I love this song. It’s an epic 9:54min masterpiece.
Statues, their 4th and final studio album, released in 2003, was made after Mark and Roisin’s breakup. The whole Statues album is good. The first track, Familiar Feeling is awesome, but Over and Over is spectacular.
Roisin’s vocals make you think it’s a song from a girl’s perspective.. but I think these are Mark’s words.
“The songs were mostly autobiographical,” Murphy says, “so it was bound to be emotional.”
I love the way about 7min into the song, it stops and continues again.. as if to say.. it’s never over.
The strings arrangement in this song seems so meticulously put together. I get the idea Mark knew that this would be the last song. His legacy. He knew he would never find somebody like Roisin again.
“Like a frozen tidal wave
Since that day I’m standing still
You brought me here and I accept
Though you regret I never will
Just one sweet word
And then a smile from you
Is almost worth everything
I’ve given all I had to give
But you gave up giving in
You are everywhere I go
All the places we have been
I can’t imagine where you are
For you are all I’ve ever seen
One of my little pet hates.. people who say “No”, but don’t suggest an alternative.
Muppets.
This often happens when you propose an idea or you propose a meeting time. Drives me up the wall when people respond with only “I don’t like it” or “Can’t make it”.
Please, share your ideas or suggest something better.
In the last weeks I’ve talked to a few people who were looking at moving their hosting back to South Africa. Their traffic costs in the US are usually about 20 times cheaper than in SA.
Around 4:56 in, the question comes up about moving hosting back to SA. Now, the major reason you would want to do this is to better serve your customers in SA and maybe some patriotic angle about keeping SA money in SA.
I don’t agree that international traffic costs are the main issue. We want cheaper local and inter-metro connectivity. This is where Telkom is still killing us.
Connectivity between Joburg and Cape Town is more expensive than Cape Town to London. Neotel have not done much about it.. in fact they are more expensive than Telkom at the moment (Neolink 4Mbps JHB – CPT @ R72875 pm). Infraco could help.. assuming they only get an ECNS licence (and not ECS). MTN, Neotel and DFA seem to be digging their own national fibre and should complete this before the end of the year.. let’s hope they don’t price it at 5% less than Telkom.
If we can get local connectivity costs right.. make it at least 20 times cheaper, I think it would make sense for more people to host in SA.
Monday, played with Mia’s Leapfrog Tag toy.. yes, software works with OS X, put up a basic website for the Open Spectrum Alliance, spinning.
“What’s for you will not pass you by” — Familiar Feeling, Moloko
Tuesday, Lions Head meeting, kicked a rugby ball around the field below La Med, nice home cooked dinner, read up about Carrier Ethernet.. and totally forgot about the GeekDinner.
“Do you have sex music?” — Ingi, busy making compilation CDs after her breakup
“Inside every working anarchy, there’s an old-boy network.” — Mitch Kapor
Wednesday, haircut at Bianca’s, a sunset run along the cable car contour road with Andy and Ingi, Amobia meeting.. I waxed a large portion of ribs.. stuffed.
“The cold-hearted boy I used to be..” — All These Things That I’ve Done, The Killers, probably their best song.
“YOU are funny. You’re not a family guy. You’re Joe. You’re a great single dad. You were a bit of a crap partner.” — Naulene.. there you have it.
Thursday, uber juice with broccoli and goji berries, checked out A is for Apple (the kids book store) and got Mia a cool book, watched Chaos Theory.. not bad, nice home cooked dinner.
“I don’t often listen to my body, but when it tells me I’m thirsty …” — Andrew, while running.
I sent ~800 emails in May, which is about double the April figure.
“What’s for lupper?” — Ingi, about weird meal times
I felt a bit bad about having 4 traffic fines outstanding.. until I mentioned it to a friend who claims to have 31.
Wow, it’s June.. 1/2 the year gone.. that was quick.
Friday, painful process of drafting and agreeing to a custody and maintenance document (only took a year to get to draft 3), Mia time, watched Kung Fu Panda, couscous salad, played with Mia’s new toys, hot choc, sleep.
Remember kids, always use some hand cream after washing the dishes. As Ingi says your hands give away your age.
Sunday, tea, gym.. bumped into Gaby, swim, wholesome Sunday lunch at Vredenheim with Mia, Ramsey, Debby, Adrian etc, played 30sec at Debby’s, dropped Mia off, salad at Da Vinci’s, Asoka.. Wallaby sunday.
I don’t get signatures. The pen and paper type. Does anybody ever check them? Seems so last century.
“Not only in love, I was obsessed” — Simple Kind Of Life, No Doubt
“I’ve knitted a scarf” — Andy, about Debby knitting in a bar
Monday, tea, Ingi made Spirulina and Tahini smoothies, cruised down Kloof Street with Andrew, found the only Cape Storm shop that seems to sell kids stuff and got Mia a pink fleece, visited the music store, visited Christo, a few beers at Relish.. nice rainy view of Cape Town, dinner at Rick’s.
“The soccer bib makes the car guard”
Tuesday, sunny day.. Lions Head meeting with Ingi, took a walk to Camps Bay and got Mia some new shades at Rainbow.. the little bikini shop where the girls from soccer work (we get a discount), soccer at La Med.. I scored 2 goals, drinks with the soccer crew, Ings made a nice veggie meal, Julep with Ingi, Andy and Kristy, to watch Pierre play and bumped into Sam.. wild evening.. funky jazz tunes, we were still dancing at around 3am.
“So, what’s this I head about your sister sleeping with the soccer team?” — Spencer, to Adon.. interesting how rumours spread and people assume things, haha.
Weird how I find notes on my phone which I can’t remember making and which make no sense.
I like Beagles. If I had to get a dog I’d get Mia a Beagle.
What awesome Cape Town winter days. Champaigne sunny days.
Wednesday, designed a tag for WAPA members to stick on their radio equipment, visited the Teraco offices in Claremont, awesome nap, we had Andy’s family over for a braai.. I made cous-cous salad.. for the first time ever.
“Don’t take it any easier” — My advice to Andy and Ingi who were on Llandudno beach when I left the office at 15:00.
“What is worn under the kilt? Nothing is warn under the kilt.. it’s all in perfect working order.” — Andy’s aunt about his new kilt.
“Boyfriend? What does that matter in this day and age” — Andrew’s progressive view on relationships.
“I feel like such a parent” — I told Andrew as Ingi left the house to go on a date.
I have no idea how the conversation turned to this topic, but I figured out my “total number of people you have slept with?” figure is a bit below the average. By like an order of magnitude.
Thursday, a run to Glen Beach, ISPA general meeting with Ingi, Buena Vista with Kirsty and Andy, we met Ingi’s “bicycle fixer”, a few beers at Baraza with Pierre and Andy.
Seems we have a new case of “Free Kevin”.. Free Pete!.. the ISPA is flying in Peter Sunde to talk at iWeek.
Friday, car service, Mia time, Beta Beach walk with Mia, her mom and sister.. Beta Road play park, watched Treasure Planet, tuna couscous salad, bath, stories, sleep.
“Honest, charming, articulate and ruthless” — Something I heard on the radio about a politician lady.
The Audi garage has hot chocolate again.. I only had to ask three times.
Saturday, tea, puzzles, gym, swim, De Waal Park, visited Georg’s new High Cape place, Jurie has this nifty party trick where he gives people VitB12 shots, Beta Beach sundowners.
“Depression is anger without enthusiasm” — Georg
“There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the “present.” — Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
Sunday, word game puzzles, Kung Fu Panda, coca leaf tea from Peru, Lions Head walk with Mia and Ingi, gym, swim, chai tea and french toast at Crush.. yum, nap, games, dropped Mia off, fetched Mia’s new Leapfrog Tag toy from Ramsey in Gordon’s Bay, grabbed a pizza at Limoncello, red wine and Black Hawk Down.. best war movie ever.
Really annoys me sometimes how people buffer themselves from the world using a PA (personal assistant). If you are busy.. delegate. Don’t keep yourself in the loop though a proxy. The worst is when PA’s get things wrong.. often you can’t really blame them and you can’t blame their boss.. it’s just a disconnect, frustrating.
So I’m wearing my Kukuxumusu tshirt today. Mia and her mom also have one each… yes, matching tshirts.. I know, I know.
While shopping this weekend Mia found this really cute pink bottle. The art seemed familiar.. so when I figured out it was designed by Kukuxumusu I had to get it for her (-:
Monday, guilt smoothie.. really needed that after the Sunday session, a run to Glen Beach, burger at Jamaica Me Crazy with Georg and Andy, visited Georg’s new pad in High Cape.
Tuesday, Lions Head with Andy and Ingi.. a new route above the caves, shopping, uber juice, got a new vacuum cleaner, soccer at La Med.. scored 3 goals.
“We deliver to the beach” — Sign in front of the pizza place in Camps Bay
“My life goal is to lead all my friends astray” — Andrew, after Ingi asked if he was leading us astray around the Lions Head caves.
“Everybody who works in that Game store failed their McDonnalds exams” — Andy
“Pubic relations officer, haha”.. Andrew, reading an article about spelling errors in CVs.
Wednesday, took Keith to the airport.. we are now a Linux only house again, visited Jonathan, Heavy Chef.. DA vs ANC social media, Boo Radleys to watch Lonesome Dave.. with about ten friends, Ataraxia Chardonnay again, mussels and a very nice lamb shank dish.
“There are three important rules in the military … most important is to hold your booze.” — Paul Vecchiatto at Heavy Chef, about our new communications minister who had his photo taken while face down in some potato salad.
Ingi asked me why I spend so much time on WAPA.. I think it’s because I feel like I can make in impact and maybe I like to support the little guy in the fight.
Had a conversation with somebody this week about kids.. she said she thinks her marriage is not strong enough to have children. That’s sad, but very honest and pragmatic I guess.
Thursday, ISPA PR WG meeting, Net Prophet conference.. Henk gave a very good talk.. I scored ~37, we need more unconferences, fetched my CPE at the Tamboerskloof house.. which is pretty much a big hole in the earth now, nap, missed a book launch, made myself dinner.. a rare thing.
That whole Old Mutual vibe (Net Prophet venue) is a bit scary.. the building is like a small city, a bit worrying to see all that from pension money.
“It’s much easier to say, ‘I’m sorry’ than ‘Please’.”
“When you ask for a lot of money, people take you seriously.” — From a WAPA meeting
“If I believe in the idea, I’ll live it” — Dave Duarte
“She grew up on the wrong side of Clifton”– Andy about a troubled girl
“It’s a full time wrestling match in his head, tight outfits and all” — Andy
Friday, WAPA exco teleconference, interviewed somebody for a WAPA ops manager position, dissolved Blio (it seems), Mia time.. Deer Park with the mother, tea at Cath’s office.. Mia stole some chocolate, book shopping, nice Nitida Shiraz, Incredibles, bath, hot choc, reading.. mostly Olivia books, sleep.
“I’ve done a good job so far, it’s just a shame I can’t be her hero!! (like you)” — The Mother
“Cheers Amigo, take good care of yourself and remember to tell Mia I send my love every weekend. Recycle, turn off the lights and don’t drink too much. Find a lovely woman who deserves you and woo her without Facebook..” Keith.. (part of) an SMS on his way to India.. yup, that sums it up.
Saturday, home alone with Mia on a rainy weekend.. tea, rusks, toasted English Muffins and cheese, watched Kung Fu Panda, gym, swim, smoothie, shopping.. got Mia a most awesome pink Kukuxumusu juice bottle.. a functional work of art, Joe’s famous “dad-tuna-pasta-salad”, watched Lady and the tramp.. the first time Mia was upset from watching a movie.. she really did not like it that the doggy went to the pound.. but I we got back on the horse and I watched it with her till the happy ending, hot choc, sleep.
“There is no charge for awesomeness” — Kung Fu Panda
Mia now dives to the bottom of the pool to fetch dive sticks on her own.
I’m getting pretty good at making ponytails.
Parenting tip: you can buy a large Kauai smoothie but ask for it in two cups.
“You’ll have to stop digging in your nose in front of Mia. She says it’s fine because you do it.” — A text I sent to the mother. She responded with 4 characters.
I have this new trick with Mia when she does not want to do something.. I ask: “the easy way or the hard way?” and then, “what’s the easy way?”: “I do it”, “what’s the hard way?”: “daddy does it for me”. Some think it’s kinda cruel to teach a 3yo this kind of logic.. but it works very well.
Sunday, tea, breakfast.. Mia now takes 6 supplements with breakfast, I’m on 4, Kung Fu Panda, gym, swim, smoothie at Crush.. try the banana cinnamon shake, toy shop.. we needed new swimming goggles, Mouille Point playground.. to check out the kites, painting with watercolour, Incredibles, dropped Mia off with her mom, Andy’s, Lord Charles with Andy, Debby and Ingi for a nice bottle of wine, Col’cachio in Camps Bay for a groovy designer pizza and bottle of Rustenberg cab, tea.
“My mother does not think.. next topic” — Debby
“So I’m good for the next 15000km” — Andy after his mother made him go to church on Sunday.
“We’ll build new ring roads to go nowhere in particular” — Fuel, Catatonia.. check out Cerys Matthews
I was at a braai recently with a number of media geeks. I found two things interesting..
1) At some point I mentioned that I used to work for a newspaper company. I had the feeling this somehow made them think.. aahw, he feels our pain. *grin*
2) In one of the conversations, somebody mentioned that she’s not sure what this “two dot thing” is.. it’s not an ellipsis and it’s not a comma. I realised I’m one of those two dot people.
An ellipsis consists of exactly three dots called ellipsis points, not two.. and usually has spaces or brackets around it. An ellipsis indicates the omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences.
I use the “two dot thing” very often, especially in my quick update weekly bullet lists.
I’m not sure why I like it, but it seems to just work for me. I’m no English language expert but I’ll try and figure out why it works.
In condensed text where a comma delimits events I use the two dot thing to add a comment or extend my description of an event.
Wednesday, IS data centre tour with Ed.. my little hobby: DC tours, ISPA workshop about Seacom and DFA, a beer and an interesting chat with Henk, gave a talk about Lifestyle Design at the Facelook event.. group of about 30 people, a welcome back dinner party with Cath, Parri, Georg and Steff.. Andy cooked a really good Thai meal.
I sometimes use it like a comma, but it seems to indicate that an idea ended.. a chain of thought ended, but I’m starting a new related chain of thought in the same sentence.
I have no idea if this makes any sense, but I’ll just make peace with the idea that I’m a two dot person.
A friend introduced me to the idea of the pilot lifestyle. His dad is a pilot. He figures the reason his mom and dad’s marriage survived all these years is because his dad is often flying off to some exotic location for 3/4 days at a time. I liked this idea.
“She packed my bags last night pre-flight,
Zero hour nine a.m.”
At some point in 2007 I figured I had it all waxed. A very cute daughter and a loving partner, but only over weekends. In the week I had work I loved, all my friends around, Cape Town, my exercise routine.. total freedom really.
The best of both worlds. The dad and the bachelor. Security and excitement.
Too good to be true?
I figured my idea might be a bit flawed when my cousin pointed out the obvious over a beer. He asked me something like.. how the hell do you pull this off.. you are a new dad and you are living it up in the Spanish summer?
So in 2008 the partner had some a sig-11 moment. She did not want to tell me why, but she walked away[1].
“And I think it’s gonna be a long long time,
till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home.
I’m a rocket man”
Be careful what you wish for.
So now, I’m kinda back on the “hot cars, hot clubs and hot chicks” lifestyle. Actually not that much has changed. Food, fun and friends.. chasing exciting ideas. I still think I have it pretty sorted.. even though I realise I cheated[2].
In fact, I probably spend more time with Mia this way. I recently told the ex-partner.. I’m a 30% dad.. but 100% of that 30% and I have a strong suspicion that’s above average.
“Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did”
I guess this is not the ideal environment to grow up in. Then again maybe it’s easier to have your parents separate before you are two. At least I realised that I’m a better father than a husband. Honesty helps.
So, what’s my point?
Well, it’s not always easy being happy. Make room for the exciting things that keep you happy. Sometimes we just have to accept our nature. Life is too short.
* [1] She (much) later told me she was jealous of my lifestyle.
* [2] Yes I realise(d) I’m a selfish brat and that’s my nature.
Monday, Lions Head meeting (walk) with Ingi, shopping, uber juice, ISPA mancom meeting, upgraded to Debian 5.0 Lenny and a new Linux kernel, nice pizza at Bacini’s with Andy, Steff and Ingi, Polish vodka and StalkBook.. sometimes a good combination.
Tuesday, Ubuntu upgrade to Jaunty, misty soccer at La Med.. I scored two goals, pasta and red wine at Lauren and Marco’s to meet Ella, came up with a plan to visit Matjiesfontein.
“No mate, when I sin I want to do it properly” — Andy, about which red wine shop we should visit
Wednesday, WAPA teleconference, smoothie at Liquorice and Lime with Ingi, watched Decadence at the Intimate theatre with Andy and Ingi.. very good play, mussels at Boo Radley’s.. debated Bombay Sapphire vs Tanqueray no 10, Asoka, Fiction.. we were pretty much the only 3 people in the place and dancing anyway, a drink at Waiting Room.. right at the top, under the fairy lights.
“A german joke is no laughing matter” — Ingi
Thursday, a relaxed winters day in Cape Town.. just living, Ingi made us guilt-smoothies, attempted to find a grill for our fireplace, beer at pizza at Bacini’s with Cams and Andy.. nice views of Lions Head, nap, drinks with Jaco (bje) at Baraza.. watched JacSharp, sushi and sake at Codfather.
How the world has changed.. I’ve not seen Jaco is a long time, but he seemed to know most of what I’ve been up to from reading my blog.
Friday, Extreme Networks meeting, Debian upgrade tweaks, Mia time, watched Horton again, watched In Bruges.. good movie.
I tried xfce 4.6, but switched back to icewm.
Saturday, perfect weather, gym, swim, smoothie, Deer Park with the yummy mummies, shopping, Beta Beach going away picnic for Keith with Debby, Ingi and Marcia, very good bottle of Ataraxia Chardonnay, bath, we read a new book: Olivia saves the circus.
“Oh, sorry, yes geek, all the nerds work for dial-a-nerd” — Keith who did not have any joy with the nerds after his Outbreak Express lost all his email.
“All the good books are about boys” — Keith
Sunday, tea, rusks, Horton.. she seems to be into Dr. Suess at the moment, gym, swim, c-monster smoothies, Knead, tea with Frerieke, Sinns ice cream, Scarecrows in Hout Bay with Andy, dropped Mia off, Ye Olde Bell Pub for a game of pool, Karma.. got the phone number of a very pretty lady, man Camps Bay has some hot woman.
Remember that Fez bouncer with the cowboy hat?.. he now works at Karma.
“Well, it’s hard to be civil and it’s real hard to be nice.” — Fleetwood Mac, No Questions Asked
Dorky dads kinda grate me.. so goody two shoes, they make the rest of us look bad.
I really need to go on a being good phase again. It’s been a long one month retox. Soccer season seems to be ending. I need something new. Running, squash, and maybe even some yoga.
I seem to have completely switch to rooibos, I don’t even drink Earl Grey anymore.
This is Joe's blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
At the moment I seem to write weekly bullet lists on what keeps me busy.. also, geeky things, music, fast cars, telecoms and the politics of technology.
Getting there (swimmingly) is all the fun -- The Zen Frog.
