Hello all

sorry for the silence, and thanks for the notes (actually note) of support (well, not actually support, more like "you lazy cunt, where's my mid-morning reading" or somesuch, but nevermind; appreciated none the less)

I've been in Singapore since Monday night, on an errand to measure some stuff, talk to some folks about some stuff we did wrong and now must fix and spy on someone else's work. I was quite surprised when I read on my plane ticket that I was flying down on Monday night, because I distinctly remember asking for a Tuesday night flight. It being Monday afternoon when I noticed this did nothing to improve my mood. I was a barely controlled volcano of rage until I checked back and found that I HAD actually asked for ... Monday. errr. Somwhat similar to the time I nearly flew to the UK on a weekend Jaunt to a mate's wedding a MONTH early. Who says you can't get BSE from gargling cow shit (60% of the constituence of Mac D buggers, according to pundits. Hmm Lurvely.)

So Ronnie died and CNN (only news service available in my hotel; aside from S'pore telly "and a woman today was admitted to hospital with a minor ankle strain from carrying too much shopping...") did a big thing on Ronnie and Nancy and how Ronnie insisted on being called Clarebell for the last 8 years, or something. They did state that hundreds of admirers were filing thoruhg the rotunda where Ronnie was being kept, which made me think that they really should have let the mourners in before the rubber neck brigade and that, although a nutcase, he still deserves to lie in state in a better place than GW's garden shed. CNN also said that Fracne "bent over backwards" to accommodate GW at the UN. Now they all agree on something (ie that Iraq should be free) it seems that poilitical poundits have suddenly forgotten that there were any differences in the first place. Tossers. It'll proably work, though. One more thing to blame the French for. CNN also made wind of the fact that GW and Putin hadn't talked "for months" after Russia refused to back GW's mad autumn oil grab. You can imagine the cold war hotline;

"GW, some nutcase has control of Georgia's nuclear navy, we need your support to find a solution before the whole of the balkans goes bye bye"

"Talk to the hand Pooty Poot, where were you when I needed a friend, eh?"

I love this world, but can I get off it now please?

Venus crossed the sun yesterday, which was brave considering the size difference. Tele printed pics taken by Russian landers on Venus in the 70s or something. Quite cool (or hot; depends, I suppose) although I hadn't though probes had ever been sent to land on Venus, much less send pictures back. Also they said that Scott or someone was send down south to look at the Venus crossing 200 years ago and afterwards bumped into Australia. Imagine, if he'd never gone, the world would be without the Wolongong and Aussie rules footie. Ah well, you can never have enough prison space.

I took the project in Korea (I had a choice, oh yes sir I did) and they gave me some more toy money for "accepting." Should be off there next week. the last time I worked with Koreans was in S'pore and they were ALL fucking rude bastards. Should be a ride...

See you tomorrow