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Monthly Archives: December 2008

Blocked again

31 Dec

Some time ago I posted an issue I was having with my blog not being read in Turkey because of a government ban. I’m not entire sure what I did to piss them off but it might have been my discontent with the nation at the time. It seems that I am also a little too brash for our poor little sensitive viewers in the Middle East.

This just in. Poor Spoonz, long time friend and reader, sitting in Abu Dhabi, can longer access my blog. This is all he sees:

Blocked

Seems I have made more than one Arab blush so they took me down. And at least in Turkey it was the entire domain “wordpress.com” that came down. On this occasion it is just me. He clicked on other links I sent him that are hosted by the same people and he could access them just fine.

Perhaps I should set a challenge for myself. See how many nations I can piss off enough to ban my blog. Being in South Africa I don’t really have far to look. Why not start at home. Only thing is people here (Fuckwit Zuma and his corrupt cronies) are so thick they don’t understand that I am actually insulting them!

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2008 in Africa, Friends, Politics, Project, Rant 'n Rave, Technology

 

Back from KZN

30 Dec

I know that entries have been a little scarce to say the least and again I am sorry. Only thing is, I am finding very little inspiration in the world around me that I can write about. It would be very easy to slip into a blow by blow account of my life and what I did over the Xmas holidays but let me assure you that would bore me to tears as well.

The problem with having so many people that I know read my blog is I have to be so very careful what I write about. Anything current that has gone on recently in my life would be read by many people who know many of these people and that could all end in disaster. There would be fights and breakups and injury and pain and theft and economic meltdown (Oh sorry, Bush has already taken care of that one).

Perhaps I need to split my blog up:

Blog A : :) People who know Hoox (This will remain right here at OffTheHoox)
Blog B : :( People who don’t have a frikkin clue who Hoox is (Undisclosed Address)

2faceDram

That’s not a bad idea. I will start a new blog but since I cannot distinguish on here who knows me and who doesn’t, I cannot give out the new link. Maybe there should be a prize to whoever finds me first. Interesting since it’s a nightmare maze out there.

Oh and for the quick update, I have just returned from sunny Durban in the wonderful province of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) after a delightfully relaxing time with friends and family over the festive break. It was great (for the most part) to see old friends again, others however can go burn in hell (hahaha – that’s the old Hoox spirit back). We had a great Xmas dinner with the folks and brother in Umhlanga Rocks at an incredible restaurant. The entire week and a few days was pretty kewl. I even met one or two new interesting people. I can write about them here I guess because they don’t have a clue about the blog. Actually no, I will let them retain their dignity even if they are unaware.

 
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Posted by on December 30, 2008 in Christmas, Female, Friends, Holiday, Rant 'n Rave

 

Raped by a Virgin

23 Dec

Gyms in general piss me off. Knowing sales people from various gyms in the past and talking to them it is a known fact they actually rely on people who sign contracts and don’t make use of the facilities which is why there is a 100% no refund policy. The problem is that they screw the people who use them too.

My issue here actually started with Planet Fitness with whom I have a national membership. Now what image does the term “national” conjure up? For me it means generally, “in ever major city of a country” or close to that. Planet  Fitness is in Cape Town, Johannesburg and a tiny gym in Port Elizabeth. Should really be called “Three Town Fitness” now shouldn’t they? I am currently in Durban looking for a gym and have been told there isn’t one here. When I took out the contract I asked about the various locations as I knew Durban was a place I would be visiting regularly. I was told there were a few in Durban. When I spoke to customer service and explained this and asked if I was just lied to by the sales guy she simply said, “it seems so now doesn’t it!”

Fury Hoox almost showed his face.

I asked around again for gyms just like the last time I was here until I had this brainwave. My mother is a member of Virgin Active, let’s just try there. I walked in the door and asked to speak to a sales person. One came along and continued the conversation over the reception counter where in order for me to talk to this person I was kept in the way of members trying to enter so I kept being told by this other rude receptionist to get out the way. That started pressing the wrong buttons. Eventually after explaining my predicament, I was told that I could they could give me one free voucher and if I showed up each time with my mother that I could pay a small walk in fee of R120. SMALL?? ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY RAND to stand in a queue for machines in this place? Are they on drugs? Are they for real? That is just damn right criminal. R120? R130 if I showed up without a member. I was gobsmacked. How on earth do they get away with this shit? I felt violated. Fury Hoox showed up but I refrained. I walked out mumbling obscenities under my breathe.

Why do consumers have to be raped each time they do anything in this country? Probably because we are a nation of whining complacent doormat citizens that will simply bend over naked and take it again and again and service providers know this all too well.

Screw you all…

 
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Posted by on December 23, 2008 in Gym, Rant 'n Rave, South Africa, Sports

 

Pissed pieces of peace

20 Dec

Yes, I went AWOL. I know. I’m sorry. Thanks for the emails of concern. I am however alive and well and back in The Sleepy Hollow, for 2 days. Rule number one: Never sit in a bar with a “don’t give a shit” attitude, a carefree nature and an open schedule ahead of you. You may just end up on an impromptu trip around the country. So I hear…

To cut a long story short, I was sitting with my co pilot, LNELL, in a bar with with all the criteria as listed above. Next thing I know we have planned fly to George, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, back to George and back to Port Elizabeth. With these plans in mind I contacted everyone I knew in the respective areas and warned them of an imminent arrival of Hoox. Then after all of that we couldn’t fly due to weather and aircraft constraints. But I thought to hell with it, plans are plans so here we go. I hopped in my car and vanished off the radar for a week and a bit. It’s a tough life.

I ended up in Plettenberg Bay for a few days and then Cape Town for a little over a week. Nice!

It was a wonderful trip and so good to see old friends and meet up with family that I haven’t seen in 15+ years. Thank you to all that made the effort. To summarise my trip briefly now, I felt I have made my peace, got a piece, gave a piece of my mind, got pissed and sadly returned to some pieces. I am very happy with all but the last one! I do understand and only wish it could be different somehow. Yet another price to pay for the life I have lived. I guess you can’t have it all but I am so very grateful for everything I have had, however fleeting.

Great lyrics come to mind:

For my fellow Aerosmith lover, Puccino! Amazing!

O Zot! Na Cmende!

I kept the right ones out
And let the wrong ones in
Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins
There were times in my life
When I was goin’ insane
Tryin’ to walk through
The pain

 
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Posted by on December 20, 2008 in Albania, Cessna, Family, Female, Friends, Holiday, Home, L & J, Life, Project, Road Trip, South Africa, Wishlist

 

Life in “The Sleepy Hollow”

08 Dec

Not a lot has happened since we spoke last. Not much happens in Port Elizabeth at all really hence “The Sleepy Hollow”. I wake up, go to gym, come home, eat my protein and Weetbix, get on with the day and then finally go to sleep after the sun has set. Mundane days get broken up from time to time with a nice flight somewhere. That is all about to change in the near future. Oh, and I went for a late night swim in the sea the other night after a bit of a boozy lunch which was far from mundane but that is a whole different story.

I realised yesterday that in Port Elizabeth you can’t get any good food after 12 on a Sunday unless you go to a chain restaurant like Spur or Ocean Basket. It’s not a bad thing I suppose as the speciality mom and pop shop setups also need a break from time to time. But I just find it odd is all, that on the big day of rest when I figure most restaurants would make a good turnover, they are closed.

Yesterday the weather was fantastic. Not a cloud in the sky and the sun was beating down. It was so good in fact that I decided to take a book outside and read in the sun. I forget that when I start reading I get sleepy. Yeah, I fell asleep in the sun. Remember that old phrase, “Happy as a lobster”? Well that ain’t me. I mean I am the lobster alright but I just ain’t all that happy about it! Staring at myself in the mirror now my back and butt look like the St George’s flag. Yes, that is a painful image! Perhaps an over-share?

This week is the start of holidays and great adventures. I know my life is almost one long holiday these days but now others are taking holiday too so I get to see people during the day. Travel is only a day away. Yippee Kai Yay! I should be flying to Plettenberg Bay tomorrow so I really hope the weather holds out! Oh well, we will see.

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2008 in Africa, Holiday, Life, Project, Travel

 
 
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