RSS

Monthly Archives: December 2007

On the road

Today I am not at my desk. Not for some time anyway. Today I am on the long and winding path down the mountain tracks to the Nene Teresa Tirana International Airport to pick up my Christmas present from South Africa. It is so worth the time and effort. You will see why soon!

On the road

It is a wonderful surprise. A very last minute call. A very extravagant idea. An amazing gift from home. If you cant take Mohammed to the mountain, you had better know how to bring the mountain to Mohammed. I could not get home for Christmas and New Year, so home has come to me.

Albania welcomes, with arms wide open, The Lovely KT. She will now experience first hand what it is like to live the life of depravation in an expat environment on a jobsite far far away.

There were some panicy starts to this little adventure of which I will write about when all is said and done.

 
 

Goedgedacht Success!

The Hoox / Goedgedacht Christmas Card Appeal was a great success in my eyes and certainly in the eyes of the wonderful little children it set out to help.

What I set out to achieve was achieved in a fraction of the time that I anticipated. I encouraged readers to buy or sell on cards and promised to match pack for pack (to a cap of 100 cos I’m not a millionaire) and by God that was hit within days especially thanks to Lou from 123 Blog Myself.

Instead of me buying 100 packs of cards I simply donated the value of the 100 packs (R2, 000) to The Goedgedacht Trust thus allowing then to have these cards to sell on further. Some weeks passed and the cards continued to sell although at a slower pace. It seems email Christmas wishes is the preferred method of delivery these days. Never-the-less, even 1 pack sold is 1 pack better for the children. I think a total of +- 150 packs from OffTheHoox was sold making a total sum of R3, 000

In the final days I received an email from an old mate of mine that I had worked with in North Africa suggesting that he would like to contribute but didn’t need the cards and asked if there was any way he could just make a donation. That opened up further avenues instantly. I sent out a plea email to my project colleagues here (against company policy I might add) and I got an amazing response. With the combination of cash and money transfers to my account in the UK I was able to collect it all together and send through a whopping R10, 000 ($1, 456) as a lump sum donation.

I would like to thank everyone that I have not been able to thank personally for the huge efforts put in. I know it’s hard to imagine in our comfortable worlds but you really have made a huge difference to wonderful children and you gave them an extra special Christmas full of food, fun, love and laughter. THANK YOU!

Grand total for an incredible cause: R15, 000 / $2, 184

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 27, 2007 in Christmas, Ideas, Interesting, Life, Wishlist

 

It’s snowing!

I am in the camp and it’s snowing. Awesome. It is quite amazing how boring, plain, dull and even dirty places looks so much nicer when there is a light dusting of snow. Christ even this place is looking better now that it’s snowing.

Before now we have only had one night of snow here in camp this season. It didn’t snow here when it snowed in Tirana. All the other camps are higher up in the mountains and they are averaging at least 20cm. I hope it doesn’t snow too much here. It can make things like transport a little tricky.

 
2 Comments

Posted by on December 27, 2007 in Albania, Camp

 

Kind of an odd day

Today feels strange. We are at the office and it’s a normal work day even though it shouldn’t be but that’s what you learn to expect being on projects. The company dictates your time and by the looks of it, even your religion (or use of religion to take time off anyway).

Saying that however, it seems most of the office is AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave) and it’s awesome. The place is quiet. It’s pissing down with rain which is a bitch but that’s where Mr Brolly shows up to take care of that.

After a spectacular weekend in Tirana, it was decided yesterday that we would drive up the road to a restaurant that we had heard about in a little own called Lezhe. We had an incredible lunch with 8 of us in this cozy little place. Things proceeded slowly and at a very relaxed pace which was so different from the norm but it meant we spent the whole afternoon there. Very chilled. A slow, careful drive back up the highway to hell got us back into the camp at around 7 or 8pm? I can’t remember.

Like I said, today feels odd. It’s like a holiday only different. I like it but there’s other places I would rather be. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Cheers – Merry Xmas
Cheers - Merry Xmas

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 26, 2007 in Albania, Camp, Christmas, L & J, Project, Wishlist

 

Kissin’ under the mistletoe

Kissing under the mistletoe is a long time tradition that occurs around Christmas time. You can read all about it here.

Who am I to stand in the way of tradition? May it be celebrated and exercised all over the world with much vigor and determination.

Pucker up and smooch away. Merry Christmas everyone!

Mistletoe Kiss 01

Maybe you even get to wear Santa’s hat afterwards??
Mistletoe Kiss 03

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 25, 2007 in Art, Boob, Christmas, Female, L & J, Photography

 

Titillating Tuesday – Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from around the world:

Afrikaans – Geseende Kerfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian – Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
Apache (Western) – Gozhqq Keshmish
Arabic – I’D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
Danish – Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
English – Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
French – Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
German – Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek – Kala Christougenna Ki’eftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
Hawaiian – Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew – Mo’adim Lesimkha. Shanah Tova
Hindi – Shubh Naya Baras
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Italian – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japanese – Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean – Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latin – Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
Macedonian – Srekan Bozik I Nova Godina
Maltese – Nixtieqlek Milied Tajjeb u Sena Tajba
Portuguese – Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
Russian – Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Sotho/North – Mahlatsi a Matswalo a Morena le Ngwaga o Moswa
Sotho/South – Litakalerso Tse Monate Tsa Kere Semese Le Mahlohonolo a Selemo Se Sech Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Swahili – ºKrismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swazi – sinifisela khisimusi lomuhle nemnyaka lomusha lomuhle
Tasmanian – munto ag lag unti frinto ling dum ach tak
Thai – Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
Tswana – Keresemose o monate le masego a ngwaga o montsha
Turkish – Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Xhosa – Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa
Zulu – Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

Who would have thought that Christmas day would have fallen directly on a Titillating Tuesday? Well well, it did. So here’s big wishes from all of us at OffTheHoox (just me) and Titillating Tuesday (also just me)!

I hope you are having a wonderful day with friends, family and loved ones.

(Click for more – Certainly NSFW)

Read the rest of this entry »

 
 

Iz Krizmaz innit? Merry 24th!

My favourite 2007 Christmas story (Chav style)

A thanks to KT for this who apparently got it from Peas

There’s this bird called Mary, yeah?
She’s a virgin (wossat then?)
She’s not married or nuffink, but she’s got this boyfriend, Joe, innit?
He does joinery an’ that. Mary lives with him in a crib dahn Nazaref.
One day Mary meets this bloke Gabriel. She’s like ‘Oo ya lookin at?’
Gabriel just goes ‘You got one up the duff, you have.’
Mary’s totally gobsmacked. She gives it to him large ‘Stop dissin’ me yeah?’
I ain’t no Kappa-slapper. I never bin wiv no one!’
So Mary goes and sees her cousin Liz, who’s six months gone herself.
Liz is largin’ it. She’s filled with spirits, Barcardi Breezers an’ that.
She’s like ‘Orright, Mary, I can feel me bay-bee in me tummy and I reckon I’m well blessed.
Fink of all the extra benefits an’ that we are gonna get.’
Mary goes ‘Yeah, s’pose you’re right’
Mary an’ Joe ain’t got no money so they have to ponse a donkey, an’ go dahn Bethlehem on that. They get to this pub an’ Mary wants to stop, yeah? To have her bay-bee an’ that.
But there ain’t no room at the inn, innit?
So Mary an’ Joe break an’ enter into this garridge, only its filled wiv animals. Cahs an’ sheep an’ that. Then these three geezers turn up, looking proper bling, wiv crowns on their heads.
They’re like ‘Respect, bay-bee Jesus’, an’ say they’re wise men from the East End .
Joe goes: ‘If you’re so wise, wotchoo doin’ wiv this Frankenstein an’ myrrh? Why dincha just bring gold, Adidas and Burberry?’
It’s all about to kick off when Gabriel turns up again an’ sez he’s got another message from this Lord geezer.
He’s like ‘The police is comin an’ they’re killin all the bay-bees. You better nash off to Egypt.’
Joe goes ‘You must be monged it you think I’m goin’ dahn Egypt on a minging donkey’
Gabriel sez ‘Suit yerself, pal. But it’s your look out if you stay.’
So they go dahn Egypt till they’ve stopped killin the first-born an’ it’s safe an’ that.
Then Joe and Mary and Jesus go back to Nazaref, an’ Jesus turns water into Stella.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 24, 2007 in Christmas, L & J

 

My Goodness – My Guinness

Oh my God. What a weekend. I seriously think if it wasn’t the best weekend I have ever had in Albania it certainly was pretty damn close. It all started with a rough idea of what we wanted to do, where we wanted to do it and when and how just kinda fell into place.

We wanted good food, good drink and good music. All were achieved and seemingly effortlessly. That’s what happens when you get a bunch of good people together that just gel and get along. From that, the fun is born.

There is no need to get into details as such but just know it was damn good fun and this weekend even had me, Dr Hoox, dancing like a rock version of Michael Flatly (without the Spandex tights!).

Getting home at 3:30am is more like it. I felt young again. I had the power. That was until I woke up at 11am with the worst hangover I have had in a while. But I even managed to put on a smile while recounting the previous nights events in my head. Ok, so I had the help of my camera too!

Key ingredients – 6+ beautiful girls 
My Goodness 01

Walk like an Egyptian – Dance like a Div!
My Goodness 02

Can you heeaarrr meeee?? – Foo Fighters! (In your honour)
My Goodness 03

My Goodness – My Guinness
(I don’t even like the stuff)

My Goodness 04

 
2 Comments

Posted by on December 24, 2007 in Albania, Friends, L & J, Party!

 

FCUK Friday

Ok so today is just another Friday where I get to complain that it’s the last day of the work week for you sad people that don’t have an exciting career on a magnificent project with crazy adventures doing amazing things. You are so unfortunate to not be stuck away in a remote environment carved into Mother Nature’s wonderful planet away from the noise and pollution of the city life.

FUCK IT

You don’t have the opportunity to maximize your working years by putting in 60+ hours a week and dedicating Saturday’s to the cause. Oh and thrilling 3 hour staff meetings.

So what, you have the ability to say, “Yeah well at least I have a life!” As far as I’ve heard that’s pretty over-rated too!

FUCK it, have a great Friday wherever you are. Go get drunk this weekend. Go get laid this weekend. Don’t tell me about it on Monday. Jealousy is a disease. Get well bitch!

 Ripped2fcuk

 
2 Comments

Posted by on December 21, 2007 in Camp, Party!

 

Not a lot to spot

Today is lovely. It’s Sacrifice Day in the Muslim world which means today is a public holiday. Since I am not Muslim I am at the office but that’s ok because no-one else is. There really is nothing going on. Today is lovely.

Woke up this morning to a bright sunny day with the rays beating orange and yellow onto the hard green and brown terrain of the mountains that surround the valley that we are situated in. The air is still bitterly cold but the sky is bright and that brings with it the uplifting sensation for the mind and soul.

Since no-one is around, it’s all pretty quiet. Offices are barely occupied. Construction sounds from the nearby job sites are non-existent. Every once in a while I will see a smiling face walking by wishing others a HAPPY BAYRAM. Apart from some faint noise of a celebration party going on in one of the recreation centers, there is a faint sound of a breeze through the trees and the lapping of the water of the river Fan that passes us nearby.

Pity not every day could be like this. But then we wouldn’t be here doing a job. It’s times like this that we should use to relax, reflect, chill and clear our heads and focus on the positive.

My positive #1 : I leave here in about a month. You will not believe the smile that brings to my face. Going on to newer, bigger and better things. In this case, the grass really is greener on the other side.

Happy Bayram everyone. Raise a glass of cheer.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 20, 2007 in Albania, Camp, Life

 
 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.