Getting Closer to the holidays....

The Tokyo booking has come through and now that we have paid for our railpasses it looks pretty good. Tickets are all set - monies changed. The only place left to confirm is Matsumoto now that even our Koyasan booking has come through. It will be good to go somewhere where I don't have to translate since the partner reads/speaks Japanese. I have had the misfortune of being confused as Chinese,Burmese, Cambodian, Thai, South American and hopefully this time around NOT Japanese or I'll never get into some of the places I want to see.

Next is to confirm with the Imperial Household Agency for permission to go visit some of the highly 'sensitive' cultural sites. Autumn leaves will be so breathtaking... my camera will be doing overtime then. This should be reason enough to keep me motivated @ work. It will be 3 weeks of Japan.

The Beijing Olympics is in August and from what we can deduce May-June will be good time to go to HongKong and Shanghai for some antique shopping. The trouble with that is we need to plan our Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand border crossing trip well so that we're there in Spring.

The flow of bills have been constant though...the water/gas/power bill got paid this month, the dog licence renewal, the combined phone/mobile/cable/broadband and the council rates which increased this year by 5% (value of our bluestone) and not forgetting the new garage door. God - I don't know how I survive each day?

Waiting in the pipeline are those bloody wardrobes in which the installer will be coming this Saturday to complete the job and the new dishwasher. All those savings I've done for the Macbook for the past 3 months have somewhat evaporated into thin air. Everything I have I own - the thought of going into credit is not something I am accustomed to.

Trust Fund time, I'm crossing my fingers that Christmas will come early this year!! Back to square one.

Victor Harbour - Fish & Chips!

Image taken by the Donut stand

Just an image of Victor Harbour about 2 hours away by car...we go there over the weekend sometimes just to get out of the city. You can also see penguins and go whale watching... it is brilliant as a distraction.

Cleaning up the Blogspace

I have decided to clean up my blogspace links today. The decision was based on the fact that I have found some of them irrelevant to my daily choices. Some I have kept because I read them often and the people behind the creative process are real to me while others have been given the boot so that I can concentrate on what's important.

I am still reluctant to remove the Btalk link as I am finding them too 'narrow-minded' each day...not all of them but some. The drawl is loosing its endearment as days go by.

So I am now in search of more mind food and as of today seeking delicious 'vocal chords' of the Thalamus kind. En route!!

And thank you to all of those that have made the journey a grand one - Kevin, John, Peter/Pinoyboy, Brad, Archerr (just a listener)and Andrew. I wish you new discoveries in the months to come!!

When does the art of compromise becomes compromising?

Watched Sex and the City last night on cable " Bay of Married Pigs" - I have to say the writers sometimes know what they're taking about.

Synopsis:
Carrie is invited to a couple's house in the Hamptons only to be flashed by the husband; Miranda's law firm thinks she's a lesbian; Samantha gets to know her doorman better; Charlotte dumps an eligible guy with the wrong china pattern.

Today our next door heterosexual neighbours gave us one of those sneering "YOU'RE A FAG" look. In this day and age you would think that sexual racism is dead and gone but there are still those heterosexual males that cannot deal with things not going their way and how they want it.

He's about 50 from Queensland and is apparently knocking up some Greek tramp from across the street who is a heavy smoker. Drives cars and rides bikes that spells out Midlife crisis and some. They have Rottweilers that they are not training and like them will turn out vicious all because their parents have not taught them any manners. Remember this is a snippet of the voting public and what our nation are built on. OK no judgement but why can't people just leave you alone!

Shinobi - Teaser!

Shinobi "Basilisk Film Live" Extrait
Uploaded by BlackShadow69

New Distraction coming in the mail...

Hallows - Goodbye!

A good read and a very predictable ending.

SHINOBI - A not-so Romeo & Juliet!

I do have to say that Japanese Ninja flicks do tickle my fancy. This is just an interesting movie if only for the CGI - done in 2005 released in the states in 2006. The site is also well put together
http://www.shinobithemovie.com/

It is also an offshoot of Basilisk the Anime which has 6 Episodes on DVD.

Breathtaking are images of Japan in autumn...

Today sadness has come like the fog..

Transformed...

So I watched Transformers on my own yesterday. It was AOK - the CGI was too convoluted that it was hard trying to decipher which part of the robot is the radiator or the engine especially how was it that a regular car can suddenly sprout missile launchers? HUH? Maybe I should have stuck with the animated series.

As always the other half has no interest in such movies - sometimes I wonder what he likes really since he doesn't seem to want to see independent films, nor foreign films or any comedy films either. He likes the random SCI-Fi ones that at least I am sure. Maybe he just doesn't like films. In any case, if the movie is good he is happy and when the movie sucks well it is because I wanted to go - I think life is getting abit trying these days after 12 years. But I was brought up to stick with it especially when the going gets tough.

So I sat by the beach yesterday on my own thinking why people are so adamant to have a relationship? Do they really know how much effort it is to live with someone and share every single moment with them? What if you are not such a needy individual then being with someone 24-7 can be quite dreadful... you feel as though you've become a shadow of yourself and loose all perspective of whom you are. Is that what is happening to me? How can I be lonely when I am never alone?

This is one of the mysteries of life's many contradictions.

A nightmare : UZIT wardrobe

So my wardrobe is not getting fixed today. It has doors that do not match cornices that do not match side panels. The installer has called in sick @ the very last moment and that is that. The motto of buyer's beware should also be accorded to this business. Much like bush fire warning, the gauge is set at EXTREME!! I highly recommend taking this seriously as it is a choice of every customer to learn from other customer's unending nightmare. UZIT and LOOSE IT!

It has taken away 6 working days from us for a simple installation from bad paint jobs to poor colour matching to sick installers, the sacrifice of having nails in 19th century floorboards and one man down scenarios. The promise of 1 day installation with 2 person on site is false. The offer of weekend installations does not exist either. If the offer is too good to be true then it is probably not no matter how fancy the showroom is.

The sales people seems to make plenty of promises and charge you squillions but apparently they cannot deliver. We had to make countless changes to the measurements of the drawings ourselves even to the minor calculations - if we had left it to them then our wardrobe would have come out dodgy.

And the only thing they can say is 'sorry'. I am sorry too... this will be the last time that we use them and we are very generous and simple people - the fact is we feel taken advantaged of and that is the truth. Where are all the honest family-run businesses these days? No one in the showroom seems to want to take responsibility but they sure were ready to take our money. They seemed unperturbed by my call like it was something that they are so used to which brings me closer to my conclusion that this is a common occurence.

So my personal warning to everyone...BUYERS BEWARE! This business is fraught with unending supply of poor excuses - we still haven't got our wardrobe and the stress of it all is not worth the trust you place even at that price!! Their sub-contractors seems to be dropping dead like flies and if you are trying to manage a project, I recommend staying clear away from this mob.

Alas I am still wardrobeless and I am stressed beyond belief! And I have myself to blame...eventhough it seems that I am paying for it - both physically and mentally out of my own pocket; very senseless really.

A good day..happiest in Black and White.

Mark Squire's Photography....

These are sublime!!

LOOO NAH!!

I love you...

Evening Walk...

Driving Home!

It was a wonderful day for winter - 20 degrees!!

Celluloid - Mon & Tues

My recent celluloid distraction...

Boy Culture

Cachorro

José Luis García-Perez - Why not..

So where are all the nice Spanish men?

Why so many questions - no more self doubt.

Wanting ...that was all Alan could think of. He couldn't bear the scars of mistrust anymore nor was he willing to invest time to an unseemly endless cycle of doubt. Doubt that was his own - doubt that the situation created for his heavy heart.

I knew of Alan as I knew of Robert - both eager to seal away the bond of solitude, discard the key of frivolous encounters and transcend to a different level of positive eventualities. As a new found friend would say, "take it somewhere positive!"

What right have I to judge and why do I feel so helpless? How then can I align the deconstruction of wanting over desire without inspiring eventual loss at the expense of taking away any chance of the situation bearing fruit? How do I objectify a situation that calls for a defined approach - how do I make the situation less human so that man's flaws become strength - a mental cushion if things go wrong without shackling the heart further to voices of insecurities. How can I learn to be less selfish!

Are my insecurities as much mine as it is theirs?

Can you love me for my imperfections as I do of yours?

Chrisette Michelle - My ipod distraction!

I have to say that this is one of the most interesting albums this year. There is a range of vocals from Chrisette, though commercial in a way, throws the audience with a myriad of styles that will appeal to many listeners. Have a go at the album and hear for yourselves!!





Its Okay to blush when you like someone!!

Loving Paris after a movie....

FRENCH KISS! I was only 15 then!

Parlais vous Francais?

Ella Fitzgerald..."April in Paris"
The best time for a visit!



Maurice Chevalier..... "You made me love you!"

Paolo Conte...Via Con me.

Why cities like New York shadows over you!

I remembered the first time I had landed at JFK. I was there for work - colleagues were up at Mt. Kisco and I couldn't get into any of the hotels because it was such short notice. So I ended up staying at the New Yorker because I wanted nostalgia, being a romantic, rather than the Hyatt or Marriott for convenience. I was also hoping not to have to deal with anyone else from the office staying in the same hotel . Bright lights causes me anxiety - not really but I was just not in the mood for any neon-inspired experience or dining with people that I didn't want to hang out with.




The immigration guy at the counter was really sweet and somewhat hot. I had accidentally filled in the wrong section on my entry papers - apparently we had the benefit of a Visa waiver for Singaporeans at that time and I had filled in all these form just in case. I apologised, he smiled, I nearly flipped and said thank you - he smiled again. Another missed opportunity! Then everything went pear-shaped when I had a NY cabby take me to the hotel - he was Pakistani and just didn't like the prospect of not being tipped. Charity goes both ways mate!

That evening I thought I'd take a walk to Times Square and after a 5 minutes stroll, I had a strange feeling that I was being followed. Of course, I looked all out of sorts, Asian, small - all rugged up because it was autumn and talking on my cellphone because I needed human contact. The rumours of being mugged and helpless was always at the back of my mind. I blame it on the idiot box. What a dead giveaway...I should have stayed at the Marriott!

So, I circled around along Fashion Avenue and then Broadway and ended up in a line at Burger King - not too sure where I was then. The toweringly huge thuggish man had also lined up and when it was convenient I slipped away while he was still caught in the line looking all missed-opportunity like. I took another stroll around the area and told myself maybe it is best to do it in daylight; then headed back to the Hotel like a scared little gnome.

Jet lag had set in by then and I was supposed to be @ Mt. Kisco by 10am the next day for the Boss's limo to pick me up but I started strolling at 7am after breakfast towards Grand Central Station. The thing about New York is how vulnerable you can feel when you know no one and how small things are in relation to the size of the buildings including people. Its like an ants' nests with series of tributaries all leading somewhere and nowhere - purposeful franticism (if there is such a word).



People in cities like New York I suppose becomes more more detached from their surroundings. This is similar to Singapore and Japan but magnified! You get accustomed and numbed by it all. People can get 'lost'. I walked and walked almost intuitively since everything was in a grid and ended up at the flower district not far from the station. OK - by now my intuition was failing me coz direction was never one of my forte! Delivery trucks were everywhere...all picking up tonnes of flowers I suppose for the hotels and restaurants in the city. That was when I felt a sense of relief - the aroma of fresh cut flowers. Finally something I could relate to. The day went on excellently thereafter and it was just day one. Fond memories...

10 -15%

So "the Paula" went on to say that 10-15% of people get headaches when they start on their spinal chiropractic treatment. I think she should have told me a week ago coz I had this notion that it was really strange that this headache of mine was not going away. I have a thing about taking codeine and such, so had refrained from taking it - false bravado! Tried sleeping it away instead on Sunday...that is such a poor excuse.

So this session was totally different. She went deep into my spin and started aligning it vertebrae by vertebrae. This I have to say was the most uncomfortable thing ever. I felt like I just got hit by a car and somehow managed to stagger away without wetting my pants. Paula of course was eager to reiterate that only she can make someone feel pain/pleasure at the same time. Sorry love no boner from me at this stage. I think you turtled that idea within 5 minutes of your fingered introduction.

Rather than the usual neck manipulation, she had me lay on my back and then manipulated the neck twice. Crack! Crack! Then she made me turn onto my side and virtually 'sat' her whole weight on my neck. I exaggerate but she said that hopefully this will take the headaches away since my jaw and my neck was not aligned.This should help a little and surprisingly my headache has somewhat subsided replaced by the rather lingering shiatsu like pain along the spine. How wonderful!!

This is my tenth session and hopefully in 2 weeks time, I will have a holistic program to keep my mind, body and soul tuned up. This is the goal this year....to repair years of neglect and get up to my optimum whole again eg. eating right, walking an hour each night, doing my stretches that I use to be good at and be limber again. I can only hope!

Madonna for H&M!

Madonna - American Life!

Happen to stumble on this which speaks plenty.

After

Madonna - American life

Before

Madonna - American Life - Clip interdit
Uploaded by cavapanon

My evening walks ...the corner of my eye!

Till death do us part!!

That's not Linen?

Dog Fetish...

Downtown Adelaide...a new Tram line in action!

What does it all mean?

5 minutes walk from home to the train station and 15 minutes max straight into the city. We have decided that we will still walk no matter how convenient it will be rather than become the lazy pigs that we already are!

We might change our mind in Summer when it hits 45 degrees though....

Adelaide is quite pretty at winter's evening!

A-Sexual - Nature is flawless...

Maybe that is why I'm so miserable at work!

The Cat Nazi...for Peter, Pinoyboy and John.

Quote of the day...Feeling a little Romantic I think.

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Sam Keen, from To Love and Be Loved

Kevin - A small present for you to make you smile...

You’re a falling star, You’re the get away car.
You’re the line in the sand when I go too far.
You’re the swimming pool, on an August day.
And You’re the perfect thing to see.

And you play your card, but it’s kinda cute.
Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don’t pretend, that you don’t know it’s true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It’s you, it’s you, You make me sing.
You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything.

You’re a carousel, you’re a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You’re a mystery, you’re from outer space,
You’re every minute of my everyday.

And I can’t believe, uh that I’m your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we’ll see it through,
And you know that’s what our love can do.

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It’s you, it’s you, You make me sing
You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything.
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It’s you, it’s you, You make me sing.
You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything.
You’re every song, and I sing along.
Cause you’re my everything.
yeah, yeah
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

My secret passion for Italian Glass...

Italian Glass is really something to reckon with.