Saturday, 24 April 2010
Friday, 23 April 2010
Glad I stayed?
Somebody told me I was an agel today, because angels bring happiness, and inspire people, How nice is that?
You know, I am nearly glad I got stranded now. If I hadn't then I wouldn't have achieved my life long ambition and become a Michael Swan tribute act, I would not have delivered my Brains session to two brilliant audiences an d I wouldn't have been called an angel.
The reaction of the people on both days, who must have been very disappointed that the person who they had come to see had been replaced by a grey hippy screaming five days! five days! was fantastic.
They hid their disappointment and made the most of what they ended up with.
So thank you to all of those people.
and thank you to in no particular order,
Anna,
Lenka
Carl
Kelly
Shaun
Naomi
Katie
Pete
Keith
Ana Simina
Vera
my family and all the others
for all you have done to keep me company, keep my spirits up and to get me out of here.
And so if all goes well now, and the flight leaves, then this will be if not the last then one of the last blogs.
Lisbon here I come.
You know, I am nearly glad I got stranded now. If I hadn't then I wouldn't have achieved my life long ambition and become a Michael Swan tribute act, I would not have delivered my Brains session to two brilliant audiences an d I wouldn't have been called an angel.
The reaction of the people on both days, who must have been very disappointed that the person who they had come to see had been replaced by a grey hippy screaming five days! five days! was fantastic.
They hid their disappointment and made the most of what they ended up with.
So thank you to all of those people.
and thank you to in no particular order,
Anna,
Lenka
Carl
Kelly
Shaun
Naomi
Katie
Pete
Keith
Ana Simina
Vera
my family and all the others
for all you have done to keep me company, keep my spirits up and to get me out of here.
And so if all goes well now, and the flight leaves, then this will be if not the last then one of the last blogs.
Lisbon here I come.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Facebook status updates
turns out I wasn't a Swan after all just an ugly duckling
to which Carrick replied :
Noooo! Surely not. I deputised for him once. But I avoided the subject of grammar. That would have been taking things too far.
to which I replied:
So did I, in fact some might say I avoided the subject of teaching completely :-)
My hair is so long, I just used conditioner for the first time in my life.
Stars in their eyes
drawing to a close
Not many of these left I guess, My plane departs at 5.40pm local time tomorrow night and that will be that I suppose.
It has been emotional.
Character building
something like that.
So replacing swan seemed to go okay, they laughed in all the right places anyway,
I am not looking forward to tomorrow
I have to check out of room at 9 be swan at 10.20 and then hang around till the flight. Long old day, I know I know never bloody happy eh?
But I am looking forward to it and all the delights that Lisboa holds,
Pinga Doce, olives, bread, cheese, vinho tinto, superbock, sun, a lovely castle,
SO One more lovely Kiev moon, one more swan, one more Ukrainian lunch and then back on the road again.
By the way Kiev is so so so nearly an anagram for Evil, but it isn't that bad really :-)
It has been emotional.
Character building
something like that.
So replacing swan seemed to go okay, they laughed in all the right places anyway,
I am not looking forward to tomorrow
I have to check out of room at 9 be swan at 10.20 and then hang around till the flight. Long old day, I know I know never bloody happy eh?
But I am looking forward to it and all the delights that Lisboa holds,
Pinga Doce, olives, bread, cheese, vinho tinto, superbock, sun, a lovely castle,
SO One more lovely Kiev moon, one more swan, one more Ukrainian lunch and then back on the road again.
By the way Kiev is so so so nearly an anagram for Evil, but it isn't that bad really :-)
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Stars in their Eyes
The scruffy man hobbled on the stage, his trade mark t-shirt and shorts looking almost comical on his overweight forty year old frame, making this particular make over seem even more unlikely.
The introductions were quickly done, the film started, the contestants doing the voice over himself.
"Hi I am Gareth and I live here in Cardiff bay," the camera panned to a wide shot across the bay and then back to Gareth trying negotiate his way around a morbidly obese seagull.
"I've always been an admirer of this man, ever since I started my career 14 years ago, his books were essential reading for me back then. Then I got to meet him, talk to him, I've even eaten off his plate. I can't believe that I am actually going to be him after all he has written the industry standard grammar reference" the obligatory clue given, the camera followed Gareth as he limped off across the barrage and faded out.
Back in the studio Matthew was smiling,
" I think we all know who it is but tell us anyway." he said as if he was talking to a puppy
"well tonight Matthew I am going to be ... Michael Swan."
Yes that is right today I am going to step into the considerable shoes of Michael Swan, obviously I am not going to be him, I can't, but there are a lot of people coming and they were expecting one of the greats... and they get me. More nervous than I thought I would be.
The introductions were quickly done, the film started, the contestants doing the voice over himself.
"Hi I am Gareth and I live here in Cardiff bay," the camera panned to a wide shot across the bay and then back to Gareth trying negotiate his way around a morbidly obese seagull.
"I've always been an admirer of this man, ever since I started my career 14 years ago, his books were essential reading for me back then. Then I got to meet him, talk to him, I've even eaten off his plate. I can't believe that I am actually going to be him after all he has written the industry standard grammar reference" the obligatory clue given, the camera followed Gareth as he limped off across the barrage and faded out.
Back in the studio Matthew was smiling,
" I think we all know who it is but tell us anyway." he said as if he was talking to a puppy
"well tonight Matthew I am going to be ... Michael Swan."
Yes that is right today I am going to step into the considerable shoes of Michael Swan, obviously I am not going to be him, I can't, but there are a lot of people coming and they were expecting one of the greats... and they get me. More nervous than I thought I would be.
more facebook statuses
Under 48 hours to go!!!!
spanner in works me thinks
spanner in works me thinks
Not sure if anyone cares anymore but very pretty mood in kiev tonight :-)
Save 6 music :-)
so today
Don't read this one if you came for the lighthearted, it is pretty grumpy, but to be honest I am still the smiliest man i have seen today
So I was meant to be here for almost exactly four days, from Monday evening till friday evening. I've now been here for nine days. I don't particularly want to go home, I just want to go. Sorry Kiev I am sure you have your charms but I am not in the right frame of mind or foot to see them.
In the restaurant tonight they put me in the furthest corner, so I couldn't even people watch adding to my sense of isolation. The waiting staff then proceeded to ignore me.
So I was meant to be here for almost exactly four days, from Monday evening till friday evening. I've now been here for nine days. I don't particularly want to go home, I just want to go. Sorry Kiev I am sure you have your charms but I am not in the right frame of mind or foot to see them.
In the restaurant tonight they put me in the furthest corner, so I couldn't even people watch adding to my sense of isolation. The waiting staff then proceeded to ignore me.
Spanner - Works - What to do, what to do.
I have been given the opportunity to fly to London after my talk on Friday morning.
Now after all my grouching throughout this blog you might think that that is great news. and I am certainly very grateful for the effort to get me on a flight to the UK.
So why am I saying it is a spanner in the works.
Well I would love to be home, I'd love to be in my own flat, trying out my new shower, watching the blues on iplayer, wearing my hat and washing my socks.
But
and there's always a but.
I live in Cardiff,
that means If everything is on time which is a big if would not get to my flat until gone 10 pm on Friday night, I have to be on a flight from Bristol at 10.30 on Sunday morning.
Not enough time to get my socks dry, not enough time to watch the blues, barely enough time to wear my hat.
So is it worth it?
I could fly straight to Lisbon where I need to be on Monday and just chill for a day or two.
What to do, what to do?
Now after all my grouching throughout this blog you might think that that is great news. and I am certainly very grateful for the effort to get me on a flight to the UK.
So why am I saying it is a spanner in the works.
Well I would love to be home, I'd love to be in my own flat, trying out my new shower, watching the blues on iplayer, wearing my hat and washing my socks.
But
and there's always a but.
I live in Cardiff,
that means If everything is on time which is a big if would not get to my flat until gone 10 pm on Friday night, I have to be on a flight from Bristol at 10.30 on Sunday morning.
Not enough time to get my socks dry, not enough time to watch the blues, barely enough time to wear my hat.
So is it worth it?
I could fly straight to Lisbon where I need to be on Monday and just chill for a day or two.
What to do, what to do?
if anyone is worried
My laundry came back fine,
in fact they even ironed my socks, I've never ironed a sock in my life, I don't even think I have had an ironed sock, i hope they commented on how nice the socks were while they were ironing them.
in fact they even ironed my socks, I've never ironed a sock in my life, I don't even think I have had an ironed sock, i hope they commented on how nice the socks were while they were ironing them.
more status updates
up down up down up down down
If all goes well I will be walking round the streets of Lisboa, sipping vinho tinto or superbock by this time on Friday :-)
Right time for food, and I can assure you it is not going to be TGI's tonight.
Remember Yesterday...
I said I didn't know how I would cope with out internet, well the internet is down in the hotel so now I can find out :-)
The question for today is, should i try to get my haircut in a Ukraine hair dressers?
The question for today is, should i try to get my haircut in a Ukraine hair dressers?
aaargh
Just when you think you have turned the corner, that things can only get better, they pipe glenn madeiros into the breakfast room.
All together now
nothings gonna change my love for you
you ought to know by now how much I love you
one thing you can be sure of
I'll never ask for more than your love.
and to cap it off I just looked up those lyrics cos I was not sure of the last line and I have inadvertently downloaded it as a ring tone.
All together now
nothings gonna change my love for you
you ought to know by now how much I love you
one thing you can be sure of
I'll never ask for more than your love.
and to cap it off I just looked up those lyrics cos I was not sure of the last line and I have inadvertently downloaded it as a ring tone.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
A quiz
Some questions, don't worry I am not expecting answers or keeping score.
- Why are the bar-staff in this restaurant wearing 'nurses'' outfits?
- Where do you put the apostrophe in nurses, when you are putting quote marks around it?
- Why do non English speakers like to sing happy birthday in English?
- How did my ears survive the awful country and western band in the restaurant? Well I thought they were country until they started doing Sting covers.
- Why are there quite so many staff at this restaurant?
- Why are people dancing to the aforementioned c&w band.
- Is it good form to play air guitar while dancing to a c&w band in a restaurant.
- How good does ice cream baked in pear with a crispy coat sound?
- How disappointing was it?
- What is the international sign language for a menu? I drew a square, the waitress thought I wanted the check, that is just crazy.
- Why didn't I bring a coat with sleeves?
Scores out of 12
I have a seat on a plane
The good news I have a seat on a plane flying to a destination that is open and working.
The bad news, it is not until Friday and it is not my home town.
But at least I will be moving and to the next place I was meant to work.
No disrespect Kiev but it feels good.
The bad news, it is not until Friday and it is not my home town.
But at least I will be moving and to the next place I was meant to work.
No disrespect Kiev but it feels good.
Status updates part three
I got a ticket, for an aeroplane, leaving this town on Friday. I hope ...
is the end in sight? possibly but it doesn't mean i am going home, just escaping Kiev!
trying to work out the hotel laundry system, boy i am confused :-(
is the end in sight? possibly but it doesn't mean i am going home, just escaping Kiev!
trying to work out the hotel laundry system, boy i am confused :-(
Update
So looks like I am stepping in for michael swan for two events, the launch of OALD and Ukraine IATEFL, then getting on a flight to Portugal to sit and wait for the training next week.
I'll be sorry to leave Kiev, (oh no I won't)
I'll be sorry to leave Kiev, (oh no I won't)
It makes you wonder really...
On friday I felt low, I will be honest, I felt lonely, lost, vulnerable, isolated. I am not afraid to admit it. I cannot imagine how bad that would have been had I not had the internet and my mobile phone.
Over the weekend the internet has allowed me to watch rugby and football, keep abreast of developments, chat to people, telephone people, keep a diary that other people have read, read other people's stories etc
People have popped up from all over the place to say hello, to stop and chat, to check I am okay.
SO thank you WWW sometimes you get on my nerves but I will never curse you again.
Over the weekend the internet has allowed me to watch rugby and football, keep abreast of developments, chat to people, telephone people, keep a diary that other people have read, read other people's stories etc
People have popped up from all over the place to say hello, to stop and chat, to check I am okay.
SO thank you WWW sometimes you get on my nerves but I will never curse you again.
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