Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream
- Thread starter Gary O'
- Start date
Got a few more pics of my little wren
the little guy has no fear
he just may very well be posing
turns out, that petrified steer head is not just fancy decoration anymore
Jenny has a home
Our earth stove
Is golden
Paid $200 for it, craig’s list
Beat out a gent from Alaska that was gonna swing down to lay out $600 for it
He just wasn’t soon enough..heh, heh
No, it’s not certified
Turns out, certification has nothing to do with quality or quantity of warmth
Those in the know about wood stoves, know why they’re even more prized today than when they were being produced
The brick lined box is huge
The pipe is 8 inch diameter, not the puny 6 inch made now
The damper set up is simple in design but genius in flame manageability
Load it up before bed, close the damper, and enjoy the simmering warmth throughout a night of slumber
It never is let to go out all winter
Stoke it before trying to get to town and it’ll greet you with warmth if or whenever you get back
Summer, temps here swing from 90°F down to 30°F or lower in the early morn
It coaxes one to build a morning fire
When building a morning fire, the earth stove does require yer presence
Getting a good bed of coals dictates attention to those dampers
Otherwise, if you just light paper and kindling with a few med size sticks on top, and go about other duties, it’ll prolly commence to woof, and puff a bit of smoke into the room
Once a bed of coals is established, however, it’s quite forgiving, and, well, tea water is then available anytime wanted
We seem to have gone thru a truck load of kindling and small wood this summer
Guess we’re spoiled…used to tough out the morn to keep the cabin cool in the day
Sometimes even cabin living can become a life of ease
If you work at it
Keep a fire
Is golden
Paid $200 for it, craig’s list
Beat out a gent from Alaska that was gonna swing down to lay out $600 for it
He just wasn’t soon enough..heh, heh
No, it’s not certified
Turns out, certification has nothing to do with quality or quantity of warmth
Those in the know about wood stoves, know why they’re even more prized today than when they were being produced
The brick lined box is huge
The pipe is 8 inch diameter, not the puny 6 inch made now
The damper set up is simple in design but genius in flame manageability
Load it up before bed, close the damper, and enjoy the simmering warmth throughout a night of slumber
It never is let to go out all winter
Stoke it before trying to get to town and it’ll greet you with warmth if or whenever you get back
Summer, temps here swing from 90°F down to 30°F or lower in the early morn
It coaxes one to build a morning fire
When building a morning fire, the earth stove does require yer presence
Getting a good bed of coals dictates attention to those dampers
Otherwise, if you just light paper and kindling with a few med size sticks on top, and go about other duties, it’ll prolly commence to woof, and puff a bit of smoke into the room
Once a bed of coals is established, however, it’s quite forgiving, and, well, tea water is then available anytime wanted
We seem to have gone thru a truck load of kindling and small wood this summer
Guess we’re spoiled…used to tough out the morn to keep the cabin cool in the day
Sometimes even cabin living can become a life of ease
If you work at it
Keep a fire
sounds like bloody magic - d'ya take paying guests!! - ozzie dollars that is! - I like ya bloody style ya's a woodsman - there was a doco once and I have never been able to lay me hands on it - the last of the mississippi fishermen - used to hunt and kill then turned into a conservationist and lived on the Mississippi - probably dead now but was quite a character! - you just remind me of him!!
ps: if ya can lay ya hands on it would sure appreciate it matey!
ps: if ya can lay ya hands on it would sure appreciate it matey!
you'd be most welcome to share my fire
but
you'd be required to tell the stories
That'd be my fee
(I really enjoy what I've read so far)
well I can't tell stories of nature like you do BUT: here goes for a buck or two or a few hundred!
I'd been interviewed at Hong Kong House in 1976 for a job vacancy which I won. It was fully understood that I was a married man with a wife a two kids who would all require to be with me for the duration of the contract [18mths -God wished it had been 18 yrs!].
We were of course all excited ; sometimes anxious but adventurous I suppose as we left the shores of UK and flew out on an adventure of a lifetime. We landed in Bahrain I think which was boring and we stayed on the plane; then Bombay which was beginning to get adventurous and exciting so when invited to disembark for an hour did so. Finally we arrived in old Hong Kong - Kai Tak airport which no longer exists. We approached the immigration desk nonchalantly.
The immigration officer [Chinese] was straight faced and simple took my documents [not sure whether they were for the entire family or not?] However he stamped mine and said straight faced " you are entitle to enter and reside in HK for 18mths but your wife and children for only 3mths" - Can you imagine my surprise ; then horror and finally anger!!
I of course immediately challenged what I now considered to be this obnoxious character [which he was not!] and declared " then I will not be entering HK today for 18mths unless my wife and kids do so also" - the officer was rather nonplussed and wisely called for his supervisor who studied all the documents and stated " welcome to HK Mr XXXX and family - we do hope you enjoy your 18 mths stay with us" I never did find out what the hiccup was but we were greatly relived!! $200 bucks for that one ta!
I'd been interviewed at Hong Kong House in 1976 for a job vacancy which I won. It was fully understood that I was a married man with a wife a two kids who would all require to be with me for the duration of the contract [18mths -God wished it had been 18 yrs!].
We were of course all excited ; sometimes anxious but adventurous I suppose as we left the shores of UK and flew out on an adventure of a lifetime. We landed in Bahrain I think which was boring and we stayed on the plane; then Bombay which was beginning to get adventurous and exciting so when invited to disembark for an hour did so. Finally we arrived in old Hong Kong - Kai Tak airport which no longer exists. We approached the immigration desk nonchalantly.
The immigration officer [Chinese] was straight faced and simple took my documents [not sure whether they were for the entire family or not?] However he stamped mine and said straight faced " you are entitle to enter and reside in HK for 18mths but your wife and children for only 3mths" - Can you imagine my surprise ; then horror and finally anger!!
I of course immediately challenged what I now considered to be this obnoxious character [which he was not!] and declared " then I will not be entering HK today for 18mths unless my wife and kids do so also" - the officer was rather nonplussed and wisely called for his supervisor who studied all the documents and stated " welcome to HK Mr XXXX and family - we do hope you enjoy your 18 mths stay with us" I never did find out what the hiccup was but we were greatly relived!! $200 bucks for that one ta!
See?
Yer stuff holds me.
I don't get that very much.
Thank you for the yarn
I was last in Kowloon during Y2K, and UKs handing back over of HK
Pretty festive
ran into some Afrikaners at the hotel bar
rowdy bunch
mouthy
almost got thrown in the gulag because of those two
well I have many yarns of old honkers as some called it - about the time I was offered a 'cat' feast or wandering around deserted villages on Lantau Island or shopping at Kowloon 'stinky markets' and going to the Governors annual ball - everyday was a feast a mirage of a thousand images!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ten-leaving-hong-kong-without-democracy-china
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ten-leaving-hong-kong-without-democracy-china
Best chow mien I ever had was in Guangdong
open air café
dog is good, real good
the trick is to not put too much into the mix
There was other 'things'
Some of the finer eateries have fish tanks
Only there's more than just fish
Rather off putting
Well a relaxing day today being Sats on the mats [saturday] I neologize at times ! - so just me and the rest of the world - netting! - then i was summoned - the MIL and partner will be arriving shortly and as the chief entertainment officer I am expected to attend. But I love it all and we always have a great laugh about life in general - compare all our cancer growths ; talk about future medic appointments and any recent accidents!
but it's done in a jovial and friendly way. few cups of tea and the MIL partner loves cooking so always brings a cake. for some reason they are all going down to the marsh early sunset 5ish and will sit and wait and watch the moon arrive - would I like to partake - NO - there are marsh flies - big buggers - the odd croc sometimes and mud potholes - no I'll mind the shack!!:darth:
but it's done in a jovial and friendly way. few cups of tea and the MIL partner loves cooking so always brings a cake. for some reason they are all going down to the marsh early sunset 5ish and will sit and wait and watch the moon arrive - would I like to partake - NO - there are marsh flies - big buggers - the odd croc sometimes and mud potholes - no I'll mind the shack!!:darth:
gary - I'm getting some black frames on youtube postings but not all - maybe another question for admin?
well they can look good from the front but what counts is who's in the kitchen. When I lived in the capital city of our state of W.Australia they would pay hundreds of thousands to get the best chefs out of HK and into OZ - the Chinese of course love their food [as we love their food] but will soon tell ya if you have a good chef OR not. You must have checked it out by now JIM?
Gary I started your thread a few hrs ago - then the lad rang and we always have unlimited yarning - then I continued and have just finished. What can I say - "you're a sucker for work" AND I do think your building romances your good lady? You also make it sound a little bit easy for the rest of us but in truth it isn't - it IS bloody hard work - but also a labor of love. I also think you jealousy guard your ladys privacy - OR is she very shy for the camera? just askin!
It seems like there should be much more to come - your lifestyle is in a way still in its infancy? the best is yet to come I think. Maybe time to relax a bit more - not so much dashing about? ya not building a resort for us all are ya?
so as many others have said Gary and your dear lady - many thanks for having an open house and sharing your amazing adventure with us all - yes I do think there should be a book in the offing?
And now for you another tale of Honkers? - after escaping from the clutches of the immigration guards we were picked up by a gentle unassuming Chinese man who I quickly learned was to be my boss. At my interview in HK House London, they had asked me " how do you think you will fit into a different culture and working environment" - well said I rather naively " I think I have to experience and skills to run a health training dept" - I was rather cut short by the interviewer who said " well you will be working in such a dept but you will not be the head - the head is chinese"! I think I just gulped and said 'fine"
So there I was through the airport and met by my new boss and the departmental car which had been ordered to accomodate two adults ; two children and all our luggage - plus the driver and my new boss. Well we all squashed in and had a sort of awkward drive to the dept then back to our temporary hotel with I think just a stilted conversation between me and my new boss. We were booked into the Merlin Hotel which I think is no longer standing but had huge bedrooms - one for my wife and I and one for the kids. Tsim Tse Tsui was now our 'paradise' of dangers and bedazzlements.
Gary I started your thread a few hrs ago - then the lad rang and we always have unlimited yarning - then I continued and have just finished. What can I say - "you're a sucker for work" AND I do think your building romances your good lady? You also make it sound a little bit easy for the rest of us but in truth it isn't - it IS bloody hard work - but also a labor of love. I also think you jealousy guard your ladys privacy - OR is she very shy for the camera? just askin!
It seems like there should be much more to come - your lifestyle is in a way still in its infancy? the best is yet to come I think. Maybe time to relax a bit more - not so much dashing about? ya not building a resort for us all are ya?
so as many others have said Gary and your dear lady - many thanks for having an open house and sharing your amazing adventure with us all - yes I do think there should be a book in the offing?
And now for you another tale of Honkers? - after escaping from the clutches of the immigration guards we were picked up by a gentle unassuming Chinese man who I quickly learned was to be my boss. At my interview in HK House London, they had asked me " how do you think you will fit into a different culture and working environment" - well said I rather naively " I think I have to experience and skills to run a health training dept" - I was rather cut short by the interviewer who said " well you will be working in such a dept but you will not be the head - the head is chinese"! I think I just gulped and said 'fine"
So there I was through the airport and met by my new boss and the departmental car which had been ordered to accomodate two adults ; two children and all our luggage - plus the driver and my new boss. Well we all squashed in and had a sort of awkward drive to the dept then back to our temporary hotel with I think just a stilted conversation between me and my new boss. We were booked into the Merlin Hotel which I think is no longer standing but had huge bedrooms - one for my wife and I and one for the kids. Tsim Tse Tsui was now our 'paradise' of dangers and bedazzlements.
and here's another little gift to welcome you into your new home - did you collect any along the way?
this is my interpretation of a top end winter [ a very mild one - we get no snow over west!! - can you imagine our longings for snow??]
Winter in Never Never Land
The dawn creeps in ; six hrs past twelve
Sometimes a mist of gossamer
No cymbal sound brings in the change
It quietly says ‘I’ve re-arranged
The stillness and the silence
Seems to hang like Turin shroud
The dogs sleep on ; the lizards peak
Out at the wooded crowd
It’s as frozen as a snap shot
Embedded in the eye
It sits and waits for yawning earth
To give its new day cry
And then as if a gong had struck
The dawn gives up its silent thrust
It turns its back and disappears
As if suns rays are just too fierce
this is my interpretation of a top end winter [ a very mild one - we get no snow over west!! - can you imagine our longings for snow??]
Winter in Never Never Land
The dawn creeps in ; six hrs past twelve
Sometimes a mist of gossamer
No cymbal sound brings in the change
It quietly says ‘I’ve re-arranged
The stillness and the silence
Seems to hang like Turin shroud
The dogs sleep on ; the lizards peak
Out at the wooded crowd
It’s as frozen as a snap shot
Embedded in the eye
It sits and waits for yawning earth
To give its new day cry
And then as if a gong had struck
The dawn gives up its silent thrust
It turns its back and disappears
As if suns rays are just too fierce
Food is okay, but there's much better to be had in the area. It's kind of a touristy attraction as well as a restaurant. They have different rooms with different themes and a comedy club and function room as well. The place is huge, seats around 1200 and it's packed on the weekends. They have to start cooking food for the weekend crowds in the morning to make sure they can keep up with the demand at night, so there's a good chance you're getting food that was sitting around for a bit. It's better during the week when it's less crowded than on weekends when it's crazy busy. It's been owned by the Wong family since the 50's. It was originally called the Mandarin House and changed to the Kowloon around 1960 or so. Wife and I usually go about once a year, just because.
This room is called The Lagoon.
Food is okay, but there's much better to be had in the area. .
This room is called The Lagoon.
Looks sixtyish for sure
Sad that alota Asian eateries are 'OK' to not so OK here in the states.
Wunna my bosses, VP of operations, invited us out to lunch.
Mr Tsai (from HK) knew Asian food.
Said several things to the waiter
The waiter brought out the cook
Guess he told 'em to go authentic
Never, ever tasted anything like it
'Savory' is not enough word
the problem is 'who are they catering for mainly' if its gweilos then the food is chinglish - but if there is a plenty full crowd of Chinese then they will demand the best. Same here with Indian; Vietnamese etc if ya want authentic then take all ya Asian friends
:drool1:
ps : do you do asian at the lodge Gary?
layful:
:drool1:
ps : do you do asian at the lodge Gary?
layful:Nothe problem is 'who are they catering for mainly' if its gweilos then the food is chinglish - but if there is a plenty full crowd of Chinese then they will demand the best. Same here with Indian; Vietnamese etc if ya want authentic then take all ya Asian friends
:drool1:
ps : do you do asian at the lodge Gary?
My lady leans t'ward the more simple foods
it may or may not be because she's Cherokee
I grill steak about once a week, but other than that, we eat quite simple.
In summer I eat very little
Get too filled, and thirst becomes overwhelming when doing physical work
This fourth I'll be grilling BBQ chicken
Other than steak, it's my specialty, and folks don't leave leftovers
There is a decent Asian eatery in town
It's a buffet
Goin' there today
their hot and sour soup rocks pretty hard