Meanderings of a Monkey Juggler

So back to Bg.

It was a long trip there and back although Ronald helped smooth things on the way.  I've decided that I really don't like budget airlines' methods.  Particularly the "no allocated seat" cack.  It ought to be good but people have no manners so it always ends up a pushing match.  It would cost the company damn all to implement a set seat system so they should or get used to seriously annoyed people.  They could put it on-line so when you buy your seat you reserve a place - no problem.

In Bg we had plenty of jobs to do so there was little free time.  Sorting out the house was the biggie and lots was done but there's stacks of "making good" to do.  K is now the official owner and more photos taken of the inside to show but they aren't developed yet.

Her mum's place has been slightly spruced up recently but there's still more to go and that'll be done in the next 3 months (I'm looking forward to an inside loo and shower).  The man's done a decent job too.

The village is a strange place.  Small Place Syndrome is apparent and everyone knows (or thinks they know) everyone else's business.  K was asked on more than one occasion if it was true that she'd bought this house.  She kept saying "no" despite it being damn obvious to anyone with eyes.

Loads of houses are being sold to Brits around the whole area.  People think they will get fortunes for any old rubbish tho' so there'll be disappointments.  One house we saw had definitely been bought by Brits and what we saw and heard made me so angry with them.

Imagine the scene: a beautiful old village full of old houses done in the classic style.  In the middle is one place that's dropping to bits and the new owners have spoiled any charm completely by fitting PVC windows in bright white.  It looks totally out of place.  On mentioning this to the neighbour he invited us in for coffee and chatted about the newbies.  Apparently they have refused on any number of occasions to take up offers of a meal or a friendly drink and show every indication of shutting themselves away from the local society.  Idiots!  We have the perfect opportunity to get out of the ridiculous insularity that besets the British and they're perpetuating it out of choice.  I know I've just slagged off small place syndrome but rather that than avoidance of interaction.

One nearby village has 7 British houses.  They'll be empty for ages then and probably have lots of stuff nicked whilst empty.  I'm expecting the locals to start acting like the Welsh anytime soon.

In quiet times I played an awful lot of Advance Wars 2 and it really is excellent.  Anyone getting me the first one is likely to be well rewarded.  I'll have to get it on the DS as well (after Christmas of course).

Read a book and a half: 

Brick Lane by Monica Ali - I'd wanted to read this for a while as Brick Lane is one of my fave places on the planet.  It follows a Bangla girl from her village to an ok marriage in London to a man 20 years her senior.  It charts nicely her journey from subservience to realising she has a voice.  Nicely told and humourous when it needed to be but hardly for everyone's tastes.  One part had me really happy.  Her husband was one of the "eager to please" types and kept inviting the local GP for meals to try and raise his importance locally via association with this doctor.  Throughout the book you think the doctor is taking him for a ride and humouring him.  At the end the GP lends him money and the wife asks the doctor why.  "Because he is my friend.  My very good friend." is the reply in a tone of surprise.  I think that's such a lovely turn-round.

I've also started Boiling a Frog by Christopher Brookmyre (Author of A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away).  He's a boy's author and has plots involving intrigue, plots and violence in certain measures.  This one seems to be awfully derivative so far.  It's about Scottish politics and spin doctors and PR types causing things to happen.  The sole big event has been someone infecting rival's pcs with lurid nudie pics of kiddies in an effort to get them in trouble with the law and to wreck their public profiles.  Exactly the same plot device was used (better) by Stephen Fry in The Stars Tennis Balls.  So it's ok but no classic (so far).

And I've found the thing I like and hate most about Bg.  It's the avoidance of rules if they get in the way.

Situatiion: You go to a cafe bar for a meal and a drink.  It's a nice new place and follows the rules that you must have a non-smoking area.  We sit in the non-smoking area.  There are only 3 tables there and 2 have 2 people each on them.  At any one time 3 of these 4 people were smoking.  But not only that the waitress came over and changed ashtrays for them!  Twice!

So it's nice in a "cavalier - not giving a monkeys" way but in this case it didn't impress me.

But I've found a race more inclined to break the rules and be hanged with the consequences - the Hungarians.

At Bud airport on the way back we were queueing to check-in and there were 3 queues.  Just next to us a woman sidled into the queue in front of me - now I don't mind the odd one so I let it pass.  As we neared the front some of her friends came to join her and she even had one of them hunting around trying to find more people to join her.  So at the front whe about 8 people tried to get in I went ballistic and 'twas a sight to behold.  I effed and blinded and insulted their race, country and level of intelligence. "But we're in a group"; yes and you're all over 20 so can be trusted to stand seperately instead of having to hold each other's hands!  Thankfully the long line of people behind me also had a go.  The poor buggers will have a torrid time in the UK if that's how they treat queues.  The check-in lady was completely unfazed and waved them through happily though.  Cow.  I very nearly had a go at her too but I wanted to get on the plane without further hindrance.  I realised just how British I am too, I was absolutely livid and my body, already tired, was shaking with anger, literally shaking.  Sigh.

Have fun.