Jul 21 2011

Rivere Restaurant

Category: Eating Out,Friends,Personal,Pictures,Videos — ChrisM @ 3:38 pm

This post will have both pictures and videos in it, unlike Anna-based posts, as it won’t be imported to her own blog automatically, and so categories won’t cause duplication. Back in early July last year, Ira and I met up with Walton and Assel at the summer cafe section of the Rivere restaurant, within Astana park. We had a great evening, with good food, tasty baccy in the hubbly-bubbly and entertainment from a couple of singers.
I had already been there for a couple of World Cup (football/soccer) matches with some good friends, so knew the service was good. The prices are a little high, and I’d not want to be there during a heavy rainstorm, but if you have run out of places to try in Astana, it is worth a visit.



As far as I can remember, I only posted some pictures and videos taken on my phone last year, not from a proper camera. Anyway, here are some clips…








Jul 21 2011

Playing On Our Bed

Category: Anna's Videos — ChrisM @ 1:45 pm

OK, I’m going to try and finally catch up with Anna’s photos and videos in the next few weeks before we visit Britain. These clips are of Anna playing on our bed last year, (3rd of July 2010) when she discovered she could just about climb up on her own, and that it was like a big trampoline! (Back then she was still sleeping in a crib, so bouncy mattresses were a novel experience.) The internet radio holds her attention for a while, but pretty soon a book needs to be Anna-fied. She now has her own proper bed to sleep on, but luckily she hasn’t tried bouncing up and down on it too much.







Jul 19 2011

Anna & Alan enjoyed a bouncy c…

Category: Anna's Photos,Anna's Videos,Friends,Tweets — ChrisM @ 8:23 pm

Anna & Alan enjoyed a bouncy castle, pony-ride (Anna’s 1st!) & hand-in-hand walk through Mega http://post.ly/2XwIc http://post.ly/2XwMJ

Anna, Alan, Dana & Ira At Mega, Astana

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Jul 18 2011

Irina has completed her last d…

Category: Anna's Videos,Eating Out,Tweets — ChrisM @ 8:37 pm

Irina has completed her last day of work 4 a while, neither of us felt like cooking so off to Ali BaBa we went. Anna – http://post.ly/2WzwQ

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Jun 14 2011

Anna liked Dub FX as well. Hop…

Category: Anna's Videos,Tweets — ChrisM @ 5:46 pm

Anna liked Dub FX as well. Hopefully PockeTwit will one day fix the only low res video bug. Let the dancing begin… http://post.ly/2D4cc

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May 29 2011

And Yet Humanity Remains An Ideal We Aim For

Category: In The Media,Personal,Videos — ChrisM @ 4:28 pm

This post’s title is taken from the following video. Reminds me of a (I’m sure slightly mis-quoted here) Gandhi snippet… “What do you think of Western Civilization” … “I think it would be a great idea!”
This clip is a few months old already, and was recorded around the time of the Wisconsin protests and sit-ins against the erosion of union rights and powers.
Here ends today’s posts with a mildly political flavour, I can think of two occasional readers specifically who’ll be relived to learn that ;-P

May 29 2011

Spot On Again, IMO At Least

Category: In The Media,Personal,Videos — ChrisM @ 3:38 pm

OK, again I’m late on picking it up, but referring back to Cablegate, here is Juice Media’s take on it.

“This should ring alarm bells for all who know their history, from this evidence are we neglecting our memory, and repeating the trajectory of the 20th century?
And if so, upon seeing the facts, but ceasing to act, don’t we deserve the leaders we have?
What needs to befall before we open the door and yell “I’m mad as hell, I’m not going to take it anymore
or do we sit waiting for messiahs, aliens or a superhero, if they’re not all one and the same”…

May 29 2011

You Didn’t Bother Last Time?

Category: In The Media,Personal,Videos — ChrisM @ 3:22 pm

In case you never got around to watching this video from 1/2 a year ago on my blog, wanted to share it again. Whilst Julian’s own aspirations for how government secrecy will play out in the coming years, and the required downhill phases he deems necessary to result in an open world, I still see wikileaks as a hugely useful tool.

A few quotes to further entice you to spare a few minutes and click the play button below…

“To seize this moment, we have to use technology to open up our democracy”
“Why see shades of grey? Why be a loner? Try another soma. Soma! Life’s good, shut up!”
“There’s a thousand other sites that will creep up behind you!”
“Let us salute those who disclose the necessary facts.”

Hoping The Juice News may produce something on the current situation in Iran re. Khamenei’s apparent willingness to weaken Ahmadinejad’s position recently.

Anyway, I’m off to check their YT page to check for new episodes I’ve missed.

May 27 2011

Cruising The Park

Category: Anna's Videos — ChrisM @ 1:36 am

The day after having a lovely meal at Melnitza, we took Anna into the park across the road from us (Astana Park is name I think). Although obviously she had been walking for quite a while already, we tended to take the pushchair with us back then for long distances, as if she got too tired, she was already a little heavy to carry around constantly.
Within Astana park, in the Summer months, there are normally at least a couple of different places that you can rent remote controlled cars. However, these aren’t 1:32 scale models that you race around, these are mini electric cars that you can put your son or daughter in, and then safely control whilst walking behind them. There are also traditional pedal powered go karts, but until Anna understands the concept of holding on, leaning into corners, and NOT trying to jump off of moving objects, the remote control ones are fine with me 🙂

May 27 2011

More Melnitza

Category: Anna's Videos — ChrisM @ 12:53 am

Couple of quick videos from the same day (23rd June 2010) as the pictures were taken. Anna seems to decide that one of the flowers in the waitress’ traditional Ukrainian costume would suit her better. Then she sits at the table like a big girl on a normal chair, and helps Babushka with her camera. I’m pretty sure I’ve gone into detail about Melnitza‘s food and service before, and not much had changed (which is a good thing) when we visited, so check out the Eating Out In Kazakhstan category for more information.

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