver is going to be...
Cheers,
g
People banty around words like "historic" and all that, but it is just work same as any other here. Doing the right thing, not just by us but by the folks that live here and will be here long after we are gone. So its been long days and late nights and all that, but then again with communications and supply and the like, its always first in last out. The hardest work is usually done right at the beginning and at the end. You'd be amazed at how much stuff acumulates over 7 years or so. Almost done though...not only with our piece of RDoF, but this whole long strange trip.
Should actually be finishing the vacation portion too, just in time to get home and then head off to Hawaii. More adventures for me and the missus.
One more note...
Has anyone else noticed the similarities of the two gents above? Hopefully our new "Doctor" is up to the task ahead of the Men In Red, not really sure who his Sonic Screwdriver is going to be...
Cheers,
g
25 July 2010
The Sowph
Cantebury, Faversham, Battle, & Hastings (Not the same place)
Day ? I want to say Saturday
So Cantebury was cool, we walked 'round and saw the sights, we got there a little late so, much was closed and all that but still cute little town. As long as you stay away from all the "Chaucer's (Fill In the Blank)" tourist traps and whatnot. We had a good Italian dinner where were the only ones in the place. And then on to Faversham home of Shepherd's Neame Brewery, makers of Spitfire (which we knew and had drank) and a lot of other good ales that we drank that night. We stayed at a Beer & Bed, how can it get any better than that right. We did 'ave to listen to some Cockney lass who thought she'd talk footy, but didn't know who managed "er teem, wot" she got on me nerves, but Jennifer took it all in stride. Might be cos she couldn't cut "froo va radies a'cen" either way as the ale flowed I got o'er it too. We had a lovely room and relaxed the best we could.
What I di'nt mention was that after our Heathrow ghost town adventure we stayed at a place called Staines. And yeah with a name like Staines we shurra known better. Not that it was 'orrible... we had a fantastic dinner of Macaroni & Cheese. The Travelogdge that we stayed at wasn't very high class, but it was a good 'nough place to watch "Doctor Who" and figure out what to do next.
Day ? I want to say Saturday
So 'ere we are roaming the south (souwph, if yer frem douwn vere, wot) and you know it's like the rest of the world, "You take the good, you take the bad..." and all that. And wander we did not knowing what we were doing, where we were going, much less when we were going to leave Ol' Blighty. Which except for the not knowing thing was actually great, but whole, "Am I AWOL?" thing kind put a dampener on things, yeah. I think it were Faversham in the AM when I finally got through to the travel people, granted they told me they didn't know a damn thing either, but I talked to a human being, who basically said, "Give me your email and I'll let you know." which seemed to turn into a lie, but I guess it could have been a mistake with my email, but again if you don't think you heard it right... repeat it back, yeah. 'Tever though, it is what it is. Turns out we still had like a week at this point but, like I said we didn't know. All we could hear is how much people wanted to get back to the UK, I guess it really is how the old song says, "Take me back to dear ol' Blighty, Take me over there, drop me ANYWHERE... Birmingham, well I don't care" (sorry me Brummies I didn't write it, yeah
So Cantebury was cool, we walked 'round and saw the sights, we got there a little late so, much was closed and all that but still cute little town. As long as you stay away from all the "Chaucer's (Fill In the Blank)" tourist traps and whatnot. We had a good Italian dinner where were the only ones in the place. And then on to Faversham home of Shepherd's Neame Brewery, makers of Spitfire (which we knew and had drank) and a lot of other good ales that we drank that night. We stayed at a Beer & Bed, how can it get any better than that right. We did 'ave to listen to some Cockney lass who thought she'd talk footy, but didn't know who managed "er teem, wot" she got on me nerves, but Jennifer took it all in stride. Might be cos she couldn't cut "froo va radies a'cen" either way as the ale flowed I got o'er it too. We had a lovely room and relaxed the best we could.
What I di'nt mention was that after our Heathrow ghost town adventure we stayed at a place called Staines. And yeah with a name like Staines we shurra known better. Not that it was 'orrible... we had a fantastic dinner of Macaroni & Cheese. The Travelogdge that we stayed at wasn't very high class, but it was a good 'nough place to watch "Doctor Who" and figure out what to do next.
Interlude Iraq: Part One
"If Someone Doesn't Do Something With That..."
Or so began the First Sergeant one day. He was pointing at a bench seat from one of the vans that someone had taken out for some reason, and for reasons unknown thought it would be okay to leave laying around for a week or two. This obviously wasn't going to go down with the 1SG, who continued. "...or I am going to throw it away." Next thing I know there it is...
Yup, leave it to the Caveman to fix us up a bench inside the ol' bunker. I have to say it has been well used and enjoyed by all of us since. The amazing thing is how it gets so dirty so fast. No wonder I feel filthy all the damn time. And clothes feel greasy an' all that. Now that we are turning everything, not quite sure what we are going to do with it. I think I am going to just try and leave it there. I know that I would be pretty happy to find it there, Hell of a lot better than hunching over in there, in hopes to get out of the sun, wind, rain, etc... you know generally shite weather, that is Iraq.
End Interlude Part One
"If Someone Doesn't Do Something With That..."
Or so began the First Sergeant one day. He was pointing at a bench seat from one of the vans that someone had taken out for some reason, and for reasons unknown thought it would be okay to leave laying around for a week or two. This obviously wasn't going to go down with the 1SG, who continued. "...or I am going to throw it away." Next thing I know there it is...
End Interlude Part One
Now remember all those History classes where they talked about the Battle of Hastings? Well they are actually two different places and no battle took place at Hastings, though according to a sign we read as we blew through town it is the "Birthplace of Television." Never knew that one, not really sure that I do now, but I did read it so...
So for a couple o' pounds we took the walking tour of the Battlefield. Fekinell, war was 'ard then, yeah. You look out across the fields and hills and bogs and creeks and lakes and brambles and all and think about charging straight at the enemy either on horseback or on foot. There were signs that said what happened where and what happened next, taking the high ground was key to it all really. Then we toured the adjoining Abbey (there had to be something to battle 'bout, right?) which was pretty cool. Part of it is tourist attraction and part is still a school, has been for years and years.
A view back towards the Abbey from the battlefield.
Now the missus and I we kinda like the ol' abbey's and their ruins. Matter o' fact when she was building and planning the new porch in the backyard, my input was the words, "ruined abbey" she did a right fantastic job and has even more ideas to continue. Quite proud of the lady, I am. "Fine job wife, i's right." Hope to see everyone there when I get back to share an ale and relax, if not before then in September for the party I suppose (and if you can't make it in September, c'mon by when'er you can, the beer's always cold.)
The insides of the Abbey.
Interlude Iraq: Part Two
So for a couple o' pounds we took the walking tour of the Battlefield. Fekinell, war was 'ard then, yeah. You look out across the fields and hills and bogs and creeks and lakes and brambles and all and think about charging straight at the enemy either on horseback or on foot. There were signs that said what happened where and what happened next, taking the high ground was key to it all really. Then we toured the adjoining Abbey (there had to be something to battle 'bout, right?) which was pretty cool. Part of it is tourist attraction and part is still a school, has been for years and years.
A view back towards the Abbey from the battlefield.Now the missus and I we kinda like the ol' abbey's and their ruins. Matter o' fact when she was building and planning the new porch in the backyard, my input was the words, "ruined abbey" she did a right fantastic job and has even more ideas to continue. Quite proud of the lady, I am. "Fine job wife, i's right." Hope to see everyone there when I get back to share an ale and relax, if not before then in September for the party I suppose (and if you can't make it in September, c'mon by when'er you can, the beer's always cold.)
The insides of the Abbey.Interlude Iraq: Part Two
A Creature (of Habit)
That is what I have become I guess, so much so that it kinda frightens me. You know I always give the missus a hard time when she can't find her keys, cos I always put mine in the same place. She doesn't, so generally she finds mine and then I have to take them from her when we get home, so that she doesn't loose them too.
But here I've only gotten worse I think. I do the same ritual every damn day ('cept "down days" back when we used to get 'em {don' worry la' they'll come again, yeah}) mainly cos the few times I've messed up the ritual, I've been ruined for the day. I get up put on my socks, pants, and t-shirt. Cross over and put on my boots, but do not tie them. Then i's off to the latrine to piss, brush teeth, and shave. Now 'eaven forbid I ever shave and then brush my teeth! I don't even think I could anymore, not without serious (maybe hypnosis) re-training. Then back to the trailer to drop off my kit and back outside to tie my boots and blouse my pants. Back into put on deodorant, take my stuff out of my cover (hat) strap on the pistol, put on the top, grab the backpack (or laundry bag, I don't like to carry both {neither does my back or neck}). Out the door, turn left (even though I should technically go right as that is the direction that the compound is {don't judge me!}) and to the office.
Things can get change throughout the day but generally I dump any old coffee out of the pot and make some for the day.
Then back home take off the blouse, drop the pistol belt, put my keys, lighter, chapstick, wallet, and watch in my cover and put it by the bed. Again this is where it all changes again (unless you can call waking up every couple of hours for whatever reason {usually discomfort} part of a routine...). Then up in the morning and do it all again.
Whatever happened to the rebel who did whatever he wanted? I need to go home I guess. No I know I do. Everyday reminds me more and more...
End Interlude Part Two
That is what I have become I guess, so much so that it kinda frightens me. You know I always give the missus a hard time when she can't find her keys, cos I always put mine in the same place. She doesn't, so generally she finds mine and then I have to take them from her when we get home, so that she doesn't loose them too.
But here I've only gotten worse I think. I do the same ritual every damn day ('cept "down days" back when we used to get 'em {don' worry la' they'll come again, yeah}) mainly cos the few times I've messed up the ritual, I've been ruined for the day. I get up put on my socks, pants, and t-shirt. Cross over and put on my boots, but do not tie them. Then i's off to the latrine to piss, brush teeth, and shave. Now 'eaven forbid I ever shave and then brush my teeth! I don't even think I could anymore, not without serious (maybe hypnosis) re-training. Then back to the trailer to drop off my kit and back outside to tie my boots and blouse my pants. Back into put on deodorant, take my stuff out of my cover (hat) strap on the pistol, put on the top, grab the backpack (or laundry bag, I don't like to carry both {neither does my back or neck}). Out the door, turn left (even though I should technically go right as that is the direction that the compound is {don't judge me!}) and to the office.
Things can get change throughout the day but generally I dump any old coffee out of the pot and make some for the day.
Then back home take off the blouse, drop the pistol belt, put my keys, lighter, chapstick, wallet, and watch in my cover and put it by the bed. Again this is where it all changes again (unless you can call waking up every couple of hours for whatever reason {usually discomfort} part of a routine...). Then up in the morning and do it all again.
Whatever happened to the rebel who did whatever he wanted? I need to go home I guess. No I know I do. Everyday reminds me more and more...
Oh yeah that's me early one morning up on the tower. I wanted to get the antennas down (more on RDoF later) before they got too hot and burnt my hands. It is pro'ly 'round 0630 at the latest here.
End Interlude Part Two
Me and the missus on the battlefield at Battle (not Hastings)
Special Bonus: "Farewell to the Smash Hits..."
Cheers,
g
Special Bonus: "Farewell to the Smash Hits..."
Cheers,
g
23 July 2010
The Last Ride of Those Guys
Part I of II
"Lips Like Sugar" (Live)
This is it, for awhile at least. Who can say when Those Guys will Ride Again? Hopefully somehow-or-other at sometime-or-other. We'll see, yeah...could be as early as September. Again a victim of the 100MB restrictions of the blog(yeah sometimes you never learn, I thought I was smarter than it and could work it out. To many days later...), so the address is below. Remember the volume may be a little wrong so be prepared to adjust (seriously once it was too quiet, once it was too loud...who knows), otherwise hope you enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/greg23jennifer
Cheers,
g
"Lips Like Sugar" (Live)
This is it, for awhile at least. Who can say when Those Guys will Ride Again? Hopefully somehow-or-other at sometime-or-other. We'll see, yeah...could be as early as September. Again a victim of the 100MB restrictions of the blog(yeah sometimes you never learn, I thought I was smarter than it and could work it out. To many days later...), so the address is below. Remember the volume may be a little wrong so be prepared to adjust (seriously once it was too quiet, once it was too loud...who knows), otherwise hope you enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/greg23jennifer
Cheers,
g
21 July 2010
"There'll Be Bluebirds Over..."
"...The White Cliffs of Dover"
Day ? (We're into Free Vacation Here)
Here we are into the unknown, the unplanned, the wild and weird adventures of the happily stranded. We'd been laughing at it for days, yeah. You know the old, "surely it will be over when we have to go" bit. The old saying of "just our luck" and "back to reality" shenanigans. But here we were passing through Londontown and it was strange. We probably shouldn't have even bothered (or left Liverpool for that matter {this will be a running theme, so get used to it [Will be? Really? Cos this is only like the third time you've said it already.]}) going to the airport, but yeah we did. Now Heathrow is one of the World's busiest airports, so normally it's all people and traffic and cabs and buses and planes flying all over, but not as we blew through town. It was like '28 Days Later' or whatever, like no one, no how, nothing. There was everything but the tumbleweeds as far as ghost towns go.
Up first Dover Castle, there's part of it up there. Quite cool and pretty amazing when you think of the things that have gone down here. From way back when to World War II to I think it was 'round the '60 or so when it stopped having a full-time garrison. There are still guns that helped the boys in the air fight The Battle of Britain. Not to mention the Kings and Queens and all their rot that lived and presided here. The castle is a sprawling complex at the top of the hill it even has a moat (no water though, nor beast) and secret passages and the like. We've got tons more pictures, but to save time and space I thought I paint in broad strokes. But I do have to say it is one of the better castles that I have ever been too (Take that Nottingham, you big bloody let down you) maybe it was cos we didn't go in expecting too much (again Nottingham) so we were pleasantly surprised. I'll let the Escher-eske picture below speak for itself.
Next up were the Secret Wartime Tunnels, and we are not just talking World War II here. These tunnels were actually used during the Peninsular Wars against that ol' frog basta' Napoleon, and expanded upon over the years and years after that. The Dunkirk rescue operation was planned and controlled from these tunnels dug into the White Cliffs. There's hospitals, and kitchens, and radio rooms, all that. Even some graffiti from the 1800's by a woman. (Now what would a woman being doing down the tunnels that were a garrison for troops? Your answers on a post card, yeah.) With twists and turns, audio and flickering lights it was quite the cool place to be.
Here is one of the more obvious windows near the entrance, along with the venting. There are also windows and such in the face of the cliff, but in order to get pictures of them you'd have to be on one of the Ferries (that dock just down the cliffs) and they were full up with people getting off the island or trying to get back to ol' Blighty. (I've got some pictures of the port, and unlike the airport it was busy, busy, busy (so don't bother me {a joke for like 4-5 people there}).
Here are me and the wife, and it's actually an optical illusion, we didn't climb down to the bottom. I don't think you can. I know that when we were at the edge looking down and all, I got a little nervie. Most sane people would I think (though most prob'ly wouldn't admit it) but when you look down at the churning sea and the long way down, yeah nervie.
Call me a Romantic, or a Big Fekin Dork... but it won't hurt my feelings cos this one here is actually one of my favorites. I know I'm a big sap, but whatever I love the missus and our adventures so...
Cheers,
g
Day ? (We're into Free Vacation Here)
Here we are into the unknown, the unplanned, the wild and weird adventures of the happily stranded. We'd been laughing at it for days, yeah. You know the old, "surely it will be over when we have to go" bit. The old saying of "just our luck" and "back to reality" shenanigans. But here we were passing through Londontown and it was strange. We probably shouldn't have even bothered (or left Liverpool for that matter {this will be a running theme, so get used to it [Will be? Really? Cos this is only like the third time you've said it already.]}) going to the airport, but yeah we did. Now Heathrow is one of the World's busiest airports, so normally it's all people and traffic and cabs and buses and planes flying all over, but not as we blew through town. It was like '28 Days Later' or whatever, like no one, no how, nothing. There was everything but the tumbleweeds as far as ghost towns go.
Up first Dover Castle, there's part of it up there. Quite cool and pretty amazing when you think of the things that have gone down here. From way back when to World War II to I think it was 'round the '60 or so when it stopped having a full-time garrison. There are still guns that helped the boys in the air fight The Battle of Britain. Not to mention the Kings and Queens and all their rot that lived and presided here. The castle is a sprawling complex at the top of the hill it even has a moat (no water though, nor beast) and secret passages and the like. We've got tons more pictures, but to save time and space I thought I paint in broad strokes. But I do have to say it is one of the better castles that I have ever been too (Take that Nottingham, you big bloody let down you) maybe it was cos we didn't go in expecting too much (again Nottingham) so we were pleasantly surprised. I'll let the Escher-eske picture below speak for itself.
Next up were the Secret Wartime Tunnels, and we are not just talking World War II here. These tunnels were actually used during the Peninsular Wars against that ol' frog basta' Napoleon, and expanded upon over the years and years after that. The Dunkirk rescue operation was planned and controlled from these tunnels dug into the White Cliffs. There's hospitals, and kitchens, and radio rooms, all that. Even some graffiti from the 1800's by a woman. (Now what would a woman being doing down the tunnels that were a garrison for troops? Your answers on a post card, yeah.) With twists and turns, audio and flickering lights it was quite the cool place to be.
Here is one of the more obvious windows near the entrance, along with the venting. There are also windows and such in the face of the cliff, but in order to get pictures of them you'd have to be on one of the Ferries (that dock just down the cliffs) and they were full up with people getting off the island or trying to get back to ol' Blighty. (I've got some pictures of the port, and unlike the airport it was busy, busy, busy (so don't bother me {a joke for like 4-5 people there}).
Here are me and the wife, and it's actually an optical illusion, we didn't climb down to the bottom. I don't think you can. I know that when we were at the edge looking down and all, I got a little nervie. Most sane people would I think (though most prob'ly wouldn't admit it) but when you look down at the churning sea and the long way down, yeah nervie.
Call me a Romantic, or a Big Fekin Dork... but it won't hurt my feelings cos this one here is actually one of my favorites. I know I'm a big sap, but whatever I love the missus and our adventures so...
Cheers,
g
18 July 2010
If You've Got Shitty Footy...
...Then Yer Pro'ly a Rugby Town"
Bath
Day ?
That is what I think I've learned anyway. Take Bath for instance, we happened to be there on the day of a Rugby match. They were out in droves, yeah. Packed to the fekin lid. And Bath, no footy to speak of. Now I reckon that they'd pro'ly say the same thing 'bout Liverpool, no rugby to speak of there either, but we all know about footy, yeah. There's even the Blue Noses across the Park if you are into that sort of thing. Now I won't claim to be a rugby efficiannato, don't even really care for it, tell the truth, but in Bath they live breathe and shit the stuff. At least on matchday, but I think drinking cider and rugby must go together, I mean Magner's sponsors a whole league and Bath were/are sponsored by Blackthorne or something. Like I said, what I know about rugby you could fit in a wet paper bag (that's right the bottom wouldn't even fall out it is so little) and I am sure they might be confused if they showed up in the 'Pool on matchday and saw Carlsburg, Crown Paint, Candy, and now Standard Chartered sponsored stripes, but then again they like rugby so who knows.
I would be remiss I guess if I didn't mention we were still listening to the news and seeing no planes flying, but surely they would be back up by Sunday.
Bath
Day ?
That is what I think I've learned anyway. Take Bath for instance, we happened to be there on the day of a Rugby match. They were out in droves, yeah. Packed to the fekin lid. And Bath, no footy to speak of. Now I reckon that they'd pro'ly say the same thing 'bout Liverpool, no rugby to speak of there either, but we all know about footy, yeah. There's even the Blue Noses across the Park if you are into that sort of thing. Now I won't claim to be a rugby efficiannato, don't even really care for it, tell the truth, but in Bath they live breathe and shit the stuff. At least on matchday, but I think drinking cider and rugby must go together, I mean Magner's sponsors a whole league and Bath were/are sponsored by Blackthorne or something. Like I said, what I know about rugby you could fit in a wet paper bag (that's right the bottom wouldn't even fall out it is so little) and I am sure they might be confused if they showed up in the 'Pool on matchday and saw Carlsburg, Crown Paint, Candy, and now Standard Chartered sponsored stripes, but then again they like rugby so who knows.
I would be remiss I guess if I didn't mention we were still listening to the news and seeing no planes flying, but surely they would be back up by Sunday.
Interlude: Iraq
As promised here are some pictures from around camp. What I decided to show was some pictures of the very special features that we've added to Cell Block 300.
So here is a piece of "working" art that young Moreno has done for us. You'll note it looks a little like a movie theater, and that's what we asked for. Now with a projector and a DVD or Laptop this is where we show movies some nights. We've deffo come along way from the small TV that we were watching the NFL on when we first got here. A couple of you might be able to guess at who some of the silhouettes are, you can answer in the comments if you can.
Here you can see we also Co-opted the screen for the World Cup. Awesome right. This is Spain v Germany, the crowd isn't as big as it was for the couple of USA games we had on. But you can see that Yohan and I make up an almost complete kit. It wasn't just us that would watch either we have some of the Ugandan and Sierra Leone guards come by and sit with us too. Nothing like footy to bring people together. We got the chairs and table from another unit that left them out (no seriously they left them after they refraded home, what do you think we are a bunch of thieves?)
Today we got up at 0300, and yes some of us never went to sleep (not me I am too old for that game, but props to the rest of Those Guys {more on Those Guys last ride in another post}and everyone else who did the marathon-Cheers mates and thanks {'bout time some of them did any damn work anyway}) to pack up our stuff to send home.
"Said that's alright,
The deeper it bites,
I'm One Step Closer to Home"
End Interlude
But I've got to say for me, it was a little too richy bitchy snobby wobbly. That's just me though I guess. Just not really my Cup of Tea. But speaking of tea...you can see the missus pictured below having a cuppa. We went to the Jane Austin Tea Room of somesuch and she just had to have a picture of her sipping with Mr. D'Arcy over her shoulder. I think she had me take one of her as thus with every bit of tech we had that day. Good thing we didn't have the Flip, otherwise you'd have to hear her slurp and slup.
Oh yeah the kid you can see in the back is part of some Continental invasion of richy people (that pro'ly plague ol' Bath all the fekin time). Probably from the Netherlands or somesuch proud Nordic blood and money. That and they charged us for like Two full teas, I mean they gave us two full teas, but bloody Hell lass, were the two of us really going to eat three scones each?
We did find an All Vegetarian Pub though, and that wasn't half bad, better in fact. I think upon walking in we were both a little afraid that it was going to be sprouts, cucumbers, tofu, and dirt but they actually had pub grub done without the death. T''was nice, I mean they generally have more veg options Everywhere than we do in the States (you notice I didn't even mention here right) but this was nice to be able to go for it, nice to know it can be done too. But again probably only in the Richy Whitchy places. I mean it was a nice day outside and I chose to sit inside, cos of the bag of loud cunts that were sitting laughing too loud with all their shopping bags 'round 'em. Whatever though it was cool.
So above is the your truly and the missus at some fancy place that I should probably remember about, but don't. We over heard a tour guide, I know right, a "Walking Tour of Bath" with the guide talking about how some crazy old bird had a visit from the Home Office cos she'd painted her door blue. You see this semi-circle of row house is like Hoyty toyty land and everything must be wonderful and the same. "Fek tha'" I say, it's like those damn Home Association, think they can tell you what you can do with yer own property, "fek'em I own the damn house don't I?" So good for you lady, just wish you'da painted it Red.
So we weren't long in Bath, cos we still thought we was gonna fly the next day. Little did we know, yeah. That's right folks we are headed into Free Vacation. Actually it cost us quite a bit, but you have to think of it as Extra Innings, yeah free baseball and all that, yeah.
Oh and you know if you can't always see the pictures real well you can click on them and they'll open up a bit bigger. Don't know if I mentioned that or not, but I actually found out awhile ago.
Cheers,
g
As promised here are some pictures from around camp. What I decided to show was some pictures of the very special features that we've added to Cell Block 300.
So here is a piece of "working" art that young Moreno has done for us. You'll note it looks a little like a movie theater, and that's what we asked for. Now with a projector and a DVD or Laptop this is where we show movies some nights. We've deffo come along way from the small TV that we were watching the NFL on when we first got here. A couple of you might be able to guess at who some of the silhouettes are, you can answer in the comments if you can.
Here you can see we also Co-opted the screen for the World Cup. Awesome right. This is Spain v Germany, the crowd isn't as big as it was for the couple of USA games we had on. But you can see that Yohan and I make up an almost complete kit. It wasn't just us that would watch either we have some of the Ugandan and Sierra Leone guards come by and sit with us too. Nothing like footy to bring people together. We got the chairs and table from another unit that left them out (no seriously they left them after they refraded home, what do you think we are a bunch of thieves?)
Today we got up at 0300, and yes some of us never went to sleep (not me I am too old for that game, but props to the rest of Those Guys {more on Those Guys last ride in another post}and everyone else who did the marathon-Cheers mates and thanks {'bout time some of them did any damn work anyway}) to pack up our stuff to send home.
"Said that's alright,
The deeper it bites,
I'm One Step Closer to Home"
End Interlude
So the Missus being the Jane Austin nut that she is has been to ol' Bath before and it was alright... pretty city and all that. All hills and the water running right through it. As seen below.
But I've got to say for me, it was a little too richy bitchy snobby wobbly. That's just me though I guess. Just not really my Cup of Tea. But speaking of tea...you can see the missus pictured below having a cuppa. We went to the Jane Austin Tea Room of somesuch and she just had to have a picture of her sipping with Mr. D'Arcy over her shoulder. I think she had me take one of her as thus with every bit of tech we had that day. Good thing we didn't have the Flip, otherwise you'd have to hear her slurp and slup. 
Oh yeah the kid you can see in the back is part of some Continental invasion of richy people (that pro'ly plague ol' Bath all the fekin time). Probably from the Netherlands or somesuch proud Nordic blood and money. That and they charged us for like Two full teas, I mean they gave us two full teas, but bloody Hell lass, were the two of us really going to eat three scones each?
We did find an All Vegetarian Pub though, and that wasn't half bad, better in fact. I think upon walking in we were both a little afraid that it was going to be sprouts, cucumbers, tofu, and dirt but they actually had pub grub done without the death. T''was nice, I mean they generally have more veg options Everywhere than we do in the States (you notice I didn't even mention here right) but this was nice to be able to go for it, nice to know it can be done too. But again probably only in the Richy Whitchy places. I mean it was a nice day outside and I chose to sit inside, cos of the bag of loud cunts that were sitting laughing too loud with all their shopping bags 'round 'em. Whatever though it was cool.
So above is the your truly and the missus at some fancy place that I should probably remember about, but don't. We over heard a tour guide, I know right, a "Walking Tour of Bath" with the guide talking about how some crazy old bird had a visit from the Home Office cos she'd painted her door blue. You see this semi-circle of row house is like Hoyty toyty land and everything must be wonderful and the same. "Fek tha'" I say, it's like those damn Home Association, think they can tell you what you can do with yer own property, "fek'em I own the damn house don't I?" So good for you lady, just wish you'da painted it Red.
So we weren't long in Bath, cos we still thought we was gonna fly the next day. Little did we know, yeah. That's right folks we are headed into Free Vacation. Actually it cost us quite a bit, but you have to think of it as Extra Innings, yeah free baseball and all that, yeah.
Oh and you know if you can't always see the pictures real well you can click on them and they'll open up a bit bigger. Don't know if I mentioned that or not, but I actually found out awhile ago.
Cheers,
g
14 July 2010
On Beyond
Cardiff, Wales
Caerdydd, Cymru
Day ?
So with heavy hearts did we leave the Promised Land...(shoulda never left) and headed southerly towards the capitol and the airplanes that would take us elsewhere. Or so we thought, see things were already weird with the Icelandic volcano eruption and all that. Maybe we shouldn't have been such optimists and just called the damn airlines before we left Liverpool. But coulda, shoulda, woulda don't count for much. But next time...we'll know better. If you are given that big a sign, only a fool wouldn't take it, right? Well colour me and the missus foolish then, cos we didn't.
Not that isn't to say we didn't have a good time on our trip south, seeing some things and places that neither of us had before. But given a second chance, yeah we'd've stuck around the 'Pool a little longer and still been able to do most of the stuff that we really enjoyed. Now I don't know what people imagined with the volcano shutting down all the airports, maybe it was supposed to look like some Post-Apocalypse thing, or like dust storm here in Iraq. But we really had lovely weather, sunshine and clear skies for the most part. And this is Britain don't you know.
So we headed out to Cymru, also known as Wales. Also know to be home of the original Britains, yeah. We hit Cardiff cos its supposed to have a rift between time and space running through it and had a pretty great time. Found our favorite brewery "Brains" the Official Brewery of Wales. And learned that like places in Canada everything on every sign is written in two languages. Welsh and English, it is nice cos it shows that Wales aren't going to let anyone grind them down. The Red Dragon may seem to be sleeping, but when the time comes for it to wake up...well Englishmen beware.
First up we visited the Doctor Who exhibit. The new series chronicling the adventures of The Doctor and his companions are produced by BBC Wales so they keep it all alive in a mall. This is the one standing exhibit, there are a couple of others that travel around though. So we found a pint and went into the show.
Here's the missus with "Poor Lazlo"
And yours truly with the Daleks, "Exterminate!"
Interlude: Iraq
Weird really it seems sometimes that I am going to actually finish my tour here before I finish my Tour of Duty. Not much to report from this side of the world it is just day-in-day-out sort of doings. But while I've got your attention I thought I would say something about the Comments box that lies at the bottom of each post. I really do like getting the Comments, I really hoped that this would be an interactive thing. Where I could not only digress left and right, but also where you the people could have your say. I do check on them often, so don't feel like if you've had to catch up on a few posting at a time you can't comment on whatever you like.
I took some more pictures of 'round here and will get them up soon. There are a few more I want to take and maybe even some video. So stay tuned.
End Interlude
And I would be very remiss if I didn't take a picture in front of the Norwegian Church.
How cool is that? The church is an arts centre now but it goes way back to when Cardiff Bay had a swinging port and the old Norge salts needed a place to pray.
Wales is cool, check it out sometime. We have only scratched the surface but definitely deserves more time. And you never know you just might run into the Welsh Wonder, Mr. Tom Jones.
Cheers,
g
Caerdydd, Cymru
Day ?
So with heavy hearts did we leave the Promised Land...(shoulda never left) and headed southerly towards the capitol and the airplanes that would take us elsewhere. Or so we thought, see things were already weird with the Icelandic volcano eruption and all that. Maybe we shouldn't have been such optimists and just called the damn airlines before we left Liverpool. But coulda, shoulda, woulda don't count for much. But next time...we'll know better. If you are given that big a sign, only a fool wouldn't take it, right? Well colour me and the missus foolish then, cos we didn't.
Not that isn't to say we didn't have a good time on our trip south, seeing some things and places that neither of us had before. But given a second chance, yeah we'd've stuck around the 'Pool a little longer and still been able to do most of the stuff that we really enjoyed. Now I don't know what people imagined with the volcano shutting down all the airports, maybe it was supposed to look like some Post-Apocalypse thing, or like dust storm here in Iraq. But we really had lovely weather, sunshine and clear skies for the most part. And this is Britain don't you know.
So we headed out to Cymru, also known as Wales. Also know to be home of the original Britains, yeah. We hit Cardiff cos its supposed to have a rift between time and space running through it and had a pretty great time. Found our favorite brewery "Brains" the Official Brewery of Wales. And learned that like places in Canada everything on every sign is written in two languages. Welsh and English, it is nice cos it shows that Wales aren't going to let anyone grind them down. The Red Dragon may seem to be sleeping, but when the time comes for it to wake up...well Englishmen beware.
First up we visited the Doctor Who exhibit. The new series chronicling the adventures of The Doctor and his companions are produced by BBC Wales so they keep it all alive in a mall. This is the one standing exhibit, there are a couple of others that travel around though. So we found a pint and went into the show.
Here's the missus with "Poor Lazlo"
And yours truly with the Daleks, "Exterminate!"Interlude: Iraq
Weird really it seems sometimes that I am going to actually finish my tour here before I finish my Tour of Duty. Not much to report from this side of the world it is just day-in-day-out sort of doings. But while I've got your attention I thought I would say something about the Comments box that lies at the bottom of each post. I really do like getting the Comments, I really hoped that this would be an interactive thing. Where I could not only digress left and right, but also where you the people could have your say. I do check on them often, so don't feel like if you've had to catch up on a few posting at a time you can't comment on whatever you like.
I took some more pictures of 'round here and will get them up soon. There are a few more I want to take and maybe even some video. So stay tuned.
End Interlude
So here we are in front of the Big Ass fountain, yup that's water running down that thing behind us. This is all at Millennium Centre/Roald Dahl Plaza (yeah the "James & the Giant Peach" etc, guy was Welsh and I guess some kinda spy or something. Below is the Theater the inscription is in Welsh and English and didn't actually say "Bad Wolf" but, "In These Stones Horizons Sing." Oh, yeah and what you can't really tell is that the words are actually windows, pretty cool.
And I would be very remiss if I didn't take a picture in front of the Norwegian Church.
How cool is that? The church is an arts centre now but it goes way back to when Cardiff Bay had a swinging port and the old Norge salts needed a place to pray.
Wales is cool, check it out sometime. We have only scratched the surface but definitely deserves more time. And you never know you just might run into the Welsh Wonder, Mr. Tom Jones.
Cheers,
g
11 July 2010
So, Funny Story
Picture if you will the missus and I riding in our newly rented Fiat Bravura (or some such, not a bad little car...unlike the other rental this one had a boot you could fit the world in) on our way to Anfield to the Memorial. She's driving cos I choose not to when I can (here or there) so the only thing you've got to wrap your mind around is that she's on the side I would usually be on and viceversa, right.
"We need to find somewhere to park," she says.
"Yeah, okay there's carparks about I'm sure," say I calmly and cooly (natch.) "There's one over there Five Pounds."
Its a dirt lot right with a few cars parked and a boy and a coupla girls sitting talking next to the Sharpie on cardboard sign that says something like "Park 5 Pounds (but with they symbol, yeah.) Now I'd rather give my money to the young scallie than some faceless whatever.
"Okay," says the missus hands gripped on the wheel, glint in her eye. "Do you think we can get in that way?"
"No," says I plain and simple. Its a bit of a pit sort of lot, if you get my meaning. There's a sidewalk and all that and its on the corner. Looking at the cars that are there and where the kid is sitting, mixed with the fact that I can see where it is graded on the other street. I take all this in an instant...I've already voiced my opinion when I feel the Fiat sway towards what is NOT the entrance.
Now I just had a thought, maybe I've been mishearing the missus all these years. Maybe instead of asking questions she's actually making a statement. You know, I may hear, "Do you want to...?" "Do you think...?" etc when actually she's saying "You think..." "You want to..." It would be the perfect explanation really, cos it always seems to be my fault even when I have obviously said, "No."
Not sure but its a thought, yeah.
Back to the story...
"No," I say and grip whatever I can as we swerve into what could be very, very bad.
Sure enough there's a crunch and a long deep scrape as we bump into this pit that has become this kid's carpark. As we are shaken wildly about the car I can imagine sparks flying and things falling off. A trail of parts going from the curb to wherever the car dies. The kid he jumps up, the girls giggle and he runs over.
I've gone like a ghost...pale, eyes wide, mouth hanging down, and white knuckles grasping for life. The missus, yeah she's got this wild look in her eyes that says anything between, "Wow, we're alive" to "I might've shat meself." Eyes glinting, strange deranged smile playing across her mouth. The kid slides up to the car in a cloud of dust and debris. The missus rolls (Is there another word for that now that most car windows don't actually roll down? Food for thought...feel free to post thoughts in the comments below.)
"Oh," says the young scallie. I see his look mirrors something between my terror and the missus insanity. "Yer Fekin Mad, you!"
This kid is going to go far, serious master of understatement and with the ability to suss out people with only a glance and a bit of crazy driving, he's gonna be alright.
"The las' guy who di tha'," he says sticking his head almost all the way into the car. I think he might have wanted to check and see if there was any blood or gore plastered all over the interior of the car. "He tore the 'ole undercarriage off his, yeah."
Pulled back from my near death experience I have to smile and nod at the boy. "You don't know the half of it la'." is all I can think.
No the car to my utter shock had not left the trail of flotsam and jetsom behind it. In fact there wasn't even a scratch (showing) on it. When we came back there wasn't even the puddle of vital fluid laying underneath, soaking in the ground that I expected. So yeah the Fiat Brava (whatever) good car, yeah.
"Yer fekin mad, you!" that's me wife.
Cheers,
g
"We need to find somewhere to park," she says.
"Yeah, okay there's carparks about I'm sure," say I calmly and cooly (natch.) "There's one over there Five Pounds."
Its a dirt lot right with a few cars parked and a boy and a coupla girls sitting talking next to the Sharpie on cardboard sign that says something like "Park 5 Pounds (but with they symbol, yeah.) Now I'd rather give my money to the young scallie than some faceless whatever.
"Okay," says the missus hands gripped on the wheel, glint in her eye. "Do you think we can get in that way?"
"No," says I plain and simple. Its a bit of a pit sort of lot, if you get my meaning. There's a sidewalk and all that and its on the corner. Looking at the cars that are there and where the kid is sitting, mixed with the fact that I can see where it is graded on the other street. I take all this in an instant...I've already voiced my opinion when I feel the Fiat sway towards what is NOT the entrance.
Now I just had a thought, maybe I've been mishearing the missus all these years. Maybe instead of asking questions she's actually making a statement. You know, I may hear, "Do you want to...?" "Do you think...?" etc when actually she's saying "You think..." "You want to..." It would be the perfect explanation really, cos it always seems to be my fault even when I have obviously said, "No."
Not sure but its a thought, yeah.
Back to the story...
"No," I say and grip whatever I can as we swerve into what could be very, very bad.
Sure enough there's a crunch and a long deep scrape as we bump into this pit that has become this kid's carpark. As we are shaken wildly about the car I can imagine sparks flying and things falling off. A trail of parts going from the curb to wherever the car dies. The kid he jumps up, the girls giggle and he runs over.
I've gone like a ghost...pale, eyes wide, mouth hanging down, and white knuckles grasping for life. The missus, yeah she's got this wild look in her eyes that says anything between, "Wow, we're alive" to "I might've shat meself." Eyes glinting, strange deranged smile playing across her mouth. The kid slides up to the car in a cloud of dust and debris. The missus rolls (Is there another word for that now that most car windows don't actually roll down? Food for thought...feel free to post thoughts in the comments below.)
"Oh," says the young scallie. I see his look mirrors something between my terror and the missus insanity. "Yer Fekin Mad, you!"
This kid is going to go far, serious master of understatement and with the ability to suss out people with only a glance and a bit of crazy driving, he's gonna be alright.
"The las' guy who di tha'," he says sticking his head almost all the way into the car. I think he might have wanted to check and see if there was any blood or gore plastered all over the interior of the car. "He tore the 'ole undercarriage off his, yeah."
Pulled back from my near death experience I have to smile and nod at the boy. "You don't know the half of it la'." is all I can think.
No the car to my utter shock had not left the trail of flotsam and jetsom behind it. In fact there wasn't even a scratch (showing) on it. When we came back there wasn't even the puddle of vital fluid laying underneath, soaking in the ground that I expected. So yeah the Fiat Brava (whatever) good car, yeah.
"Yer fekin mad, you!" that's me wife.
Cheers,
g
09 July 2010
Remembrance
Liverpool
15 April 2010
Twenty-one years to the day we sat in the Kop to remember and pledge our support for justice that has been so long in the waiting.
On 15 April 1989 thousands of Liverpool supporters traveled to Sheffield to a FA Cup Semi-Final Game against Nottingham Forrest. The traveled by coach, car, train...however they could to see their beloved Reds take on Forrest at Hillsborough Stadium.
96 never came back.
Twenty-one years on and Liverpool...the City, the club, the supporters, and the families are still searching for Justice for the 96. There are better places to get the hard facts, I will list them near the bottom for more reading. Before Hillsborough, before the Taylor report that came after it, fans were put into standing pens...like animals. Which in Thatcher's England that is what they were. The stadium was a disgrace and had been the sight of an earlier crush in 1981. The police were unprepared and inept in dealing with the event.
Oh they had been told to watch out for, "those Scouse bastards" and plagued fans all the way from the motorway to the stadium. They sat and watched as people died. People...mothers, fathers, daughter, sons, grandparents...died.
And the police sat on their hands and lied. The chief superintendent said there was a "pitch invasion" that a gate was forced open. That Liverpool supporters had "shown up late, without tickets, and drunk."
Families rushed however they could to Sheffield to learn about their loved ones, because this isn't the modern age, instant messaging and cell phones didn't exist. There was no Internet. Families and friends that had been separated tried anyway they could to find out what was happening the were taken by bus to hospitals and then back to a nearby gymnasium that had been turned into a morgue. There they were forced to look at Polaroid pictures pinned to a wall, then questioned like guilty parties on how much their son or daughter had to drink, how much they had had to drink. Once identified bodies were whisked away, "property of the coroner."
Lord Justice Taylor was head of the first inquest in which he exonerated the fans and laid the blame on the police and stadium management. The Taylor Report change the way stadiums were run, built, and controlled. But then the cover up came. And the out and out lies.
Another inquest was begun by the West Midlands Police Department, investigating the South Yorkshire Police Department. And the lies and cover up began in earnest. Families were drug in and out of courtrooms for years, finding new evidence and seeing it never come to light.
"The Sun" newspaper ran an article that was nothing more than propaganda and fancy. The full page headline said..."The Truth: Some Fans Picked the Pockets of Victims. Some Fans Urinated on the Brave Cops. Some Fans Beat Up PC Giving the Kiss of Life." All lies, purportedly overheard in a pub and ran to make money. Fact is it was fans out there "giving the kiss of life." Fans who tore down advertisement boards to carry victims out to the ambulances that the police wouldn't let in. Fans who had been crying for days and would cry for days more.
The search for the Real Truth goes on, and still the people of Liverpool fight for justice. Not just the families, the Club, the supporters, but the entire City. This is one of those things that makes Liverpool very special. Even the cross town rivals Everton care, they were there in the aftermath, a line of scarves and flowers crossed Stanley Park which separates the clubs stadiums. They were there then and they are still there twenty-one years later. They cried out for "Justice for the 96" with the rest of us. They even sang our anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" the people care. Try and imagine your hometown doing that, standing together on something for so long.
A moment of silence was started with the blow of the refs whistle at 3:06, the time when the match was called off. A silence that draped the whole city and then the church bells rang 96 times. Prayers were said, hymns were sung, candles lit, and 96 balloons were set free into the sky.
Liverpool has been doing this for twenty-one years and if need be will surely go on for eternity. But God I hope they don't have to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_Disaster
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=hillsborough+
That's all I've got for now. I am a bit drained and moved, but remind me next time, cos I do have a funny anecdote from the day. I just wanted this to stand on it's own. I could go on and on, but I just wanted to say Something...Anything.
Oh, one more thing. When Rafael Benitez was fired (again Mutual Agreement my arse) he donated 96,000 Pounds to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, tell me he's not a stand up guy. A guy we shoulda kept, I know it's "All Hands on Deck" for Roy now but...Rafa you were a class act.
Cheers
g
"Justice for the 96!"
15 April 2010
Twenty-one years to the day we sat in the Kop to remember and pledge our support for justice that has been so long in the waiting.
On 15 April 1989 thousands of Liverpool supporters traveled to Sheffield to a FA Cup Semi-Final Game against Nottingham Forrest. The traveled by coach, car, train...however they could to see their beloved Reds take on Forrest at Hillsborough Stadium.
96 never came back.
Twenty-one years on and Liverpool...the City, the club, the supporters, and the families are still searching for Justice for the 96. There are better places to get the hard facts, I will list them near the bottom for more reading. Before Hillsborough, before the Taylor report that came after it, fans were put into standing pens...like animals. Which in Thatcher's England that is what they were. The stadium was a disgrace and had been the sight of an earlier crush in 1981. The police were unprepared and inept in dealing with the event.
Oh they had been told to watch out for, "those Scouse bastards" and plagued fans all the way from the motorway to the stadium. They sat and watched as people died. People...mothers, fathers, daughter, sons, grandparents...died.
And the police sat on their hands and lied. The chief superintendent said there was a "pitch invasion" that a gate was forced open. That Liverpool supporters had "shown up late, without tickets, and drunk."
Families rushed however they could to Sheffield to learn about their loved ones, because this isn't the modern age, instant messaging and cell phones didn't exist. There was no Internet. Families and friends that had been separated tried anyway they could to find out what was happening the were taken by bus to hospitals and then back to a nearby gymnasium that had been turned into a morgue. There they were forced to look at Polaroid pictures pinned to a wall, then questioned like guilty parties on how much their son or daughter had to drink, how much they had had to drink. Once identified bodies were whisked away, "property of the coroner."
Lord Justice Taylor was head of the first inquest in which he exonerated the fans and laid the blame on the police and stadium management. The Taylor Report change the way stadiums were run, built, and controlled. But then the cover up came. And the out and out lies.
Another inquest was begun by the West Midlands Police Department, investigating the South Yorkshire Police Department. And the lies and cover up began in earnest. Families were drug in and out of courtrooms for years, finding new evidence and seeing it never come to light.
"The Sun" newspaper ran an article that was nothing more than propaganda and fancy. The full page headline said..."The Truth: Some Fans Picked the Pockets of Victims. Some Fans Urinated on the Brave Cops. Some Fans Beat Up PC Giving the Kiss of Life." All lies, purportedly overheard in a pub and ran to make money. Fact is it was fans out there "giving the kiss of life." Fans who tore down advertisement boards to carry victims out to the ambulances that the police wouldn't let in. Fans who had been crying for days and would cry for days more.
The search for the Real Truth goes on, and still the people of Liverpool fight for justice. Not just the families, the Club, the supporters, but the entire City. This is one of those things that makes Liverpool very special. Even the cross town rivals Everton care, they were there in the aftermath, a line of scarves and flowers crossed Stanley Park which separates the clubs stadiums. They were there then and they are still there twenty-one years later. They cried out for "Justice for the 96" with the rest of us. They even sang our anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" the people care. Try and imagine your hometown doing that, standing together on something for so long.
A moment of silence was started with the blow of the refs whistle at 3:06, the time when the match was called off. A silence that draped the whole city and then the church bells rang 96 times. Prayers were said, hymns were sung, candles lit, and 96 balloons were set free into the sky.
Liverpool has been doing this for twenty-one years and if need be will surely go on for eternity. But God I hope they don't have to.
Below are the names and the ages of the 96.
Rest In Peace
Rest In Peace
- John Alfred Anderson (62)
- Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
- James Gary Aspinall (18)
- Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
- Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
- Simon Bell (17)
- Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
- David John Benson (22)
- David William Birtle (22)
- Tony Bland (22)
- Paul David Brady (21)
- Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
- Carl Brown (18)
- David Steven Brown (25)
- Henry Thomas Burke (47)
- Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
- Paul William Carlile (19)
- Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
- Gary Christopher Church (19)
- Joseph Clark (29)
- Paul Clark (18)
- Gary Collins (22)
- Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
- Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
- James Philip Delaney (19)
- Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
- Christopher Edwards (29)
- Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
- Thomas Steven Fox (21)
- Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
- Barry Glover (27)
- Ian Thomas Glover (20)
- Derrick George Godwin (24)
- Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
- Philip Hammond (14)
- Eric Hankin (33)
- Gary Harrison (27)
- Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
- Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
- David Hawley (39)
- James Robert Hennessy (29)
- Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
- Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
- Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
- Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
- Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
- Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
- Arthur Horrocks (41)
- Thomas Howard (39)
- Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
- Eric George Hughes (42)
- Alan Johnston (29)
- Christine Anne Jones (27)
- Gary Philip Jones (18)
- Richard Jones (25)
- Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
- Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
- Michael David Kelly (38)
- Carl David Lewis (18)
- David William Mather (19)
- Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
- Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
- John McBrien (18)
- Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
- Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
- Peter McDonnell (21)
- Alan McGlone (28)
- Keith McGrath (17)
- Paul Brian Murray (14)
- Lee Nicol (14)
- Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
- Jonathon Owens (18)
- William Roy Pemberton (23)
- Carl William Rimmer (21)
- David George Rimmer (38)
- Graham John Roberts (24)
- Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
- Henry Charles Rogers (17)
- Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
- Inger Shah (38)
- Paula Ann Smith (26)
- Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
- Philip John Steele (15)
- David Leonard Thomas (23)
- Patrik John Thompson (35)
- Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
- Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
- Peter Francis Tootle (21)
- Christopher James Traynor (26)
- Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
- Kevin Tyrrell (15)
- Colin Wafer (19)
- Ian David Whelan (19)
- Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
- Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
- Graham John Wright (17)
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=hillsborough+
That's all I've got for now. I am a bit drained and moved, but remind me next time, cos I do have a funny anecdote from the day. I just wanted this to stand on it's own. I could go on and on, but I just wanted to say Something...Anything.
Oh, one more thing. When Rafael Benitez was fired (again Mutual Agreement my arse) he donated 96,000 Pounds to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, tell me he's not a stand up guy. A guy we shoulda kept, I know it's "All Hands on Deck" for Roy now but...Rafa you were a class act.
Cheers
g
"Justice for the 96!"
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