tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18000452422854311222023-11-15T23:29:21.995-08:00Life In BristanbulHapless misadventures and bemused mutterings from a Brisbanite. For all the family and friends scattered over the globe.jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-29799442919283822812012-02-26T04:32:00.006-08:002012-02-26T06:00:32.240-08:002012 SIERRA MADRE TABLE TENNIS INVITATIONALjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-70588598674177187262011-10-13T23:04:00.000-07:002011-10-14T00:03:07.349-07:00DISCONCERTIONSWell, I didn't update this thing last week so I'm well overdue for a meaningless vent-fest. Things that have been giving me the irrits in a big way these last two weeks (because you're all absolutely gagging to know, I'm sure) include:VOLCANICALLY HOT BEVERAGESI’m not that much of a coffee drinker, but I partake often enough to have had the top fifteen layers of my tongue instantly vaporised intojaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-52771293096729351962011-09-22T01:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T16:30:42.523-07:00YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN BRISBANE WHEN...People around you start wearing scarves, coats and jackets the first time the temperature drops below 20 degrees in April and steadfastly refuse to stop dressing like Londoners in December even if the temperature climbs again;The spiders that invade your house are big enough to back your cat into a corner;If you want a major print news alternative to the ultra-parochial, conservative News jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-77802734824167788102011-09-20T20:28:00.000-07:002011-09-21T17:40:36.456-07:00My DopplegangersDon't ask me where I found the time to finally write another blog entry (okay, okay, it was underneath the bed beside the vacuum-sealed winter woolies, the little rascal), but by Jove I need to put something out there.Once again a friend who shall remain nameless (Kirsten) has had the temerity to declare that I bear an uncanny likeness to a celebrity who, in my humble opinion, is about as similarjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-48228400749116336232010-02-06T21:59:00.000-08:002010-03-07T19:55:43.440-08:00CHRUSTMUS IN IN ZID: TEWTALLY CHOICE, BRU!Rightyo, I promise that’s the only time I’ll write in a Kiwi eccent…… ahem. Okay, that’s the last time for the rest of this blog. I could go on and on, but when the Australian accent sounds like we’ve all descended from crows (maaaaaaayte, croyyykee - you catch my drift?) I’ve got nary a leg to stand on, really.Have finally gotten round to writing this, so how was Christmas in New Zealand’s Northjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-45693774974419283462009-11-03T23:38:00.000-08:002009-12-09T21:55:49.595-08:00FOUR MONTHS???Has it really been four months since I last wrote on this thing?? Outrageous! Let’s see, what’s been going on since the last time I plonked my musings on display…Went For An Ekka Show Day Surf At Happy Valley, Caloundra - 12 AugustSolo effort, and the surf was bigger than a big Big Thing...... well, for someone at my level, anyway. Anything taller than my shoulders and longer than a bus qualifiesjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-59786999659513977512009-08-06T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-06T20:33:27.727-07:0010 Things You 10 THINGS YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU RETURN TO BRISBANE FROM OVERSEAS1. The accent Like being slapped around the moosh with a Vegemite-slathered dingo steak as you get to Passport Control at the airport. Maaaaaayt, somebody get this country some VapourDrops. You know it’s true. 2. The smell of greenery as you drive away from the airport My favourite. If you’re lucky enough to arrive back in summer and have your windows down, that thick, raunchy, pungent jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-77751158966729995762009-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:002009-05-16T16:00:35.893-07:00KUMASI: THE KEJETIA MARKETS (L to R: First 6 pics are the Kejetia Markets; Last one is view from my room, first day. As you do).jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-74925206164513136192009-05-16T13:35:00.000-07:002009-05-16T14:09:26.951-07:00DIXICOVE (L to R, top to bottom: View from Fort Dixicove over the bay; From Fort Dixicove again; View from bay up to Fort Dixicove (check out the trash on the shore); Road through the bush from Busua to Dixicove; Harvested palm nuts - these are everywhere on every roadside)jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83451925631166906632009-05-13T04:57:00.000-07:002009-05-14T06:30:14.529-07:00BUSUA & OTHER PHOTOS (L to R: Entrance to Black Mamba Point path; Black Star Surf Shop - best food in Busua; Brekky view from Black Star; Afternoon storm a-brewin'; Local's house built into the side of my hostel; The path between the buildings from main road to beach; Locals on the beach, every afternoon; Looking towards Black Mamba Point; Fishing boats and dragnets; Tro tro rockin' and rollin' with the jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-24964141895653045412009-05-13T03:25:00.001-07:002009-05-14T06:41:18.772-07:00CAPE COAST PHOTOS (L to R, top to bottom: Fort Victoria - only allowed up there with a "guide" (aka guard) because of the muggings - view from my room's window; Cape Coast Jubilee Park hoops court - no one out at midday, packed at 5pm daily; Cape Coast Post Office (abandoned); Squatting family in abandoned church; Cape Coast beach at end of the day - party time; Asofo Company emblem; Plaque commemorating the jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-62229565921670439212009-05-12T21:07:00.000-07:002009-05-12T22:01:42.604-07:00ACCRA PHOTOS (Top To Bottom, L to R: Locals across the road from my hostel; Dusty Accra sunset; Side street outside my hostel; View from hostel rooftop across Accra towards the Atlantic; Typical suburban Accra street; Damien and Victoria getting an impromptu drum lesson at the markets; Crystal Hostel courtyard.) jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-20652028659283389072009-05-09T13:12:00.000-07:002009-05-09T13:16:33.428-07:00MORE GHANAYes indeedy folks, it's still raw and unusual here....MORE GHANAIAN TIDBITS:Kumasi and the Ashanti KingdomI've left the coast and gotten right to heart of the matter. I'm here in the heartland of the old Asante Kingdom, Kumasi, a city of 1.5 million towards the middle of Ghana. I got a book of folk tales when I was a wee laddy that included an Asante tale, "Kwaku Ananse and the Python". The jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-78040833479649593402009-05-06T06:04:00.000-07:002009-05-06T08:27:03.743-07:00EQUATORIAL MUSINGSWelcome to the wet season. It's pouring outside, reminds me of the summer storms in Brisbane, all towering thunderhead clouds and lightning and sheets of water coming down all slanty-like. S while I'm stuck indoors, and while I've still got internet access, here's some more tidbits on Ghana:TIDBITSBob Geldof nailed it - you're never alone in Africa. Everyone notices the tall whiteboy by himself, jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-80801810128002278292009-05-02T02:31:00.000-07:002009-05-02T04:10:38.451-07:00CHOCOLATE AND GOLDGday from the Gold Coast, peeps. No, not the silicone-and-skin-cancer, high-rises-and-fossilised-pensioners Gold Coast in Queensland. The other one. In West Africa. The one that produces most of the world's cocoa and a shedload of the world's gold. Otherwise known as Ghana. So I guess that should be akwaaba from de Gold Coast, my frien's.Why I chose to Ghana after leaving London is a bit of a jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83111126977522766532009-04-26T19:02:00.001-07:002009-04-26T20:04:02.004-07:00ANZAC Day Weekend Photos Photos from top row, left to right: Adelaide Cemetery; ANZAC Memorial Dawn Service outside Villers Brettoneux; Same; ANZAC Memorial upon arrival at 5am; Me after the Dawn Service (freezing); Me at Villers Brettoneux City Hall (note the kangaroo cutouts); Villers Bretoneux restaurant where we had breakfast after Dawn Service; Example of Villers Brettoneux streetsign; Villers Brettoneux jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-51748648269580720492009-04-26T16:49:00.000-07:002009-04-26T19:02:20.960-07:00ANZAC Day Weekend In FranceI don't have the verbal cutlery to adequately dissect for you the five-course banquet that is my stupidity as a traveller. I used to bristle at such a notion, but I've finally accepted this as a sad but immutable facet of my being. By all known laws of logic and probability I should've been run over, arrested, mugged, raped, swindled out of everything bar my underpants, frozen to a man-shaped jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-29220522794279688492009-04-21T01:30:00.001-07:002009-04-21T01:55:00.165-07:00FAREWELL TO YE OLDE LONDINIUM (Left to Right, top to bottom) - Keith, our resident eccentric Planner who's been everywhere in the world; Farewell drinks with friends at The Woolpack; My office in Croydon; Farewell lunch with workmates at The Green Dragon, Croydon; Luke, the other Aussie recruited direct from Oz; Wendy, our Kiwi Enviro Planner; Tom, our Chelsea-worshipping, Slayer-loving team Admin officer; Farewell drinks jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-31457238736113180622009-04-13T14:13:00.000-07:002009-04-13T14:40:24.243-07:00PHOTOS FROM THE BRIXTON BBQ & THE HOUSE OF LORDS EVENTScott, Caroline from Positive TV and ISolicitor who was one of the Top 100 Thinkers in the world, me and the banker (no, I can't remember their names now - you all know how rubbish I am with names)Mid-activity in the Thames TerraceIn the Chelmondeley RoomLord Laird MC'ingThe Thames Terrace (our table in foreground, Will Travers CEO of Born Free Foundation on extreme right of shot)Edward de Bono (jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-19714806016809897292009-04-13T07:07:00.000-07:002009-04-13T08:30:42.493-07:00EASTER BLOG: HIPPIES, THE HOUSE OF LORDS, BOUNCERS AND BODY PARTSHappy Easter, all. From what I've been hearing from everyone, just about the entire human race went camping somewhere / travelled somewhere / did something interesting and out of the ordinary with their mates. I expect nothing less, of course.I know that saying this will inspire a chorus of "Screw you, you're in London, whingerboy"-type reactions, but I'm genuinely envious. I did nothing. Nada. jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-61998668109500813322009-03-25T11:36:00.000-07:002009-03-25T12:30:27.232-07:00"SPRING", & I'M DONEIn the last few weeks or so the sun has decided to coyly start sending suggestive looks London’s way, repeatedly flashing her warm gaze hither and yon before withdrawing behind her mask of clouds to lavish her attention on her Mediterranean bosom buddies once more.London, of course, being starved of such attention for so long, has predictably reacted like an over-s*xed teenager being flirted withjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-61886502249307514972009-03-09T11:09:00.000-07:002009-03-09T14:21:44.520-07:00Sri Lanka photosChillin' Midigama style at Ram'sThe Proof - yes, I can now stand and ride, sort of. No, it ain't pretty. Yes, wearing a t-shirt that expanded enough to fit Shaquille O'Neal after 3 waves instead of a rashy was a hindrance. No, I will not be entering the Billabong Pro as a wildcard entry anytime in the near future. Galle Fort wall, en route to Colombo. Had to take dopey tourist photos to remind jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-83865730303628756982009-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:002009-03-03T22:33:38.091-08:00INDIA'S TEARDROPOkay, yes, I got back to The Twilight Kingdom here from two weeks with Sarah in Sri Lanka (aka Serendib, aka Ceylon) last Sunday, complete with cloudless-skies-every-day tan, dust-covered backpack and yet more foreign coins which will follow me to my grave. First chance I've had to sort my thoughts out on the place and put fingers to keyboard at the same time. Photos were taken, but will be jaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-81351197216615568572009-02-03T01:13:00.000-08:002009-02-03T02:07:37.810-08:00TOO MUCH SNOW IS NEVER ENOUGH...Upstairs neighbour working on his masterpiece..... At the Woolpack pub across the road from my place The kids that ambushed me with snowballs. Had to make a fighting retreat despite getting plastered - these kids had unnaturally-good aim. This is the right flank of their pincer movement........No, this wasn't their carjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1800045242285431122.post-55250397368286586652009-02-02T01:30:00.000-08:002009-02-02T02:56:24.384-08:00MORE FROSTING - THE MORNING AFTERjaster123http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756120546986732471noreply@blogger.com0