tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55572992011-06-08T08:40:19.513+02:00General rantings and ravings of a non-starter in the next Papal electionsSidnoreply@blogger.comBlogger891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1105392943710982872005-01-10T22:34:00.000+01:002005-01-10T22:35:43.710+01:00

I don't know where the stupid links on the highlighted words come from, not from that's for sure.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1105392694904982722005-01-10T22:29:00.000+01:002005-01-10T22:31:34.903+01:00

“Bula!!!” is what hits you as soon as you step into Fiji, and that’s still on the tarmac at Brisbane airport. Bula means welcome in Fijian and should be said as loud as possible without quite deafening the other person. Bula is also the name of the Magnum PI shirts that everyone related to tourism, and many who aren’t, wears. In fact native Fijians wear only Bula shirts and rugby jerseys, I’m

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1102653094908672072004-12-10T05:28:00.000+01:002004-12-10T05:31:34.910+01:00

The outskirts of Cairns are pretty "American" in layout, logical, easy to navigate blocks and avenues of stores and car dealers, boat fitters, lawnmower and chainsaw suppliers and takeaway kingsize buckets of fast food places. Unlike Townsville that has its own industries, Cairns's economy is based almost entirely around tourism. In the city centre every third shop sells all the different tours

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1100614563456210312004-11-16T15:16:00.000+01:002004-11-16T15:16:03.456+01:00

It's another monster post. Print it out and read it in bed. It should send you to sleep.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1100614516785780942004-11-16T15:15:00.000+01:002004-11-16T15:28:22.240+01:00

We checked into an underground backpackers’ hostel, most of the 2,600 inhabitants of the town preferring to live in dugout homes that are much cooler. The name of the town comes from an aboriginal language and is said to mean “White man’s hole in the ground.” The settlement of the area started in 1916 when the first opals were found, and people of 45 different nationalities, making up 60% of the

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1100295441717492732004-11-12T22:32:00.000+01:002004-11-12T22:37:21.716+01:00

We landed at a surprising cool Sydney; at over 4 million inhabitants the biggest city in the home of marsupials, Neighbours, fair dinkum Occas, Abos, didgeridoo and Rolf Harris. The Occas, salt of the earth Aussies who drive a “Ute” (originally a utility vehicle of the flat bed car variety, now a gas-guzzling sleek 2-seater sports vehicle with room for fishing rods, chairs, and 12 crate of beer)

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1098761027986697712004-10-26T05:19:00.000+02:002004-10-26T05:23:47.986+02:00

Sorry about the delay, I've had lots of translating to do, this one's a biggy........ After another day in Etosha it was time to leave the animals behind and go and visit a cheetah sanctuary on our way to Kaokoland, in the northwest corner of the country. The “Save the Cheetah” Cheetah farm does exactly what it says on the packet. Tollie used to run his farm in the traditional way, breeding

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1095665055311922382004-09-20T09:13:00.000+02:002004-09-20T09:24:15.313+02:00

We went to Etosha National Park the next morning, hoping to see the uncaged version one last time, Etosha being our last park in Africa. We saw plenty of zebra, springbok, elephant, giraffe, kudu, and oryx, another type of antelope specific to Namibia and the dry Kalahari in Botswana. The oryx can survive in extreme conditions, not actually needing to drink water to survive, the moisture in the

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1094131968626139652004-08-28T18:33:00.002+02:002004-09-02T15:32:48.626+02:00

That evening our camp neighbours, a 4-bakkie group of large and loud South Africans invited us to join them for a few Saturday night drinks. Sat around a large pile of burning tree trunks that we’d seen them drag back with a 4WD earlier in the day, we found out that they were from Umtentweni, a small town south of Durban that we had stayed at and liked. John lived next door to Umtenweni’s best

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1093710879073806012004-08-28T18:33:00.001+02:002004-08-28T18:34:39.073+02:00

Close to Tsodilo, at least in Southern African terms, is the ‘Panhandle’ of the Okavango Delta. The Okavango river runs into Botswana at its northern border and starts spreading out southeast down the panhandle until it fills the rest of the frying pan shape, petering out in Maun to the south and Moremi to the east. Several camps have been set up where the water is at its widest where the handle

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092732618097199572004-08-17T10:47:00.000+02:002004-08-23T23:37:30.283+02:00

Sorry that there is a lot to read in one go; I was told not to post the stuff about Zimbabwe whilst in the country, just in case Comrade Bob's thought police became aware of it before i'd left, and then we've had no access to the net in Botswana until now. We are in fact leaving Botswana today, but i haven't had time to write about it all. It has been fabuluous though and i will do it soon. There

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092732402216543832004-08-17T10:44:00.000+02:002004-08-28T18:54:08.513+02:00

4 hours to the northwest of Maun, round the Okavango Delta and to the left a bit, the Tsodilo Hills rise out of the flat lowveld plain, and are a World Heritage site due to the 400 plus sites of Bushman rock art. There were many more, but rain and wind have eroded the oldest examples of human finger painting, but those that live on are over 3000 years old. The hills are also a place of spiritual

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092732264421545422004-08-17T10:42:00.000+02:002004-08-28T18:51:58.860+02:00

Livingstone has really started booming since 2000, picking up tourists by the overland truckload, and is now a lot busier than Vic Falls. Reservations were a must 6 years ago on the Zim side, now everything we saw is at least 2/3rds empty, sundowner booze-cruises regularly go out with 5 customers. Now Livingstone is the place to see the falls from, and to fly over them, bounce above the first

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092732124208509402004-08-17T10:40:00.000+02:002004-08-28T18:48:20.426+02:00

The next day we went to the Matopos National Park, south of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second biggest city with 900,000 inhabitants. Upon arrival at the park entrance we were informed that we had to pay for entrance and accommodation in US dollars, otherwise we could not enter. After a short and ineffectual explanation that she couldn’t come to our country and pay in foreign currency, I was prepared to

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092731997487514982004-08-17T10:37:00.000+02:002004-08-28T18:43:54.196+02:00

The high point of the day was going to the Harare Cricket Club to meet up with George’s first love, Lesley. It is a haven of peace right next door to Bob Mugger’s Presidential Residence. We walked into the Keg and Maiden and into the beer garden on the boundary fence next to the sightscreens. India A were playing Zimbabwe (effectively Zimbabwe A since the white backbone of the side were sacked by

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1092731773864862892004-08-17T10:33:00.000+02:002004-08-28T18:41:24.576+02:00

The drive to the Zimbabwe border was uneventful, apart from a stretch that was more potholes than road, and crossing into Zimbabwe expensive in official visa costs and temporary vehicle road tax and more arsewipe insurance but free from bribes. It cost us a total of £75 to get in, but we preferred this to an extra 1200k drive on even worse roads further north in Mozambique through to Zambia and

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1090774978539551532004-07-25T19:00:00.000+02:002004-07-25T19:02:58.540+02:00

Like any place in the world that uses the English language as one of its official languages, South Africa has developed an interesting vocabulary used in everyday conversation derived from one of the other commonly spoken tongues. After the robot misunderstanding we have come to understand the local lingo a lot better. Anything that is deemed to be good or appreciable is lekker. A pick up truck

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1090594101925646782004-07-23T16:41:00.000+02:002004-07-23T16:48:21.926+02:00

It chucked it down the following night, and we gave Raff dinner and let him sleep in the back of the truck. The following day I donned the dog collar again and, after several requests, found the Municipal offices that deal with land claims. A quick flash of my Universal Life press card and a story about researching an article for a church magazine got me an interview with an official who spoke

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1090593565466634982004-07-23T16:37:00.000+02:002004-07-23T16:39:25.466+02:00

Night falls early in Mozambique, and by 5p.m. we’d be in the bar having a chinwag. We met Tom, a one-armed American living in Sweden who was driving from Stockholm to Cape Town in a red beach buggy and making a film of his adventures. Despite his shaved head and blonde goatee he still managed to remind me of Lee Van Cleef, and he was accompanied by Moshko, a Japanese diving instructor and

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1089716503291364352004-07-13T13:00:00.000+02:002004-07-13T13:01:43.290+02:00

We had first bumped into Claire and Simon outside the Mozambican consulate in Swaziland when we were applying for our visas. They were on their second visit to Tofo having spent 7 months there last year, and had come back to capitalise on the South African holidaymakers who buy a lot of the jewellery that they make from seashells. Simon is a tall, slightly-built north Londoner with dreadlocks

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1089716433594973702004-07-13T12:59:00.000+02:002004-07-13T13:00:33.593+02:00

We settled into one of the two backpackers with an authorised campsite, illegal camping being made impossible by fines of £1000 per clandestinely pitched tent. The small village of Tofo is home to 2 dive centres on what is reputedly on of the best diving areas in the world, with nearby reefs being the home to countless tropical fish, and attracting giant manta rays, dolphins, whales and whale

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1089618110125709552004-07-12T09:40:00.000+02:002004-07-12T09:41:50.126+02:00

After a protracted shop for tinned food and meat (Mozambique, our destination on exiting the Kruger, is renowned for serving dodgy meat outside of the capital, Maputo) we went into the Kruger from the east, through Numbi gate. Sandrine was like a little kid on Christmas morning; desperate to see the goodies. Our first spot was a female Kudu, soon followed by a troop of Baboons lolloping along the

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1088577750390309222004-06-30T08:41:00.000+02:002004-06-30T08:42:30.390+02:00

When in Swaziland a woman must not enter a church wearing trousers and should be wearing a hat or head scarf. After Lesotho we headed across to the Zululand battlefields, where British, Boer, and Zulu all faught against each other during the 19th century. We passed through Ladysmith (where the Boers beseiged the British for days, before the seige was broken and the farmers done in),

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1088173627533895532004-06-25T16:26:00.000+02:002004-06-25T16:27:07.533+02:00

On our last night on the south coast we met Kim, Willem and Gary, three buddies from Umkomaas. Kim now lives in Mozambique for six months of the year and was full of advice about places to go and see along the Mozambique coast. He also gave us a long list of bits to buy in the event of a breakdown: spare fan belts, towing chains, engine oil, extra diesel, a high lift jack and a front mounting

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1087717307919753662004-06-20T09:40:00.000+02:002004-06-25T16:32:33.303+02:00

Well I’m 2 weeks behind on my attempted diary, due to having had lots of translating to do, so I’ll just have to make a summary, though June 2nd seems so long ago. We stayed a couple of nights in “J Bay” in a backpackers on the beach. I’d seen fair few “okes” (blokes in SA) surf fishing and when we went in to a tackle shop to ask for directions, I came out with a rod, reel, bait, and tackle.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1086180094341599452004-06-02T14:40:00.000+02:002004-06-02T14:41:34.340+02:00

Tuesday 1st June We went for a walk on the magnificent Robberg peninsula today and saw seals gambolling in the sea. An hour into the walk I realised that I’d left my phone on the roof of the car and ran the 3 k back over rock and sand like a man possessed worried stiff that some kid had picked it up and was running a a bill at 2.25 euros per minute. When I got back, out of breath, dripping from a

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1085924376625290082004-05-30T15:38:00.000+02:002004-05-30T15:39:36.626+02:00

Wednesday 27th May Visited two microbreweries in Cape Town, both on the Waterfront, for my Brewer’s Guardian article. The Waterfront is like a bigger Cardiff / Portsmouth / Bristol renovation job with sunshine. Went back to Pick n’ Pay and bumped into José again. José heard us speaking French on Monday and popped up with a bonjour and some fluent French. He then presented us to two other

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1085556011235246732004-05-26T09:19:00.000+02:002004-05-26T09:20:11.236+02:00

Monday 24th It’s 0530, -50°C outside, and I’m travelling at 914 kilometres per hour. I’m not in Antarctica on speed, I’m finally in the plane on my way to Cape Town. I think it’s only just sunk in that we’ll be a way for a year, and although we’re both a little anxious we keep grinning at each other like 2 demented teenage chimps who’ve been left at home for alone for the weekend and who find the

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1083999200459344692004-05-08T08:53:00.000+02:002004-05-08T08:56:37.856+02:00

The following essay has been compiled by education researchers on behalf of the British Ministry for Education and is a summary of knowledge retained by National Curriculum pupils. The Romans invaded Britain under their leader Anno Dominus and stayed for 55 years. They conquered the Welsh and built a dyke from Offal to keep the sheep in, and then decided to leave the Scots alone as they were

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1083571980888687272004-05-03T10:13:00.000+02:002004-05-03T10:16:06.653+02:00

Played my last game for the mighty Elms CC for a season at least. Despite having to eat worms the night before (as well as a raw egg, chocoalte dipped in Dijon mustard and some leaves) we smashed the visiting side (the teachers if Ivybridge school) into the ground. I batted 11, and we put on 33 for the last wicket (19 for me, 7 for my partner, and a few wides and byes), and then let them have 13

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1083398751747328682004-05-01T10:05:00.000+02:002004-05-01T10:08:59.716+02:00

When we went to bed last night there were 15 of us, we woke up and there were 25 of us in the bed. Where did the others come from? Did we invite them in when we were pissed? Well i just hope they've brought some more disco juice with them (as long is it doesn't make you like the cheeky girls) to keep the party going. I've no idea what the benefits (to us) of the new countries joining are, but

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1083243387872398692004-04-29T14:56:00.000+02:002004-04-29T14:59:33.360+02:00

Celebrated 32nd birthday yesterday in the time honoured fashion of wearing a loud shirt, a pair of shorts, and going out and getting lashed up. This year's outfit is one of my best yet, and was inspired by the our impending trip. On saturday we're having a leaving do/birthday bash, and guests have been invited to come wearing clothes from or representing one of the countries we'll be visiting. As

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1083055250138096452004-04-27T10:40:00.000+02:002004-04-27T10:43:53.653+02:00

I was posting a comment on another blog, pea and ham broth for the soul, that turned into a confession, so I thought that I'd better put it here too. Maybe it will inspire you to send in some of yours.... Two friends of mine, borthers called Philip and Martin, were being bullied by a couple of lads in their street who were older than us (and bigger than us) so one day we decided to exact a bit of

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1082804036727411232004-04-24T12:53:00.000+02:002004-04-24T12:57:58.076+02:00

You’d have thought that the impending round the world trip would involve a certain amount of upheaval, packing, rushing around, and the odd problem, wouldn’t you. Furniture to store or sell, car to sell just before departure, injections, cat to offload to caring owner/Chinese restaurant, stacks of clothes, books and cds to sort through, give away, pack or dump. Well, we’ve been very fortunate in

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1082120781041379692004-04-16T15:06:00.000+02:002004-04-16T15:09:14.170+02:00

*&@#)$*( blog! (if you can see this, this is no longer a problem)

Joannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1081970787980021252004-04-14T21:26:00.000+02:002004-04-14T21:29:19.060+02:00

The 1€ slippers got binned last week, ressembling flapping carboard and foam rags. No amount of duct tape could have saved them after I Terry Henried one into the top corner of the goal at the bedroom end. Still, they lasted 2 weeks, that's only 26€ per year for slippers.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1081970610577397452004-04-14T21:23:00.000+02:002004-04-17T09:29:10.170+02:00

For Easter weekend I decided to make a pilgrimage. Mrs. Rev was going to visit a pain in the arse, pretentious, affected, dimwit friend in Paris, so I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to visit the Normandy beaches with my mate Andy German. We split the four-hour drive with an overnight stop halfway, where another mate owns a bar. An interesting feature of his facilities is the condom/

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1080807131362988482004-04-01T10:12:00.000+02:002004-04-01T10:14:49.090+02:00

Mrs Rev and I have finally booked our tickets for our southern hemisphere tour. Departure is on May 23rd, London to Cape Town. We'll arrive in Laaandaan 3 or 4 days before, so we'll be up for a few scoops. And, no, it's not an April fool. I've just dug out "Doolittle" by the Pixies. It had been sitting in the brewery, unlistened to, for a couple of years. And now it's on its 4th consecutive

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1080575905148159642004-03-29T17:58:00.000+02:002004-03-31T08:56:37.373+02:00

On Friday I got up early to join up with the works rugby side that I’ve played with over the last few years to go to Paris to take on a side made up of ex-French internationals. Our side is a mix of veterans and beginners, so we’re not very good, but somehow we managed to get this fixture organised. After a long trip made enjoyable by a few beers (I quit playing recently and now help the coach

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1080199419076942542004-03-25T08:23:00.000+01:002004-03-25T08:26:09.733+01:00

well, it's France against England again, and as usual I'm in a fix. Normally, I'd watch the game on my own but this time, I have got a ticket to see the game in Paris,along with 25 teammates from my club. As France can still win the grand slam I'm going to support France, but when England score a try I'm sure I'll be jumping out of my seat. Plus, if France win, we should have a good old knees up

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1080045990529774422004-03-23T13:46:00.000+01:002004-03-25T08:01:04.216+01:00

Sandrine bought me some slippers yesterday, they cost one whole euro. That's $1 20 or 70p. I presume they come from the Far East, but one of the reasons they are so cheap must be because they save money by not putting any labels on them. Sure, they don't have Homer Simpson chugging a pint of Duff beer printed on them, there is no Gucci embroidery, and no angora lining to keep my little pinkies

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1079684446922897402004-03-19T09:20:00.000+01:002004-03-19T09:23:11.670+01:00

Brewery went into liquidation on Wednesday. So did I. It was Saint Patrick's day (the patron saint of fake Oirish pubs around the world). Had a bottle of wine for lunch (and a couple of pork chops) 10 pints and a couple of kebabs. 2 days later the backlash on the scales has been limited to a gain of 500 grams. Viva Atkins! We are working out the last details of our trip, and have decided to

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078916279143282032004-03-10T11:57:00.000+01:002004-03-19T08:43:04.153+01:00

Oh, shopping hell! Just buy it! Saturday was the wife’s birthday, so I agreed to traipse round the shops with her. Most men dread this experience, but go along to limit the damage to the plastic fantastic, but my misery finds it source in an entirely opposite behaviour. She suffers from INPS, impulsive non-purchasing syndrome; every time she sees something she likes she comes up with a reason

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078909607321863722004-03-10T10:06:00.000+01:002004-03-19T09:17:20.640+01:00

-Sport. Nearly every match IS a life or death event. We DO have to watch them, and it IS vital to our well-being. And can you get me a beer out of the fridge, please? -Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way even if you do. The match I want to watch will only come around next year at the earliest, maybe never again, and never with the same implications. Those

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078740309017881432004-03-08T11:05:00.000+01:002004-03-10T18:24:51.856+01:00

On another site I have been accused of telling a joke that was "criminal". I post the following statement in reply: I rather think not, it was told to me at a Synod meeting by a Bishop. Are you suggesting that members of the clergy are involved in illegal activities? I would like to say now that I have never met, heard rumours of, or seen poorly taken grainy photos from video capture of fellow

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078667285729903812004-03-07T14:48:00.000+01:002004-03-07T20:29:28.560+01:00

My sister and Ma commented that the photos on here show a remarkable resemblance to my Dad. Hardly a revelation, given that he's, well, my Dad. Often sons subconsciously go further than physical likeness and try to impress or win Pop's approval, call it what you will, by emulating him in some way. I've married a foreign woman (sort of - she's half-foreign, but then i suppose unless i could find a

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078650644634368292004-03-07T10:10:00.000+01:002004-03-07T19:34:32.623+01:00

From Harry Redknapp, manager of Portsmouth FC who just got stuffed 5 - 1 at home by the Arsenal in the FA Cup: "I can't see anybody in the Champions League beating them, let alone the Premier League. I can appreciate great players and it was good to see our fans cheering people like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. I think they could win everything put in front of them. In fact I think I could

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078515543632230412004-03-05T20:39:00.000+01:002004-03-05T20:41:14.686+01:00

I've found them. They're not in Iraq at all, they're in the fridge at the brewery. It's been unplugged for a couple of weeks apparently, and some eggs that my employee put in there for some reason look like they have exploded everywhere. It looks like a cross between Slimer in Ghostbusters and something out of Alien.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078515346373999432004-03-05T20:35:00.000+01:002004-03-07T19:59:55.670+01:00

from Yahoo Church of England searches for virtual vicar LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England has begun a hunt for a virtual vicar to take charge of a flock of "cyber-worshippers" in its first Internet parish. The diocese of Oxford has advertised for a "Web pastor" to take charge of its soon-to-be-launched online church (www.i-church.org), set up for those who want to be part of a

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078388710978438402004-03-04T09:25:00.000+01:002004-03-04T09:27:20.700+01:00

Football correspondents across England are now wondering whether Arsenal can got he entire legue season without losing a single match - a feat as yet never acomplished. I'm gooner through and through, but it's not going to happen. Not being crowned champions at the end of the season from this position would be fairly remarkable, despite Wenger pointing out that 7 games ago we were 2 points

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1078337625786549392004-03-03T19:13:00.000+01:002004-03-03T19:15:54.983+01:00

Snowfall in southern France and Spain last week blocked the motorways connecting the two countries. . Whilst snow isn't an everyday occurrence down there, you'd have thought that the authorities in this mountainous region would be equipped to deal with it. But no; 5000 lorries were blocked on the French side for up to 5 days, and more on the Spanish side. National news covered the plight of the

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1077832997265986912004-02-26T23:03:00.000+01:002004-02-27T09:00:53.450+01:00

This is the last daft hair do photo, I promise. It's just that when i looked in the mirror after wetting it this morning I thought that i was back in the late 80's and was in the Inspiral Carpets. I never had hair like that then, being a bit of Morrissey fan before going military. I was never cool enough to consider thoughts of going to the Hacienda in "Mad for it Manchester" to see the Happy

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1077664359434456622004-02-25T00:12:00.000+01:002004-02-25T00:14:40.840+01:00

Just bought a program to teach me how to touch type, using all ten digits equally. I tried it for 30 minutes and it started to give me wrist ache. In didn't say on the box "warning, may lead to RSI, do not use for typing practice". Maybe i should sue them. It's bloody annoying too, typing in sequences of non-sensical letters to get your fingers to stay over the correct keys and to get your brain

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1077270337915486662004-02-20T10:45:00.000+01:002004-02-20T10:47:34.483+01:00

Hairstyling courtesy of Sandrine, accessories found in the street. Think i might have a beer tonight.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1077024585535365912004-02-17T14:29:00.000+01:002004-02-17T14:31:39.326+01:00

Here's my noggin when i was at my fattest nice, innit. I'm now down to 81 kgs, a net loss of 9 kilos or 20 pounds. Another couple of weeks of chasing Mrs. Rev round the cemetery and i'll be in fine fettle.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1076748404769029052004-02-14T09:46:00.000+01:002004-02-14T09:48:35.793+01:00

Wow! Counter's gone up by 2 overnight. Must be my Mum and sister in the States, or my sister twice. Before I put it on last week there was some scope for imigination, in fact unlimited scope. Maybe I was getting hundreds of hits per day, I'd been put in the links page of loads of other blogs and website reviews. Swedish models were forgoing naked sauna romps to get on-line to see if I'd made one

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1076747743290731392004-02-14T09:35:00.000+01:002004-02-14T09:37:33.920+01:00

Today a whole month (well 4 weeks) has passed without a drop of beer passing my lips. Nor a spud or a swizzle of spaghetti, nor peanuts or crisps. I have drunk coffee expresso without sugar and didn't grimace (after a few) and have eaten strawberries without dipping them in it either. A paragon of will power, and i've lost almost 8 kilos in 3 and a half weeks (despite the odd glass of rum, whisky

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1076579886664714472004-02-12T10:58:00.000+01:002004-02-12T11:20:42.810+01:00

Got a new cell phone, and of course a multitude of ringtones. After two years of waltzing Matilda and Olde Lang Syne, at last I've got one that is as good as the Grenadiers' March on my old Sagem. Here are the words so that you can sing along to this old sea shanty when someone else with a Sony-Ericsson and good taste rececives a phone call. What shall we do with the drunken sailor, What shall

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1075407017422837712004-01-29T21:10:00.000+01:002004-01-29T21:11:52.640+01:00

There are now bloody retired Barbies and Kens for sale. With little half-moon glasses. What next? Zimmerframe Ken and life-support Barbie, buy Chemo Ken in a Coffin and get a free Barbie wheelchair ?

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1075308309885594092004-01-28T17:45:00.000+01:002004-02-13T19:53:50.733+01:00

I found this stream of (semi) consciousness on my hard drive. It dates back to 1996. I find it quite amusing looking back at it. Most of the references to places and people are intelligable to about 5 people, probably nearly twice as many as read this blog. I recall never sending the letter, no doubt out of embarrassment, but now i'm getting addicted to blog and haven't got anything else to put

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1075190552611610202004-01-27T09:02:00.000+01:002004-01-27T09:04:05.450+01:00

As the British government looks to ease the burden of Social Security spending, they have teamed up with private enterprise to increase revenue with more up-to-date contribution schemes. Here’s a copy of a kebab-stained letter that was found blowing down the street. Object: Child Support Agency / International Lagerpiss PLC joint venture Dear Mr Regretful, We are writing to you as a result of

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1075187964553470142004-01-27T08:19:00.000+01:002004-01-27T08:20:57.186+01:00

Atkins Diet: How to Burn Calories with Sex The figures have been lifted from an email sent to me this morning. It has been known for many years that sex was good exercise, but until now nobody had made a scientific study of the caloric content of different sexual activities. Now after "original and proprietary" research they are proud to present the results. OPENING HER BRA: With both hands...

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1075159135990312232004-01-27T00:18:00.000+01:002004-01-27T00:20:29.140+01:00

Before settling down and becoming a one-woman man of the cloth I had the occasion to frequent ladies of liberal morals and virtue from various nations, during work as an English teacher and on my travels with the French cricket team. As travel and cultural exchanges are leading to an increased awareness of other nations’ foibles, and global marketing by fast food chains let us taste other nations

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1074924720946302892004-01-24T07:12:00.000+01:002004-01-24T07:13:30.576+01:00

Another kilo (2.2 lbs) off this morning, making 3.2 kilos (7 lbs / half a stone) since wednesday morning Went to Rugby training to do a bit of excercise in the mud. 18 months ago I was always at the front, yesterday I was not far off the back....... More duck salad yesterday, plus tuna salad with green beans. Omelette and bacon rashers for breakfast today. Chicken escalopes with broccoli for

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1074855791420027972004-01-23T12:03:00.000+01:002004-01-24T07:17:50.090+01:00

The Atkin’s diet seems to be all the rage in Britain and the States, more popular than a mute, three-titted pornstar mistress, so as I’m now massively overweight and Sandrine won’t let me have the pornstar mistress, I thought I’d give it a go. After extensive research - I asked my sister and my ma about it, and Clive told me his wife was on it and it smelt like he’d slept with a racehorse every

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1071480607753913032003-12-15T10:30:00.000+01:002003-12-15T10:30:57.810+01:00

I don't know how certain journalists can consider this year's championship as stimulating as a cup of Ovaltine. At present Leeds are second from bottom and 10 points away from the much-coveted 4th place Champions' League spot. This weekend 30 goals were scored, there was only 1 goalless match, Boro - Charlton, and 4 teams won away from home. Apart from the nil-nil at the Stadium of Light, only

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-107131430262207892003-12-13T12:18:00.000+01:002003-12-13T12:19:10.840+01:00

Football Digest Rather than getting on with the shedload of work that i've got to do i've been getting rid of my hangover (too much of the blood of Christ at the rugby club christmas knees up) browsing global football results. Here are a couple of notable articles. AFC ban N.Korea for Cup behaviour KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Reuters) - North Korea have been banned for a year and fined more than

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1070489096752231942003-12-03T23:04:00.000+01:002003-12-03T23:05:35.983+01:00

Weddoes Palyed some old Wedding Present again recently, it's top music to translate too. They're still on my Desert Island list. Now that CD's are allowed i could take a home-made compilation in MP3 format to spare me having to make a choice !

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1069448322931247982003-11-21T21:58:00.000+01:002003-12-13T12:44:06.483+01:00

Time Travel Trip to Tudela The other weekend we took a trip to visit the Bardenas Reales in the south of the Pays Basque, in Navarra. An auntie’s boyfriend has written a novel about smuggling there and wants me to translate it at some point, so I thought it would be an idea to go and check out the place. After staying overnight in Bordeaux we drove down to the Spanish border on the motorway,

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1068984719546437832003-11-16T13:11:00.000+01:002003-11-16T13:12:17.810+01:00

Bertie Bulldog Batters Blues as Albion Advance in Oz Deserved win for Jonno and the white Orcs, France didn't turn up, and England cantered in the second half. It's going to be an ugly final against the Occers. At least it'll be in covered stadium so we won't have to batter it up the middle all the time. Come on the Albion!!!

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1068950829087092492003-11-16T03:47:00.000+01:002003-11-16T03:47:29.890+01:00

Dilemma It’s the world cup semi-finals tomorrow, well, in 6 hour’s time, England versus France, and I don’t know who to cheer for. In the last ten years I’ve always rooted for England, because my French mates have always been more than forthcoming in taking the piss when France have won so by supporting England I’ve been able to get my own back, in my own discreet British manner. I’d prefer to

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1068853347886714732003-11-15T00:42:00.000+01:002003-11-15T00:42:47.840+01:00

Top Title Top title for a song: "Masturbation is a lonely sound when heard by the one you love" by Mr Billy Bragg. I'm sure there must be a sermon in there somewhere.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1068231148351844952003-11-07T19:52:00.000+01:002003-11-07T19:52:25.910+01:00

AWB-May the Force be with you Had another conversation with Sandrine last night about our future offsprings’ names. None are in the pipeline yet, and shouldn’t be for a good 18 months, but the subject of names has come up several times and despite my insistence, Sandrine wasn’t having Wilburforce as a first name. We decided that names that were more or less bi-lingual, or at least possible to

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1066648933396585562003-10-20T13:22:00.000+02:002003-12-15T10:35:17.623+01:00

Explanations please On the billboard site they have a chart called "Hot Christian Adult Contemporary". What is that? Is it naked skateboarding nuns singing? About oral sex adventures and frolicking in the vegetable patch? Sounds ideal for my choir.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1064501199275927822003-09-25T16:46:00.000+02:002003-12-15T10:37:34.153+01:00

CHOIR GIRL RECRUITMENT Have just recruited a lead choir girl for my virtual parish. you can listen to her here: http://www.silandara.com/sound/demo/daydream_song.wma a couple of other tracks are on her blog at :http://www.silandara.com/blogger.html I'm recruiting other chorists for my all girl choir. Requirements, apart from being female, are being aged 35 or less, and being able to suck a

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1064500020199102672003-09-25T16:27:00.000+02:002004-01-24T07:22:10.403+01:00

Stiff Tits Allegedly more than 5 times as much money was spent on mammary implants and viagra than on Alzheimer research in 2002. So in 30 odd years there are going to be a load of retired people with great tits and massive hard-ons that can't remember what they're for.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1063840671689196862003-09-18T01:17:00.000+02:002003-09-18T01:17:51.586+02:00

GORGE US!! made my pie this evening. What a corker! here's the recipe that i used: 1.6 kilos of beef 800 gms of mushrooms 600 ml of cider (didn't have any beer at home) 200 gms of lardons (bacon bits) 2 tsps tomato purée 1 whacking great tomato from father-in-law's garden salt pepper garlic pinch of cayenne pepper 2 tbspns vinegar 2 onions bay leaves thyme chop and fry onions with diced beef

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1063357835615140132003-09-12T11:10:00.000+02:002003-09-12T11:10:35.680+02:00

Snake & Pygmy Pie I'm bleeding gagging for a steak & kidney pie me. Got a stinking cold and my nostrils are producing prodigious amounts of snot. Probably enough to supply Ghostbusters or Alien with. It's sunny outside but not thehind by computer at warm, and witht the cold and being stuck behind my computer supposedly doing a translation it feels like autumn is here already. Hence, no doubt, my

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1062598939367117842003-09-03T16:22:00.000+02:002004-01-24T07:24:52.843+01:00

Getting ready to go. Found some quality dog collars on the net. A clergy shirt should come in handy when crossing borders for a start and when in dodgy areas. . II wonder if South Africa or Chile officially recognise the Universal Life Church? My new driving licence should have my title down as Reverend when i get it back. It might be away around immigration or dodging taxes? As long as i

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1061549592520962952003-08-22T12:53:00.000+02:002003-08-26T18:21:28.060+02:00

I got a link for this site of my sister's blog http://home.rochester.rr.com/renaldo/index.html and i started writing him his email and then i decided to post it on my blog - dunno why. Amateur psychiatrists reply to reverendsidlogic@aol.com. Hey Rey ! You're a real nerd now! That links page is all for geeks. Put up some proper links to http://revsidlogic.blogspot.com or

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1060867864437511712003-08-14T15:31:00.000+02:002003-12-15T10:40:52.246+01:00

Living the American Dream I’ve been over in New York State 10 days now checking out how the locals live. My time has been spent flicking through the numerous TV stations , of which there are several hundred (or hunnerd as they say here), napping on the sofa, and sampling US micro-brews of which there are also hunnerts, mainly at home due to a new no smoking law for bars, and doing a spot of

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1058393348950260072003-07-17T00:09:00.000+02:002003-07-17T00:09:08.953+02:00

Confused The links do work now!!

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1058304923329575302003-07-15T23:35:00.000+02:002003-07-17T00:07:49.206+02:00

Naughty Boy Still at work, though not working. Should've gone to play footy to work off a bit of gut, but ended up on Age of Empires II till now. Still haven't bloody finished it. Can't figure out why the links i put on this page show up on the "edit" mode, but not when you're reading it. Time to go home now and give Sandrine a snuggle.

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057846583187174132003-07-10T16:16:00.000+02:002003-07-11T08:42:34.783+02:00

Sales Spiel I've just been browsing through an on-line wedding catalogue and have come across some wonderful spin on the descriptive blurb. "Terra Cotta Yard Turtle : Add a touch of whimsy to your garden or patio with our shy turtle. Natural terra cotta with antiqued white finish. Coordinating frog also available. (9 x 5 1/2"h) " Now go and look at the picture of the turtle at : turtle

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057840491189618222003-07-10T14:34:00.000+02:002003-07-10T21:45:46.450+02:00

Poaching Just had a look at my sister Joanna's blog & she's got a short list of things she'd like to learn, including whistling mega loud with her fingers in her gob. This made me think of a couple of things i'd really love to be able to do, but will not spend more than 2 minutes trying to perfect. If someone has the solutions, they must be almost instantaneous. Methods requiring application,

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057837545945285972003-07-10T13:45:00.000+02:002003-07-10T13:45:45.870+02:00

My Sister’s (masochistic) Lasagne A quote from my sister’s blog (Web Log) “Dairy-free, meatless lasagna which tasted pretty good at lunch today. Must have aged well overnight in the fridge because it was better than at dinner last night” WTF (in her internaut language) is that? It might taste alright but it’s not Lasagne, at least not as we know it Captain. How can you have Lasagne without

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057665176387095572003-07-08T13:52:00.000+02:002003-07-10T13:46:10.840+02:00

St John the Baptist’s Church – St Jean de Luz Despite being a Reverend I’m not very religious, apart from looking in old churches (to see if there are any Nuns up to a bit of candle work). One of my favourites to date is in the Basque country of France. Despite a rather plain and ordinary sandstone exterior, the inside fairly blows yer cassock off. Historical documents show that there has been

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057664882937022322003-07-08T13:48:00.000+02:002003-12-15T10:43:21.920+01:00

WW2 Nostalgia (written March 2003) All this war on the telly was making me feel left out so I went and bought Combat Flight Simulator 3. Having started by bombing German shipping in the channel in Typhoons and Spitfire mk IXs, I’m now in the process of liberating France and Belgium by blowing the crap out of anything Nazi that I fly over in my sparkling Tempest mk V. Low level attacks on ground

Sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5557299.post-1057664726558985432003-07-08T13:45:00.000+02:002003-07-08T13:45:26.553+02:00

Weekend in Bergerac For the long May Day weekend we went to a little village near Bergerac in the Dordogne to visit a few vineyards and sample the local fare with a mate from the rugby club, Jérome, and his girlfriend Morgane. The drive down the motorway was unspectactularly boring through the flat plains of the Vendée and the Deux Sèvres (also known as the Deux Chèvres, or Two Goats. This is

Sidnoreply@blogger.com