Month: December 2019
Boring New Year’s Eve Plans
Well I have it all planned out. I am gonna go to the office earlier than my usual 6:30 pm shift and leave by around 10:30 pm. I will book an Uber and come back home.
I have beer chilling in the fridge. I have a couple of Heinekens, a couple of Budweiser Magnum and 2 Amstel beers just waiting for me. I have snacks ready. I need to order some food in but that can be easily done. Swiggy or Uber Eats or Zomato will be able to get that done.
So I plan to wait till I am ready to leave and then order the food as I am on my way back home. Just in case my folks will be going out with my sister and her family for a New Year’s Eve party or even a quiet night out having dinner somewhere. It looks like I am set for the night.
Tomorrow is a day off and I will spend it as I wish. With a movie or two and quietly drink a beer and chill.
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Chelsea overcame an “awful” start, said boss Frank Lampard, as they staged a stunning late comeback to snatch victory and wreck Mikel Arteta’s return to Emirates Stadium as Arsenal manager. Arteta, taking charge of his first home game since succeeding the sacked Unai Emery, looked on course for three important points after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early header put the Gunners in front. Chelsea, with Lampard making a first-half tactical switch when he introduced Jorginho for the struggling Emerson, were gifted an equaliser seven minutes from time when goalkeeper Bernd Leno hopelessly misjudged Mason Mount’s free-kick to leave the substitute with a simple finish.
Arsenal were doubly frustrated because Jorginho was fortunate to escape a second yellow card earlier for a cynical foul on Lucas Torreira – but Arteta’s home bow was to get even more painful. Chelsea struck again with three minutes of normal time left, Tammy Abraham turning Arsenal substitute Shkodran Mustafi far too easily in the area to beat Leno and complete the smash-and-grab raid. Arsenal, who lost defender Calum Chambers to injury in the first half, will start 2020 11 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and without a Premier League home win since 6 October. It is the first time they have lost four consecutive home matches in all competitions since December 1959. Arteta understandably looked downcast as he and his players took sympathetic applause from their fans after they were left stunned by Chelsea’s late surge.
For the first half-hour Arsenal dominated a desperately poor Chelsea and there was much to encourage everyone inside a vibrant Emirates Stadium as the new era kicked into life. The Gunners, however, ran out of steam towards the end of the first half as Chelsea, helped by Lampard removing Emerson and sending on Jorginho, started to dominate and continued to do so after the break. Arsenal were resilient but were hanging on and ultimately it was a calamitous individual error and familiar defensive fragility that was to prove their undoing. Leno’s rush of blood left Jorginho with the easiest of finishes, although Arsenal certainly had a case to complain about his continued presence on the pitch after escaping that second yellow card. And then Mustafi, on for the injured Chambers, was at fault when he allowed Abraham far too much time to control, turn and score the winner.
Pork Chops, Prawns, Chicken & Beer
The previous weekend I was back with Alza at the Blue Rock Restobar in Olive Downtown. This has become my favourite place to hang out for a few drinks and some good food, as mentioned in my previous post about this place. Probably it is the company :)
We ordered shrimp, fried in a tempura batter.
And some chicken satay with that lovely peanut sauce.
My fav is the grilled pork chops in bbq sauce. Though they were kinda huge.
All in all a great afternoon spending it drinking beer and enjoying the good food and company.
Holiday Plans
I would think that a lonely bachelor like me might have a few options but I always take the boring, same old – same old and predictable way out.
I plant myself in my room and I watch movies, Youtube and some sports. I haven’t been able to drink during the last 3 days due to the fact that I’ve been battling a bad cold and some sinus issues. My plan was to get some beer on Friday morning after my shift ended at 9:30 am but the sinus issues and head cold made me want to come home directly.
The cold and sinus issues persisted throughout the rest of Friday and Saturday and even today. I ordered some hot & peppery mutton soup which went down really well. It was tasty and also attacked my sinuses. I needed that. I hope to go out tomorrow morning and get a hair cut and then go get some beer. I want to drink on the evening of 31st.
Food Review #288
Buffalo Chicken Wings From Double Roti – almost chocked to death :D
Everything Drivers Need to Prepare for in 2020
The world of modern driving these days is one that you need to familiarize yourself with. There is no question that having a car is a huge advantage for a lot of people, and it can have a profound impact on your life. But, you need to be clear about the different rules and regulations that will affect you as a driver, both right now, and in 2020. As we’re in the holiday season, it seems like the perfect time to broach this topic.
If you want to stay safe and sound on the roads and make the most of life as a driver, you are going to need to know what to expect. And this means planning and preparing as much as you possibly can. Think about the different elements of the process of driving, and understand what you have to expect from 2020. Here are some of the considerations you are going to have to make to help you prepare for life on the road in 2020.
Is Your Car Roadworthy?
One of the things you need to look into the most when you are a driver is to check how roadworthy your car is. There is a lot you need to consider here, and this is going to be essential when it comes time to improve your vehicle and make a difference to the safety and longevity of it. You want the car to be as efficient as possible then it is important to make sure you check how well it runs on the road, as well as what you can do to improve performance.
How Can You Stay Safer?
Being as safe as possible on the road is also really important, and there is a lot you can do to assess this. Make sure you think about what it takes to stay safer and more secure on the roads, and one of the best ways of doing this is to make sure you drive more sensibly. There are a lot of things that make a big difference to the way you drive when you’re on the road, and making sure you drive more carefully and follow the rules is hugely important.
Understand the Rules
So this brings us neatly to our next point, which is that you need to make sure you understand the rules of the road. There are a lot of things you can do that are going to help with this, and it’s vital that you look at the right way of achieving this. Familiarising yourself with the laws of the road is essential for ensuring you stay safe, but it’s also hugely important for making sure you stay on the right side of the law too!
Protect Against Bad Weather
Protecting your car against bad weather is one of the most important things you can do to look after your car and protect it against adverse weather conditions. This protects the aesthetic appeal of the car, as well as helping to keep it in great shape and ensure it’s running as well as it can. There are plenty of things you can do that are going to help you protect the car, and thinking about how you store it is one of the key factors here.
Reconsider Your Insurance Premium
Your insurance is a must when you are a qualified driver, and the new year is the perfect time to assess and reconsider your existing premium. There are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind if you are serious about doing this, and you are going to need to think hard about the different premiums available. You might well be able to get a better deal by shopping around a bit, and this is important to keep in mind.
Drink Driving is Still an Issue
It is important to know the reality of the situation as a driver, and the fact is that drink driving is still a very real issue. In fact, this is something that is important to understand and learn more about so that you can be prepared. You can find out about the topic here, and make sure you improve your knowledge in the right way moving forward.
How is Technology Making a Difference?
There is no question that technology is having a massive impact on the future of the automobile industry, and will continue to do so. There are a lot of things that you need to think about when it comes to achieving this, and there are a lot of aspects you need to factor in. In many ways technology is making the roads safer, and this is important, but it is also improving and increasing the efficiency of automotive travel, and this is important.
Maintenance Ideas
It is also important that you do as much as you can to look at improving the car as much as possible, and this means you need to look at maintenance tips and ideas. Come up with a strategy to look after your car more effectively; one that doesn’t always have to involve taking it into the garage to be serviced. If you can do a bit of work yourself to improve and maintain the car, this is most definitely something you need to keep in mind, and it is important to make sure you think about this as much as possible. If you can work on your vehicle and look after it as much as possible, you will be able to save money in the future.
It is important to make sure you look at what you can do to make the most of your time as a driver. There are a lot of elements that you are going to have to consider when you’re looking at improving the way you drive, how you are on the roads, and the ways you look after your car. If you can get this right, you are going to need to think hard about the different factors that play a role in taking things to the next level and doing things that will allow you to improve your vehicle.
PRS Special 22 Semi Hollow Limited Edition
PRS Special 22 Semi Hollow Limited Edition in River Blue
29 Is Fine
If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose?
For some reason, I always hark back to the age of 29. I think it’s because 29 is a good age to be. You are not yet into your 30s and it’s the last year of your 20s. I think It’s a great age for men to be. My 2005, the year I turned 29, was a good year until late October.
I got promoted at work and I loved my work. I went early to my shift, even 2 or 3 hours (I was crazy back then), because I enjoyed it. I had a good set of friends at work and the ones who were just below me were like my younger brothers & sisters (heck, I was called Roshan bhai). My superiors appreciated me and I had a good & solid reputation at the office.
I didn’t make much money, my then salary was a pittance compared to what I make now yet I had fun and I enjoyed myself. I went to drink almost every weekend and I had a lot of fun. I relaxed and watched a lot of tv on Sundays. Somehow I wish I could go back to that year. I had so much potential and promise and I was greatly appreciated.
Prompt from 105 Author Blog Prompts: Banish Your Blank Blog!
Sick On A Friday
Things come down so quickly. I am talking about a bad case of the cold, with phlegm and all. I was still ok when I left home at 12 am last night to head for work. Once I reached there I was still fine for a while but 2 hours later I started to get the sniffles.
By 4am I was sneezing so hard and so much that my throat started to hurt. My nose was also runny and I found it difficult to breath without using my inhaler a few times. It was the phlegm causing so much trouble. I needed coffee very badly so I had a cup at 4 am and then another one at 6:15 am.
By 8:30 am I was hungry so I and three other colleagues went to get breakfast at the upstairs cafeteria where the food is freshly made in the large kitchen that they have. I had that and some water and I was done. By 9:15 am I left the office in an Uber and came home. I plan to take it easy this weekend which is a bummer as I had planned to go out this Saturday or Sunday and even buy some beers to stock up for New Year’s eve. Oh well!
Angel Has Fallen
Angel Has Fallen is a 2019 American action thriller film directed by Ric Roman Waugh. It is the third installment in the Fallen film series, following Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and London Has Fallen (2016). The film stars Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, Piper Perabo, Nick Nolte, and Danny Huston. The plot again follows United States Secret Service agent Mike Banning, as he races against time to clear his name after being framed for an attack on the U.S. President, Allan Trumbull.
Secret Service agent Mike Banning undergoes training at the Salient Global private military facility, owned by his friend Wade Jennings, a former fellow Army Ranger. Banning is recommended for the position of Secret Service Director by Allan Trumbull, President of the United States, to replace retiring Director David Gentry. Banning hides the fact that he suffers from migraines and insomnia and takes painkillers to cope with chronic back pain. While the president is on a private fishing trip, a swarm of armed drones attacks his protection detail with only Banning surviving the deadly assault and saving the President. Both men are incapacitated, but Banning recovers while Trumbull is left in a coma. FBI Special Agent Helen Thompson is presented with evidence that Banning may be responsible for the attack after the FBI locates the van used to transport the drones and which contains traces of Banning’s hair and DNA, leading to his arrest.
As he is taken to a secure facility Banning’s transport is ambushed. He escapes after killing the assailants, revealed to be employees of Salient Global with whom he partook in a training exercise. Banning comes to the realization that Jennings has betrayed and framed him for the assassination attempt. Banning calls his wife Leah, letting her know he is alive and determined to expose the real perpetrator. The call alerts Thompson to Banning’s location leading to a car chase by numerous police officers. However, Banning manages to escape to his father’s cabin in the backwoods of West Virginia. With Trumbull still comatose, Vice President Martin Kirby is sworn in as Acting President of the United States. Banning and his father Clay observe Jennings’ men approaching the house on surveillance cameras. Clay detonates multiple explosives around the perimeter, killing the would-be attackers as he and Banning escape. Banning reveals to Clay that he has a wife and daughter.
Leah and her daughter are on the verge of being kidnapped by Jennings’ men when Clay saves them. Kirby reveals to the press that Banning is responsible for the assassination attempt with support from the Russian government. Finding the bodies of Jennings’ gunmen lined up against Clay’s cabin, Thompson deduces that Banning may have been set up after all. Trumbull awakens from his coma and Kirby is revealed to secretly be in cahoots with Jennings. Kirby plans to retaliate for the President’s “attempted assassination” by attacking the Russians. Thompson and another agent meet Jennings on an airfield tarmac, but Jennings kills both FBI agents. Banning reaches the hospital and gives himself up, but Trumbull orders his release. Banning leads Trumbull to safety with help from Gentry and other loyal agents as Jennings destroys the hospital’s ICU by increasing the oxygen & nitrogen supply to unstable levels, causing a massive explosion that levels the hospital.
Banning hides Trumbull and Gentry as Jennings’ men pursue them. After a long gun battle, Banning blows up a helicopter with a grenade launcher before Jennings can make his escape from the rooftop. They engage in hand-to-hand combat ending with Banning mortally stabbing Jennings. Banning is exonerated while Trumbull and Gentry arrest Kirby for treason thanks to evidence kept by Jennings as an insurance policy and uncovered by Thompson. Clay decides to live with Banning and his family. Feeling guilty over his failure to protect Trumbull and concealing his ailments, Banning offers his resignation, but Trumbull forgives him and offers Banning the promotion to Director of the Secret Service, which he proudly accepts.
It’s kinda repetitive of these formulaic movies and it’s boring whenever there is no action on screen. It feels very cliched and unoriginal. You know how things are gonna pan out, you know who the bad guys are from the get go. It’s worth a single watch, unlike the first film and I’m gonna give it a 6.5 outta 10 for that!
Looking Foward To Jan 2020
As we get ready to start a new year, will you be making any big changes?
No big changes. I do want to have some fun this January and go away for a few days. I want to unwind and recharge for a 3 day vacation just like I did last February. If you remember, I went to a hotel in February and basically laid back, slept a lot and unhooked from everything – well except the internet. I didn’t watch any tv shows or any movies.
I need that again and I want to get that. I am pretty sure that I can get a 5 day leave next month and go enjoy myself for a few days. I need the recharge days. I need to get away from the nonsense of work and my parents. I enjoy the time away, the quiet and the peace. I’ll take a book or two and read. I will do something. I will sleep a lot. That’s what I want to do again as a big change.
Ofcourse I will be drinking but at the same time it’s gonna be a relaxation.
Prompt from 31 Days Of Writing Prompts For December at The SitsGirls
Jesus Jokes
jesus: what do people call the day i was crucified
me: good friday. we call it “good friday”
jesus: what the fuck
Big deal Jesus, so your dad sent you here to suffer & die, that’s what all the rest of us are doing too
COP: jesus how much hav u had to drink
JESUS: (leans out window) (whispers) my blood is wine
COP: ok step outa the car pal
[last supper]
drunk jesus: *swinging baguette wildly* You want a piece of me!?
Me: “Hey you forgot to close the door! Were you born in a barn?”
Jesus: “Yes.”
Me: “Oh, it’s you. Sorry, Jesus.”
Jesus: “I forgive you.”
*knock on door*
“Sir have you found Jesus?”
Uh, no. Goodbye.
*shuts door*
*Jesus steps out from behind door with gun*
Good answer
The Atticus Institute Movie Review
Here is my review of the 2015 pseudo documentary style horror film The Atticus Institute.
11 Dirty Jokes
- What’s the difference between a pickpocket and a peeping tom? One snatches your watch. The other watches your snatch.
- What do you call an IT teacher who touches his students? A PDF file!
- How do you make your girlfriend scream during sex? Call and tell her about it.
- An old woman walked into a dentist’s office, took off all her clothes, and spread her legs. The dentist said, “I think you have the wrong room.” “You put in my husband’s teeth last week,” she replied. “Now you have to remove them.”
- Why isn’t there a pregnant Barbie doll? Ken came in another box.
- What goes in hard and dry, but comes out soft and wet? Gum!
- What’s the process of applying for a job at Hooters? They just give you a bra and say, “Here, fill this out.”
- What’s worse than waking up at a party and finding a penis drawn on your face? Finding out it was traced.
- What’s the difference between a tire and 365 used condoms? One’s a Goodyear. The other’s a great year.
- How does a woman scare a gynecologist? By becoming a ventriloquist.
- What’s the difference between your penis and a bonus check? Someone’s always willing to blow your bonus.
Food & Beer At Olive Downtown’s Bar
Once again, we were at Olive Downtown’s restobar The Blue Note. This is quickly becoming my favourite place to drink deer and hang out with a beautiful girl. The we being me and Alza. Fried cheeseballs, fried chicken, French fries (it’s kinda her favourite snack) and some beer. We ended the afternoon with some pastries as we both have a sweet tooth.
Ernie Ball Music Man SM-Y2D Quilted Tobacco Sunburst
Ernie Ball Music Man SM-Y2D Steve Morse Quilted Tobacco Sunburst
A Short Guide To Buying Abroad
The choice to buy a new property is always a big one, but when it comes to buying a property abroad, you’ve got some decisions to make! You may not have any idea where to begin, except that you know you want to buy a dream holiday home. It’s a significant decision to go overseas, especially if you aren’t aware of the rules of buying a property in a new place. The greatest importance is doing as much research as possible and getting the right advice. You want this to be a successful purchase, and you can make this happen with the correct people by your side.
There are a lot of questions surrounding what to do when it comes to buying abroad. So, let’s take a look at some of the tips that you need as a potential buyer who is going for a property abroad.
Step 1: Know It’s Use
Do you know what you want this property for? Most people buy abroad as a holiday home option, but then there are others who are buying abroad for the investment opportunities. Checking out properties at Rumah is going to help you to make a decision about what you want to use the property for. You want to make sure that there are amenities close by regardless, and you need to know how you intend to spend your time socially, too. You may choose to use the house too, which is another consideration if you are planning to rent it out.
Step 2: Pick A Location
It’s important to know the location of the property that you want to buy. You can choose this based on experience, or you can choose it based on knowing where you will get the most hits for your property. If you know you’re going to get more interest in Bali than Jakarta, for example, then you’re bound to buy a property along the Bali beaches, right? You want to make sure that you also choose somewhere that you like, and not just somewhere that you know you’ll get bookings for. After all, it’s your property and you would want to use it at some point!
Step 3: Can You Afford It?
There are some complicated steps to buying abroad. There are costs that are involved that won’t be involved if you were to buy where you are right now. You need to consider the price of the property, sure, but the other costs involved are:
- Taxes
- Property management costs
- Maintenance costs
- Flights to and from the property to check it out
There are more than enough costs to be getting on with, and that is before you even break the barrier of insurance! Getting to know your costs before you even get started is going to help you to realize your dream of owning property abroad.
Step 4: Are You Hoping To Let It Out?
It’s a big question for every homeowner who owns a property across the world. Renting your property can be a big deal; especially as you are miles away! You need to work out whether you’re going to benefit from renting it out. Most people do benefit from it, given that renting a home is a fantastic way to offset those yearly costs and make a little cash along the way. It’ll be here that you decide whether a property manager is a good idea, or whether you want to go it alone and manage the process yourself.
Step 5: Consider Accessibility
This is quite an important step. If you love the house you found in the mountains it’s good news – until you realize that no one can get up there to stay! And what about you? If you buy a house in Australia and you live in England, how many times a year do you plan to make that 24 hour trek? You want to be able to afford to visit your own house when you need to, and you want to make sure that other people can, too!
Step 6: Know The Legalities
Every single country has their own laws regarding property purchases. You need to know what the legalities are of the country of your choice. It’s important to work closely with a lawyer who can advise you properly about buying a home abroad. They will be able to give you sound advice, but a word of caution: always work with a lawyer from your home country who knows the system. This way, someone is on your side and registered in your own country, too.
Step 7: Learn The Language Basics
If you are planning to buy a home in Bali, you should also plan to get to know a little of the spoken language in the area. Not only will this be a good experience for you, it’ll be easier for you to enjoy any interactions with locals when you stay in your property. Always have a translator with you when it comes to firming up the meetings that you are going to have with local lawyers, too. You want to make sure that you’re getting the right deal and you understand 100% what you’re getting yourself into.
Step 8: Are There Tax Implications?
Living abroad, or buying a property that you plan to let out, is a huge deal. So, know the tax implications of such a huge decision. You want to make sure that you are going to pay any taxes for which you may be liable. It’s far more preferable to educate yourself than get lumbered with a hefty tax bill. Seek independent tax and legal advice here, because if you skip this step it could shoot you in the foot later on!
Buying a property abroad requires thorough research and time spent talking to the right people. You are investing in yourself and your future when you buy abroad, even if you don’t plan to use your property right away. Good luck on your new purchase – make it work!