What is a Quafaie?


Quafaie (pronounced: kwa FAY) are fantasy creatures that exist in the fantasy writing of Hugh Kemeny, and are created by him. They are primarily in Hugh Kemeny’s Black Phoenix short stories...

To learn more, read this post: What is a Quafaie?

Thursday, August 4, 2005

Also too late...

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

 My mind must have fallen into the gutter... as I realised after my last post that had I actually done the following edits on the real poster it might have been a really good laugh...

Besides the other photo was taken in the mens toilets, and as you can see they had a couple toys you'd expect more for her than him...




Comments from defunct blog:


Hi Eric...

how goes it? nice place.....are you wearing a kilt?
cool...

Cheers
Diana


Published By ScubaDiana (http://spaces.msn.com/members/dianathediver/) - August 05 12:36 AM

A little slow - but it finally clicked

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 

It was not until I was chatting with a friend on MSN that the full impact of this photo clicked. I had the first part "What Next? No Sex!" as my MSN photo. I then briefly described what I thought the rest was without checking.

Her reply was:
well I dunno what goes on in pubs over there... =)

I then looked at the full photo and it dawned on me.. is it implying that you can have sex in pubs?

Now before you get your hopes up, this was in Scotland. Where the national historic garb is a kilt - so you never know....

  

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Speed 2

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 

If you look back in my Blog I mentioned a speeding ticket that I got in Oxfordshire - well today I think I got the conclusion to it all (8 months later!)

Here is the old post (updated link 2012-02-23):http://quafaie.blogspot.com/2005/03/speed.html


Now the update:
Before I left the UK I stopped in Taunton to say good-bye to the friends I made there. I also collected my mail. In that was a notice of a court date. I replied that 'yes I am guilty, but can not attend the court date due to...' the fact that I'd be in Canada when the date was. I also re-iterated that I had followed every step, and that I pointed out I have a Canadian driving licence. I also changed my address to my parents one in Canada.

So today I got the results, and, surprise, surprise, it is exactly what I had to pay before (including the 3 penalty points added to my licence) - f*ing bureaucratic Oxfordshire red tape, to take the whole thing in a circle. And I fear it may not be all over - but still I laugh.

I will pay as they have the threatening line:

FAILURE TO PAY WILL RENTER YOU LIABLE TO ARREST OF A DISTRESS WARRANT BEING ISSUED WHICH COULD INVOLVE ADDITIONAL CHARGES OR RESULT IN YOUR MONEY AND GOODS BEING SEIZED.

I would like to return to the UK (as would my friends there would like to see me again), so that is why I am going to pay. I am just debating if I return the original cheque I wrote...

Comments from defunct blog:

Well thats the UK for ya. Lol

Published By UltraSweetnshy (http://spaces.msn.com/members/annifer85/) - August 01 10:57 PM

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Better late than never... Photo time

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 

Well I really should have posted the photos of my UK travels earlier, but a combination between uploading and downloading, and sorting them, and real life, has delayed me doing this.

They are all here

But I will try and give a bit of a story here to each of the 11 photo albums:

Photos from first cycling attempt. Penzance to Cape Cornwall, Land's End to St. Austell: 27-29 March 2005
- Just what it says. I started out in Penzance, cycled to the youth hostel near Cape Cornwall, where I met a couple of nice blokes from South Africa working in London. I also met a crazy man with a bicycle who could not stop talking. The next day I cycled from Land's End to Truro, about 40 miles. Then 20 miles later, in St. Austell, after I stopped for lunch, my knee started to hurt. I decided to not risk damaging my knee, so I returned to Taunton to rest up (and see my doctor).

Photos from Taunton and Matt's music video (Taunton & Minehead): 6-13 April 2005
- Mostly photos of friends: Ann, Lou, Matt, James, Julia, Kay and Ed. I met Matt, Ed and Kay just that week. Matt was down in Taunton and Minehead filming a music video for a song he wrote and recorded.

Photos from St. Austell to Liskeard: 15 April 2005
- After resting my knee I decided to continue my cycling where I left off. I went the day before to Truro (by train) to spend the night at Ann's place during college. As I cycled from St. Austell, I stopped at Lostwithiel and the ruins of Restorme for lunch. Then as I was reaching my goal of getting at least as far as Liskeard (20 miles from St Austell), I realised I should probably be off the road of heavy traffic. Next thing I knew I was flat on the sidewalk pavement, my bicycle nearby, and blood dripping from my face. With the help of some nearby people and good looking medics (both the ambulance medics and the nurses at Liskeard emergency hospital), I survived with only 5 stitches in my chin (along with a big scrap om my right elbow). After that fun I decided to return to Ann in Truro, 40 miles away, as my place in Taunton was no longer mine, and relatives near London were several train changes away.

Photos from Truro, Exeter, London, and Byfleet: 16-23 April 2005
- After a good rest and help from 'nurse' Annifer I decided to lend her my bicycle (until I return to the UK), and to backpack the rest of the way. So I headed to Byfleet (near Woking, south-west of London) to repack my stuff. On the way I decided to do the train change in Exeter, as I had not really seen the city (despite being there a few time for work). On the list of creepy things that happened to me: While I was taking a short rest break from carrying my heavy pannier bags, near the Exeter train station (in the middle of the day), I was hit on by a creepy man. Blatently hitting on me. I lied and told him I was not travelling alone, had a girlfriend back in Canada, did not need his help with my bags, and that I was late for my train (which at the time I was not sure about). I said the last one when he asked if I'd ever thought of being with another guy (yeah time to get outta there).
- After a couple days with my cousins, the Seewooruttuns (in the last few photos), I went to London to see other cousins (Henry and Judy Rado), and walked around London for the last time (so far).

Photos from first time in Kidderminster and from Manchester: 27 April - 5 May 2005
- Before Matt left Taunton he told me if I was passing by Birmingham to stop at Kidderminster and he'd put me up for a day or two. So when I changed to backpacking I thought 'I'll go to Kidderminster as my first stop'. That's where I met Tom, another great guy and friend. I was in Kidderminster for about a week, having a great time with Matt and Tom. However I wanted to continue to Scotland, and when a filling fell out, I found out that Manchester had a Dental hospital. So I spent a few days in Manchester, having a good time, and got a temporary filling.

Photos from Edinburgh: 6-7 May 2005
- After Manchester, I went to Edinburgh, and checked into a hostel suggested by someone at the hostel in Manchester. Boy was that a great decision. McBackpacker's Hostels are the best for friendly atmosphere and if you want to travel around Scotland (as every 7th night in their hostels is free). I met a coupld girls that fist day and we went out pubbing that night. The following night we tried to find authentic Scotish live music, in the end we did a live music pub crawl (since not much was had to drink and most places were cover). I also hiked around old Edinburgh (Royal Mile), up Arthur's Seat, and through new Edinburgh (Princess Street). All before getting ready for a McBackpacker's 7day tour of Scotland...

First half of photos from McBackpackers 7 Day Tour of Scotland: 8-11 May 2005
Second half of photos from McBackpackers 7 Day Tour of Scotland: 12-14 May 2005
- Well with over 340 photos of the trip, the full extent of the travel, and all the fun I had, the photos had to be in 2 albums, and my description here is going to be as short as possible - so ask me questions if you want to know more.

     - DAY 1 Edinburgh to Inverness: Edinburgh, Pitlochry, Smallest distillery of single malt (scotch) whisky in the world, Ruthven Barracks,  Battle of Culloden, Inverness, and the introduction of Ruby the inflatable sheep - out mascott (along with other 'things' available in the men's toilets.
     - DAY 2 Around Loch Ness: North shore of Loch Ness, Urquhart castle, Fort Augustus and Scottage heriatige centre, Swimming with Nessy.
     - DAY 3 Inverness to Kyleakin: Looking for marine life, Fort George across the bay, Rogie Falls, Clear skys of Scotland (yes you can sun tan in Scotland!), Plockton, Kyleakin sunset.
     - DAY 4 Isle of Skye: Portree, The Storr (read the sign!), Duntulm castle, Old Scotish thatched houses, Beautiful sky over Skye.

     - DAY 5 Kyleakin to Oban: Elean Doan (Highlander) castle, Loch Scotland - opps Loch Gary, Ben Nevis (highest point on the UK mainland - no I did not climb it like I planned), Glencoe, Heather ale, West coast of Scotland, Sunset in Oban.
     - DAY 6 Oban day trip: Sea-safari, Old slate mines on Luing, Relaxing on Luing, Cairn and standing stones near Kilmartin.
     - DAY 7 Oban to Edinburgh (last day): Harry Cows (pronounced coos), Cambel church, Rob Roy's grave and infromation centre,  William Wallace memorial at Sterling, Farewell night in Edinburgh.


- After the fun 7day tour, I decided to finish going to John O'Groats, but needed some other incentive. Aha, a day trip of the Orkney Islands (59th parallel). So I coached (bussed) it up to Inverness again. Then on to the desolate north-east of John O'Groats. And on to Orkney, where it snowed briefly (in the middle of May). Some of the photos show the wrecks of ships from WWI, after which the Churchill Causeways were built to connect 4 of the islands to the mainland (Orkney Island) to stop surprise attacts comming from the North Sea to the Atlantic (Scapa Flow). Stopped in the main cities of Kirkwall and Stromness, as well as the Italian Church, Skara Brae (one of the oldest know settlements in the north), and the Ring of Brdgar. Ferry ride back to Scotland, and photos of John O'Groats.

Photos from Glasgow, Cardiff, & Good-bye to Ann in Truro: 19-26 May 2005
- After the desolate, cold days of John O'Groats and Orkney (to off set the beautiful days of the 7day tour), I went to rainy Glasgow, where I met my Great Grandmother's first cousins (Walter and Alice Hamilton). The next day I did a double-decker bus tour of Glasgow, before returning to Kidderminster. However, my reasons for going to Kidderminster were interupted, and I decided to postpone the full second visit and say good-bye to Ann in Truro. On the way I stopped in Cardiff, and a side trip to my Grandparents friends, the Puls (no photo) in Newport. I enjoyed the last few days I spent with Ann and her pub mates, and the Cornish coast.

Photos from Birmingham: 28-30 May 2005
- I promised Matt that I would be back in Birmingham for the end of May. After a fun weekend (with no sleep one night - long story), I spent the rest of the week with Matt at Mark's place (the first photo is of Mark). I had hoped to spend some time with Tom as well, but other things were keeping him busy. Including working on the re-make of Eric Prydz's Call On Me music video (for which I helped a little). My last week in Kidderminster and Birmingham ended attending a Geri Haliwell concert in Birmingham.

Photos of friends, final farewell in Taunton: 7-9 June 2005
- My last few days in the UK were spent saying good-bye to all sorts of friends. Matt was one, as he moved back to Minehead for the summer break. Also my ex-house mates - Hayden who moved in just before I left, Spencer and Lindsay who have been in the house the longest. And a few people I met while spending time with Matt. Then it was off to Byfleet to pick up most of my stuff and come back to Canada.


Well that's about it. There are plenty more stories, but those will come as asked, or more importantly, in person  :)

Repost comments (comments from 2012-02-23 on the reposting of this post):
The links to the photos have yet to be updated. Until then you can find all the photos here in different sets here (note that they are in the same order as above, just in less albums): 

Friday, June 10, 2005

It's been a blast!

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog
 
Well I guess it is about time that I updated my blog - it has nearly been 2 months!!
What new has happened? What hasn't happened, is the answer!
Sure I have few hours to kill before my next mode of transportation takes me to my next destination. But there is too much to say at this point.
But here is the overview (and since no one guessed the answers to my last blog, a few give aways are here):
  • Cycled from Land's End to Liskeard, over the course of a week or so - only 4 actual days of cycling: Penzance to Land's End, Land's End to Truro, Truro to St Austel (where I took a break to no sprain my knee), then St Austel to Liskeard. Where upon I had a cycling accident. (photos to come at a later state, but needless to say, nearly 2 months later you can still see the bruse on my elbow, and where I had 5 stitches in my chin).
  • Spent about a week in Taunton between stopping and starting in St Austel. Where I met Matt - he was filming a music video.
  • After the accident I spent a few days with my friend Ann in Truro, basic recovery.
  • Then a few days in Byfleet with my cousins, the Seewooruttuns, where I did a change of plans repack.
  • A few planned days in Kidderminster, with Matt, turned into about a week - just because of fun and the company. Meeting friends like Tom, and Mark.
  • Two days in Manchester turned into 3 because of a filling falling out - I got a temp in Manchester.
  • Enroute to Edinburgh, visited relatives in Bolton.
  • 2 days in Edinburgh resulted in a 7 day backpacking tour of Scotland, with a great group of people
  • My own continued tour of Scotland was up to John O'Groats (yes I made it from Land's End to John O'Groats, not all by bicycle, but I made it), a day tour of the Orkney Islands, then a couple days in Glasgow - visiting more relatives.
  • A planned relaxing break after Scotland, back in Kidderminster, was changed to Truro. However after a week in Truro I went back to Kidderminster, spending a couple days in Birmingham while I was there.
  • Now I just finished a week back in Somerset, enjoying the sun, but despising the hayfever allergies.
Where life takes me now, I do not entirely know.
That seems like a reasonable blog entry at the moment. More in a few days, hopefully.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

LE-JOG Cycling

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 

I have now finished cycling from Land's End (LE) to John O'Groats (JOG). Now I have a couple questions for those who bother looking at my blog. Whom ever answers these questions correctly will win a prize (keep in mind I started cycling on Easter).

1) What is the total number of miles that I cycled from LE?
(a) <125   (b) 125-250   (c) 250-500   (d) 500-625   (e) 625-750   (f) 750-1000   (g) >1000

2) What do you think my average speed (miles per hour) was over the entire time cycling?
(a) 4   (b) 6   (c) 7   (d) 8   (e) 9   (f) 10   (g) >10

3) And the fastest speed (miles per hour) I managed to achieve?
(a) 15-20   (b) 20-25   (c) 25-30   (d) 30-35   (e) 35-40   (f) 40-45   (g) 45-50

4) The primary reason I stopped cycling?
(a) I made it to JOG
(b) I came to my senses and realised it was a stupid unattainable goal
(c) My bicycle was stolen
(d) I had a riding injury (ie sprained / pulled muscle)
(e) I was running out of money
(f) I had a bicycle accident (eg collision resulting in me on the pavement)
(g) I was having too much fun with mates (therefore running out of time to finish the trip)


If anyone I have not told can guess the actuall numbers to one decimal point of the first 3 questions, then I'll give them £5.

Sunday, April 3, 2005

So Long Taunton

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

Today is the day I move my stuff out of Taunton.
This blog post is short and the last one I am likely to write before continuing my cycling of the UK.
If anyone would like post cards, please e-mail me.
see here if you don't have my e-mail (or want to add comments to any of my blog).
Already on my cycling trip I have met interesting people and hopefully a few new friends. Stories will come later, until then enjoy some photos:


Thursday, March 24, 2005

Seante appointment

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 
 
I got this e-mail from my Dad:
Subject: FW: Seante appointment
No, it’s not me!
In case either of you know Claudette Tardiff
D

From: Tardif, Claudette 
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 10:32 AM
To: External Relations - All Depts
Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT
Importance: High

Dear colleagues in External Relations,
I am writing to inform you that at the request of the Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, I have accepted an appointment to the Senate of Canada.
While I'm still absorbing all this entails and am truly excited by the prospect of serving Albertans and Canadians in this way, my only sadness comes in knowing it will mean leaving all of you.
In the short time I've been privileged to serve as Vice President External Relations (Acting), I've come to know you as an incredible team that brings enormous benefit to the University of Alberta.
I don't have all the details yet on when I will be leaving the University of Alberta, but wanted you hear this news from me first.
I wish you all a blessed and restful Easter and look forward to the remaining weeks we will have together.

Claudette
Claudette Tardif, PhD
Acting Vice-President (External Relations)/
Vice-présidente (par intérim) relations externes
University of Alberta

----
My reply:
If it was you would you have accepted?
Nope I don't know Claudette
Eric

----
My Dad's reply that just made me laugh:
I’ve never really though about that question.
D


Out of this world thoughts - Earth to Pluto in 50 minutes

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog
 
A few days ago as I was reading up on the Land's End to John O'Groats trip and the records that have been made (eg in 1990 Andy Wilkinson cycled 874mi from Land's End to John O'Groats in one day 21 hours, two minutes and 18 seconds. Pauline Strong holds the woman's cyling record of two days, six hours, 49 minutes and 45 seconds. Steve Gilkes has done it several times on a motorised toiled; another used a supermarket trolley. It's been done in a battery-powered Sinclair C5 in 80 hours and on roller skates in 9.5 days. - from Lonely Planet's Cycling Britain 2001).
It then crossed my mind about how fun it would to be on a motorised sofa - like the one the MechE's attempted to build for sleeping bag drive-in when I was at the University of Alberta (for those who don't know about it - the sofa got as far as having wheels, it was finding a motor and the time to finish it that stalled the project - then graduation).
Okay, so that is not really all out of this world. But one of the cycle training routes I have done is litteraly out of this world. I cycled diameter of the solar system twice in under 3.5 hours (that is a total of 44 km on a 530,000,000 / 1 scale model of the solar system). Below are photos of my interplanetary journey (not in order of visiting, but from Sun to Pluto. To see the photos in order taken, along with others on the Taunton-Bridgwater Canal, see my photo albums).

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Drya - Story

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog 

I have uploaded the first 1500 words of another story to:  http://www.geocities.com/hughkemeny/ 
The story is called Drya and is set in a fantasy world. This is one of my favorite parts (as it has barely changed since I wrote it in a writing class where all the others told me it was the most memerable part).

     She gingerly took the apple out of his gentle hands, bringing it up to her face and smelling the flesh of the apple. Looking at it she whispered "such a beautiful perfect seedling. How does your mother fare?" A tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke. Thoughts of her mother came to her mind. A fine oak she was.
    The apple fell from her hands, hit the table, rolled across it, and landed on the floor with a thud. Her face fell into her hands as tears pouring out of her eyes.

If you would like to read the entire 3555 word story, let me know. The payment to read it is to return some editorial comments.


Repost comments (comments from 2012-02-23 on the reposting of this post):

In the 7 years since first posting this, not only has the original blog disappeared (it was on MSN Spaces), but the link to the website above has also disappeared (geocites closed down). As of 2012-02-23 this story has not been reposted to the web, however there is a possibility it will be in the future to the site: http://hughkemeny.ca

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Last SWAG Hike

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

I went on my last hike with the Somerset Walking and Activities Group (SWAG) today in the beautiful +18 C weather around Winsham & Wayford (Near Chard, Somerset). Such a beautiful walk.
As I was cooking my dinner a couple of my housemates asked if I was out in the sun. They noticed the slight sun burn I have, that I did not notice. Hopefully it will turn into a good base tan before my cycle trip, so I don't cook in the British spring sun.
Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera, so there are no photos of the country side.

Friday, March 18, 2005

My new career???

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

One of the things I have been considering becoming is an author, but of course that is not a career one usually makes millions on over night.
Any way, I created a lame website (a year ago) to post some of my stories.
http://www.geocities.com/hughkemeny/
I have a couple of stories there (well the start of a couple). As I work on more I will be posting them there. I would love to have other people's comments, to help with the editing process.
First one posted is Beyond Earth a science fiction short story

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Sync'ing with Yahoo

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

In part of my prep for this trip I thought I would update my address book and make sure both my Yahoo (main e-mail) and my pda are sync'ed.
So I downloaded the Y! Intellisync to do just that, and well, sure I could sync my pda with Yahoo....
But I could not sync my Palm desktop with my pda!
After frustration at the program and 1 to 4 copies of addresses on my pda and yahoo, and eventually on palm desktop, I sorted it out (you have to delete Y! Intellisync to sync again with palm desktop). Then I had to sort through all the copies to determine which was the most uptodate (I hope I got them all correct!).
One would think that the software would allow a choice from either the pda or palm desktop (does have other options like outlook - but I don't use that).

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Just call me crazy

Reposted on 2012-02-23 from defunct blog

I am planning to cycle across the UK and climb the highest peaks of England, Scotland, and Wales.
Now I am not just doing this on a whim, unplanned. I found that there is a series of cycle routes from Land's End, Cornwall, England to John O'Groats, Northeast Highlands, Scotland. The one I have looked at so far is from Lonely Planet Cycling Britain, however I have ordered some from the Cyclists' Touring Club that includes one with Youth-Hostel stops (the one I am more likely to follow). Both state that it should take about 15-20 days for the trip, but I don't think I can do it that quick. For some more information on the End to End (Land's End to John O'Groats) look here.
The other thing I am hoping to incorprate into my trip is to climb the 3 peaks. There is a chalange for this every year, but I am in no way capable to do all three in 24 hours on a bicycle. To see the three peaks, check out the BBC's Web Cams. Watch carefully and you may see me on the web cam one day (not likely in my opinion).
My plan to do this trip went through a few phases, like planning to do it in July and end up in Edinburgh in August for the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe. Then I realized that it would be smarter to get it done first - giving me time to relax in Ireland or elsewhere in the UK or Europe before the Fringe. The thought was then to hit all three peaks enroute up to John O'Groats. But Snowdon Mountain, Wales (altitude: 1085m / 3560ft) is a little out of the way.
So my current plan is as follows, and illustrated on the picture:
1.        Start in Land's End, Cornwall soon after Easter (giving me time to finish packing and get my stuff to a relatives' place that I can store it for a little while).
2.        Arrive back in Taunton about 4 days later. At which point I decide if I continue or what other options I have. Also this would be when I hand in my keys and officially move out of Taunton (forever???).
3.        Follow guided route up to Lancaster.
4.        Take a side trip to climb Scafell Pike (978m / 3210ft), England's highest peak.
5.        Stop at Carlise and decide if I follow a guided route or take my own route to get to Fort William.
6.        Fort William and side trip to climb Ben Nevis (1343m / 4409ft), Scotland's highest peak.
7.        Cycle along Loch Ness and see if I can spot Nessie on the way to Inverness
8.        Follow guided route to John O'Groats.
9.        Cycle to Wick, the closest place with a train station.
10.     Train back to Inverness, they apparently run quite frequently and don't need reservations with a bicycle.
11.     Follow guided route backwards to Edinburgh, as trains from Inverness require reservations witha bike.
12.     Train trip to Liverpool, by reservation with my bicycle - possibly giving me some time in Edinburgh.
13.     Cycle to Mt. Snowdon (1085m / 3560ft), Wales highest peak.
14.     Go to hollyhead and take ferry to Ireland
15.     Cylce around Ireland - this is where the plan falls apart as I have no idea if this will be mid May or Mid June that I arrive in Ireland.
16.     Ferry back to Swansea where I would have my next plans set and may have sold my bicycle.
17.     Train to London to get fresh clothes from where my stuff is stored before going on the next adventure.
I am hoping to be back in London sometime mid to Late June, but there are so many factors that could change that.
Now do you think I am crazy?????

Photos lost when blog when defunct.