Update

By the way, the firewall at work has cotton on to www.blogger.com and have now banned access to the site. Sigh... One less thing I get to do at work...

Yet it's still permissible to read personal blogs, even one's like Monmouth.

What crazy, topsy-turvy world we live in today.

Drunk Koreans

"Hey man."

We look over. "Hey. Cheers." It's directed at my American Friend. A nod is returned and we resume our conversation. "Hey man," Uh-oh. Drunken conversation about to overtake inhibition and logic. "You're cool. You American?" Yes was the reply. "I like-a you speak English." The next question was directed at me. "You American?" No was MY reply (who would have thought?). This apparently was of no interest to the enquirer and our new aquaintance resumed all eyes and attention to my friend, who was being very accommodating.

"I sit?" he says as he plonks down opposite us, deserting his Sober Friend at the next table. Sober Friend was a good man. He could sense the evening could turn at any stage and he joined us to keep an eye on his friend for fear of disgrace and would apologise intermittenly for the rest of the evening for his friend's gradual descent into incoherancy.

A round of drinks is ordered and Mr Drunk downs a full glass of red like it was a shot. After he's already had beer and whisky for many hours prior. Sober Friend begins to act as translator, though I think some parts he made up himself. For like when the two would seem to be arguing amongst themselves in Korean for a few minutes, furrowed brow and arms gesticulating, before Sober Friend turns to us in an aura of calm to ask, "Where you work?"

Lots of little conversations ensued, each of us having snippets of each other's conversations.

Drunk to American: You look like artist.
American to Drunk: Haha, I'm not.
Me to Drunk: He's a writer.
American to Me: Don't lie now.
Drunk to American: Hey I'm talking to you.
Sober to Drunk: (Korean) &^%*)%#.
American to Drunk: What...?
Sober to American: 足球... We play on Saturday...
Drunk to American: (Korean) *%#@(_#...
American to Me: You were saying?
Me to Sober: 足球? Oh soccer...
Drunk to American: I like you.

It was getting awkward and we were the last customers left in the bar. The music had stopped. The lights seemed brighter. Mr Drunk was however quite at ease and smiles benignly. We sit. Eventually he decides it was time to go. Sober Friend bids us farewell and like a lifesaver, guides Mr Drunk gingerly through the door.

Bling-a-licious

Saw these tacky custom mobile phone covers the other day. They are regular phones with stick-on sparkly things on them. Turn your phone bling-a-licious in an instant. You can take them to special customising stores for these professional finishes.



So I decided to do the same with mine. ButI thought, why spend all that money when you can D.I.Y.? A small pack costs only NT$50. I think for complete coverage you need 3 to 4 packs depending on the size of your phone. I used 2 packs.

My phone has been with me since May 2006, but as you can see it's waaaaay old from a lifetime ago. It was a hand-me-down as I had at the time lost my (actually it was my company's) nice new one with colour screen and camera. The hand-me-down was pretty scratched up so this was the perfect opportunity to do something about it.




Ok, so it's a little mutton dressed as lamb...

But hey, when in Rome!

A Cat Special or A Special Cat

I've been conditioned to really like cats since being at Mike and Jeri's this week.

While we were out last Tuesday on Middle Autumn Festival we stopped off at two pet stores and I have to confess I saw kittens that were adorable.

But so is Du. As these pics testify.

Sorry to non-feline lovers to subject you to this very subjective entry.


L: Du in red top that she hates; R: Du napping on her pillow.

L: Kitten sleeping in her litterbox; R: Kitten falling asleep upright.

L: Massive "tiger cat". It really was huge. And looks like Garfield; R: Du in her bumble bee costume that she hates.


All-star Du.

Sean! Yes I'm talking to YOU!

I can't believe we keep missing each other on MSN!

Get in contact. I emailed you at soulshiv, is that not right anymore?

I hate misplacing friends.

Note to all: I love you all dearly and equally. Fact.

xoxoxoxoxox

Ode to Cat

We're catsitting Du, my brother's cat while he is on holidays in sunny Spain with his girlfriend. Lucky bastard. My brother, not the cat. Although...

Du's been alright actually, much easier to look after than I first expected. I've no experience with domesticated animals and so was pleasantly surprised how little care is required in attending to a cat. She cleans herself, doesn't over eat, goes to the toilet in the same place and makes sure the mess is carefully and thoroughly hidden in her litterbox. Bless her cotton socks.

She's a typical cat, likes to do her own thing and ignores all of your attempts to get her attention. But come bed time she wants to snuggle up. I'm in bed concentrating on a book or laptop and she would walk up to me and meow for affection. If I remained unmoved she would rub her face against my book or screen, or even transparently walk between me and the apparently undeserved object of my attention. She'd perhaps do this a few times before she nestles quietly on my lap for a little snooze. Her deep purring is a lovely sound of contentment. Her little face, curled up in her paws is angelic. You can't help but be enchanted and honoured to have her trust.

Even in the mornings when she wakes me up with her constant meowing, my annoyance quickly melts as I know this little thing is only wanting a little of my love.

This morning I woke with her puke in my bed.

After all the pampering, all the cries for more food and soothing of ills the little ingrate dares to hock up a fur ball along with her breakfast IN MY BED! Am I wrong for feeling this way? Am I a bad mother? I clean up the mess, give her a dirty look and get on with the rest of my day.

Tonight she's meowing at me again, looking at me with her big eyes, giving me sass. She's walking across my keypad so I'd give a damn about her. Oh alright missy, you get your way. I know you didn't mean to be sick. You're far too sweet to ignore. And you're purring! I love you too.

Epilogue
I haven't turned into a Cat Lady. And I still have my sanity.

Patience is Apparently A Virtue

A week in London passed too quickly and three days in Dublin is almost a memory. 'Cept how can forget that's where I am being held hostage at the airport right now? My flights been delayed so I am awaiting my boarding call.

It's been quite a jam packed stopover, reuniting with friends and discovering new ones.

Facebook is so the latest thing.

My feelings are a little tepid towards my incumbent return to Taiwan. Have no idea what to expect; possibly the idea of "outcast" does not bode well with me.

I want to get back to London, complain about the food, the tube, the weather... Ah but to think of adventures new in Taiwan...

Tisane-ity

Sipping my Cocoa Spice Yogi Tea yesterday and looked at the packaging. It said this tea "awakens bygone memories of festivity and joy that linger warmly in our minds".

What the what?

Tag Me? Tag You!

Right, a game of tag is being played electronically and I have been tagged by Clare. Now I'm suppose to tell you 5 things you didn't already know about me:

1. One of my favourite films is Working Girl with Melanie Griffith in the title role, Joan Cusack as her best friend and Harrison Ford the object of her affections. Big hair, big make up, big ambitions. I think that's why as I kid I dreamt of growing up and having a corner office. No idea what I would do as a job just an office would suffice.
2. I'm bow-legged.
3. When I was in 5th grade the whole school went away to camp. At the limbo competition I was the last one standing out of 100 or so kids - winner!
4. If I was to become an actor I would never agree to: (a) wear a wedding dress or (b) lie in a coffin. Everything else is negotiable.
5. On his death bed, my grandfather cried to me "I want to live to see you get married." That was 10 years ago and he's still alive. Talk about pressure!

Let the game continue and I'm tagging Corrinne and Roland. Over to you two!

My Furry Friend

Is this guy not the coolest?

I got him for Christmas.

He's an Ugly Doll and his name is Ox.

My baby's so UGLY!

Our Princess and Her Prince

Just read an article about Princess Mary and Prince Frederik, back in Oz for the first time since the birth of their 13th month old baby boy Christian and suddenly I realised how enthralled I was by this impossible-dream couple.

Both great looking people, well educated, living a happy and prosperous life with their son who will soon be joined by another sibling.

I can now understand the facination many held for Princess Di and Prince Charles.

http://www.crownprincecouple.dk/english.php


Hello hottie!

Challenge Me!

I feel like I'm running out of things to blog about. So I'm now taking a leaf from the pages of the reality show book and getting YOU to tell me what to do! How does that sound?

Dance in a canola field like a mad woman? Or find AND hold an orb of light?

Email me your suggestions and ideas and I will go out there and perform for you. All of course accompanied by photos to prove that I've done them. I'm not setting any limits here because I know you're a bunch of intelligent and reasonable people; I doubt any of you will put my life in danger or my social life for that matter.

So hop to it, I'm (strangely) looking forward to your thoughts...

Discover ancient ruins?

Eat strange and exotic foods?

An Affair to Remember

Again, I don't usually do reviews but after reading Around the World in 80 Dates, I was in the mood for love. It was a chilly day on Sunday, so I bought myself some herbal tea and chocolates and rented this classic which I hadn't seen before but knew from When Harry Met Sally, now a modern day clasic. I had no idea how Romantic this movie was! It is perfect in its orchestration. Now more than ever I want to fall in love (again).



Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr - giants in the cinematic world.

Around the World in 80 Dates

I haven't done a book review on this blog before and I'm not likely to start a barrage of them, but I have to say this particular book has given me more laugh-out-loud moments than any man.

This is a true story. Jennifer Cox was tired of being single so she sought out her friends across the globe and asked them to set her up on dates with eligiable bachelors according to her Soul Mate Description. She then took the next 6 months to travel the world to meet her 80 dates.

SINGLE LADIES: IS HER LIFE JUST TO DIE FOR???

And the cherry on top of this delicious adventure is that she does find her soul mate (insert collective sigh here). I promise I have not revealed anything that would take away from the impact of her words and stories; her observations, follies and that typically self-depricating humour that the English do so well makes this a real page-turner and by the end, I was a gushing mess, elated by inspiration.

Having tried speed dating in London and online dating in Toronto, I don't know what else I'll try when I'm in Taiwan next year and back home in Oz the year after. Perhaps you can help?

Walk this Way

How cute are these little creatures? These were taken on my way to work yesterday. It's only a 20 min stroll door to door and I get to walk through Queen's Park each day and see these squirrels. But the first thing I saw yesterday was this giant motha just striding through the park with all the ease in the world. It was a freakin' raccoon! Look at it it's huge!


L: Master of his domain; R: Squirrel crossed my path.

Look at these little darlings!

Just look how cute they are with their little furry tails. Awww...

Nothin' Fancy

Haha, this makes me laugh. It's just a toy in a window in Brussels. I was in a silly mood. Still am, as I'm still laughing.