Polo Cloud

Mmmm minty fresh clouds..........

Skywatching all over the world.

All The Trimmings

Saturday Night Conundrum

‘Odd’. That was the verdict of a friend who has recently started working in my hometown about the denizens of Worthing. And, having witnessed the following on Saturday night, I can’t disagree.

We noticed a guy that my friend had actually pulled once, but whose behaviour made him seem increasingly less attractive as the night wore on. To start with, he had his own name tattooed down his forearm, implying that he lacked a certain faith in his long term cognitive ability.

His indecision as to what shooter to order at the bar resulted in the barmaid wearing an expression that suggested that if wishes came true there would have been a mortuary ambulance on its way to the pub.

About an hour later, he was refused service after he snorted the salt that was meant to chase his tequila slammer, then squirted lemon juice into his friend’s eye. He laughed maniacally, then squirted some into his own eye. And kept on laughing.

On the plus side, he did have a certain devil-may-care joie de vivre about him, but, in general, it was a good demonstration of why people curse the difficulty of finding decent (ie, non psychologically challenged) boy/girlfriends in this town. And it led onto a conversation about why it is that the guys level of confidence in approaching those of the female gender seems to be in completely inverse proportion to their level of attractiveness.

An antidote to our wine fuelled cynicism regarding the possibility of ever achieving a non-dysfunctional relationship came when a guy at the table next to us sent us over a bottle of wine, which until that point was something that I thought only happened in American TV shows.

Tweet

Yes, I am now, finally, in on the tweeting malarky.

The Importance of Tea and Cake

Can never be overestimated in my opinion. These are the chocolate box views from one of my choicest tea-and-cake spots, conveniently located at the end (or beginning if you can’t contain yourself) if one of my favourite walks. The combination of bucolic relaxation, decent tea and cake so delicious that after finishing one generous slice I find myself wondering if eating a second will make me feel like throwing up, is nothing short of sublime.

What's going on around the globe?

Mah-jong

It took me a few weeks between noticing these Mah-jong tables and plucking up the courage to go and take photos of them. Eventually my fear of being shouted at and generally made to feel unwelcome was overcome by knowing how annoyed at myself I’d be if I went home without getting some photographs of it.

And I needn’t have bothered worrying. The woman who ran the tables was delighted to have me snapping away, pointing out the best angles, and eagerly poring over the results. Although she wouldn’t let me take a photo of her, as she said she was too ugly! But never mind, as I’d sneakily taken one of her earlier – she’s in the last photo wearing a black and yellow top.

She even offered to show me how to play, which had to decline as I don’t think my Mandarin was up to it, plus I’m not particularly good at or interested in games. The owner and her friend roared with laughter (in a nice way) when I told them ‘I’m very stupid at this’, and I went on my way after lots of smiles and thank yous, feeling full of the joys of living in China.

The British Seaside

Yes, this photo was taken in July. Yes, it is meant to be summer in the UK. And yes, that is a pier you can see.

Or what's left of Brighton's West Pier, after a series of fires and storms. The last fire happened after plans were put in motion to rebuild it. Someone who took exception to this tossed a molotov cocktail or summat onto the pier from a speed boat in the wee hours one Sunday. And so it remains, if you need an antidote to too much candyfloss.

Skywatching around the world.