More wine, please

Old friends, or ghosts from the past?

2007-11-08T21:56:00.000+01:00

Yeah, I'm on the wine again, listening to Tom McRae on the headphones. Ideal time to sit and type. I know it's been more than yonks since I'd blogged here, but I'm at a loose end and on some San Giovese, our local wine in Le Marche, Italy.

I got an email from 'Friends Reunited' (FR) saying I'd got a message from someone. I went and had a look. There it was... a contact from someone I knew 25 years ago. A young lady who I'd had a certain something for. She'd been on my 'to do' list, but I'd never ticked the box, if you get my drift. I remember her well, she was cute, had a great body, a bit of a sloppy snog, to be honest. She just contacted me out of the blue.

She's happily married. I think I know the bloke. If it's the same guy, I think he gave me a bit of nose candy a couple of times when he was working in the mail room while studying law, 25 years ago. I could be making this all up, of course. Matters not. He went on to be a diplomat, working abroad and now she's living in 'leafy Surrey' and driving a Lamborghini summat-or-t'other. We've swapped a couple of messages through FR. Still don't know if she'll get back in touch.

I had to subscribe to FR to be able to contact her. Paid €12 for the ability to do so. Fair 'nuff.

While I had the subscription, I thought I'd get in touch with others I knew, many years ago.

I popped a notice saying 'I popped by' to a lass who was my best mate Sarah. I can't believe she'll get back in touch. We had a very brief communication some years ago but I think her hubby discovered it and flagged my account as 'objectionable' and I was knocked off FR using that ID. Mefinks he's very controlling - I'd love to be in touch with her, female, sure, big time! but there was never anything between us apart from being excellent friends.

I sent an 'icebreaker' to Mandy; "Want to catch up on the last 25 years?" Mandy and I were as close as Sarah and I, but for less time. Mandy got me drunk on the last night we'd see other (I was relocating) and we had (terrible) sex. She never had to get me drunk - I'd have been there at the drop of a hat. Anyway, I've let her know I'm up for making contact. She was a great lass. A good friend. I hope she'll forgive Mr Floppy.

Now, you may think I'm just a pervy bloke fantasising about old girlfriends. But it's not so.

A couple of years ago, somehow through FR, I got in touch with a girlie who was in English class with me 23 (?) years ago. I'd not seen her since. Nikki. I had a crush on her, but I was 17 at the time, and anything on two legs without a tail was game. Nikki was however quite cute, and smart. She was never interested in me and that was that. Whatever... we made contact and swapped emails now and then, about 2 years ago. I just swapped emails with her again today. She told me about her dad dying, about her mum being poorly. I replied saying my dad was in a home, my mum was not long for this world.

Somehow, it helped. Speaking to someone that's real, but not that real, being only a faint memory, somewhere out there in the ether.... makes it's easier. I can only think Nikki told me all that stuff about her dad and mum was to help her get over it. I replied for the same reason.

And it's not all about girlies.

I managed to contact a mate, not using FR, but through the wonders of t'interweb, quite a few years ago. David and I went to school when we were 11 to 16 years old (-ish). We got in touch many years later and for about 12 years we'd sent emails back and forth. This year, I went and met the man face to face, in Florida - 31 years after we'd seen each other - think about it - 31 YEARS! What a host. We had a room in his house, swam in his pool. borrowed his big bugger-off 4X4 for a week and drove down to the Florida Keys. Never could you meet a nicer bloke. Biggest bonus: also met another friend from those days, Gordon, who lives close to David. What a man. Blessed is he who.... is Gordon.

So. This internet stuff. This 'social networking' crap. Is it all that it's cracked up to be?

Only the wine knows.

Happy day!

2007-06-22T20:29:00.000+02:00

Today is a great day in my life and I am truly happy.

Today I finally managed to climb my Everest, and when I got there, I wanted to have a shit on the peak. That is how much I'm disappointed with my choice of climb, but the climb is over. This makes for a more satisfying conclusion. Now I'm headed back to the valleys with my loved ones.

I've had a project which can be seen by clicking this link for the project's website, or this link for the blog which was to narrate our journey, which today, is finally completed. Unfortunately, the blog had to be suspended because I felt I couldn't say what I wanted to, and if I couldn't do as I wanted I thought I shouldn't do it at all. I had to be true to myself and if the blog wasn't honest, why do it?

Why couldn't I say what I wanted? Because of me. I don't gripe and groan at people if they don't come up to my expectations. I believe we all have our own strengths and weaknesses and I'm happy to live that way. When there are others (partners on the project) which seem to never let up on the blame front, accusing, insinuating, bitching... you get the picture. I've been victim to such abuse for maybe 8 months and although I wanted to narrate the tale, I thought it would cause a crisis if the blog was read by someone allied to the accusers. So I put up and shut up. The blog will not (for now, anyway) relate the many stories which have made my life miserable up to this happy day.

Today is a happy day because I do not have to continue the project with any gusto. If I have to visit the project at all in the near future it will be for menial tasks. I'm hoping that the only time I have to see my so called 'partners' is when we finally cut the connection between us.

Am I bitter? Yes. But I must move on. There are other great mountains to climb. I fancy something a bit less difficult next time, but maybe with a better view from the top. And I'd like to do it with friends.

I hate people who hate. I'm intolerant to those who don't tolerate others. I love people who are willing to love. I like those who like me. I accept folk who are willing to accept. I offer the positive side of all of these, regardless of the true motives of people, and I continue to give them the opportunity to 'come right', but if after maybe 8 months.... and they don't see the light then it's lights out. Nighty-night, arseholes!

Am I bitter? Yes. And sometimes I have to vent my spleen.

P.S. I forgot to mention... I have a hernia operation on Monday, and that hasn't taken one jot of happiness away from today. Live it full.

A home for my pictures

2006-11-12T10:28:00.000+01:00

I've decided to place any future pictures in a site dedicated to 'art' in all it's various forms. Click on this link.

I'm still here...

2006-10-10T07:38:00.000+02:00

... but been busy with another project.

I just thought I'd post another couple of pictures. I've bitten the bullet and upgraded my Vue-5 from demo and also got Poser. I also do some editing afterwards. I play about with these and have produced a couple which I think are worth posting. I hope you like them.

This is lamenting the death of love.

These are two of my "Virgo Fortis" series. It's not as gruesome as you may think; it's a story of remarkable strength shown by a woman, known by some as Saint Uncumber.

I will post others....

Psst..... wanna buy a house?

2006-06-23T22:28:00.001+02:00

Large house in Italian countryside. Region: Le marche, near the Adriatic coast. 50 minutes from Ancona airport, 25 minutes from beaches, 40 minutes from mountains with small ski resorts.

Comprised of: 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, large living room, large kitchen/diner. Space for swimming pool. Excellent views of the Sibilini mountains and Italian countryside. Quiet road.

The house, surrounded by sunflowers:

View of the mountains:

Would suit Bed & breakfast business, or investment, or a great holiday home!

The property HAS BEEN RESTORED, see www.marchehousesales.co.uk for latest details.

Exact location can be seen HERE

Price? €420,000 for the expected finished project.

Interested? Email me at info@marchehousesales.co.uk

This post edited (10March2008)

But is it art?

2006-06-02T21:58:00.000+02:00

I muck about sometimes, pretending I can do 'digital art' or whatever you call it. I'm certainly not in the leaugue I would like to be, but I amuse myself with one package or another. Maybe these pictures say something about me. Maybe not. Who cares anyway?

U2's lyrics? Maybe. But when combined with the words on Jamaica's coat-of-arms, used in a more global situation, it's something I feel strongly about. Very simple technology, very simple feeling.

This is just a bit of 'art'. I've been playing with PSP8. What it is... I haven' a clue.
I call this one "Rust in peace". It's done using Vue5 demo (I can't afford the full-blown version). I don't think the limited objects/textures takes anything away from the scene. Best place for these WMD, if you ask me (as long as they ain't fukin up the enviro, etc, of course!).
A dream scene. The kind of place I'd like to be, most of my life... maybe memories of home?
Also done with Vue5 demo.
I may post others, if I can be arsed.

Need for dialogue

2006-06-02T21:14:00.000+02:00

Why is it that some people can't communicate?

I've recently got into a position with someone, a friend, I thought, who should be my equal, but seems to think either a) they're better than me and so I don't warrant the time for communication, or b) they don't want to 'upset' me by saying what they think, or c) they're shy, or d) a combination of each of the above, or e) something I haven't a clue about.

Why? .... and more to the point, - why haven't I done something about this?

Second question first, because I can't answer the first question at all.

I have been brewing up a 'confrontation'. That's the only word I could put to it. I have what I believe to be a level-headed challenge to the problem, but I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT WILL DO TO OUR RELATIONSHIP. I try to be up-front with people. I'm never afraid of speaking out. Surely, I probably speak out too often. I open my gab and out it comes. In this case however, I feel I need to calm it down a bit. I'm in a position, financially and otherwise, where I cannot be seen to disrupt a relationship. But.... it's starting to pee me off a bit.

If someone has an issue with me, they should tell me! It's no good bitching behind my back to someone else. It gets out, or, it doesn't get out and the fever rises. Neither is a good soloution. There's no profit in bitching to one's spouse, only to have that spouse blurt out to me, parrot fasion, what I presume should have been a private discussion. That causes bad feeling, doesn't make the non-communicator look in control, doesn't make the spouse look like they have their own will or ideas, and pisses me off, big time.

Right - If it's YOU and you've stumbled across this blog, then c'mon... talk to me. Or at least tell me why you can't.

One more issue and I will have to broach the subject myself. The air needs to be cleared. We have to work together, even if we don't remain friends. I'm more than happy to walk away from situations I don't like.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

'Nuff said

Google this!

2006-05-21T16:01:00.000+02:00

Type "failure" into your Google search box and see what comes up #1.

No bravery

2006-05-20T07:02:00.000+02:00

It's amazing what you can find on the net. Click HERE for a thought provoking video. Have your speakers turned on to get the soundtrack.

It's a good morning

2006-05-18T06:47:00.000+02:00

This morning's sunrise and a good cup of coffee and I'm ready to take on the world. I'm looking forward to another day working on the new house in the hot Italian sunshine. Bring it on!

Two years ago, today

2006-05-17T21:39:00.000+02:00

Right. Like I presumed, a blog "fuelled by red wine". I just hope the spell-checker is on form tonight. Let's get on with it.

Two years ago, today, we packed up the car and left the UK. We didn't know where we were going, just that we decided to start in Le Marche area of Italy. We were seen off by best mates, Gillian & Jon and Mark (Tosh) and headed for the ferry at Hull.

It was a bit of a tear-jerker, to be honest, but we had our minds set: we're off, and bugger the lot of you who think we're mad. It's not often in the UK I hugged male friends, but thats what I did and it was a moving experience.

Moving, sure. We moved 1200 miles. And now, 2 years later, we're so content it's untrue,. We've had a hell of a couple of years - both good and bad have happened, but it beats working for the Halifax (HBOS) arrrrrgh! I can't believe I spoke their name; the horrendous spawn of banking. Shudder.

Anyway... to continue. We drove a while and stopped in Germany, then made our way to Ascoli Piceno, (Italy) where we fell in love with the place. 3 months later we bought a house and started to do it up. 10 months later, we were broke and sold the place for a handsome profit.

After effing about for a long while, renting digs on the coast in Grottamare for 6 months, and after finding more rented accommodationn we have finally got our second house.

This time we're sharing the project, and hope to sell again in 4 or 5 months, to be realisticc. We've bought the place with another Brit couple, Ian & Jo, who are pretty cool and I think we'll make a right good go of it.

Back to work in progress. TWO years away from the UK. FAN-EFFIN'-TASTIC! I hate the UK and all it's shite. The arseholes who get pissed and puke up all over the place after starting fights on the high-street after coming out of the pubs. Tony Blair and his arse-licking mineons, the sodding weather, the nanny-state... you name it, I cringe to think about it.

I'm pissed. I have to stop here. I thought a blog when I was under the influence of wine was a good idea, but it's difficullt. I think I need to practice,

Nighty-nite

P.S. A shite blog to be sure. But I had to have a go as it was the 2 year thingy. I'll try to do better.

Watch this space

2006-05-14T13:36:00.000+02:00

This blog has been set up for me to rant and rave on about stuff whenever I fancy. If you don't like what you see, move quietly on. I will attempt to restrain myself from personal attacks on people, I will attempt to restrain myself from profanities. However, we are all entitled to our beliefs and I certainly will be posting thoughts and posing questions. I will also be posting pictures and possibly small snippets of artwork.

Feel free to browse.

When you go, leave no trace.