Inshallah you are all in good health lads and have big smiles on your multicultural faces. God only knows home many nationalities the HX Blog now goes out to lads. Masha’allah! It’s become almost impossible to keep track of it. Think was approx 30 nationalities last time we checked. But since MB went on this new Blog site, and became even more internationally famous, we now have people joining up to ‘follow‘ MB from all over the world (and beyond), and MB does not even know half of them. They are merely (& understandably) attracted by the mega awesome writing, and the even more mega awesome prize winning photos. Albeit MB has not yet won any prizes, but that time can not be far away lads.

MB got big surprise earlier in the week lads when he logged on to his stats to discover that a person had just logged on in place called Reunion. MB is not joking lads – it’s called Reunion. But MB never heard of the place previously lads, so had to look it up (yes Cla, there are a few things in this world the MB does not know – but only a few).

It’s in the Indian Ocean lads, East of Madagascar, and get this lads – it’s part of France! Not just some place they steal minerals and plunder other natural resources from, like most of their colonies, but it’s actually considered part of the French mainland, and is the most Easterly part of the EU – even part of the Eurozone for God sake lads! They have population of 800,000 Frenchies, all speaking Frog, and eating fresh croissants every morning with their double espresso. Mais oui lads.

One can only assume that MB will shortly receive communication from the Mayor of the Island (or whatever he’s called – maybe ‘Chief’ or ‘Le Chief’) asking for permission to put MB’s blog on the school curriculum – so the kids will be worldly wise and well prepared for life outside the Island when they jump into the boat with their Tiger and head off in the direction of Ireland or USA, seeking Nirvana. Anyway lads, don’t ever say that MB does not provide you all with education, take a read of the following:

Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island. Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France. Like the other overseas departments, Réunion is also one of the 27 regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic with the same status as those situated on the European mainland. Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, is part of the Eurozone.

Let the music play lads, and read on:

Great reaction to last week’s pics lads, with emails flooding in so quickly there was stage last Saturday when MB thought he was under attack from some hacker group. One 83 year old female follower informed MB that she looked at the Lady pics every night since she received them, to take admiring look. She was happy that MB had sacrificed his time for the good of others by taking photos of young shapely sexy ladies with tight fitting dresses with lots of leg and flesh showing. MB assured her he was concentrating mainly on the hats and barely noticed the shapely bodies at all.

This weeks pics lads come from the same night, and are another collection of characters. More interesting even than last week I think, with some great faces and costumes. These were the more normal people and formed the vast majority of the 60,000 in attendance, rather than the dressed up doll babes from last week. Hope you all like.

Attended a Photography workshop in Dubai few months back lads, which was about using Social Media to publicise your photography. Was hosted by some world famous American Photographers who, unlike MB, needed more publicity. MB attended, much like a paleontologist studies dinosaur fossils.

But one comment caught MBs attention (which he put in his brain to tell you later), when a guy mentioned people who post their ‘issues’ and personal problems up for all to see. His comment was: Face your problems – don’t Facebook them! Pretty clever words (for an American) thought MB to himself!

Have mentioned this topic to you many times lads, and sad that it’s prevalent in various parts of this region. Following story tells tale of a 15 year old girl who was granted divorce from her 90 year old husband. The old lad told the court that the first wife had just got too old, and they had not lived as “husband and wife” for a long time, so he needed another. He informed the court that he did not want the dowry money back (fair play to him), and just wanted his new wife to come home. But it was also discovered he had married another teenager some time back, and she had also run away. Sad story really.

And now lads, let us partake in a critique on the so called great painting ‘The Scream’ by Munch, and a recent MB effort that has yet to gain international recognition called ‘The Yawn Scream’. But recognition can not be far away lads – if God is even half fair.

• The Man: Edvard Munch
• Nationality: Norwegian (enough said!)
• Trade: Painter (the term is used very loosely in the case of Munch – unless we want to say ‘house painter’ – assuming he gave the occasional lick of emulsion paint to the walls & ceilings of his apartment).
• Work: The Scream
• Clarity: Totally blurry. Possibly painted whilst under the influence of alcohol. Or Munch was extremely short sighted.
• Attempts to get it right: 4. Munch painted this open mouthed buffoon 4 times, as he obviously came to conclusion that each effort was complete crap
• Artistic Merit: Sweet FA (as we say back home in HX)
• Could Homer Simpson have produced it: Definitely – yes. Or even his son Bart. Or even the cretinous neighbour Ned Flanders.
• Similarities to The Mona Lise – You gotta be kidding!
• Profound in any sense: You are having a laugh. Total no.
• Monetary Value: USD 120M, at auction in 2012 (what a joke).
• Will anyone still remember it 100 years from now: Absolutely no f*****g way – assuming increasing IQ levels in the intervening period. If we regress as a people to the level of the chimpanzee, then Munch will be the most popular dead Painter on the planet.
• Nett value to the world of art: Minus 100

• The Man: MB
• Nationality: HX
• Trade: Photo/Scribe Man
• Work: The Yawn Scream
• Clarity: Tack sharp!
• Attempts to get it right: One shot. And he didn’t blow the opportunity! (thanks Eminem!)
• Artistic Merit: Loadz
• Could Homer Simpson have produced it: It would be foolish to underestimate HS. He always seems to find a solution in the end. So we will answer the question initially with a – No (‘La‘ in the Arabic lads). But if Homer could find 5 or 6 Photographers who were on week off from National Geographic, and they pooled their entire photographic brainpower, and spent a week editing it on Photoshop – then maybe, just maybe, Homer & the lads from Nat Geo might come close. But match it – not!
• Similarities to The Mona Lisa: There are many. The Mona Lisa – Was it a happy smile or a sad smile? The Yawn Scream – Is it a yawn or is it a scream? Is she a 3rd World lady screaming against the injustice of the 1st world, in the location of the mega rich in Dubai, on the occasion of the richest horse race in the world? Or is she just tired of working endless hours for a tiny maid’s salary in some wealthy local villa or palace – and it’s a yawn of fatigue? So many questions lads. So few answers.
• Profound: Hugely. See last.
• Monetary Value: Presently zero (but for how much longer?).
• Will anyone still remember it in 100 years from now: It will be revered.
• Nett value to the Artistic World: Beyond infinity.

I leave you to draw your own conclusions lads. MB forever!

Every so often lads I encourage you all to consider writing something for the HX Blog, and you have produced some masterpieces in the past which all have enjoyed.

This week we have a gem, from the pen of RM, who works as a Paramedic in the mining industry in Freemantle, Western Australia. RM hails from HX back home, and enjoys the distinction of having made it onto some HX soccer teams in the past (under the management of MB on one or two of those occasions), down the left wing where his tasty left foot could put a football in your eye from 50m.

We actually featured pic of RM few weeks back standing in front of a giant mining truck. And I am lead to believe ladies that this 20 something hunk of Irish manhood is still single and available. And if he can write like this ladies you can just imagine the sweet nothings he might whisper in your ear as he took you to Glynn’s Fish & Chip Shop in Bruff village for the 1st date. Emails of interest please to MB ladies, and MB will pass them on.

RM’s piece is a little long (and we do not want him stealing MB’s thunder, do we lads?!) so I have created link to the full piece on my Dropbox a/c. I urge you all to take a read. Fascinating piece.

The pics sent by RM were not great, as were taken at night with only a camera-phone I suspect, but I give you one of them (next pic), to give you idea of the size of these tiny creatures.

TVM RM. Great story about the turtles. Great writing and must have been an absolute pleasure to have been on that gig. A memory for life I am sure. Would love to receive further pieces from you. Please consider. A star is born!

This is a project I was asked to go on by the company I currently work for. It appealed to me because this was not your typical mine site job. The job involved providing medical care to a group of environmental scientists who are monitoring a breeding program for flat back turtles offshore on an island approx 30k off the mainland…………

The job itself ran over 10 days and was all night-work. This involved getting on a catamaran style boat and traveling 30km to the island. We would anchor off the island waiting on tidal changes to allow us assess to the island via a small dingy with an outboard motor. While at anchor we would eat our dinner looking out at some of the best sunsets and surrounding I have ever seen, and the odd lighting show far off in the distance out at sea……….

I was unsuccessful in finding any hatchlings until the second last night, when I was digging out a nest, and there about 2 feet down – a little hatchling. It was amazing to see this process. When they come out of the shell they have a food source like the yoke of an egg attached to their tummy. They eat this and get the energy to dig their way out of a nest that is 3 feet down in the sand, make there way down to the beach and swim for the next 24 hours for survival. Truly amazing stuff when you see how small there are……… 

A number of ‘wordy’ followers were interested in a recent similar piece, so here is another one for you lads:

TC was in Ireland last weekend as you may have read lads to publicise his latest movie. Our Irish tourist chiefs did not miss the opportunity, and presented TC with history of his Irish heritage – which featured Knights in the 12th century, Rebels in the 17th and a real live hero in the 19th. TC will never want to holiday anywhere else again I am sure!

A smiling racegoer!

Football fans will remember the name Jack Warner from the FIFA corruption scandal 2 years ag0, which was related to the story of Qatar winning the 2022 World Cup. One of our HX Crosser number lives and works in Trinidad & Tobago (Irish & still single also ladies!) and send me great piece on the flamboyant JW. How much longer can this donkey survive?! KH has promised updates as and when. Thanks KH, keep ’em coming.

MB has featured the plight of Syria many times recently. The butchery continues with hundreds dying every day. The situation just gets worse and worse daily for all the citizens according to my Syrian friends.

Found some great pics from Aleppo on another blog site, from 2 years back as the trouble were just starting. Mainly pics from Aleppo, one of the oldest cities in the world, where a good number of the HX Blog followers come from:

God help Syria.

We are now Nr 2!

http://www.zawya.com/story/Dubai_airport_now_worlds_second_busiest_international_airport-GN_28032013_290347/?lok=184009130328&&zawyaemailmarketing

Ok lads. Too much this week I think. Not at all MB, more, more, more, please! Thanks lads, you are most kind.

Have nice weekend lads. TC.