Bloggin' me noggin.

Well, here it is, the most up to date headshot I've got. Figured I better get my old ugly noggin up on the net so that none of you folks forget what I look like. And before you say anything, yes I know that I should've ironed that shirt but I couldn't be bothered this morning. I truly hate ironing and I would gladly throw my iron and board in the Thames without thinking twice but the boss likes me crease-free so them's the breaks, as the saying goes.

I'm going to Berlin in a few short days

Well folks, the excitement is rising in my now. There is something I love about leaving London. Perhaps it's the air quality or the general "demilitarised zone" ambiance of my neighbourhood but whatever it is, I always feel a huge sense of relief when I watch Stanstead airport fall away beneith the plane. I leave this Sunday for what is sure to be a memorable trip, although Sea Bass has warned me that it is gonna be a week of parties so I will probably need my camera if I am gonna remember any of it. Fortunately he has school during the days so I will have a chance to check out the tourist area's in a relatively sober state.

Apart from that, I agreed to a contract extension that'll take me to February first. After that my managers are hoping to have created a new post for me to move into on a more permanent basis. It completely sucks but I have to accept the fact that I've become a suit. It appears that my talents are slightly more suited to middle management than film location management. Or maybe I'm just in a different place in my life now than I was then (well obviously I'm in a "different place" physically, but I meant it more in a mentally/spiritually way).

The flat hunt has begun officially. Charlie and I are gonna look at a few different places in the coming weeks but I am handing in my notice on my current flat today. I think I'll enjoy getting back to Willesden Green. There is a lot to be said for living an hours bike ride away from work. For starters, I am getting too flabby with only my three minute commute. I much prefer to cycle for an hour each morning. It wakes you up and I get a certain degree of perverse pleasure out of cycling past the massive traffic jams that clog up every school run street. Serves them right for owning a car in London. Morons!!!!

Well that is about all that I can type before work so I will be off now. I wish you all peace, prosperity, wisdom, and love. Unless of course you don't actually know me and you just stumbled across this by accident then you only get the peace, prosperity and wisdom. Love takes time stranger, love takes time (Bow chicka, wow wow).

Travel Memories

The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me. I remember we'd all pile into the car--I forget what kind it was--and drive and drive. I'm not sure where we'd go, but I think there were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played. I remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad." We'd eat some stuff, or not, and then I think we went home. I guess some things never leave you.

Life - A Spiritual Reflection

Life, to me, is like a quiet forest pool, one that needs a direct hit from a big rock half-buried in the ground. You pull and you pull, but you can't get the rock out of the ground. So you give it a good kick, but you lose your balance and go skidding down the hill toward the pool. Then out comes a big Hawaiian man who was screwing his wife beside the pool because they thought it was real pretty. He tells you to get out of there, but you start faking it, like you're talking Hawaiian, and then he gets mad and chases you . . .

From London to Berlin...

Well all, I've decided to take a stab at visiting the Sea Bass at "Beer University". I booked my flight today and there's no going back now. Berlin, HO!!!! I'm quite interested to see Germany and I've been doing a lot of reading about the history of the country (except for a strangely vague section covering the period between 1938-1945. It seems that nothing at all happened during this time and it is considered EXTREMELY impolite to ask about it.)

It'll be good to see Sebastion again however I'm a little worried about how I'll be viewed when I get there. The only British folk that are over there right now are the bloody footie fans and they don't tend to leave the best impression of the Brits. It's just my bad luck that my Canadian passport has expired and so I'll be travelling as a Scot. Oh well.

Other than that, I am definately looking forward to the wursts, which is apparently the only form of German cuisine (ground up pig organs jammed into phallic shaped tubes of intestine... Yummy!) and, of course, the BEER!!!

I'll be there between the 2nd and the 7th of July so if you're in the area feel free to pop in and say howdy. I'll try and take some nice pics for my blog when I get the chance.

Peace out, peace way out!!!

More fun in the sun.

Well after almost one whole week of good weather we've returned to the British norm and it's started pissing down again. I really can't stress just how terrible Britain is when it is as hot and muggy as it's been the last few days. In the Okanagan I thought nothing of tempatures around 32-35. Oh sure, it was hot and all that but it wasn't the end of the world cause it was a dry heat. In Britain it gets so muggy that it feels like you're walking through a hot rain cloud.

Fortunately, I have a few more pics of my spiritual "island in the sun", Glasgow, to put up for all to enjoy.

This is the lovely cathedral in Paisley, where Jill lives. I don't know why but cathedrals always give me the willies. And while we're on the topic, why does holy water not burn other people like it does me?

Oh well, that's why I stayed outside.

George's Square, a lovely place to while away the afternoon and the best tobacco shop is right on the corner. Unfortunately it was closed when I was there so I couldn't get the pipe tobacco that I like.

Well that's it for this post. I have a few more pics that I'll post when I get the chance but for now it's back to work for me.

Peace.

Glasgow In The Sun

Well folks, I've returned from my own personal Mecca, Glasgow. I had a wicked trip and thought I'd show off a few of the pics I took from around the city. I had hoped to go hiking outside of the city but Jill and I ended up just wandering all over the city itself.




It is a city unlike any that I've ever been to. Endlessly friendly, clean, and exciting, Glagow has got to be the finest example of how a city should be.
This is Ibrox stadium, home of the greatest football club in the world.

Two legends. (*Note: I'm the one that's not made of bronze.)















A little piece of home. This is also the only one in the UK, all the more reason to love Glasgow.




Believe it or not, this is me and Jill SUNBATHING IN GLASGOW?!?!?!

Never have I seen a larger menagerie of pasty white folk in my entire life.

Not pictured: Jills face (Wimp)!

A little known fact about Glasgow is that the city is absolutely plagued by giant robotic armadillos. Hard to believe I know, but pictures don't lie.

Birthday Girl

Well I feel like a massive piece of crap for not knowing but apparently it was my little sisters birthday last week so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!!

For those of you who don't know her, this is what she looks like now that shes turned twenty-th...twenty-tw...uh...twenty-something?!?! I know, it's terrible that I don't know how old my baby sister is but it's a tricky thing to keep track of. It seems like every year she's a different age.

It's strange that you've grown up so fast. Pretty soon you'll be getting a career, getting married, having kids, the lot of it. If I have one piece of advice for you for your future it is this:

Children need encouragement. So if a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way, he develops a good, lucky feeling.

P.S.: Is it just me or does she look an awful lot like me with long hair?

Picture Time

So folks, before I went for the day I thought I'd throw a pic or two onto my blog. This is me in Venice (that's that Grand Canal behind me) having coffee with my ex (not pictured). I'll say this for Venice, it doesn't smell nearly as bad as everyone says.

First Posting

Okay folks, well I have been sending e-mails out to my distribution list for so long now that I decided that I might as well get myself a blog. After all, who these days doesn't want to post a minute by minute recount of their entire life on the internet for any stranger to see? I'll post a better one next week as I'm going hiking in Scotland this weekend with my mate Jill and she has assured me that the hike from Paisley to Stirling has some stunning scenery to show off.

So for the time being, let me just say, I hope that you all get a chance to check on my progress through this twisted little carnival ride that is life as often as possible and I'll do my best to make it interesting.

I'm gonna leave you now with the immortal words of Jack Handey: "When Gary told me he had found Jesus, I thought, Yahoo! We're rich! But it turned out to be something different."

Much love, all.

Mark