I’ve made what’s probably the right decision, and am splitting off the modelling section of my ramblings to a new blog, called Glacial Modeller. It’s at glacialmodeller.wordpress.com, so, if you’re into reading about my modelling, or lack of modelling, have a look there!
Other than that, I’m going to start adding links, the first one being for the fiat forum. Look forward to my, hopefully, writing a bit more in the future!
My last blog post was ‘Changing gear’, which, for it’s time, was quite correct. Actually, maybe that’s the point of blogs, that they reflect how you are, or what you’re up to, at the time. I guess in that sense, it’s quite correct. However, things move on, and so, I’d better write a new post, as, otherwise, the wrong impression can be given.
The gear one is in is a reflection of where one is, at that point in time. 4 Weeks ago I was tired. I’d been working for 7 months, with no real breaks, doing a job which had bored me. Whilst the job was near home, and paid reasonably well, it wasn’t satisfying, leading me to the point of exhaustion. There were some moments of high stress, but, usually, it was fine. However, worse than this, I had pushed myself to be something more. Thus, 4 weeks ago, I was tired, exhausted, and a little emotional.
Into this mix came a few girls who wanted to see me. Frankly, I was tired, I had reached the end of this path, had run out of steam, and needed a break. I just said that I didn’t have the capability to see someone, to give myself over to a relationship, or, more so, a new relationship.
However, over the past few weeks something has happened. I have relaxed, and found my energy returning. Already people are noticing that my smile has returned, and I’m not as intense as I was then. For work, I’m taking a different approach. Without realising it, I’m realising what I want in my next contract. It’s not being near home, so I can run away at 5pm. It’s not short hours, or easy work. Rather, it’s being more accepting of where I am, of being more relaxed, and not always worrying about the next contract, or what it’s doing for my career.
A by product of this has been that I’m now energised enough to get back into the dating game. In fact, I was off JDate for a while, around 6 weeks I think, but I’m now back on, and have met a lovely new girl. You may recall the girl I mentioned before, well, she’s met someone, and, whilst I still like her, I know it’s never going to be more than as friends. You might say: but meet her first! Actually I did, and spent a nice afternoon with her, and whilst she’s still a lovely girl, the chemistry wasn’t there to go further. So, let’s see how things pan out with this new girl. So far, it all seems great, but let’s see.
Speaking of contracts, it has been a little depressing that it’s been 4 weeks, with no offers (bar one silly one), but that’s the nature of being a contractor! Still, I live in hope, and reasonable hope I’ll be working in the next week or so. A couple of interviews Monday should sort things out, maybe!
Just a short round-up, more next time!
Strewth I can’t believe I’m 37. Thirty-Seven. It’s not 35, which is the edge of being young, or 36, which is just gone, no, 37 means you’re, no fail, on your way to being 40. Crikey! Rather frightening really. Makes one sit back, and muse a bit. At least before I’m 40 we should have a Conservative government in power in the UK, but I’d rather, if one could chose, give up that for a peace deal in the middle-east. However, both would be nice! I do wonder if we’ll see McCain win, or will it be Obama. I reckon it’s too close to call.
So, to modelling (as I assume you’re here for the modelling). Well, ‘The Bitch’ is no more. Yes, she finally tried my patience once too many times. Having assembled the fuselage, I found that the Revell 1/48 F-14D just will not fit. The final straw was the forward fuselage, which, fitted like a crack dealer at Lords doesn’t (to ape Douglas Adams).
The counterpart to The Bitch is The Dog, another Revell 1/48, this time the B-25J Mitchell, in Red Bull configuration. The interior, in ’stone grey’, from Revell’s own range, was lovely, if the fitting were a tad flat. Trying to enough weight in was a problem, but by losing the front wheelwell (which can’t be seen anyway), and the tunnel (not a huge loss), just about managed it. Also, some more weight dotted around, but it seems to be OK. Fuselage fit is a bit indifferent. However, by using Tippex, Zap-A-Gap, and Mr. Surfacer 500, finally achieved a smooth top fuselage. Now have masses to complete elsewhere! Seat sides are silver, Humbrol no.11, the seats themselves are blue, from Testors, straps are black, with the cockpit in Humbrol, no. 144 I think, but need to check.
Not a bad kit, but raised panel lines, and some indifferent fit. Still, easy to build, and cheap too.
I’ve also been working on the Tamiya scout car. Not a bad kit, although the floor seems a bit dodgy. Still, it is an early kit. Fit is fine, but then, it is Tamiya! Interior is white, with smeared ‘wood brown’ from Humbrol, and smeared black. Dry brushed some of the brown along the bottom corners, where the walls meet the floor, looks good! Exterior is being brushed some Molak black-green. Looks good, and, being a land vehicle, can be heavily weathered.
The Tamiya Bell X-1 was a lovely kit to build. Quick, easy, satisfying. Perfect! Needs now to be sprayed orange, and then, well, that’s about it. Just need to paint the canopy first, then mask off. As for when I’ll do that… Slight problem in that the instructions were for the Eduard 1/48 Bell X-1, but seemed to have worked it all out! Interior was Gunze Sangyo interior green, with details in Humbrol black.
The Tamiya Mustang continues at a glacial pace. Slow doesn’t mean good! I re-painted the instrument panel, as the original job was far too shiny. Humbrol 33 can, unless well mixed, come up shiny. Now mostly OK, with some shiny black (Humbrol 21) for the instrument faces. Using matt and gloss for instrument faces works really well, so, pleased about that.
Speaking of instruments, I dropped some Humbrol 21 onto the clocks of the little Scout car, worked a treat! Will also use it for other instrument panels in the future. Another thing that worked well was the dry brushing of the radio boxes for the Mustang. I use a light grey for this, made them look nicely worn in, but not too worn. Fantastic!
Other bits worked on include: the DFS aircraft, which had a drop more canopy masking; the submarine, which was brush painted with a mixture of Humbrol no.10, Humbrol no.01, and an Airfix which was similar to no.01 (to finish the tin); and the 1/32 Sea Venom, which had bits of the cockpit painted, and the seats re-done, yet again!
One thing I find is that Humbrol no.85, coal black, is not a mid-gloss, between 21 and 33, it is, in fact, a shiny black, more like 21. This is rather annoying, as I have masses of 21, and really need something between 21 and 33. Revell do some nice mid-way black, so I’ll use those. As for modern Humbrol no.33, well, it must must be well stirred, else the colour is far too shiny.
A few new kits around too. Swapped some for a Trumpeter 1/24 Mustang. I will build this in Israeli colours, maybe as Judy/Tink, the first Mustang, or as a later blue/brown from 1956. Either way, should be fun. Also bought the new AFV Club Sh’ot 1973, which is similar to my old tank. For my for birthday, my mother bought me the new AFC Club Sh’ot 1967, which was more like the Centurion base tank. Both of those are 1/35, but I also bought the new 1/48 AFC Club Tiger. The price, just 12 Pounds was the same as the Trumpeter, but far less than the Tamiya, even though it’s a fine product, or so it seems. Time will tell, but AFV Club have a good reputation.
Meant to start the Sh’ot for my birthday, but not quite there yet. Other than that, a few kits here and there, but the interesting one is the Academy F-89J Scorpion, from Hannant’s London second hand section. A mad looking aircraft, so, should be interesting to build!
Finally, I also commenced work on the Tamiya 1/72 Nanzan. Very simple build, but what’s RLM Grey? Decided to use RLM02 for it, from the Color of Eagles range. This range was actually produced by Vellejo for an American company, but not any longer. The theory is that the paints are ready mixed for spraying. Personally, I found them a tad too thick, but not too much so, and so sprayed direct. Not a bad result. Needs a second coat, and also to balance out a slight colour imbalance, where some items were darker than others.
Oh, and really finally, did a tiny bit of work on a 1/48 Airfix Mosquito, but just some painting of the interior (Humbrol 78) and some black for detail work.
OK, that’s it for now, for modelling.
Otherwise, well, been using some dowsing rods, with some interesting results. Been chatting with this lovely girl I met online, from a dating website, and, hmmm, excited to see what happens there. My contract is up for renewal at work, as it’s supposed to finish Monday 30th. They asked me to stay on a fortnight, but, no, I need a break, so, decided to say sayonara on Friday 27th. Then, have a break in July, whilst hunting an appropriate new contract. September’s a good month for new contracts, as is May. June is less so, and July worse. This means I could be up a gum tree, but I hope not! Today, had my first Gaapweb email which had no new jobs in it. Has the market dried up that much? I hope not! Still, I just need the one right job, not 30 jobs!
Car’s still running, running well actually, but decided not to replace until get a good new contract. Likewise computer, which needs replacing, but can do for now, until I get a contract. Actually, I have a virus, or had a virus, rather, but it’s damaged my Explorer. As I need to partially clean my machine, I’ll wait until my break, as it could take a few hours. Hopefully all will be OK.
Ideal? A nice contract, to start end of July. Perfect! Then I can have a break, and start refreshed. Still, let’s see what life brings. Need a break though, and need to spend time walking, getting fit, losing weight, and, of course, writing my blog! Modelling just goes without saying.
Anyway, enough for now. TTFN!
Been quite a while since the last update, so, here goes! Firstly, I noticed I made an error in an earlier post, which I’ve now corrected. The F-14 seats are Humbrol 67, not 62 (probably slipped up as the cushions are 72). Anyway, been quite a few developments.
As I’ve mentioned the F-14, I should say that I’ve worked on the underside. It’s a pig! For that reason, this build was nicknamed ‘The Bitch’, and that still holds true. Basically, the intakes do not match up well with the fuselage. A lot of filling and sanding later, and it’s much better, but still not quite right, and there are gaps (and poor adhesion) which I’ll Zap-A-Gap, then sand, later. Dry fitting the cushions to the seat sides showed some bits of white, where I’d thought the plastic was hidden, so, re-painted the seats, again, in Humbrol 72. Next up, well, tomorrow, I’ll paint the seat sides in 67, and leave for a while. As I’ve sanded out parts of the cockpit, out with the Revell paint to re-do, and to also paint the canvas instrument binnacle covers. Not sure yet what colour to use, but that can be easily sorte.
Away from kits, was very pleased that Boris Johnson won the election to be London mayor. Ken Livingstone is one of those politicals who I dislike, possibly on a par with George Galloway. As I’m living in St.Albans, was weird that the Tories gained 3 sears, and the Liberals 1, but it gave them control of the council. Oh well, guess that means more anti-car policies here. Still, for now, fairly sane, except in St.Peter’s St. where they seem to be, oh never mind, but it is crazy to stop all parking there, for no reason. The old system of no parking during market times worked well. Banning at all times, and installing cameras to monitor cars, issue remote fines, etc, just feels so wrong. No wonder Tesco want to abandon the town centre! I wonder, can’t councils grasp the simple concept that if you stop people going to smaller town centre shops by car, they will drive out to the larger places. Sadly, this means that the town centre loses supermarkets, resulting in people living there being forced to drive out… Oh well!
Other than that, meeting some lovely girls online, one in particular, but enough on that. Sadly, had to dump someone the other day. Nice girl, but, a culture clash, and I knew it would bring grief. Also, going to be starting the gym next week with an old work colleague. At least, that’s the theory!
The B-45 Tornado is now more or less done, except some touching up, where some of the original paint job came off. Hand painted the engine cowling covers in olive, using my ancient tin of Humbrol Authentic. It looks good! At least, I think that’s what I used. I’d better work it out before I finish it off! Once touching up is finished, decals, and then, that’s it. Cool!
Working on a SMER Fokker S.11 Instructor. That’s proving a bit of a pig as well, but it’s my own fault. The left wing was shoved in, glued in, and then I realised, wasn’t quite right. Wondering if the fix, or trash it. Might go to my godson for experimentation. Another along those lines is the Short Sunderland. Just can’t be bothered to finish it. Also there will be some other bits I’ve lost interest in, such as an Airfix 1/72 Spitfire, an Airfix 1/72 Drakken, and who knows what else!
Was feeling fed up with modelling the other day, decided to jack it all in, but, for now, have stayed my hand. Instead, will dispose of 100 or so kits. Ignoring the 1/144 kits, that around a quarter of my stash. Obviously, there’s a financial implication, in that I’ve spent money, and now not using it, but, on the other hand, these are all kits I’m unlikely to build in the near future, or indeed, not so near future. Some could be sold on ebay I guess, maybe raise £500 ? It’s just a hassle with finding boxes, packing, etc. Still, would raise my ebay profile! The Airfix TSR.2 kits alone are worth £100, plus decals, resin aftermarket bits, etc.
Well, that’s it for now! Osher
My modelling seems rather glacial at times! Nothing much has happened with the Mustang, except some touching up here and there on the seat. For some reason I never painted the back of the seat, so, need to do that. Used Gunze Sangyo acrylic, but didn’t thin it. Result was, hmm, not tostandard. So, quick flick with the sanding stick, and off I go again!
The Sunderland is moving forward. The porthole that had the glass pushed in was filled with Krystal Klear, and it seems to have dried OK. Put Maskol on all the port side, and one starboard side, portholes. Now need to Maskol the rest, mask the canopy & turrets, put on fin, rear planes, oh, the list goes on! Still, moving on.
The real progress has been with the Mach 2 B-45 Tornado. I removed all the masking from the canopies, and began painting (or re-painting) the olive drab of the engines covers, using Humbrol 86. So far so good. Wheels are in place too. The chap who originally worked on it must have stopped when he was on the wheels as they’re partially painted. Excellent job too! In other words, it’s approaching completion point.
Other than that, things much the same as ever! Bought The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on tape for £2 in St.Albans market, so listening to that whilst working. Also bought a futon for £10.50. The people I bought it from seemed most unhappy to have sold it for so little. Of course, the fuel costs to transport it, plus buying my friend lunch, and cleaning the car, made it almost the same price as a new one. Ah well, it’s fine, and had a nice day out too. At least it means that friends, if they want to stay over, can do so now.
The other day I received an email from someone mentioned in the blog, asking me to remove the references to this person, which I duly did. However, it then struck me that it’s been way too long since I last updated my blog!
Anyway, it’s the last Friday of March 2008. My project for the holiday company I’m working for, is proceding nicely, if frustratingly. Still, I aim to have this major part of the project finished before long. My boss, the FD, doesn’t think it will be that, but I know I’m fairly far advanced in the project. Oh well, time will tell!
Now for the more important things in life than money, relationships, etc, yes, models!
Today I worked, for the first time in ages, on my Revell 1/48 F-14D Tomcat. It is really is a large, but crap, kit! For some daft reason there is a mould line down the middle of the fuselage. Unfortunately, I only noticed this after I’d painted (airbrushed) the cockpit. The colour used was a Revell enamel, SM (Silky-Matt) 374, a slightly blueish mid to light grey. Actually, it sprayed on fantastically. I know many don’t like the Revell series, but I think they’re fine, quite nice actually. Now, this isn’t the colour that Revell recommend. However, I had it to hand, it seems to be approximately correct, based on pictures I’ve seen on the internet. Actually, my original choice (I had to overpaint the original) was much darker, although with more blue. Oh yes, I should say, I started this model several years back!
Back to the kit. As I said, I’ve kit has a mould line down the middle, right down the middle of the nose, the cockpit, etc. Well, when I noticed, I tried to sand it, which was a slight error as the paint wasn’t yet dry. Now I just need to wait for the paint to dry, then sand, sand, and sand! Actually, this whole kit is one of those that requires loads of sanding, and, of course, filler. Those air intakes caused me nightmares, and require yet more hours of sanding…
Still, the seat seems to be OK. I used Humbrol enamel 72 for the cushions. Possibly a greener khaki was more accurate, but what I used wasn’t too bad. As for the sides of the seat, Humbrol enamel 67, a very dark grey. I originally painted it a matt black, but it just seemed too black. Looking at a picture of the seat, it seems that maybe a matt black is correct. Hmm, another paint job is due? Be slightly funny to go back to the original colour I used!
The other model I worked on today was an Airfix 1/72 Short Sunderland. Another large, but crap, kit! This time it’s not a kit I started ages, but a more recent one. On the other hand, the kit itself is stamped 1960. One nice touch is that the kit has starboard and port inscriped inside the wings. I guess boys born in the 40’s and 50’s were expected to know such things! Today was just touching up some paint for some internals. For some daft reason, the Humbrol enamel 33 matt black isn’t always matt. I have no idea why, but I’ve gone back to over paint shiny with fresh, hoping it comes out matt this time.
Like the Revell, the Airfix kit has major issues with fit. This time it’s the mainplanes, who’s relationship to the wingroots needed a lot of coaxing, plus filler and sanding. The problem was especially pronounced around the leading edge, where I had to build up, and sand down, to gain consistency. As it is, if looked head on, a slight gull shape has developed. Unfortunately, a lot of detail was lost on the wings, in a half an inch line. Oh well, comes with the kit, losing detail.
Well, getting late, so time for bed. Off to Hannants tomorrow, to swap a whole gaggle of kits (plus, probably, some dosh) for 2 new Airfix 1/48 Canberra B(I)8. Might also get a new Revell F-22 whilst there too! However, the Airfix will not be around long, as just 10,000 are being made… On the other hand, some of the new Nimrods are still floating around, a month after launch. However, the Canberra should be a more popular choice.
Ah, yeses, I know, this week’s letter is a little late, to the extent of being in the following week, i.e. this week. This could mean, that this letter is this week’s early, but no; its last week’s late… Did you follow all that?!
Ah right, so, what’s happened in this, or, rather, last, week’s fun packed days? I saw this great advertisement for a clothing company. The tag line is ‘I’ve got ewe, babe’, and the company’s called sonny and shear. Brilliant, very funny. OK, I’m not selling advertising space, but had to deserve a mention. However, this is a letter from Trinidad, not just for advertisements from companies overseas. I also get several emails a day, from all kinds of names claiming to be a bored 25 year old girl. I guess the spammers didn’t check the names too well. When someone with an unusual male name claims to be a 25 year old girl, well, yes! Speaking of spam, in gmail, the spam page always shows links to things to do with spam. I never realised there were so many ways of preparing and eating it!
An oddity I’ve never got used to in Trinidad, despite being here for just a few days shy of 6 months, is using ‘Good night’ as a greeting. Yes, I know it’s the way it was originally used, in England, but, since I was a kid (and before too, I’m not that old), Good night is used to close a conversation, not open one. When I come back to the apartment complex, and the guard greets me with a ‘good night’, it still feels peculiar. Just one of those things you never quite get used to, I guess.
Another thing about Trinidad I’m still getting my head around is people who block pavements with stalls. I’m not talking about a shop extending out into the pavement, or a stall on a wide pavement. No, I’m referring to stalls which are so big, they take up all, or almost all, the pavement, and force pedestrians to walk in the road. Near the office, on the road one has to walk down, to get to the car park, there’s such a stall. It just appeared one day. It’s a classic street vendor’s portable stall, built on a trailer, with wooden sides, which can open, a cool box to the side, and awnings above, to keep the stall holder shaded. Actually, one wheel reaches out, over the curb, so it’s on wooden blocks. Between the stall, and the fence, is a 2′ gap, but as the stall holder, and friends, sit there, you must walk in the road. Actually, what with bits sticking out, you still walk in the road, at most times. Actually, it’s only open for business for a few hours, but they leave it there, all the time, annoying me! However, all over Trinidad you will see such stalls, and blocking pavements too. Not that the police don’t take an interest. I’m quite sure they stop there for a drink or food as well… Oh well, welcome to Trinidad! The corruption here, and lack of law enforcement, is just mad. Anyone can make a fortune here, with western style service, etc, but unless you know the right people, forget it!
Actually, I saw something the other day, which rather disturbed me. On the side of a car was a Swastika. Now, I know the Swastika was devised as a peace symbol, but, even so, in England, you would only see one at an ultra-left wing party rally. It’s symbolism as the banner of National Socialism, it’s association with death and horror, mean it’s, for the foreseeable future, effectively banned in England. However, I wonder, does it have the same association here? I remember chatting with someone at work, who didn’t know who was in WWII, but thought the Germans were in it, for some reason, even if they didn’t know where Germany was. Was this just one person, who was ignorant, was it indicative of something greater in Trinidad? I’ve asked a few other Trinis, and they say that Trinis would know about WWII, but still, it was a bit of a wake-up call, about expectations.
As for the lifts this week, well we’re on 3. So, a good week! Of course, people still take the lift in the wrong direction, thinking it faster. I’m still trying to get my head around that one! However, the lifts at Bayside are a bit strange. For example, if you park downstairs (the carpark has entry level and ground level, under it), on ground level, and want to use the lifts, just one of the two lifts (2 per tower), opens both way (enabling access direct to the carpark), and just this one is set up for trolleys. Going up, it’s fine, as if you call the lift; you get the one suitable for a trolley. However, going down is a different matter. Say you have a trolley to take back down. Naturally, you want the elevator they can use. However, there’s just one button, so chances are, you get the fancy lift. In which case, you need to send the fancy lift to another floor, and call both lifts again! Of course, if you really want fun, you’ll notice that the lifts refer to 2 ground floors (but just one is real). When new, you sometimes try and take a ride to the false floor…! What is it with Trinidad and lifts?
Ah well….work’s been up and down all. We had a reconciliation issue, which I guessed immediately was a reporting issue, either down to timing or criteria, or both. However, they wanted to churn through it the usual way. Needless to say, I was right… Still it means it reduces how much time I need to spend in Trinidad, and I should be able to leave sharpish to Texas. I’m not point scoring, just want to get all the stuff over and done with.
Speaking of work, it’s been quite a good week, for good ideas. I had one the other day, whilst pondering a problem. Whilst my idea needed to refined slightly, to be more practicable, and can only be applied to new items, not existing ones, it will save around 25,000 Pounds a year (if not more), and improve the customer experience. Nice! The main one, that will improve the way we run things, make payments, etc, is till being developed, but that’s also a massive saving too. It’s nice to know I can bring in savings, on top just doing the normal job.
On the other hand, the system I’m talking about has been rather frustrating. Way back in April time, the improvements to the system I was writing were frozen. Now, suddenly, it’s all been activated again! Bit frustrating all this. The improvements have been live, or frozen, for a long time now. Anyway, finally, most of the improvements have made it to ‘production’, plus some more I didn’t think of first time, but sans this rather complex macro I wrote. This will be the last incarnation of the system, before it’s switched off, later in the year (unless the new system fails).
Actually, it’s been frustrating, because I can’t talk about Texas, officially, even though most people know now (the grapevine here is fantastic). This puts me in the difficult position of developing a system in a way that enables it to be used after I’ve gone, but I can’t explain why… Very weird, the whole thing! It’ll so much easier when all this can be out in the open. Make it easier to work too. Right now I’ve got to develop a new reporting system. That’s not too difficult, but only if I can agreement on one part. Guess what…the crucial person isn’t here. Same person who needs to make the official announcement. Rather frustrating!
However, I’m leave my 2 grey suits behind, and let this chap who’s rather large have them instead, along with 3 of my shirts (the really nice ones, with the soft cloth). The other 3 I’ll take to Texas with me. They’re most standard shirts, 2 of which are stained anyway. The 3rd is nice, but I’ll keep that for good, maybe a date, in San Antonio or something…. So, just taking with me loads and loads of shorts, a few t-shirts 3 nice shirts, and er, underwear. I can see my needing to buy new clothes quite quickly! Ah well, it’s all so cheap right now, anyway, what exchange rates being what they are, etc.
However, back to Trinidad, and yes, rain. Oh boy, the rain. We had rain here the other day, so intense, you couldn’t see a thing from the window, even a few yards away. Quite, quite, unbelievable. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed that such an intensity of rain was possible. Imagine trying to look through a waterfall, that’s near what it was like! Oh well, at least the Royal Navy lads would have felt at home. HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the RN was here for anti-drug duties. I bet it made some of the girls quite happy too, the ship I mean, or rather the sailors, as opposed to the rain.
Something that’s been annoying me is this girl near me who’s ring tone is this baby singing a nursery rhyme, with the notes tapped out on a xylophone. It was OK at first, but her mobile kept going off, many many times… Funny was that one say she brought her baby to the office, so the baby in real life was singing along to the recording! Ringtones can be so annoying though! Mine’s set to vibrate only, you need it!
Heard a weird thing the other day. At the petrol station, there’s also a KFC. The girl kept saying to patrons: ‘do you want spicy or regular flavour’? (in Trinidad, KFC comes in 2 flavours). To anyone who answered ‘regular’, she replied ’sorry, we only have spicy’. I just found that completely mad! Speaking of mad things, I had a pension from my time at T-Mobile. Now, T-Mobile offer a very good pension package (I recommend working there, if for that alone), which is a ‘final salary’ type. So, I had a choice, cash it in, or have 2.5x as much, by transferring it. The mad thing that the government, to stop pension mis-selling foces the pension advisor to offer a private pension comparable with the one I just left. As few people offer such a good pension, I couldn’t transfer it, and so was forced to lose 000’s of Pounds, and take cash. Madness, pure madness!
Oh well, on a nicer note, I’ve been having lunch a few times a week from Patricia’s. Patricia is this bubbly, fun woman (Venezuelan, actually), who has this little café behind a bar, where she serves up traditional Trini food. Every day you have the following steam kingfish, fried kingfish, or a meat or poultry, plus the vegtables/salad. Good, wholesome food, and loads of it! Often she’ll come by, and give you more! It’s TT$35 for fish and TT$25 or TT$30 for the other. Divide by 12 to get to Sterling. I had some of the people in the office laughing the other day when I pronounced ‘gerrera’ as it’s written, it’s actually pronounced ‘jeera’ (it’s a style of cooking meat or poultry). Absoluletly devine! Here, pillau means rice with bits in it, not as in England, one of the number one dishes. Another one is callaloo. Best to describe it as a slimy vegetable mix. It’s green, slimy, with bit in it. Taste is OK, if not wonderful, but the texture is off-putting…
Anyway…on facebook met up with some old friends. Funny, one of them I’m friendlier with now, than when we were at school, found we have a lot in common. It’s weird the way things develop! Speaking of past, also watched an old classic, almost twice in a row. Yes, The Big Chill, such a wonderful film. A real classic, and so well cast. Looking back at it, and doing some research, I’m guessing that the characters would all have been born in the late 1940’s, as they would have been around 35 in 1983 (when it was). That mean, add on 24 years, and, oh yikes! They’ll all be around 60 now, and heading towards retirement. They can’t be, can they? Wow! That freaks me out…
Well, there was a more to add, about car parking space, guards, Trotter’s bar, goodbyes, hellos, and the queues at the Hi Lo, but, no, I think I’ll leave it there for now.
Speak soon!
Osher
Well, another week has passed, almost. Actually, it’s been just a few days since my last communiqué, but, I do try and pass one out every Friday. Of course, as regulars will know, I don’t always quite manage it! Speaking of that, you might be ecstatic to know that I am now copying these emails to my blog, at www.oshers.co.uk
I’d rather be using the URL osher.co.uk, but someone has registered it, even if they’re not actually using it. Hopefully they won’t bother re-registering the name next year. Still, oshers is not a bad name to have, just not quite as good!
So, my news… Ah yes, well, since I was, well, since I was much younger (I’m still young, thank-you very much, at least, in some ways), I’ve wanted to spend time on a ranch. Actually, the inspiration came to me from a woman I met on a chatroom I used to in CompuServe. Remember CompuServe anyone? It still exists, in some ways, but the old chatroom has long gone.
Anyway, this woman owned a ranch, in New Mexico. I so wanted to spend time there, but, unfortunately, was never quite able to. Various situations conspired against me, although I did spend sometime on a kibbutz instead (Yahel, in the Negev desert).
So, my news… I’m leaving Digicel at some point in the near future to spend time on a dude ranch in Texas . At the end of the day, sometimes you just need to follow your dreams, and this has been a dream of mine for a long time. Just a little change from what I’m doing now though. I’m part of the way there, in that I sold my tennis racquet (unused) last night. Now I just need to sell my facemask and schnorkel (unused), and extra-large flippers (unused). For traveling around Texas, I suspect that the latter two items might be burdensome, as opposed to anything else.
So, the plan is to rest up, and thence to move on. What exactly I plan to do next is a matter of conjecture. I suspect I’ll move back to England, probably in October or November time, fired up and ready to rock and roll!
As for the rest of the tit-bits, well, I had a silly upset with one of our lawyers. She wrote (or rather, amended an older) a contract, which I lambasted for poor grammar, and a distinct lack of punctuation, plus the use of colloquialisms, inaccurate descriptions, use of abbreviations and mnemonics sans prior definitions, and inconsistent use of English and Americanisms from section to section. Ouch…that didn’t go down well. It also didn’t help that I didn’t realise who had written it, and included her on the email lambasting the contact. Had a rather sniffy email that my comments have been noted. What made it far worse was one rather catty comment (in retrospect, unprofessional) that the writer should learn to use punctuation (I should have just said that the writer needs to use punctuation). Oh well, but at least people can see that I am rather fastidious when it comes to English, and I have an eye for detail.
When I was with the girls last week, a car did something silly in front of us, maybe pulled out, or something. This induced the girl driving to call the other driver a ‘pantitit’. This was a word I’d never heard of before. Apparently it’s Jamaican in origin, and it’s a rude word to call a man. Wanting to learn a little of etymology of the word, I asked the girls what it means.
Asking them this, caused some laughter, and, shyness. They both looked at each other, and expressed surprised that I couldn’t work it out. I had to profess blankness on this! OK, they said, split it. Panty and tit, I replied. To this they nodded, as if that was the answer. I still had to profess blankness!
With a degree of mirth, they said, it means a man who, how shall we say, pleasures a lady in a non-procreational manner. To this, I was shocked, and said that surely this is a compliment, that a man would seek to be nice to his woman, and don’t they like a man who does this? The girls just looked at each other, shrugged, gave an ‘I suppose so’ answer, and replied that this is just the term, and they don’t know why it’s so. Needless to say, I changed the subject swiftly.
Well, office email is down today, so, using webmail for everything. Not that I really mind, although being sans email does make one feel rather naked, exposed, with a crucial tool missing. As it’s already 14:35, I guess it won’t make a reappearance before Monday.
Anyway, ciao for now, and another letter from Trinidad next week!
Osher
Well, it’s been a bit longer than normal since my last letter, so I had better catch up with events since! Well, the last mail should have been Friday 25th May, but, as regular readers will know, I actually flew to England on the 24th. Of course, I never mentioned it, as I wanted to surprise a good friend, and surprise her I did! In fact, I even called her from outside her place using my Trini mobile, so she would think I was in Trinidad, not in Edgware… Actually, the nicest comment was from her kids, who were delighted to see me. From the beach in Tobago I had some small wee gifts for her and kids. Apparently her oldest loves the Bob Marley T-Shirt, and some of the little knick-knacks. So cool!
Actually, it was a lovely day, put the roof down on the Saab, and, naturally, the kid loved it! Kids love convertibles! Maybe that’s why I always wanted one? However, in the end, V’ga was sold back to Saab. Ironically, it was 2 years and 1 day (or thereabouts) since I agreed to buy her. Then, the list price was 29k. Now, the re-purchase price (in perfect condition) is 15k. They gave me an extra 500 Pounds, as compensation for the hardship of having her every month in the garage. She had her revenge though, the unlock button on the door stop working, entrapping me in the car. Maybe V’ga didn’t want me to leave her? I also had an extra 105 Pounds, as they agreed to change the plates for free, hence the unusual price of 15,605 for the car.
So, I’m carless. No Saab, no convertible, but also no repayments, or worrying about the thing. Feels slightly peculiar actually. Not sure what I’ll get when I get back. Did have a look at older DB7’s, and spoke to an Aston Martin owner at T-Mobile, who told me a few home truths. Depreciation isn’t so much the problem as the servicing. Some parts need regular replacement, and the costs do rather mount up. Explains maybe why they’re cheap? On the other hand, if the Saab turned girl’s heads in Hampstead (and it did), I wonder what an Aston Martin would do?
Anyway, moving, yes, T-Mobile. It was great to pop in, and see the crew. A few changes here and there, but much the same as I left. I did notice that my old desk was still vacant, opposite the wall. Sometimes, sitting there, I felt like Shirely Valentine, with her monologues to ‘Wall’. I wish I’d had more time there, and I feel guilty that I wasn’t able to stay and chat with Dennis, as he’s a great chap, and we’ve had some interesting, and intriguining, talks in the past. On the other hand, I was able to fix a problem that they were having in moments with a model I wrote at T-Mobile last year. So, all to the greater good.
Other than that, in England, I sorted a few bits out, cancelled a couple of credit cards, and my IKEA card. I really really don’t like IKEA. They’re attitude is like Tesco, let’s fleece the customer. Charging for using a credit card, charging for this, charging for that. There again, I dumped my shopping at Tesco, when I was there. Yes, I’m a militant shopper, and proud of it! At Tesco, they told me I need to use the self-service till. I told them to stuff it, and that I’m not going to it all myself. Actually, self-service tills are cool in a way, because they often don’t charge for everything. I once realised I wasn’t charged for a book. Oh well, consider it payment for me doing all the work. Still, in this instance, I told them no, dumped my shopping, and told them why. Well, they closed all the tills at 23:00. Actually, I don’t like the way that Tesco’s have a deal with DVLA to know your details, from your car, so they can charge you. Not sporting, not gentlemanly. I’d love to organise a mass protest at Tesco’s Watford. I know how I’d do it. Get 1000 equally upset people to drive into Tesco’s. Each buys one item, say, a newspaper, and leaves their car for 3 hours. This will mean that the carpark, which is normally at capacity, will overflow. People, unable to park, will drive on. Result, they lose tens thousands. Well, I can dream on…
Actually, it was amazing to see people using, or unusing, the self-service tills. Really, people have such difficulty with those things, and then there’s that bloody voice command thing! Douglas Adams was ahead of his time. Those ‘friendly artificial personality machines’ he predicted are here! Actually, he was a great thinker and philosopher. Anyway, the queues were amazing. I was at Tesco’s Watford with a friend. Took her almost an hour to get through the machine! Actually, at one point, the machine swallowed her voucher, without recognising it. I rather surprised the English by hollering loudly for assistance. Had some looks, but we were seen to quickly. Reminds me of the time I went to Comet in Mill Hill with my mother, and no one served us. I shouted out for service. Three people came!
Maybe people should learn to use their voice more. For 15 years I’ve bought shoes at Magnus shoes in Hampstead. However, since I was whacked by a clamp in Camden (see my letter recently to the Camden New Journal), I’ve been conducting a Boycott of shops in Camden, at least, during parking hours (it would be total, but my favourite Indian is in Primrose Hill, one must make some allowances).
Oh, OK, drifting off subject here, but yes, Osher is not someone to take things lying down, and maybe I should. See the story of me in Passport Control…
Hmmm, England, well, I saw the lads in the model shop, did some modelling, went to the modelling club, and, didn’t quite finish the models I bought. Still, had a good time, so that’s the main thing. Just a real pity I didn’t see everyone. I really wanted to, and there’s one girl in particular who I wanted to meet, but suddenly found myself out of time.
Anyway, enough of England, politics, and friends, Trinidad! Well, discovered quite by accident that a mate from Digicel and I were on the same flight to London. We took the Thursday nightflight, which is the same aircraft, from Tobago, to Trinidad, to Barbados, to Gatwick. I boarded in Trinidad, we then stopped in Barbados for almost an hour, and then straight over to England.
Now, something about Trinis is that they love music. Whereever you go in Trinidad, there’s music. It’s a sort of ‘opiate for the masses’, almost. I almost get the feelings that Trinis would rather give up eyesight than hearing. As if, they can’t function without music. So, on the aircraft over, the woman in front of me annoyed me by instantly putting her seat back. Not that it went into my chest, but, why instantly? However, what I found interesting was that she was quite happy to sit there for hours, so long as she had music. A refined woman, an executive, swaying away to her headphones, and gently humming. Hmmm, interesting.
Something else about Trinis, and in this they’re a lot like the Israelis, is that they are resourceful. Yes, they carried food onto the flight. Loaves of bread I saw in one bag, whilst across the isle from me, this woman came on board with her take-away Church’s Chicken (like KFC). OK, so Trini’s love their chicken, but to take a whole box onto the aircraft? Oh well, she enjoyed it. Flew BA. Seats were fine, belt enough for me, and the food was OK. Recommended! At least I knew why the cabin crew we had on take off were happy; they were only going as far as Barados. Pity, two of them near me were hotties. Ah well, maybe just as well.
Whilst queuing to go into the gate area, but inside duty free, this American chap was talking about how money he has, and his new BMW X5 (if I recall). Anyway, I just smiled, and went through after him, the x-ray machine. As I took my stuff, I noticed he left a carton of Marlboro Light behind. Now, a good friend of mine told me not to buy her husband cigarettes, so I hadn’t. I did though take the carton, to give to the man. I didn’t see him though before mid-way across the Atlantic. He was being all beligerant to the staff. I could have got up, found the carton, and given it to him. Yet, I realised, it could backfire, so I stayed put, and let Karma do it work instead.
One thing that annoys me in Trinidad is that people do things slowly. They even walk slowly! Seriously, go anywhere in Trinidad and the word fast doesn’t exist (except for some drivers). Everything is done so slowly, you sometimes wonder if it’s being done just to annoy you. Try it! You’ll be amazed. However, when seats are being called for the gate, you want to buy a bottle of water, and the staff are acting like buying something is unique that’s never happened before… Yep, sometime very frustrating!
Now, I’ve mentioned before about Trini drivers, and how they attempt to attain warp speed down the Western Main Road, whilst conducting manoevers that would make Lewis Hamilton proud. However, I saw something, just before I left, that would leave most drivers gasping. I had to visit a dealer in Port of Spain. It was annoying because the staff were acting like their brain cells were amoebe level, when I discovered that actually, they were intelligent. What was it? Well, there was a parking lot. OK, we have them everywhere. In this parking lot, there were 2 drivers, to squeeze the cars in. OK, not many of those in London, but, good idea. So, I needed the car, to leave. The two boys needed to move a few cars, to get mine out. Maybe because I had a lovely girl with me, or maybe for fun, but they were chucking the cars around with seemingly wild abandon. I’m talking about 20mph, in reverse, missing other cars by an inch, or less. It was mad, bad, crazy driving. Excellent carmanship, yes, but completely off the wall!
Speaking of this lovely girl, two of them took me out for my birthday, and bought me a lovely present. Very sweet. Naturally, both of them were expecting me to regal them with tales of this girl, and that girl. Trinis love nothing more than to lime, and to gossip and this relationship or that one. They might seem all conservative on the surface, but under it, they’re worse than the English! Yep, down and dirty very quickly. That’s the Trini way. It’s cool, I don’t mind!
So, I was going to mention Passport Control. Well, on the way back, the flight was on time to Barbados, but this time, had to change flights. In typical Caribbean confusion, a bloke, calling out, over the noise of the engines, for passengers for Trinidad to wait. I’m sure a few wandered past, but never mind. So, our onward flight was delayed. OK, it’s BWIA, or now called Caribbean Airways, and it’s to be expected. Had a nice flight, sold some people on Digicel (as one does), and met up with the English businessman. So, the two of us left the airport secure area, and into Barbados. Looks the same as Trinidad, just a different local beer (and the locals think they’re superior). Anyway, 5 beers a piece each, and slightly inebriated, back to the airport.
In the Caribbean, many things are secrets. One of them is where to find food in Barbados airport. Caribs joke about the way they give directions. Everything is ‘jus over deh’. Two men, both intelligent. One a lawyer, one an acocuntant. Took them 15 minutes to find the food in Barbados airport. What’s more of a joke is that it’s tiny, say, the size of the World shop in Heathrow… Oh well, a few wraps later, and guess what, yes, more delays. Then they began to look for 3, er, victims, to bump off. Well boarded, and were told a 10 minute wait. Then later, a 10 minute wait. Later still… Finally, we found out the truth, a delegation of Chinese were coming in from Suriname, and rather than have a later flight, they bumped 3 people, and delayed us, so the Chinese could board. Passengers were not pleased. Still, had quite a few in stitches when I called the taxi, and told them that Caribbean Airlines is now Farcial Airlines…
Before I get onto the story of Passport Control, or how Osher started a fight in Trinidad, I must relate the story of my earlier trip. When leaving home at 07:30am, ripped my trousers, so, quick change for some new ones. My mother had to drive as I had downed some Absinthe with the owner of a bar in Watford. Very nice, but, not ideal for driving. Made Victoria quickly, and with 1 minute to spare, if that, onto the Gatwick Express. Full of half sleeping English, and some Americans who commented on rotary airiators. Seems they’re rare in America. Noticed a girl, a few seats back, facing me, who had dropped off, and in doing so, had exposed really rather more than she intended to from her blouse. Wouldn’t even have noticed, except the colour contrast (do I need to explain?) was intense, especially as she had pale skin, and obviously not wearing a bra (not that she needed to, at all). OK, didn’t say a word, and she never noticed. As such, no embaressment, as she never knew. Does rather beg the question? Would you rather know, or would you rather stay in ignorance?
Now, flying to Trinidad, my two bags weighed 120 Kg (or 250 Ibs in proper measurements). Going back, very light, and so easier. However…never doubt the ability of Gatwick to screw things up. Yes, it seems the day before they had installed a new baggage carrying system, and it had already broken down. Ah yes, queues. The English are used to them, we actually think we invented them. Oh well, a long wait later, and finally, into Duty Free. Had a flutter on a car (waiting to see if I won), and bought some Carolina Herrera 212. It’s ‘my’ aftershave. I do use some others from time to time, but that’s my standby, my regular one. Not so easy to get, except in larger places though.
Well, many adventures later, and I’m in Trinidad. I have an unnverving ability to chose the wrong queue, so, 45 minutes later, I’m still waiting to go through passport control. Jim, the businessman, was through in 10 minutes. Emma, a colleague, arrived on a later flight, but was through before me. Oh well, it happens, but there I am, 3 people from the end, and this local goes to the front. He comes in from another queue, and just walks to the front of ours. A Scottish bloke behind me called out, but he ignored him. Other passengers were muttering, but I took action. I went upto him, and called to him, but he ignored me. So, I tapped him on the shoulder, and told him to go back to his line. Well…he took great umbrige to that. The guy was telling me not to touch him. I told him I had just tapped him, and he shouldn’t queue jump. He started to make noises, started to say he was going to get me. I replied that he could do it here, with that policeman (actually, there wasn’t one) over there. He gave up, and went back to his line, making noises about getting me outside. I just ignored him. Naturally, I was the hero of the others in my line! Who’d have though it, Osher standing up to bullies?!
Anyway, my birthday was last week, and the office bought me chocolate cake. I know, not polite, but I had to admit that I don’t like chocolate cake! Can’t stand it actually. Oh well, they all had more! Nice of them though. Very touched
Actually, I touched one of the girls at work. Er, well, what I mean is, I told her that I always liked her sophisticated outfits (she’s one of the managers), and that you can tell she’s above most people in the office (she’s one of the 4 managers in Finance, including me). She was really touched, and told me that she makes an effort, as she thinks a manager should be someone to aspire to. Good attitude! Just a pity I find it difficult to get my head in her car. She drives a Renault Megane.
On my first day back, reported car stolen. Seems HR borrowed it (fine, they’re allowed to), and took it from my apartment complex. However, they didn’t tell me, or security… Lovely welcome back to work in Trinidad! No problem with the guards now at the gates, I just wave, and they let me through; whilst at work we’re upto 3 working lifts. Not bad. As for shoes, well, I mentioned Magnus shoes? You see, I take a rather large size, not so easy. However, found a shop in Kenton, with parking, and bought 2 pairs. Lovely! One pair is so nice to wear, you almost the forget they’re on your feet.
OK, well, well done for reaching the bottom of the letter! Bit long, but, a lot to catch up on! There is some more information, but I can’t talk about it just yet. Will be in Friday’s broadcast.
TTFN!
Osher
