Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

I have had a pair of Dr Martens sandals for about 7 years. I bought them second-hand from Ebay when they were already well used. I think I paid $12. I have a soft spot for Dr Martens shoes as … Continue reading →

So, I have never been convinced that the Muslim paradise is defined by virgins that you can disport with. I lived in a Muslim country for 2 years and indulged in lengthy, indeed interminable, discussions on religion. There was nothing … Continue reading →

I think I have mentioned before that the region of my birth has been of inestimable value in both my social and professional life. People want to talk to me because I was born in Campbeltown ergo Springbank and have … Continue reading →

Having been very pompous at the end of the last post about people confusing condescension  with sophistication, I will now indulge in exactly the same thing. Well, not really, as I actually find this er sort of art form, which … Continue reading →

There are certainly two things that I will retain from my Japanese experience no matter where fate should lead me. The first is the genkan and the second the chopstick The genkan is where you leave your shoes before coming … Continue reading →

So, lots of stuff I should be doing but as Albert Schweitzer remarked, “Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.”  Not sure I understand exactly what he means but … Continue reading →

I have always wondered what the expression First Base meant in the context of American courtship. Well, Wikipedia tells me this: First base – mouth to mouth kissing, especially open mouth (“French”) kissing involving the tongue. Anyway, this was brought on … Continue reading →

So, that time of year rolls around again. Yes, its spend your free time at the dentist season. If you go back to my blog of 31 January 2011 you can read about last year’s dentistry fun. Last night, February … Continue reading →

So I have now been in Okinawa for a year. During about half of that time I have endeavored to grow vegetables. I compare the vicissitudes of the garden to my overall Okinawan experience. Thanks to Natori san I gain … Continue reading →

So, one aspect of living here that pleases me is the playfulness of official communication. I remember in the UK getting letters from tax people concluding, ” Your Obedient Servant.”  The French are even more baroque. Here the content of … Continue reading →