OH the glamour of sailing!

Read more about the article OH the glamour of sailing!
Classic old wooden 49 foot yacht for our adventure

Most of us made it back to the boat, but one critical player did not show up until 11.30am Sunday morning. All of a sudden the weather wasn’t looking as rosy as we had been lead to believe it would be. The clouds were angry, about to spew rain, and the harbour decided it would respond to the conditions with excessive choppiness. But bugger it! It was time to go if we were going to make our Wednesday deadline!

Continue ReadingOH the glamour of sailing!

The curious case of the missing pug

Read more about the article The curious case of the missing pug
Representative image of the pug. The identity of the pug is changed to protect the guilty. Photo by Colin Horn on Unsplash

She arrived and looked with trepidation over at the scooter, but there was no pug. That was unusual. The pug was always there in the same spot. She saw Mr Roy, a tenant from the same building, and asked him where the dog was. "Dog gone! Dog gone!" he said.

Continue ReadingThe curious case of the missing pug

Homestay hilarity or horror show? You decide…

Read more about the article Homestay hilarity or horror show?  You decide…
Not the actual street I lived on, but you get the picture! Photo by Camille Villanueva on Unsplash

I was one of the last people waiting when an older couple walked in. Wizened is a word that comes to mind as my first impression. One of the University staffers brought them over to my table. They most certainly had absolutely no English. Awesome! My Japanese was going to get really good, really fast, I thought.

Continue ReadingHomestay hilarity or horror show? You decide…

Valentine’s BONUS ‘two minute’ story – My favourite (unsuccessful) pickup line EVER

Read more about the article Valentine’s BONUS ‘two minute’ story – My favourite (unsuccessful) pickup line EVER
Unsuccessful Valentine - Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I am very fond of one of my former clients, but not to the level I would like an intimate relationship with him. We went away to a number of conferences together without incident, until after one such conference, after one or two beverages, he made his move…

Continue ReadingValentine’s BONUS ‘two minute’ story – My favourite (unsuccessful) pickup line EVER

Goa? Get it India!

Read more about the article Goa?  Get it India!
Typical bar scene in Calangute Beach, Goa

“It is very hot here Madam. Everything is hot here: man is hot; sand is hot; everybody’s hot!” Words of wisdom greeted some ladies entering the beach down a long, uncovered path in the beating sun, from the chubby, local shack worker with his long, receding hair pulled back, and huge cheeky grin.

Continue ReadingGoa? Get it India!

Whatever you do, don’t go to the doctor

Read more about the article Whatever you do, don’t go to the doctor
Photo by Ian Valerio on Unsplash

“I thought Japan was supposed to be a developed country,” he said with a look of pure horror on his face. “I’m from a third world country and our conditions are better than this!” (Of course Spain is not a third world country, but Diego was prone to dramatization back then). We surveyed the situation as our translator gestured for us to come to the front counter. We then looked at each other and, in that moment, decided to roll the dice.

Continue ReadingWhatever you do, don’t go to the doctor

Lambo… #SheepToo

Read more about the article Lambo… #SheepToo
Photo by Bill Fairs on Unsplash

He had clearly been abandoned by his mother and was going to die if they left him there. So they christened him Lambo, took him home, and welcomed him to the family. I can’t imagine what it was about that tiny, cute, helpless baby lamb that reminded them of Sylvester Stallone’s revenge filled, murderous madman on a rampage… But who knows? Maybe it was a prophecy… ** Don't feel like reading? Listen to me read the story **

Continue ReadingLambo… #SheepToo