I’ve mentioned before my nostalgia for the rain-soaked streets of London, riding madly and ignoring all traffic rules in order to deliver artwork, contracts, and yes, blood to where they were required, and at a time when it was a lucrative if insanely dangerous job. No one could call it a career, when the average life expectancy of a an unwary, untrained youth joining the business was established at about 8 years, unless they were smart enough to find a “proper job” before they killed themselves.

The fun factors were depicted, with some accuracy and a lot of blatant excess, by the Bloodrunners comic strips that appeared monthly in “Bike”magazine. They showed the glamour, and the no holds barred lifestyle of the futuristic version of the lifestyle we were enjoying at the time.

Of course, it was usually never quite like that, mostly it was just a hard grinding and dangerous way of earning a living, but just occasionally it was, and then it was actually like living in the film “Blade Runner” and with total disregard for authority or a sensible lifestyle.

I am shocked to realise that it was 25 years ago - in my case I started reading the strip, and doing the job, in 1984 - and back then we thought we were immortal, rebellious, and living an extreme alternative lifestyle, which in some ways we were.

There is a lot of stuff on Andy’s page, new stories, as well as archived copies of the original strips and a few interesting articles about his personal life, his drug problems and how he resolved them, and his take on “Art Is Free” - I hope some of you take the time to have a look. So, a tip of the hat, and a puff on a rollie for Andy, 25 years on. Thanks for the good times.

And in honour of everyone’s favourite extremely hot biker girl, Suzi, it will come as no surpise to know what The Flying Banana is also known affectionately as!

Another product found on my recent trip to Indonesia was this interesting looking coffee.

Now, as a producer and exporter of coffee, Indonesians are no strangers to good, strong coffee - the way that I like it! - and none of this wimpy Starbuck’s/Coffee Bean/(insert chain name here) that is a bastard son of Americanization and global marketing. Hmmph.

Ginger (Jahe) is also very popular, and I have quite developed a taste for ginger coffee as a real eye-opener first thing in the morning. The warming effects of the ginger are quite pronounced, and give a pleasant additional glow to the caffeine flowing through the system.

There are other, more ambitious, products as well such as:

A potent mixture of Indonesian coffee, ginger, eurycoma and sundry other spices. It tastes really good, if you like ginger (and can handle the slightly mud-like consistency!), and has the immediate effect of warming you from the palate to the stomach. Good to wake up with.

As for the advertising copy - well, obviously anything containing caffeine will increase energy (OK, not energy per se, but alertness) and will chase sleep away quite effectively.

I refuse to comment on the “increased husband-wife passion” claim. Except to say that coffee breath is never a turn-on, and I can think of better things to imbibe to create the same effect

When in Indonesia recently, I spotted this interesting looking chewing gum (Singapore viewers may avert their gaze at this point, you are not allowed!).

It may be that it is available in Malaysia, but I have certainly never seen it anywhere on sale.

Hmm, Wake-up gum. Could probably use something like that between cups of coffee

Certainly makes a strong case for it’s efficacy:

Triple action, huh? I never knew that the “chewing action” kept one awake - I frequently chew in my sleep, known as bruxism or possibly hunger pangs ;), much to my dentist’s horror - but, agreed, strong mint can stimulate the mind and provide at least a perception of added alertness.

As for the caffeine? Well, since no quantities are mentioned, considerable testing was required, and I can safely say that (Insert shameless plug) cafes such as the wonderful Cafe Libre, and it’s awesomely strong espresso are in no danger from this as an alternative. But the mint taste effectively kills any coffee tastes - so no coffee breath - and, yes, it does have a mild stimulating effect. Enough to make me want to go and buy some more, as I preferred it to regular gum products.

Plenty of pictures to show of this awe-inspiring temple structure, as and when I process them all (I went a bit camera crazy and have hundreds to sort and PP). So, until then, this gives you a feel of the 6:00am sunrise, the shots of the golden stonework will be up later.

As part of Y’s slightly belated birthday gift we are off to Yogyakarta for a week, and specifically to visit Borobudur, with a little bit of relaxing and pampering thrown in, which Y thoroughly deserves.

Hope to return with some good photos - back in a week!

Just some timely appropriate lyrics: Welcome home!

Husker Du - Do you remember?

We do it all for fun you know
Get loaded after the show, it’s all part of the scene
Don’t hate us, we’re just kids
People say we’re behind the times,
go ahead and see if I care
Do you remember?
When you were our age
Do you remember?