Time in motion

It takes 12 hours to fly to Malaysia.

Everyone was very nice, I watched films (Happy Feet & Miss Potter). The food was pleasant, I'm a firm believer in curry for breakfast.

But it is still 12 hours, this is a long, long time.

After which I got of the plane, where the heat hit me, not true. the heat an humidity hit me. both vieing for my attention like noisy children.

Then collected my bag, the last one off the carousel naturally, and went meet TPG & his lovely lady.

Out here from the airport you pay for your taxi first at a kiosk, then queue outside. once done we got a taxi, and started the hour long drive back to the apartment. It was still very hot outside but the taxi had air-con

I felt very tired, and had been waring the same clothes for about 24 hours so had started to doze when there was a loud bang. I was surprised and not sure what was going on.

It appears a wild cat had run across the freeway and then been hit by the taxi, the driver didn't have a chance of missing it. we pulled over to the hard shoulder and my hopes of a quick brush down were dashed when I saw the driver carry the right headlight and put it in the boot. Even in my confused and jet-lagged state, I knew this was a bad thing.

He tried to restart the engine but appeared that the unfortunate cat had force the radiator on to the fan. The taxi, or as it now was the big black box with no power, and by extrapolation no air-con.

As we sat by the road with the doors open to catch the breeze it did strike me what a beautiful country this is, even if it is bloody hot.

after what to me seemed like hours, but can't have been more than 20 min the new taxi arrived to help us complete the rest of our blissfully uneventful journey.

We then went up to the apartment where I had a shower and fell asleep, all in all a good days work.

*****

View from apartment window
Taken before 09:00
Note the heat haze

Prepare to Launch

Had a half day yesterday, practically ran out of the building to the car where EMB was waiting, after several packing of the case we got it all to fit(ish) and then off to town for the train to London. We were running late and I accepted to myself to missing the train that had a reserved seat so running and getting frustrated would be counter productive. So I calmly went to the fast ticket machine, got my ticket and walked to the platform, where my train was waiting. I took this to be a good omen.

read my book on the train, and listened to the MP3 player, all very relaxed. was met at Euston by dizzykj clutching a coffee having already had a long day. We then got a bus from out side there to outside hers, stopping only to pick up a Chinese takeaway. we then settled in for an episode or two of Buffy before retiring for the night around 22.00 as I had to get to Heathrow for a 12.00 flight.

well that was the plan. we in fact watched four eps (Band Candy, Earshot, Once More, with Feeling, and Tabula Rasa, for those who need to know)

didn't get to bed till 01.00, naughty us!

had to leave the flat a 08.00 so alarm was set for 07.00, getting up was painful, but I managed it. Got tube to Padington and then the Heathrow express. it amuses me that it only cost £4 more for a return to Birmingham - London than a return London - Heathrow

ho hum, got to the airport on time, all so exciting!

Nails

This is a nail

Not just any nail, a broken nail

A nail I broke, by knocking it through a gas pipe.

Just to clarify, this was a bad thing, a very, very bad thing. Also evidence that epilepsy and picture hanging not always the best combination.

So, what to do, emb off out with no signal, left a panicky voice mail … call on Camelot, where lady and knight were out, but came to rescue me, they were about 10 minutes away.

Told to switch off the gas. Now is not the time to realise I don’t know where the gas switch is in my house. To digress slightly the only reason I know the location of the water point is owing to a leak. (All of you reading make a point of finding out where these things are where you live!)

Anyway, having shared the news I had no idea as to the shut off point. I was told to open the windows and doors, and wait for assistance. I stood with my finger over the hole. emb called, it transpires he had no idea where the shut of was ether.

I then stood with my finger over the hole for a bout 10 minutes till I was rescued by my wonderful neighbours. Now as you can see, it is quite high up, and by the end of it my arm hurt a fair bit.

The lord and lady of Camelot arrived first, the lady braving being licked to death puppy wrangled allowing her husband, who’s not keep on dogs but otherwise perfect to locate the shut off and shut off the gas. Then I sat down, all a bit crap but the house was still standing and Ulrick and I were unharmed.

Then emb arrived, greatly relived that I was fine and no one was hurt. Also that there was no structural damage.

After the initial rush Sir Arthur, went to get the correct tools then came and fixed it (with a blow torch), after his lady had given Ulrick many treats. Many thanks again.

We now have gas – and I want something that identifies pipes before you put nails in them.

Post 100 ...

Dear me, 100 posts

World wide readership

Who'd have thought it?

Can you see your house from here?

What’s next?

Going to see TPG soon, it’ll be exciting &, as you can see, I have guide books. Also I have a new camera, 6 mega pixels, which is nice. With the photos set to the highest quality I can still get over a thousand photos on a 2G card. That’s a lot of photos, not sure what I’d do with that many photos …

I could always put them up here … I could just take photos of a non grey sky, which would also be nice.

So the first step is to book the flights, the planed itinerary is flying to KL, then flying to SR (Angkor Wat), back to KL, on to HK and then back home. TPG (with encouragement & assistance) is doing flights and accommodation and I'm doing stuff like checking the indigenous infections, and malaria tablets.

There are at the moment pharmacists at the QE comparing side affects and interactions of different malaria tablets with my medication ensuring that the ones I get to take won't kill me, or interact to badly with my medication. Which is nice.

I'm looking forward to it, so exciting!

Funeral

It was the funeral today, first, thanks to all who came, your support was and still is greatly appreciated, I'm sorry I was so distracted, it all got a bit much to be honest.

A wider thank you to everyone who has helped us through this challenging time, with your actions, words, thoughts and prayers. we are truly grateful.

Evolution

Funny, just substitute cat for dog

Thanks to the TPG

Good job my blog is not like that

Comic Relief …

I just watched the elected leader of my country perform in a sketch with Catherine Tate as Lauren. I’m not a fan of this lady, but my sense of humor is a little peculiar, or it has been said that I don’t have one. Many people find her funny, who am I to argue?

Anyway, it appears than rather than running the country he feels his time is better spent learning scripts for comic relief, alternatively he wanted people to laugh with him for a change! It worries me how he sorts his priority's.

Following our fearless leader, was Ricky Gervais, who is a comic genius, who I also don’t often find funny. His sketch was brilliant, involving him, Stephen Merchant, Jamie Oliver, Bob Geldof, Andi Peters, and Bono! It was very funny, and, well it’ll be on YouTube by morning, see if you can find it

Still Waiting

gone 4, no one came, I think they are unlikely to come now.

On the plus side I've been home with Ulrick while next door have stuff cut down, he's not happy about it at all, much barking, proper barking as well, big grumpy dog barking, bless! I think he thinks they may invade.

<- Watching for invaders

waiting

Ok, so here I am, waiting in for people to come collect things, like beds, mattresses & wheelchairs. I’ve had two phone calls, one about the funeral, and one asking to speak to Tom. I’ve had better days.

On the plus side I’m here with Ulrick, he’s getting a bit clingy, I think he misses Tom & Lady. I know I do.

It’s gone 12 and no one is here yet, I’m starting to think they may not be coming. We have a room full of things that could be used by someone else. Ho hum.

Beware the Ides of March

didn't get job.

Job interview today

Wish me luck!

For Goodness Sake

One of my neighbours is having a skip delivered, I'm not impressed.

So, ok.

Tom & Lady have gone together, within
24 hours, cancer got them both. It’s all a bit numb. EMB & I are upset & Ulrick is confused, we’ve gone from a family of 5 to one of 3.

EMB’s aunt thinks Tom came to get Lady, and they are somewhere where Tom’s feeding her biscuits, and cake, and chocolate, and werthers originals, along will all the other stuff he used to feed her and then deny.

It’s a nice thought