Wassup with Condensed Books?

I've recently enjoyed a weeks holiday with my family at the lovely seaside township of Pataua North - thanks Mum and Dad.

Packed the fishing gear...caught 3 Kahawai (kept one and ate him for breakfast). Packed bedding, clothes and with two kids and a very prepared wife we also packed the kitchen sink. Alas, one thing I didn't pack was a book to read :(

Hunting through the beach house I discovered a wardrobe beneath the stairs. Opening the door I pushed through various coats in an attempt to find a box with some old book to read. Suddenly my feet touched snow and...nah!

I found a Best Sellers 'Double Book' from Readers Digest Condensed Books. The two books were Jaws - Peter Benchley and Dogs of War - Frederick Forsyth.

The back cover blurb in this case extolled the virtues of condensing books with a quote from a senior reporter to his novice, "Keep it short, boy! They'll die soon enough without you boring 'em to death."

As I was reading through said condensed version of Jaws I found myself yearning for a full length decription of the Shark in all its glory. Sensing its prey and devouring it with red hot instinctive blood lust! Instead I got a story where I can truly say the movie far exceeded the cruelly cut and edited printed word. Now there's not many movies that can beat the book in my opinion.

I'm almost finished Dogs of War and as I haven't got anything to compare it with i'm enjoying it somewhat more than Jaws.

Condensed books?! Nah...the only thing I like condensed is Milk!

Wassup with Masking Tape?

Well, I've finished redecorating the toilet. Correction, I would have finished redecorating the toilet if the masking tape hadn't peeled off the very nice paint it was put there to protect.

Things I have now learned about masking tape:

1. Use a low stick masking tape (usually blue)
2. Apply in short lengths, no longer than 2 feet (60cm or so)
3. Press down very hard (no bubbles or creases that would allow the paint to 'wick' underneath.
4. Wait until paint is dry to remove masking tape.
5. Pull the tape off in a slow, continuous motion at a ninety-degree angle to the painted surface. The tape will "cut" the paint in a clean line.
   

Is it possible to break all those rules you ask? Pretty much. So in a few days I will sand back a few areas and then touch them up and then the toilet will be as good as new...haha...more likely...it'll do!

Live and learn...and onto the laundry. I wonder what wonderful lessons I will learn in the next room.