Is the Czech Republic fighting terrorism or just hungry

Hey all

Well recently I was down in the garden of the FIL when I stumbled across a crop of poppy plants. "Hmmmm these look like the poppy plants you always see in Afghanistan documentaries about the Taliban heroin production". After some inconspicuous questioning of the in laws "You're all F***ing drugo's aren't you!!!!!!!!" I realised that it's grown for cooking purposes although I swear I heard something about medicinal purposes in there somewhere :)

Anyway, the result of my research is that it is indeed the same plant that heroin is extracted from except the difference between the nasty drug and a tasty cake topping is where on the plant you get the goodies and how long it’s grown for. Heroin is extracted from the sap of the young plants and the poppy seeds are extracted after the bulbs are fully ripe and left to dry. They are then shaken out of the bulbs.

Some more research told me that it is possible to return a positive return for opiates after eating poppy seed cake or 2 poppy seed bagels. The result of this revelation is that the US lifted their drug test thresholds to take into account poppy seed cake :)

It also is interesting to know that the CR is the world’s largest producer of poppy seed. Now if they spent more time and effort producing drugs, they could flood the market with cheap heroin reducing demand and dropping the price .................. hence reducing the cash inflow for the Taliban. Hahaha the humble mujahedeen gets taken down by basic supply and demand of the global market.

Another interesting thought is that after eating an entire poppy seed cake it looks like you're eaten an entire ant colony when you drop the kids off the next day (shock)

Also I will post some updated pictures of the garden and you can appreciate the amount of potatoes i will have to pick (shit not looking forward to that)

Cau for now

Pregnancy Photos

Here are pics from a horrendous photo session. Thought it would take 20-30 minutes ............... WRONG

The results are ok though

Is hell freezing over???????

FINALLY

After more then a year in this country I am finally about to 'wet a line' this weekend with the uncle in law. He has a private dam on his property which has carp so i am hoping to get in there and land a couple. I will keep you posted on the progress. I secretly suspect we will catch nothing but I AM STILL EXCITED

Will update more soon, like do you know the effort the Czech Republic goes to tackle terrorism? I will tell you how soon

cheers

Gatesy

Tropical Prague?

As some of you may be aware, some regions of the Czech Republic are in a state of emergency due to floods. I never thought I’d say Prague would ever feel like a tropical destination but with 27-28 degree days and 90% humidity it is pretty muggy. We are having hot humid sunny days but then at about 3 or 4pm the massive storm clouds roll in and we get lashed by severe thunderstorms for the next 4 hours. I need a machette to get through our lawn at the moment because I am convinced an electric lawn mower and wet grass do not mix LOL

Now I know none of you non Europeans think this is nasty or anything out of the norm but I now want you re think your opinion after I give you one more piece of information ………….. Ready for it????

It seems a large majority of Czech men think using deodorant is taboo. Now consider being packed onto a metro like a sardine at the end of a hot and humid day and being crushed up against 3 blokes all holding the over head hand rail and none of them have deodorant.

Dead set fellas bad BO does not make you a sex god!

Bad BO does not make the chicks want your seed!

Bad BO does not help the Aussie bloke keep his lunch down!

To give you some kind of idea what its like imagine leaving some seafood out in the sun for 2 days, can you picture that? Now times that by 10, still got it? Now double that and add some - hahahaha

Different Perspective

Hello all

I recently changed jobs and I have just finished the induction process to make me feel like a valued member of the 500,000 staff. I am not just a number, I am a valued member :D

Anyway as part of the process I had the pleasure of sitting in a room with a lovely Englishman (lets call him Barry) as he took us through the all the standard induction stuff. You know what I am talking about, as its the same everywhere

1. Do not download hardcore pornographic material on the company laptop
2. Do not use hard drugs on the premises
3. Do not slap the bosses wife on the arse at the xmas party

As part of the process we were discussing the difference in cultures as there are 65 different nationalities in the office and we got onto the topic of the terrible customer service normally encountered in this country when Barry asked me a question

"When you go to the pub in England or Australia, how does it work?"

I answered
1. I walk in
2. I go to the bar and order my beer
3. I get my beer and immediately pay
4. I carry my own beer to the table and drink it
5. I go back to the bar and order another one

He then asked me what happens in the Czech Republic and I realised
1. I walk in and sit down
2. The waiter comes over and takes the order for the beer
3. He returns with my beer
4. He takes my order for another beer
5. He then brings it over as well
6. I pay as I leave

Barry then asked me 'Do i still think the service is crappy in the Czech Republic?'

Obviously the answer is YES but it certainly makes you think doesn't it. As Barry explained it all comes down to the expectations. I don't expect it to take 15 minutes for the beer to arrive and then have the waiter BEG for tips. Anyway food for thought

Until next time

So I am mobile again

Hello avid readers

Finally after almost a year of no bicycle I have acquired a new chariot to take me around town. It helps that my lovely wife teaches english at a bike manufacturer, and that one of the students is the Czech beach CEO. This allowed a little discount to come our way.

Now, after all my talk about the 'scary' Czech roads you'll be pleased to know that the cyclists apparrently knew this and have successfully lobbied govt for a good cycle way system. As a result I can ride from my work to home, a distance of about 17km and only have to ride on the road for about 700m of the journey (and thats through a small hick village). The rest of the way is designated cycle way and simply a pleasure to ride on.

For me to get to or from work takes about 55 minutes on crowded metros but on the bike it takes about 55 minutes in scenic valleys, past childrens play areas and of course through the small hick village.

How's the serenity

A few of my footy mates also have bikes and we are now in the early stages of organising a nice ride to Karlstejn Castle. Its about 32km each way and we are looking to do this shortly. Should be fun.

I am hoping that I will be able to ride from work a few times a week to maintain the limited fitness levels and enjoy the warmer months

Until next time

Gatesy

Life on the land

In 2 respects, firstly because I feel i live 2,000 light years from salt water and also because Tonda (FIL) has a little paddock where he grows the family vegies etc. Sure I call it a small paddock but it big enough that you need a tractor. As an aside, with all these tractors and heavy farm equipment laying around it comes as no surprise to me that Czech and Hungarian women are sooo damn good at the hammer throw. Some of them damn well have forearms bigger then my thighs - hahahaha

Anyway since I can't speak bugger all Czech I have turned to farming to assist in developing a relationship with the father in law. He says "dig" and I ask "how deep?"No no thats a lie but i have been assisting in planting all the tomato's, potatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkin as well as feeding the rabbits. Oh did i mention the potatoes? Last August Michaela, myself, Tonda (brother in law) and Eliska (sister in law) had to pick these potatoes and it was REALLY REALLY fun ....................... for the first 50 kg's. After 4 hours and 950kg of potatoes later I was a little over it. This year I have a problem!!!! Michaela and Eliska are both pregnant and will be unable to assist in this task so it seems Tonda and I will have 8 hours of potato picking. Tonda senior doesn't see the problem but perhaps thats because he will be driving the tractor, probably sitting back sipping on a pina colada with straws and an umbrella in it...........GRRRRRRRRR.

I know I sound like an old woman blabbering on about this stuff but in actual fact it is really fun and quite relaxing. Tonda (FIL) and I normally take a few hours to feed the rabbits, chooks and pigeons (they are a disgusting animal) while the ladies go for a walk then we sit back with a beer attempt to have a chat, which basically means we sit in silence staring at each other with the occassional manly head nod and a deep gutteral grunt.. MALE BONDING AT ITS BEST.

So i will endevour to keep you all up to date with my gardening/farming prowess. As an addition to this i am pleased to announce that Michaela and I are the very proud owners of the best weed garden in our apartment complex - Who says my thumbs aren't green