What's More Important

So what’s more important, where you live or what you do for a living? Neither. Its you that's important and how you feel.

Its not important where you live. Some people think that the size or the house of the district you live in is a reflection of their persona. Well I say, aint that sad. After all its all just bricks and mortar.

Big question to my mind is are you comfortable, are you relaxed or are you constantly primping and making sure every blade of grass is just so ? Are you constantly concerned about what the neighbours think about you then get out of there.

If you aren't relaxed and happy in yourself then what's the point.

What you do for a living is a little more important but only from the perspective that you will spend many hours working and it helps if you are happy doing it.

My manager, at our annual review, constantly bugs me about career development. I keep having to remind him that I don't have a career. I am doing a job to earn the money to pay my mortgage. When the mortgage is paid off I won't need the job. What i don't tell him is that, after 30 years, I don't really like my job any more. But I do like the socialising with some of the guys in the office and some of the folks I deal with around the world. Otherwise I would have been gone a long time ago.

So bottom line, I guess I'm ever so slightly biased to what you do for a living as being the most important.

The Funniest Movie Ever

For me Blazzing Saddles is THE movie that springs to mind as my favourite funny movie whenever I'm asked. It was of its time and still makes me laugh out loud to this day. But it is dated which is to be expected for a 1974 release. Despite the vintage it was directed by the brilliant Mel Brooks and has some of the best lines of any film.

And what a cast…

Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Dom DeLuise and Mel Brooks himself in many guises as well as many many more well known artists, some of whom went un credited.

I also rate, very highly, the Marx Brothers movies and Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz but they are of a different era and a different humour.

So, I think, that defining a movie as the Funniest Ever is nigh on impossible. But I will stick with my first thoughts and that is that "Blazing Saddles" is the funniest movie.

Extreme Tourists – Cape Town to Paris 20,000 km, 3 years on, foot

Are Guillaume and Enora just plain crazy or are they on the ultimate adventure ?

I don’t know, but what I do know is that I am ever so slightly jealous. This is just the sort of thing that I wish I had done when I was much younger. Unfortunately I am now of an age where I have too many encumbrances / responsibilities which probably make me a coward when I wonder if I could do something like this.

Guillaume and Enora are travelling off the beaten track on foot with back packs weighing up to 17 lbs (8Kg) and their budget allows for less than two dollars a day. Days when they don’t know where they will sleep, how far it is to the next village or when they will eat or drink.

Their journey is taking them through areas which are still recovering from conflict and certainly through some of the poorest areas of our world.

I for one am intrigued to see how they get on and wish them the best of luck. I intend to follow their journey through their website and, if they ever get it going, their blogs. You too can follow their adventures here

Condolences

My thoughts are with my neighbour Gordon and family today. Gordon lost his father a short while ago and the funeral is today.

Bloody Thursday

Off to see the bloodsuckers today.

I’m going to give my regular blood samples, part of the constant monitoring of my blood pressure. The bloods will tell if my tablets are having an adverse effect in addition to the beneficial ones they are supposed to have.

Photographers – Social Pariahs (An Alternative view)

Just to air the lighter side of my earlier post (04/08/2010) regarding the abuse of my fellow photographers I submit the following link.

Terrorists ’sick of being treated like photographers’

How Low Can You Go ?

Pretty low it seems. Especially in the Portsmouth area judging by this report in The News, Pompeys local paper.

“THIEVES raided an ambulance and stole the crew’s personal belongings while they attended a 999 call.”

Yet another example of the low state of British society.

Yippee !!! I’m Rich

I used to think that Tom Champagne was my bestest buddy what with all the special winning offers he sent me.

However, poor old Tom has been pushed into second place. My new bestest pal is the Rev. John Obi.

See recently received e-mail below….>

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

ASO ROCK VILLA, ABUJA NIGERIA

OUR REF: PG/FRN/0015/2010

Date: 10/8/2010

Dear: Valued Beneficiary, Re: visitation of contract fund on meeting held with senate committee, contract review panel in the presidency on 26/7/ 2010, also rock villa, Abuja.

With respect to the Federal Government gazette on payment of old, debts especially approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has been due for payment but delayed. The senate committee confirms their meeting with the presidency as above thus: all due contract values approved directed to this office for immediate payment through diplomatic system.

We therefore inform you that this office has been given approval to pay you part payment (US$10) ten million united states dollars out of your total contract sum, any payment subject to impress account 1 is cancelled.

We hereby confirm to you that based on the meeting/directive above with the presidency, approval has been given to all due value to be paid by cash personally to the beneficiaries or send by special courier services.

However, it is owing to series of irregularities and manipulations noted in the payment of foreign debts in recent time, that our department has decided to pay all her creditors in the most secured and special manner in order to avoid any undue manipulation and distortion.

Also our apex bank has accumulated huge debts during the military era. These owed to the federal government of Nigeria (FGN) affiliated offices or their offshore correspondence overseas was incurred in the course of payments by transfer to foreign creditors. Following this development, this office was warned of the telegraphic transfer or payment by draft especially receiving the transfer procedure that infers to collection of transfer fees, handling fees, etc, from beneficiaries fund before making such payments.

Therefore, we have to pay all due claims through a special courier service (sea and air diplomatic courier service). Your contract sum deposit entitlement is to be packed cash in diplomatic box and send to you as diplomatic luggage. The cost of dispatching this luggage will be subtracted from your contract fund. In fact, the federal government of Nigeria has mapped out zero point four percent (0.4%) from your total contract fund to offset the airfreight bill before the money is sealed in the iron box.

You are required to send the first two pages of your international passport and a confirm address again where the box containing the whole funds will be mailed to you, do also send your private telephone for necessary communications with the courier company on their transit such that there will be no mistake.

Your immediate compliance in sending the needed address and numbers is quite imperative to enable this office complete her prompt obligation.