sf called at 7pm and we spoke. no hot chocolate, naturally. told him bbmm's itinery. he must had been envious. He kept saying we should have hired a convertible. I said we are poor. In fact, the one thing I really tried to get for our car is a CD player. They said they will try to do their best but no guarantee. What did we do? We bought a TuneCast Auto for iPod. I told sf about it and explained to him what it does. sf was impressed. He praised me for being so good at these things. Well, only if he knows bb. May be I should avoid the two of them meet! :P

For picture and other users' reviews, click here. There are pros and cons. In short, there are reception problems (signal overlap) in busy areas. Also, sound quality is in issue. The good news is that it works as a charger, which is very helpful. The metal arm is adjustable but stays put once you let go. Stands up and stays out of the way. (Also has different size rings in case your cigarette adapter is a different size.) Display is clear, and choosing and setting a frequency and/or preset is pretty easy. But, realistically scrolling through the iPod menus while driving takes more attention than one should probably devote to it. Better if you have a remote control for your iPod.

A happy thing happened today - I met mum briefly at lunch time today and we went to this LV flagship shop to shop for her handbag. My dad was lucky in the gold market and he gave $$ to mum for her buy a LV handbag. How very nice and sweet! It's not the money that counts, but it's the thoughts and gesture. :)

no, didn't have lunch with mum as I needed to rush back to office to work. I'd love to. :(

Wonder what bb is doing now. What's her time now??

It's my second day of annual leave. I took yesterday and today off. but I was in office for both days. Not only that, the plan was to take advantage of the previous Sat off, so I would have 4 days of holidays - a long weekend. That was ruin by my boss, who made me go into the office on Sat afternoon, claiming that he wanted to discuss the case with me, and that discussion took less than 10 minutes!

Called my brother today. He confirmed that his video camcorder had been repaired. When I asked him if I could borrow it, he said yes on the basis that it would be the same. The way it came out was odd, and it took me a little while to understand he was trying to say that don't break it, or he'll break my neck. Stupid and slow of me ??!

Can't believe we are off next Saturday to our trip that has been planned a few months ago - yeah! I've been thinking of what needs to be done, bought and brought today ...

Did a bit of shopping this evening. Had a shop in mind that I wanted to visit but didn't find it in the shopping mall close to where I live. Could it be that it doesn't have a branch at that mall?? But me being me, I still managed a few new items. Nothing fanciful. Just a few cotton pullovers that could go with suit or with jackets for casual wear. They are cheap - like around 3 quid each. Can't beat that, right?

sf called this afternoon. blamed me for not doing research for him. what's new??! he always blames me, for whatever. my reply? "Whatever!" :D he said let's meet tomorrow afternoon. I told him I have a telecon early afternoon and have a seminar at 6:30pm. He said we'll meet at 5:30pm, he'll call me then. I said ok. Let's see how that turns out.

I saw an ad. It's recruiting for permanent magistrate. funny enough, the ad also said if hired, it'd be for 3 years. so it's not permanent?? then my smart brother told me the structure is that initially 3 years contract. upon satisfactory performance, it'll be extended for another 3 years. And upon satisfactory performance of the extended 3 years, then, you'll become permanent.

In any event, I'm very interested in that position. I'll put in an application soon. The problem is I need to come up with the reason why I want to join the judiciary. Why? It's always been my aspiration.

These days I feel more relaxed, and generally happy. feel like up in the clouds. feel unreal. Why? A side of me is looking forward to a new chapter in a new country when I'll tact along with bb. It's a mistery to me. I heard a lot about that country, that particular town. But I've never been, and the huge uncertainty is whether I'll like it there, if I'll be able to get a job, and if so, what to do?? My working skills are portable, but not so portable. The other side of me would like to join the judiciary, if I get hired. Well, both are not real yet. I'll cross the bridge when it comes, in the meantime, I'll dream on!

Dunedin - Portabello. All booked.

Queenstown - 1. Colonial; 2. Vacation villas; 3. Lakeside

Franz Josef - 1. Alpine Glacier; 2. Matheson; 3. Bella vista

Christchurch - 1. Milano; 2. Amross; 3. southern comfort

Rotorua - 1. Midway; 2. Coachman

Auckland -- Kingsgate

I called the office yesterday and took a sick leave yesterday. No, didn't feel good at all. I told them I had a fever and flu. I felt feverish, had blocked nose, terrible headache, woke up middle of the night before suffering and wasn't able to get back to sleep.

I then went back to sleep until I got a call from a stupid client at around 9am. He asked how I was, and I told him I was ill off sick, obviously hinting that what's so urgent that he had to call on my mobile? Why did he not call the office?? It turned out that he wanted to know the opponent's address because he wanted to send the guy some flowers. Why? Because his opponent claimed he went into hospital for flu which had developed into pneumonia, and that was the afternoon before the day the hearing and the day that he had to file some documents with the Court. That's incredible! Too much coincident. But what do you do when your stupid client wants to send flowers to that guy, and in any event, your client is about a week late in sending those flowers if there's any truth in his opponent's illness.

I asked a secretary to call and tell him the address. Then I went back to sleep until about 1:30pm when mum's maid arrived. I had the chain on the door and all of a sudden, I heard someone trying to come in but the chain was in the way.

Then I thought that's pretty late. Got up and started a new Korean drama. Did nothing much.

Slept quite early last night (11:30-ish?) I woke up middle of the night again and was really suffering. Didn't sleep again until quite early this morning. Got up late and came in late this morning. Not the first and won't be last :P Feeling better now, although still have sore throat, runny nose, and feel tired.

I think it's also deadline today, which explains the illness. It means it might happen at the beginning of our trip in December 2005 ...

Came across two articles today. They are interesting in different respect. The first I find inspiring and I've highlighted the passages I like best. The second gives you an insight as to how the parties in the same piece of litigation see the litigation itself, as claimed by their lawyers ...

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The Times November 15, 2005

Lawyer of the week: Nicholas Stadlen, QC

THE QC, of Fountain Court Chambers, acted for the Bank of England in the case brought by Deloitte, liquidator of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), claiming £1 billion. The liquidator withdrew its claim against the bank after a 12-year case; the most expensive in English legal history to date.

What was the most surprising aspect of the case? The fact that the action took 12 years. My own involvement started before that, on holiday in Wales on a Friday in August 1991 shortly after the collapse of BCCI, with a telephone request for some advice. Nothing very onerous. Should be done and dusted by Monday. I should have asked “Which Monday?”

What was your worst day as a lawyer? Failing abysmally as a pupil to get an order for costs on behalf of Dan Air, which had just been acquitted in a criminal trial at the Old Bailey. My misery was compounded on my return to chambers when I was castigated for walking down Fleet Street still wearing my court bands. A career as a dustman seemed quite appealing at that moment. The next day, my pupil master Denis Henry (as he then was) got the order reversed and told the judge to pick on someone his own size next time.

What was your most memorable experience as a lawyer? Being hugged by the Governor of the Bank of England in court after the liquidators threw in the towel. It is hard to exaggerate the ordeal which some of the impugned bank officials and their families have had to endure in silence for 12 years, with the cloud of serious allegations of dishonesty hanging over them. There is, of course, nothing to beat winning, unless it is winning in a cause in which you passionately believe. My speech was very much a team effort. Nobody could have wished for a higher-calibre, friendlier or more cohesive team: Mark Phillips, Bankim Thanki, Ben Valentin, Henry King, Tom Smith and a small army at Freshfields.

Who has been the most influential person in your life and why? Apart from my mother, who was a fearless champion of the underdog, and my father, who was a model of intellectual and personal honesty, the greatest influence on my life was my self-deprecating and much admired school Latin teacher, Dr Cruickshank. He practised and preached clarity of thought, precision of expression, love of language and, above all, simple humanity. On my first day in his class, he memorably concluded his preview of the next seven terms’ work with the warning: “Eh, you take Christmas Day off at your peril.”

Why did you become a lawyer? I care about justice.

What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law? (1) If you don’t seriously care about justice, do something else. (2) Don’t read law at university if you can afford not to.

Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? Not making submissions in the House of Lords in another BCCI appeal.

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The Times November 08, 2005

The rot set in as soon as the record speeches began
By Edward Fennell
The question being asked in the City is how did the BCCI case get as far as it did?

THERE was an uncanny symmetry between the two biggest political and legal stories last Wednesday. While David Blunkett was on the point of announcing his resignation by his non-appearance before a House of Commons select committee, so Gordon Pollock, QC, for the liquidators in the BCCI case, was throwing in the towel in the action against the Bank of England.
In both instances the timing of the announcements — virtually simultaneous by two big men with beards — came as a complete surprise. And yet there was also an underlying inevitability about them and had been for some time. So two questions arise. How could such bad judgments have been exercised by experienced people so as to create the mess in the first place? And, given that fact, why was the plug not pulled much sooner? Because in terms of BCCI, according to Nick Stadlen, QC, counsel for the Bank of England, the Deloittes case was a non-starter — “Hopelessly misconceived and doomed to failure”.

In the past week there has been much coverage of the details. But there remain also some more fundamental questions and issues for the future — especially given that this BCCI debacle comes so hot on the heels of Railtrack and Equitable, all quasi-class actions and each equally unsuccessful.

First, what kind of strategies lead to these cases being brought at all? After all, Lord Justice Tomlinson observed that “the very serious allegations of impropriety and dishonesty are wholly without foundation”. Hugh Evans, of DLA Piper, says that the case must not be viewed in isolation but within a much larger campaign. The aim adopted by the BCCI liquidators was to recover as much money as possible and, in justice, they had been unbelievably successful. Put bluntly, they were on a roll and their success could be interpreted as being based on seeking out the maximum number of targets. So long as they won more than they lost, they would come out on top. “They had gained a massive victory against the Bank of India and they could reasonably claim that while going up against the Bank of England was risky it was already balanced out by the Bank of India,” Evans says.

In other words, there was a momentum driving the case almost regardless of the details. It was a game of poker in which nerve, determination and depth of pockets counted for as much as the nature of the evidence. Indeed, Lovells almost hinted as much when it claimed that the outcome was influenced by the resources that the Bank was prepared to throw at it. The Bank of England’s position was that “normal commercial considerations do not apply and it would not negotiate”. It was almost as if this gave the Bank an unfair advantage. (Although, one lawyer pointed out, if this is the case you had better be absolutely sure that the documentary evidence gives you a winning hand. In Lovells’ case it did not.)

Secondly, why aren’t the Woolf reforms having more impact on these cases? As Val Davies, of Norton Rose, puts it, Equitable and BCCI together prompt concerns over “whether the aims of the Woolf reforms are being realised”. Certainly lawyers in the City last week were puzzled why Lord Justice Tomlinson did not intervene some time back, maybe in the summer, if (as seems likely) he had doubts about where the case was going. “I’d point my finger at the system, ” Nick Pearson, of Baker & McKenzie, says. “There is a need for more intervention, more costs enforcement and to take hold of cases more aggressively.”

So the effectiveness of the Woolf reforms must come under question after this case. “The rot set in as soon as Gordon Pollock started on his record speech,” Evans says.

Perhaps, then, a critical lesson for the future is the need for the courts to guard against larger-than-life personalities for whom opening a leading case is an aria rather than a distillation of the facts and arguments. “Perhaps in the spirit of Woolf, the judge should at least have restricted the length of the opening speeches,” Davies says.

Finally, there must be questions about who controls the liquidators and their lawyers. Technically, the liquidators do not have to follow creditors’ views, but perhaps they should be obliged to give them a little more attention. Bernard Clarke, who has acted for the English Liquidation Committee of BCCI SA since 1994, has made it clear that his clients wanted to throw their hand in some time ago. So if the liquidators push on regardless maybe they should share some of the costs. “The way that lawyers are paid whether they win or lose, at no risk to themselves, can contribute to these situations,” Clarke says. Perhaps they should put their money where their mouth is?

Finally, what about reputations? David Blunkett seems to have definitively left the big stage after last Wednesday. Whether another big man with a signature beard might opt to do the same was something that people were speculating on in the City last week.

I had a dream last night. Yes, it's nothing new. For some strange and odd reason, I dream alot, and bb doesn't. Is it me or bb who's strange and odd? It's your choice what you want to think :)

The emotion of the dream is calm. I dreamt that someone was speaking to me (can't remember who now). He/She spoke to me gently and wisely. He/She was explaining my weaknesses to me. In particular, why I have a problem with my boss. I don't remember the details. The gist is that I should be nicer to my boss - less critical and sharp. His judgment is weird and his ideas are soooo creative that no one in their right mind would do it! Yes, I admit - I don't have much respect for the guy and he's not intelligent. I am an Aries so I only respect those who are intelligent, even though I'm not. I know it's an excuse, but that's also me.

The dream tells me I need to change and respect those who are less intelligent and smart (so bold!!). And I am trying that. I like harmony not antagonism. I am fine so long the guy does not provoke me and I'll try not to be so easier provoked by the guy's idiocy and stupidity! :D

Only if he's 1% like bb or sf ... The other bosses here are mostly like him. Sadly.

Looks like bbmm will have a relaxing busy weekend. It works as follows:

Friday evening - no particular plan yet. Any suggestion is welcome.

Sat am - bb has a conference and mm needs to work.
pm - bb continues with her conference, whilst mm has a yoga class at 2pm. will finish around 4pm.

evening - meet up for high tea/early dinner. then Sound of Music at 8pm - yeah! bbmm wanted to go when they saw the poster some time ago, but didn't get round to getting tickets for it. mm's colleague sent an email yesterday to sell her tickets as she couldn't go anymore, and she was selling at less than half the price. mm got hold of bb and sent an email accepting the offer within one minute - and they got them! :D

In the meantime, bbmm thought about going to one of the 2 local pop stars' music concert. it'd be nice to go, but wouldn't feel that you have lost anything if you don't. So they didn't pursue it. And yesterday when they got the tickets for Sound of Music, they were congratulating on their inertia :)

Sunday - I need to be at church by 9am, and bb could sleep in?? nothing planned thereafter yet. May be stay at home? go cycling?? or foot massage???

Soooooo looking forward to it :)

Recently, I have been watching a lot of Korean drama and some movies. They are pretty addictive. They are generally really good, much better than the local ones. bb thinks, however, they are "emotionally manipulative." And yes, I cry over the really sad scenes.

So that started my interest in learning Korean. These days I have soooo many ideas in my head and therefore, soooo many things to fit into the diary! I've been looking for Korean classes but haven't found anything interesting. And I thought it'd be good to find a course that I can learn on the internet, so more flexible timing. I have since came across several websites that gives free Korean classes. Of course, they all are on very basic and preliminary stuff lah.

People always say that when you start to learn a language, you should learn the foul languages first. The idea (I guess) is that you should know when you cross someone! And I found this page that tells you exactly that in Korean :)

mm went to her first lesson since a few months ago. The venue is closeby to her office, so seems easier. So, from now on, mm will attend lesson every Monday during lunch. She is also invited to join the chapel choice and attend mass starting at 9am every Sunday! So, no more sleeping in for bbmm!

The father looks like an English. May be bb would join mm on to go to church on Sunday too? Then they can have breakfast, and continue with their other plans - or go home to keep the bed warm ...

It may also mean staying at bb's on Sat evenings would be easier, no? will see lah.

There's a memorial mass for my sis on Saturday at 7:15am. bb came over Friday evening but both of us over-slept! I went to bed early (around 11:30pm or 12am) and bb came in a bit later. I woke up to set the alarm when bb came in. I heard it going off on Saturday morning, but didn't press the "snooze" button. At about 8am, I woke up suddenly and the hands on the clock gave me a fright! Obviously, it's too late for the mass. Called parents to apologise. We then went to join them for breakfast before visiting sis. Hope she didn't mind :P

On both Friday and Saturday night, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. The unusual thing is that I got so irritated and annoyed, for what I didn't know! It's certainly nothing to do with bb. I think I acted like a spoiled kid. Sorry bb. She was good - comforting me and put on a humourous VCD. That helped. I think bb's gentleness throughout helped most !

Yesterday, we stayed home all day. I felt indifferent to other things; felt a bit life-less. But bb was there for me *again*! I still don't know what got to me. As I said to bb, I can't imagine what I'd be like when I have to go through menopause, if I'm already acting unreasonably and strangely !

I had a bad dream last night. I don't remember all details. I remember that my fingers on my left hand were cut off ! They weren't cut off completely but the first section of them. I showed them to my family including my younger brother, but they were indifferent. I didn't feel pain not physically, but I felt the pain inside for the loss.

I enjoy a good relationship with my family, so my younger brother's reaction in my dream is not reflective of our relationship. I think it's reflective of my current situation though - It's a pain to be here and only I feel the pain, although others are sympathetic.

Wish I can leave *soon.* I'll drag bb for a drink on the day I hand in my notice.

I've got a date tonight - and so does bb (wink!).

We'll be going to one of our favourite restaurants for steaks on sizzling plates. It's an ordinary restaurant but one that has been around for ages. A 3-course meal costs about GBP 10. You get soup of the day (either a red (Borsch (bb, is this right?)) or white (cream of mushroom/chicken)), a main course served on a hot plate with a choice of sauce, plus tea or coffee. They pour the sauce over the meat on the hot plate in front of you, so it smells gorgeous! And so do you !

We both like it there. We are meeting at 6:30pm and I've been closely monitoring the clock since an hour ago.

Yes, that may not sound special to you, but it's special to me :)

sf is away with his brother. His brother needs a check up and he always goes with him. I think his brother needs one twice a year, so it's nice of sf to attend with him lah.

Had a row with him yesterday. The background was this: I was a little down and desperate the day before and yesterday, so I asked him if I should put myself forward for 2 companies: B and R. Our conversation went like this:

Re B, he went: "When how and why did they come to the reckoning?" Then I told him that I was going mad as I couldn't even discuss my queries with my boss without him taking it personally and going ballistic. I then also asked him re R.

He replied, "Mc: why B all of a sudden? I told you not to offer any view. That guy has an inferiority complex. Just agree with whatever he says until you leave."

My reply, "You are right about him No, I didn't offer any view. I didn't agree but still did it. I was stuck on a point, raised it n asked for his help. That's all."

sf's comments sometimes lost me completely.

I have a hearing fixed for 3 minutes tomorrow. It's on the opponent's application for more time to prepare their evidence. It's pretty routine thing but the dispute between the parties is hot.

Today, I prepared a 4-page long skeleton argument together with a 1-page chronology of events. I sent it to the opponent and the court at around 4pm. At 5:46pm, we got a letter from our opponent, saying that their client has been hospitalised for pneumonia! How credible can that be??! I think they should have said that person is a new case of suspected bird flu and has therefore been segregated. That would have been more credible!

Frankly, they must be scraping the barrel. Test it this way: the case will continue even if that person drops dead tomorrow. The world will continue to rotate in the way it does now.

Anyway, I have made a point in my skeleton that that person is not the only person knows about the allegations of our case. You see, the defendants are members of a family. I said in my skeleton, in fact, that person's wife should also know about the matters in issue, being a Finance Director. And yes, all disputes relate to $$$.

I'm trying to hynotise (sp) myself that that person is truly ill as I need a straight face tomorrow! And you should have seen me when I got the letter. It's so funny! I told my friends in the office and no one believes the other side. Naturally.

I sms sf too, but haven't yet heard from him. He must be busy. Well, anyway, it's his holiday, although he's abroad attending a medical check up with his brother (who needs the check up).

Sorry, their story could be true and I might be mean, but I think the chances of that is pretty dim ...

I have received the chicken fan card - thanks to bb who dropped in the application for me in time. Being a member, I get:

For Eat-in: free soft drink (medium)/tea/freshly grinded coffee

For delivery: 10% off for any delivery purchase over US$15 or any purchase of a la carte items.

There are also offers to new members!

Of course, I'm counting on bb to share the privilege :)

Came across this today. English not as pretty as the other one, but this is entertaining !

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The Times November 08, 2005

As God is his counsel . . .
Case Notes by Gary Slapper

RECOURSE to law by disappointed people is extensive. A Brazilian woman is attempting litigation against her partner for failing to give her orgasms, and a Romanian prisoner is trying to sue God for allowing him to sin.
The 31-year-old woman, from Jundiai, asserts in her case that her 38-year-old partner routinely ended sexual intercourse after he reached an orgasm. The claim has been referred to a judge. As such a ruling requires careful deliberation, there must be hope in Brazil that the judge is not prone, in the phrase of Sir John Mortimer, QC, to premature adjudication. In English law there is no legal matrimonial obligation to provide the satisfaction being sought in Brazil. In the context of claims for marriage nullity, the courts have considered the orgasm but dismissed it as having no legal significance. In a 1952 judgment, elegantly garnished with Latin, the High Court held that the necessary and sufficient conditions of vera copula (true sexual union) were simply erectio and intromissio, which amount to nothing more than the act of intercourse.

Pavel M., the Romanian prisoner suing God, founds his claim in contract. He argues that his baptism was an agreement between him and God under which, in exchange for value such as prayer, God would keep him out of trouble. Lawyers for the prisoner, who is serving 20 years for murder, have reported that they would be unable to subpoena God to appear in the case. Divine appearances have arisen in other court roles. In Ottawa, Canada, a man frequently appearing as a defendant was asked by the judge: “Who is your counsel today. Mr Finnerty?” The reply was: “Your honour, God is me counsel!” Turning to the prosecutor, the judge said: “That is pretty tough competition. Would you like an adjournment so that you might consider retaining outside counsel?”

THE High Court recently ruled that in some circumstances, ignorance of the law can be a defence. Contrary to Section 263(1) of the Companies Act 1985, It’s a Wrap (UK) Ltd had paid a dividend despite having made losses. The court decided that there was no obligation for the recipients to repay the dividend if they had no knowledge, or reasonable grounds for believing, that the payment contravened the law. The old maxim “ignorance of the law is no defence” does, however, have some authority. In 1802, Lord Ellenborough, Chief Justice, said that without the principle, the excuse “would be urged in almost every case”. In 1825, however, Chief Justice Abbott assuaged much anxiety in the legal world by declaring: “God forbid that it should be imagined that an attorney, or a counsel, or even a judge is bound to know all the law.”

THE chief of the Metropolitan Police traffic division was recently reprimanded for permitting his police chauffeur to drive at 82mph in a 40mph zone. Chief Superintendent Les Owen was not travelling to an emergency. The first person in Britain to be fined for speeding was the pioneer of the petrol-engine car, Walter Arnold. On January 27, 1896, when there were 20 cars in Britain, Arnold was driving through Paddock Wood in Kent at 8mph — four times over the 2mph limit imposed by the Locomotive Act 1865 for built-up areas. A police officer having his lunch in a nearby cottage abandoned his meal, donned his helmet and chased the car for several miles on a bicycle. On this occasion the long arm of the law was supplemented by powerful legs. The officer eventually apprehended Arnold, who was later fined one shilling (5p).

The author is Professor of Law, Director of the Centre for Law, The Open University, gary.slapper@thetimes.co.uk

We had a wonderful weekend! well, I did, anyway. We spent a lot of time together especially yesterday! bb was sooooooo good. she sacrified her writing task for me, and whilst I feel a little guilty, I'm touched and soooooo happy!!! :D

I couldn't sleep last night and when I eventually did, it must had been past 2 am. This morning, I still have the headache I had since last week. I suspect I'm developing flu or cold. I took two pain killers yesterday but it's still around. May be I need to take them more regularly.

sf has come up with the following great lines lately:

1. In the land of the blind, a one-eyed man is king.

(I have however been told that it's a proverb; my ignorance!)

2. Even a broken clock tells time correctly twice a day.

I like them, although I think the first one is more apt :)

This was posted on our intranet today. Sounds so unreal, and only if they have read the recent article that a solicitor working "part-time" these days means working from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday! And even that may be assuming that your boss acts reasonably and is sensible ...

************************************************

Be Healthy

A healthy lifestyle can help you perform and enjoy your everyday activities, including the time spent at your computer. Also, learning more about your health is an important step in staying comfortable and productive while using your computer.

To help maintain good health, try the following:

Eat a balanced diet and get adequate rest.
Exercise for overall fitness and to improve the strength and flexibility of your body. Consult a qualified health professional to help you choose the stretches and exercises that are right for you.
Learn to manage stress. One way to reduce stress at work is to plan your work area and schedule so that noise and distractions are kept to a minimum.
See a qualified health professional if you have questions about how your medical and physical conditions may be related to MSDs. While researchers are not yet able to answer many questions about MSDs, there is general agreement that many factors may be linked to their occurrence, including previous injuries, diabetes, hormonal changes (such as pregnancy), and rheumatoid arthritis.

Couldn't sleep the night before, may be because I slept too much during the long weekend! Last night was late, around 1:30am (?) - had to revise and update my CV and of course, a little bit of tv before bed :P

did a few things this morning, then went surfing on the net. came across a new astrology website that gives you your full birth chart i.e. the star on your Sun, Moon, Ascending, and so on. My "Sun" is in Aries and it says I have "a strong personality and an entrepreneurial spirit. I am ambitious and self-willed, stubborn, obstinate and tenacious. My weaknesses are nervousness, impulsiveness, wastefulness, provoking nature, restlessness and changeability." It sounds so negative! I thought these things are habitually positive. Poor bb!

The report is too long, sometimes contradictory and repetitive. For bb's purpose, positive things were said too! hee hee.

Found it! Or rather, them! Yes, I found two:

1. Maporama
This one is useful for going from one two to the other e.g. from Dunedin to Queenstown. It gives you the fastest time (assuming an average speed at 61km/hour) together with the suggested route with breakdown of details. Very handy.

2. Wises map

This one seems to give you the routes within a city or a town, although I'm yet to surf more on it.

We've been looking for something equivalent to Mapquest. How wonderful, now we've found it!