tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62714612012-01-24T14:52:30.013+02:00A Brit's insight into life in the Holy Land...teaching, writing, drinking and anything else in the present continuous...ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.comBlogger13821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-14584991771711641762011-11-12T11:47:00.001+02:002011-11-12T11:47:51.044+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-63340180752892751192011-11-02T12:03:00.001+02:002011-11-02T12:03:03.295+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-68552327158398433702011-09-14T14:15:00.001+03:002011-09-14T14:15:31.125+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-12812929145668486762011-09-10T01:11:00.001+03:002011-09-10T01:12:12.464+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-22810272340750723792011-06-24T05:29:00.012+03:002011-06-24T05:29:00.175+03:00

Gettin' on in age means your body starts to feel the wear and tear. A lot more. Surely you've had some of those mornings when you had a few more than you should have the night before, and, well, you wake up in one sorry state. "Eee, if your ma could see ya now..." So I've started keeping fit innit.Been riding my bike a heck of a lot, through the moshav fields, and am even tempted to get one of

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-78492679342968498822011-06-22T23:25:00.000+03:002011-06-22T23:25:35.235+03:00

The flowery thing on the head is an Israeli kindergarten thing. So no need to worry :-)

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-57328755423192477842011-05-09T00:48:00.001+03:002011-05-09T00:48:12.117+03:00

Three munchkins

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-54816394435203403522011-05-06T18:57:00.001+03:002011-05-06T18:57:15.178+03:00

The rather blue Red Sea...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-1411833132107888522011-04-09T12:49:00.000+03:002011-04-09T12:49:55.353+03:00

OK, daddyish here again, with a shot of wee lad Daniel, now 16 months old. This was taken a few days ago during Purim, a much-loved holiday in Israel where everyone gets dressed up and drunk (the kids don't drink though!)... A bit girlie I know, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Unless he finds this blog one day...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-81689982591838715272011-03-25T21:40:00.000+02:002011-03-25T21:40:35.989+02:00

Hard to believe it I know, but I was lumping snowballs at the missus last week...here are a few shots of some serious snow action oop in the north of Israel @ Mount Hermon.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-41392492664690367072010-12-14T20:48:00.000+02:002010-12-14T20:48:40.200+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-14886972480036393612010-12-14T20:38:00.000+02:002010-12-14T20:38:21.000+02:00

So Christmas is just round the corner innit. I bought all my stuff online this year, no parcels heading to the Mother Land...hopefully a few heading this way, with the help of Santa and his reindeer. Will post a picture of my crew fixing the decorations and Christmas tree. Ella is a bit too keen - every day she keeps asking if Christmas is here yet...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-74307909343902603462010-10-31T11:44:00.000+02:002010-10-31T11:44:29.001+02:00

Again, the quitter in me just don't wanna know. I even managed to get a whole version release out on me tod and feel good about it, Christ knows why. I guess the salary, the upcoming bonus and getting a year on the clock could well be deciding factors. In the meantime, Internet success has hit a couple of my small sites, so I'm def in the right direction with all this shit. Just got to scale it

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-45406321628249390402010-09-20T23:11:00.000+02:002010-09-20T23:11:05.639+02:00

Bleedin' eck. 20 years ago last week I first stepped onto Israeli soil. It's been steadily downhill ever since, eh? To celebrate, here's yet another enthralling episode in my tale of how I ended up in Israel. And stayed. This time, we're up to Part 13, unlucky for some. And no, I haven't quit. There's talk of a decent bonus for me coming up in the next month or so, so I'm sticking around for

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-68188276000416465672010-08-31T11:34:00.014+03:002010-10-31T11:40:32.182+02:00

Well, I know I don't have much time to write here anymore, what with my Internet empire and three luverly kids to keep busy. You don't need to tell me, of course... But with the little spare time I do have, I've managed to take up a bit of circuit running/fast walking, to get my daily dose of health goodness. And that healthy shit has been helped by getting a decent pair of headphones that slot

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-58716632295010498652010-08-28T17:32:00.000+03:002010-08-28T17:32:02.836+03:00

So I tried twice to quit. Oh yeh, TWICE I told the boss that I need to quit, TWICE he told me to think about it again. It looks like he won't take me seriously unless I actually hand over an official resignation letter, which I've never done before. But am quite happy to oblige him with. What with a deadline looming though, I reckon once they see how little I've done over the last 2-3 weeks I

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-38406868178720269052010-07-17T09:13:00.000+03:002010-07-17T09:13:42.142+03:00

I almost did it this week. I sat there with my boss and was just going to tell him when he had to rush off. Bastard. And after he told me that he was impressed with my work (what couldn't be impressive about cutting a bloated 46 page piece of crap down to 16 pages!?), it's just got a little harder to toss this job to the dogs. But toss it. It has to go. I just picked up another small freelance

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-46765364357511612102010-06-29T01:16:00.001+03:002010-06-29T01:18:34.628+03:00

Aye, things could be a changing as we speak. I'm really struggling to keep up with the workload I have at the moment, and would dearly love to kiss the freckly-arsed daily run up to the northern armpit of Israel goodbye. It's just a waste of time, all that driving, all those endless meetings and all that bollock-churning micro-management that appears to have risen its ugly head recently. So, one

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-80870592676061837542010-05-17T23:02:00.000+03:002010-05-17T23:02:43.669+03:00

After a Company Day of witnessing people get actually excited, even animated about their job in hi-tech, I have to say that I could have picked a better profession, those many moons ago...maybe it's the independent spirit in me, but listening to the big cheese saying he demands things from us made me cringe, a cringe beyond normal cringes...coupled with some of the cringe-worthy comments from my

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-68500158413152462602010-04-15T08:57:00.000+03:002010-04-15T08:57:24.810+03:00

Oh dear. Cubicle Corner has now become Open Spacey II. Instead of suffering one nerdy, American woman with no life, I'm now sharing with two more American ladies. I have given them names, just so they feel at home: Lumpy, Frumpy and Grumpy. Can you tell how much I'm impressed with my new teammates? I'm trying to build up work other than Tech Writing and it's coming along nicely, and end April/

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-35399897763103225252010-02-27T11:35:00.000+02:002010-02-27T11:35:41.302+02:00

OK, so this week was a bit of a nasty one for us anglosaxies. Living on a moshav has been great fun up til now, but on Monday morning we were brought back down to earth with a flying visit from someone who took a liking to our 3 computers, cameras, wallets, and, best of all, the new Renault parked outside (I'd only got it a few hours earlier and it still had the plastic wrapping on the seats...).

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-947618240244337492010-02-02T05:52:00.002+02:002010-02-02T05:52:00.283+02:00

So the story goes on. I know it's been a couple of months, what with new babies being born, new houses being moved into and new cubicles being occupied, but here it is, Part 12 of my adventure, the story of why I ended up here so long...plenty more to come peeps!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-46485014762583789732010-01-27T22:19:00.000+02:002010-01-27T22:19:33.732+02:00

Just wrapping up a site for my father, he of the olde driving instructor worlde back in Blighty. A profession that is clearly, er, lacking, in the Holy Land. But if you were looking for driving lessons in Eastbourne (suntrap of the south), would this site do it for you? Clean, professional and easy to contact, those were the main criteria. No flashy bits and bobs...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-64859171130974904142010-01-22T20:49:00.001+02:002010-01-22T20:49:45.251+02:00

Hell on wheels. Well, that's what it feels like to get back into Corridor Land world, which shall now be rephrased Cubicle Corner. However much I try to convince myself, I ain't made for sitting in cubicles and listening to politically correct discussions about work and boring TV shows and cats. It's not that the people I work with are nasty or anything - although I did manage to raise the wrath

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-78559884585717182462009-12-31T05:28:00.031+02:002009-12-31T05:28:00.109+02:00

...and it was quite an eventful year for us anglosaxies. The biggest event of the year happened in the final month, a certain new addition to the ranks at anglosaxy castle. Here he is, little JuniorMarkII, otherwise known as Daniel. He has brought a certain amount of action to the house, and, er, a few sleepless nights. But he's a great little kid, pretty relaxed and doing great. We also moved

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-24508869617133329532009-11-23T11:10:00.004+02:002009-11-23T11:18:15.309+02:00

You can tell Christmas is coming, eh? I'm about to unpack the tinsel and Christmas tree, but first had to get this episode off my chest: Episode 11 of How I ended up in the Holy Land. But I promise, not a mention of Christmas, not even once...And an early Christmas present for all my readers - this is me, back then, looking moody and magnificent. Nowadays it's less of the magnificent and more of

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-5330881028291493612009-11-08T09:25:00.002+02:002009-11-08T09:30:45.224+02:00

Here's yet another episode - Part 10 - of just why I ended up in the Holy Land and stayed...this time it's back to something familiar, but with exciting stuff just round the corner...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-37653080045052681302009-10-14T10:28:00.001+02:002009-10-14T10:30:37.925+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-7809226451483193382009-09-08T00:31:00.000+03:002009-09-08T00:31:00.717+03:00

Oh yes, even more good stuff about some pasty white English lad landing in the Holy Land. And staying. So it's time for Part 9 - the summer of 93! The best summer of my life!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-67798865706696314232009-09-04T00:37:00.000+03:002009-09-04T00:37:00.274+03:00

So, the Queen of Pop paid Israel a little visit this week. In fact, she's still here. So Mads, if you're reading, nice job love! And can I touch those biceps?Seriously, a knockout concert, the lady knows how to put on a performance. If you have the chance to catch her live, go and see her (although you'll have to wait for the next World Tour now, as the Tel Aviv gigs were the last of her tour). I

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-67704709016175051672009-08-19T06:54:00.001+03:002009-08-19T06:54:00.637+03:00

Time once more for another episode of my tale of how I ended up in the Holy Land, episode 8! Bleedin' 'eck, is it ever going to end?? Read it and weep baby!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-20967294312881858602009-08-15T15:04:00.002+03:002009-08-15T15:06:00.706+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-22257686464073489132009-08-11T14:49:00.003+03:002009-08-11T15:49:08.408+03:00

Well, that's it for the old English school in smallsville. I packed up this last week and finally lugged the yellow sofa out with a friend's MPV. I peeled off the branded window posters lovingly created by the missus, even swept the floor. But...there's nobody moving in to take over.I couldn't find somebody to take it on even with the potential that is there in smallsville. Should have taken that

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-72320498899505599022009-07-27T11:55:00.002+03:002009-07-27T11:57:52.197+03:00

Wow, episode 7 - is this ever going to end?! Some more good stuff, this time how and why I make an unexpected return to England. And not a deportation paper in sight! Enjoy!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-13149433995925790582009-07-23T10:54:00.005+03:002009-07-23T10:59:02.070+03:00

Being without regular employment takes some getting used to, especially after being pampered for the last 10 years in hi-tech. But hey, I'm enjoying it. And again, hats off to Corridor Land, who helped pay for this little thing below, because no employment means no company car means we had to go out and buy one...it's a Mazda Premacy, by the way.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-19707633929632810722009-07-17T17:16:00.003+03:002009-07-17T17:24:19.416+03:00

Say what you want about Corridor Land, and hey, let's face it, I pretty much did, they have surprised me for the good yet again this week. Yes indeed, Corridor Land.Let's say I was a little surprised when my bank called and said I had a dollar deposit in my account, and wanted to know if I'd like to convert it to shekels. I asked "Who the feck is sending me dollars, and so many of them?" and was

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-87892661044329022862009-07-06T00:58:00.000+03:002009-07-06T00:58:00.164+03:00

Today my boy hits the ripe old age of 4. Pic below isn't the best quality, but it's the best I have from his 4th birthday party in the kindergarten. Junior, you are the dudest dude I know, I hope you have a great great day and get all the presents you want (he actually received them all already!).Love you loads,Daddy anglosaxy

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-67943952400231858392009-07-01T09:49:00.002+03:002009-07-01T09:55:18.405+03:00

As promised, more tales from my early days in the Holy Land, now we've reached Part 6. This time Saddam is defeated, but another Iraqi threat looms on the horizon...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-60945234954420713892009-06-29T12:20:00.005+03:002009-06-29T12:40:21.943+03:00

OK, so it's hot and sticky round here, innit. And I have some personal shit going down which is limiting my time a little and taking away a bit of the focus that I thought I'd have. News to come on all that, but until I get the nod from the guys in black suits, I can't let you know. Could be good news, could be bad, it's kind of all in the balance as we speak.Had one of the hardest days of my

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-1015693626028160072009-06-10T05:05:00.000+03:002009-06-10T05:05:00.154+03:00

Time for a return to the days of Saddam Hussein and Scuds and gas masks. And plenty of beer and feeding calves on moshavs. Here's Part 5 of my story of how I got to Israel, and stayed.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-57313618477100309142009-06-03T00:23:00.002+03:002009-06-03T00:34:08.424+03:00

Time for yet another episode of love and, er, travelling on boats. Here's Part 4 of my story of how I got to Israel, and stayed. Offers invited for screenplays, as long as Bar Refaeli is cast as my first Israeli girlfriend.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-65026083050924445992009-05-31T11:53:00.002+03:002009-05-31T11:54:30.416+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-18757610928244035122009-05-19T00:34:00.000+03:002009-05-19T00:34:00.310+03:00

Time for another rip-roaring adventure, here's Part 3 of my story of how I got to Israel, and stayed. Pictures are from a pre-digital era, so excuse the quality, innit.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-51071241049004266162009-05-18T20:23:00.002+03:002009-05-18T20:33:19.485+03:00

Went for another job interview this afternoon. Wasn't too bad, just didn't feel any chemistry despite my efforts at being fairly charming. The hours are good though and the work is fairly easy from what I saw, so it could keep the wolves from the door for a while. Had to do yet another test to prove my worth, but this one was probably the easiest test I've ever done. We'll see if anything comes

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-52640681488756370422009-05-12T10:53:00.003+03:002009-05-12T11:03:55.417+03:00

Well, the event of the year has come and gone, at least for me anyway. Forget about the Pope, he's just an old Christian geezer here to stir up trouble, I'm talking about 3 lads from the home land, otherwise known as Depeche Mode.This is a band I've grown up with over the last 29 years, and a one constant in my ever-changing life. Always loved them, probably always will. The show on Sunday was a

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-69328921010919273042009-05-11T10:04:00.000+03:002009-05-11T10:04:00.811+03:00

OK, so here's Part 2 of my rip-roaring yarn. If you missed it, click here for Part 1. Enjoy! Part 3 coming soon...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-37236018110974889562009-05-10T13:59:00.001+03:002009-05-10T14:03:24.629+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-59896196908964117182009-05-03T00:14:00.000+03:002009-05-03T00:14:00.800+03:00

OK, so I thought it was time to tell the whole story. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It's a multi-episode rip-roaring tale of why I came to the Holy Land, and why I've ended up staying. Click here for Part 1. Enjoy! Part 2 coming soon...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-63529572928405998472009-04-23T00:12:00.000+03:002009-04-23T12:15:48.876+03:00

So, it's official, I'm an unemployed bum. I signed on a couple of weeks ago and this week was my first visit to the finger scanner. Oh yes, technology galore these days, you just place your finger on the scanner, wait for the OK and then get a little slip that tells you whether you need to go and see a clerk who may have a job for you or whether you can go home (nice little home icon!). But first

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-3912679796762149682009-04-18T10:23:00.002+03:002009-04-18T10:24:44.819+03:00

Rings from Carmel Market, Tel Aviv

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-41205091347492066472009-04-07T00:10:00.002+03:002009-04-07T13:27:39.476+03:00

So, this unemployment malarky is actually not too bad. The best part about it is not having to rush into a place every morning that you don't give a toss about. The worst part is having to worry about paying for the petrol and actually having to think twice about driving somewhere. That is a killer, especially when for the last 9 years or so I've had my petrol bills taken care of.What am I up to?

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-41512663000682003722009-04-01T11:52:00.002+03:002009-04-01T11:55:46.127+03:00

The salesman said "Hold a dick in your hands" without even blinking. Spotted somewhere in south Tel Aviv.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-2599539798192277352009-03-25T00:50:00.001+02:002009-03-25T00:50:00.473+02:00

After trying to find a buyer for the school over the last few months it looks like I'm going to let it just run out its lease in the summer and get the hell out. I do have another interested buyer, but she appears to be just like the rest - why is it that all interested parties seem so uninterested and so void of enthusiasm for taking on a new venture? I swear, if you have an ounce of business

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-37474268066493778682009-03-20T14:59:00.001+02:002009-03-20T15:02:39.627+02:00

You coming?

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-6080144736282862702009-03-06T00:59:00.003+02:002009-03-06T01:26:55.069+02:00

Blimey, time flies dunnit! Here I am, back in the Holy Land for a few days, busy as a bee but forgetting to let you know...smack my wrists baby, smack 'em! Anyway, some brief updates for you, stuff you can't see on my Facebook, Twitter or website...Enjoyed Blighty a lot. I want to live there for a bit. Fuck the economy, we can make it over there. Maybe.That snow was feckin' amazing.Am now

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-51848637639777805002009-02-15T22:31:00.003+02:002009-02-15T22:35:36.866+02:00

I love England!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-59498136424978078342009-01-28T00:54:00.002+02:002009-01-28T01:10:05.613+02:00

Yeh, right. Sunny climes, that'll be England alright. Anyway, I'll be sure to have my sunglasses ready for the dazzling sun as me and junior land in Heathrow later today. Yep, a lads weekender (actually just over 3 weeks), the boys are off to hunt while the women stay at home. I'm going to be checking things out a little bit to see if Blighty is still worth the effort. Not sure this is the right

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-7999961237842796282009-01-22T00:40:00.002+02:002009-01-22T00:44:05.594+02:00

Managed to squeeze a viewing of Waltz with Bashir into my busy schedule today. A great movie, and considering I don't usually enjoy Israeli movies, that's a big compliment. I loved the animation, the soundtrack, the story. Not a surprise that this has won a Golden Globe already and is tipped for Oscar stardom. Go see.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-20813623690434295342009-01-17T16:05:00.002+02:002009-01-17T16:16:17.708+02:00

So got my dismissal papers on Thursday. I was extremely disappointed that they weren't pink, as sayeth the legend. But, of course, not exactly unexpected. I even had a "hearing" where I got to say what I wanted. I didn't dish the dirt too heavily, but threw a barb or two at my immediate boss. And if my immediate boss thinks I really give a shit about his hard times (oh dear, you've been demoted

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-33751118440914247942009-01-12T23:03:00.002+02:002009-01-12T23:35:23.711+02:00

"Don't worry bruv. It's all gonna come good, promise! And so what if we don't win anything for a few years? Just 5 more years and you'll be legible for the schoolboys innit, and we've all seen you volley my Dora dolly behind the sofa countless times, so, come on bruv, keep it together... Hang on, what's that in your ear? Bamba? Daddy? Daddy, I want Bamba! Dadddddy, I want Bambaaaaa!"

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-367065480035413442009-01-07T22:57:00.003+02:002009-01-07T23:18:57.053+02:00

So, the credit crunch has come to roost round my way. Kind of indirectly, but in the last few days, very expected.After rumours spread by washerwomen (largely my direct boss, the rumour mongerer supreme) that Open Spacey was about to go belly up, a hastily arranged meeting yesterday surprised most of us. The company was selling out to an American company with much deeper pockets, but,

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-87369177013298289342009-01-03T21:35:00.007+02:002009-01-03T22:37:48.031+02:00

Wow, was that really my first beer of 2009 this afternoon? Holy Moses...So, in my attempts at taking over the Inter world, I've gone and got twittered. I'm not sure of the benefits and have a feeling it's just another time waster, but it's one of those tools that you have to try, especially if you're trying to get the word out on the Web. Quite interesting that you can come across the tweets of

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-38852269897951651032008-12-31T08:55:00.006+02:002008-12-31T09:35:15.787+02:00

It's been a strange old year, ain't it.On the personal front, I feel like things have been bubbling along nicely. I've been hectic, what with the school, the Tech Writing, building a website (or 2), playing "bumpy road" with my kids (they climb on top of me and then I jiggle them wildly about, they love it!), coddling the missus way too much, going to the gym, etc etc...While the world economy

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-36236308727348060552008-12-25T06:38:00.004+02:002008-12-25T17:25:04.489+02:00

Aye, so Happy Christmas to you and yours!Have a great day, whatever it is you be doing...the kids are on holiday over here because of Hannukah, so not sure how relaxing and Christmassy it's going to be...but alcohol and mince pies are my intended domain, with a long distance call to Blighty somewhere around half cut o'clock.Yesterday me and the missus hopped over to Jerusalem and toured the Old

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-51356063489411271292008-12-23T09:05:00.008+02:002008-12-23T09:22:30.290+02:00

Donut (and yes, I know it should be doughnut) season again as Hannukah hits us once again...and the only place you can possibly buy donuts is, of course, Roladin. Last night, I took the kids for a donut splurge and bought 8 of the nasty little buggars, 50 shekels in total, but wow, what a box! I would have paid more just for the box, let alone have donuts inside...So, here they are, in all their

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-23557678511082146932008-12-18T08:16:00.003+02:002008-12-18T08:33:09.446+02:00

Well, got my online Christmas shopping done, what a long, hard slog that was...or not...but I know that Christmas shopping in Blighty, if I ever get to do it, will never be the same for me, especially with the demise of Woolies. Ahhh, pick n mix, what a classic.And the Christmas tree is up, with tinsel placed strategically round the house. But still waiting to hear my first Christmas song, would

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-39384814522725323422008-12-14T22:31:00.003+02:002008-12-14T23:03:27.759+02:00

[tap] [tap]Hello, anyone there?So, you still here?Me, yes, I'm fine lovies, thanks for asking.I know, I know, you've left me in dribs and drabs, but I'm still here, I swear.What can I say, it was all because of me bleedin' C drive. Left me high and dry it did.But all is fine and dandy now innit.And I've got that freelance gig out of my hair.But Open Spacey looks dodgy. Well dodgy. January sales

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-33620733824065534292008-11-20T10:57:00.004+02:002008-11-20T11:35:01.635+02:00

Well, for those of you interested, the day before I was supposed to start working for Corridor Land they called and told me they thought they had found a replacement for the twat who had taken over from me (those of us who know, know he's a twat). I was scheduled to be a stop-gap for a few weeks/months until a more permanent replacement was found.And to tell you the truth, I'm bleedin' relieved.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-65833138235239319312008-11-16T09:04:00.004+02:002008-11-16T09:18:56.205+02:00

It's a very big Happy Birthday to my little princess. She hits the big 2 today. A big mane of hair that can come up behind you and wrap her arms around you, or scream and shout when she doesn't get her away (boy, does she know what she wants!), or purse her lips and melt me in an instant, or suddenly launch into a half-boogie in her car-seat when I stick Depeche Mode on...have a great day darlin'

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-19312273299018832892008-11-09T00:12:00.026+02:002008-11-09T00:12:54.515+02:00

Bleedin' 'eck, 40. So, OK, time for my pipe and slippers. And Sunday newspaper, my dear chap. And time for 40 things I should or shouldn't have done over the past few years...I shouldn't have gone for that extra spicy Thai chicken curry in Bangkok. It really did burn on its way out.I should have kissed Angela's sister, despite our rampant teenage dancing to A-ga-doo doo doo. I shouldn't have

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-35275766672842234682008-11-06T09:15:00.005+02:002008-11-06T09:31:28.347+02:00

Aye, I'm sorry for not updating regularly over the past few weeks, just been a tad busy with a whole load of things. I see my readership has dwindled away a bit, and understandably so.This blog is still alive, don't worry, I'm not going to kill it off just yet. Though it will probably take a bit of a beating when I launch my new website, probably at the start of December. Oh yes, a new website to

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-45536310021936351292008-10-30T23:52:00.004+02:002008-10-31T00:07:03.506+02:00

So, a little late, but here is October's eye candy, Karin Magrizo. At the ripe old age of 31, she is in her prime. Some mornings I catch her on Channel 2 hosting her morning show just before I head off to work and she kinda sets me up for the day rather nicely. Very cute smile.She is actually Dudu Topaz's niece (Dudu was the king of entertainment round these parts but has gone all quiet recently)

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-91814209872355843062008-10-24T14:43:00.002+02:002008-10-24T14:48:39.580+02:00

If throwing as many shoes as possible up onto a telephone wire was an Olympic sport, Israel might have walked away with a medal...pic taken in Jerusalem last week.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-49728039553870469992008-10-21T05:34:00.000+02:002008-10-21T05:34:00.385+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-29915524458390452992008-10-18T15:10:00.001+02:002008-10-18T15:11:47.476+02:00

Gotta love the beach in Israel. In October...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-27733657903519042192008-10-14T07:24:00.001+02:002008-10-14T07:24:00.301+02:00

I dunno. The world seems to be in a crisis, and we're poised for the mother of all recessions, at least according to Sky News/BBC etc etc. But are things really that bad?Don't know about you, but I seem to be in the midst of a boom. The school seems recession proof and is pulling in record numbers of students (one of my adult students absolutely loves the phrase "credit crunch"). I've got

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-54136621226819127982008-10-12T00:28:00.000+02:002008-10-12T00:28:00.560+02:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-70126298338619357352008-10-09T08:11:00.002+02:002008-10-09T08:18:09.132+02:00

Received an interesting email this week. It was from my ex-boss at Corridor Land, wishing me a Happy New Year. She then went on to ask if I wanted to return to Corridor Land as a freelancer, maybe 2, 3 days per week. I had to smile. Then shiver, as the goosebumps went shimmy shammy down my spine. Apparently the writer that took over from me saw the light. Or perhaps was made to see the light,

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-12864380202476525752008-10-06T14:30:00.003+02:002008-10-06T14:35:00.438+02:00

The boys are coming! The boys are coming!Yeh yeh...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-30826591374445151522008-10-06T00:13:00.000+02:002008-10-06T00:13:00.909+02:00

Received a phone call this morning. Guess who it was? Nah, you'll never guess. It was my corner shop guy, the shop just across from my school. I have a tab there and always pay up each month. It's usually a miniscule amount, though this month reached the mighty sum of 99 shekels. So, of course, he called, just to check I was coming in to settle up.Now, I'm not sure whether he's taking the piss or

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-34763465375990662582008-10-03T08:25:00.002+03:002008-10-03T08:32:17.211+03:00

Eilat, this is what it's all about...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-87341926830798721922008-09-29T06:16:00.000+03:002008-09-29T06:16:00.415+03:00

Off to Eilat for a few days, you might just catch me at the beach below, my favourite Eilat beach, snorkel in one hand, beer in the other...And a Happy Jewish New Year to all of you (kicks off tonight with the big supper-like extravaganza)! May it be sweet-and-apple-dipped-in-honey-like (the year, not the supper)!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-34775586806020481942008-09-26T14:05:00.004+03:002008-09-26T14:31:08.436+03:00

Well, the show was great in the end. Paul McCartney was just a few metres in front of me (OK, quite a few metres), a Beatle, a living fecking legend. At one point, he threw in some very ropey solo songs that nobody knew (one guy in front of us even fell sleep on the grass, only to wake up for the encores) and, frankly, were complete tosh. But when he pumped out the classics, feck, they were good!

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-758293107714570282008-09-24T08:43:00.000+03:002008-09-24T08:43:00.743+03:00

First of all I have to say that my wife is a complete koosit (luscious babe). The koosit of all koosits. The mother of all koosits. This week she was being a very koosit kind of girl with some customers at work (oooh, that sounds a bit naughty innit) and they were so impressed with her service that they simply handed over two free tickets to Paul McCartney's show in Tel Aviv this Thursday. Well,

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-64033011688910788242008-09-22T16:10:00.002+03:002008-09-22T16:24:49.025+03:00

I was sitting anxiously, trying not to look too shifty. Reminding myself of that time in Blighty when the sun actually shone for a few days and I got myself a killer tan that convinced people I'd been to Jamaica for a holiday. And that time in Eilat when I overdid it and came back to Tel Aviv a rather red-faced Brit. And all those times I'd forgotten to smear some sunscreen, just because I

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-16364992550250386642008-09-18T05:14:00.005+03:002008-09-18T05:14:00.881+03:00

There's only one possible Homo Sapiette on this fine morning...Yes indeed...You knew she was coming... Tzipi Livni, quite possibly Israel's next Prime Minister. Now, you probably know me as not one to mix in the ol' game of politics. And especially lately, I've been completely switching off. Maybe I'm just too busy, but I just can't listen to any more stories about Olmert, about his political

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-37662641574127139552008-09-12T16:50:00.002+03:002008-09-12T17:07:58.886+03:00

So that's it. No more Tony and Carmela, no more mindless violence and no more strippers in the BaDa Bing. Damn shame. Well, it took us a while, but me and the missus finally managed to get through the last of the Sopranos DVDs this week. What can I say, ever since coming across a rerun by chance, I've been hooked. I've never even thought about buying the DVD set of a TV series before, but this

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-14399786449377722412008-09-10T23:38:00.003+03:002008-09-10T23:43:24.152+03:00

Oh my goodness. An Arsenal player scoring 3 times for England. What the feck is going on?! Theo, we're not worthy, we're not worthy, we're not worthy...I might just be able to get excited about watching Ingerlund again if he keeps up like this...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-67747639990588762752008-09-09T09:04:00.004+03:002008-09-09T09:13:51.023+03:00

Busy as a B right now.School has kicked off its new year, so the annual nightmare of lesson scheduling has begun. To tell you the truth, I'm seriously thinking of selling up, because I'm spreading thin again and can't see an alternative in the upcoming weeks when I lose both my good teachers. I really don't fancy all that interviewing and meeting too many feckin' oddballs, so it could be time to

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-71499864711875733102008-09-05T10:36:00.001+03:002008-09-05T10:36:00.687+03:00

Junior has a fascination for lining things up in perfect straight lines. It's usually his posse of cars or lorries, or plastic eggs, that get him all focused. But this time, with his tongue hanging out in pure concentration stylee, it's the forks on the restaurant table that keep him happy for a few minutes...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-58176277768462503812008-09-03T08:04:00.002+03:002008-09-03T08:14:16.054+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-34292964351330881632008-09-01T07:43:00.003+03:002008-09-01T07:43:01.072+03:00

There you go. There was a time when Israel took years to catch up on the latest trends and fads enveloping and suffocating the Modern World. And then, somewhere during the 90s I guess, Israel slowly started catching up. Films released in the Modern World were released almost simultaneously in Israel (in fact, they even started getting ahead of Blighty at one point). Mullets slowly disappeared.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-33720099094578207662008-08-30T10:51:00.001+03:002008-08-30T10:51:01.002+03:00

I took this shot on a recent trip to Jerusalem. If anybody knows where I took it I'd be happy to know because I'd love to go there and take some shots during the day. It's a fairly big viewpoint, with loads of Arabs wandering around, plus the ding-ding-diddle-ing of gorgeous Mizrahi music [ puke, puke ] piping out of car windows...Don't ask me how I got there because my drinks were laced with

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-6414877765327154232008-08-28T10:34:00.000+03:002008-08-28T10:34:00.772+03:00

Just a few years ago this skyline simply didn't exist. Not sure I'm a big fan, but it does look kind of impressive...

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-30746181717474773102008-08-28T10:20:00.003+03:002008-08-28T10:25:26.379+03:00

Abie Nathan, RIP. One of Israel's more colourful characters, most noted by moi for his Voice of Peace radio station, which I spent many a night listening to in my early days in Israel (manning hostel receptions overnight, while chatting with gorgeous, nutty, drunk Israeli girls). This guy was a real pioneer of peace, and even flew for the British Air Force. Bless 'im.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-64911941954971940972008-08-27T09:56:00.003+03:002008-08-27T09:59:58.959+03:00

The big story in Israel these last couple of days is this harrowing tale. Yes, the girl's grandfather is also her stepfather. White trash city. My heart bleeds for the little girl. I say hang the lot of 'em. Fuckers.

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-32343412765533356612008-08-26T19:37:00.000+03:002008-08-26T19:37:00.236+03:00

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-71510082140327938712008-08-23T08:12:00.008+03:002008-08-23T08:12:00.124+03:00

OK, so this month not one specific celeb for you to drool over. Instead, a collection (not a private one, only one of these pix came from my camera and I didn't take it - most of these pix are out there on the web) of some of the eye candy that you might just get accosted with on the sandy beaches of Tel Aviv. It's August, it's baking, the Med is sparkling a few metres away, and the bikinis

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-41463535129208817842008-08-20T10:24:00.002+03:002008-08-20T11:10:15.987+03:00

OK, so I'm not catching a lot of the Olympics, apart from news highlights in the evenings. But doesn't it feel good to be British? Oh yes, we are a sporty nation once again. Third in the medals table, behind the mighty China and US of A, with some very inspiring performances. Most, if not all, of the names are anonymous to me, and there seems to be a distinct lack of personalities that were

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271461.post-37743142522868225062008-08-18T11:47:00.004+03:002008-08-18T12:05:23.990+03:00

August is flying by, but tomorrow is really kicking in to high gear, what with the kids absolutely free of kindergarten until September. Junior is coming with me tomorrow to Open Spacey, Juniorette I have no idea where she'll be...I guess it's one day at a time over the next couple of weeks...[ breathe, breathe, don't forget to breathe... ]I've been up to my neck in all kinds of shit the last

ashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05886219752432773203noreply@blogger.com0