11.30.05
Posted in General at 21:30 pm by Guy
our nightmare living scenario may be over. As of 16:30 this afternoon we have a brand new working system. The new boiler was supposed to be installed yesterday, but guess what? the installer had yet more problems. Two damaged boilers to be precise. This got boring about 2 weeks ago. Anyway, so they arived back this morning for the thrid go. I decided to work at home in the afternoon in an attempt to expidite the process. It sesm to have worked as we have had heating now for4 hours….. the boiler has malfunctioned 3 times though… good thing I have learnt how to reset it!!
Despite the system operating, the installers have positioned tha boiler, not in the cupboard where the original one was, but on the adjacent wall protruding out over the sink. All I can say is that if I owned this place, I would not have even considered accepting the work. I have warned the landlords agent verbally and in writing that the workmanship may be below par, but in their wisdom they are not interested in visiting our property.
Anyway, so we’re back at Clockhouse Place…… for now. For some reason I get the feeling that we may not have spent our last night in the Lodge Hotel……..
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11.29.05
Posted in General, Travels at 10:11 am by Guy
I haven’t written since my return from Bratislava for Bryan Grimbeeks bulls party yet, simply because I have barely been able to carry out normal functions such as breathe and eat, let alone think and write. What a blow-out. I don’t think I’ve drunk like that since the good old varisty hockey and cricket days……. Needless to say ,with a final head count of 28, the chaps went off the wall. Kicking off a tour with 21 hours of drinking is a helluva pace to set, and some managed to push on through to the bitter end. I am waiting for Stu Shabram to give me my memory card back for my camera and then I can begin the onslaught of uloading the criminal evidence…… More info enroute once I can relate the stories to the photo’s.
Was great to see Ozzy on Sunday as well. Unfortuantely he had to endure our freezing cold shower and flat because we are STILL living on a hotel, but he appeared unfussed by the whole thing and we enjoyed a great Sunday roast lunch at the Green Man. Ozzy was in London for one night on his way back through from the States to home. The ladies took him out on a bender Saturday night, and even hassled him into a trip to The Grand at Clapham Junction!!!!
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11.25.05
Posted in General, Travels, Entertainment at 18:47 pm by Guy
technology is superb. i write this on my mobile lying in my bed at hotel gracia in bratislav, slovakia, listening to tree63 on my mini disc, power nap now complete. course of action-find kerr and restart the game of coinage i dominated earlier. gonna get supremely bombed tonight…
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11.24.05
Posted in General, Travels at 22:45 pm by Guy
quick update on the heating issue before I jet off for the weekend. The heating and hot water has still not been restored to our place. The installer/plumber has now officially given up, cannot do anything more with the present system and has recommended full reinstallation of the central heating system. I long gave up passing judgement on the situation because it become unbelievable and unbearable about 10 days ago. Saturday will be 21 days without central heating. The hottest temperature during this time has been 8 celcius.
If you would like to contact Sars, Amy or myself, we will be at the Lodge Hotel in Upper Richmond Road where we have been for almost a week now. Most of the reception staff now know us well now so I’m sure they will be happy to put you through or take a message.
Speak to you all Sunday. Keep well….. and warm….
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11.23.05
Posted in General at 15:24 pm by Guy
Big shout out to all those who joined us on Saturday night for Sars birthday celebration. Everyone seemed to have a good time at ‘Aziz’, a mediterranean restaurant in Fulham which doubles as a delicatessan by day. Sars and I have enjoyed breakfast there before so thought that we’d give the dinner menu a go. The food was ok, wouldn’t say great in my opinoin, but nice enough. Something different. The atmosphere was great though, helped most predomniantly by a belly dancer who, during her routine, worked out (or was told) that it was Sars birthday and offered free lessons. I was super impressed with Sars, who got fully into the whole theme in spite of the prying eyes of all her mates. I have uploaded all the photo’s here. I only got my ugly mug in one photo so this album is safe. There was big turnout and Sars was reallly stoked. Was good to see everyone again.
We only vacated Aziz after 11pm, and Sars, Tony, Amanda and I threatened to hit Thai Square in Putney. I had bumbed into Dave Fisher earlier at the Larrick watching rugby, and he had suggested we join him later on. Unfortunately the thirsty were queuing out the door, and standing in sub zero temperatures did not appeal to anyone so we binned it. I was a bit bleak cos it had been good to see Dave again (been freakin ages) and would have been great to sink a few wetties before he departs for norf London (Watford actually, but Dave likes to say he lives in Norf London).
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11.22.05
Posted in General at 9:54 am by Guy
I have been saying it for months, that Sars’ age would eventually catch up with me….. and today it has happened. Happy 27th birthday Buzz, I hope you have a great day, and that the heating is restored to our house - probably be the best present you could get!
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Posted in General at 9:43 am by Guy
You’ve probably all seen this cartoon numerous times before, but it is one that always cracks me up however many times I see it.
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11.20.05
Posted in General at 17:11 pm by Guy
I have mentioned our on-going saga without heating at home, but I thought that I’d bore you all to death with the details of the ordeal in an easy to flow step-by-step review. Read the rest of this entry »
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11.18.05
Posted in Travels at 23:19 pm by Guy
What a trip. Istanbul is a fascinating place, a ‘bazaar’ (lol - sorry I crack myself up) mixture of fiercely Mulsim religion, history and modern western culture. The first thing that blew me away was the contrast. We landed at Attaturk Airport (named after the founder of modern day Turkey Kemel Attaturk) which appears to be brand new. Announcements came through thick and fast in perfect English of flight after flight landing at the single terminal airport. Yet, it appeared empty, such was the effiency in which the authorities ‘rob’ you of £10 for a ‘visa’, the ease of clearing custom and the speed at which our bags arrived. In fact we managed to beat my cousin Allister who was working his way through chaotic traffic courtesy of the local bus company.
Outer Istanbul is barren. The topography is dramatic. After only marginally negotiating the Istanbul ‘M25′ in a taksi, Istanbul city and the mighty Bosphorus appeared. So did 17 million people. I had no idea the population was that high. London has anywhere between 8 and 12 million depending on who you believe. Istanbul is split in 3. Half in Asian and half in Europe (before everyone gets clever, 3 can be split ‘half and half’). The Bosphorus straight connecting the Sea of Maramara and the Black Sea separates the two distinct halves. The main Instanbul centre is in Europe and split further in two (hence 3 sections for those who didn’t take maths). The southern section bound by the Sea of Maramara and the Golden Horn, is the ‘Old Town’ and contains the majority of the towns famous sites; the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Kariye Muzesi, the Spice market, Topkapi Place. The northern section, accessed over the Galata Bridge, houses the ‘New Town’, a maze of more upmarket shopping and restaurant streets. Located in this area are Taksim square, the scene of jubilent Liverpool supporters last May, Dolmabahce Palace, Besiktas football ground, and numorous Turkish Baths. North of Beyoglu and Besiktas are the larny northern suberbs including ‘Etiler’ where Allister is staying during his 6 month secondment with HSBC.
Sars and I managed to catch the major sites, including a trip across the Bosphorus to Kaldikoy, and MOST IMPORTANTLY enjoyed a classic Turkish Bath experience at the Galatasary ‘Haman’. Nothing like splashing out £30 to get all hot and sweaty and then massaged and scrubbed down by a big, fat, hairy Turkish bloke. Quite an experience.
It was one of the best weekend breaks I have had and I would recommend Istanbul to anyone. Its a fairly scary place to a non-seasoned traveller simply based on the shear number of residents and the complete lack of the English language, and I am gald that we visited it at this stage.
I wrote earlier this week about some of our other highlights and I have uploaded photos here so check them out.
And if there was and doubt, I can assure all Turkish Delight fans out there, that I have brought back to London by far and away the best Delight in the world. Hurry before stocks run out!
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Posted in General at 22:50 pm by Guy
Wales is an absolutely beautiful country, Sars and I have enjoyed all our trips to ride our mtbs and hike in Wales. As for the people though……………….
www.ananova.com
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