The Hot Tub lures Saraa back to the Pod

An auspicious occation - the return of Saraaa to the pod.
I suggested to GWL that this would be like the return of your own small child - she disagreed and said it was more like the return of a missing limb - obviously i bow to the greter power of wisdom...
Anyhow, let me describe the events and build up to the evening which was to be the pods first outing to marionanons' most spectacular outdoor hottub arena:
1. The contestants: Saraa, Marionanon, GWL and hils (on this occassion the wisdom appeared to be that mr mowatt should be absent - just in case photos of mr mowatt with his 3 younger wives were to leak out and discredit his impecable reputation.
2. Preparation: The instruction were strict and clear: Those entering the hottub should contain NO dirt. People should come ready showered and with swimming costumed rinsed. This turned into a military style operation as if scrubing to remove any traces of radioactive materials - every care was taken not even to touch anything that might perhaps be contaminated with even a speck of dirt.
3. Entry: Fear was clearly present in my mind as the thought on entering the freezing spring evening whether in a swimming costume and a pair of flip flops. Determingly I managed to keep on my ski jacket even climbing into the water with it on, before fallinginto the water onto the bubble button and being pleasantly surprised by the wonderfully refreshing heat of the bubbly water...amazing.
4: Enjoyment: Having arranged ourselves in the wonderfully crafted seats it was like being in some millionaires apartment on 'cribs' the turquoise waters underneath the stars appeared to be like some sought of miracle - the only sign of reality was the neighbours windows which was an appropriate reminder that this was indeed milton keynes - a perfectly sureal moment considering the bizareness of mk in general.....

saraaa returns to the pod - a lovely photo for our wonderfully funny indian friend

Pod Nativity - An interpretation

It was a few nights before christmas, and the pods were on yet another training away day. Another opportunity arose to dress up in silly costumes - obviously many pod members were hugely excited by this and others were not.

Mrs Kwamy narrated the pod masterpiece describing how the marvelous angel (mr mowatt) visited mary (Mr game) and yoseph (JP)... Mary appeared to have a perculiar accent but looked very pregnant with the help of a jumper....
Actors in their marvelously prepared costumes...

The plot involved a wide selection of characters including elizabeth (Lala), who was very excited to be pregnant!

Eventually the important characters such as the lama (look at the wonderful costume), and the shepherds were allowed to meet the baby jesus, who just moments earlier had been dispatched from mr game's (AKA mary's) stomach...

What a wonderful version of the christmas story!

Murder at Sea

A dark November night in the unsuspecting town of Tring. Local Tring'ites' were treated to a spectacular display of fake moustaches, and cross dressers and guests searched for the lovely cottage home of angelala.

A fabulous eveing of costumes, funny accents and cross-dressing - what could be better!
Becky (Blaise) a french chef and Hils (Armin) a bizarre german became and year older and obviously wiser...



Below: Hols, a french double agent, Max, a subtle coktail waitress, and Alte, an intriguing english gentleman
Angelala - was very enthusiastic about killig off her shipmate colleagues
Paul appears to be wearing pink lipstick?!


Arthur definately is wearing pink lipstick.....

Midget photos

In cleaning out my bedroom i stumbled accross this small box of ''midget photos''. It really is very small (6.5cm x 4.5cm to be precise) and is full of midget photos of long dead, unknown relatives. Very exciting.

Filipino 'dwarf' judge loses case

Not-so-maid-marionanon spotted this story on the BBC

very odd.


Filipino 'dwarf' judge loses case
A Philippines judge who said he consulted imaginary mystic dwarves has failed to convince the Supreme Court to allow him to keep his job.

Florentino Floro was appealing against a three-year inquiry which led to his removal due to incompetence and bias.
He told investigators three mystic dwarves - Armand, Luis and Angel - had helped him to carry out healing sessions during breaks in his chambers.
The court said psychic phenomena had no place in the judiciary.
The bench backed a medical finding that the judge was suffering from psychosis.
'Dwarf dalliance'
The Manila trial judge had asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the complaint and return him to the bench, after being sacked in April.
"They should not have dismissed me for what I believed," Mr Floro told reporters after filing his appeal in May.
The judge said he had made a covenant with his dwarf friends that he could write while in a trance and that he had been seen by several people in two places at the same time.
Judge Floro reportedly changed from blue court robes to black each Friday "to recharge his psychic powers".
In a letter to the court he said: "From obscurity, my name and the three mystic dwarves became immortal."
However, the Supreme Court said dalliance with dwarves would gradually erode the public's acceptance of the judiciary as the guardian of the law, if not make it an object of ridicule.

pod transportation

When pondering how to get to and fro from the pod - perhaps an orange scooter for those summer short journeys or a small boat to transport pod members around the globe to visit the lovely adps

the italien influence

the pods are an opportunity for cultural amusement...
we have been learning many italian phrase "ciao, comasti? uno stato a piachere" hello how are you? I am pleased to meet you!
a brief escape from the pods to sardinia allowed the practice of such phrases - although more welcoming responses were given by our lovely italian colleague as compared with the slightly bermused locals...these skills need to be further explored

nuns

nuns
Originally uploaded by Hils22.

my obsession with nuns - they are very random, usually small and often up to mischief

monks

previously on asia pod midgets i have noted the small children running about my workplace... today one might be excused for thinking i work in a monestary... a rediculously large number of monks are milling about the place... why?why?why????

well whyever theyre here their orange robes are a lovely colour and very corporate...

wedding sparklers

IMGP2155
Originally uploaded by Hils22.

having escaped the pod to attend another wedding - this was to be the most spectacular wedding of all; giant sparklers, a confetti machine gun and a sword to slice the cake - the day became more and more sureal as photos were taken in the lebanese mountains, santa came to marry the bride and groom and a stream of small waiters delivered 21 one cakes with large sparkers...weddings will never be the same again!

IMGP2048

IMGP2048
Originally uploaded by Hils22.

Holidays in Lebanon - a glamourous wedding in a Beirut Casino