November 12th, 2009 §
Life of the road consists of many ups and downs. Good food, bad food. A comfortable airline seat or a poor airline seat. I chose to travel ASIANA Airlines to the UK via Seoul. It was a last minute decision taken because I saw an incredible fare on lastminute.com.au. $1,340 is cheap in any bodies language to fly economy return Sydney to London but when you consider it also included a paid overnight in Seoul (breakfast, dinner and transfers included) plus ASIANA was voted Airline of the year 2009, then I guess, especially if you are a cynic like me, you start wondering what-gives.
I don’t want this sounding like and advertisement for Asiana but mate—so far they’ve been great. And by that I mean, great service, good food and lots of legroom. If you don’t like Korean food, very basic entertainment and slightly longer travel time to the UK (a minimum of + 2-3 hrs) then Asiana ain’t for you. And if you don’t like being offered a free re-hydration face pack carefully applied by the delicate hands of a gorgeous Korean flight attendant, then I’d also say give it a miss. I may have arrived an hour or two later than you, but I’d had a peak at Korea, tasted some delicious food and my craggy old face was soft as a babies bottom.
Sorry for the quality of the photo. Not only did the subject move but the shot was taken on my old Treo mobile
April 11th, 2009 §
flash fiction by John Holman
I watched as they placed her on a pedestal in the town square.
She was like a goddess. A marble goddess in a flowing white toga. I noticed her small breasts and pouting mouth, her tightly-plaited hair and her downcast eyes. She seemed alone and vulnerable.
I watched as the two lethargic workers untied her from a cart and with groaning ropes and much cursing lift her unceremoniously onto a plinth.
Later that day she looked up at me and I looked back. Much later, after many such exchanges, she smiled. It was a small but perceptible gesture. One that lifted my spirits and filled my heart.
I have a recurring dream.
I sit astride my prancing steed. The day is bright and warm and children crawl over me as usual. The stickiness of their toffee fingers mixes with the dust about my shoulders — and the noise, the laughter and the yelling penetrate deeper and deeper into my being until finally I am able to move. » Read the rest of this entry «
March 22nd, 2009 Comments Off
flash fiction by John Holman
I watched as Ito wiped his hands. He had completed painting and stood back for a moment allowing himself time to enjoy his work. It had taken many months. First finding the door and then hanging it in our apartment. I called it the ‘door to nowhere’ because that’s what it was — Ito’s beautifully painted red door that opened onto a blank wall.
When I asked him why? He simply answered, “Why not?”
In time, Ito knew every square inch of the door, every crack, scratch and sound it made. And yes, he believed he could hear the door talk to him, just as distinctly he said as he could hear the slow, methodical in and out of his own breath.
He talked of the door’s solitariness and if he dared swing it open, there would be nothing and yet everything. Every possibility. Every dream. Every kind and horrid word ever spoken. Every form of love. Everything in heaven and on earth, both good and bad, sat behind the door and so he left it closed. » Read the rest of this entry «
September 25th, 2008 §
one boat
and a man who sails the oceans
a long way from home
maybe not a Haiku by John Holman
September 23rd, 2008 Comments Off
Big band jazz, a feast for the ears. Taken at the Manly Jazz festival.
September 21st, 2008 Comments Off
Dogs have come and gone in my life but they have always been big dogs — Airedales and GSPs mostly. I never thought I’d EVER connect with a miniature poodle, especially one that’s all-tizzed-up to the nines. This one is special though. Her name is Toots!
March 8th, 2008 Comments Off
I’m back and I’ll be taking a rest from blogging for a while. I’ve also switched off comments so I don’t have to worry about spammers.
Talk soon! 
