Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

A big typhoon skirts Okinawa. All the fishing, diving boats are hauled out of the water to avoided being washed ashore. Work really gets in the way and I am unable to take the Scaffie to safety. She will have … Continue reading →

Of late, I have grown weary of Irish flute playing. The new recordings are played at insane speeds, they play in wierdo keys, they play in wierdo rhythms more akin to Brazil, Greece, Lapland than the bogs.  They show off … Continue reading →

So, I was driving back home listening to a podcast of Desert Island Discs. The idea of the program is like old people look back on their lives and represent their miserable existence in music. I realize I can do … Continue reading →

It rained a lot when I was in Hawaii and this means that the faithful Scaffie fills up with water. This means that she is very low in the water and pulls harder on the anchor line  risking a dragging … Continue reading →

I have a free day on Saturday before long trek back to Okinawa. I tremble with anticipation. I am on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific and this means only one thing – new birds! I set … Continue reading →

I go to the University of Hawaii. The event is at the conference center called the 1 min conference center. I take this as a very good omen. The conference starts with a dancing lion. This is the first time … Continue reading →

I wake early and generally scurry around to prepare for the trip. However it is Naoko’s birthday and this cannot be left uncelebrated. I can just squeeze in celebration at work and then limo to airport. Naoko is late so … Continue reading →

Phrasal Verbs in English have long been a fascination. Cleave to means – “to stay very close to someone, or to stay close together.” However the verb cleave means – “split or sever (something), especially along a natural line or grain.”  What do you make of that? … Continue reading →

I get one of the tantalizing, “We tried to deliver something extremely wonderful to you but you were not at home” messages in my mail box. I immediately phone the English speaking service and drone, ” Please be so kind … Continue reading →

My ears have always got me into trouble, mainly because of their exaggerated size. They are Dumbo-ish Like Dumbo, my ears are a liability in high winds. Worse still is that underwater they act as sluices, directing every sort of … Continue reading →