Hi,
Well its been 3 years and 8 months since I left the shores of the "united" Kingdom and headed for a better life in New Zealand, and now I am heading back for a holiday. 4 weeks to remind myself of my family, my mates and drink in the things I most miss about living in Swansea. Which are my Family and my Mates actually. Oh, and the drink!
We are traveling on one half empty suitcase. The 3 of us, which I believe is a record. This is because we will need all the space I can get for food and stuff that expats have asked us to return with (Walkers Chicken crisps? Malt loaf? M&S underwear? Elite Bass strings?).
I am seeing Bruce Springsteen in Cardiff, and Leeds beat Castleford, and I am having a party on the 20th at Neath Athletic RFC. (Everyone is invited. If you fancy a nighht in the metropolis of Neath, e mail me)
What I am not looking forward to is 27 hours on a plane. But there you go. I am also looking forward to decent commercial free TV
Smoke me a kipper, i'll be back for breakfast
Be Good
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Childern growing up old friends growing older...
Hi,
I don't know how many of you out there have Facebook, but I do. I am not a particular fan of it, as I don't see the point of getting fairy wings or being a time-lord or some such rubbish, but a load of my old mates and family are on there so I am.
I clicked a few of the guys this morning to say hi, and I checked out a couple of photographs. Kids I remember playing with Lego are now handsome young men and beautiful young women. People I remember as hot 20 somethings are now resembling their parents.
I looked in the mirror this morning and a tired looking, greying old man looked back at me "Soft in the middle, and the rest of my life is so hard" Mind you, I am ill at the moment. A cold if you must know (but I suspect dengue fever (I also woke with an increadibly painful wrist, which means I am typing this left handed)).
I have never chased youth. I am not one of these 40 year old who wishes he was 27 again. (Actually I wouldn't mind getting my 27 year old body back, but that's just time and hard work) and I believe that I am a better man now than I have been before. I just wish that time would stand still, and stop messing with me.
I also know that one day I will write this blog, substituting parents for grandparents, and children for grandchildren and eventually one day I won't write no more, and neither will anyone I read and enjoy. That seems a waste to me, but that more that likely is just egocentric arrogance.
There is no point to this post, I have a sore neck, a painful wrist, and I don't want to grow up. Thanks for listening.
(ps well done if you got the numerous Rush references through out this blog)
I don't know how many of you out there have Facebook, but I do. I am not a particular fan of it, as I don't see the point of getting fairy wings or being a time-lord or some such rubbish, but a load of my old mates and family are on there so I am.
I clicked a few of the guys this morning to say hi, and I checked out a couple of photographs. Kids I remember playing with Lego are now handsome young men and beautiful young women. People I remember as hot 20 somethings are now resembling their parents.
I looked in the mirror this morning and a tired looking, greying old man looked back at me "Soft in the middle, and the rest of my life is so hard" Mind you, I am ill at the moment. A cold if you must know (but I suspect dengue fever (I also woke with an increadibly painful wrist, which means I am typing this left handed)).
I have never chased youth. I am not one of these 40 year old who wishes he was 27 again. (Actually I wouldn't mind getting my 27 year old body back, but that's just time and hard work) and I believe that I am a better man now than I have been before. I just wish that time would stand still, and stop messing with me.
I also know that one day I will write this blog, substituting parents for grandparents, and children for grandchildren and eventually one day I won't write no more, and neither will anyone I read and enjoy. That seems a waste to me, but that more that likely is just egocentric arrogance.
There is no point to this post, I have a sore neck, a painful wrist, and I don't want to grow up. Thanks for listening.
(ps well done if you got the numerous Rush references through out this blog)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Joy of Giving....(and why tipping makes me cringe)
Hi Guys,
One of the most rewarding things you can do is giving. Whether that is time, gifts or cash, to give to a deserving cause gives me a wonderful feeling.
As an example, when I returned from the USA on Saturday, I was greeted by my 11 year old son Ieuan. Now I love this kid more than my life, and I really like making him happy. So when on this little trip I bought him a Chicago Bears jersey with Brian Urlachers name on the back, and a PSP.
I showed him the shirt, and he was chuffed, then I handed him the PSP and said, "put this over there will you kiddo?" He took it from my hand, not realising what I had given him.
Then he looked down, and I thought his face would peel off from the grin he had on his face. Honestly, he couldn't speak properly because he was smiling so much.
That is why I like giving, the reaction you get in return, the joy of knowing that someone really loves you at that moment. Its even better with Ieuan, because I know that if I didn't buy him anything, he would still love me as much. He is a little star.
Now knowing that, you think I would like tipping, but it gives me the hebbie-jeebies. You see, in my job you cannot accept gifts at all, and I would feel insulted if someone were to offer me a tip for doing my job, because my level of care and professionalism does not, and never will depend on how much cash I am paid for doing my work.
As well as this, giving a tip seems to me like bribery on my part, and begging on the part of the receiver. Now when in the UK, if I had gone out for a meal, if the service was good, and the food good, I tipped. I feel that good service deserves reward, and I am grateful for good food, but tipping is not regarded as either compulsory or even expected in the UK, so the people who received the tip were often genuinely pleased with the tip.
However in the USA, tipping is a part of the meal, just like tax. In fact in one place I went to, it was added to the bill "for my convenience". Hmm..cheeky tossers.
I do know that these guys are paid a crap wage, and they live on their tips. But I would say, charge more on the food, pay your staff better, then I will be happy to tip, knowing it is neither expected or compulsory, and the receiver of my tip knows it is a genuine expression of my appreciation, and not just a reflex action.
Of course, I tipped freely for the reason I gave above, and so that I didn't appear cheap. I am so vain.
One of the most rewarding things you can do is giving. Whether that is time, gifts or cash, to give to a deserving cause gives me a wonderful feeling.
As an example, when I returned from the USA on Saturday, I was greeted by my 11 year old son Ieuan. Now I love this kid more than my life, and I really like making him happy. So when on this little trip I bought him a Chicago Bears jersey with Brian Urlachers name on the back, and a PSP.
I showed him the shirt, and he was chuffed, then I handed him the PSP and said, "put this over there will you kiddo?" He took it from my hand, not realising what I had given him.
Then he looked down, and I thought his face would peel off from the grin he had on his face. Honestly, he couldn't speak properly because he was smiling so much.
That is why I like giving, the reaction you get in return, the joy of knowing that someone really loves you at that moment. Its even better with Ieuan, because I know that if I didn't buy him anything, he would still love me as much. He is a little star.
Now knowing that, you think I would like tipping, but it gives me the hebbie-jeebies. You see, in my job you cannot accept gifts at all, and I would feel insulted if someone were to offer me a tip for doing my job, because my level of care and professionalism does not, and never will depend on how much cash I am paid for doing my work.
As well as this, giving a tip seems to me like bribery on my part, and begging on the part of the receiver. Now when in the UK, if I had gone out for a meal, if the service was good, and the food good, I tipped. I feel that good service deserves reward, and I am grateful for good food, but tipping is not regarded as either compulsory or even expected in the UK, so the people who received the tip were often genuinely pleased with the tip.
However in the USA, tipping is a part of the meal, just like tax. In fact in one place I went to, it was added to the bill "for my convenience". Hmm..cheeky tossers.
I do know that these guys are paid a crap wage, and they live on their tips. But I would say, charge more on the food, pay your staff better, then I will be happy to tip, knowing it is neither expected or compulsory, and the receiver of my tip knows it is a genuine expression of my appreciation, and not just a reflex action.
Of course, I tipped freely for the reason I gave above, and so that I didn't appear cheap. I am so vain.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Been around the World ayeyeye...
Well, to Australia and the USA at least.
What an eye opener. Australia was interesting. In comparison to NZ, it felt old. The buildings reminded me of Cardiff (except hotter), and the town was nice. Sydney was bigger, and a bit more anonymous. Though the Opera house is beautiful, and the restaurant we went to in Darling harbour was ace.
The USA was a giggle. We arrived after 12 hours in LAX. What a dump, really dishevelled looking and tatty. The immigration guy was a laugh mind, he said "You going to Chicago?" I said I was "My condolences" Which was nice.
We caught the plane to Chicago, arriving after nightfall. The city stretched out below us mile in every direction, it was quite a lovely and awesome sight.
O'Hare gets my vote for World's best airport (I have been to). Apart from the great amenities and clean airy buildings the people were great, genuinely pleasant to talk to. We stayed in the Raddison O'Hare overnight, then flew on to Rochester.
O'Hare is the busiest airport in the world, and to look back and see 10-20 aircraft in mid air was just surreal.
Rochester is a good little town of a million people, though it looks like the city needs a cash injection, or at least some of it. Everyone here was great, including the store clerk who tried to convince me that my son would be better off with a Bills shirt than Urlachers' Bears jersey. I bought the Bears top, and a Cubs baseball shirt. I figure a side that hasn't won a world series in 100 plus years needs my support.
After the viewing of the gear, we flew back to LA, and I was dragged down to the Chinese theatre and all that jazz. I thought it was tacky, sordid and a bit sad really, watching people dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow offering to get their photo with you, for a little bit of cash.
I must say I did not like LA.
I rode the subway through Watts and Compton, and saw the state of those particular neighbourhoods, and then we drove through some really expensive real estate, complete with barred windows and razor wire on the gates, and I thought, if those poor guys in South Central were less poor, you rich tossers could have windows you can see out of.
Roll on an Obama Presidency I say.
I also sampled a few beers, all local, all good. Met some nice people, and one or two tossers (Hello LAX check in staff! Hope you get something unpleasant you surly wankers) And saw a lot of the US in not a lot of time. I would go back to Chicago in a shot, but LA you can have boys and girls.
So after another 13 hours I arrived back home to Napier, and I am so glad I don't do this very often. Ieuan love the shirt, and I love the fact that he loves it. The US is a great place (in parts) and full of good people. I would be happy to go back there, though LA I will miss
Thanks for listening
What an eye opener. Australia was interesting. In comparison to NZ, it felt old. The buildings reminded me of Cardiff (except hotter), and the town was nice. Sydney was bigger, and a bit more anonymous. Though the Opera house is beautiful, and the restaurant we went to in Darling harbour was ace.
The USA was a giggle. We arrived after 12 hours in LAX. What a dump, really dishevelled looking and tatty. The immigration guy was a laugh mind, he said "You going to Chicago?" I said I was "My condolences" Which was nice.
We caught the plane to Chicago, arriving after nightfall. The city stretched out below us mile in every direction, it was quite a lovely and awesome sight.
O'Hare gets my vote for World's best airport (I have been to). Apart from the great amenities and clean airy buildings the people were great, genuinely pleasant to talk to. We stayed in the Raddison O'Hare overnight, then flew on to Rochester.
O'Hare is the busiest airport in the world, and to look back and see 10-20 aircraft in mid air was just surreal.
Rochester is a good little town of a million people, though it looks like the city needs a cash injection, or at least some of it. Everyone here was great, including the store clerk who tried to convince me that my son would be better off with a Bills shirt than Urlachers' Bears jersey. I bought the Bears top, and a Cubs baseball shirt. I figure a side that hasn't won a world series in 100 plus years needs my support.
After the viewing of the gear, we flew back to LA, and I was dragged down to the Chinese theatre and all that jazz. I thought it was tacky, sordid and a bit sad really, watching people dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow offering to get their photo with you, for a little bit of cash.
I must say I did not like LA.
I rode the subway through Watts and Compton, and saw the state of those particular neighbourhoods, and then we drove through some really expensive real estate, complete with barred windows and razor wire on the gates, and I thought, if those poor guys in South Central were less poor, you rich tossers could have windows you can see out of.
Roll on an Obama Presidency I say.
I also sampled a few beers, all local, all good. Met some nice people, and one or two tossers (Hello LAX check in staff! Hope you get something unpleasant you surly wankers) And saw a lot of the US in not a lot of time. I would go back to Chicago in a shot, but LA you can have boys and girls.
So after another 13 hours I arrived back home to Napier, and I am so glad I don't do this very often. Ieuan love the shirt, and I love the fact that he loves it. The US is a great place (in parts) and full of good people. I would be happy to go back there, though LA I will miss
Thanks for listening
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Hurricane Katrina and the Marshall Plan
Hi,
Last night I watched a program called "Dirty Jobs, with Mike Rowe" I like this program a hell of a lot, mostly because Mike is so likable, but last night I was more horrified than most.
Mike was in New Orleans, helping a bunch of people clean up after hurricane Katrina. He was with a demolition crew gutting hoses for refurbishment, with a rodent control crew and finally Mosquito eradication.
Now the area Mike was visiting were a mess. No they were more than a mess, they were cockroach and mouse infested stinking pile of wood and mud and these guys were making them habitable. What stuck me was that these were not slums, these houses were good homes, in good areas with garages and swimming pools.
What struck me was that this is nearly 2 years post Katrina.
After the second world war, Europe was reconstructed in around 5-7 years by the Marshall plan. A brilliant piece of statesmanship by Harry Truman where the USA paid for the reconstruction of Europe.
Now the money was loaned, (In fact, the UK made the last repayment last year!) and the majority of the money was spent on American goods and services. The USA benefited greatly from this plan, not only directly in goods and trade bought by Marshal plan money, but in the creation of markets for US goods, and most of all, in political capital.
But that is the point. Everyone benefited. There were no losers.
In comparison to the second world war, Katrina was a sneeze, a minor hiccough. The US spends trillions of dollars on a pointless war, and your own citizens wait over 2 years to have the filth washed from their homes from a natural disaster.
Why was there no Marshall plan for Louisiana? Doesn't the Government owe a debt of honour to keep the citizens of the South protected? Is it because no one cares? I just want to know how the people of California feel, if there is another huge Earthquake, do you have faith in your Politicians?
Of course, ultimately its the people who are responsible for the actions of your politicians. If they are not doing their job, make them. If you can't be bothered. well prey you never suffer a Katrina in your area.
Last night I watched a program called "Dirty Jobs, with Mike Rowe" I like this program a hell of a lot, mostly because Mike is so likable, but last night I was more horrified than most.
Mike was in New Orleans, helping a bunch of people clean up after hurricane Katrina. He was with a demolition crew gutting hoses for refurbishment, with a rodent control crew and finally Mosquito eradication.
Now the area Mike was visiting were a mess. No they were more than a mess, they were cockroach and mouse infested stinking pile of wood and mud and these guys were making them habitable. What stuck me was that these were not slums, these houses were good homes, in good areas with garages and swimming pools.
What struck me was that this is nearly 2 years post Katrina.
After the second world war, Europe was reconstructed in around 5-7 years by the Marshall plan. A brilliant piece of statesmanship by Harry Truman where the USA paid for the reconstruction of Europe.
Now the money was loaned, (In fact, the UK made the last repayment last year!) and the majority of the money was spent on American goods and services. The USA benefited greatly from this plan, not only directly in goods and trade bought by Marshal plan money, but in the creation of markets for US goods, and most of all, in political capital.
But that is the point. Everyone benefited. There were no losers.
In comparison to the second world war, Katrina was a sneeze, a minor hiccough. The US spends trillions of dollars on a pointless war, and your own citizens wait over 2 years to have the filth washed from their homes from a natural disaster.
Why was there no Marshall plan for Louisiana? Doesn't the Government owe a debt of honour to keep the citizens of the South protected? Is it because no one cares? I just want to know how the people of California feel, if there is another huge Earthquake, do you have faith in your Politicians?
Of course, ultimately its the people who are responsible for the actions of your politicians. If they are not doing their job, make them. If you can't be bothered. well prey you never suffer a Katrina in your area.
Friday, March 14, 2008
What do you know?
Hi,
Its been a while I know, I haven't had the inclination or the time to write, and this has been because my life has been, well, interesting.
When I became a Radiographer in 1990, the life wasn't interesting really. Oh don't get me wrong, the day to day stuff is always stimulating, and get me in the right mood, and I have got a million stories of the heart stopping stupidity and brilliance of the people I share the planet with, but basically we take x-rays.
That is basically it.
Well, not any more. You see over the last 15 years, Radiology has got all "high tech" and "computery". We no longer use film, we image using magnetic fields of mind blowing power, we image using radioactive indictable materials, and we use ultrasound. We also use all of these things together in interesting and varied ways. Also, we now produce literally thousand's of images per exam. These are all stored electronically.
Which brings me to my job.
I am the PACS Administrator for Hawkes Bay District Health Board. I was stepped down from the Charge Radiographer role in favour of my new boss, who I call "Boss" or Paula, (I am convinced this was the right choice, having worked with her for the last month), and now I do all the "techy" stuff. Which I love, being Aspergers (and capable of concentrating on a task without a break for 6+hours) I am suited for it.
But the thing with hi tech equipment, is it costs a lot of money. Someone has to choose the gear we buy, and that is me (supported by my clinical team, who I have a sneaking feeling actually do all the work whilst I take the glory). In order to choose new gear, I have to see it, which means I go to where it is installed and operating.
Which means next month I am going (with 2 other clinical team members) on an expenses paid trip to Melbourne, Adelaide and (drum roll) Rochester, in upstate New York!!!!!!!
To say I am excited about this trip is a bit of an understatement!! I have never been to the USA, and to be taken there, business class to a hospital 60 miles from Niagara Falls is a bit of a fantastic stroke of luck.
I haven't been to Oz either, but I am not so excited about that one. They have spiders and snakes and things....Ewwww!
Oh, it will be work, and it will be knackering, and I will be an ambassador for my employer and everything..
But I still am counting the days. Watch out America! The Redcoats are coming!! (Actually my coat is brown suede leather, but that hasn't got such a ring to it)
Be Good
Its been a while I know, I haven't had the inclination or the time to write, and this has been because my life has been, well, interesting.
When I became a Radiographer in 1990, the life wasn't interesting really. Oh don't get me wrong, the day to day stuff is always stimulating, and get me in the right mood, and I have got a million stories of the heart stopping stupidity and brilliance of the people I share the planet with, but basically we take x-rays.
That is basically it.
Well, not any more. You see over the last 15 years, Radiology has got all "high tech" and "computery". We no longer use film, we image using magnetic fields of mind blowing power, we image using radioactive indictable materials, and we use ultrasound. We also use all of these things together in interesting and varied ways. Also, we now produce literally thousand's of images per exam. These are all stored electronically.
Which brings me to my job.
I am the PACS Administrator for Hawkes Bay District Health Board. I was stepped down from the Charge Radiographer role in favour of my new boss, who I call "Boss" or Paula, (I am convinced this was the right choice, having worked with her for the last month), and now I do all the "techy" stuff. Which I love, being Aspergers (and capable of concentrating on a task without a break for 6+hours) I am suited for it.
But the thing with hi tech equipment, is it costs a lot of money. Someone has to choose the gear we buy, and that is me (supported by my clinical team, who I have a sneaking feeling actually do all the work whilst I take the glory). In order to choose new gear, I have to see it, which means I go to where it is installed and operating.
Which means next month I am going (with 2 other clinical team members) on an expenses paid trip to Melbourne, Adelaide and (drum roll) Rochester, in upstate New York!!!!!!!
To say I am excited about this trip is a bit of an understatement!! I have never been to the USA, and to be taken there, business class to a hospital 60 miles from Niagara Falls is a bit of a fantastic stroke of luck.
I haven't been to Oz either, but I am not so excited about that one. They have spiders and snakes and things....Ewwww!
Oh, it will be work, and it will be knackering, and I will be an ambassador for my employer and everything..
But I still am counting the days. Watch out America! The Redcoats are coming!! (Actually my coat is brown suede leather, but that hasn't got such a ring to it)
Be Good
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Underdogs
Hi,
Everyone like a winner, right? Well, not me.
You see the fact that a person wins or loses doesn't really impress me much. If you were to create the worlds best Soccer team for example, then the fact that they could beat all comers is not that big a deal.
They should do it, with all the personnel at their disposal.
What I like is when the "worst" team wins, the underdogs. But their win must not because of luck, because luck confers no moral standing. If someone has the greatest luck streak on record, they could win the world series of Poker, but they wouldn't deserve to. The underdogs must be deserving winners, outplaying the opposition, putting their bodies on the line, and wanting it more. Ali beating Forman is one that springs to mind, Grahame Obree winning the cycle pursuit in the Olympics, England winning the Ashes with Botham almost singlehandedly destroying the Aussies, and I have just seen 2 great examples.
First Wales beating England in Rugby at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years. Wales are always underdogs, we, that is the Welsh, are outnumbered by the English by 30 to 1and yet we still have the insane belief that each year we can win, so when it happens it is sweet.
I apologise to my English friends, I hold no malice to the Sais, but its just lovely to win and shut your poxy press up for a week or so.
I have also just watched as New York Giants beat the Pats. Regarded as the best team of all time by some, the Pats are superb in all areas of the game, and are absolutely ruthless on the pitch, but today they were beaten by the better performing team. The performance of the Defensive unit of the Giants, and by the much maligned quarterback, Eli Manning, was truly amazing.
Congrats to Big Blue, they were deserved victors.
S[port is wonderful because of these events, where the little guy pulls one out of the bag. That's why we watch
And to all those weekend Pats fans, that bought the jersey on Wednesday to wear to the party......I'll buy them off you, 10 buck a piece (that's NZ dollars)
Be Good
Everyone like a winner, right? Well, not me.
You see the fact that a person wins or loses doesn't really impress me much. If you were to create the worlds best Soccer team for example, then the fact that they could beat all comers is not that big a deal.
They should do it, with all the personnel at their disposal.
What I like is when the "worst" team wins, the underdogs. But their win must not because of luck, because luck confers no moral standing. If someone has the greatest luck streak on record, they could win the world series of Poker, but they wouldn't deserve to. The underdogs must be deserving winners, outplaying the opposition, putting their bodies on the line, and wanting it more. Ali beating Forman is one that springs to mind, Grahame Obree winning the cycle pursuit in the Olympics, England winning the Ashes with Botham almost singlehandedly destroying the Aussies, and I have just seen 2 great examples.
First Wales beating England in Rugby at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years. Wales are always underdogs, we, that is the Welsh, are outnumbered by the English by 30 to 1and yet we still have the insane belief that each year we can win, so when it happens it is sweet.
I apologise to my English friends, I hold no malice to the Sais, but its just lovely to win and shut your poxy press up for a week or so.
I have also just watched as New York Giants beat the Pats. Regarded as the best team of all time by some, the Pats are superb in all areas of the game, and are absolutely ruthless on the pitch, but today they were beaten by the better performing team. The performance of the Defensive unit of the Giants, and by the much maligned quarterback, Eli Manning, was truly amazing.
Congrats to Big Blue, they were deserved victors.
S[port is wonderful because of these events, where the little guy pulls one out of the bag. That's why we watch
And to all those weekend Pats fans, that bought the jersey on Wednesday to wear to the party......I'll buy them off you, 10 buck a piece (that's NZ dollars)
Be Good
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