Another Rainy Day

It's been a rainy weekend and my apartment is small and cramped. I just figured everyone would want to share in the boredom.

Tusitala Edition

Tusitala Edition, originally uploaded by smithco.

For more info on 'tusitala' in the Samoan language, see http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Samoan/tusitala

Peter Easton -- A Most Accomplished Pirate and a Great Canadian

In honour of the International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I suggest everyone read up a bit on Peter Easton, a Canadian who was a most accomplished pirate. At the height of his career, he commanded forty ships and five thousand men. He was both a hero and a terror on the seas off Newfoundland.

Read about him on Wikipedia

Cowdenbeath

Cowdenbeath, originally uploaded by smithco.

The last day of my holiday was spent up in Cowdenbeath. There's nothing particularly special about Cowdenbeath. It's just a small, industrial town where the mines were closed down some time ago by Margaret Thatcher. But, it is the place the Smiths are from; it was good to see the place and the people who make up a part of my heritage.

View all my photos from Cowdenbeath

Holyrood Abbey

Holyrood Abbey, originally uploaded by smithco.

The next three days of my holiday were seeing the sights and history of Edinburgh. The two highlights there were most definitely Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano that dominates the city's skyline, and Holyrood Palace, the Queen's residence in Edinburgh.

View all my photos from Edinburgh

Whiskey Live!

Whiskey Live!, originally uploaded by smithco.

The first two days of my holiday were in Glasgow. The highlight was the Whiskey Live! show. Unfortunately, I only got one good photo from the show, it's as if my photographic abilities are inversely proportional to my blood-alcohol content.

View all my photos from Glasgow

SCOTTISH NOT BRITISH

SCOTTISH NOT BRITISH, originally uploaded by smithco.

View all the photos from my trip to Scotland in one set

Huzzah!

I've finally caught up on a week's worth of unread email, RSS feeds and web activity. I'm guessing that it was about 500 messages to consume, but I'm ready to take on the world again!

I would also like to point out that this is sure proof that the Internet is in no way an aid to productivity.

And the first consequences of coming back from holiday

Well, after crawling out of bed today, I noticed a few things.

1. I have no clean shirts or socks. As my favourite philosopher pointed out, "There are only two things certain in this world: death and laundry".
2. The only thing in my fridge is Pineapple juice, Heineken and coffee grounds.
3. I forgot to empty the coffee pot before I left and now it's full of mould.

:-(

Is it too late to go back to Scotland?

Back from Scotland

Just got back from Scotland last night. Holidays are always too short. I'll be posting stories, photos, and videos up in spurts. There's a bit too much to throw up all at once.

Three and a Half Months

Three and a half months until I return to civilisation.

I'm tired of the bad food and the abysmal quality of products. I've had enough with the complete lack of any sort of service. I've had enough with incompetent people lodged into public institutions. And I'm especially fed up with the absolute lack of manners and respect for others here.

This place is not a good place. This society is messed up. Three and half months feels like an awful long way away.

Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy ...

A view of my fridge