A day in the life ......

I've been thinking about the cost of living here, mostly because I've just paid my daughter's school fees for next year, and enrolled my son into a school, thus had to pay up again. Rent is due so that's another hit .. or is it?
The whole lot including the rent, bills, schools, and everything else cost less than anything I could find a rental house of the same size in a good location anywhere in England, and the money I spend on a full year wouldn't keep me for three months in England.
I've just booked a Rp40,000 cinema tickets (A bit over two quid), and was pleased to find Vue in England are charging 17 quid for the same film.
Indonesia is a winner country.

I've been crazy busy with work but I've taken the time to try my Windows 10 Asus laptop - I put away a few weeks after buying it because Windows 10 is rubbish, slows down like crazy when it's downloading updates, then updates when I'm trying to work.
The laptop itself is fine, but Windows 10 is total crap.
I've tried to get windows 8.1 installed, but the machine won't accept it. Anyway, in eternal hope, I installed the Chrome browser and gave it a go, but the damned thing is downloading a W10 update so it's gone to crap, basically making the computer useless until the update has finished, then the evil, Iblis farted out W10 software will take over the ruddy machine and force the update.
That makes the computer useless for anything other than offline use as it must work when I need it, not when some pointless pillock at Microsoft has finished with it.
Microsoft have gone from an operating system built to make computers work to an operating system designed for them, not the user.
I will now factory reset this thing and pop it back into a draw where it will stay until it's so old it gets dumped in a bin.
Maybe, just maybe, I'll sell it so someone I don't like.

May all Microsoft software people catch an especially nasty sexually transmitted disease that causes their genitals to go green and fall off.

Another known fault on 10 is hibernating, and the moron designed software is doing that instead of resetting as I want it to do.
I suggested I might sell the computer to someone I don't like, but I've decided to sell it so someone I hate. I don't hate anyone at the moment (except Windows 10 software writers) so it'll have to stay in a drawer until I meet someone obnoxious.

While on on the go, that pathetic Cortana software can't be dumped. It's really rubbish, is incapable of what it's supposed to do, but you have to keep the useless crap taking up memory and uploading your data to Microsoft whether you want to or not.

The thing just tried to update, but I forced it to shut down, now I'm factory resetting the thing.

Should you wish to buy my Asus whatever the hell model it is with a detachable keyboard at a very reasonable price, please send an especially abusive Pm describing all my faults you you see them, along with as many insults about my mother as your imagination can manage.
That way I'll hate you so want to sell you this fine but totally bloody useless computer with a pathetic, pointless, crap operating system that will make you vomit every time you turn it on.

By the way, the reset just failed in the same epic fashion that inept moron of a British Prime minister just failed to work out a Brexit deal.

Should you want to buy this pointless rubbish waste of time and money computer, please see a psychiatrist as you must be completely off your rocker.

I first saw text-to-speech on a program called Battlestar Galactica, but now I get to try it out on this new tablet and fight I'm using it at the moment. Sadly it is imperfect as you can see with the typing.

My God it knows things like

But when I say it knows things like

It makes a

"NEW PARAGRAPH"

This has not been a good morning.

I bought a tablet with keyboard manufactured by a very well known Korean company but, has happens from time to time, the thing developed a fault.
Electronics aren't perfect so you have top expect a bit of bad luck once every so often, but you don't have to accept lies and refusing to honour guarantees.
I've had the thing 12 days, it showing fault since Thursday but I've been a tad busy so didn't go to their service centre until this morning.
The first woman told me I had to buy a new one as they wouldn't honour the guarantee
Upon a firm refusal to accept that idiocy, I was passed on to an engineer who told me he would need to check if there was a guarantee (I have the receipt).
The second engineer tried to clean an internal switch by forcing a toothbrush under the faulty H key (What a moron).
I rang Jakarta customer service when the local man lied by saying they had no stock to replace it with (I took a photo of the stock keyboard in the display cabinet).
The upshot is they have refused to honour the guarantee until they've had a chat with their management so, instead of a minor nuisance of a nothing problem that should and could have been sorted out in 20 minutes, they've got a really angry long term customer with a real complaint or few that's wondering if he'll ever buy product from that company ever again.
I lothe lies, being ripped off and refusal to honour agreements.

However, after much shouting at them, I had a very nice coffee in Dunkin Donuts then took my daughter to Burger King where I enjoyed a nice cheeseburger.

Just got this message back from their US people on their forum

Regrettably support for non-US models is very limited. We suggest reaching out to a support team in your area for further assistance. You can do so by using the following link: <Fred snipped as it names the company>

I got a call from the manager of the local Korean company's service department, so I took a wander down there.

It seems there is no issue with guarantees on electronics, but there are no guarantees on accessories, even expensive ones.

My issue is sorted (I hope) but, buyer beware, that company told me they don"t look after their own branded accessories bought from their official stores, even if they're less than a couple of weeks old.

Learn to chill out a little sir. Indonesians don't like to be shouted at by angry foreigners. A little bit of politeness will go a long way.

Renting a property here is money down the drain. Use your savings to buy a place outright and do make sure it comes with a hak milik. It will pay dividends in the long run.

Shill88 wrote:

Renting a property here is money down the drain. Use your savings to buy a place outright and do make sure it comes with a hak milik. It will pay dividends in the long run.

Not for WNA - That would be illegal

Shill88 wrote:

Learn to chill out a little sir. Indonesians don't like to be shouted at by angry foreigners. A little bit of politeness will go a long way.

I'm so chilled you could paint me white and keep food in me

Depends on ones age.
Doesn't make sense to buy if you're 60 / 65 + except if you want to give it to local wife or kids.

Better rent and use your money to enjoy the remaining days of your life.

And yep, I am 66, single and I rent.

Other advantage, if and when I get bored I move easily.

If I were single I'd be able to move house using my Luxio.
Small fridge, one of those frame-less chairs that turns into a bed, and  Ace hardware folding table and benches - Not much more except my computers and a portable A/C unit.
However, one wife and two kids later - fat chance.

I lost control of my Hotmail and yahoo email accounts a few years ago but yesterday, in a fit of madness, I reactivated them.

What a waste of time - jam packed with spam telling me I've won everything from a couple of lotteries to some princess or another with a dead dad and sacks of cash.
Maybe I should have taken that one up - She looked fit, has a massive bank account, and I all had to do was pay for her tickets.
Actually, I might kick the wife out and take her up on the offer.

Just arrived at Bandung airport - not a great idea.
Bluebird and Go are banned from picking up at the airport so you either walk to the main road or accept the Rp80k the Grab drivers want for a Rp25k run.
Some might suggest someone at the airport is taking a back hander, others  would perhaps think whomever thought up the idea was an idiot, but I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason airport users are left with a choice of walking with family and bags or getting ripped off.

My schools back in jolly old England used to do school photos a couple of times per year as we were poor, all lived under rocks, and cameras were rare and expensive (That was a long time ago).
Schools in Indonesia demand photos, lots of ruddy photos as if they live under rocks, and don't have cameras like 1960s England.
Today I'm happy because i found an Android app that removes backgrounds so, after a few flicks of my handsome fingers, I can send cut outs of the subject to my computer where my drawing program does the rest.
That means no more visits to shops to get the millions of school photos printed.
YIPPEE!

I cleared my newly recovered hotmail address a couple of days ago - it's full of spam today.
I have great offers that are going to make me millions, a marriage offer from a Columbian beauty, and all the viagra she could ever want me to take.
I also have a load of weed adverts so I could get as high as a kite without viagra fuelled sexy nights with a dusky maiden.

Remind me to change my email address with Pizza Hut Delivery and scrap the link from my email list

I like walking so, when my kid wanted me to join him in the school bus, I went along with the intention of doing a bit of shopping, then walking home.
The route to the supermarket takes me over a level crossing at red so I waited.
Mental health care can be a bit limited here so it's not unusual to see an 'orang gila' (crazy person) in the streets. This barefoot example was hanging around at the crossing, suddenly running towards where I was, grab the gate and raise it.
Motorcyclists at the front started to turn their engines on thinking the trains had gone (Nobody pays that much attention), so I grabbed the gate, hung on the thing, and forced it down just in time as a second train came.
The orang gila just tried to climb a post, then headed back towards me, ducked under the barrier and ran directly towards the moving freight train.
He jumped between to flatbeds with containers on them, disappearing between the two. I assume he survived because there wasn't any sign of blood and guts on the tracks.

It was a horrible experience 

So what happened after that?

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

It was a horrible experience 

So what happened after that?

I went shopping for small cartons of milk, small cartons of orange juice, and a few snacks for the kids, then walked home. It's about 2 km so a nice light cardiovascular workout.

This afternoon, after yet more work (I started at 4am), I thought, "bugger this for a game of soldiers", and went to watch Stuber at a local cinema 21.
It's very funny

Fred wrote:

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

It was a horrible experience 

So what happened after that?

I went shopping for small cartons of milk, small cartons of orange juice, and a few snacks for the kids, then walked home. It's about 2 km so a nice light cardiovascular workout.

This afternoon, after yet more work (I started at 4am), I thought, "bugger this for a game of soldiers", and went to watch Stuber at a local cinema 21.
It's very funny

Gretefully, there wasn't any horrible experience 

Do you often walk that far, Mr. Fred? It was, indeed, cardiovascular workout.

What's funny, Mr. Fred? I haven't watched Stuber yet, just saw the review and trailer. And yesterday I watched The Lion King at cinema, very interesting and refreshing movie 
Upcoming movie, "Ready or Not", I think, would be a nice movie.

That's a short stroll for me - A real walk used to be Tanah Abang to Mangga Dua.
As for Stuber, it's a mix of slightly sick and very silly humour - The critics have hammered it, but the audience I was part of were rolling around in their seats, laughing loudly at the many funnies in 90 minutes of 'take your brain out and enjoy it' fun.

I have never been there so I don't know how it feels. I am jogging every weeks, so I think that is good as well 

Stuber, there is Iko Uwais in the movie, right? And isn't it an action movie?
I haven't watched it yet so I don't know how to talk about it.

Did you enjoy the movie? You thought it was sick and silly humour   

Stuber is an action/comedy mix, and one that really suits my silly sense of humour and, judging by the rest of the small audience's reaction, it suited theirs as well.

I don't do jogging as it makes my fat wobble

Alright. I think Stuber is worth to watch later. Thank you very much, Mr. Fred 

Haha, no problem    I believe, walking is good as well.

Take care, Mr. Fred ! 

As of the time of posting this, I'm sitting on my ample posterior staring at a larger than average computer screen trying to work out some bits and bobs.
It's boring.

I took off day for work today, I haven't felt really good since this morning.

Why don't try go outside, take fresh air and enjoy good view?

Right now at my place is sunny day, so I am going to enjoy my time with a good view,

and if I am lucky enough, I could enjoy sunset today as well.

Bits and bobs, is it british term, right?    Surely there is difference between

American English and British English 

American English is for people too lazy to learn British English

I believe basically both English are almost the same gramatically. And I admit it, British

English is more formal than American English. However there are several terms which

are different as well, for example 'afterwards' and 'afterward', 'french fries' and 'chips,',

'faucet' and 'tap', ext. And for the accent, both of them are really different.

As for me, British, is indeed, quite hard to understand. For example, Emma Watson

accent 

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

I believe basically both English are almost the same gramatically.

US English has many 'lazy' versions of grammar and a lot of really odd spellings, the latter probably mostly down to illiterate people heading to what would eventually become the United States because of potato famines, religious ideals unacceptable at the time, and loads of criminals because deportation to Australia stopped in 1867 so 5 1/4 million people went to the US instead.

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

And I admit it, British English is more formal than American English.

and sounds far better

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

However there are several terms which are different as well, for example 'afterwards' and 'afterward',

That's just a grammar thing rather than anything else - The words are commonly misused but, if I'm being honest, no one except English teachers and pedants care.

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

'french fries' and 'chips,', 'faucet' and 'tap',

American chips are British crisps - Work vary between native speakers of English and Americans, some as you noted, but others where Americans kept the old British words, but Britain started to use new words. Diapers are nappies in England, but they used to be diapers until someone came up with nappies. Nappies is probably a version of 'napkin', this archaic British word now reserved for something you might wipe your mouth with after lunch, still used in South Africa as something to ensure babies don't mess up the carpet.

Leika Sari Islami wrote:

As for me, British, is indeed, quite hard to understand. For example, Emma Watson

accent 

It's only hard if you aren't exposed to it. My students had real difficulties at first, but they not only learned to understand, they imitated and developed into British speakers of English, something that will serve them well in the business world. Even Americans admit British English sounds far better, and sounding the part is important when it comes to making an impression when you're part of massive trade deals or international political negotiations.

Mr. Fred, I think you have deep understanding about US English and British English.
Even you know history behind it. I myself, as someone who comes from country where
English is not its mother tongue, use English as a media to communicate with other people. I took several English classes and hold official certificate because it is very important in my country. Besides, I like English very much    However, of course, I couldn't be compared with someone or other people whom their root language is English. And the history you had been explained, really, I have to learn about it 

And, it is, indeed, British English is the best among other. I have communicated with people who use British English and US English, still, I personally think that people from countries who use British English such as Europe, have good English grammatically. I don't mean to say US English is not good, however I personally more enjoy British English grammatically.

Yes, however, as for me, it was shocked enough for me. When I used 'afterward' and my friend reply it by using 'afterwards'. From that event, I understand this difference.
Well, I think English teacher is important. If someone only want to know and learn basic daily conversation, reading a conversation book would be good option. However, something like TOEFL and IELTS, I think someone needs a help from teacher here.

You said, "your student", are you a teacher, Mr. Fred?
And thank you very much for sharing your insight and knowledge, about how important British English is. I really appreciate it. 
I think I should start to open my book again, next year I should take TOEFL ITP test, to maintain my official certificate.

I decided to give myself a day off work today so went for a nice little stroll around town.
I found a gym I like the look off, a place that sell excellent dates, and a very sweet batik shop. I decided to pack it in after about 6 km or so and ordered a Gojek - Excellent driver - 5 stars and a 10k bonus

Couldn't sleep so I walked up to my office at one in the morning and did a little work. I had a load of proof reading to do so I printed that lot out and made a start. Three hours was quite enough of that so I packed it an and fell back into bed where I managed an hour and a half snoring before my alarm went off, the mini Fred monster woke up and decided to get noisy playing whatever game on his computer - That was the end of any hope of sleeping so I started work again at 6.
8 saw the wife nagging me to take her to the market and a local supermarket, so a shopping trip then home to do the last of the proof reading stuff.
Just finished that so a short break then on to the next lot.
Already done 6 hours work and it's only 10 in the morning - I'm clearly mad.

No update Fred, I always read this religiously

Gwmeath wrote:

No update Fred, I always read this religiously

I've been extremely busy with work so had little time to do very much of anything else.

Added - I need a break.
The above in mind, I have some business and other bits and bobs to do in various parts of Indonesia so I'm going to take a few days break at each one.