30 DAYS

It is now 30 days until my experiment of being an Englishman in England ends. I am on strike from work tomorrow-something that would never happen in Asia! Mayday bank holiday next week I have my leaving 'do' on the 18th, my last week that I'll work a full 5 days, the next week is the late May Day holiday. I feel that a weight has lifted from my shoulders, the uncertainty of Hong Kong doesn't even register-yet. I know that I will thoroughly enjoy Barcelona-a month of sun,sea,and study in one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities is there to be enjoyed. I have never been unable to find work in Hong Kong. It's school for the kids that occupies my thoughts.I have applied for Lantau International School already for Joseph, I just have to transfer the money-tomorrow.That, of course is a commitment to Lantau. I haven't lived there for 6 years.It is a big step, to go back to the Island.ShamShuiPo will never do for 2 hyper little boys.
Here WE go, Isn't life great?

satellite

Afternoon by the canal-video

The King and us.

This is the calendar of the the Thai king that Teosdee put up in the kitchen!

40 days

Just 40 days until Barcelona.
The Spring has been quite mild here so far, the sky was still bright at 9pm last night, bright for 9pm that is.I think sunset is about 8.20pm. If only Hong Kong had long days, but you can't have everything.
Saturday morning and the kids jumped all over me at 7.30am until I got up! Don't you love kids!

Lost generation

Have we really forgotten the reason why World War 2 was fought?Have we forgotten the lessons learnt by our grandparents?

Schools 'avoid Holocaust lessons'

The Holocaust will be protected in the new curriculum

Some schools avoid teaching the Holocaust and other controversial history subjects as they do not want to cause offence, research has claimed.

Teachers fear meeting anti-Semitic sentiment, particularly from Muslim pupils, the government-funded study by the Historical Association said.

It also said the way the slave trade was taught could leave both white and black children feeling alienated........article continues below.

BBC NEWS | Education | Schools 'avoid Holocaust lessons'

Modernity

Two years here, I feel that conclusions must be made.
15 years ago when I was at college, we talked about how political correctness had gone mad.The bad news is that it continued, and is now the norm.The good news is that most people disagree with it,the bad news is that the few who don't- control the local councils and unions and NGO's, keeping it firmly in place.From banning fireworks shows, to banning kids playing tag, to 'carbon footprinting' they are here to stay.
When I was growing up, the towns had already begun to resemble each other, that is an absolute now. 3 supermarkets, 3 coffee shops, 3 fast food outlets, 3 banks, 3 phone companies, 3 clothes chains, 3 bookshops, 3 pub chains.You get the idea, possibly a little exaggerated-but only a little. Birkenhead, and every other Northern town are prime examples-they have no soul, no variety.The town has nothing to redeem it. Public transport is almost non existent, relative to London,Manchester or international cities. To be a non driver here, is to be a prisoner.People's only leisure options involve travelling to distant places.
The strangest thing of all, is that it is damned hard to be a car driver as well. Every single space where a car could stop for even 10 minutes without putting money in a parking meter ceased to exist a few weeks ago! My office doesn't have enough parking spaces for it's workers, but yet most have no alternative transport. Travelling by bus can be a lengthy dangerous proposition, if there is a bus. It is a ridiculous catch 22 situation, which I can only see getting worse.The local authorities make millions from parking and fines, the government openly state that they don't want people driving cars.Yet no one EVER talks about improving public transport!!
Where does this leave the youth of these towns? Nowhere. Young people have no interest in the dead,bland, expensive shopping areas.They have no leisure options.
What results are kids hanging out on estates, taking drugs and shooting each other, and creating a nation in fear in the process. The towns are virtual no go zones on weekend nights, violent and full of puke.When people have no other outlet to let down their hair, what else can be expected?This binge drinking culture is extended to the beach resorts of Europe.
What does the future hold for this country without a soul? I travelled through France 18 months ago, and was flabbergasted that all garages and hotels were automated, and that without a credit card , you couldn't get any petrol, or gain entry into the hotels.France has had rioting since then, and I believe it faces the same problems as here. As the core of communities is taken away, what is left?
I can see the same happening to a much lesser degree in Hong Kong, thankfully Chinese people will always sell things on streets,and entrepreneurs will always open new business's . The leaders of Asian cities, should come and visit towns like Birkenhead-to see how things can go wrong. The New Towns in Hong Kong have had problems with crime and young people-it's not a coincidence that their centres are on the bland side. If the UK had the weather Hong Kong has, then it wouldn't be so bad.Winter lasts for 6 months here, the park and beach may be free, but they are shit in the rain and cold!

brothers

Afternoon by the canal3

Afternoon by the canal2

Afternoon by the canal

Official Liverpool Supporters' Club Hong Kong

I must join when i get back, so that I am not the only one singing You'll never... in the OCH.


Official Liverpool Supporters' Club Hong Kong

Spring arrives in Liverpool

Life as a civil servant in Birkenhead 2007

Iran 'enters new nuclear phase'

Does nobody else see a problem with this?



BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran 'enters new nuclear phase'

If this is peacetime, what's it like during wartime?!

Four British soldiers were killed in Iraq yesterday, and at least 2 more during the week. Tony Blair had this to say:

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday that four soldiers had been killed in a roadside bomb blast and a fifth was seriously injured. A Kuwaiti interpreter was also killed.

Mr Blair said it was "far too early" to point to any Iranian involvement in that particular attack.

But he added: "The general picture, as I have said before, is there are elements at least of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming terrorism in Iraq."

After the exploits of the Iranian government this week, plus the continued refusal to cooperate with the United Nations nuclear inspectors, does the government plan to let this continue? How many times do we have to be pushed before we push back?

Humane treatment? Or an act of war?

The captured military personnel have spoken for the first time today. As expected they confirmed that they were in Iraqi waters. I had a gps enabled phone in Hong Kong which could locate where I was within 10m, and that was 3 years ago. I could press a button and it would bring up a map-I could also locate where Teosdee was, as her phone was the same, and by inputting her number gave me her location. I digress, the idea that navy vessels don't have the same equipment is laughable, and the released servicemen have said that they had hand-held gps devises. They were taken illegally, and by heavily armed forces. They were kept in solitary confinement and subjected to immense psychological pressure.This from a country that we have not taken a single shot at.
Were they well treated? You decide.

We thought we were going to the British embassy but we got taken to a detention centre, all 15 of us.

We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote, 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'.

After that comment, someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut.

From there we were rushed to a room, quick photo and then stuffed into a cell and didn't see or speak to anyone for six days.
Royal Marine Joe Tindell

Iran:Britons to be freed as 'gift' to people of Britain!

Is this a new way to give presents? Instead of buying your boss a dvd this year, kidnap his kids and give them back on his birthday-watch his face shine!

Spring is a bit slow in the East?

Same in HK today as here!
(click on pic for close-up)

PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool

Watched the match on normal TV on Tuesday with Teosdee-what a result!

A place to lay my hat-any leads?

I have been checking out places to stay when I arrive on the 7th of July in Hong Kong. I have some promising leads with monthly lets with Cozy apartments, Sun Kong Apartments,W Studios and Rent-a-Room(in Jordan).
I am looking for a half decent place for a month whilst I find a place in Lantau(before the family arrive on August 16th). Anything up to $6000 considered.Silvermine Bay Hotel is $7800!!
I can't face Mirador, never mind Chung King!
Clean, safe, and no prostitutes is my only prerequisite.If anyone knows anywhere in the city that lets short-term, or a hotel/guest house which lets long-term, let me know the website or contact details.

Resignation

I handed in my notice at work yesterday, 2 months notice mind you. I have been itching to hand it in for weeks now. It's time to start thinking about getting some stuff back to Hong Kong, books, some toys,photos etc. We will send a box to the Philippines as well, you can get those big boxes here as well.
Spring is slowly arriving here, which makes it a little more bearable.