Scottish Kuk Sool Championships

Today we are heading off to the Granite City, Aberdeen, Scotland for the Kuk Sool Scottish Championships, only this time there's no hint of any volcanic ash.

The flight time from Norwich to Aberdeen should take just over an hour, which is fantastic when you imagine it takes ten hours to drive.

KJN Ali and I are looking forward in helping out with Black Belt gradings, seminars, and also the Scottish tournament.

All-in-all should be another great weekend. - Back on Monday!

Facebook

Up until yesterday I've refrained from getting involved on Facebook. Instead I've opted to having a low profile, keeping my head below the radar so-to-speak.

So why a change of heart you might ask? Well the thing that always used to put me off about using social networking sites was the 'smut and dribble' that some people used to post on there, they probably still do, but my kids, Rachel & Jay have both explained to Ali and I about the positive benefits about using Facebook.

I've been informed that its a great way to keep in contact with many of my old school friends especially as many of us are now experiencing our 50th birthdays'. Its also great to keep in touch with many Kuk Sool, Instructors, and students both past and present.

In fact both Ali and I have only been on there for less than twenty-four hours and we've already gained over thirty-two contacts, with some people leaving us really nice heartfelt messages. I didn't realise that I had so many 'friends' out there.

My daughter Rachel runs a PR and marketing company called Apparition, she says that we need to increase our 'business profile' and Facebook and Twitter are both good ways of doing just that. So I'd better listen to her as she seems to know what she's talking about.

Oh well I'll give it a go and see what happens - I can always go back to burying my head in the sand again if all becomes too much for me.

More Family Birthday's

Yesterday it was my Nephew George's 12th birthday, George is soon to follow in the long line of Kuk Sool black belts within our family with his hopeful promotion to 1st degree in June.

An interesting fact that I've just worked out, that within our family we have (including George) twenty black belt degrees (dahn's), with respect that's twice as many as Kuk Sa Nim!

Today it's my daughter Rachel's birthday, she's 24. The things that I remember most about her birth were the following;

(a) it was an extremely hot day 22c (b) I nearly missed her birth due to my wife's three hour labour (c) I nearly fainted due to all the excitement.

Best wishes to both George and Rachey!

Apple iphone

Yesterday I made my choice and got myself an Apple iphone. My wife Alison managed to get herself one as well under a similar contract that allows us both to have our handsets free of charge.

Of course there's no such thing as 'free' as far as mobile phone companies are concerned, because you obviously pay for the handsets in the long run. But I'm happy now that I have a decent phone that I can talk to people with as well as email and listen to music on.

I'm an 'Apple' satisfied customer!!

In-Laws

I've just finished having Sunday evening tea around my In-laws. Somehow we managed to get on the subject of this particular blog.

After having a quick browse through some of the most recent items, my mother-in-law wanted to know why she hadn't been featured in any of the posts.

Well that's a good question - why hadn't she? Maybe its because she wasn't exciting enough or maybe it's just because I'd forgotten to add her in.

Well the truth of the matter is (and I'm back-tracking fast now), I didn't want to post any pictures without gaining their kind permission first.

So now that I have their blessing, ladies and gentleman - please allow me to introduce to you the fantastic Joy & Fred, my Mother and Father In-law!

Nice picture don't you think, which should definitely put me in her good books!!

Election Fever

I don't really consider myself a political person, but I have to admit I have really enjoyed watching the debates and information concerning the recent General Election.

Last night (voting night) I stayed up watching TV until well past midnight and then awoke early next morning at 5am to continue to follow the way things were progressing.

I know that most people are a little reluctant to give-away which way they voted, but having put my cross on the ballot paper for Labour and the Lib Dem's at the last General Elections, I opted this time to vote for the Conservatives in order to bring about some positive change.

Therefore I'm slightly disappointed that the Conservatives didn't gain overall majority to win the Election, but I'm pleased to say that in my constituency of Suffolk Coastal, the majority of voters agreed with my own decision, with the Conservative Party gaining 46% share of the vote.

As a matter-of-fact, they now control 52 seats within the East of England region, Lib Dem's 4 and Labour 2. - I'm no statistician but I would say that's a pretty resounding victory for the Tories.

Over the next couple of day's it will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be, however on the whole doesn't it just make politics that little more exciting than it normally is.

New Mobile Phone?

My current contract for my mobile phone is due to expire within the next couple of weeks and I'm seeking advice on which new mobile phone and tariff to get that will suit my needs best.

My current phone is an LG Arena which often freezes and has very poor battery life. I'm desperate to get a new phone as I can't seem to make a decent phone call without something strange happening.

I have a friend in Aberdeen who uses a Blackberry Bold and my daughter and her boyfriend both have a 3g iPhone, which they think are definitely the best.

So what are my basic requirements?

• To be able to use it for emails and texts.


• To help organise my small business and personal life.


• To browse the Internet for News, Weather and Sport etc.


• To listen to music & take good pictures
  

I've been looking at all the options and mobile phones available online and I think what I basically require is a 'Smartphone', but does anybody have any preference or advice to which one. I know much of its down to personal choice, but I'd like to hear your views anyway.

P.S. Just a note to finish - Can anyone remember what it was like before the era of 'mobile phones' - how did we ever survive?

Am I Crazy?

To be or not to be - that is the question?

Of course this is a famous quote from Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

I often ask myself a very similar question.

"What do I make of myself?"

You see my real torment in life is exactly that. I often feel attracted to playing so many different roles depending on how my mood takes me.

I often feel that I've brought the essence of many previous 'past life experiences' into this present incarnation. (Sorry if that sounds a little weird.) I often feel confused about exactly who I am and exactly where my true purpose lies.

I can only vaguely describe my situation as the following; I often find myself as a Healer, Teacher, Coach, Warrior, Philosopher, Peacemaker, Entrepreneur, Writer, Poet, Lover, Artist, Musician, Buddhist Monk.

I also have a deep sense in feeling that I'm intuitive, but practical. I like to seek out adventure and relish a good challenge, but deep down I'm attracted toward inner-peace and search for tranquility. I yearn for modern technology and all that it brings, however at the same time I appreciate history and tradition.

I aim to be wealthy and rich, but respect and love the most simplest things in life, such as watching a golden sunset. I find comfort in the countryside, but also enjoy the buzz and excitement of the metropolis.

So as you can see from the above, I'm exactly as my father used to say - "a crazy mixed up kid"

I guess from this perspective he was probably right. At least one things for sure.......... you couldn't classify me as being - dull or boring!

Although I have to add ~ there's still nothing wrong with being dull or boring either.

Ali's Birthday

As I've probably mentioned before, family birthday's in our household are always quite an important occasion and last week it was the turn of my wife Ali.

Although it's always important not to give-away a ladies age, what I can say is that Ali was born in a very significant year. To give you a small clue, it was the year that the England football team last won a major international trophy.

To celebrate her special day I'd planned for us to spend a night away at our favourite Countryside Hotel and an evening-out at the the Theatre Royal in Norwich. Overall it was a lovely weekend and we both enjoyed ourselves very much.

Talking of birthday's - my special birthday is approaching very quickly and Ali has arealdy told me that she has planned to take me away somewhere special, it's a place where we can relax and enjoy each others company.

Doesn't that sound inviting!

Scotland

I've just managed to add a couple of pictures from our most recent trip to Thurso, Scotland.

The first is looking out over Dunnet Head, which is Britain's most northerly point and the second is the Orkney Islands, featuring the 'Old Man Of Hoy'. (click on the pic's for more detail) Both of these photo's were taken from my Hotel bedroom window, so please excuse the clarity.

While the rest of the country was basking in glorious sunshine, In Caithness it was snowing and cold, however the place still had a beauty of it's own and as you can see from the photo's there's something majestically about the scenery.