Am I being served?

Yes, I think I am.

Which, let's face it, is quite a novelty in this country. In my many years here I've never seen such good, competent service (bleedin' 'eck, I sound like a Daily Mail reader). But Tami 4 get the thumbs up, the little buggars. Just yesterday afternoon they delivered the new water filter (supposed to be replaced every 6 months). With no prompting from us, no calls, no Internet query, nada. Most impressive was the little PDA thingee the delivery guy pulled out, on which I signed via his dainty little PDA stylus pen thingee. A first for me, don't know about you.

From the very first telephone call they've been spot on. Even brought a range of color options when installing. When we moved house, they were here sharpish the same day to ensure we had filtered water in the new pad (we ain't posh, it's coz the littl'uns, honest guv). And when there was a fault a few weeks back, they were here within 30 minutes of our call. Very Israeli, eh?

Pure luck or are Tami 4 a rose amongst thorns...?

It's all about learnin', innit

Some things I've learned the last few days...

• I miss the luxury of the Corridor Land Mazda 3...I'm currently motoring around in a Fiat Punto borrowed from the missus' company. The gears are manky and there's no CD player, but it gets me around, which is the main idea, right?
  
• There are some strange individuals out there calling themselves English teachers (I'm interviewing...)
• There are a ton of tourists (but more local than international?) in Tel Aviv, even in the lower end hotels.
• My kids are top class bundles of joy.
• Some people who are supposed to be managing your financial future really have no fucking clue...
• Phone-in quizzes have arrived to daytime TV in Israel.
  
• Even with the air conditioner fired up, I sweat when slumped naked, or rather topless, on the sofa.
• I gots me another photo gig this week.
  
• Beer is good. Very good.

The chickens strike again

Another round of chicken pox strikes the anglosaxies. This time it's little juniorette. Lots of angry red spots everywhere...bless her little cotton socks.

Only in Israel

Set up a drinkie session with me old pal GBH.
A few hours before we're supposed to meet, he calls me.
"Sorry anglosaxy, gonna have to cancel. My sister's been bitten by a scorpion and I'm off to the hospital to see her..."

Pinkie II

The same bunch of pink flowers, from the other side...

What the hell am I? #32

Something very Israeli...

You might want an adult to help you with this because it's Hot Hot Hot!

My Firefox browser tells me it's gonna be nice and cool tomorrow!

Yellowish

A few weeks ago it was blue/lilac everywhere, now it's time for some yellow...these trees are blooming blooming everywhere!

On the first flight over...

...or maybe not.

Been quite interesting watching the aqua madness that is otherwise known as the British "summertime". There I was, on the point of finally convincing the missus that maybe England ain't so bad...and then I had to go and switch Sky News on...

Those queues of traffic on the M5 - how long do you think Israelis could stand a jam that juicy? Overnight? No fucking way! They'd be tearing down the hard shoulder after a few long minutes!

Rule Wetannia!

Pinkie

A bunch of pink flowers down Sowf Tel Aviv way.

Twiddling thumbs

Pssssst.
Anyone there?
Dead quiet round here without any corridors to bitch about.
But life is good, innit.
Time to think/ponder/ponce about.
School is blossoming very nicely.
Even during the school hols.
Come October, I should be a mwillionaire.
But going to need a Teach...
Got another photo job coming up soon.
Loads of pix to post here.
Creative juices are flowing once again.
O yeh, going to need a car.
30-40k (shekels) - what say you?
I know, I know - Japanese, Japanese...
Twiddle, twiddle...

"Do you mind if I have a Curly Wurly?"

I know I might possibly have mentioned my preference for English chocs, especially when faced with an Israeli alternative, but could this be the ultimate proof for any of you doubters (especially those of you from across the pond)? Just some of the names mentioned are making my teeth shake...

* Cheers for the link Dan!

Where the hell am I?

Or, to be more precise, where am I standing?

Goodbye to the cooler

Handed back my car. Corridor Land and me are finally through. Hugs and false emotions all around this afternoon as I handed the keys in (damn, going to miss those wheels!) and said goodbye to a few people. Was I sad? Was I fuck. My only issue: how will I manage without their luverly little water cooler...?

This is the Sea

Ahh, Riding Giants. What a classic piece of film, just seen it again on Channel 8. It's been a couple of years since I leashed up and paddled out, but this movie is just awe-inspiring. Some of those big wave surfers are crazy feckers, but the shots of some of the waves and the surfers riding those waves is just incredible. Well worth a watch if it's your sort of thing.
Aye, I gotta get back on me board, even if I fall off after a few seconds...that sense of freedom is tugging at me...

Wall Art

Poxy chickens

Hold on to your testes, lads, there's an outbreak of chicken pox at anglosaxy castle...

In the press

Nice article from Liza is included in one of Israel's biggest web portals (in Hebrew I'm afraid). Nice screen shot of anglosaxy too...

Mallox

Pix of Azrieli Mall, Tel Aviv (I like all the lines in these ones).
Not too much going on round anglosaxy way. It's fantastically quiet actually, what with a serious lack of corridors...I have to return the car next week, but apart from that me and Corridor Land are through. Phewww.

Musik

You can blame Liza for this one.

5 You're going on a long journey, what five albums MUST you take with you? Albums that you need to listen to regularly.

@ The The "Dusk"
@ Bob Marley "Legend"

@ Radiohead "OK Computer"
@ Clash "London Calling"
@ Beloved "Happiness"

4 What four albums/songs do you most associate with a journey or travel experience? You know, the ones you listen to that instantly transport you back to a place and time.

@ The Cult "Love" (especially "She Sells Sanctuary"), back in the summer of '85, when I sort of grew up. Nudge nudge wink wink, saynamore.

@ Depeche Mode "Enjoy The Silence", just as I was about to leave the UK for a life of gallivanting.
@ The The "Dusk", quite possibly the best album of the 90's. Takes me back to backpacker living in Tel Aviv and a breakup with a long term girlfriend.
@ INXS "Original Sin", listened to on a cassette Walkman (fuck!) traveling down to a deserted Eilat on the bus just as Saddam was about to launch the mother of all battles.

3 Your three favourite songs of all time?
Oooh, this is tough...

@ Queen "Somebody To Love", without George Michael of course (I used to sing - er, mumble - junior this one to sleep)
@ The Doors "Alabama Song"
@ Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

2 Two feel good songs, the ones that are guaranteed to lift the blues and put a smile on your face.

@ James "Sit Down"
@ d-ream "Things Can Only Get Better"

1 Absolute, overall, undoubtedly the best album of all time, in your opinion.

I'm torn between these two:
@ The Blue Nile "Walk Across The Rooftops"
@ David Bowie "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars".

2 II

So a fandabadozee new 2 shekel coin will soon be weighing our wallets down. Nice English spelling that, "Sheqalim" (click on the link to see the pic) - I'd like to know just how many English speakers use this spelling...if it's going to be in English shouldn't it be "Shekels"?

2

Junior is 2 today. His first ever party tomorrow. Yep, that'll be us in the park with the balloons tied around the trees, the cluster of kids running around and screaming, plus an ice-box of beer...love you loads mate!

Ignore Me, I'm Busy Thinking

Something that STILL pisses me off something rotten is the failure to reciprocate my salutations (Ha! Feeling very lingual today!). I mean, it's common basics, right, it's just life - when someone passes you in the corridor and says "Hello", you respond back. No?

I know Corridor Land isn't alone, so it must be an Israeli thing. Which kind of surprises me, since Israelis are hardly the shrinking violet type. Israelis can stop you at a junction to ask you if you're selling your car, or shout in chorus in meetings, or just drive you fucking mad with their babbling...so why can't they just say "Hello" when you greet them in the corridor...?

Perhaps they're too busy thinking about life, or about how to make their boss appreciate them more, or about the latest version of Vista...but whatever it is, can't you just get your head out of your own arse for a second and say "Hello"?!

* This was written a few days ago. And before I discovered that this also applies to some anglos who have been here a while...like the writer replacing me...

What the hell am I? #31

Almost there...

Had a meeting with the CEO today. This was after 11 cancellations. When he cancelled this morning, I was extremely pissed and went to see his missus. Within 5 minutes the meeting was back on. I bet she threatened him with the sofa...always works...

Anyway, you might be thrilled to hear (if not, at least the bars round my neck of the woods will be pleased...), the CEO confirmed the compensation payoff is mine. I'm not counting any chickens (I intend to count only "empties"...), but I think I'll wait until I get the paperwork in my mitts before totally celebrating...

Ee ba gum...

Just what is going on back in Blighty, eh? Sky News are wetting their silky knickers and seem to have binned any other non-terror news stories, or rather just relegated them to the web site.

Personally, I'm having trouble getting me head round Gordon Brown as Prime Minister of Terrorist Threatened Britain. Just something scarily wobbly about those chubby cheeks. Missing Tony's charismatic smile...or not, as his new Mid-East role will undoubtedly see him popping over for a cuppa or two...

Aaah, and how many Israelis were thinking "Now they know what we have to put up with..." when they saw the Saturday night news...?