Where have YOU been?

Visual aid. You know, in case you needed reminding. 

My mummy was adamant.

"You are coming with us, everything has been arranged. All you have to do is arrange for a week off of work and that's it."

She travels a lot, my mum does, but this time she wanted to take both my sister and I with her for a holiday. In Australia.

I will admit, I had to have a bit of a think first, but due to the fact that everything was pretty much organized, and my mother would disown me if I turned her down, I went to Melbourne for a week.

Now, technically, only I was on holiday. My mum was there on business and my sister also had work to do. It's not easy being a feminist, don'tcha know. However, because she is my mother, she managed to pack a whole lot of shopping into the schedule.

Also, I don't particularly mind shopping, it is an artform in itself. But man, when you're stuck in Suva and have been pretty much everywhere, nothing prepares you for a proper first world country CBD. The people, the cars, the variety of stores. It got a little overwhelming, but luckily I had prepared beforehand. With my trusty Google Map of Melbourne and a list of stores I had to check out, nothing was going to stand in my way.

And this place was like a treasure trove. I felt like a fucking adventurer discovering a lost civilization.

Apart from the shopping, it was also a good bonding experience. Family time and all that. I learned that the work that mum does means that she has an amazing network of people who both respect and want to work with her.

Forum panel that my mum was on. She was very, very good. 

I learned that my sister is really good at giving speeches, and that she can make a grown woman cry. Granted, this particular lady has been known to cry at the drop of a hat, but that doesn't diminish the impact of my sisters story telling.

Finally, I have no idea why, but this trip I was struck with chapped lips, horrid sinus troubles and an inability to sleep properly. I have my own theories on this but it may have been that fact that Melbourne is FUCKING COLD. And also, that our room was on the 15th floor. We had an amazing view of the backside of an even larger building.

And so, with a bag full of goodies and Aussie loot, I returned home. And that's the thing about holidays, at the end of the day you come home, with stories and memories and youtube videos of your mum representing Fiji.


Loot List (A list of the things I picked up, so you can be jelly)
- Blade Runner: Final Cut Blu Ray (for this feller) 
- Dead Space: Martyr (for this feller) 
- Penny Arcade: book 7 
- Cyanide and Happiness book (For the sister to put on her shelf) 
- Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight

Achievement Unlocked: Chaperon Young People!

So, it was the sisters 18th birthday this weekend. She was fortunate in that she had her actual birthday on a saturday, unlike some people who will have theirs on a tuesday. Seriously, that's a lame day for a birthday. I guess if you were an optimist you would say that it would brighten up an otherwise dull day. Silly optimists.

The lazers were useful for keeping the kids in line.

She had a pretty cool party, with balloons, much sangria and merry making with friends. I had to don the role of chaperon for the evening, you know, make sure that the kids didn't do anything crazy like try to dance on the tables or do vodka shots with their eyeballs.

Highlights of the evening included one of her silly friends skidding a lit candle across the table onto my lap, yelling at a very silly individual who decided to make a mess all over the table and generally watching all these kids get progressively tipsy.

And now, for something completely different.

This picture was on my hard drive for some reason.

Remember when I had that weird trip about getting a job in the service industry? It appears I have relapsed due to repetitive insistence by family and friends for me to find a "real" job.

Actual quote: "You need to just go and get yourself a shitty job, preferably with bad pay and working conditions. Something traumatising, you know?"

I'm looking into it, who knows, this could lead to my writing improving from real world experience. You know, dealing with actual human beings instead of the imaginary ones in my head.

More on this as it develops. Full story at ten.

Fashion Concious

Yes, that conversation really happened. I like to think that my mum and I bonded a little bit over the weekend. And yes, we do gang up on the sister sometimes. Hopefully no one notices that there is no comic for the 27th of March, this is mainly because nothing of note happened to me on Saturday. Seriously, it's like a blank day for me. If possible, could I have that day back? I think if I got a second chance at it I could seriously kick some arse.

AWESOME NEWS FLASH UPDATE THING:

The trailer for the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World movie is out. The comic is full of win. The movie looks like it will be full of win. Watch the trailer, you owe it to yourself. Also, if you have the chance you should totally read the comic.

Because she could kill me in my sleep

Have added a link to the sisters blog on the sidebar over there. Mainly to stop her constant poking (she has pointy fingers) but also because of the reason in the title.

Be nice! Also, random Goomba pic is unrelated.

The Flag has writing on it Too

Believe it or not, actual conversation with the sister.

She is back from a long adventure. And i think she wanted to hang out. Or something. I dunno, she's weird. Also, she is sitting behind me while i write this. Hi!

Awesomecake Easter Weekend

So i had myself a pretty awesome Easter weekend. Thanks to Jesus for dying and being rezzed all those years ago to bring us this pretty cool long weekend ^_^

First off, i went to church, where i saw a kid that looked like the Indian version of Alfred E. Neuman, the Mad magazine mascot. I knew people would not believe me, so i took a photograph. 

and for comparison, heres a pic of Alfred himself. 

The resemblance is uncanny. Then after church it was off to Nukulau to camp! I went with Wilson and his family, Lawrence, Apples, Arjay and John. It was serious good fun, and although my sister didn't let me take the camera for fear of dropping it into the ocean, John took a few shots with his camera phone. Which he got sea water on at some point. 

This was our domicile. There were a few shacks like this spread out along the beach, and we commandeered one and put some tarp up to make a serviceable shelter against the elements. After having slept in it, i can confirm that one, the ground is hard, and two, that tarp does indeed protect you from elements. 

Group shot of most of the gang. I spent a lot of time sharpening mah cane knife in case of like, crazy people attacks. So instead, we used it hack up some firewood. Arjay and John were pretty good at making fire, so i think that perhaps they wouldn't have been voted off the island straight away. Also, Wilson managed to injure himself. Twice. I personally got a huge bruise on my toe (i thought i may have broken it at first) but at least i only hurt myself once! 

Then my sister, my mum and i went to the west. We stayed at the Fijian, and i ran into a couple of ex-employers of mine that i wasn't too ecstatic to meet. I also remembered why one of them particualrly gets on my nerves. He asked at one point if i thought they were going to make a sequel to Watchmen. 

Dinner was Thai food, which was delicious! My mum always complains that i'm a picky eater, so it took both of them to convince me to eat the Thai food. I will admit, i was wrong to doubt them. The seafood was particularly delicious. 

Thats us being particularly politically incorrect. Also, they had Point Blank at the games room. 

Mum also managed to beat me twice at pool. I wasn't used to the table! It was such a soft table, that everytime i made a shot the cue ball would roll for aaages. I also managed to sink the black twice in a row, forfeitting both games. 

On the ride back to Suva i listened to the news on the radio. Or what was allowed to broadcast. To be honest, it pissed me off. Unless you're living in another country or under a rock, you'll know that Fiji is going through another political crisis at the moment. As a result, the military has sent censors to all the news agencies to prevent the broadcast of news items that might cause instability. Or further instability, i guess.

Freedom of speech and the media is important, is all i have to say. Without it, you won't know whats really going on, and how can you make important decisions regarding yourselves or your loved ones if you can't get information? 

Anyway, weekend was awesome, apart from that. That is all. 

The Mango trees are all Blooming

at least, the one in my backyard is. i noticed this as i sat underneath the lemon tree this morning, contemplating fate and life like some pajama wearing Siddhartha. Mango tree blossoms are very pretty with their red stalks and yellow blossoms. also, that means soon the market will be flooded with mangoes! which means...chilled mango and icecream. you have not lived, my friend, until you have put mango slices in the freezer for thirty to forty five minutes and then slapped em on some vanilla ice cream. the perfect thing for those hot summer days :)

Diwali was good fun this year. During the morning i cleaned up the backyard ( surprising my grandmother and mum, i still don't know why i did it, some strange part of me saw all the leaves all over the grass and said, i need to clean) and then helped my sister make the puri for lunch. she will never be a teacher, my sister, for one thing she isn't very good at explaining things.

Sister: see, when they rise to the top you turn them over.

Me: why?

Sister: so they dont burn like those ones you didn't turn over!

Me: they've barely browned!

Sister: it's boiling oil! it'll brown in seconds!

Me: why didn't you tell me that in the first place?

Sister: /facepalm

still, it was a good bonding experience. i reckon.

then the gang met up so's we could go to peoples houses for diwali. Wilson (who provided wheels so we could go to Arjay's house) has provided an awesome post on things to do for diwali, which might be a little late for me to mention but it still makes for a good read nonetheless. first off, we went to Lawrence's mum's place, then we took a ride out to Arjay's place. by the end of the night i had a sore tummy from all the sweets and food. it was so worth it.

i also learned to keep Wilson and fireworks away from each other. that guy is a firehazard. i've never heard so many suggestions to do things that are on the fireworks box specifically telling you not to do them. like lay two sparkly fountains on their sides facing one another, just to see what happens. i would not trust that man with a sparkler.

good times :)

Masking tape fixes everything

yes, that's me on the right, in the robin costume. i think that if my parents had bought me a batman outfit, i might have turned out to be a completely different person. but that is another pant leg in the trousers of time, isn't it?

lately i have become somewhat of an odd-job man for my uncle and aunt. i run about delivering and picking up papers and for the past few days have been helping them move out of their house. this includes going through old photographs, which turned up that little gem above. that's my little sister on the left by the way. if only they stayed like that.

today i learned a very important lesson. that lesson is with enough masking tape you can fix pretty much anything. my grandmother gave me the task of fixing an old cork table that had been swollen and broken, somehow water had gotten into the cork of the table and warped it considerably. i fixed it. using masking tape.

obviously this means that any D.I.Y. that i shall attempt from now on can be handled confidently with masking tape in hand.

also, from Wilson i have leeched seasons 4 and 5 of the Justice League. i think it is safe to say that i have an unhealthy obsession with Wonder Woman. like i said, if only the 'rents had bought me a batman outfit...

Snatcher of the Cradles

my sister said she would keel me if i didn't give her some recognition for this strip :P

so...yeah thats it ^_^

Of Wolves and Kings

just an illustrated version of the plan the girlfriend and i decided on a few weeks back. you gotta be prepared!

so, Suva is having a music festival, which is quite awesome. i say this mainly because i got to sing a little bit in said festival. Friends Griff, Wilson and Lawrence sorta kinda let me sing a couple of songs with em at a gig at Esquires. It was lotsa fun ^_^. The band is called The Three Kings, (yes, like the movie) and yesh...it's awesome :P

it's kinda addictive, singing is. once you get over the nervousness, also, people have said that i don't sing half bad, so it's not too bad at all. all i did though, is belt out "I'm yours" by Jason Mraz (who is alright, i'm not a huuuge fan, but the ladies seem to love him. well, Ronron, Sharky and the sister do anyway =_=) and sing backup on a couple of songs. but! it's a start :)

i am a happy chappy :)