Here are some photos of our recent holiday. We went to Far North Queensland (FNQ - yes, they really do write it like that).  This area is a tropical paradise.  It is also where I was born and spent the first part of my life.  I haven't been back to the area for about 30 years, so this was a sort of homecoming for me. We were staying at Port Douglas, which is basically a resort town about a half hour north of Cairns and the closest point to the Great Barrier Reef.  It is...

Wow, it has been a while since I put anything up here.  I've promised a few of you I would have something up about my recent holiday but something came along and knocked me off my feet, literally. I have been so sick with a viral infection of some sort, I've hardly had the energy to talk, let alone write or create anything.  Every part of me ached, even my toes.  I had the shivers and shakes and could not get comfortable enough for a decent nights sleep.  To make matters w...

There are a number of things in my life that are taking shape at the moment.  Some are good, some are not so good.  But this is the way life goes - as one phase of life ends, another begins. So, I'll assume you all want to know the bad new first... I recently had my 45 birthday checkup.  My doctor was particularly pleased to hear I'd given up smoking and had started exercising instead.  While there, I also had the usual checks - weight, body fat, blood tests etc.  ...

My wife and I went and saw the Incredible Hulk yesterday for my birthday.  But before I get to the movie... We spent a good part of our time in the city at our favourite bookshop (supposedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere - I'm not sure if the claim is correct but it is a huge shop nonetheless).  It is a fantastic place to get lost in for a few hours, particularly if you are bibliophiles like we are.  The shop, called Kinokuniya, is in the centre of the city (for those ...

I thought I'd update anyone who is interested in the bits and pieces happening in my life at the moment.  This is not too exciting but as I've only really posted comments and fiction of late, I thought I'd write a bit about my life for a change. I've been wondering whether I'm going through some sort of midlife crisis.  I turn 45 at the end of June and I suppose if I due to have a midlife crisis, now is about the time.  Ha, to think I'm potentially about half way through this w...

Be not afraid of growing slowly, Be afraid only of standing still.”   - Chinese Proverb   Yep, almost says it all, this does.   But I’m going to elaborate anyway.   I call this Bonsai logic.   Bear with me while I explain.   Everyone knows what Bonsai is, right?   It is a tree, usually, where it’s growth has been deliberately stunted.   The plants are usually grown in pots and are shaped by prunin...

Howdy friends, acquaintances and anyone else stopping by to check out my new ink.  For those of you who know me, I've had the last star added to my Southern Cross design just recently along with some more work on the compass rose I had done some time ago. I'm really enjoying the process.  The tattooist is Happy at a little shop called Mischief Moon, located in Surry Hills here in Sydney Australia.  Happy has a bloody excellent touch with the needle and is a down-to-earth good b...

My darling wife is such a beautiful, giving person but I'm not so sure I could do what she is about to do today.  You see, she put her name down for the 'World's Greatest Shave' charity, which means all her hair will be coming off today.  To see how much hair this is, click on the external link and check out her profile on the charity's site. She has been growing her hair since the early 90's.  She was single and had very short hair but couldn't figure out why boys wouldn't tal...

Check out the following song (I would embed it if I could but I'm still failing miserably). The music is, well, okay, but it is the words that are important. There is a message for all of us in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnGNOiFll4

<a href=" http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj108/dynamaso/NewTat2.jpg " target="_blank"> <img src=" http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj108/dynamaso/th_NewTat2.jpg"></a > For those interested, here is a couple of shots of my latest tattoo.   I had it done on Saturday and have to say I'm very pleased with this one.   I had a different design in mind when I went in but talking to my tattooist, I discovered to have the design sized correctly would mean...

These are three of the five stars I have got done so far for the Southern Cross. This is a very individual take on this Aussie iconic image. The big star on the top of my shoulder is the latest addition. It was a coverup job over my very first (and worst) tattoo. I'm very pleased with it, although it definitely needs some touching up. I'm getting the fourth star done this coming Saturday. This is going opposite the compass rose. Then the fifth will follow a few weeks on, going just ab...

Well, its after two in the morning on the first of the first 2008, at least it is here in Australia. The fireworks were fantastic and I had a great night, albeit quiet. I went with one of the boys in the band to a mates place. We sat around his pool, drank a few, played some poker and let off some fireworks of our own. Very tame, but fun none the less. Unfortunately, my darling wife was working an overnight shift and while I'm used to the odd hours she works, I missed her even more tonig...