Wombats are back

 
Well, what can i say? yesterday i went down to get a helmet from my bike, for a mate who needed it, and bring this task to fruition i had to take the bike lock off. then i just sat on it. then i picked it up off the stand (all the while leaving the stand down, just in case i had to drop it). then curiosity got the better of me and i wondered if i had enough strength in my leg to roll it back and forward. apparently i did and i rolled it clean out of it's park. then to the best of my recollection your honour, i believe i dropped the keys and by some miracle they fell into the ignition and it started all on its own. after that i just sort of ... rode it, but only for a few minutes. it really wasn't my fault. and today, well, it is two full blocks to the bank, and i really had to get there before 5. and i'm glad i rode the bike 'cause it took me two and a half hours round trip as it was, just imagine how long it would have taken had i walked it. the defense rests your honour. 

Hospitality In Corea

hej all and sundry. Life is great. Australia decimated japan yesterday evening, corea did their worst on togo tonight and I’m on the top of the points ladder for our picks. I realise this cant go on forever, but corean hospitality does. Corea vs. Togo 2:1 and the red devils were out in force. Everyone was in party mood, streets are full of cars and pedestrians but not a taxi in sight. What do you do? Just pull up a random car at a random traffic light and ask for a lift. The very first car, late teens or early twenties boys, one seat available, what do they say but “Yeah! Jump In”. What a top way to top off a great couple of days. I love this country, it’s people and the fact that ANYONE AT ALL will give a lift to a complete stranger because they are wearing a “FIGHTING COREA” t-shirt and bandana. 대한민국!!!!

Wombats find Religion

This is a picture of an Invisible Pink Unicorn
Invisible Pink Unicorns are beings of great spiritual power. We know
this because they are capable of being invisible and pink at the same
time. Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is
based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we
logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them." --
Here is a digitally enhanced picture of an Invisible Pink Unicorn
(This is not an original piece, I just like it.)

Wombats Have A Crisis Of Faith

Hej wombats. The bike is on the road again. It may not be me on the bloody thing, but it is officially running. It’s such a beautiful day here in Gimhae today, about 25 degrees not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a ride. Unfortunately Parky and I are at home organising the final stuff for her immigration and a mate is out riding the Magna. This is the first time I have ever lent the bike to anyone and I don’t mind admitting that it is freaking me out a little bit. I guess that is to be expected. But he is an Aussie, a mate and has years of riding under his belt. Moreover, I have always sworn I wouldn’t be one of those dudes who is precious about an inanimate object. I remember back at uni when I was in deepest shit having had my nifty-fifty stolen and not able to get to work. My great mate Craig told me to take his 197~ HT Premier, immaculate condition, completely original (he was only the second owner) beautiful, beautiful car. He said “I don’t need it for the next 3 months”, like that was justification to give away a piece of art like that. I kept asking, “Are you sure? Are you sure?” His response floored me as it would anyone who is a passionate admirer of such a thing “It’s just a fucking car”. I guess I don’t need my bike for a bit and it’s just a fucking bike.

You know regardless of how many times I tell myself that, I can just never quite believe it. It’s not just a bike. It’s my bike and it is a beautiful bike. It looks like a boar, it handles like a dream, it sounds like a hoard of invading Mongols, it goes like a cut cat and I want to perform unnatural carnal deeds with it. Anything that makes anyone want stray so far from the Judeo-Christian ethic of ‘one man, one woman, bound only to each other ’til death do they part’ is not “Just A Bike”. I’ve let a mate ride it for one afternoon. How Craig ever gave me that car for 3 months is beyond me.
  
Don’t take this as conformation of a free-for-all. I’ve still only met about 3 or 4 people in this entire country that I would let take the bike (for their own sakes, not that of an inanimate object) but this just leads me to thinking, “Am I that person who doesn’t get all precious about possessions? That person whom I always thought I was? That person whom it is bloody easy to think you would be, especially when you have no possessions of any real value?” For the first time in my life I actually have something a little expensive and special to me that somebody else has asked to use, and it pains me to say The Jury Is Still Out.