"far from a "normal" life....." anglosaxon's Profile

All the pages were built years ago when HTML was allowed on the site so, you'll be seeing loads of HTML language that is not working anymore. The only edited pages are the homepage and the Prague page. I have other interests now so I will not be editing any of the other pages.

Tiananmen Gate

A Year in Beijing - The one travelogue I keep on VT, it is a very special presentation of 50+ photos of everyday life in Beijing taken by me during 1995/96 whilst I was working there. The External page has 72 pics.

Working in Kosice, Slovakia 1997

1984 - Holiday in Majorca
1985 - Holiday in Spain (Lloret de Mar)
1987 - Holiday in Majorca
1990 - Working Holiday in Ireland (Donegal, Galway and Dublin)
1992 - Holiday in Kenya, Mombasa
1993 - Holiday in Singapore, Bali, Hong Kong, Macao and a trip to Amsterdam
1994 - Holiday in Nepal and France (Marseille, Montpellier and Nice). Trips to Germany (Frankfurt) and New York
1995 - Holiday in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Trip to Paris for New Year. Work in China (Beijing, Tianjin and Hong Kong)
1996 - Still working in Beijing, Holiday in Thailand (Bangkok and Hua Hin) and Maldives for New Year. Travel to Czech Republic (Prague) for work. Trip to Germany (Nurnburg)
1997 - Work in Prague, Slovakia (Bratislava, Banska Bystrica, Kosice), France (Paris and St Quentin), Belgium (Brussels and Liege), China (Beijing, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Hong Kong). Trips to France (Chamonix) and Switzerland (Geneva)
1998 - Work in Austria (based in Vienna with trips to Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck and Bregenz), England for New Year. Moved to live in the Czech Republic.
1999 - Holiday in Portugal (Oporto and Lisbon), also holiday in Barbados and Austria (Zell Am See) for New Year.
2000 - Work in Portugal (Lisbon) and again in Prague.
2001 - Work in Germany (Berlin, Koln and Darmstadt). Work in London and a holiday in Crete.
2002 - Still working in London.
2003 - Work in Vienna, Munich and eventually Hong Kong during the SARS outbreak.
2004 - Work in Spain (Madrid). Holiday in Spain, Work in Luxembourg.
2005 - Work in Munich, Germany and Lyon, France.
2006 - Work in Vienna.

And that's me up to date!

Travelling with children, I am father to two young sons and when my family comes with me I have to know where we can go so PARENTS will find something on almost each location after 1998 about travel with kids. I'm always available to answer queries and to impart some of my hard won experience

In 1992 I started to learn about GSM (digital cellular radio). In 1995 I took a chance and resigned from a good job to see if I could make it on my own as an independant consultant. My work often revolves around simple requirements 1) build it, 2) make it work, 3) make it work better 4) train somebody else to do it. So I am hired for short term contracts between 3 to 6 months in order to travel to countries where old GSM networks need improving or my present task to build the forthcoming 3G or UMTS cellular networks. It is not for everyone but, we all have to find a way of getting what we want out of life. To do my job you have to be healthy and have a cast iron stomach. Not many people can drastically change their diet two or three times a year and still function properly. I enjoy the fact that I am able to spend months getting to know a place instead of just 2 weeks. So long as I stay healthy, that I can keep respect for the country I'm in and find enjoyment from simple things then I will stay in the game.

People often ask if I have picked up any tips during my travels through airports so, here is an attempt to put some in writing.
) Phone number on the outside of the case and full name,address, tel no, email etc on the inside of the case.
) I take a hard case only if I consider I'll be bringing back something breakable but, not so delicate as to require hand carry. The weight difference between hard and soft case can be as much as 3 kilos.
) Check in, check in, check in. If I have a cup of coffee etc it will be after I check in and not before.
) No sharp objects in the carry-on luggage (before you check in your case).
) See if the business class desk will check you in if you only have a carry-on bag.
) Put your ticket in your passport as soon as you are standing in line and give them to the check in person before you put the case on the weigh machine.
) Watch that the check in person tags your case with the right airport destination and check that your luggage is transferrable i.e. you don't have to pick it up and transfer it yourself if you're stopping somewhere.
) Be very nice to the check-in person as they will usually be at the departure gate.
) Put the boarding pass in your passport so that the ticket does not fall out of the boarding pass.
) Don't smile at passport control.
) Keep an eye on the departure screen for gate info. Don't trust the info on the boarding pass.
) Put your wallet, keys, phone etc into your carry-on bag at the x-ray machine. Don't put it in the little plastic boxes.
) Smile at the flight attendants.
) Turn off your phone before you put on the seat belt.
) Don't clap your hands when you land at your destination!!!

I would like to state that, although I am active in the forums and always willing to help other travellers, I no longer rate any pages. I did not agree with the necessity to keep rating pages in order to maintain a ranking system.

There once was a consultant who lived his whole life without ever taking advantage of any of the people he worked for. In fact, he made sure that every job he did resulted in a win-win situation. One day while walking down the street he was tragically hit by a bus and he died. His soul arrived up in heaven where he was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself. "Welcome to Heaven," said St.Peter. "Before you get settled in though it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a consultant make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in." said the consultant.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind...I prefer to stay in Heaven" says the consultant.

"Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put the consultant in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and the consultant found himself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of his were all his friends - fellow consultants that he had worked with and they were all dressed in fine clothes and cheering for him. They ran up and kissed him on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where he enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.

He met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy and he had a great time telling jokes and dancing. The consultant was having good time that before he knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook his hand and waved good-bye as he got on the elevator. The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates where St. Peter was waiting for him.

"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven." So the consultant spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. He had a great time and before he knew it his 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got him.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity." The consultant paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell." So St. Peter escorted him to the elevator and again the consultant went down-down-down back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened he found himself standing in a desolate wasteland covered with indescribable filth. His friends were dressed in dirty rags and were picking up rubbish and putting it in sacks. The Devil came up to him and put his arm around him.

"I,I,I don't understand," stammered the consultant, "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."

The Devil looked at him and smiled, "That's because yesterday you were a consultant, but today you're permanent."