This blog is going to be part journal and part my views on the world. Whether it will provide a witty, incisive and enthralling commentary on this thing we call life...who knows? and ultimately...who cares?
Friday, April 29, 2005
A weekend of leisure... or maybe not...
..err... well in my case that's not going to happen....
I was planning to visit a friend in East London and then see a cousin in Surrey... but... my car has decided to disintegrate... well to be more precise the water leak (that I was too tight fisted to repair last week) has led to the water pump seizing, then the timing belt failing and taking out the rest of my engine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What would have been a £280 repair job has turned into potentially £600 (minimum). The car can't be seen by the mechanic till next week... and the damn thing only cost me £400...
So what should I do...
FIX IT - not worth it since the car cost less then the repairs and will probably fail its next MOT!!!
SCRAP IT AND BY ANOTHER SECOND HAND CAR - not really an option as I haven't got a clue and I'll probably just by a bigger dud!!!!
SCRAP IT AND BY ANOTHER BRAND NEW CAR - well can't really afford this option!!!!
BECOME CARLOS (OR CAR LESS) FOR A WHILE - BUT I do need a car for work... and soon ... I'm travelling around three sites next week and the week after I'm going to Solihull and Manchester!!! Fun and games...
none of the options really suit me but I'll have to fork out some cash and soon... if anyone wants to donate some cash to a good cause (i.e. me) or even a car (preferably a Ferrari) just mail me... as a thank you I'll let you have a gmail account...
But in the meantime I guess I'll be catching the bus!!!
Take care and have a good weekend!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
The General Election
Conservatives
To be honest I don't like the manifesto and policies of the current Conservative party as they appear to reactionary... they don't appear to come out with anything new or innovative... they merely seem to react to any current crisis and rush out policies to deal with those issues. This has led to them raising quite contentious issues such as race and immigration to fever pitch level.
While I do agree that these issues haven't been handled as well as they could by Labour and there are serious problems to be overcome, the way the Tories deals with them (to my mind) looks like an attempt to scaremonger the public into voting for them. The effect of this is that groups such as the BNP (by association to these issues) gain credibility in their campaigns and the general public feel that the country is at breaking point when to me it doesn't appear to be the case (after all ethnic minorites make up less than 8% of the population... even if they tried how much damage can they do?).
The arguments surrounding the benefits that the immigrant population bring to the UK are completely ignored. These issues include:
- Keeping the NHS alive!
- Providing a skilled resource which is not available in the UK
- Combatting the decline in population
There are many moer issues but these are ignored!
As the Labour party has taken up the same political groud that the Tories occupied, the Tories do not appear to offer a distinct alternative anyway (except in certain extreme issues where they appear to be as extreme as the BNP).
Labour
Well to my mind they haven't done much over the last few years except break promises. They managed poorly the Iraq War (which I and many people I know disagree with) and in many areas they are the Tory party in all but name. Many systems under them are in disarray (the NHS/police force/immigration etc). And to be blunt I have no faith or trust in Tony Blair.
The poor handling of the immigration situation by the goverment has led to high profile controversies which has led to the mainly well behaved ethnic minorities being labelled and targeted.
The Labour party, who were once the champions of the poor, don't appear to haven done much during their tenure in office to create "real" jobs and employment and safegurad British Industry.
At times they appear to operate a "Laissez Faire" policy until things hit crisis point (look at the Rover issue/the cricket tour of Zimbabwae). They are the government its theie duty to lead!
Again I can't see much difference from the old Conservatives, but because of the disenfranchisement with the Tories I can't see anything other then a Labour win!
Liberals
Some of their policies I agree with and some I don't (such as legalising Canabis) but to my mind they appear to be the most honest of the three main parties. They also appear to offer real alternatives to the main parties. Regardless of this i don't see them winning much of the vote.
Others
Votnig for any other party... well seeing as the smaller parties in the best cases will be unable to form any significant voting blocks within Parliment a vote for these while displaying people's anger at the other parties will do little to influence the political machine of policy and law. So all in all a wasted vote!
Summary
The Labour party haven't done anything to earn my vote, while the Tories campaigning has been reactionary at best at extremist at worst. They don't appear to offer any alternative and regradless of who is in power between these two, I don't see much change in internal or external policy. The Liberals won't really get into power and a vote for the rest is really wasted.
Conclusion
After carefully considering all of the above I think I'll exercise my democratic right to stay in bed on the 5th od May. To all of you think carefully, look below the headlines and use your vote wisely.
Last nights football...
In past weeks I've run around like your classic headless chicken, attacking (even though I can't pass or shoot) and defending. Within five minutes of kick-off I was physically exhausted. Well last night I set my stall out to stay back (yes that means I just stood at the back and watched the game and when the opposition attacked I just stuck my fat @r$e in the way). Overall I wasn't overly exhasted as the game progressed, while the opposition attackers(who were a man down anyway) did get exhausted... ahhh...those kids in their youthful exhuberence were up and down the pitch like yo-yo's... tiring their little legs out... while I in my experience (gained from a pretty sad existence) managed to pace myself. We eventually won the game 4-2.
I do have to mention my mate Khiz as well... during his turn in goal he was pulling off some stunning saves... but then fate dealt him the cruellest of blows.... there was a shot which Khiz stunningly dove across the goal mouth to block... only to watch it spin into the back of the net.... oh how I felt for him.... as I sat there and laughed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
err yes... about that gym and exercise business!!!
I haven't been to the gym last week or this week (yet) but hey I have great body (ok stop laughing0)... I'm just a little tired at the moment... but hopefully I'll be back there soon...
I've reassessed what I want. The way forward for me is to set some objectives and then decide on the best way to achieve them. My current routine was a bit of everything with no real aim.
So the ojective I'm going to set myself is to lose half a stone over the next two months. Lose two stone over the next nine months. Over the longer term (12 - 18 months its generally to get fitter and improve physique).
I'll change my routing to include more cardio (running/swimming/football) and only maybe the one weights session per week. The weights session is so as to keep some momentum going in the physique side.
But overall I'll sit back down at the start of June and see how I'm doing... and I'll keep you informed along the way...
...wish me luck...
...and please no comments saying "I told you so"...
Now you see me... now you don't...
The weather's great..I have a good job with brilliant pay... my car still moves... everyone loves me, I'm popular, well respected, good looking, funny, witty etc etc (let me know if I'm getting carried away here!!!!!!!).
Anyway I've had a good weekend... went back to Leeds (and just about made it before the car blew up!!!). Saturday saw a trip to Leicester to meet my sisters in-laws, while on Sunday we went to check out to restaurants.... the legendary "Mumtaz Paan House" in Bradford and "Nawab Khan's" in Leeds... while Mumtaz is clearly highly rated it was around £10per head more expensive then the latter... On visiting Nawab's we were given a free meal as a taster... I was only expecting a few starters but got a full blown meal... so I was happy!!!!
My mate Adnan (part Afghan, part Pakistan, part Arab, Patthan... with a very strong Brummie accent) came round.... but I'll tell you more about him later...
Haven't been to the gym but will fill you guys in on that later as well...
Apart from that there was nothing much to report!!!
I've decided not to go home over the bank holiday but just chill in London and enjoy the city!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2005
... So sue me
Well I haven't been the gym, played football or gone swimming this week... I just really couldn't be bothered!!! (And no one had better leave comments of I told you so or I knew it wouldn't last etc etc). So I've probably just gotten fatter (any negative commenters will just get my fat arse sitting on their faces OK!)
That coupled with the fact that I've done absolutely sod all at work and that I am as financially astute as a salmon swimming upstream only to become tomorrow's main course has left me feeling quite annoyed at myself!!!!!!!!
To top it off it looks like you muppets have stopped reading this stupid blog.... all this effort I go to for you guys and you just throw it back in my face...
Are there any bright sides... err my mate Khiz took me out for a meal at Nando's and paid!!! At least someone is taking care of me... we ended up sitting in his car and reminiscing over which of the females we used to watch on TV in our youth had captured out imagination... (this discussion lasted till midnight and we ended up with quite a long list!!!)
The only plus point is that I didn't spend much cash this week... which means rather than sinking further into the cesspool of death that this rat race has left me in I'm just drowning at the same level I've been at which is about 20,000 leagues below sea-level...
Anyway I can't be bothered entertaining you sorry lot today so sod off and leave me alone!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Did you miss me....
Well as they say absence makes the heart grow fonder... that must mean you guys must love me even more then usual...
Well here's the lowdown...
Progress on the fitness size has been promising... I weighed myself on Sunday and I came in at 12 stone 12lbs which means I've shed another two stone (total loss of 3 stone)... unfortunately I have another confession to make... I haven't done any exercise since last Thursday... I know I'm bad .... very bad but in my defence any good exercise regime needs to build in rest time!
I'm planning on going swinning tonight and playing football tomorrow... lets se how it goes!
The Weekend
I went back to Leeds at the weekend and managed to pick up my new phone... I love it to bits... even though it looks exactly like my old phone but trust me its great...
The plans for my sisters wedding look like they're going okay. We're looking to book a nice cosy restaurant in Leeds... it can only seat 125 people so that should help us keep the numbers down... if you would like an invite just volunteer for waiter duty and you'll be top of the list!
All seems to be going well so lets hope it stays that way!
The fiance came around on Saturday and I did a pretty damn good job of spoiling any ideas my sister and he had of spending time together (as we for the indian subcontinent call it I was a "KEBAB MAI HADI")... hehe... that mad my weekend!!!
The Car...
Well this is the first time I'm going to post about THE CAR.... up tp now it has served me loyally and valiantly as I roam around the country on my endless journeys to seek enlightenment (or just to when I'm going home to take my washing up to mum!!!!)... but unfortunalty I don't think I've been treating my little baby well... I've scrapped the underside of the car and now I have a water leak which means I need to spend some money
(AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH)
Man life is a pain... well seeing as the car only cost £400 lets see what happens... any extensive costs and I might have to scrap it....(he says as he wipes a tear from his eye)... i
But generally I've had a good week/weekend... lets see how the rest of it fairs!!!!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
My baby neice
She is 15 years old and very clever (like her favourite... but shy and quiet... (but can be vvveeeeeeeerrrrryyyyyy mouthy at times)...
She isn't spoilt at all but can be annoying at times as she doesn't listen to what I say (but the who does these days) and doesn't do what I tell her. She is very cheeky. She is a really bad liar as when she tries to say something dodgy there is an evil grin on her face.
She has a good heart... but can be a bit silly at times (must run in the family!!!!!!!!!!!!!). If there's any trouble at her house with her little brothers and sisters you can guarantee that SHE is the ringleader... (like the time she tried to burn the house down by leaving a candle on all night)...
I hardly see her these days as she's always out with her friends... Johura, Sarah Katie etc etc (see they get free mentions as well)... maybe I should ban her from going out... what do you guys think??? Or maybe I should get her married to some turnip from back home!!! Sounds like a good idea cos it puts her out of my misery!!!
Oh yeah and cos she's my baby neice no one had better be nasty or mess about with her!!!!!!!! And if she messes about then I'll sort her out too!!!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Forced Marriages
Saudi Arabia bans forced marriages
In the article it has the grand mufti saying "forced marriage was against Islamic law and those responsible for it should be jailed"
Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who heads the Council of Senior Ulema (Scholars) said: "Forcing a woman to marry someone she does not want and preventing her from wedding that whom she chooses... is not permissible" under Islamic law.
He also goes on to say "fathers who coerce daughters into in marriage should be jailed and not released "until they change their minds".
I am against forced marriages (which are very different to arranged marriages) and this ruling shows that it is clearly against Islam... and those families who still carry on this are actually committing grave sins! Forced marriages are not just marked by violence, kidnapping and imprisonment... but also mental and emotional torture!
I abhor forced marriages and those who force people into them should (in my mind) be severely punished!
Anyone who also uses forced marriage as an example of Islam being backward is clearly wrong as Islamic scriptures clearly state that all men and women have a right in deciding who they marry.
Many women in Eastern cultures have to bear unjust hardships but much of this is down to the cultures and has absolutely nothing to do with the religion! As this article shows when people become more Islamically aware then women's situations will improve.
One point to consider is that whenever forced marriages comes up as a topic showing Islam in a negative light, its plastered all over the media...
I was quite surprised (well not really) that this news which shows that Islam is against forced marriages was buried in small articles and not given any prominence!!!!
Could it be because the media are only interested in showing Islam as a backward religion?
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
New phones... yay I'm happy
You may be right in considering me a muppet... and I probably am a poser.... there are two points to note
1) neither of these phones cost me anything and 2)one is a handset upgrade for one of the phones I already have while the other is one supplied by work.
The contract on the XDAII has expired, and my phone bill is so stupidly large (cos like a complete tool I took the phone abroad and used it to call everyone under the sun!) that they offered me an XDAIIi for free (normally retailing at £200+ with a twelve month line rental contract) plus I got the free minutes doubled (for no extra cost)... I now have 1000 free off-peak, cross network minutes and 200 text messages.
If you want to check out pictures of this phone go to www.xda-developers.com or http://www.my-xda.com/
The observant amonst you will notice that they look strikingly similar... infact they look the same (except the XDAIIi has an i on the cover)... Well just to let you know my new little baby and second most important thing in my life (after Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has got lots of tricks up its sleeve... but I won't bore you any further (lets face it most people have probably gotten bored and left already... and if you're still here...why?!?!?!?!?!)... actually sod it I'll bore you... its got wi-fi, a 1.3mega-pixel camera, touch screen, its a fully integrated pda... oh yeah and you can use it to make phone calls.
The other phone I was given by work is a Nokia 6310i... not as flash but still a good handset (and now I can make myself look like a complete idiot by telling all my friends that I have a company phone!!! I also get a car kit with it... but considering my car is about 15 years old and about to blow up I'm not sure it will be a good idea to install that!!!!