I'm beggining to think it's never goign to happen. A family trip was being organised to tour China in some sort of minibus. Obviously I declined as I'm not a nutcase who hates life and then they forgot* to mention until too late when the plans somehow changed to staying in proper hotels in NY. Then last year my niece was getting married in NY. Got cancelled because of covid and they're married now so that aint happening

Then again I live in London which easily competes on activities to avoid and people to ignore. The Italian food sucks but when needs must we pop over to italy.


* I'd like to think this was intentional but pretty sure it wasn't.

Can't touch that. Full respect to your brother and a worthy mention of Weatherspoons who sometimes have extremely drinkable beer at ludicrous prices.

Italy is as close to paradise as you will get on this Earth. Most people don't understand this but for some it makes perfect sense (you may wish to limit your doses however). I love Italy. When I die, I want to be buried in some out of the way place in the boot heel. Overlooking a ramshackle village of nobodies.

That would even beat being buried in the Pantheon, like Raphael.

Sorry to hear that Charlie.

"Welcome to Dublin" as of two days ago:

https://twitter.com/BluntMan____/sta...752488458?s=19

Not only have they learned tae-kwon-do, they are becoming much too quick to use deadly weapons for no good reason.

I was there once. It's all that and then some. I personally see no reason to go again soon.

I saw Pisa. Conversely, i saw unintended, architectural beauty surrounded by the mediterrean. But it is just too tranquil. So yes indeed, it is a good place to die.

For city fun, nyc is on the bucket list. Las Vegas. Amsterdam never gets old. Prague, Copenhagen, perhaps Brussels, Frankfurt and Berlin.Madrid, Seville and Barcelona although Gaudi you can keep. Likewise, Paris, and London is of no interest.

Cyprus, greece, The Belearics: Mallorca, Ibiza and the other one for that meditterean feel. Canary islands you're back in the atlantic ocean i.e just as cold but with volcanic ash sand that burns the feet. African female immigrants either prostituting themselves or their male counterparts selling cheap razzle dazzle after calling you del-boy.

The carribean and Indian ocean after that. Barbados and mauritious respectively

The above is my ideal paradise which is semi feasible in my lifetime. In stark contrast, Check this mad Englishman's way of living life. Ross kemp aint got **** on this guy. Fascinating channel.
https://youtu.be/madplgRfebo

Drink tomorrow. Toast in the Summer! Life is short and cheap. Don’t forget that.

This was my primary school 6 to 12 y old (plus the unavoidable stupid graffiti).

I hope all back then from my second love (first was in pre school lol) to even the bullies are somewhere happy today. It all goes back to where it all started it, doesnt it somehow. You spend your life answering to that kid...

Eventually all will be gone and the place will still be there witnessing its consequences...

A primary school building worthy of Socrates himself. Don't get hung up on unavoidable graffiti IMO.

Good one. And TY.

Sorry to hear of your loss, charlie.

Mill Hill is slightly famous for being the choice of residence of Ballard - a visionary in the suburbs.

TY. J. G. Ballard? I read High Rise, but somehow didn't like it. Until my brother was almost nine, we lived in a house with no inside toilet and no running hot water. The high rise we moved to was luxurious by comparison. He ended up in Poplar. Architectural chaos, much of it. I have posted this before, but I like it:

BTW, Jalfrezi, in the midst of it all, I managed to get in couple of quite acceptable pints in the White Hart, near the Royal London Hospital. I hadn't been there before, but I remembered you mentioning it my blog.

The Eurocup started and the Eye-Talians are undefeated so far after three matches; they finished off the morons from Wales the other day. England recently got stomped. Early, but my hope and money are on the Wops. I love Italy.

Italy looks smooth. I hate all the shallow jingoism surrounding England's every move. Scotland are perennially unlucky, bless them. Never bet against the Germans. Ever.

Today I read a very good article/essay about Jews, expounding on why Jews are not White People. I already knew this from my very early days of indoctrination at Sunday/Bible school. But Apparently this is not common knowledge anymore, or does not comfortably fit into current correct political thinking/agendas of those that know all and insist in dictating to everyone what they must believe, when to believe it, how to believe it, and what actions they must take to insure they always believe what needs to be believed. See George Orwell, and that fun little book Animal Farm.

Italians are not White People, either.

Just so you know.

However, the Irish are White People. Very, very Drunk White People.

So now that that's all settled we can move on to more important issues; for example are Red IPA's just as tasty as Regular IPA's?

That's extremely offensive. There's no such thing as a regular IPA

Thanks Chez; now I know!

Perhaps the most amazing talent that Zeno possesses is the ability to type w/ one hand while holding a bottle of beer in the other.

Thanks, Howard; I’m flattered! Years of practice have paid off. Perhaps I’m even part Irish!

Ah, the White Hart, aka Murphy's.

It had changed hands by the time I left the area but it was a cracker of a pub with a lock in and a piano where late one night I remember a young woman getting up and singing Lili Marlene, impromptu.

The owner Mick's son Frank was taking care of things usually and once made the memorable observation that most people went there during the day to escape from their families.

Zeno, you are thinking of the Scots and northern Irish. The other Irish are more pink and splotchy than white.