King Henry and the Unlucky Irish

Hand of Frog?
Le Cheat?
Irish newspapers heralded the dismal news, concocting ridiculous headlines, wishing to tarnish the Frenchies reputation.
The controversial World Cup play-off between Ireland and France ended badly.
If you didn't know that, you've either been (a) hiding under a rock, (b) completely sports illiterate or (c) been hit by rocks for being sport illiterate.
Thierry Henry, in the last stages of the game, handled the ball. A big no-no in football, if you haven't heard.
And get this, everyone knows he did it and they admit it as well.
Thierry Henry himself apologised for the unfortunate contact with the ball- which later was converted into a goal, throwing the balance off equilibrium, shaking the formerly equalised score.
That was the last goal of the match.
Result?
The French went home happy, mumbling Mon Dieu under their breath, with a ticket to South Africa and a place in the World Cup next year.
So the luck of the Irish had deserted the four-leaved clover holding, green men. When they deserved a chance.
Even with Henry gallantly apologising and the Irish campaigning for a replay, nothing is being done.

King Henry
Slayed not his spouse
But hundreds of hopes
He did dowse

Ball in Hand
Leprechauns did cry
'Sorry', said the King
En route Africa, 'And Good Bye!'


Oh Lordie. What is happening to the world of Footie?

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Sorry for the cliché title.

It was inevitable.

This morning, I spent a good two hours being pawed by over enthusiastic dogs.

I'm volunteering at the BSPCA, a branch of England's RSPCA. For now, just walking the dogs.

It's not as simple as it sounds. BSPCA hosts over 150 dogs; overflowing and bursting at its seams. The BSPCA is structured to hold not more than about 50 animals. But Bahrain's alarming rate of stray animal population has led the BSPCA to open up more than just their humongous, caring hearts.

So, with clear skies and prevailing winds, it was tally ho! With tails wagging and leashes straining, paws and feet were out at nine in the morning, exploring the untravelled roads of lonely, fly ridden Saar.

Twas fun!

I walked three dogs, met new people and pets and had the bit of exercise I've been long deprived of.

Doggone it! I'm tired.

Blog later then.

Nighty-night.

Not So Study Periods

What's the link between a guitar, a stapler, CAS forms and SAT books?
They all point towards the CAS office/Sixth Form library.
It also means I am pointlessly wasting my 'Study Period' whilst a tottering pile of homework awaits me when I manage to drag my sorry tired self home.
I don't really know why teachers even bother to emphasise that it is a Study Period while in the common room, it goes under the pseudonym of 'Free'.
I am blocking out the horrid, excrutiatingly painful image of my Biology Practical write-up and wistfully enjoying in the simple pleasure of idleness. Oh the joy.
Oh waddya know? I've already let ten minutes of my 'free', or to be politically correct 'study period', leak through my lethargic fingers.
Now I shall jet away, to make more fruitful use of my time. For time is never returned, it is transient and temporary available of engraving.
Or I could always go and get a laugh out of past Year 8 Yearbooks...
Toodles.

So You Think You Can Veggie?

You claim yourself to be a discipline of the growing religion of Vegetarianism. But are you as Veggie as you think you are?

I think not.

I'm not ashamed in saying I am exceptionally paranoid with the stuff I eat. There has to be written proof that it is 'Suitable for Vegetarians' and any packaging has to be stamped boldly with that Veggie friendly holy green symbol.

Do you still doubt the fact that you may not be truly Vegetarian?

Are you aware of the things you eat and what goes in them?

Here's just 5 things that may appear to be a Veggie Buddy but in the stark, bitter truth of reality, they cunningly conceal the tainted remains of slaughtered animals.

1. Jelly: If you didn't know this by now, you might as well go around with a tatoo on your forehead saying that you're a carnivore. Gelatine is a major component in Jelly. What's gelatine you ask? Gelatine is the icky substance obtained by boiling animal (usually cow's) bones. Shudder.

2. Sweet Corn Soup: Surprised? So was I. I was paralysed with horror as I flipped over the soup powder carton to find the words Chicken Flavour hidden within the ingredients. Oh the cruelty! Well, not all Sweet Corn soups do have chicken in them, but a majority do.

3. French Fries: It's suprising the many varieties of fries that are made with animal derivatives. McDonald's french fries. Ever wondered were that distinctive taste came from? Well, it's from the beef they fry it in. Eew. And a couple of other brands of fries put fish gelatin in them. Yes, fish guts. How utterly revolting.

4. Tofita: The chewy that nearly everyone ate as a kid because of its uber-cool wrappers with the little bizarre fact printed on it. Turns out Tofita does have beef gelatin. Ouch. Won't be eating that anymore, are we?

5. Donuts: Some donuts actually contain pork, lard or other animal derivatives. What a shocking sugar glazed secret! Krispy Kreme was, for a while, thought to have treated their donuts with animal derivatives. Turns out, it was a hoax. The Krispy Kreme donut is one good goody.

So there you have it. 5 normal, nearly daily consumed foods that you thought may be safe. Till you find what's lurking in its contents...

Fishy

This is a poem I wrote for an English Activity in class. It's a bit crude with a few frayed ends but I decided to post it up anyway. We were given or asked to pick images from a farrago of black and whites and I ended up with a picture of an aquarium crammed with fish. A single normal fish was trashing about in its confines, stuck in the mass of ugly fish. The glass was at the point of collapsing by the looks of it. Using it literally or as a metaphor, we were meant to write a poem. And here is mine.

The neon lights flickered outside
Its dull buzz
Reverberated in the fish tank

A dozen fish
Squirmed
Cramped in its dreary confines
They breathed shallow
Every bubble, a struggle

The farrago of fishes
Trashed in their entrapment
Fighting for the top
To be the tyrant of the tank

The fittest survived at the surface
The weak bore scars of pebbles

The glass cage was their world
In it they were shackled and bound
Under the glowering eyes of microscopes

For aren’t we all…
Prisoners of Civilization?
Specimens of Society?
With Actions so transparent.

We’re all just fish.
In a treacherous sea
Just fish.
Indistinguishable fish.
Trying to be
The King of the Ocean ---x

Not so (Pet)ty

This post is dedicated to our furry friends. No, not the abominable snowmen. I mean the animals in Bahrain, with special emphasis on those that have been abused and abandoned on the streets.
For a relatively small country, Bahrain has an alarming number of stray animals lurking around in alleys and streets, traumatized and scared out of their wits. They are often seen scavenging for food in the rubbish piled high in dumpsters or zipping across streets, frightened and dazed by the blaring honks and the glowering high beams of cars.
It is not their fault that they have been subjected to such a hellish existence, it is ours.
It is we who shut them out of our lives. It is we who refused to care for them. It is we that turned our backs on them and never went looking for them afterwards.
It is infuriating that people adopt pets without a long term plan. They do not sketch out the demanding responsibilities that come with being a pet owner. Is there enough space? Is there time to exercise my dog/cat/flying monkey? Is there a place for him/her to stay while I’m gone?
Summers are the worst time to be a pet. Holiday makers ruthlessly decide to let go of their animals rather than making arrangements for them till they return. This leads to a manifold increase in the stray population in the summer and even though BSPCA is a messiah, it has to be acknowledged that it is just one organization and that it is already overflowing with animals beyond its capacity.
That brings up yet another issue. Dumping your pet in BSPCA during the summer is NOT an option. BSPCA is not a boarding kennel service; it is a sanctuary to care for unfortunate animals.
Another horrific truth about strays in Bahrain is the sickening, gut wrenching abuse they are subjected to. Youngsters find it ‘highly amusing’ and ‘entertaining’ to inflict pain on helpless strays, cutting their ears or setting them on fire; images that make me go sleepless on many nights.
Also, I was aghast to learn that many people were writing letters to newspapers stating that wild(a derogatory term for street animals) dogs should be shot! It was an appalling idea. How can anyone be so cruel as to hurt innocent animals?
Please put an end to this animal holocaust and end the atrocities committed to these defenseless creatures.
Make wise decisions and think twice before adopting or leaving a pet. Do think about your pets and their needs when you move, go for a holiday or are unable to support them any longer.
And also, if you are interested in caring for a pet without bringing it home, contact the BSPCA and you can financially assist an animal by ‘fostering’ it.
Remember animals are just as important as people and abusing them is equivalent to ‘Crimes Against Humanity’.
Help out and do your part! Help Bahrain get animals off the streets and into good, caring homes where they belong!

Dream to Live; Live the Dream

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know who Pablo Picasso was.
My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso.
Every artist, every writer, every inventor and scientist in the world, began small. They were nobodies in this big vast frightening world. They weren’t just born great. They made their mark in this world by sole hard work, determination and the will to succeed.
It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from, which race or colour you belong to; greatness is set alight by the spark of ambition. You may be small, but you can always dream big.
It doesn’t matter what you desire to be. Let your dreams be great. Let them be glorious achievements. Let them be crazy. But just dream.
You may want to be a rock climber. Or a photo-journalist. Or a paleontologist. Or even a member of a rock band. Anything is possible if you just believe.
Don’t get disheartened with failures because in reality, they’re the ones that lift you up. Walt Disney didn’t sit at home when he was fired from his first job because of lack of creativity. Albert Einstein didn’t give up when he flunked out of grade school. J.K.Rowling didn’t give up hope when her book was turned down by dozens of publishers. Even Winston Churchill didn’t hold back when his father told him quite plainly that he was good for nothing.
Every great person who made it big in life started no more than we are. They dared to dream and they chased it relentlessly.

So remember dream big, work hard and keep your goals in sight. For every individual may not be destined for greatness but can make greatness their destiny. And there is nothing to be afraid of as William Shakespeare said “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”