UlSAN'S BACKYARD

                        

Korea has always provided me with plenty of free time, which is why I enjoy it here so much. In my first year, that free time was usually spent in bed nursing a shitty Korean beer hangover. Last year in Daegu, I switched hangover's for hiking, with a fair mix of writing, painting and playing footy thrown in too. This year in Ulsan, writing has taken precedence, which, after all, was always the plan. That said, within walking distance of my apartment in Mugeo Dong are some  picturesque mountains (er, big hills) where I spend many mornings before school hiking, accompanied by nothing more than Metallica blasting from my iPod. With two books on the go at present, I haven't had time to blog too much, (at all) but here at least are a few images of my latest outdoor play area, including Munsu-san (Mt), Gaji-San (Mt), and The Tae-hwa-Gang (River) at sunset. 

KEEP CALM AND KOREA ON

When the postman arrived at lunch time onFriday, the usual last minute pre-trip worries were vanquished. He'd expertly delivered, with just a dozen hours to spare, my passport from the embassy in London, complete with visa. And so, the day that I felt would never come, the day of departure, was finally here. With goodbyes said to friends, and hugs given to mum, I hit the road to the R.O.K. To prove it, I'm sitting at a restaurant in Thiefrow, sorry Heathrow Airport, getting ripped off for my last plate of Englishness: 4 huge, fat, greasy sausages somothered in beans, sloshed down with a steady stream of tea. As the kindly / sneaky waiter reminded me that a 'service charge' wasn't included on the gastronomic bill, and smilingly asked me where I was flying today sir, I kindly / sneakily replied, 'I'm going to a country where they don't ask for tips...sir.' He cleared my plates and skulked off, tea towel swinging between his legs. 

Leaving for Korea this time, it's more with a sense of relief than the usual excitement. I am looking forward to it, completely, as I have really missed being there, and I get to see my girlfriend for the first time in ages. But it's more to do with getting back into working and the routine of it all. Time and disappointment have made me lazy, and despite my best efforts, I haven't worked or earned money since December, apart from selling a couple of paintings, and let's be honest, I'm no Picasso. So not only are my funds low, but they're positively negative, if you know what I mean. A big thanks now to those that have bailed me out...you know who you are! THANKS.

The debts are of course largely down to the massive hoax that I was a victim of. In a nutshell, I signed a contract for a job that didn't exist, and have subsequently lost the last of my savings by buying pointless flight tickets and a trip to the U.S that in hindsight I couldn't afford. The scam was meticulous, and quite a few people got suckered the same way. It's a pity I don't believe in hell, as if I did, I'd hope the f******s who hoaxed me rot in it. That said, although it still makes me angry occasionally, I am totally over it...and to quote a trending phrase...

KEEP 

CALM

AND 

KOREA

ON

Coming very soon... "I could fit my bathroom inside my fridge," and other random stuff.

The Days They Are A Dwindlin'.

All too familiar, and I expect more of the same the next few weeks.

With all my documents delivered, and my visa issuance number safely in my inbox, all that remains to be done is to snag a visa, throw a few things in a case, hitch hike to Heathrow (no money for a bus) and ride the big steel bird to the R.O.K.
So with just a week or so left, what will I do? For sure I'll be stuffing plenty of sausages down my Gregory Peck, as it's about the only food I miss that I can't get in Korea. I'll also be cheering on England in the pub, but with lower expectations going into a tournament than ever before. I am as patriotic as the next guy when it comes to English sport, but really, the way we're playing we will struggle to emerge from the group this time round. I hope to be proven completely wong, (sorry, Woy) and no one will be more happy than me about that. It's easy really, get it down & get it wide, as I believe Carroll IS the man for the big occasion...top scorer for the tourney...might be worth a fiver? COME ON IN-GER-LANNDDD.

Other than eating sausages and watching footy, I'll be killing time writing my book, painting and running, and as you can see, by writing more drivel on here.
I'll leave you with this - 'Oxo' are producing a cube in the colours of the George Cross. It's going to be called a laughing stock. Whoop Whoop.