Demented Dieter

My current Ramadan project is answering on-line surveys. At this point I am sure half of you are saying, "What's Ramadan?" and the rest are saying, "But Ramandan was over months ago.. and anyway, you are not Moslem." Allow me to explain. (And I hope they will forgive me because I mean no disrespect, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery)

For many years I worked in Moslem countries and every year there would be a period of one lunar month which was considered a time for good behaviour, prayer and meditation. This was a particularly dull time for those of us inclined towards misbehaviour so every year I found myself something to do that my hectic social life normally didn't allow time for. As I felt the benefit of taking a month to stay home, eat healthily and avoid alcohol I have continued with the tradition.

One year I hung out in chat rooms, another I joined Friends Reunited and tracked down a selection of old classmates. A particularly lucrative project was writing a workbook which, I am reliably informed, is selling well to this day in certain parts of Asia. Shame I get no royalties on that one.

So, as I said, my current project is answering on-line surveys. Some of them promise gifts, some promise lucky draw entries and a few say they will pay cash. I am not expecting to make my fortune but I am fascinated by the type of information companies think they need. I recently filled in a two-part questionnaire about kitchen roll. I was looking forward to giving them, at length, my views on inferior quality paper with stupid patterns but all they wanted to know was did I own a holder for it. I confidently ticked 'NO' but Jim later informed me that we do, I'd just never noticed it as I spend so little time in the kitchen.

Current weight 79.6 kg

Been singing along to 'I love Rocky Road' (to the tune of I love rock and roll, of course) Gotta love those lyrics.
When I'm all alone, I just grab myself a cone
And if I get fat and lose my teeth that's fine with me
Just lock me in the freezer and throw away the key

Link below if you want to read the rest.

XVR27's "Weird Al" Yankovic Homepage - Lyrics - I Love Rocky Road

I just wanted you all to know that I have hurt my wrist and I am typing with one finger. Sympathy please.

Let us pause a moment to lament the passing of some favoured footwear. The shoes in question were a pair of bright pink suede open-toed low-heeled mules. I bought them in a sale in Sydney passing through on my way to Bandar Seri Begawan from Wellington NZ. They were fairly ugly, I'll admit, but SO comfortable and very easy to slip on and off which is very important when you are living in a culture where politeness demands you remove your shoes before entering a house. I once showed my students a picture of my niece. They were horrified. "But she is wearing shoes indoors!" they exclaimed. My British niece was equally horrified to learn of a culture where you would be constantly exposed to the smelly socks and grubby feet of mere acquaintances.
Anyway, to get back to my pink mules. I wore them for years but decided to throw them out when we left Brunei. "I'll just wear them on the boat down the river and ditch them at the airport," I thought. But they were perfect to wear on the plane so they obtained a last minute stay of execution. "I'll chuck them out when I get to Oz" I told myself. But they were great for wearing in the car when we were travelling so once again they were reprieved. And so they have been my first choice of footwear for any occasion that demanded comfort over looks... which for me is anything short of a royal garden party. Until last week when they finally fell apart. RIP.

Current weight: 79 kg

I got my first ever royalty statement today. A copy of my brilliant pamphlet on how to become an English teacher has actually been purchased. For real money. As it's available exclusively online rest assured you won't be troubled by heaps of them in the bargain bin at Smiths or Angus & Robertson in six months time.

Must dash now. Jim says it is a cause for celebration so we must go out immediately and invest the money wisely in ice-cream. For $6.80 I should be good for two scoops.

Current weight: 79.2 kg.

It’s five o’clock in the afternoon and the temperature is 37.9 degrees C. (That’s over a hundred in the old money.) My mobile rings. A friend, P, a fellow teacher I haven’t seen for six months:

P: Hi. What continent are you on?
K: I’m in Oz.
P: Great. City?
K: Yours.
P: Brilliant. Suburb?
K: Round the corner
P: Perfect. At your computer?
K: Yup.
P: Ha! Come for a swim. I’ve got the key to the school swimming pool but the head says I can’t swim without a responsible adult present. So I thought of you?
K: You needed a responsible adult and you thought of me?
P: Yeah.
K: Really?
P: Really. You in?
K: OK.
P: C ya in twenty minutes.

I mention this for two reasons a) I just thought I'd tell the world in some quarters I'm considered a responsible adult and b) to prove that I actually did some exercise this week. So maybe the extra kilo is all muscle, d'ya think? Nah, I didn't think so either.

Current weight: 80 kg

Fremantle Visitor Centre :: Fremantle Western Australia :: Fremantle Tourism, Accommodation, Tours, Events, Activities, Hire, Car Hire, Businesses

In case you need more information about the Beer Festival.

New Year's greetings to all (or should that be 'both'?) my readers. 2006 already. I'll reach my half century this year. Pause for sympathetic sigh.

I liked the poster for the Fremantle Beer Festival we passed on the way home from our New Year's celebration:

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Ah yes, and chocolate ice-cream is proof that she's female.

Anyway, all the best for 2006 and, as they say, try to get outside occasionally this year - the graphics are amazing.