tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58643632011-11-27T21:38:38.263-02:00<b>The Welsh Red Dragon in Brazil</b>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.comBlogger2141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-32436151333919483612009-08-17T21:37:00.013-03:002009-08-18T22:19:57.028-03:00

This was Sunday:And this was Monday:Isn't it supposed to gradually over a few weeks get warmer to colder? Wait a minute... that's going from Summer to Winter, we're almost at the end of Winter, so we're supposed to be going from Winter to Spring... fekkit! Upsidedowny extreme weather! Not only has it gone the wrong way, it's gone the wrong way in one day! That was one mutha of a split

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-57936440452008181282009-08-11T21:14:00.005-03:002009-08-12T12:14:44.997-03:00

PORTO ALEGRE has gone from sub Antarctic temperatures* through humongous downpours up to today's Saharan Desert heat, in a space of a week. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but it was freakin' cold last week then it Rained a Lot on Friday and it didn't stop 'til today when the sun put his hat on, hip-hip-hip-hurray and it became a reasonably warm 21c.Bugger can't think of owt else to write.*(

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-14598569097219670032009-08-09T20:44:00.006-03:002009-08-09T22:07:53.473-03:00

While the rain continues through the morning as I'm listening to the bells of the cathedral, one of Britain and Brazil's most talked about crooks is within weeks, if not days, of going to the Great Train Robbery in the Sky. Ronnie, 80 years old yesterday - late Happy Birthday Ron! - has been released on compassionate grounds, "being released" in this case actually means the two prison guards at

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-83700529845033351982009-08-08T09:54:00.003-03:002009-08-08T10:45:08.606-03:00

Deluge! It wazzed down so hard and so much last night that PoA became almost completely under water. Okay I'm exaggerating a little, however it did rain heavily in a short space of time so the drains were unable to cope, a lot of the roads became flooded, I had to take several detours and also risk driving through over a foot of water in some places, hoping my car wouldn't chug to a stop like

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-44127826826659451572009-07-29T10:54:00.006-03:002009-07-29T11:15:41.585-03:00

Consideration for other car park users? What?And this is only two mild examples, at the same time in the same car park, just one car between them, I've seen much worse.* * *There comes a time in a man's life when he has to buy new shoes, several times in a man's life actually, one of those times is almost upon me once again. My finest brown leather pair are almost at the end of their useful

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-71835308589989275632009-07-24T13:29:00.004-03:002009-07-24T14:42:36.150-03:00

WTF?? They told me Brazil was a Tropical country! Brazilians don't seem to have grasped the concept of central heating. Any heating in fact. I have one electric/oil radiator that takes at least 20 minutes to begin getting hot and another 20 minutes to heat the air in my bathroom, a space of about 6 metres cubed, any bigger space and the radiator's about as useful as an Incredibly Useless Thing

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-13179242373527398862009-07-23T07:57:00.004-03:002009-07-23T09:39:42.767-03:00

...and writes. Things have been HAPPENING. Porto Alegre has been going through a relatively rigorous winter, relative to PoA standards that is, while we've not been having blizzards and minus 30 temperatures, it's been cold enough to justify my using three layer apparel when venturing out. Believe me, three layers is a lot for me; and, due to lack of an efficient heating system in my Groovy

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-85522752672988233792009-03-22T20:36:00.003-03:002009-03-22T21:43:28.919-03:00

Whilst St. David's wasn't quite the huge celebration here as I would have wished, still, a pleasant evening was had by all at Applebee's, St. Patrick's found your intrepid (does that mean "between 3 feet" ??) reporter, that's me, at the highly publicised event of Shamrock's St. Paddy's Night, an' I'll be a Fried Pumpkin if I wern't jammied into being M.C. for the night. Viv the Boss, thrust a

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-13788187335804456842009-03-04T20:21:00.005-03:002009-03-04T21:04:15.841-03:00

Last Friday 5pm local time found me frantically chasing around the neighbourhood in a vain attempt to find a bar which had cable and would show the Wales v. France match on TV5 the French channel. Not a chance. Football (or soccer, for my N. American readers). If you want to see a football game you'll find any street corner shibeen will sure to be tuned in to any championship from around the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-26844848642349992732009-02-01T22:19:00.015-02:002009-02-01T23:30:52.680-02:00

Lots of crisscrossy beams and upright pillars at the topdeck of the public market. The Shrimp Man.The beermat says,"Temperature between 0 and 3 degrees C. Brahma Draught must arrive at the table chilled to the perfect temperature. Thus all Brahma Draught arrives at the table at a temperature between 0 and 3 degrees C."really Crappy Uncreative Portuguese (which translates into Crappy Uncreative

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-17548096268562900512009-02-01T20:12:00.006-02:002009-02-01T21:53:47.864-02:00

During the past few days, thanks to the country-bumpkin-in-big-city enthusiasm of the Good Lady who's not From Around These Parts, I've been rediscovering the wonders of PoA. In this previous post I wrote a little about the river front's potential and privately funded partial revitalization. The city centre, generally neglected by middle class Porto Alegrenses as being "dangerous and smelly",

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-40024297218659676232009-01-29T17:32:00.001-02:002009-01-30T09:32:25.848-02:00

Here's a collector's classic : The Pineapple Kombi

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-8302102553270907772009-01-28T16:30:00.008-02:002009-01-31T20:38:44.264-02:00

I don't recall Y Pant's history curriculum including a large slice of specifically Welsh history, apart from an annual pilgrimage to the namesake battlefield of one's House, in my case Caerau, perhaps it did but the only thing I remember from Miss Jones' class more than 30 years ago is Henry VIII and 1066 and all that. Since that time, I've learned more about medieval Welsh history through

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-71230522387289486122009-01-06T19:50:00.008-02:002009-01-28T19:19:07.909-02:00

My guess is that our stretch of the riverfront has been revitalised with the finances from the enterprise of the newly opened shopping centre, BarraSul Shopping, as opposed to the city council whom it appears won't pay for anything that seems to improve the potential tourist magnetic qualities of Porto Alegre, oh yes the Porto Alegrensies will rave about theirs being the Best Sunset in the World

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-15126011277939263912008-12-26T11:19:00.003-02:002008-12-26T13:24:26.713-02:00

After 17 years in Tropical Climes, Christmas with air temperatures in the 90s is still something that impedes me from getting into the HOHOHO spirit of things. Actually I'm not sure at all if it's the high temperatures, the way Brazilians celebrate (well, more like "when" not "the way") or whether it's just that I'm getting to be an old cynical bugger. The Shopping Centres of Porto Alegre of

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-35692255524789522862008-12-16T19:18:00.004-02:002008-12-16T20:01:03.484-02:00

What a way to get international fame! (and doubtless, future TV appearances, interviews and lecture tours, bringing in possibly thousands in dosh) - Hurl your shoes at a U.S. (outgoing) president! This defiant, and I at least find hilarious, act, has united Sunni and Shia in countrywide protest, "We wunt freedom to Zaidi !" say the banners (to which the reply is perhaps "Well, we cunt give it

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-67378449163579071382008-12-11T19:59:00.009-02:002008-12-11T21:08:05.913-02:00

ODDS BONKIN'S ! The last time I had played rugby was in 1979. When I went to 'Twit in '74 then Y Pant in '76, rugby was compulsory PT once a week. We formed up two teams and just ... well played! 20 or 30 kids just running around, bashing into each other and trying to get that ball over the line. I didn't have a clue and don't think I ever scored a try at any time!Now 30 years later, in the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-28672285603284465692008-11-03T14:35:00.006-02:002008-11-03T15:24:11.766-02:00

Amongst recent news items from the BBC site that have arrested my attention is one of a "naked woman tied up near station" (in fact "naked woman" arrested my attention, as they usually do, and I was compelled to read the rest). It appears that a couple driving past a railway station in Hampshire saw a tied up naked woman and a man in camouflaged clothing beside her, of course their duty as law

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-45500118676141953792008-10-06T09:30:00.004-03:002008-10-06T10:05:19.768-03:00

With absolutely no intention of upstaging my good friends Helô and Airton with their wonderful table art, I felt I have to post this photo of last Saturday's lunch.  Alone at home, around 11am and wondering what to do for lunch I felt suddenly inspired to do something particularly fancy with no idea as to what.  Off I pops to the supermarket to buy: entrecot, a bag of ready cleaned mixed lettuce,

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-64451131995370138102008-10-06T09:15:00.003-03:002008-10-06T09:29:26.989-03:00

Wonderful; democratic elections! I cannot imagine how it was during the years of dictatorship here. It's great now that we can express ourselves freely without fear of persecution and possible jail sentences, censorship, oppression.Go vote!  There's a nice, almost carnival atmosphere on the day; wave your flags on the street corners; drive around in your cars and beep constantly on your horn (

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-65285314969027828122008-10-05T13:25:00.000-03:002008-10-05T13:26:43.043-03:00

Beer and Wine.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-84120848702367948192008-07-27T08:58:00.004-03:002008-07-27T10:00:54.365-03:00

Dylan Thomas pub crawl. I'll raise a few pints to DT's (there's an unfortunate pun there!) memory today, just for the heck of it, keep an eye on THIS for the results later. Our chief bard Dylan would regularly down a bottle or two of Whisky for inspiration. Now Blast me for a Pumpkin if I cannot get the taste of the stuff, I know it's a noble drink, ranks with Real Ale and a good Red Wine, but

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-23637665344823579522008-07-26T18:26:00.001-03:002008-07-26T18:27:05.624-03:00

I've got a new blog! I drink beer, take a photo and write some crap. Check out the "A Glass of Beer" link.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-36566608209587371152008-07-25T10:54:00.003-03:002008-07-25T11:25:17.390-03:00

Having spent the last few months at my summer retreat in the Cayman Islands, it's sooo droll trying to keep the blog up while lying on the beach supping Cayman Sunsets and fighting off dozens of girls in bikinis, I'm slowly adjusting once again to PoA life. The first "What the Blazes?!" I find on my return is a zero tolerance drinking and driving law that is being rigorously and enthusiastically

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-57070062984957369392008-04-27T19:44:00.003-03:002008-04-27T20:12:33.075-03:00

I rant periodically about this and get highly irate when a driver passes a red light, which is frequent here, but I can understand very well why it happens. Venice is the City of Canals, Anchorage is the City of Lights (I got this from wiki), Someplace Else (whatthefuck I read it somewhere but forget) is the City of Towers (Seattle? Toronto? Or, apparently, someplace called Sharn on another

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-51689946281053250002008-04-09T08:52:00.006-03:002008-07-25T10:46:45.648-03:00

It seems that the current craze is listing the ten things one must do before one dies, or the ten books one must read, 10 places one must visit or whatever:ah well, here's a mixture, sort it out yersel:1. Stonehenge.2. Fart Loudly in the Presence of Her Majesty the Queen of England.3. Make Love in a Tub of Heinz Baked Beans.4. Make a List of Ten Things You Must Do Before You Die.5.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-49725815908133548832008-03-06T22:11:00.003-03:002008-03-06T22:35:02.820-03:00

An ongoing debate amongst Welsh people is whether we can accept being called British, there are those that vehemently refuse to be called British and only accept Welsh! Never "English" of course."Welsh! Never British!", I've seen in these on line discussions.CRAP! You are British!Whenever people ask me here where I'm from or what my nationality is I always reply: Britain and British but I'm not

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-29343484559588574622008-03-05T12:24:00.004-03:002008-03-05T13:01:05.479-03:00

As I write there is the sound of gunshots in the streets. It's freakin' 12.30 lunchtime for freek's sake! I actually began this post with the following:The United Nations Commission for Finding Things Out has found out that Brazil is: Corrupt, Violent and Racist. What? Really? How so??Then I heard the shots and modified the post. Last Sunday night around 11pm there was a big gun battle, the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-1012732439079148162008-03-04T21:47:00.002-03:002008-03-04T23:16:20.812-03:00

Tuesday last, my conversation with Vivi, Big Boss Lady of the Shamrock, went something like this:Me: So you'll be doing St. Patrick's again this year.Vivi: Oh yes, of course, you know the usual stuff, green beer, green people, etceterah.Me: What about St. David's, are you going to do St. David's?Vivi: What's that?So I didn't go to the Shamrock last Sat'day, I stayed home and sank loads of

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-65158008382865311212008-02-13T15:18:00.007-02:002008-02-13T16:52:36.384-02:00

What the blazes??!! (1)I object strongly to my country's flag being used as a snobby upmarket fashion trade mark, I don't mean just a t-shirt design, I have several Y Ddraig Goch t-shirts myself. I mean the image used as an actual trade mark. Brazilian company Carmim use the passant dragon image on their clothes and fashion accessories. Okay, it may not be red and of course we don't have the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-75170267621517695972008-02-07T11:01:00.000-02:002008-02-07T11:21:23.598-02:00

Encouraging news to balance out my last post: A bi-lingual road sign, look at the flag in the background, and that building, which perhaps could be mistaken for a valley's Presbyterian Hall, is a 19th Century Spanish colonial structure. Gaiman in Patagonia is the town, kudos for mayor Gabriel Restucha for encouraging the Welsh language there.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-10464497453631575282008-02-01T16:17:00.000-02:002008-02-01T17:01:42.901-02:00

There's a report on the BBC site about low use of Welsh language services offered by businesses and public services and some of the comments made by WELSH PEOPLE just make me want to rip my hair out! (Or rip their hair out):"I can speak five languages pretty well, but I find Welsh not only ugly to speak, but really difficult to pick up - I presume that's why most classes are several times a week

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-85724814352319090522008-01-26T12:36:00.001-02:002008-01-26T13:17:38.611-02:00

A new addition to my collection of "Spot the Porn in the Classics", this is another from Moby Dick, which I've returned to after a long period of reading Portuguese lit. Aside from the numerous references to barrels of sperm and sperm here there and everywhere, referring to the sperm whale oil and I'm not at all sure if old Herman wrote in all innocence, Our narrator, Ishmael is quite the gay

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-68762670586384856212008-01-23T21:20:00.000-02:002008-01-23T22:33:36.414-02:00

I was treated to a spectacular air show at sundown yesterday; after a 10 km run (yes I'm up to 10 km now, I'll be doing a bloody marathon next if I'm not careful), I was sitting in the cage and thinking a few cold beers would go down very nicely indeed and help recuperate essential biological substances lost during the process of physical exertion . Upon investigation I discovered my fridge was

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-74819661518460304622008-01-22T21:07:00.000-02:002008-01-22T22:28:04.221-02:00

MPISHI ANAPIGA MUCHAWI! ON THIS DAY in 1879.A British expeditionary column of 2000 men were slaughtered almost outright by a powerful Zuli impi because of the incompetence of a pompous English git, one Lord Chelmsford, making yet another military fuckup, one of many in the History of the Great (fuckedup) British Empire. Isandlhwana was the place. Chelmsford had previously said at the outbreak

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-8916072231621093302008-01-19T13:48:00.000-02:002008-01-19T14:29:02.452-02:00

Taking a squint at my feedjit reveals loads of hits on "I'm a jiggly tits man", I googled "jiggly tits" and found my blog 6th on the list after a whole bunch of youtube videos (presumably featuring jiggly tits), and a classic first on the list being "juicy tits and jiggly boobs" with the url of www.jugglyjugs.com, oh how beautifully rich the English language is!This morning I wuz listening to

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-74300005342131003492008-01-18T15:37:00.000-02:002008-01-18T15:44:55.344-02:00

Men of Harlech stop your dreamingCan't you see their spear points gleamingSee their warrior pennants streamingTo this battlefieldMen of Harlech stand ye steadyIt cannot be ever said yeFor the battle were not readyStand and never yieldFrom the hills reboundingLet this song be soundingSummon all at Cambria's callThe mighty force surroundingMen of Harlech on to gloryThis will ever be your storyKeep

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-14082049030311678622008-01-14T17:14:00.001-02:002008-01-14T21:19:21.260-02:00

No matter how much you sweep the floor, you will never entirely get rid of those fuggin' cupim wings.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-42047799159723857352008-01-13T22:28:00.000-02:002008-01-13T23:15:12.372-02:00

Will Ladislaw in Middlemarch has been labelled as "An Italian with white mice", I'm wondering, is it a reference to Count Fosco of Wilkie Collins' The Women in White? Answers on a postcard please...By the way yous may want to check out my new BLOG, blast me for a freeking' pumpkin' if I ain't got time to maintain THIS one let alone my other 2 about Porto Alegre, and now a NEW one! What?! I

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-29476085945520431872008-01-02T15:06:00.000-02:002008-01-02T15:40:23.647-02:00

Emotions, blasted things, are something I'm crap at, they fuck around with me like any other person course, but I can never seem to understand feelings or talk about, let alone write them on this blog. Since Christmas I've gone from way low - deep sadness I think it's called, with lots of uncertainty bunged in - to way high, soaring on the wings of them wossname, thingummy flying things.Well

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-35758144863754793252007-12-31T11:31:00.000-02:002007-12-31T12:23:20.899-02:00

The Loose-the-Beer-Gut programme is back on track after a few days of non activity (but plenty of beer drinking!), now you may say, in order to loose the beer gut - stop drinking beer! OUT OF THE QUESTION! I now have, as one of my students, the owner of a micro-brewery that produces 3 types of fine quality lagers, all according to the German Purity Law of 1516, no commercial crap. Every week I

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-34404019767412354082007-12-28T21:01:00.000-02:002007-12-30T15:17:07.568-02:00

I know it's a cinematographic masterpiece and I'd delayed watching it for years, Stanley did a fantastic job of course, but while watching it, this very night for the first time, on dvd and 29" colour, I couldn't help keeping getting the urge to press the ff button on the remote. I think I could've watched the whole blasted film at 16x speed and I still understood the plot very well. I'm

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-21024490910654362472007-12-21T21:49:00.000-02:002007-12-21T21:51:51.247-02:00

Blast me for a fried banana if I shouldn'nt've chosen a 4.5mile slog AND a cold beer afterwuds.(see below for this to make sense)

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-19179247160559760792007-12-21T20:19:00.000-02:002007-12-21T20:37:37.346-02:00

With my Loose-the-Beer-Gut programme well under way - bought a new pair of trainers and went a-runnin', Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday came around and I took a break with the intention of whizzing out again on Friday (today, NOW!); Friday afternoon came around and with a cancelled class at 6pm I was faced with - go out in the 30c heat for the 4.5mile slog OR a cold beer. I chose:A COLD

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-12055127153175246572007-12-21T10:58:00.000-02:002007-12-21T20:30:37.465-02:00

is a shopping centre three days before Christmas.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-49759906650536797962007-12-20T09:23:00.000-02:002007-12-20T09:32:51.983-02:00

As blogger posts everything in last things first order, read THIS first.Everyone's leaving the city and Ben encounters an old friend:(friend): There's two kinds in the world Ben, people who move, people who stay, ain't that true?(Ben): No that ain't.(friend): Then what's true?(Ben): Well there's two kinds of people, them going somewhere and them going nowhere, and that's what's true.(friend): I

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-37958526371864562222007-12-20T09:15:00.000-02:002007-12-20T09:35:03.635-02:00

The Preacher addressing a group of drunks:"Ye Godless Jaspers!! Who are yer? Free Masons? Rosecrusiens? Heathen emissaries from the dens of Babylon?! (pause while he considers what they are)Boozers! Gluttons! Gamblers! Harlots! FORNICATORS!"(1st drunk): "What's a fornicator?"(2nd drunk): "I don't know, I ain't a religious man".

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-17504513264897968742007-12-20T09:02:00.000-02:002007-12-20T09:30:33.162-02:00

One of my all-time favourite films is a musical comedy with Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood - "Paint Your Wagon". I hadn't seen it for years when a friend made a dvd copy for me and I've spent the previous two nights in fits of laughter watching it. There are some wonderfully witty and hilarious lines and well worth reproducing here.Ben Rumson's (Lee Marvin) thoughts on people and civilization in

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-83203532644391422242007-12-14T11:10:00.000-02:002007-12-14T11:12:09.109-02:00

Now let's see what happens on my Live Traffic Feed!

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-83055435111915250942007-12-07T10:57:00.000-02:002007-12-07T11:29:21.198-02:00

Mr Maurice Fox has been banned from his local sports and social club just for providing a little light entertainment. The entertainment consisted of farting loudly, harmless and fun! Apparently his fellow members didn't think so, they were "disgusted" by his actions. "I'm a loud farter, but there is no smell." said Mr Fox. Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay proposing that scientists should spend

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-19602634890228979872007-11-28T17:13:00.000-02:002007-12-07T11:32:25.348-02:00

Some things are just so ludicrous. Now this is not about the pure religion of Islam which I respect and have nothing against (and I also don't wish for a thunderous jihad to be brought upon my head). I'm talking about certain arseholes and idiots of that religion, they would be pathetically hilarious if they weren't so dangerous.So there's this lady who's been charged by the Islamic courts in

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-89213727584476546602007-11-26T21:38:00.000-02:002007-11-26T22:14:12.426-02:00

As an experiment and as an extension of last week's experience, I'm trying another alcohol-free night. I'm completely recovered from the cold but I have taken this decision because I heard it would actually be beneficial and very good for my 'elf; that would be Arnalrond Slimbow who lives in the sage bush; and also my financial 'elf, Alfiluiul Countindosh, who has a small office in the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-89554710127105207552007-11-24T23:37:00.000-02:002007-11-25T00:29:50.674-02:00

In the wee hours (that's the time I have to get up to take a wee, prostrate stuff you know) I was awoken by the strangest of noises, it sounded like several people were hooting on those football fan hooter things all at the same time, one would trail off while another would continue, only it couldn't have been people because each was very prolonged, no-one has that much wind in 'em, or perhaps I

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-20870809563136342982007-11-22T20:18:00.001-02:002007-11-22T20:20:04.988-02:00

Second Alcohol-Free night in a row. But jiggins if I'm not thinking a bottle of fermented grape would go down mighty fine right now.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-32451248506686710312007-11-22T16:50:00.000-02:002007-11-22T17:24:29.478-02:00

I suddenly find myself with hours of free time, MOST of Monday afternoon, MOST of Tuesday afternoon and MOST of Thursday afternoon, I'm sat at home wondering what to do. Writing on this blog doesn't seem to be making me any money. I need more work!I'm in the Grip of a Gripe (rhymes with yippee! not tripe, my Portuguese speaking readers will know what I'm talking about), I'm dosing myself up

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-13538830813416574362007-11-21T22:06:00.000-02:002007-11-21T22:26:50.873-02:00

TONIGHT is my first alcohol free night for weeks, I think the last time was when I forgot to pop into the super-duper on the way home and couldn't be arsed to go out again once ensconced at my abode. Tonight, I suspect due to the onset of a cold, I didn't get that really-looking-forward-to-a-cold-beer-when-I-get-home feeling (I hesitate to use 'craving' for fear of sounding like an alky). My

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-30586201117294073152007-11-21T16:40:00.000-02:002007-11-21T17:37:29.859-02:00

Here's a story about Brazilian immigrants in Japan, this caught my eye: But rows over things like loud music, parking spaces and rubbish are daily causes of friction. "Their culture and customs are different," says Ms Murakami. "Japan has various rules and they don't know the rules, so this leads to tensions."The Japanese probably have the same kind of discipline as the Anglo-Saxons when it

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-66803647380948703952007-11-14T22:50:00.000-02:002007-11-14T23:33:09.275-02:00

Jolly Spiffin! Another holiday tomorrow. Well it would be Jolly Spiffin if I could still get the same dosh, being self-employed however, I don't have that privilege. Still, it's nice to have a lie-in and to be able to Psht! (sound of gas escaping rapidly whilst bottle cap is removed), and say "Bar's Open!" at around 11.15 am. I miss the old beach sometimes, it was Psht! Bar's Open! at

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-77706301127393703712007-11-13T22:34:00.000-02:002007-11-13T23:01:29.462-02:00

HA ! The master's degree selection test was a DOODLE! HO! could've dun it with eyes closed, would've been a mess though, heckish swiggly writing.Okay okay, it wasn't so freaking easy of course, blast me for a pumpkin if I didn't miss one whole question - compare poems of Manuel Bandeira, Cecilia Meireles and João Cabral de Melo Neto. and I know funkins about those three (should've read up yeah!

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-42614205856802055382007-11-06T20:00:00.000-02:002007-11-06T20:30:39.997-02:00

Amongst the oddities that I found while browsing the BBC site is a man who, after being on a trip to Sri Lanka and being sucked by leeches, was so weak he "could only eat corned beef and lettuce for months", I find that bizarrely amusing , I mean why corned beef for freaks sake? It's a good job this didn't happen in the early 80s when Argentinean corned beef was boycotted because of the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-25387905592642401072007-10-25T22:00:00.001-02:002007-10-25T23:57:57.970-02:00

BRWWARRRWOTTHEFFUCKBOLLOCKS.There be another great HOO HA about learning Welsh, and bugger me for a pumpkin if I can't find the link right now, but it's something about a growing pressure to learn Welsh in Wales creating division and resentment, and this coming from Welsh speakers. Apparently there's a greater push for learning all over the land and especially a search for cultural identity

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-2457373372596530732007-10-16T21:16:00.000-02:002007-10-16T21:21:32.550-02:00

Just when things were beginning to get boring around here. 9.08 pm. Tuesday 16 October, there I was quietly watching the latest dvd pirated episodes of Heroes when all crap hits the air conditioning outside, or rather several stray bullets here and there. Yes a fine gun battle in the street, probably the best yet since I've been here, I was tempted to take a look out the window but didn't fancy

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-48481228811229500602007-10-16T13:19:00.000-02:002007-10-16T14:17:50.348-02:00

I'd better get something written before my millions of fans worldwide begin to complain.The Masters degree selection test is in just 3 weeks and I'm still supposed to have read all the theory books by then. Truth is I won't have time, in fact I won't even HAVE the books to read, except one which I've already started, but suspended for the time being in order to finish Erico Verissimo's Incidente

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-12594552951262821042007-10-01T21:24:00.000-03:002007-10-01T22:24:09.561-03:00

Due to an increasing pressure from thousands of my readers from all corners of the globe, I have been compelled into returning to the blogosphere and getting some crap written. Truth is, I've been busy in all manner of ways, hot sex for hours on end not being the least.Ah well, Wales are out. As an ex-rugby player me-self (Aberbachgenbach Comprehensive, Wednesday's P.T. lesson, 1976 - 1979), I

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-62422154488382461902007-08-31T15:19:00.000-03:002007-09-03T17:15:27.064-03:00

It's unbelievable how many CRAP drivers are here, I've been here 16 years and it still gets on my FUCKING NERVES, here's a message to Porto Alegre drivers incase you didn't quite understand the heavy irony here:USE YOUR FRIKKIN' INDICATOR FOR FREAKS SAKE!! IT LETS OTHER DRIVERS KNOW OF YOUR INTENTIONS! You know, it's that little lever thing at the side of the steering wheel? And when someone IS

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-17092675811618821502007-08-28T18:55:00.000-03:002007-08-28T19:33:34.325-03:00

Gringos always whinge about Brazilian stuff. I have a good whinge once in a while (quite frequently infact) which prompts the Good Lady to say, "So what the fuck are you doing here? Why don't you get the fuck back to Aberbachgenbach and get a job THERE?". Can't, Maggie closed the mine down over twenty year ago. She has a point though (the Good Lady, I mean, not the Iron Lady), 15 years and

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-71725786064328975522007-08-26T22:27:00.000-03:002007-08-26T23:26:12.708-03:00

I SEE thousands of millions of people worldwide are voting in the Welsh Blog Awards, I've got 2 ! (uhm, that's TWO, not TWO thousand million) votes, there's a huge possibility that I could be the winner of this. Fame, fortune and naked wimmin will surely follow.Amongst the blurb on the BBC site there is the following to make us wonder what a weird/crap/stupid world we have:(BBC) The ancient Silk

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-31765356795494550022007-08-20T22:37:00.000-03:002007-08-20T22:52:15.023-03:00

Jolly Spiffin'! I'm being voted for in the Welsh Blog Awards! TWO wonderful people out there somewhere have voted for ME! Ithankyousomuch. Annie'll probably run away with the votes, she's in most of the categories too.Can't think of any more crap to write. Hope ye's all keeping up with the Best Alternative Places to Drink Beer, suggestions please, I'm not going to do this all one my ownses,

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-51998198871464967822007-08-06T20:22:00.000-03:002007-08-06T21:42:21.995-03:00

The Date is Set. After 4th of September I shall no longer be able to produce offspring. Should I really go through with this? Yes! After a fun experience yesterday, me and the Good Lady in one room, the kids in another room and the rubber things in yet another room.I watched Borat. How can a 'humour specialist, public speaking coach' explain what he calls a 'not joke'? For starty farties

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-10451467886911540062007-08-04T10:57:00.000-03:002007-08-04T11:25:36.555-03:00

SO MUCH stuff to read, so little time. I picked up a copy of Don Quixote in English at the Best Bookshop in PoA, however an Argentinean friend of mine insists I MUST read it in the original Spanish. Second hand bookshops seem to exert a strong gravitational pull on me, I was sucked into one the other day and had to buy 2 books, the first of which I liked the title, "O Último Tapir", The Last

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-20406252916661233732007-07-31T22:02:00.000-03:002007-07-31T22:06:18.020-03:00

"What I thought was unreal, now, for me, seems in some ways to be more real than what I think to be real which seems now more to be unreal" .Fred Alan Wolf

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-56142678046805061272007-07-26T22:12:00.000-03:002007-07-26T23:04:39.030-03:00

After experimenting with injectable chemicals which produced disastrous results (see the paragraph headed ON A PERSONAL NOTE in THIS post) and after years of experience with yucky, stinky rubber things that sometimes don't roll down (is it ME??!!), and after much deliberation.STOP PRESS STOP PRESS!!Gunshots outside, first time in ages!Ahem...much deliberation from me and the misses, ("I'm not

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-74935217014760905462007-07-25T22:07:00.000-03:002007-08-20T15:27:43.759-03:00

I've seen loadsa lists of "10 best places in the world to drink beer", Bars in Munich, the Czech Republic, Dublin etc etc. But I'd love to see an "alternative" list, this one gets my vote to begin with. Any other suggestions? (my terrace at sunset in January for example). Pavlo's on the Greek / Turkish Famagusta border in Cyprus is another of my votes, if it still exists (those 1980s blues

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-77731105993102650702007-07-24T19:34:00.000-03:002007-07-24T20:23:51.513-03:00

I've learned a most useful phrase, Ga'i beint o gwrw os gwelwch yn dda? Yes, better than slow, unbearable pigs.Cost of living table:The Brazilian Real, R$, is worth about 25p. So 1 Brit Quid (that's Pound Sterling for my international readers / sorry, I don't have a pound sign on my keyboard) is about R$4. I'm self-employed so I rely on my students sticking around and on a very good month (

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-45490784656492274532007-07-24T15:19:00.000-03:002007-07-24T15:31:47.804-03:00

Took a quick experiment with an internet language course in Welsh and in just a few short minutes, I learned Mae'r mochyn yn araf, now what I really need are some of these useful phrases.

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-13892508765523018142007-07-24T12:52:00.000-03:002007-07-24T13:06:34.668-03:00

The roads here seem to be made of some crappy black stuff which becomes crumbly in rain and gets pounded to hell by the passing traffic thus creating immense pot-holes. After a few weeks a truck goes round and fills the pot-holes with big gravel (i.e. small stones) this in turn gets pounded around and spread all over the roads once again exposing the hole, another few weeks pass before another

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-54321595662511591932007-07-18T20:20:00.000-03:002007-07-18T21:09:49.530-03:00

I'm in the running for "Best Personal Blog" in the Welsh Blog Awards 2007, which means I'll have to write something ..... uhm ... er...oh BOLLOCKS!Here's an update on my current situation anyway. Since the incident with the Personage on the Balcony, which occurred six weeks after the Personage on the Terrace incident and three weeks after the Personage IN the Apartment incident - most probably

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-54486169886238243332007-07-13T20:40:00.000-03:002007-07-13T20:42:54.026-03:00

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-5346308241571614212007-07-13T19:43:00.000-03:002007-07-13T20:34:59.857-03:00

My bedroom is a cube, one wall of which is a glass sliding door opening to a balcony (3rd floor). My bed is adjacent to this glass door, if I reach out my arm I touch it.Imagine then my surprise when I awoke from a doze at 11pm to see A PERSON standing there on the balcony. What Larks. See below posts for the history of invasions.My rage overcame my fear and I believe I momentarily

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-24729581260490638332007-06-30T10:38:00.000-03:002007-06-30T10:50:08.328-03:00

Just days after I had posted the HIGH TECH alarm, I had a break in. The HT Alarm was on the floor unbroken, whether it actually worked or not I shall never know, perhaps the guy detected the line and placed it on the floor, or maybe it fell, didn't break and the guy continued his vile crime. Anyway, I arrived home at 9.30 pm to find the bars twisted open and the window smashed. Missing:

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-60149087046095633682007-06-25T10:41:00.000-03:002007-06-25T14:57:14.790-03:00

My terrace has been invaded three times on occassions that I know about, missing items - a beach chair and barbecue spits - evidencing these incursions, and maybe other occassions that I don't know about. The last occured at 5am a few weeks ago, when I saw through the curtians of the French windows, the silhouette of a person trying to get through the bars which separate the terrace from the

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-8057059864316172912007-06-20T21:46:00.000-03:002007-06-20T22:04:23.022-03:00

Exactly now as I'm writing this, (21:45, June 20) I can hear the noise around the city, the roar of a zillion fireworks going off at the same time, the kick-off of the Grêmio v Boca Juniors match, the final for the Libertadores for the Tokyo Cup, in other words it will decide who's going to go to Tokyo for the World Clubs' Championship. Last year was won by the other PoA team, Internacional,

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-49074261316316856022007-06-18T20:42:00.000-03:002007-06-18T21:49:25.306-03:00

Being now a zillion or so miles away from Y Cap Goch and The Temple (see my last post), my local, which is not very local, is The Shamrock. Is it possible that every city in the world now has an Irish Pub? Here in PoA there are in fact now four: The Shamrock, Mulligan's, Dublin and The Cherry Blue (WOT?! An Irish pub called The Cherry Blue??). Mulligan's, Dublin and The Cherry Blue (WOT?!

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-82468152085626232302007-06-18T17:01:00.000-03:002007-06-18T17:25:15.382-03:00

People always ask me what I miss most about Britain. Without hesitation: PUBS and decent beer. Oh and summer festivals.My local in Brynsadler, whenever I visited my folks, used to be The Ivor Arms, my old man would be down there without fail at 12 midday every Sunday, he was going there for nigh on 30 year, but now apparently it's "Y Draenog" posh pub /restaurant and the old man refuses to go in

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-87513732125956483712007-06-15T09:10:00.001-03:002007-06-15T09:12:28.001-03:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-24890771503492473272007-06-14T18:45:00.000-03:002007-06-14T19:16:44.770-03:00

I feel like I'm back home in the Land of My Fathers (and Mothers and Brothers and Sisters) again - it's been raining for over a week!Now it's raining cats and dogsand I can't stand croaking frogsoh Brother it's wet!(I got fungus growing on me dungarees,got fungus on me dungas and there's water on me knees,it's a mad crazy country in the wet!)That's one of Rolf Harris's not mine as a matter of

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-33339237149834016292007-06-04T20:07:00.000-03:002007-06-04T20:45:14.102-03:00

A point I would like to make regarding National Identity and as a comment on THIS BLOG, or more specifically the sub-heading, top right, "Welsh not British".As soon as I utter a syllable in Portuguese, my Gringo accent announces, "Yes, I'm not from here, go ahead, ask me all the usual questions, 'Where are you from?What are you doing here?Do you like Brazil?What football team do you support?'".

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-61049094772224342007-05-30T21:21:00.000-03:002007-05-30T21:26:27.175-03:00

Nice eh?

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-35894529007807319332007-05-30T21:01:00.000-03:002007-05-30T21:20:35.229-03:00

Odds Bonkin's if it's not IOM TT time again. 20 something year ago 'twas since I were there. Must've been 85 or 87 or both, I did go twice in fact. First time I fell in with a bunch of Jolly Irish Bikers and they dragged me into their hotel and forced large quantities of Bushy's down my throat. Next morn, early, they were hammering on my door wanting to go see the racing. Our form of

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-86419977649772497482007-05-29T19:43:00.000-03:002007-06-25T11:34:35.433-03:00

Well Shiver me Timberlakes, Justin (who he?), it's been many a moon since the last News from a Welshman in Brazil. May has passed without great incident, the Annual Barbie was, once again a Huge Success. Amongst other distinguished guests, in attendance this year, fewer by number, the German Fella, Ian and his Good Lady and, Arriving Late in Time to Save a Drowning Witch, Sergio, the Musical

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-25355752411472208842007-04-30T20:38:00.000-03:002007-04-30T21:07:36.630-03:00

JIGGERY POKERY and HUMBUG !Those Capitalist Pigish Monopolizing capitalist pigs! Just because I didn't pay my bill from February they doggon cut me off from internet.Okay they had every right to I suppose. But what pissed me off was when I DID pay, they said it would take "up to 72 hours to get re-connected" so I waited. After 72 hours had passed, no signal on my modem, so I phoned THEN they

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-70635265027695498912007-04-17T10:19:00.000-03:002007-04-17T11:01:10.603-03:00

In the 80s I went to a lot of rock shows, I'm a veteran of Castle Donnington Monsters of Rock, don't do it so much nowadays though mainly because GOOD bands don't come round too often to PoA. My step daughter is a great fan of Evan Evans, she says, must be a new Welsh rock band methinks. Evan Evans are HERE in PoA tonight, and coz she's only 13 and Must be Accompanied by Adult, I'm going!

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-39739337438105603132007-04-15T19:38:00.000-03:002007-04-17T10:52:44.430-03:00

Look at these pictures of bulls and dogs.Now look at that there Red Dragon. THERE. Up the top, on the left.Isn't there something missing?

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-13224529757338936822007-04-15T18:58:00.000-03:002007-04-15T19:22:03.709-03:00

I'm not crazy about sport. Playing; for fun, I used to a long time ago and I would now if I had the time and / or oportunity, I mean to meet up with a bunch of people once or twice a week to have a kick around or whack a volleyball back and forth, then go for a few beers afterwards, but when it gets competitive, play against other teams from the neighbourhood for some kind of championship or

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-46771832772904030032007-04-11T17:46:00.000-03:002007-04-11T18:06:18.267-03:00

I have a student who I suppose by his fellow school persons, would be called a "nerd". Compulsory piano lessons, zitty, skinny and thick glasses. In the first class I thought he would be a pain in the arse as he answered almost every question with "depends", I couldn't draw him out, he seemed uninterested in learning English, especially as it was an obligatory class - his folks make him, like

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-53658089302757834222007-04-09T20:36:00.000-03:002007-04-09T20:51:47.853-03:00

Some of my Foreign Readers may have been led to believe that the persons in the photograph published in the previous post were in fact Welsh Men in Kilts. This is not so, point of fact is they are Cornish Men in Kilts at an annual "Tossing the Pixie" tournament held annually every, erm, year, in the wee Cornish town of Dunfermline, pronounced "Moussel".Welsh Men do not drink Carlsberg (which is

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-26924859529173954262007-04-09T15:11:00.000-03:002007-04-09T16:06:12.468-03:00

Having only visited Britain twice in the past 15 years of living in Brazil, I haven't really got a sense of what's going on on the street (on on? I assure you, correct grammatically be it), from all accounts (well okay then, from the accounts of my old man and occasional e-mails from people) PC is going beyond the pale face with people being awarded thousands for "hurt feelings". An advantage

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-84659510761129287312007-04-07T17:14:00.000-03:002007-04-07T18:20:30.813-03:00

My life's getting back to normal (what normal life for me is though, I'm still not quite sure) after the recession I went through from January to March, my folks being here didn't help even though they paid a lot for outings etc. I still had to fork out for more than I usually do during this period. Galloping Shrumkin's! but I don't want to go through that again and I'm looking for counter

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-4542457269744246212007-03-19T23:15:00.000-03:002007-03-20T00:16:14.955-03:00

PHEW! I can breath the sigh of proverbial relief (or is that....? Oh never mind) My pa and step mum and niece have gorn after a tense two week stay. To say that my old man is a difficult person would be quite an understatement, he doesn't continually WHINGE in a whingey whiney way, he continually COMPLAINS and everyone has to know about it. Here's an example: night at Simon's, after being

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864363.post-57043621040663344552007-03-04T20:37:00.000-03:002007-03-04T20:54:15.476-03:00

I've started a discussion group at Book Tribes - spotting porn in classic literature. Apart from that fella, D.H. , Charles wasn't so bad himself, I posted up these ones a last year sometime, well worth bringing up again now. Then of course there's Moby Dick that I'm reading right now which has "Freud explains" overtones which I commented a coupla weeks ago. In fact, if one looks at literature

Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06612236281839466795noreply@blogger.com0