http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/ RearParty en-us Thu, 29 May 2008 14:43:55 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly Rear Party News http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/images/logo.gif http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/ http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=75.htmlANOTHER GOLD FOR DU’AINE LADEJO[align=center] He is already a superstar on the athletics field and now he has won first place in the hearts of the families of the 4th Mechanised Brigade whose loved ones are currently deployed on operations in Iraq. Du’aine Ladejo, a two-time Olympic medallist and star of the 2008 SKY ONE revival of Gladiators, took time out of a busy schedule to visit the wives and children of British Forces families based in Osnabrück Germany. His morale-boosting visit, organised by CSE (Combined Services Entertainment), came at an important time for the families, as they prepare to welcome home their loved ones after serving for six months in Iraq. Whilst the media focuses on the soldiers and the role they undertake on operations, Du’aine was taken aback by the way that the families cope with the separation and the stresses endured during deployment. “I am really impressed with how the Army community pull together during deployment, and through talking to many of the wives, I can see how difficult it must be for them to keep the family structure alive. It is such a positive atmosphere and a great family community”, said Du’aine. While spending almost three hours signing autographs and having his photograph taken, he said: “It is very tough on the children and I am very impressed with how they cope.” As a keen promoter of sports in schools Du’aine was honoured to present the winning trophies to the teams who had taken part in a local football tournament. It was clear that the children were in awe of his sporting achievements. “This is my first CSE Tour and I have really enjoyed it,” explained Du’aine. “I have been visiting schools for 14 years, but I have not had any contact with the Army before now. After today, I am really looking forward to working with CSE again.” The excitement over the visit was fuelled by his recent appearance on the new hit TV series Gladiators. As ‘Predator’, Du’aine Ladejo insists he is ‘one of the good ones’ and whilst the younger children were in awe, one teenager threw down the gauntlet whilst a young toddler decided to try and stare him out. Nicky Ness, CSE’s Director of Entertainment commented, “this is our second event this year with the 4th Mechanised Brigade, following a visit by glamour girl Lindsey Strutt in March. We are delighted to be back with Du’aine in support of a much deserved morale boost!”Thursday, May 29, 2008 (14:43:55)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=74.htmlI could remember what it felt like, what it smelt like and for a second I could see my Gran waiting at the other side of the pelican crossing when on my way home from school. It was 25 years ago, but the image was very vivid. Life moves along and it has brought me back to the same town that I had spent my young years in. Since then I had spent some time in other towns and with other members of my step-family. As i decided to go a road run tonight, i visited the old part of town that I spent those young years in and I remembered. My old Grampa, who has been dead for many years, never said goodbye or cheerio, 'a kiss, a cuddle and a smack on the bum and that is incase you are naughty before the next time i see you'. Sweet and will never be forgotten. My other Grandfather used to take us fishing to the dam and tell us his war stories. He was in the Home Guard during the war. He would tell us of marching up and down the Main Street in town using long handled brooms as make-shift weapons for rifle drill. He met his life long companion, my Gran, at a bus stop and bought her a bag of chips. They married soon after and had 6 children. Sadly Francis was lost, in the arms of his Father. The same Grampa was very handy restoring hoovers and had a cupbaord of junk bits, that would one day be used to restore somone's electrical appliance. He made a wooden foot stool and painted it white. It was 12 inch high and only big enough to be used for its main purpose. I used to turn it upside down and beg for hours to be pulled round the living room like I was in a go-kart. I am unsure if i should mention the home-brew. That was a long standing excuse for friends and family to visit. My Mum brought me and my brother up alone and we would spend lots of Saturday afternoons berry picking to make the home brew and jam. I had the honour of writing the labels for the jam-jars, I particularly loved this job because i would get to stick a finger in the pot and lick it off when Mum wasn't looking. All this and i wasn't even 7 years old. No playstation generation. No Nintendo Wii. No internet.Thursday, May 01, 2008 (19:41:30)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=73.htmlDear Mum, since you abandoned me less than a week ago its been chaos here. The weather has been snow/sleet/hail/rain/fog with occasional bursts of sunshine. Many of those have occurred simultaneously. Today there was sunshine which was doing its best to dry out all the muddy puddles around Easby Abbey, just to help the sun out I decided the best thing to do was to soak up as much of the muddy water as possible. This pleased everyone so much that I've had another bath and a hair cut today. From what I overheard earlier I'm going to the 'you know who' to get my claws seen to tomorrow, no doubt it'll be a good excuse for me to whimper, whine and look pathetic. Well that's all I've got time for today, its not easy being a dead ginger pirate tap dancing dog you know. Arrrrr, arrrrr, whoooooo whooooooo. etcTuesday, April 08, 2008 (15:26:59)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=72.htmlIt’s pretty clear that life’s journey is not just about peaks and troughs, but there are many plateaus as well. Sometimes things just tick along very nicely thanks very much. No excitement, no major milestones, no huge disappointments. Just getting on with travelling the road of life. Of course even when you reach a plateau the journey continues. The view still changes and the distance to travel becomes shorter as the starting point recedes into the background of your life. It just doesn’t seem so… significant. In the last few months my life has been like that. No major, dramatic steps, just gradual changes and more distance covered. I’ve accepted myself, and others around me have as well, some more easily than others. I’m learning more about being myself, and putting my past behind me. Do I want to forget who I was? No, who I was is a major part of who I am. Nothing can change the past, one can only use it to strengthen the future. I have found that my experience intrigues some people. I have made no secret about what I am going through, and what it means to me, and how I feel about it. I’ve told of my fears, my joys, the struggle with self-realisation and the pain that that can bring. And do you know what? Through telling my story I am achieving things. I’m helping, in my own little way, to combat some of the ignorance that surrounds those in my position. Back in January I attended the MoD LGBT Forum at JHQ Rheindahlen. It was a two day conference reviewing aspects of being in a small minority group that serves in the Forces and MoD Civil Service. Many of those attending knew me anyway, and I was able to stand up and tell them a little about me, and how my condition has been managed by the Army. And it’s a positive, good news story. I have had very little trouble at all – in fact I can only recall one reaction that could really be described as negative. People are moving with the times it seems, and even if they don’t accept differences, they still tolerate them. I don’t know if that’s because their attitude has changed, or the fact that the world is so PC now that people are worried about saying something. All I do know is that it has made my life easier and more comfortable. Anyway, what I had to say was well received. The following day my wife also stood up to take questions about my changes, and how they affected her. It seems that our open and honest approach has an affect on people, and the word ‘inspiration’ was used a few times. It was never our intention to be inspirational, but if my experience helps someone else, or changes someone else’s viewpoint, then isn’t that something to feel good about? One of the scariest moments of my Transition from male to female was not, surprisingly, the day I went into work in female mode. It was last month. The day we realised that my hair had thickened and grown to such an extent that I no longer needed to wear a wig. I was aware that my wig had become a safety net. At this early stage in my transition there is much about me that still looks masculine. Even after laser treatment on my face it is still not the soft skin of a female, and the hormones are not some miracle drug that will change me over night. So I wear a concealing make up. And OK, I have breasts – some of which are mine, and some of which are ‘chicken fillets’. Still, the first thing that someone really sees is the hair. My wig gave me an illusion of femininity. It was not perfect (hey, I’m not rich enough for that!). It was a feminine style, and framed my face the way a genetic girl’s hair does. But now my hair was thicker. My wig was not such a good fit any more because of my real hair beneath it, and it was getting tatty. I went into work far more nervous than my first day as a woman. There were a few double takes, and a few people commented, but it seems clear that my fears were unfounded. Let me just explain something here. 9 months ago I was nearly bald on the top of my head, and my hairline was high up, almost to the top of my head. Oh yeah, I also had a No2 all over. Although still not perfect I have enough hair to give an approximation of a feminine style. Still a long way to go, but baby steps, as they say, baby steps. My treatments have continued in much the same manner that they were before. Regular check ups in London with a Gender Specialist, blood tests, hormone treatment etc. My Testosterone levels are now way, way down, and my oestrogen levels are up. Both levels are similar to those of a genetic girl. Physical growth and changes continue, and my emotional state has settled. I’m happy. I laugh. Lots! I have now reached a stage where I have been referred to a surgeon who will complete the major surgery on me. I’ve heard good reviews of his work, and the hospital (a private hospital, which I will pay for myself…) looks and sounds excellent. I’ll be having my initial consultation with him in April. I hope to be accepted for surgery in October. I’m just back from Shrivenham. For those that don’t know, Shrivenham is a Joint Service school, near Swindon. One of the courses that run there is the Equality and Diversity Advisor course. I have never enjoyed a course more than this. With a rank range from Sgt to Maj (and light and dark blue, and Civil Service equivalents) there were many people with many views. The discussions were open and honest. The chance to review your own prejudices was very revealing (although the joke about the French should maybe have been kept to myself…). Of course, one of the subjects in the curriculum was the Management of Transgender Service Personnel. I was more than glad to answer questions and to dispel some myths. And educate! A very rewarding course, and I would recommend it to anyone. You never know how far you can open your eyes until they are opened for you. If the chance comes for me to be an instructor on the course, I’d jump at it. So, anyway. Thanks for indulging me again. If you don’t like what I’ve said, well, I never forced you to read it did I? My journey will continue, I’m sure there will be hills to climb, and there’ll be holes that try and swallow me up. I will carry on up the road. My destination is over the hill in the distance, but I know it’s there. The map tells me so. © Legs 2008Monday, March 17, 2008 (09:36:40)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=70.htmlFriday, 8th February 2008 Wearily disembarking from the plane at Singapore's Changi Airport I'm feeling more ashamed and embarrassed than I've ever felt in my life. Mrs Jim is looking daggers at me and my fellow passengers are either pointing open-mouthed in wonder (or is that disgust?) or studiously avoiding eye contact, probably because they're afraid that if I met their gaze I might chew off their nose or set fire to their hand luggage. It seems that in the latter half of the thirteen hour flight from the UK to Singapore I'd fallen asleep. That's good, you might think, and normally you’d be right. Except that this time I'd had one of my bouts of night terrors and had unknowingly provided some unscheduled in-flight entertainment for a couple of dozen people in the adjacent rows of seats. During my sleep I'd ranted, I'd sworn, offered violence to anyone in my immediate vicinity, and I'd somehow managed to throw a book with considerable force across the aeroplane cabin into the lap of a startled woman some distance away. (And before you ask, no it wasn’t the ‘Little Book of Calm’.) All whilst so deeply asleep that I couldn't be woken. At one point I even announced that I was going to ‘get off the f***ing aeroplane' which might have proved an interesting prospect if I'd followed it through, as at the time the plane was cruising at 40,000 feet somewhere over the Indian Ocean. I think perhaps some of the other passengers wished I had. Can't say I blame them either. This kind of nocturnal activity has happened to me many times before but always in the privacy of my own house where only my long-suffering wife has had to endure it, and frankly I wasn't prepared for the amount of adverse attention that a public performance would generate. Hence my crestfallen mood as we plodded through Changi airport. Looking on the bright side though, at least I didn't do my party piece on a flight to America. If I did I'd probably have been shot dead by a sky marshal, or first Tasered then bundled into orange overalls and held in a high security chicken coop for the next decade whilst being water boarded every fifteen minutes and force fed on bacon sandwiches. Luckily a good sleep in the transit hotel left Mrs Jim in much more sympathetic mood, and the onward seven hour flight to Adelaide went without further problems. Well I say without problems, but what I mean is without problems caused by me; there were still the dozen or so screaming infants who, like burglar alarms in a thunderstorm, went off in sympathy with each other every few minutes to leave everyone within earshot limp, bedraggled and exhausted by the end of the journey. Anyway here we are, finally in Australia, some two days and several deep vein thromboses after leaving the UK. More from me later when I've recovered. Until then, take care. Monday, 11th February 2008 We'll, at last I've done it. Some three years after beginning the application process, I now have permanent Australian Resident status. Today I went to the Currie Street offices of Adelaide's Immigration and Citizenship Department and, after waiting an hour or so in the company of what seemed like most of south east Asia, I got my turn at counter number six. Tap tap went the clerk on a keyboard, click click, whirr whirr went a machine by her side, and there it was; the magical sticker in my passport that confirms I am now officially a permanent Australian resident. How can I describe how it feels? Absolutely brilliant, that's how. I've scored the winning goal in extra time of the FA Cup Final, I've had my knighthood ceremony interrupted by a messenger announcing that an eight-figure lottery cheque awaits me in the lobby of Buck House, and I've heard from reliable sources that Piers Morgan has been given a life sentence for kiddy fiddling. And on top of that I learn that Jim Junior's Captaincy is now through. Happy days indeed. More tales from my 2008 Down Under trip soon. LJWednesday, March 12, 2008 (12:24:48)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=69.htmlHi All, I am new to this, still finding my way around! Not sure if I am even doing this message right..lol My OH is re-badging to Light Dragoon and we will be moving to Swanton Morley soon. Can anyone please tell me what the area, people, schools, work etc is like in the area? I thught I'd ask in case there are any nasty surprises I should look forward to...lol Also, Dereham 6th Form College.. is it a good college? Our son is 15, are there other kids that age in the camp? Sorry about all the questions... Thanks W xThursday, February 07, 2008 (14:09:12)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=68.htmlSee the way I see things blogs are either about one of two things A) the random babblings of the mind or B) a source of which some one shares information in order to help or provide knowledge though personal experiences. I’m hoping that this blog will be the latter of the two, but I am sure I will end up jabbering on at some stage In Around 12 Months time I will hopefully be opening my own business. The business will be called the Spirit of Adventure which is an out door education and community center based around getting young people off the street and active not only sporting wise but in there local community. The company is unlike a normal one, where by the directors will sell it and make a profit at some stage it. It is a community interest Company, which means that any profits that are generated gets put directly back into the center. There for we can continually expand and maintain providing affordable services. So about the Spirit of Adventure… The Spirit of Adventure will be located on the borders of Surrey and Middx, and will provide services to all young people with in a 30-mile radius. So that includes Windsor, Aldershot and Pirbright and any other patches with in that area. Of course the centre will be open to all young people, regardless of were they come from. The aim of the Spirit of Adventure is to promote, throughout Surrey, the educational and social welfare of young people. The Spirit of Adventure aims to enable the development of successful personal relationships, social and environmental awareness, individual self-expression and self-determination, through positive experiences and progressive learning. Think, Challenge, Discover Believe… The main objectives of the Spirit of Adventure are: ∑ To concentrate recourses on securing the provisions of opportunities for young people. ∑ To promote and organize social education opportunities for young people and their communities in order to assist in the development of mature and responsible behavior. ∑ To encourage participation and healthy lifestyles through supportive and developed opportunities, facilities and programmes. ∑ To attract local residents and day to long-term tourists to use a range of opportunities, facilities and programmes. ∑ To build a strong and well-managed partnership between the council and the project, generating benefits, particularly in terms of ‘value’ adding to council resources. ∑ Accommodating increasing visitation and population growth whilst ensuring a sustainable natural environment. ∑ To promote and protect the conservation values of the county ∑ To promote and provide a quality service, facility, programmes and opportunities that foster community health and well-being and is committed to strengthening it’s communities. ∑ To encourage and maintain an equal access to a range of quality services and opportunities for all. The purpose of Youth and Community Work within the community is to provide learning opportunities, activities and experiences for individuals, youth and communities groups. These can be educational, social, and recreational and are responsive to need. The Spirit of Adventure will be locally accessible, affordable and of good quality. The Spirit of Adventure is center-based and will include projects, outreach or detached work. Curriculum Development refers to all learning opportunities, activities and experiences that are planned and guided by Instructors and Community Workers, whether carried out in groups or by individuals. Curriculum Development in Youth and Community Work consists of: EQUAL PARTICIPATION: The Spirit of Adventure outlines the importance of securing the full participation of all individuals in both youth and community settings, through active involvement in programme planning, delivery and management of their respective organisation. TRAINING: The Spirit of Adventure details the wide variety of training opportunities provided for all individuals to assist with the development of both youth and community provision. TRAVEL and EXCHANGE: The Spirit of Adventure outlines the value of individuals traveling out of their usual home environment together with the support available to them. OUTDOOR EDUCATION: The Spirit of Adventure clarifies the role of outdoor activities in relation to meeting individuals’ needs. YOUTH INFORMATION: The Spirit of Adventure identifies the importance of providing young people with information, which will help them to make informed decisions. HEALTH EDUCATION: The Spirit of Adventure emphasizes the key role which youth and community groups play in promoting healthy living. SPORT and RECREATION: The Spirit of Adventure stresses the value of participating in sport and recreation to promote the personal, social and physical development of individuals COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: The Spirit of Adventure encourages groups to look at the wider aspects of involvement in their community and environment. ENTERPRISE INITIATIVES: The Spirit of Adventure encourages Enterprise Initiatives, which stress the value of individuals undertaking challenging opportunities. TESTING VALUES and BELIEFS: The Spirit of Adventure stresses the important role, which youth and community groups play in enabling individuals to explore their own values and beliefs, in relation to themselves and others. SUPPORT SERVICES: The Spirit of Adventure indicates the broad range of services provided in support of curriculum development and delivery. EVALUATION: The Spirit of Adventure Stresses the importance of evaluating aims, objectives and outcomes, based on needs, so the effectiveness of provision can be assessed. CITIZENSHIP: The Spirit of Adventure highlights the opportunities for individuals and groups to make a valuable contribution to their local community and society as a whole. So if you have read this far and not got board congrats…. So how do you start a center of this type? Research it has taken over 3 years of research, and when I mean research I mean everything, national obesity rates, crime rates, work and education, How to form a business, legal structures, child protection, the list is endless… you name it I have read it. And for people that want to start there own business there are some excellent FREE support available all over the UK. Business link provide free course and mentors, and even with in the charity department there are excellent counselors! So here I am 12 months from opening, and today I have finally managed to get to the courts to have the company formation papers signed before I send them off to companies house, I call one of these internet companies today to see what services there offer to get it done quickly, the fact is it looks like I have saved over £200 by doing it myself. All I have to do now is wait for the papers to come back and I can start applying for funding. I already have some backers ready to donate money one of which is a well-known airplane manufactures, and for every plan that takes off from Heathrow I get 50p, as part of there carbon off setting. So I will up date my blog over the next year, so people can see how the center is progressing. If anyone has any ideas of what they would like to see or have any kids that might what to share there ideas, please feel free… Wish me luck! LMPPMonday, January 28, 2008 (13:33:25)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=67.htmlThe time just after New Year is normally a time to review the year just past. A time to plan the next year. To make the (normally hollow) promises to quit this, do more of that and less or the other. To figure out what mistakes we have made and what we have done well. Invariably we tend to realise a chain of events that has led us to where we are now. We turn the year into a summary of highlights. We’ve all seen the ‘Review of The Year’ on telly, now it’s my turn. A year ago I was coming up to the end of an Operational Tour in Sarajevo, Bosnia. I became very depressed and pretty much suicidal while I was there. The trial of attempting to ‘fit in’ to a macho military environment while struggling to suppress the feminine, real me was causing me to sink. The short relief of a ‘Fancy Dress’ party where I got to dress as a girl just made things worse. It was the fake me pretending to a fake real me. Does that make sense? It does to me. I was pretending to try to look and act like a girl, while in reality trying to NOT act like the real girl I was – just In case I got figured out. What a paradox! I decided during this deployment that I could act no longer. I had to be me or I would die. I was prepared for the difficulties that would accompany this decision, but I felt that there was no real choice. I returned from Sarajevo, had some leave and saw a Doctor. I saw a Psychiatrist and I saw a Gender Specialist. I changed my name. I’ve seen counsellors. I’ve had interviews with various people. I’ve answered questions and ignore jibs. I’ve attempted to reason with family and explain what is going on with me, and with my mind and body. I’ve figured that some just won’t or can’t accept the new me. I’ve bitten my tongue instead of saying what I REALLY want to say. I’ve shed tears, I’ve thrown tantrums. I’ve chatted to and hugged those that care. I’ve talked to others who have no idea what I’m going through or why, and I’ve enlightened them. I’ve talked to others who WANT to go through what I’m going through and helped them. I’ve laughed with others. I’ve laughed at myself. I’ve realised that I really shouldn’t care what the guy in the street thinks of me. If he thinks I’m a freak, well, that’s really his narrow mindedness showing, and I should pity him for his disability… I have probably made more friends this past year than I have ever had in my life. A year ago I vaguely knew two families on my estate. This year I know most of them. I’ve become a part of our community. Initially I guess it was out of curiosity (What the hell makes a guy become a girl, and how does he/she look in a skirt? type curiosity), but no I am just seen as one of the girls. OK, one of the hubbies refuses to speak to me, and a couple are scared of saying the wrong thing, or still don’t know how to take me. Don’t forget, these are soldiers. Men should be macho, and girls should be cooking… But on the whole, life IS better that it was a year ago. I can stop acting. I can be WHO I AM!! No, life isn’t perfect. I was upset on Christmas Day when I received my present from my Father. He does not accept the new me. We still speak on the phone, but we don’t talk. His Christmas card to me didn’t contain a name. It just said ‘Happy Christmas, from Dad’. Not much feeling there. Even worse came when my present was addressed to my old (male) name, and contained the first thing that was listed on my Amazon wish list. The item that happened to be listed and marked clearly for my other half. Was it deliberate? A kick in the teeth? Maybe it was a message, or just him not thinking. My Step Sister and her husband, and my Step Brother didn’t even bother sending Christmas Cards this year. I will not let this get me down though. My Partner and my Son love me, and they are the ones who count. My 14 year old son accepts the new me and is happy to be seen with me – a rare honour from a teenager! My partner still loves me and remains side by side with me on this journey. We are happy together, and remain committed to each other. What about work? Well, I’m still in the Army; I’m still in the same place in Germany. I’m now working as a Chief Clerk in a Personnel and Welfare policy branch. It’s ideal for me. I can do some good there. I am allowed as much time off as I need for the various treatments and appointments. I am involved now in the Army LGBT forum as the LGBT Rep for Germany and the Trans Rep for the whole Army. I have had a number of requests to speak to small groups of people, and to attend conferences. I spoke at an LGBT Conference in London in November and was told that I was inspirational. I never planned to be inspirational! I get calls and messages from all around the world offering support, asking questions and from old colleagues who want to catch up. An old friend of mine who I lost touch with 15 years ago has heard about me and made contact. I am touching other peoples’ lives, and making them see more, learn more and accept more. That can only be a good thing. All in my unit tolerate who I am now, and most of them accept it. There has not been any stand-offishness. At work of course I still wear the same uniform, but my hair, breasts and face make a clear difference. Even on social events no-one seems concerned about being with me. Physically much has changed. Most obviously my mode of dress. I dress as me. If I wish to wear a skirt, I will, or if I prefer to wear jeans, well that’s up to me as well! My hair is growing and thickening. I am pally with my local salon and they look after me well with my hair and eyebrows. My beard shadow is going thanks to IPL. It still hurts, but it is worth it! I now need to find and Electrolysis studio to deal with the white hairs. I now have breasts. Not huge (about an AA – not bad for only 5 months hormones!) but they are mine. My figure is changing noticeably, although I have put on weight again over the festive season. My bum has changed and so have my hips. Female jeans now fit better than ever! A look ahead? Well, the hormones continue to do there stuff and I hope for more changes to become apparent. I have more IPL to look forward to and Electrolysis to find. I have more talks to give and more conferences to attend. I am hoping to go on a MoD Equality and Diversity Advisor course in the New Year. I hope to be jetting off to Thailand in October of SRS and BA (if required). Interspersed with that is my hope that I can get the rest of my family on side. Who knows? It could happen… Code::Thursday, January 03, 2008 (07:33:16)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=66.htmlWell I only have a couple more days left at work and then im off again to finish off my maternity leave. My little girl is now 4 months and one weeks old and weights 15 pound. I love having her in my life and it makes me enjoy everyday epesially when i come home from work and she has this adorable smile on her face which lights up the whole room. Well weve just run out of work so i thought id start typing my blog. See yous all tommorrow maybe i'll have something a little bit more interesting to say.Tuesday, December 18, 2007 (10:49:11)http://www.rearparty.co.uk/cpgn2/Blogs/display/mode=display/id=65.htmlThis is an account of a short break in Amsterdam Mrs Jim and I took a few days ago. Whilst there I made a few notes on my Dell Axim, which I've now uploaded to my PC and posted here for your pleasure. I hope you enjoy reading it. Sunday, 25th November 2007. As I begin this chapter of my blog Mrs Jim and I are on the second of our four nights in Amsterdam. It's a city I've never visited before and I want us to top up on European culture before we make our final move to Australia, so what better excuse for a short holiday to break up the joyless months leading up to Christmas? Earlier today, armed with our 72-hour passes that give us unlimited journeys on Amsterdam's excellent tram network, we went into the city centre for a general look around. At first sight, but only at first sight, Amsterdam is pretty much just another north European city; buskers outside the central train station, those human statue type people in the main square, and a few individuals doing nothing to improve the city's pigeon problem (there are thousands upon thousands of them!) by emptying carrier bags full of feed on the floor of the square. Bloody morons. Where it does differ from other cities is in its amazing canal system. There is water everywhere, and I can imagine that in summer it must be very pleasant to sit at a pavement café idly watching the small boats glide by. Today however a bitingly cold wind ushered all but the most hardy people indoors before a sudden violent hailstorm temporarily emptied the streets altogether. I can only hope that the shop windows are centrally heated, otherwise those poor women who sit there all day and night modelling lingerie will surely get hypothermia (they wear so little, you know?). I don't know how much they get paid but it can't be enough at this time of year. From what we've seen today Amsterdam is a city of stark contrasts. High art and magnificent architecture jostle for space with seedy sex shows, plastic tourist tat and officially-sanctioned ‘coffee shops’ where drugs are openly taken. Before we go home we hope to find time in our schedule to see at least some of the art and architecture. But I'm getting things a little out of sequence, so let me briefly go back to the beginning. Last night, by prior arrangement we were picked up at our hotel by none other than ARRSE's own Ord_Sgt (who lives in Holland) and his delightful girlfriend. They drove us to a very decent Thai restaurant where the four of us had a good meal, a few drinks, and talked about what's best to see in Amsterdam and what might be better to leave out. It was a very pleasant evening indeed and a good way to start our break. If you ever read this A, thanks again for the good company, a good night and some invaluable local information. The only down side to the night occurred when I, in a moment of madness induced by a surfeit of Thai green curry and Heineken, divulged to Ord_Sgt my most guilty secret, the one thing I fervently hoped fellow ARRSErs would never discover. Even though the moment lasted only a matter of seconds, I truly wish I'd kept my mouth shut. But I didn't, and the deed is irrevocably done. However I'm confident that Ord_Sgt is a man of the highest honour and would rather die than betray my trust in him. Well that, and the hefty monthly direct debit he persuaded me to make out in favour of his Dutch bank account. But where were we? Oh yes, back to Sunday night. It's absolutely filthy weather outside as I type this entry, with a howling wind and driving rain, so tonight we'll be travelling no further than the hotel bar where, coincidentally, we're bound for now. I'll write some more drivel in a day or so. Bye for the moment. Monday 26th November 2007 When we arrived at the hotel on Saturday we were told that we'd have to change rooms today, but were reassured that the replacement room would be of equal quality to our original one. That was good to hear because our first room was amazingly vast; 36 feet by 42 feet, with a ceiling at least 25 feet high. There's even a sort of minstrel's gallery down one wall, and more dark wood panelling that you'll find in the whole of Welbeck Abbey. Make no mistake, this is a really quirky place to stay. It's the former headquarters of a dockside shipping agency, converted into an hotel by a consortium of stoned Dutch architects with additional creative input from artists inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's last two years. (The ones he spent in a mental hospital before fatally shooting himself in the chest.) But strangely it works, at least in the most part. Anyway this lunchtime we left our packed bags in the room and went out for an afternoon of sight seeing. And very educational it was too. The Rijksmuseum was well worth an hour or two and, despite conflicting reports we'd received about it, we really enjoyed the Van Gogh museum too. By the time we'd finished being culture vultures it was a little too late for a canal boat trip so after a tour around the city centre on the no. 5 tram we headed back to the hotel and our new room. Our replacement room is, er, let's say interesting. The furniture looks as if it's from the nineteenth century (but not in a good way), there's a giant bath in the middle of the room and, as it's been created within the roof void of the building, there are shiny silver ventilation pipes snaking through the rafters. It's like the bizarre offspring of an impoverished artist's garret and (for those of you who remember The Crystal Maze) the industrial zone. I keep expecting Richard O'Brien to burst in and set me a two-minute command task. In short I don't like it. Perhaps I just don't have what it takes to appreciate this level of irony. Possibly I don't get the Dutch 'funkinesh' thing at all, but as we only have two nights left I won't ask to be moved. I'll just let my views be known at reception. Besides, unlike our original room, the television in this one has a working remote control and access to a triple-X adult channel after eight o'clock in the evening. (A late post script: after returning from the bar, I find that the triple-X channel doesn't work on this television either. Oh Bugger. Or not, as the case might be.) Wednesday 28th November 2007 Yesterday we rounded off our short visit with a canal boat trip and a visit to the Ould Kirk. Very pleasant. A slight glitch on our flight home when engineers found something sticking out of the plane that shouldn’t have been there, but an hour and a half later a replacement aircraft was found and away we went back to the UK. We’ve found the Dutch people to be extremely friendly and helpful, in a way that has none of that ‘have a nice day’ falseness about it. Whilst we were waiting at the airport the captain even came over the public address system apologising for the delay, and saying that ‘I know shome of you might have an important meeting or perhapsh want to go for a shmoke’. I don’t remember that happening at any other airport I’ve passed through. More like ‘There’s a delay and it’s not our fault so just sit there and be patient you scum.’ That’s about it. I’ll write again when there’s something to talk about but until then, bye for now. LJFriday, November 30, 2007 (20:02:00)