Here it is by popular demand, Monteh and his best friend My Little Pwny 

 Just finished re-sodding the back yard. Knackered.

My parents are making their annual trip out here in a few weeks time. They'll be staying with us, and with my brother. Both of them are getting on a bit, 73 I think last count. It's always a little worrying to see how they have changed in a year. I should really go back to England at least once a year to see them and every1 else. Maybe that will be my NY resolution for 2008?

After they leave we are going to Maui for a week. Can't wait. It's just what I will need to freshen up my spirits before the stressful Christmas season.

Can't wait to drink a mai tai on the beach <SIIGGHHHHH>

Now that Alex has started school full time I have almost every morning free to do whatever I want. It's been a while since I regularly rode any of our horses, maybe once or twice a week. Also years ago I would take our old horse Buddy out on trail. He was a absolute rock, fully trustworthy, loved to eat the local foliage. Riding past mustard plants was always rather funny because I could see Buddy eyeballing them before making a lunge. He would do almost anything to eat that stuff.Anyway, Buddy died last year at the ripe old age of 30 so I have not had a trail horse.........Until I discovered our other horse Howie was more than up to the job. The last 2 days I have walked him over to the adjacent polo fields where there is a long track. We walk a little canter a little and then gallop to the end. Brilliant! Such a wonderful feeling galloping along without the confines of a arena. I'll add some pics of Howie at home. He's my new Buddy!

Have been in the wars again with my kidneys. A few weeks ago I took myself to the emergency room after having  progressively worse flank pains. Had a CT scan done which revealed 2 more stones. Been on meds ever since to help the pain, which isn't that bad, at least it doesnt stop me from doing any daily activity. Appt with new urologist on Oct 2.

Lewis won the race from the front. Bloody good job. Made his bosses and teammate look very stupid with egg on their faces. Apparently Fernando isn't talking to Lewis any more. What a pansy. 

What the hell is Alonso thinking? What a complete wanker, holding up Lewis on his pitstop during qualifying and thinking that he'd get away with it. And his team making up a pile of bullshit to cover his useless arse. Shame on them!

Thankfully the FIA came through and penalised Alonso 6 places and no points for McLaren.

 

WANKER! 

Stated a new deck in our bak yard to replace the one ripped out with the old in-ground jacuzzi. We bought a new portable 6 man tub a few weeks ago (thx credit card!) but it's sitting on a frame which in turn is on dirt. Made a deck for the area next to the jacuzzi. It's a little rickety but works fine. Starting on the frame for the rest tomorrow. A trip to Home Depot is on the cards in the morning for some 4 x 4's and joists to fix em together, then Bobs yer uncle!

Registered on facebook the other day. It's amazing how easy it makes finding old friends. Found all the usual suspects!

 

Hi Catherine!

Went to "Fishstock 2007" in Ontario Canada last week. It was a party for a whole bunch of Sunlit Games friends some of whom I have known for 4 years. Great to finally meet Rosie, Feesh, Dick, John, , Jonny, Flite, Greg, Ryan, Rob, Bernt, Suk!, Loach, The Holidays and their aimbot, Jackie, Steve-o, Chubbz et al. Pure friensdhip from these wondeful people!

My brother Steve rented a Lotus Elise a few days ago, just for fun. He came up for lunch and we went out for a spin on the winding roads of Rancho Santa Fe. This is a pure racing car with very little suspension movement. Every bump is a kick in your arse, but it handles just superbly. I couldn't believe how quickly this thing could be pushed. Of course being a Lotus, the interior is about as basic as can be. All very tinny and plasticy. Definately not worth the price tag but fun nonetheless.

Things are moving along at the mall. Will be switching my business over to a large kiosk on 1st June all being well. Gonna keep the original location and sell heavily discounted silver and steel jewelry (rings, eaerrings, necklaces etc). it's gonna be a lot of work at the end of the month, but the single thing I am seriously worried about is hiring new employees. Young people these days have such a terrible work ethic UGH!.

Congrats to my friend Mike Lok on completing the Flora London Marathon. Bloody good job mate!

Check out Mike's blog with (promised) video of the event at http://mikelok.spaces.live.com/

Mikes marathon stats:

 

 

I am totally knackered after yesterdays yard work. My legs and glute's (arse) are as sore as hell.

Took Alex to a playgroup with some of the kids she will be in Kindergarten with in August. Met some parents of the other kids. Was a nice morning. I think her transition from Pre K to Kindergarten will be easy because on day 1 she will know most of the kids pretty well. Wish it had been like that when I was a kid. First day at a new school was always terrifying! The American systems for this stuff are perfect.

Major project the last 3 weeks:

 

When we bought the house 18 months ago, the front lawn was an awful mess. It seemed that whatever ther weather/time of year, there was brown/yellow/green/more brown patches everywhere. Apparently there were 4 different kinds of grass growing in the lot, a 500 sq ft area. anyhow it looked awful and a month ago we finally had a letter from the homeowners association. To be honest if I were a neighbor I'd be pretty pissed looking at it every day. We've been so busy with other projects up to now that it took something like this to force us into action.

Our gardener quoted us 1300 big ones to do it. I'm like "**** that, lets do it ourselves". We did a whole lot of research, rented a heavy roto-tiller, fixed the sprinklers, fertilized, and have gradually been grading the area over the last 3 weeks. Finally we ordered the sod (why do they call it that?) "Marathon II".....it was delivered early this morning and I started to lay it down after taking Alex to school. An hour or so later....

Good Job Mr. and Mrs. Wood!

All told about $400.00 spent on the sod and equipment rental.

Next is the Wooden floor in the hallway, followed by AC, then a complete overhaul to the Spa out back.

 

Took Alex to the San Diego Wild Animal Park today. Was a nice day out, overcast but pleasantly warm....Here is the evidence:

Not had time to add to the blog in the last week or 2. Wayy too busy with life (work, DOD, work etc etc ).

Pineapple has sprung roots (how exciting!)

No word from the Mall (wankers).

I am jealous of Mike's gardening skills..need to do something about it.

Looking forward to Fishstock, Ontario in July . I finally will get the opportunity to call Feesh a jerk in person. I think it'll be a classic weekend.

All the teams were testing in Bahrain this week. It's hard to tell who is the real pace-setter. BMW, McLaren and Ferrari have all been fastest at some point or another. For sure Honda, Renault and especially Red Bull look weak.

Yesterday MCLaren was comfortably fastest, Alonso a tenth up on Hamilton.

It's been a stressful week at work. A few weeks ago the mall management came up with their annual bullshit. This year it's a company-wide "corporate directive" (i.e some wanker trying to justify their job). I'm not sure what it's tryig to achieve as the jargon on the memo sent out doesn't really mean anything. What it boils down to for me is trashing a whole lot of displays which hold a LOT of jewelry, and trying to do the impossible which is relocate them without compromising the rest of the display. My answer to them was to relocate the entire business onto a larger kiosk. They were quite receptive to the idea, but I will find out next week if it is to go ahead (it'll cost $$$ of course). Hopefully it'll work out, otherwise I'll be getting a 30-day eviction notice, this after being a great tenant for the last 6 years; always paying rent on time and running a professional business. No loyalty in this business.