Happy 2012

Five years smoke free.

The Pillars of the Earth- World without end

The Pillars of the Earth-World without End.

(The titles of the TV series. What follows is a review of the book)

This series, was brought to my attention, by a former co worker. There was a channel 4, mini series. Which I enjoyed thoroughly.
Of the two books, I think I enjoyed Pillars of the Earth, much more thoroughly. I think Follet's interest, started to wane towards the end of world without end. Also, I was pleased to read and learn, about the Anarchy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anarchy

``When Christ and all his saints slept''

So I came to this series, with the pre conceptions of having watched the series. I actually bought the book, on my way back to Europe from Santiago de Chile. ( I needed something to distract me, from the unwholesome, and expensive food )

Its a historical epic. I used to love those. I remember the wings of war, and war and remembrance. The Great War, American front. I also remember, what the problem with them, is. Everything is happening to everyone. We get the Anarchy. We get the plague and than the stirrings of the peasants revolt. Its a broad stroke ( The Foundation Saga, I wrote a High school paper on that. Speaking of AH, the series is sent in the Earldom of Shiring and the town of Kingsbridge. Its somewhere near Gloucestershire. A town created ex nihlio like that would change history )

I get the feeling, that its Follet's attitude to medieval history. Or rather Mediaevalism. He writes that a member of a low church sect, churches to him, were plain clean buildings. When he travelled he was confronted, with the beauty of medieval Christian architecture. Something which my trips to Sienna and Kiev have confirmed in me. So, he created the character of Jack Builder, to give exposition on the construction of the great cathedrals. As with the Age of Empires computer games Follet's novels like Michael Crichton's timeline did popularise a revised view of the medieval period, that does not see it as low point between the Ancients and the Modern. See Monty Python's the holy grail, or horrible Histories, often excellent, but gives the appearance that the middle ages were the dung ages. Follet grew fearsome of weaving the exposition into the Novels. We hear a narrators voice, as the story comes to its conclusion, the cult of the Virgin Mary was spreading. Oh and would a medieval woman, canny as she was, have used the term self esteem?

The follow up novel, set generations later. Is a repost of sorts. The Monastery, which guided by Father Phillip, a Godly and good man, which was the light bringing commerce, and civility and order to Kingsbridge, is now dominated by the self seeking, and the corrupt. While a chapter of Nuns, flourishes. There is a trial for Witchcraft, in the later of the two novels. Preaching against Dissection, performed by one of the novels villains, and flagellation. Comments, about how Arab medicine was better than Christian one. What was given in Pillars of the Earth was taken away

The Earl Ralph, and Aliena's brother Richard, seem to be the same character. Ralph is simply a more evil version of Richard, with elements William of Hamleigh thrown in. ( A taste for teen brides) There seems to be overlap between Aliena, and Caris, and Aliena and Merthin, have similar paths. Aliena and Merthin, are both gentry, who have to embrace trade. Aliena and Caris, are both determined women, natural leaders. Who are at the forefront of medieval commerce and medicine and trade. Jack Builder, and Merthin, both make side trips, to foreign lands. Spain and Italy. Both Jack and his later counterpart, have romances with beautiful exotic women, but both return home, having learned the secrets of Arab mathematics, and Italian masonry. I could even mention Sam and Alfric

I did enjoy the treatment of Merthin's mother. She drove him, mad, in the same way, my mother drove mine mad as a child, fussing over him when he lost a fight when he would have preferred she ignored it. Or being overenthusiastic about everything even when the family, have been reduced in status. We shall be pensioners of the monastery. I guess I am something like Merthin, I would never master my fathers trade either.

I did enjoy the book. I did enjoy the stories about Gwenda. The medieval peasant. her struggles to feed herself, and family, and make a little money, in the midst of plague, and war and rumours of war. Marxism, and Whiggery have inflicted a terrible view of the past. Gwenda's life, shows her meeting the triumphs and tragedies of one of the crowd, with bravery and hard work. In the end, she dies in bed and happy, she could have been sold into prostitution. The later book has a provoking exchange between Gwenda and her mother, when she discusses that. They had to feed the babies somehow

There long, its 2500 pages in all. If one wants to be entertained and educated, you cannot go far wrong. They are books, that I would recommend to an intelligent child

Chrismas 2011

Christmas card from a co worker.

It was back to work today. I was dreading it. I am never good, after a break. I had been staying late. My sleep schedule was wrecked. Last year the day back after the Christmas break was terrible. I think we did 2000 orders. The readers, were ravenous. I remember this woman, I used to work with she retired, this year, struggling through it, bewildered.

I was grumpy, today but I soldiered on. Valya worked on Christmas day. Stefany worked on the feast of Steven. My brother was back to work on Tuesday I do protest too much

Christmas card from Nessa

I hope my friend had a merry Christmas in Arizona

К сожалению уже поздно

A Christmas card from Valya

Congratulations to the class of 2011. Who are going to graduate this year in Peru
Congratulations to their pretty teacher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwYP6eesX9E

Thank you Valya

Thanks to my Valya, for the lovely cards, and jacket. A world bank jacket. It will be great to wear, at work, when, it is cold in the compartments.

I also, got a card from Peru! and Key West, and Vermont.

A busy day today. It was my designated day off, but despite the fact, that work is not open on friday. They insisted that we had to take Friday, as our day off. This was only announced on tuesday evening.

I went to the Hygienist, and then the Dentist. I had two fillings. One more to go. I changed the contract for my phone, and I did some shopping and laundry

Anyway, my new haircut, and clean teeth

I had a headache all day yesterday
I finished one side of my rubic's cube
I must go to the dentist tomorrow
My sister, does not want to live with me.
Sthefany must go to the Doctor soon
I need to review my soccer team membership

Vaclav Havel

Václav Havel

5 October 1936 – 18 December 2011

Playwright, President of the Czech republic, Husband

This was my hotel room. I mentioned the cross, before. Here is a picture of it. There was a chapel, on the fifth floor of the hotel, but I did not visit it.

Here is snapshot of the Christmas market. I bought Pizza, and wurst there, but not at the same time. There was a stall selling coloured stones, driftwood, and seeds, which did a roaring trade

Thinking of you in Germany,

My brother was staying at my place. While I was in Mainland Europe.
He left a postik note, saying

a very nice stay

He left 5 rand coin, and admonished me, not to spend it all at once!

Congratulations Viktor

I would like to belatedly welcome into the World, Viktor, son of our beloved friend Daria

Mozeltof

German holiday notes

Germany observations

Holland is full of bikes. I type this as I pass through  the Dutch countryside by train.
Every platform, of every station is like a miniature version of Halfords

The Carphone warehouse, is the phone house in Germany and the Netherlands.
There were little rabbits running about Muenster as foxes, do in London.
As according to rumor, the rabbits, are wild outside Stirling uni
The place ( Germany )can be quite dead on Sunday. Even the Irish pub, was not open. I got dinner, in an Arabian, donor kebab shop
There was a picture of a woman, in middle eastern dress, surrounded by a horse, with lots of sheep.
I smiled, thinking my Grandad, would have liked it. The hamburger, and fries I had were excellent.
I went to a bar/cafe across from my hotel. Which was the only place open, and thus attracted noisy drunks.
I came back, to my hotel. Kicking myself, that I did not go to the football match.

My hotel, had a chapel, on the fifth floor. I meant to go and look.
I was not charged, for breakfast. Though I ate breakfast on the Saturday morning. Very nice it was too
I kept quiet about this. As I figured it was karmic justice, for there being no internet
I also had a coke from the minibar, Again, I neglected to mention this.
The Philips, TV came on, during the middle of the night
Holland is a land of drainage ditches and bikes, and than forest.
They don't take Visa, as a rule in Germany it seems. This caused some difficulties buying DB tickets.
Compounded by the fact, that the same machine, did not seem to believe, any of my euros were legal tender
I bought a dear stalker hat, for 5 euros. I have lost my red, Dennis the menace, hat. 

Which I got in Berlin
They still have Woolworth, stores there. I bought a Fisherman's Friend and gloves there
I lived on Christmas  Market- pizza, and sausage rolls, from the German version of Gregs. Along with the coffee they sold at the Markets and Deusche Greggs
There were lots of dogs in Munester. Quite expensive breeds. A Siberian Husky, two Greyhounds, and a woman, nursing a Sausage Dog in a pram!  Oh, I also saw a pram, for the first time, in years. There was a Christmas party of some description at my hotel
A woman, came in, with her pram.
I think, this may be my last trip, to Germany for the winter season. I feel the cold, more and more. I am aware of my age.
I should have worked, harder with the language. Perhaps, next year I  shall stay in my own chair.

Get well soon Sthefany

Germany 2011

I have arrived in Germany. In fact I did solast night. 

My journey started after three hours of imperfect sleep. I forgot my glasses, and I had to go back for them. I had porridge at the Airport, and read more of ``World Without End'' I am nearly half way through. 

The flight was full. I managed to get some sleep, so I think I made at least 4 hours. As we deplaned.

 An American observed with dismay, the baggage handlers, at Schipol, throwing bags and suitcases onto a cart roughly. Told him, we used to do the same, when I worked on the ramp many years ago.

I found my way to the train station at sShipol easily. But my train, was not due to depart for an hour and a half. So I went to Burger King. I had a double whopper. There was an East Asian, watching Love Actually on his I-Pad. I wondered who is the bigger star now? Chris Marshall or January Jones? I read more of ``World Without End'' I got on the train. A woman sat next to me, and ate rye bread sandwiches.

 I changed trains, and got on another. I passed so many bikes, in the station. More than I had ever seen.


An hour later than I intended. The Train I wanted for some strange reason, did not travel on Fridays. So I paid a first class fare, for a 2nd class ticket. I arrived in Muenster and I got lost in the dark, after an hour, I got a taxi. I checked in at my hotel. Very modern design. Room is small. Interestingly, there is a cross on the wall. I than went and walked about the Christmas market. I had a wurst, in a roll. The stall keeper playfully trying to keep my 5 euro note. Will not be so funny, when we default. 

I walked than to the Irish pub. Which seems to run by geordies, I had three pints of the the local brew. I saw a very drunk girl. I walked back to the hotel. Had a beer, at the bar across the road. Than another beer, at the bar in the hotel. I asked for the internet password. It did not work. I fell asleep. I woke up at 9am. The cleaner came in and woke me. I am with a hangover.

A gift from my great friend Valya.

It is an
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosaurus

They can cripple a T-rex, with a swing of there club.

I had a very long day, at work, and I feel much betetr

Today in history

Today in History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Irish_Treaty

You can read the original here

http://treaty.nationalarchives.ie/the-treaty/

Sorry I have been somewhat tardy with this. I actually wrote Tardis. There is a freudian slip, but anyhow this is my lovely gift from Katlin. A picture, holder, which is holding a picture of myself and my brother against the Chicago Skyline. I would have taken the picture sooner, but I broke my Dell Streak. My digital camera, was out of batteries, and when I take a picture with my phone. I have no idea where it goes.

For your delectation, a birthday gift from Catlin, in the Ukraine.

Days, Weeks, Months, Years

This time next week I will be in Munster
In 4 weeks, time it will be Christmas day
A month ago, I was in Chile
360 days ago I went to Vienna
In 4 days its my work Christmas party
I will see my sister again in 17 days
I have to go to the dentist again in 10 days
In 364 days, I will either have to send Valya roses
or she will buy me a Dinosaur!
Its a month and two days till Cli's birthday
I will make 8 trips to and from work, till my holiday
I have 1 and a half, days break left
It will be 4 months till I go on holiday again
I broke my big phone nine days ago
My phone contract ends, in 15 days

Grumpy day 2011

Yesterday, after being very short staffed at work. I came home to discover the internet had crashed. They will not repair, it till Monday. I had to buy a dongle, which did, not work on my other computer. I have broken one of the usb ports on that device


I will need fillings. Because my last dentist did not do not x-rays.

I am very grumpy today