October 2015 - Expat In Bacolod

Love Sports?

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 31, 2015

If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron. Lee Trevino The quote above encapsulates the degree of difficulty involved involved in hitting a golf ball with a 1-iron or for that matter a 2 or 3-iron. I love sport. Love watching it but above all loved playing various sports from being a kid right through to my early sixties. However, the only sport I found I could still play in my late fifties and early sixties was golf. I first played golf as a teenager then didn’t hold a club again until I was about forty. At that time I was visiting my brother in Canada…

Cool Breezes

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 28, 2015

Some days I am really ready for a change of scenery. The last few days, nay weeks, have been long days writing. Writing my paid assignments, writing for my blog here (unfortunately I don’t pay myself) and writing and planning two books that are at various stages of development. Fortunately I don’t seem to suffer from writers’ block! That’s probably because I spend more time thinking and listening than talking so my real ‘talking’ is through the written word. Zabrina recognized I was tired after a few weeks non-stop at the keyboard. She was right – I did need a break but I didn’t want to venture too far. My favorite beach in Negros Island is Sugar Beach, Sipalay but that was a good 3 –…

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Life After Death

Life After Death

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 24, 2015

The small frail old lady was sat in her usual comfortable pea green patterned armchair opposite the large picture window overlooking her pride and joy – her garden. She was wearing that same familiar friendly smile. I could tell she was pleased to see me and my sister. Then her smile froze. She simply said, “What’s wrong?” “Peter” was my reply. Have you ever heard a wounded animal cry out loud? No it was more than a cry. It was a noise I had never heard before and have no desire to hear again. It seemed alien. It was surreal. The noise started low and deep in the very innermost of her being. It gathered force rushing to escape through vocal chords then open lips.…

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Hey Carol – Forgot the Sunday Roast?

Hey Carol – Forgot the Sunday Roast?

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 21, 2015

My blogging buddy Carol of Writeful Mind very recently wrote about the things she most missed about the UK. She is a prolific writer, a Mom to two kids and a life coach to boot! Although a native of Nawlins (New Orleans) she lived for some years in the UK. After she had posted her list of things she missed most about the UK she kindly invited me to chuck in my two bob’s worth. You can read her full list by following the link above. I agree with every single one of them. When I added my initial comment on Carol’s blog I suddenly realized I had forgotten one important thing. I hastened back and added a postscript to the effect that I missed the NHS.…

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Typhoon

Typhoon

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 19, 2015

As Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) now moves slowly away from the Philippines it would be remiss of me not to thank all my family and friends who sent me messages yesterday expressing concern for me and my family here in the Philippines. It was greatly appreciated and touching. I messaged them back to tell them we were fine. I added that in Bacolod we were experiencing the outer rain bands of the cyclonic system with its strong squalls and sudden heavy downpours of rain which can last from anything from 2 – 3 minutes to 30 minutes or so. This is repeated throughout the day and night. However that is nothing compared to its effects in northern Luzon province. One factor in inquiring after our…

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Masskara in Booming Bacolod

Masskara in Booming Bacolod

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 17, 2015

If you can’t make it this year why not visit Masskara in Booming Bacolod in 2016 for sheer fun and enjoyment? It’s not just dance and music it’s a whole week of events in different venues throughout the city including pageants, parades, street dance competitions, fireworks and a whole ton of good vibes surrounded by what are possibly the smiliest and friendliest people in the whole of the Philippines! Bacolod – the City of Smiles 🙂 Stay a week or more and take in the other visitor attractions and beaches of Negros Island. https://vimeo.com/139666596 https://vimeo.com/142582126 https://vimeo.com/user8742477/masskaralovedancetrailer About Masskara Festival in Booming Bacolod Masskara is a word coined by the late artist Ely Santiago and it combines the word ‘mass’ and the Spanish word…

Alex Clare: Too Close

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 17, 2015

I was sat in front of my laptop last night finishing off In My Life I Loved You More. when I decided to listen to some music and one of the first tracks up on my iTunes library was this track by Alex Clare. Clearly I like it otherwise it wouldn’t be in my music library. It got me to thinking about movie soundtracks. I know many times in a movie theater my thoughts have turned away momentarily from the screen and my attention is focused on the music. I wonder how many of you think the same as me in that situation. I have often thought “I must buy that music.” Movies are all about setting moods. Indeed good writers copy this by setting a mood…

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In My Life I Loved You More

In My Life I Loved You More

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 16, 2015

I was going to write that Sean Connery’s spoken version of this beautiful and poignant song was in my humble opinion a better rendition than the Beatles (sacrilege!). Then I found this on You Tube but promise me you will watch and listen before you read the lyrics of this Beatles song. The clip cleverly uses a juxtaposition of Sean Connery’s perfect narration with the Beatles original release of the track. It was used as the final closing moments to Sky Sports coverage of one of the most memorable football matches that has ever taken place. It was an emotional roller coaster of an evening that 2005 night in Istanbul when Liverpool won the European Cup for the fifth time setting a British record and one that…

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Klopp Wunderbar Factor

Klopp Wunderbar Factor

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 13, 2015

Following Liverpool Football Club has been an important part of my life since I was a kid. Even before I set foot in the old Boys Pen at the Kop end I was mad about the Reds. I don’t know why, as we were so frustrating in the old pre-Shankly Division 2 days. Note to younger LFC fans – there was no Premier League then just Divisions 1 and 2 plus Division 3 North and South. The ‘Pool were frustrating because we always seemed to fade away at the end of a season when earlier in the season we were so well placed to gain promotion to Division 1. We had Billy Liddell a Liverpool legend and he deserved to play with the best for LFC in…

Writing Advice

Published by Stephen Bentley on October 11, 2015

As you may be aware I recently published a first attempt at writing by a young man called NicNac. He contacted me again over this weekend and asked me for some advice about writing. He explained that his problem was that he had a collection of jumbled thoughts and had difficulty in organizing those thoughts on paper. Now at first I didn’t think too deeply about this request but as the day wore on I thought I really need to help him out. It’s flattering to think that he turned to me when there are so many resources out there on the web. That also got me to thinking about the plethora of writing resources. The truth is that most web sites offering help to wannabe…

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Month: October 2015