Posted by: Kirsty at March 11, 2007 12:43 PM

@##$%%$$#!! landlords. They know there's a drought, right? How do they get not to care about their responsibility to ensure their properties don't waste water. Now, there's a group of people who need more than their knuckles rapped by governments amidst this water crisis.

Hope your weekend improves.

Posted by: jac at March 11, 2007 3:38 PM

That sucks. Really. My old landlord was like this as well -- we'd point out the ceiling in the hall was sagging and great chunks were falling down every time it rained. He got his brother over to 'look at it'. Very effective.

Posted by: dogpossum at March 11, 2007 5:06 PM

And the real estate agent finally calls me back, four hours after I call the emergency number. He wouldn't give me his full name and direct number so I could keep a proper record (we have ongoing troubles with the real estate agent as well).

I am really, really angry with these arseholes.

But hopefully they'll get a real plumber out to look at this. It's already cost us a lot in hot water and gas bills, this day of wasted workshops, not to mention time. Fuckers.

Posted by: Spud at March 12, 2007 8:47 PM

So [names deleted to save dogpossum's arse] sucked as workshop teachers?

Tell me about it go on.

You could use some other teacher's as comparison. eg Bill Borgeta, Peter Strom, Elliott & Catrine, Silvia Sykes? Yikes don't know how to spell that.

I had them in Tokyo, more style than substance.

If your looking for a good lindy swing out lesson, get a private with Deb & Glenn when your here(they have their own floor in a shed in their backyard). My Private's with them have been fantastic and different but comparable to Mattias and Dax Hock.

Posted by: dogpossum at March 13, 2007 2:07 AM

I think I might have been a bit harsh on the American teachers in this post - please remember I was very tired and cranky and upset.

But I was disappointed by the teaching. Though it's difficult to beat a Swede (and a Hot Shot Swede) for teaching skills - they simply have so much experience, and are so thoroughly trained they run fabulous classes.
I think it's more that the Americans just weren't as experienced, and don't have the _life_ experience to work a room comfortably and capably....

I guess that's the trade off. You hire young gun teachers who have lots of fire and enthusiasm, but then you don't get the experience and ability of teachers who've been around for a while.
They did try to do a bit of technical stuff, but it wasn't clear and easy to understand (as Bill's hardcore technique is - which is ironic as they're ex Bill students). Nor did they smoothly integrate technique into fun classes the way teachers like Rob and Diane and the Swedes do.

They are impressive dancers, though.