Listening to the Voices in My Head

Loki was up on the new pergola, examining the addition to his domain. I am of the opinion if he got up there, he can get back down.

Unfortunately, Wing has yet to learn this. Does he leave Loki to his own devices on coming down the same way he got up there? No, Wing digs out a ladder, and manhandles Loki down. Then he is surprised he got clawed.

One more time: If kitty finds his way up the tree onto the pergola, he can back track down same tree to come inside. No need for Bactine(c) and Bandaids for Wing .

As I had blogged about before, Aikidomayland took a one day intense class with a 'photography teacher' that was an unmitigated disaster.

I bullied him (yes, bullied) into not giving up and signing up with the photo instructor I had earlier this year. He did, and was wary about going to the point he wasn't really sleeping well.

After he came back from the class with Greg, he was like a happy wriggly puppy. Not only is he re-enthused, he is putting into practice lesson #1.

You see, it wasn't so much he is touchy because of criticism of photography ability levels, but because the MISTAKE was rude, snotty, played favorites, and hadn't a clue as to how to run a class.

But I am just grateful that Aikidomayland is well and truly enthused by something new. First new thing he has had any really get up and go interest in since Pop died.

Wing called the business partner, P, of the MISTAKE to cancel our booking of the hands on Photoshop course, and told P exactly why he was canceling. That "After the way I was treated on Saturday, I don't feel comfortable dealing with your company." and then went into detail as to the whats and whys.

P was aghast at what happened, and refunded our Photoshop course fees immediately, and then asked Wing to hold off calling the consumer protection, or whatever it's called in Australia, and I presume he spoke at some length with the MISTAKE.

P then called Wing back apologised profusely, and said they were refunding the Photo course fees in full. Then the MISTAKE got on the phone, and apologised up down and sideways to Wing. He said he was very sorry for his actions. That Wing's phone call to their business , withdrawal from the Photoshop course and the reasons behind it were a wake up call to the MISTAKE. He then asked Wing if he could ever find it in his heart to forgive him for how he had treated him, and Wing said "Maybe someday, but not now, I'm too angry with you." Wing was then offered the full Photography course free of charge. "Maybe some day, but not now" Mostly because he never wants to deal with the MISTAKE again.

I have an odd feeling they have had complaints lodged against them before, hence the almost begging not to call consumer protection. Doesn't really matter, but what matters is they fully admitted the MISTAKE was in the wrong, and needs a serious attitude adjustment. Maybe 20 mins or less on the tatami and Wing hefting a shinai would indelibly imprint that lesson on the MISTAKE. (weg)

A certain photography 'instructor' was only there to show off teacher's pet and to earn a quick 3k on the day.

Aikidomayland called, emailed and discussed much with the Instructor aka from now on the MISTAKE, the kind of camera he had, the level of novice he was the whole shebang. Mistake told him that would be just fine.

When Aikidomayland arrived, the MISTAKE looked at the Lumix, declared he didn't like it, and maybe if Aikidomayland didn't spend money on tattoos he could have gotten a 'proper' camera, and then the Mistake pretty much ignored him for the rest of the shoot, with the exceptions of a few snide comments aimed at those who he deemed unworthy by virtue of not having a Canon 5D or a high end Nikon. The only thing the Mistake said to Aikidomayland is that his photos looked too yellow in the preview screen. If the Mistake had taken just 30 seconds to look at the camera menu, he would have noticed that:

A: The color was set to VIVID
B: The Noise Reduction was set to HIGH

All this also would have been easily remedied if the MISTAKE had actually taken the SD card and looked at the RAW photos on a big screen. But, remember, the MISTAKE stated he didn't like the camera, and therefore deemed it not worth any of his time. And he pretty much treated Aikidomayland in that manner too.

I really wish I had been there. The nano his bull about cameras other than his precious worthies were useless, I would have said "Dude, your ass is sucking swamp water." If he had said to me that "Program mode is exactly like full Auto mode", I would have asked him if his head was up his ass.

Aikidomayland will be calling the consumer protection, as this course was advertised for BEGINNERS, and it was clearly for intermediate - advanced. It didn't say that three of the attendees would be the target of the MISTAKE's derision and ridicule, and then totally ignored. Example: his commenting about Aikidomayland not spending money on tattoo so he could 'afford' a better camera, berating another person for having a mint condition Canon Digital Rebel300 XT that was old and she should get rid of it, and picking on one woman because she was late in arrival because she wasn't from around there and she got lost.

Aikidomayland will also be calling to ask for a refund, even though the site says NO REFUNDS, he didn't get what he paid for, it wasn't as described, and the service was at the very least faulty. As many have pointed out, just because someone states NO REFUNDS doesn't mean he can get away with shoddy service and not expect his ripped off clients to not want or get their money back.


I wouldn't recommend this MISTAKE to anyone, whether for photo shoot, or for instructing, for in my own personal opinion (and a few others too) he is an asshat.

I just came back from shaking Aikidomayland's foot and telling him "Dear, you're snoring" and jokingly telling him he was disturbing Loki.

Of course, he said "I don't snore, I sleep loudly."

Then me "Ohhh I understand.. you're just trying to purr."