Well apparently the world is going crazy about this? It does bring a tear to your eye.
Posts
The Two Crazy Cats -Nick & Zack
5 years ago
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
A lovely spring day in the Flemish country side
Well, after much craziness finally I have had a chance to wind down today - and a beautiful spring day it was. Sorry for Mik who is still suffering a bit from the jetlag, and as I write he is in bed after the day at work - but back to me!.... this morning when we got up it was zero and minus 2 through the valley on the way to drop Mik off at work. The sun warmed it all up really quick and by 10am it was 4 degrees by the time I picked Mik up again it was 11 degrees - woohoo double figures!
But in between all that, I managed to have lunch with a good friend, who is not so happy as she is paying two motgages after buying a new apartment at the same time we bought and not being able to sell the other one due to the whole economic crash - and on top of it all worried about loosing her job. So we consoled each other with .... 'So long as we have our health and the ones we love close to us - then houses, and money and jobs can go by the by - so long as we can have some semblance of a roof over our heads.'
Also lately, thanks to my Scottish collegue, (whom I respect immensely for some things).... I have been enjoying the music of Hans Zimmer lately and managed to finally download a compilation of his works today. Here is a great piece above .....
But in between all that, I managed to have lunch with a good friend, who is not so happy as she is paying two motgages after buying a new apartment at the same time we bought and not being able to sell the other one due to the whole economic crash - and on top of it all worried about loosing her job. So we consoled each other with .... 'So long as we have our health and the ones we love close to us - then houses, and money and jobs can go by the by - so long as we can have some semblance of a roof over our heads.'
Also lately, thanks to my Scottish collegue, (whom I respect immensely for some things).... I have been enjoying the music of Hans Zimmer lately and managed to finally download a compilation of his works today. Here is a great piece above .....
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
On Green Day's Whatsername
I have been totally hoooked on Green Day lately, particularly their American Idiot album. Whatsername is one of my favourite and I think I listen to it, at least three times a day if not more.
This video is a bit lame, but it really does not need visuals there is plenty of colour in the music, and clever lyrics too.
"Thought I ran into you down on the street,
Then it turned out to only be a dream,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face, but I can't recall the name,
Now I wonder how whatsername has been...
Seems that she disappeared without a trace,
Did she ever marry old whatshisface,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face, but I can't recall the name,
Now I wonder how whatsername has been...
Remember, whatever,
It seems like forever ago!
Remember, whatever,
It seems like forever ago!
The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
I must confess!
The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
From so long ago!
(Go... go... go... go...)
(Go... go... go... go... go...)
And in the darkest night,
If my memory serves me right,
I'll never turn back time!
Forgetting you, but not the time!"
This video is a bit lame, but it really does not need visuals there is plenty of colour in the music, and clever lyrics too.
"Thought I ran into you down on the street,
Then it turned out to only be a dream,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face, but I can't recall the name,
Now I wonder how whatsername has been...
Seems that she disappeared without a trace,
Did she ever marry old whatshisface,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face, but I can't recall the name,
Now I wonder how whatsername has been...
Remember, whatever,
It seems like forever ago!
Remember, whatever,
It seems like forever ago!
The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
I must confess!
The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
From so long ago!
(Go... go... go... go...)
(Go... go... go... go... go...)
And in the darkest night,
If my memory serves me right,
I'll never turn back time!
Forgetting you, but not the time!"
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
One week to go...
Well, one week left to go and I get to be with my beloved boys again. Now is about the time I get a bit sick of restaraunt food and just need to comforts of my own space and junk around me. Although I am managing to gather some junk here - books mainly.
I have had some good experiences though this time. It has gotten to the point where I don't have to sit in my room night after night watching movies or reading books. I now have a social life! I can now sit by the pool in the evening and run into someone I know if I want to. Some stay also in the hotel, some I work with who come to drink at the bar and others who just come for the same reason, a chat or a drink or to sit by the pool and read their book or newspaper.
Oh yes and yesterday was an interesting thought. Mubarak, the Egyptian President and Prime Minister arrived in Muscat for a formal two day visit. They closed the roads off for the afternoon so we all got to leave the office early, to make it back to our homes before it got chaotic on the roads. There was major security alert as the guy is considered a terrorist target. Thoughts that go through my head on the way home from work yesterday....
"Hmmmmm, I am drving through a city where there is a major terrorits target arriving today.....now is probabaly a good thing that I am not staying at the Grand Hyatt this time as he probabably is. Thank you Radisson for not being flash enough for visiting dignatories.....now seems like a good time to soak up some that 32 degrees in the shade by the pool."
So I did.
I have had some good experiences though this time. It has gotten to the point where I don't have to sit in my room night after night watching movies or reading books. I now have a social life! I can now sit by the pool in the evening and run into someone I know if I want to. Some stay also in the hotel, some I work with who come to drink at the bar and others who just come for the same reason, a chat or a drink or to sit by the pool and read their book or newspaper.
Oh yes and yesterday was an interesting thought. Mubarak, the Egyptian President and Prime Minister arrived in Muscat for a formal two day visit. They closed the roads off for the afternoon so we all got to leave the office early, to make it back to our homes before it got chaotic on the roads. There was major security alert as the guy is considered a terrorist target. Thoughts that go through my head on the way home from work yesterday....
"Hmmmmm, I am drving through a city where there is a major terrorits target arriving today.....now is probabaly a good thing that I am not staying at the Grand Hyatt this time as he probabably is. Thank you Radisson for not being flash enough for visiting dignatories.....now seems like a good time to soak up some that 32 degrees in the shade by the pool."
So I did.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
7 days down
So my warning was not far off, was it? But even still I have been working long hours as the pressure comes on a bit at work.
Mik is off to New Zealand tonight. So he is busy making sure all his i's are dotted and t's crossed. I am 7 days down and 14 to go, but my girlfriend comes back from the field today so we have 5 days together to spend some of our hard earned cash. Last time before I left I discovered a whole new wing of the mall that we never knew existed so I am looking forward to show her that. It is the designer shops....can't understand how come I had not sniffed it out before. Very excited.
Mik is off to New Zealand tonight. So he is busy making sure all his i's are dotted and t's crossed. I am 7 days down and 14 to go, but my girlfriend comes back from the field today so we have 5 days together to spend some of our hard earned cash. Last time before I left I discovered a whole new wing of the mall that we never knew existed so I am looking forward to show her that. It is the designer shops....can't understand how come I had not sniffed it out before. Very excited.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Discovered Facebook
Well, now that I have discovered facebook, the blogs might get a bit less sorry. I am having a great time connecting with old friends and catching up on how their lives have changed in the last 20 years.
Sue goes back to work for another 21 days and Mik is off to NZ for a much needed holiday and catch up with family.
Sue goes back to work for another 21 days and Mik is off to NZ for a much needed holiday and catch up with family.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
A poetry day
I am having a real poetry day today. Mik bought me the complete works of John Keats for a birthday one year and he reminded me last night that I have never read it - but that is not quite true I have picked it up a couple of times and it not the sort of thing one reads from cover to cover, and quite honestly I find it quite hard work as the language is so old, one really has to study it rather than simply read it. So today I decided to make some time for poetry and inspired by Keats and some French friends of mine with a lust for life and each other I found this one...
Celine & Lorenzo dance on a Saturday night
Dancing twirling laughing nymphs
Lunging at life from up high on a plinth
Telling the world that they better take care
For Lorenzo and Celine are making it here
To take it all for what it is worth
And make revelry dance and be wild in the mirth
For life is for love and the world is the stage
And we make it all now for tomorrow we age
Dancing twirling laughing nymphs
Lunging at life from up high on a plinth
Telling the world that they better take care
For Lorenzo and Celine are making it here
To take it all for what it is worth
And make revelry dance and be wild in the mirth
For life is for love and the world is the stage
And we make it all now for tomorrow we age
Mik, Celine and Laurent - aka Lorenzo dancing on a Saturday night.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A few days rest in Oman - the story
I thought I better give ayou a bit of a story to go with the pictures.
We had a wonderful couple of days rest in Oman and made sure it was not a wirl wind. Actually the day before Mik arrived the wind whipped up and there was quite a sand storm, but it settled by the afternoon of the first day and we managed to see some rays by the pool. That morning we went for a walk down the beach, and as you can see there was a bit of surf. It reminded me a lot of the North Taranaki coast, except the tide was a lot shorter. It was nice just to wander along the beach with our shoes off and jeans rolled up. We both realised how much we miss the sea. Still it is lovely here in the Flemish country side, but there is something special about the sea for those that grew up by it. A lot like that mountain of ours too ... for those who don't what I mean here he is...
Taranaki from Paul G's Yacht.
The next day we checked out and went for a drive to Muttrah and old Muscat and mananged some bargaining in the market place, which they call the souq. We found the silver and gold souq too, and were aghast at the beautiful jewlery, which I am totally going to have to introduce Ronaye to when we get back again - sorry Glenn...
It was a magic blue day and we were planning to also spend the afternoon by the pool but we got back to the hotel and they had closed the pool area for a special valentines day party, which one had to buy tickets for. So we crashed the Hyatt instead and sat by their pool for the afternoon and enjoyed the spa pool in the evening. The retaraunt by the pool turned into a Japanese restaraunt by night so we enjoyed an awesome meal - there we were, a couple of mad kiwis in the middle east eating sushi and sahimi and drinking New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc.
We had a wonderful couple of days rest in Oman and made sure it was not a wirl wind. Actually the day before Mik arrived the wind whipped up and there was quite a sand storm, but it settled by the afternoon of the first day and we managed to see some rays by the pool. That morning we went for a walk down the beach, and as you can see there was a bit of surf. It reminded me a lot of the North Taranaki coast, except the tide was a lot shorter. It was nice just to wander along the beach with our shoes off and jeans rolled up. We both realised how much we miss the sea. Still it is lovely here in the Flemish country side, but there is something special about the sea for those that grew up by it. A lot like that mountain of ours too ... for those who don't what I mean here he is...
Taranaki from Paul G's Yacht.
The next day we checked out and went for a drive to Muttrah and old Muscat and mananged some bargaining in the market place, which they call the souq. We found the silver and gold souq too, and were aghast at the beautiful jewlery, which I am totally going to have to introduce Ronaye to when we get back again - sorry Glenn...
It was a magic blue day and we were planning to also spend the afternoon by the pool but we got back to the hotel and they had closed the pool area for a special valentines day party, which one had to buy tickets for. So we crashed the Hyatt instead and sat by their pool for the afternoon and enjoyed the spa pool in the evening. The retaraunt by the pool turned into a Japanese restaraunt by night so we enjoyed an awesome meal - there we were, a couple of mad kiwis in the middle east eating sushi and sahimi and drinking New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I learned something new today...which is always good for the soul
My taste in music is broadening ... it turns out Gorillaz is a virtual band - I never realized there was such a thing, and if you you tube/google 'Gorillaz live' you can see they perform live as animated characters also - but they haven't toured since 2002 by the looks. If you want to know more about Gorillaz click here, which is a Wikipedia site and then I read Amy MacDonald's blog today and she said she tried to correct Wikipedia's article on her and they told her to stuff off - how bizarre! click here to see her comments on the article about her on Wikipedia - oh dear wiki was always my first line of on line knowledge until know.
I do think she is doing some good stuff too - my faith in new music is restored... see http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/ .
I also saw a very cool movie today - because I got sick again and this time quite terribly so I had to stay in my room all day - Mike knows all about it for sure, he listened to my whining for two days now - but the movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from a 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I enjoyed it. It is a saga but worth the time, if you have it... click here to see the tralier
I do think she is doing some good stuff too - my faith in new music is restored... see http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/ .
I also saw a very cool movie today - because I got sick again and this time quite terribly so I had to stay in my room all day - Mike knows all about it for sure, he listened to my whining for two days now - but the movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from a 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I enjoyed it. It is a saga but worth the time, if you have it... click here to see the tralier
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