We all have to learn.

Well having been an Instructor in the RAF for many years, and if I may say so being bloody good at it. Last night I turned my hand to driving instruction well not really instructing but just sitting in the car. You see after a few months of instruction my sister in law is nearing her test. However she is a little worried that she is being fleeced by the instructor (one of those big company ones). I have to say I am also worried about it too as I do with most commercial ventures. You really are putting your trust in the hands of someone else and how do you know you are not being done over. So last night I took her out and apart from being a little nervous and too cautious she did really well. I hope she does well on Saturday which is when her test is.

It did remind a lot about what I did in the RAF though instructing new Air Traffickers. At one time I was the “go to guy”. In other words the guy the more difficult people got to train them. Think this was down to the fact I was not to worried about doing it by the book. You see, that was someone else’s job. My job was to let them run. See how they do with out someone constantly picking up on every mistake. Giving them the confidence to work on their own. Which is what you really want. See how they dig themselves out of a hole. It is all very well being able to do things by the numbers but it is how you react when things go tits up that is the problem and the more important thing to learn. So I just used to let them dig a big hole (As long as it was safe) and see how they react. This also enforces why things need to be done right the first time round.

Well last night I hope she enjoyed just driving and she was safe and we got home in one piece

Tale of a dodgy builder

Yes I was reading through DM’s comments about dodgy builders and I could not help but be reminded of the extension we had built in South Africa. Some of this might sound really weird but please remember that I am talking about a different time when things were bad.

So we had lovely house and my Dad had made few bucks by flying dodgy missions all over the world but that is a story for his book. So we had a lovely pool installed in our back garden and the next thing on the list was an extension leading onto the pool. So my Mum got lots of quotes and went with the chap who seemed the nicest. Not to expensive but not the cheapest. So he turns up and starts work. Anyway at this time we had a lovely chap (oddly) called George who used to look after out garden. Anyway after a few days George started labouring with the builder and then after another day George was basically doing all the work, which we thoughts was odd but the builder said he would pay him. Where was the builder? Anyway after weeks he finally turned up (after Mum told him he could whistle for his money) and finished the job. Roof on and sliding door put in he left. Lovely we thought until it rained the first time. Luckily we had not furnished the “Games room” but still it was a shock. So we checked the roof. All seemed ok. No big holes in it and no damp on the ceiling. Mmmmmm very weird where was the water coming from. Finally we worked it out. The dumbass had put the sliding door in the wrong way so it was letting in water and not letting it out.

So there me and Dad were chiselling out this fecking door and putting it in the right way which was bloody hard work but we did it and the room never leaked again.

Turns out the builder was actually a packer in factory and was using his dads company to con money out of people. We were lucky as we only wanted the shell of a room built. Others had been fiddled for thousands and he never paid George but we saw him right.

Nothing

Happy Monday folk.

You know sometimes doing nothing is so much fun. It goes like this. Since returning from India me and the LL have not really had anytime to ourselves. Apart from the first weekend when I was a) Knackered and b) still a bit ill with Bells palsy and tummy, we haven’t had spent much time alone together. So this weekend we changed that. The whole weekend was spent doing nothing. Well on the face of it anyway. However we did actually accomplish a lot. Saturday really was a duvet day. We had every intention of getting up and going to town to do few jobs. We even got up 10 and moved to the lounge for a spot of Breakfast. However this was the first problem. See seems that when I sat down on the couch somehow some magic goblins seemed to weld my arse to it and it never moved until 3.30. At that point the intention was still to hit the town but after a shower we really decided we could not be arsed at all. So we invited Hermana for dinner and a heros fest as she has not seen it and I had got the box set for my birthday. We watched the unseen pilot which was slightly different to the first few episodes. Then despite being tired we watched the 100 top Sex symbols or something until Ohgoditisreallylate o’clock.

Sunday was slightly more productive and we managed to actually get out of the house. We were able to some wedding stuff which was load of our minds. Also managed to book our internal flights in Vland and crack on through my birthday gift of the X-men trilogy. Which was rather fantastic as I had a big bag of popcorn to help and cold glass of coke to wash it down.

We also managed to catch the Europe MTV awards. Apart from catching Dave Gahan (he of Depeche mode fame) which was the highlight for me, we also caught Amy Winehouse’s performance. You see she really has now got to the point that I feel sorry for her. I just feel there is no way her management/friends should have allowed her to perform. She really was out of it and it was rather embarrassing to watch. That is just my 2 pence worth anyway. I hope see gets the help she needs but like so many before her she won’t until she wants to. Mr Gahan being the classic case and even my own mother.

That’s all for now.

Los Dos Amigos Rock

Jesus (pronounced Hey zeus), Mary and all the saints I am knackered this morning. Last night saw us hitting O’Neill’s in town to see the fantastic Los Dos Amigos. The who? No not the Who. Los Dos Amigos. Well basically they are 2/3 of “The Diablos” I will post the link as I can’t remember it of the top of my head and we aren’t allowed that sort of access at work (to myspace that is). Anyway last night it was fantastic. This is the first time I have seen this incarnation of Ben and Bruno as they started this duo while I was sat on the loo in India. Basically they are doing a acoustic guitar set of rockish songs with a Spanish flavour and tempo. A mixture of rock covers (like Losing my religion, creep, every Breath you take), originals and Spanish music (la bamba, Cantare (I know I spelt that wrong… I mean it is hard enough for me in English)) and some good old dance numbers (party dance songs not hardcore rave numbers although that would be cool to see). A mixture of Gabrielle y Rodrigo meets Rock band. It was fantastic and they had a lot of support. All the usual suspects were there and a few new ones. The place was actually jumping at one point and the inevitable conga line got going. Bruno brought out the biggest sombrero I think I have ever seen..classic

So hence the tired knackered look of today. That and this bloody cold that I have developed I also have a meeting with “She” this morning which should be great fun.


Talking of guitars as I kind of was. I seem to be getting somewhat better at strumming the old axe. While I was in India I didn’t get the chance to play or rather practice so I was little concerned that when I came back I would have lost what ever little knowledge I had. Turns out maybe the break was good or maybe I just forget that I have been playing for some time so it is inevitable that I am going to remember something’s. So I find myself now being able to at least look at a song and think “I can do that”. I have been going to a guitar club here at work were the skill level ranges from Newbie to experienced and this week I was the rhythm section to the more experienced players lead. Even made apache sound almost music like.

Anyway enough waffle laters.

Gringo

Oh I know that one

Today I seem to be remembering random lines and things from films that I can’t place. OK I have now remember the 2nd, but the first one escapes me. Now of course I could Google this but where is the fun in that. The internet is great but sometimes kills the spirit of finding something annoying. See there is nothing like something bugging the shit out of you all day and then at 3am going…..”oh Yeah”. Like names of faces you can’t remember, or the guy in the movie with the thing.

• They knew we were coming man. THEY KNEW WE WERE COMING !!
• Where do these stairs go. They go up Ray
• Boooobarella.
• The Double Deuce – I know this one too.
• He don’t even have License Lisa.
• Now I know why you cry.
• Welcome to Earth…….Smack
• NYPD. I will Nock Your Punkass Down.

Feel free to comment the answers back. Try not Google (besides I have probably miss quoted anyway). Or if you have any yourself let me too?

Next time Misheard lyrics…

the new dawn

So here I am back from business trip. Actually seems like a very long time ago. For the first few days it felt very strange being home. Thankfully I had the week off after I came home to recover and spend time with LL and CN

First of a recount

1 x Food related sh!ts - 10 points
1 x Stomach Bug (ending in Sh!ts) - 10 Points
3 times mouth ulcers and sores to tongue (Brought on by lack of food caused by sh!ts)3 x 5 points
1 x Wisdom tooth playing - 1 point
1 x Back pain - 1 point
1 x rare condition no-one has heard off (Bells Palsy) - 100 Points.
1 x Back to normal life sh!ts - 2 points

So all the problems aside, I have been back at work now a full week and half. That has been very strange too. This is really down to the fact that while I was away I was moved. So coming back to work I had to a) find my desk and then b) unpack it all. I also got a nice new shiny PC so had to reinstall everything on that as well. The shop has moved, well it is under going a ‘Major Refurbishment’. Which means that despite boarding it up and putting signs up the only thing that would have changed will be the till position or the colour scheme. It was refreshing to see that some things are still the same. Like the really useless one in the shop. Let’s call her Vern, well because that is nearly her name. She has worked there for nearly 2 years I would say and, STILL CAN’T WORKING THE FORKING TILL. Now call me Daft Maul but… using the till is one of the basic requirements. Like for me being at least computer literate to do my job. This woman still manages to screw it up and after 2 years I would have thought someone would have a) Taught her or b) Fired her ass. She is the same one that sits around reading the paper in the morning will there is a queue as long as a very long queue waiting to be served and everyone else is running around trying to help.

Anyway enough for now. I hope these will get better but probably won’t so stick it your eye