06 Feb 2004
In 3 days time I am flying to Bulgaria. I get to do 2 presentations to a total of 80 people. I get to see a magic show by the ‘Most famous Magician’ in Bulgaria (interested to see this actually), I get triple airmiles till march, I get more Hilton HHonors points I even get to eat good food be with good people and go bowling and skiing! As a top up bonus.. I get a free day off work for travelling on a week-end and I probably wont spend a penny (or Lev). Did I mention the cocktail parties and club class flights?
Does anyone want my job?
16 Dec 2003
I very nearly pushed a breeze block out of a small hole that would have proven most painful! ‘Why?’ I hear you all shouting in unison. Well, I shall tell you! After considering the possibility of changing the name of our boat, I decided to see if the webname was available (This is secret stuff at the moment!) and I found that it was held by a domain name warehouse. The minimum offer I could make was $500 which I duly did. They have come back and asked that we pay $2500 for the name… no hosting either!! I quite clearly stated that it was for personal use and a way to get some info about the boat online. How can they expect a mere mortal (Normal person with bills and a boat refit) to afford that?
11 Dec 2003
Grand news, I am the second person in the universe to write a program in George. Here is the source.
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Well done to GrinGod for having enough spare time to actually write the interpreter!!! I will add more details when I know some more!!! I will let you all know when he has set up a new site for it!
25 Nov 2003
So here I am in Croatia. I am working, but that doesnt mean I cant do some interesting things. For a start, I am using a keyboard with the Y & Z keys inverted! The second interesting thing I have done is that I got to chop off the top of a Champagne bottle with a sword, just like the movies! I have always wanted to try that! I am getting the pics of this occasion on CD soon so I will try and post one up later.
My final thought for the day is that I would like to say Congrats to Gringod for getting his degree! Well done mate!
Later today I will be travelling by train to Slovenia. Sounds like fun!
12 Nov 2003
Finished my ‘PADI Scuba Diver’ today after two open water dives. I felt like I was swimming in the biggest tropical fish tank ever… I was actually, the sea! It would be impossible to describe the 20 meters of visibilty and the sheer variety of marine life was just astonishing. No time left now so I will write more soon!!!
11 Nov 2003
Today was an interesting day. I have booked and payed for my 2 day Scuba Diving Course (PADI Scuba Diver), and we visited the capital Valleta… you may have guessed… it was ‘Death Ride to Valleta’!! Buses did it again… what a ride. The shopping was actually crap and the most money I spent was kitting Emma out with some spa treatments at the resort. Much to my disappointment there were no ‘Extreme’ colonic irrigations on offer and she did not take to well to my suggestion that she needed all of the beauty treatments! The purpose of this expenditure is twofold. Firstly, I forgot Emma’s birthday present and felt the need to provide something. And second, it means she has less to complain about my 2 days diving. An update tomorrow should be colourful!! Apologies for mistakes here, I have been in the bar!!!
10 Nov 2003
Didn’t do very much today… pretty much stayed around the resort. I did plan on using the Gym but that went out the window as after just two days I started to approach the end of ‘PREY’ a book by Michael Crichton, and felt I needed to bring it to a close. If you have not read this… you should, you will be hooked. The copy I read had been read twice before and I was warned that when you start reading it… you wont stop, I now add my own warning to this!
My next book is by Francis Chichester, ‘Gypsy Moth Around the World’. I think this will be fascinating story of his voyage around the world in his custom built yacht that he fights with just as much as he does the sea! Will post how well I get on with it after sitting in the sun tomorrow!!!
09 Nov 2003
A bus to the market? Sounds normal… not in Malta, it should be described as ‘Death Ride to the Market’. Bloody looney bus drivers think they own the road and dont worry about the consequences of proving it. I have never been in a bus sliding around a corner before… dont get me wrong, it was fun to look back on, but bugger me what a fright, personally I would rather sit on the bonnet of Dave’s car through the lanes just after I get out of a vat of oil!!
Buses are indeed famous here, I nearly bought a T-shirt that said Malta Bus on it and a cartoon picture of a bus with a smile… the potential to create my own ‘Death Ride to the Market’ brand was tempting! After the market we found a Mc Donalds so I felt safe in there and enjoyed the chicken burger! Did nothing else today except listen to a god aweful live band in the bar. This experience was probably worse than the buses!!!
The most shocking thing about Malta is the total lack of colour… almost all brown. I am told it is very colourful under the water and I will be having a look at that while here.
08 Nov 2003
What a day, Emma and I get up at 5AM (actually I got up at 5.30AM) after only a few hours sleep. Luckily she was no where near by to get me up earlier! This lack of sleep was the result of getting in some dutch courage at the pub the night before and being there till throw out!!
Off we go to the airport for 6.15 to find out the plane has been delayed for an hour. I suspect the wings have fallen off and take great pleasure in telling Emma that if it happened in the sky we wouldn’t need lifejackets!
Finally get to Gatwick and head straight for check-in, no rush required. We are told that we need to wait till 45 mins before the flight leaves before we could check-in as we were on standby and there were only 5 seats left (24 the previous day) so off we go to gadgetshop and other random shops. 1.5 hours later, back to check in, 3 seats left and we need to get to the plane quick as it is now boarding!
In Malta we find the only place in the world where the roads are worse than Guernsey. We take an expensive Taxi trip to the resort and later find out that we should have tipped the Taxi driver 10%..ooops. Last problem of the day… Emma’s new shower gel bottle gets exploded in her bag, so some fun with bubbles and then a very slippery floor. We have a look at the resort and head to the bars. A few drinks were needed before getting some much needed sleep in our very small single beds!!! Lets see what happens tomorrow, we have decided to take a bus!!!
21 Oct 2003
A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coastguard spokesman commented, “This sort of thing is all too common.” (The Times)