It’s that time of year again… festival time! Something to do with moon cakes I think. Here in China every one’s getting ready for their annual week holiday. Every where I look in Shanghai shoppers are carrying their gold foiled bags filled with elegantly presented gift boxes inside of which are a variety of cakes and liquored drinks.
And I’m about to set off to Vietnam this evening to celebrate my marriage to my Moon “cake”! There will be some four hundred guests next Tuesday evening at the Kim Lien hotel in Hanoi. I’m not a big crowd person so I’m feeling a little nervous (please wish me luck and courage). Once I’m there I’ll surely be shining along with my Moon and enjoying the cake!
The “cake’s” parents and family have been fantastically busy preparing for the big occasion and I know they have all worked so hard in organizing it. I’m proud of them and I truly hope they will really enjoy the day. In a way it’s their big day to celebrate their only daughter-cake’s marriage to a humble English man.
Later in the week we hope to be traveling up to Tuan Chau Island for a few relaxing days where I shall indulge in a delicious cake eating experience.
I hope to be able to post some pictures of the big day and our trip to Tuan Chau Island on my Yahoo Flickr album.
In the mean time I would like to wish you all a very happy harvest festival of whatever kind wherever you may be on the planet. Have your cake and enjoy!
Congrats to you&your moon-cake.Oh your going to enjoy yourself in Vietnam.Can't wait to see the pictures.Best wishes for both.Don't be to nervous.im sure you will do just fine:) Have fun!
Thank you all for your support! Today's the BIG day. We've been busy preparing and going round meeting some of Moon's friends. Most of Sunday was spent at the bridal studios (from 2pm until 1am!!!) having photos done in various outfits! Speak to you all soon.
Work stopped while Maurice's plaster dabs were considered for the Turner prize.
Following from my reading of friends blogs I was particularly interested in Gumlofujai's entry entitled 'Heaven and Hell' (I think that has something to do with manic depression but I digress)
Mentioned was the 'Turner Prize'. Now anyone with my namesake is bound to draw my attention and so I couldn't help but notice a comment made about the artist in 1816 by 'New Monthly Magazine':
'Excellent as are Mr Turner's lectures, in other respects there is an embarrassment in his manner approaching almost to unintelligibility, and a vulgarity of pronunciation astonishing in an artist of his rank and respectability.
Now why is it I find some affinity with this artist from such an outrageous comment as that?
Perhaps it's that constant yearning of wanting to be understood and knowing that if one chooses the path of an artist one is looking to express himself in his art. And I know full well that if I do that then what people are going to find will probably lead them to make comments along the lines of the one made by the New Monthly Magazine.
It could still be worse... I might be wearing that straight jacket joke a little too thin here but the fact is I might actually be wearing it... no wait a minute... that's a deja vue...
For now my art is in the writing I do and the occasional humour expressed therein. I wish those who are sadly curious enough to be an audience to my blogs the best of luck! Dear friends I thank you for those fresh cream cakes.
The following cartoons are borrowed from the Tate.org.uk website.
This Vietnamese poem (taken from somewhere deep in the cyberjungle) I present in the spirit of cheekiness and fun.
It's a poem from a husband about his wife. Please allow me to get one thing straight: my Vietnamese knowledge is as about as good as my knowledge of Quantum Physics. Luckily, however, with the kind assistance of my Dear I have attempted a paraphrase translation into English. The Vietnamese poem uses some slang and words from the countryside.
Tuyet dinh tinh ca
Du khong sinh de ra ta.
Nhung cong nuoi duong that la lon lao.
Khi ta dau om xanh xao.
Vo lo cham soc hong hao khoe ngay.
So ta di trat duong ray.
Vo lien theo doi keo ngay ve nha.
Khi ta tan tinh ba hoa.
Vo lien ''quat nat'' de ma ran de.
Loi vo day phai lang nghe.
Mai sau ''khon lon'' ma khoe moi nguoi.
Noi ra xin hay cho cuoi.
Vo ta ta so!
Vo nguoi ... con lau!
And now for the English paraphrase...
The Most Wonderful Love Song!
Even though I wasn't born of my wife.
Her mothering love is great in my life.
And when I'm really very sick and I feel most poorly,
My Dear takes care of me and I recover most surely.
Because she worries I'll take the path the wrong way,
My wife makes sure to bring me home straight-away.
When I waste my time to do some bloody odd things,
My Dear makes sure to give me some hardy scold-ings!
She says, 'You have to listen to my words and advice my Dear'
She says, 'And when you are grown up you'll be good my Dear'
I confess this secret - Of my wife I'm afraid: forever,
Don't be hopeful though - Of another man's wife: not ever!
Khung? khiep',Nguoi ta thuong noi' " Phong ba bao~ tap' khong bang` ngu~ phap' Viet nam", the ma` Phil dich duoc bai` nay` ra tieng Anh, bai' phuc.My admiration to you!I hope some days I will translate one of the most wonderful love song into "tuyet dinh tinh ca"in Vietnamese -_^.
I don't think it's the most wonderful love song. Just says about the wife in a funny way.I used to read many others more fun^^.Anyway you can understand and translate it as you did is so great^^.
RULES: Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things/habits about themselves. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things/habits as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "TAG... YOU'RE IT" and tell them to read your blog."
I’ve been tagged by my wise but not so old Big Sis so here goes:
I can make my ears wriggle like Londoner Stan Laurel and he was a man with a good sense of humour so we’ve got something in common. I’ll prove it to you sometime on this blog although I suspect I could be getting myself into another fine mess here….
Although sometimes (when I’m angry) my voice goes all squeaky I can actually talk lower than Barry White. I will prove that one sometime too.
I insist on sleeping in my birthday suit every night… yeah I know I’m receiving therapy for it ok! I have a feeling a straight jacket might actually be coming my way next birthday… that just might be a more appropriate birthday suit to sleep in?
I have this rather disturbing condition where I cannot help but embarrass my lovely wife by walking around the apartment in the same suit that I insist on sleeping in. I can pro… no wait a minute that might be stepping outside Yahoo 360 terms and conditions… and in any case if I do step outside it could be rather cold in that suit…
It gets worse I’m sorry… I’m suspected of being into bestiality. You see I’m keen on the act of loving because it’s in my name but that’s why people suspect it… my name means lover of horses. Well I can confirm this unfortunate passion runs in the family for many generations back – my great great great great great grandfather was a jockey who won the St Leger Stake several times… for this terrible affliction I could be receiving a straight jacket sooner than I think!
Talking of afflictions… I regretfully suffer from ‘Angry Tourettes’. I can prove this… please watch my avatar carefully. I can’t help this blinkin’ habit alright! And that’s something that some people think the Kaiser Chiefs sing in their song. Listen carefully and you’ll understand what I mean.
I'm tagging New Kid, As I Am, Jessica, Dan, Phil and Smileycat. Enjoy the game.
An old friend said to me I should invest my writing skills into something other than machines… and so this blog was born – not that I feel any the wiser for doing it!
When I have my dreamy head on I sometimes think about what I really want to do with my life.
I’m not an artist even if sometimes I’ve fancied to get out some brushes and crayons…
I’m afraid my propensity to draw engineering straight lines and edges will offend the art community.
I’m not a photographer either but I’ve often fancied to take out my camera and go on expeditions to the faraway and wild places of this earth…
I’m afraid my subjects of blades of grass, old machinery and window frames might bore the photographing world into a state of rigor mortis.
I’m not a bookworm though I have fancied to read all the English classics…
I’m afraid that Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray would come back from the dead and haunt my soul for trying to be so vain to actually think I could know anything about the arts.
I’m not a hermit monk but I’ve fancied myself to live in a lonely dark cave so very high in the Himalayas…
I’m afraid that I might find too much comfort in the solace of the place that the Yeti would become my true and only friend.
I’m no magician though I have fancied to be a mystical illusionist and entertainer…
I’m afraid of only succeeding to show that David Blaine is actually a man of real magic that only gets away with it by pretending that all his performances are just clever illusions…
I’m no writer even if I have fancied myself as one…
I’m afraid that my plot-less and meaningless stories will give rise to concern for the true state of my mind and I’ll end up in a straight-jacket.
Where was I going with this? You know I’ve absolutely no idea… and I’m still definitely none the wiser!
Friends, fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters of the Cyberworld have pity on me by returning again, only, please remember to bring with you a sanity protection suit, a cream cake (make sure it’s fresh cream) and a heart filled with smiles to give.
With this I ‘Must Get Out’…
I’ve been the needle and the thread Weaving figure eights and circles round your head I try to laugh but cry instead Patiently wait to hear the words you’ve never said
Fumbling through your dresser drawer forgot what I was looking for Try to guide me in the right direction Making use of all this time Keeping everything inside Close my eyes and listen to you cry*ING
I'm lifting you up I'm letting you down I'm dancing til dawn I'm fooling around I'm not giving up I'm making your love This city's made us crazy and we must get out
This is not goodbye she said It is just time for me to rest my head She does not walk she runs instead Down these jagged streets and into my bed
When I was Fumbling through your dresser drawer forgot what I was looking for Try to guide me in the right direction Making use of all this time Keeping everything inside Close my eyes and listen to you cry*ING
I'm lifting you up I'm letting you down I'm dancing til dawn I'm fooling around I'm not giving up I'm making your love This city’s made us crazy and we must get out
There’s only so much I can do for you After all of the things you put me through
(Oooohhhh!!) I'm lifting you up I'm letting you down I'm dancing til dawn I'm fooling around, I'm not giving up I'm making your love This city’s made us crazy and we must get out
I'm lifting you up I'm letting you down I'm dancing til dawn I'M FOOLING AROUND! I'm not giving up I'm making your love This city’s made us crazy and we must get out
I'm lifting you up (Whoa!) I'm letting you down (Whooooooaaaaa!) I'm dancing til dawn (Whoa!) I'm fooling around (Whoa!) I'm not giving up (Yeah!) I'm making your love This city’s made us crazy and we must get out...
Hey old friend, I'm blaming you entirely for this, so I regret to have to dedicate today's blog to you... sorry!
True art is an expression of self, if you draw or paint or write poetry, what difference does it make whether the "critics" like it? That's not the purpose of doing it, is it? so, grab your crayons or your paints or your pens, have at it. If you do decide to emulate one of the crazies, don't cut your ear off or anything else for that matter, think of the mess on the carpet. Of course, that carpet would probably be what the critics would Love!!!!!
I'm no super-comedien but I have fancied to make people smile and laugh... I'm afraid my efforts will be mistaken for a lecture on how to dry paint. Thank you 'As I am' - I think it's nice too. And Donna you're like a mother to me - I'll heed your advice. Thank you.
Ahem, mother? C'mon, at least give me "not much older but a whole lot wiser sister"? Aunt? Distant cousin? Besides, little brother, you didn't laugh at my "mess on the carpet" speech either. :) Of course, maybe it's because the critics really would love it? ;) And you know those designer straight jackets come with your name embroidered on the front. You should see mine, pink ribbons and everything! haha, keep writing, I'll keep commenting, one of us will get it right!
Last night my wife and I went to see Chinese film ‘the Banquet’ with English subtitles. This film has all the hallmarks of a Shakespearean tragedy with a mixture of Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet thrown in. I loved the cinematography, choreography and the music some of which was performed by the BBC orchestra. I’m sure this film will make more than its money’s worth in China alone. It was kind of a theatrical type of Lord of the Rings movie. Perhaps I missed something obvious but it seemed to be left with a catch at the end. Given who was left alive I couldn’t work out who killed ‘her’ right at the very end (I won’t say who because I wouldn’t want to give too much away for those who want to see it). Yes I loved it. And if you like Shakespearean tragedies you’ll love this film too.
Above is a picture of me with my paternal grandmother-in-law. This year she will have 100 years of living tucked under her belt! My wife's family assures me that this is absolutely true! Doesn't she look well for her age? I took the opportunity to ask her how she was and what’s the secret that given her a century innings. My wife translated for me and the answer unfortunately was a little depressing… she simply said she wished she knew how to die… fed up of not being able to go anywhere because of her fragility…. ah well I suppose maybe she just might have been on one of her off days for she was agile enough to walk around her own home.
Something I did learn that day though is that the secret for her long living was in evidence all around her. Much of the food she and her family eat is grown in her own garden - lots of different kinds of vegetables and fruits, grown free of chemicals and manmade fertilizer.Maybe also the hardworking but simple and uncomplicated lifestyle, free of the stresses of modern day living, will have contributed too.
And there was something else I reckoned… the water! Yeah it’s the water… it has to be the water I’m telling ya! I know I seen it with my own eyes – it’s the water they drink! (Compelling dialogue huh?) It doesn’t come from a mains tap but from the family well. When I drank some that day I felt a hundred years younger!
And just maybe it’s the tea she drinks! I remember when I first tasted Vietnamese green tea… one word came to my mind… piss. Now I don’t know why I thought that because you know I’ve never tasted piss – you can rest assured. Seriously though I’ve actually come to quite like Vietnamese tea – it’s an acquired taste. So that’s what I’m going to do – start drinking more green tea.
I’m determined to live a long life and greet death on my last day as a merry old man. I’ve my own paternal grandmother to thank for that attitude. She made it to 91 and I remember well the last time I saw her in hospital before she pegged it (about 15 years ago) she gave me this big beautiful smile. It was kind of very reassuring because she knew her time was nearly up. That smile has stayed with me ever since and somehow gives me the strength to make the most of this life.
In spite of all the troubles old age often brings I see a beauty in it that helps me to carry a firm hope all the way to the end…This brings me to a really lovely poem I found this morning by Cynthia Bateman.
All the Way to the End
Finely drawn cheekbones Under almond-shaped eyes Lined with kohl. Long hair, dark and luxurious Falling to her waist.
The face in the photo is bright With laughter. A beautiful day, A beautiful woman. Once upon a time.
The chiseled features of her face Are softened now, The skin gently lined. Years have paled the hair And thinned its luxury.
She sits in the sun Wearing a hat to escape its rays. She laughs gently At a joke told By the one beside her.
He's also in the photograph, Tall and handsome, Rough-hewn and strong, Dark hair blowing In yesterday's breeze.
They laugh together now As he teases her over some Long-acknowledged foible. Time has bent his height and Smoothed his rough edges.
The softness of her laughter and Her gentle touch on his face. The comfort he feels in her presence And the trust they share Replace the fire of earlier days.
Slowed is the rush To get from place to place As years creep to their end. Time fades colorful faces Yet beauty remains.
There is no beauty like that of Long love and a long life lived Without regret. Joy etches its imprint on each Face it graces.
Youth is glorious in its beauty. Bold and glittering. Extravagantly spending its days. Like money in the bank Not thinking of tomorrow.
The beauty of age is refined, With a gentler glow, A reward for the life well-lived. Age is the interest earned On the savings of joy.
Just so very beautiful writting of you !... I can feel the same feeling with you to hear your wife's translation for her answer ?!?... Good days ahead Philip !
My grandmother lived to the age of 99, at 97, her doctor told her to start watching her cholestorol! I can still remember her reaction to that, "Land sakes (when she said that, she was truly upset!), he wants me to start watching it now???" haha Thanks for the post. Beautiful poem!
Whilst humour is a universal of the human race, the way it is conveyed in cultures is often very different to the point that the same kind of humour displayed in a different cultural context can come across as totally unfunny and even downright offensive.
English humour is quite sophisticated. Some of it is very easily appreciated worldwide and some not at all so. The French and Dutch seem to have a really hard time understanding our humour. The Germans are better than most people think at understanding it but they are just not good at expressing their appreciation of it! Asians I’ve found are surprisingly good at understanding our humour provided it is well translated. Americans sometimes comprehend it but it seems that many still fail miserably given that many successful UK comedy shows launched in the States become flops. When Americans buy into our shows they often completely reformat the show in an attempt to make it culturally more familiar as they did with the Office. I don't know why is it that there so many Americans don’t appreciate the subtleties of English humour? I’m surprised because America is culturally very diverse and they speak the same language. I wonder if it’s partly because their myriad of cultures are mostly kept within socially insular and isolated environments. The less one is exposed to different humour the less one will appreciate it. Could it be that the average American is not exposed to the great variety of humour across the world because they are so immersed in their own flamboyant culture and way of life? Thankfully, it seems there are a growing number of Americans who are more culturally aware and really do appreciate our British humour.
I also love American humour. It’s often incredibly witty and I can often find myself rolling around the floor in uncontrolled belly laughter… no seriously I do, I’m as mad as King George maybe but some of the funniest stuff I’ve known comes from America. Among my favourite American TV comedy shows are Friends, Everybody loves Raymond, Frasier, the Simpsons, South Park, Will and Grace... So I've decided I should do a blog entry dedicated to American comedy. It's coming soon so please… watch this space.
Below is a small selection of some my favourite English comedy shows. The clips I've selected are not more than 3 minutes a piece. So please take a moment to enjoy them... and don't forget to drop a comment. Thanks!
Monty Python's 'Bicycle Repair Man'
Ricky Gervais in 'The Office.
Ricky Gervais in 'Extras'...
Little Britain... Lou & Andy go for some ice cream.
"League of Gentleman" was a show with some really bizarre humour.
Another Example from 'League of Gentleman'.
Peter Kay's 'Pheonix Nights' is an example of humour from England's North West.
Rowan Atkinson in Black Adder...
Rowan Aktinson as 'Mr Bean' is possibly one of the most popular ever comedians of all time. Everywhere I've been everyone's heard of Mr Bean.
The 'table ballet' has to be my favourite Charlie Chaplin sketch.
Thanks for watching and please cheer up my day by adding a comment.
Nice one Phil - we have to teach the Colonials our sense of humor. LOL. Great selection. I've got the Parrot sketch and Always look on the Brightside on my blog.
Tuesday 12 September 2006 - 11:01PM (PDT)
Anonymous
I have seen all the American comedies excepting Southpark. Friends and Fraiser were my personal favourites. I just don't know why. May be it is the script, the chemistry between the stars and may be it is so much that I could relate to at any rate.
Sure, as you mentioned, my mom would be able to recognise only chaplin and atkinson (although in the name of Bean) outside her native tongue as comedians. I saw the series of The Black Addar and it is great. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great post phil.
Hi, Part of the reason that Americans don't "get" British humor is that we really are not exposed to much of it. There are 150 channels and nothing worth watching on, most of the time. Television here seems to aim at the lowest common denominator. I used to watch Benny Hill, Dave Allen, Monty Python, and Dr. Who when I could find them (I put Dr. Who there as I thought Tom Baker was hilarious). My son and I are both crazy about Absolutely Fabulous. Send the shows over here, there's an audience waiting!
Well actually quite clearly NOT everyone loves America! Events five years ago make that clear. But what is it about America that causes so many to love to hate her?
Even coming from a country that is supposed to be America's closest ally; I have found that many Brits don't like much about America. In spite of the fact we speak the same language (well almost the same!) the cultural differences between the two nations are great. Perhaps because we see so many movies from Hollywood that portray America in poor light they negatively influence the way we think of this country? We see too many guns, drugs, violence and racism; we see hyped up commercialism, a diversity of strange cults and religions; we see media images of war, invasions, and terrorism; we see obesity, sexual deviation and financial indulgence; we see trailer trash shows like Jerry Springer's; we see grotesque consumption of the environmental resources; and we see an obsession with everything 'big' on a mega scale.
Although I see the same 'crimes' everywhere else on this globe, it always feels like I saw it in America first. When each July 4th passes by and they pompously parade their Stars and Stripes to much noise and fanfare through the streets and declaring 'God Bless America' I am left wondering time and again why didn't God let Mad King George hold on to the reigns? Perhaps a more civilised nation would eventually have risen? Perhaps not?
On the whole, for all its faults, I actually like America! I might not like everything I see there, in fact I don't like a lot of what I see there, but I still truly like America and her people. I hope for an opportunity to spend some time there both on vacation and to work there. If the chance arises I will seize it like the first pioneers to that continent seized the land! I'd love to travel across many of the states, explore her cities, towns and varied countryside. For I know I'll discover and learn many good things.
Because I have travelled to many places I have found prejudices I once might have had toward people from other nations have slowly disappeared. When you are brought up with a certain culture, you live by that culture as if it's the only morally acceptable way, even if you don't think it consciously, in the subconscious you unavoidably tend to. It's direct exposure to the different cultures that most effectively helps to change our views. Acceptance and tolerance of other cultures become easier the longer you are exposed to it.
God loves America – maybe! I do too, just not quite with the same passion as some of you lovely yanks do!
Smile on me and make a comment - critical or otherwise. It will be greatly appreciated.
Comments from Yahoo 360
(4 total)
Anonymous
True.
America has become a cultural hotch-potch over the two and half centuries, making it a nation adorable for any nationality/culture/religion to feel comfortable, get acclimatised to in ease...It is a free nation to realize your dreams or at least so as it is marketed by the Hollywood. Mind, it has it own troubles, it is yet to come to terms with, call it racism or their gun laws among the many which are to be despised.
The only thing I don't like about it is the bad nexus between business and politics that has been driving even its international policies. God! forbid, it does not bring such a might nation to its knees one day. I wonder whether the ordinary man in that 'democratic champion' has become powerless...
I bet everyone criticizing that nation would jump to joy if he were provided with an H1B....Kuods to that nation without roots that let itself raise to its power by trial and error...iconoclasts it their best.
You were not logged into your 360 account at the time you viewed my blog and I set my blog entries to permit anonymous comments. But hey thanks! Now I know who it was that commented.
I thought I'd dedicate today's entry to that crucial question of life.
A quiet night out on a hill somewhere faraway with a clear sky and full view of the milky way kind of gives me some reassurance of the brilliance of my insignificance...
And finally as we look on the bright side... please remember to have a good day!
16. What does success mean to you and how do you measure it?
I live this life to enjoy, explore, discover and learn new things. I also live to enjoy interaction with other human beings and to share what I experience with them. If I achieve this then I consider that a success. If I can make a difference to a lot of people then that's an even bigger success!
17. Who is the most influential person in your life to date?
I don’t think I have an answer to that one. Many people have influenced me, ranging from my parents, brother and sisters, my ex, my son, my wife, and a number of friends past and present. I dare not single out one person as the most influential…
18. How are you perceived by others?
Well I know people don’t join a queue to become my friend! And I know people have said to me that I’m not easily approachable… I have my personality and whatever it is to others I do sincerely wish it to be warm, good humoured and welcoming. Of the few who know me more closely I am liked and even loved…
19. What’s your outlook on the world?
I keep my outlook as bright as possible. There’s always hope. And if I can continually impart hope on others, then I’ll have reason to keep on smiling right on to the end.
20. What are your deepest desires?
Am I supposed to have deep desires? If I do then I don’t know them well… Perhaps, if I desire anything at all, it is simply to be happy in all that I do because I think if one is not happy then it’s difficult to function well as a human being. If I’m happy I can then help others to be happy.
21. How can I get to know you better and be your friend? Just come to me, if you find I have a guard in place, get a sledgehammer and smash it! I promise you won't regret it. Then spend some time to talk with me, to laugh and have fun, and just to be around…
Success means a variety of things to me. Havin' Crohns Disease since my early 20's this pain in the ass of a disease (literally hehe)has put a giant damper on my life...as to travel and even doing the simplest of errands... just going to a store without wondering first (do they have a bathroom there?) has basically made my home the safest place to be, tending to my beautiful backyard and working on one too many arts and crafts projects. Here... I am queen of my castle and with plenty of toilet paper to boot..hehe !Some people never run outta prewrapped sporks from fast food joints...I never run outta TP. LOL Though with the help of a great Gastro doc. (and countless worthless ones) I was able to have monthly infusions and get back among the living...and now able to stand on my own and have lived to tell the tale..(gee...yer the first person I've told on this site)...guess you're easy to talk to...cool!Thanks Phil! Other successes..a cartoonist in my spare time drawing and recreated many famous cartoonists work (Disney, Pooh, Tigger and friends, etc) then finally taking the time to come up with my own..called Cat's Cartoon Land staring me Cat. It's easy copying someones elses thoughts and artistry..the hard part is creation in ones own mind. I'll share Cat and some of my previous work sometime in a new photo album of my work. Well..I see that there are many questions in just one blog. I will give them to you in segments...will work on question number 2. the next time! SmileyCat : )
Geez...just noticed this blog was "Part 3"...answering question 16. Ugh....I have a lot of typing to do. Thank God I love to type.!! The Jabberwalkie...SmileyCat over and out!
#18... i am the same wai... however, my really bad trait is that I am SUPER DISTRUSTING of everyone. I belive Guilty until proven innocent, yes even N the world of reality....
Oh absolutely! Hope is a vital driving force of humanity in my opinion. When I abandoned my Christian faith (something that kind of happened slowly) I certainly didn’t abandon any sense of hope. It’s hope that provides my life with a sense of purpose. I have this idea that for whatever mysterious reason we are not meant to really know about what lies beyond this life if anything does. I live with the hope that life is eternal for all of us, that we were created to learn and experience the myriad of things ‘existing’ brings to us, that mankind grows and matures to its destiny, and that our children carry on the things we started in our time.
11. How open minded are you?
I try to be as openly minded as possible. It’s inevitable though that if I have certain principles and moral codes I choose to live by then some of these codes will conflict with another person’s set of principles or moral codes and that may cause me to have less of an open-mind. My open-mindedness has contributed to the dismantling of my Christian faith but in so allowing myself to be open-minded I hope I have gained a more balanced view of the world and am better able to consider viewpoints of arguments from the other side.
12. Are you a sensual man and do you have erotic tendencies?
I think you’d better ask my wife that question! I’m not sure I know what you mean by erotic tendencies. I’d say I like to explore different aspects of sexual experiences provided they can bring something positive to the relationship.
13. What are your deepest regrets in life? I don’t really carry regrets in my life but that’s not to say I’m not sorry for my mistakes or that I wish I could have done something much better than I actually did. I’m 40 years old and I don’t own a home. For all kinds of reasons I made poor choices that have led me to this current situation – but I don’t see the poor choices in terms of regret. I see them in terms of my humanity and fallibility. Even if I’m slow to learn from some of my errors I don’t mind so long as I’m learning and progressing. Staying happy and always being positive in everything I do is one of my personal mottos.
14. Do you believe in premarital or casual sex?
With a good sex education I think premarital sex can be a sensible course in a serious relationship. I don’t like the word casual sex. My opinion is that sex is not a casual matter because it seems to evoke strong emotional attachments especially for woman. However, there are certain kinds of people who are prepared to engage in sexual relations with more than just one partner and I believe this is ok if all involved are aware of their responsibilities and know how to handle their emotions. This is not a road I’ve been down so I’m not really in a position to judge it.
15. Now that you are married what do you hope to bring to it?
A happy family, lots of fun, adventure, discovery, inspiration and new opportunities.
Final Part to follow...
Can you think of a caption for the Goldfish cartoon?
Thanks Sai! I've been waiting nearly 2 months for someone to provide a caption on the Goldfish cartoon! That entitles you to a prize... two years free subscription to my blog! Congratulations and well done!
did u know that i didn't read all of this the first time... and still haven't done that todai... I am hunting for the #18 you spoke of... i'll Be back...
and not 2 challenge the moon or make her angry... i think U copped out on the #12....
Philip. It’s from the Greek meaning lover (phil…) of horses (ip…) so you can just call me Phil if you like? .
2. How do you find being married again?
It’s great! It’s pretty much as I expected really – there are many gates to walk through and some walls to climb over along the way but we are managing very well… Marriage is not fun or interesting unless there are hurdles and challenges to face.
3. What is your idea of a successful marriage?
People have this terrible habit of measuring the success of a marriage by the number of years it lasts. Of course it can be a good indicator of a successful marriage - silver, gold and diamond wedding anniversaries etc are very worthy celebrations. For me a successful marriage is one where the man and wife learn to bring the best out of each other and create between them a satisfying and contented union. Allow me to be controversial… I consider my first marriage of 13 years to be a successful marriage, my ex-wife and I remain friends, we brought into this world a wonderful son, as a family we had some very good times together, and we’ve grown up through many experiences in that marriage to make us both the characters that we are today. My ex-wife and I are contented people. Parental and financial responsibilities remain high priorities. I’m not promoting divorce by any means but when difficult situations arise there are means and ways of overcoming them and turning them around so that ultimately the new situation created is a success on all sides… I know it doesn’t always work out that way but I challenge people who are facing marriage difficulties or divorce to work hard at looking at the brighter side and to believe in themselves that they can make good things come out of the bad.
4. What is your idea of a perfect soul mate?
I’m not sure if I really believe in the concept of a perfect soul mate. My first serious girlfriend, in my university days believed the man she should marry should be her soul mate. She was all into ‘God’ and somehow came to the conclusion I wasn’t the man for her because we didn’t “connect”. Some singles seem to stay forever single all because they are somehow waiting for their ‘soul-mate’ to come along into their life. Whilst it helps to look for someone who has compatible personality traits I think people would do well to realise that some soul-mate qualities only arise after many years of committed close companionship. If you want a perfect soul-mate for a partner, I say, go to your partner or someone who is nearest to being your partner and work patiently at making that person your life’s soul-mate. Believe in that idea and you will certainly bear the fruits of that belief.
5. What makes you the person that you are now?
All the good and bad experiences I’ve been through have helped to make me the person I am today… and generally, I’m glad for them. I like the person I am today even if sometimes I have found myself wishing I had a personality that more naturally attracted others to me. Some of my own personal limitations have inhibited my self-confidence and self-belief but I have a positive and determined attitude and I do my utmost to have an open mind on all my life’s experiences.
6. Where do you see yourself in the next five years with regard to having a family?
My wife, Moon, and I hope to have two lovely children by then. I won’t deny that I hope that at least one of the two will be a girl but I’ll be quite honestly delighted whatever the sex. My parenting skills are in need of improving and adding more children will certainly present some more tough challenges. I like that and I look forward to the joy that having a family also brings. I hope my son Will can be involved in any new family additions too.
7. If you could change 5 things about you what would they be and why?
1. Well first of all I’d like to change my short temper because I can be such a bad-tempered git.
2. Apparently I’m a bit arrogant. Trouble is it’s difficult to see my own arrogance so I don’t know when I’m upsetting people.
3. I can be really insensitive too! I’ve called myself an English Gentleman before and it’s time I learned to live up to that name then I wouldn’t hurt people’s feelings so much.
4. If I could read quicker and remember more details then that’d be useful because I’d know a lot more than I do now (and I can be even more arrogant!).
5. If I wasn’t such a lazy sod and I didn’t procrastinate so often that’d help a lot too! I like being lazy but if I want to achieve more things then I have to change… maybe tomorrow, I’ll do something about it?
8. Do you love unconditionally?
No I don’t think I do. I’m not a saint you know! I do however try as far as is humanly possible to love unconditionally.
9. How important is God in your life?
In spite of my ‘born-again Christian’ past, today, I have no certainty of God’s existence so how can God be important in my life? I’m glad I am where I am today. Christianity taught me that you must believe in (or know) Jesus to have eternal life and that there’s only one chance to do this but I consider this to be the biggest lie of religion. I’m prepared to admit I might be completely wrong in my present conviction that you don’t need ‘faith’ to enter into heaven. Today, I live not really knowing if God exists or even if there is life beyond the one I have now, and I dare to be completely honest with myself in declaring that. I look upon life and the universe with great fascination and I have a great hunger for knowledge and understanding. I take every experience I have with value and I seek to learn from those experiences. This life is there for the taking… let’s make the most of it. That’s my basic philosophy.
