Who cares?

Friday's papers-Who cares?



And who doesn't?

3 views

The Guardian leads with the terrible events in Haiti.
The Sun leads with holidays, a pregnant pop star, and 10 dead Brits!!!!
The Star calmly states that 500,000 are killed, in a small corner of the front page.Mustn't be any 'Brits' then!

God's Wrath!!

Is freedom of speech really such a good idea?

The US televangelist, Pat Robertson, claims the reason for Haiti's misfortunes is that the nation "swore a pact to the devil" two centuries ago. "They were under the heal of the French... And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French... And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other," he tells the Christian Broadcast Network.

Keeping warm beats the chill

Satellite pic of the UK-January 6th 2010
10.30pm-Just returned from the beach. Wanting to test out my new walking (non slipping) shoes in the snow and having never visited a snowy sub-zero beach I set out for a bracing walk tonight after the kids went to bed. A snow covered seaside town is a strange place at night. With no wind and the snow absorbing and echoing the normal sounds of the night, I stomped along the empty streets, enjoying the sound of my boots crunching the snow and ice, I must have looked like a 12 year old marching in the snow. I crossed the Promenade which was still thick with snow, not many cars or pedestrians having driven or paraded along in this weather. I threw a few snowballs onto the frozen lake, not able to find anything more substantial to break the ice, must take the boys back tomorrow to investigate how thick the ice is. Well the sand was hard and the sea, as usual here to far to see or hear, I have only ever seen it once come in close enough to walk to. So it was a short visit, but it was the walk there and back that was enjoyable-fresh snow, not a soul in sight.
I stopped off at the pub closest to my home, a very quiet place on a side road, but nice and warm with a large(snow covered) beer garden at the front. After about half an hour as I sat immersed in my book and my beer, an elderly woman popped her head up from the next alcove and asked 'Do you like reading?' She was with her middle aged son who like his mother were smilingly awaiting my answer. I could tell straight away that he was a simple man, now I could be politically correct and say 'he had special needs' or he was 'intellectually challenged' but to be honest simple is the best and least insulting description.
Anyway, I replied that that I did indeed enjoy reading, to which the lady very happily informed me that her husband also enjoyed reading. I took this to mean a possibly dearly missed and departed husband, and not wanting to dwell on such a serious topic with my second sentence replied that there is nothing like a good book and a beer in this weather, knowing that the weather is always a winning topic. The old dear then informed me 'I live at 66 Station rd (the address has been changed to protect the innocent), do you live near here?' I took quick stock of her and her still smiling son, suspicious city dweller that I am, and told her the road I live on, but not the number. I didn't quite feel that we were on a popping in for a cup of tea level of friendliness just yet. Of course I felt guilty not reciprocating this quite obviously innocent openness, but that is a fault of my generation, a fear and suspicion of neighbours.

We then had a conversation about the level of noise at night in the area, and how long I had lived there, and how it compares to other places. The son never said a word throughout, but smiled and nodded friendlily. As I put my head back in my book, I felt a warm glow from the pleasure of spontaneous neighbourly conversation. A little later as they were leaving, the son said goodnight individually to everyone in the pub, including myself. I could see the reaction on the faces of people who obviously didn't know him, like me surprise-suspicion-relief-pleasure. His mother followed him around the pub also saying a few words to people. The whole pub was left feeling brighter and warmer by their 'simple' friendliness.

First day back at school

2009 pics Hong Kong to Merseyside

Winter wonderland

Hamlet and the daleks

I am astounded that my 2 boys just sat through a 3 hour production of Hamlet and stayed awake, enthralled until 11pm watching it. Not bad for a 6 and an 8 year old. The fact Doctor Who gave a sterling performance as Hamlet may have helped, I think Jack was waiting for the Daleks to appear!

Communist pigs

The Chinese Government has once again shown that it is uncivilised and barbaric by executing a mentally disabled drug dealer. Britain now needs to pull on the gloves and pressure China internationally to reform and improve its Human Rights. Engagement obviously makes no difference to these communist pigs. This total disregard to basic human rights by executing the first (quite blatantly mentally ill) European in 50 years, and telling the international community to fuck off should send a shiver of fear through Hong Kong. If they can so boldly ignore the protests of a major trading power-they can do anything.

Driving and sleighing

On the 12th day of Christmas....

Snowy days

Playing in the snow

Joseph's carol service

beauty queen bowls over middle aged Hong Kong judge

Another grave miscarriage of justice in Hong Kong?Should the employer have been fined and banned from employing any more domestic helpers? Another case of ingrained racism against other Asians in Hong Kong?

Beauty and the maids (From The HK Standard)

A one-time runner-up in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, who is said to have hired and fired 45 maids in five years, has accused three of her current four maids of stealing almost 150 items of children's wear from her home.

Diana Lee

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A one-time runner-up in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, who is said to have hired and fired 45 maids in five years, has accused three of her current four maids of stealing almost 150 items of children's wear from her home.

The maids Marites Alberto Saddaran, 34, Aubrey Leal Garcia, 25, and Ginavilla Velasco Gongob, 41 have pleaded not guilty to stealing the clothes from the Old Peak Road home of 45-year-old Winnie Chin Wai-yee between August and November 3.

Appearing in Eastern Magistracy yesterday, the maids suggested Chin second in the beauty pageant in 1981 was a shopaholic and that she frequently asked them to get rid of unwanted clothing.

They also said Chin, who is married to banker Ma Ching-yeung, had a bad attitude and often used abusive language including calling them idiots with no brain.

Her husband is a member of the Tai Sang Bank's Ma clan. The couple have two sons and a daughter.

Quoting figures from the Philippine consulate, the maids' defense lawyer claimed Chin had hired and fired 45 maids from 2004 to 2009 a figure that Chin disputed.

Chin, a merchant, claimed the maids took 79 shirts, 46 trousers, three skirts, three jackets, 15 pairs of shoes and two rucksacks together worth more than HK$30,000.

In her testimony, Chin said she had thought in October that some of her children's clothes had gone missing but did not suspect anyone. Then she saw Saddaran put a pair of her eldest son's sports shoes under the bunk bed in the maids room that she shared with Garcia on the evening of November 3.

Chin said that when Saddaran was questioned in front of the other maids she confessed and begged for another chance.

After a report was made to police, Chin said, more children's clothes were found in cabinets the three defendants used. The other two maids then allegedly admitted their involvement.

The maids' lawyer suggested that Chin was addicted to shopping, which sometimes resulted in arguments with her husband.

Because of her purchases, the lawyer claimed, Chin had to clear her children's wardrobes two to three times a year. On that, Chin said that I think shopping is a woman's prerogative.

But she insisted she did not shop that frequently and denied having arguments with her husband.

Asked if she would from time to time ask her maids to dispose of unwanted clothes, Chin said she never allowed her maids to keep her children's clothes nor did she give them gifts.

I would store my eldest son's clothes for my second son, Chin said. Those that were not needed I gave to my relatives.

Chin also said she fired about 30 maids during the five-year span. Some had left on their own accord having failed to meet her requirements.

In one case, Chin said, she suspected a maid had stolen money, and other maids in the household resigned in protest when she decided to report the case to the police.

Chin admitted that one former maid had gone to the Labour Tribunal and had won her case.

Magistrate Henry Mierczak ruled the three maids had a case to answer. The case continues today.


UPDATE-RTHK
Three maids of ex-beauty queen convicted

16-12-2009
Three Philippine maids, who worked for a local celebrity, have been found guilty of theft and jailed for three months. Their employer, a former Miss Hong Kong runner-up, Winnie Chin, accused them of stealing some of her children's designer-label clothes - worth $23,000. The maids said they had been given the items. The magistrate, Henry Mierczak, sided with Ms Chin, saying she had been an honest witness - and that the maids had engaged in theft for a period of time.

Joseph gets glasses

Note from a stranger

I received this 'spam' e-mail this morning. So poetic it deserves a mention.


Ave, my dear friend

Gravitation can not be held responsible for people falling in love.
I live for you, my honey, I breathe for you, my dear, I wake up for you every morning http://matchamour.com/31795/
You will be everything to me! I will love you as long as the stars light up the heaven, as long as the sun whisks away the darkness of the night and touches the earth with loving warmth. All I need is to find you wherever you are now. And I am here for you, my sweetheart, help me to find your kind heart and deep soul.

Looking forward to get a note from you
Lera B.

That Christmas feeling

Found myself home alone this morning, so went out to get the paper and some xmas lights and decorations. The town is full of Christmas 'stalls' selling bratwursts, cakes, Paella(!), mulled wine, hot Baileys, Turkey barms and scarves, hats, overpriced handmade decorations and ethnic wares and food. I decided to have my large Americano sat outside under the lights, even though it was only 2c the outdoor tables were packed!
Bizarrely the adjacent stall was selling kangaroo, ostrich, venison and wild boar burgers -I had an extremely tasty kangaroo burger with my coffee. Reading my newspaper with the smell of chestnuts being roasted(corny-but true!), and buskers singing carols, I realised that being here over Christmas definitely feels more festive than being on a beach in the Philippines, or having a barbecue in Hong-Kong. Walking back past the Salvation Army Band, a guy playing xmas tunes on his accordion, and an opera singer, I felt the 'Christmas spirit' about 2 weeks earlier than usual. Now where was that mulled wine?

Whatever you do-walk quickly and don't look up!

Woman threw 5 choppers out of window

12-12-2009
RTHK
A woman has been fined HK$1,000 for hurling choppers out of the window of a 10th floor flat during a row with her husband. A court heard that Chen Xiaoqing, a mainland two-way permit holder, had been threatened with a knife by her husband in their Choi Hung home. She was fined after her clear record and guilty plea were taken into consideration. Her husband, Tang Kwok keung, was fined HK$500 for criminal intimidation. In another case, a 61-year-old woman was sentenced to 12 months probation, after she admitted accidentally dropping a knife from her window in Shek ip Mei. The woman said she dropped the knife, after trying to place it back on a rack next to the window. She later turned herself in. The maximum penalty for allowing objects to fall from height, is a HK$10,000 fine, and six months imprisonment.

Jack's Nativity

Seagulls and ducks

This life

Heidi says 'Nein!' to minarets

The Swiss have outlawed the building of any more minarets(not mosques) in a very bold move.
As a democratically elected government they certainly have the right to do so. It would be plain wrong to ban mosques and the freedom to follow the religion of your choice, but this is not what they have done. Although astoundingly boring, Switzerland is a very pretty country indeed, in fact that is its only redeeming feature- beautiful green rolling hills and mountains with quaint Germanic, Hansel and Gretel houses. Switzerland inspires images and memories of the Von Trapps, and Heidi(maybe that was Austria, same-same) frolicking happily in the meadows. Switzerland has never been known for embracing foreign culture, unless you are a rich Nazi escaping wartime Germany. Why change now?
As far as I know, minarets are not an integral part of a mosque. Visit any mosque inside airports in many middle eastern countries, and they don't have minarets. Although minarets are a common sight in the hills throughout the Balkans, they are a part of those countries' cultural heritage, not in inward looking Switzerland.
Personally I love minarets, just under 2 decades ago I slept on the roof of a hostel in the old city of Jerusalem for an extended period. I absolutely loved awaking to the sound of the call to prayer from hundreds of minarets in the hills below. I even bought a tape and harassed my neighbours for years with the sound of the Koran on full blast. I must buy another.
The case against minarets in the UK is far less clear, and I'm sure that Switzerland's move is only the first attempt within western Europe . In my opinion, the drab grey terraced towns and cities of Northern England are much more aesthetically pleasing with the addition of minarets and mosques-the more the merrier I say. As for Hong-Kong, anyone who has seen the mosque outside Kowloon park, has to agree that it is a very welcome oddity in an otherwise skyscraper obsessed (Buddhist) city.

Dubai-Liverpool of the East

The Dubai government today announced that they would not guarantee the country's debts. The effects are shaking markets throughout the world. As we all know the sheer scale of the developments that have been undertaken there have been staggering. We have watched as they embarked upon awe-inspiring building projects-and thought 'How do they do it?' The simple answer is-'on the never never' , 'on HP'. They were just doing the same as everyone else has been doing for the last 20 years-buying their sports cars, houses and huge TV's-amazed that the bank were foolish enough to give them the money, and knowing quite well that they would never-ever be able to pay it back, but pushing that knowledge right to the back of their minds. The only difference with Dubai is that they never pushed it to the back of their minds, they knew full well what they were doing the whole time, but thought ' lets see how much we can get'.
Dubai should be twinned with Liverpool, funny that they were interested in buying Liverpool football club until recently, great minds think alike. Simply put- if they are foolish enough to give it-take it.
I was in Dubai a few years ago as ever, on the cheap. I had 9 hours between flights, and decided to explore. I walked about 4 miles into the centre, past what seemed to me a huge building site in the desert. I took a few detours through new suburban areas, which were gated, immaculate and eerily deserted, apart from a few Filipino gardeners and maids. The city itself was vibrant and exciting. The docks full of junks, fishing boats and small freighters being loaded and unloaded by Sri-Lankans and Indians. It was starting to occur to me that I hadn't seen any locals working-what did they do all day?
It was only upon entering the bazaar that I saw locals(well Arabs, they could have been from any of the surrounding nations) working. They manned the spice stalls and the fur(!) and jewellery stalls. I liked Dubai, it felt safe, it was clean, but it still had a heart- in the bustling markets, and all along the harbour. Over the years I have travelled to numerous places in the Middle-East, but Dubai was the easiest. I sat on the beach yards from the markets, enjoying the warm winds blowing in from the Persian Gulf. I took a bus back to the airport content that I'd used my 9 hours to the full.
Dubai is not the first oil state to spend all of its money on massive projects that would never be sanctioned in the west(yet all these projects are cynically completed by western companies). Dubai at least appears to have spent the money on structures that have improved the overall infrastructure, who cares what they look like-skyscrapers can only be an improvement on all encompassing desert.

When the storm settles, Dubai will have the tallest building in the world, some amazing resorts, and a city full of modern houses, shopping malls etc. These things have already been built, and even if the bailiff comes knocking on the door-it's too late-the money has been spent.
Good luck to them!

Dead soldiers campaigning for the Tories

It seems to me that there is a different grieving mother paraded through the media everyday. The mothers are understandably grieving for their sons that have died in battle. These are the mothers of fallen soldiers. Soldiers that have given their lives in the service of their country. This is a fact regardless of the reasons for the wars they serve in.
This is a new phenomenon in this country-grieving mothers berating government policy in the names of their dead children. This has strangely coincided with The Sun's decision to back the Conservatives in the coming General Election. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp appears to be using these mothers for their own ends. Strange how an Australian has the power to try and affect British public opinion. Not that the British people have taken it at face value. Public opinion was firmly behind Gordon Brown, when The Sun launched a story about his untidy handwriting on condolence letters- most people thought the fact that he wrote them and his partial blindness to be a mitigating circumstance.
Growing up in a forces family with a father and two brothers in the army, I find complaining families a little disconcerting. The British army , is a volunteer army. A soldier is expected to follow the commands of his superiors, and the democratically elected government without question. This is a prerequisite, it is not a recent rule, it is an integral part of the job. Wanting to fight in a war, wanting to kill another human being isn't, but is not unknown.
Most young soldiers are quite keen to put all of their training into action and join their comrades in the battlefield, they are soldiers after all.
As civilians we find the idea of soldiers dying upsetting and hopefully war distasteful, but the reality is that soldiers understand that it is an inevitable part of what they do.
American soldiers may be another matter, as some would argue that the American military has a high percentage of recruits from socially disadvantaged groups-that is not the case here in the UK. Opportunities do exist in this country, and our ghettoes are actually not that bad-I've lived in them.
A British recruit enters the military with his eyes open about the benefits and the dangers.
These soldiers should be respected, they should earn more, they should have more help upon their return, and they must be remembered for the ultimate sacrifice that they have given for the rest of us, who cannot or will not do what they have done.
What mustn't be done though, is that the media(and political puppeteers) use their memory and speak for them against their wishes- a soldier may disagree with a war, but not disagree that he must fight in it.
Soldiers, soldiers mothers, and politics just do not mix. Object to the war, but don't object that soldiers fight in that war.

Funk Soul bro

Autumn days

New home

We are now settling into our new home here in Southport. We are 2 minutes from the beach(not that we're planning on doing any swimming!),cinema, swimming pool, train station, and we are right in the middle of the town. Our living room window looks right over the main tree-lined thoroughfare and shopping area of the town. Southport is only 45 minutes away from Liverpool, and just over an hour to Manchester.
The kids will begin school here on Monday, they will need to take a 5 minute bus trip to school. We walked back from the school this Monday, it was a nice bright winter's day and we passed through a really nice park with a pond full of ducks,geese and seagulls. Kids seem to like it here, although Jack does miss Mui-Wo beach, well he was the self proclaimed 'King of the beach'!
Parents' evening was last night, Jack has caught up with his reading, after having no school for 7 months, and his teacher said he is 'happy-go-lucky' and 'not phased by anything' just like his brother( the same teacher taught Joseph 3 years ago). It was the same for Joseph, who has become football mad again, well not again but more so.
Teosdee, of course is happy here-it's not Hong Kong.
It's 3pm, the sky is clear, but the air is crisp. I can feel the day rolling to a close, the birds are preparing for the evening ahead.We have seagulls and pigeons on the roof, and they spend the day flying up and down the street. There is a robin living nearby, it sits on the garden fence and watches me having a smoke in the morning. I have not become a bird-enthuisiast, but I miss the tropical sound of cicadas, locusts and frogs and watching bats fly past at dusk, so I notice the different sounds here. It is time to put the heating on, I can see the people walking faster to get home, now with scarves and hats with hands deep in pockets ready for a night encased in front of the telly.
Give me a night on the beach anyday-screw the birds, seagulls, crisp air, it is too bloody cold-for me! TV is okay though.

Moving in

Ferry across the Mersey

Moving day

We move to our new home today-Hooray!

Tour De Mui-Wo

Autumn rain

Well, it's cold, rainy and windy, and the forecast is the same for the next few days. Why am I here again?
I keep on looking at flights to you know where, but the kids are happy in school. It is a very important year for Jack-his 1st year. I have not spoken to anyone apart from my immediate family (wife, kids, parents) for 7 weeks. It is hard to keep the strength to stay, but the thought of being away from the boys and Teosdee for an extended period is not welcoming.
I got a job with the civil service last week, but am not sure when I will start, like every arm of the government, things move at a snail's pace or maybe that is bit too fast.
Money is tight, but that's nothing new. Child benefit, Child tax credit have now been 2 months processing with no sign of getting done. Her Majesty's revenue and customs is staffed with muppets-maybe I should apply for a job!
Oh! To be on Mui-Wo beach getting laddered.

Some old vids

Reloaded due to audio being disabled.

Euro-fighter Typhoon at Air Show

More Southport Airshow

conkers

Air Show 2009

cool video of the beach

2.o

We are not robots

airmiles

final countdown

I missed this typhoon

The Beach

Hiking with Teosdee

Most whingeing hotel review of the year

Found this review of the silvermine hotel on tripadvisor. I would be surprised if this person has ever enjoyed staying in any hotel.


“Really NOT impressed. Never again!”

2 of 5 stars
LittleMissHolidayFan
London
I stayed for 3 nights and that was more that enough.

The service was just OK. I booked a room for 2 adults and 1 child. Age 5 (listed on booking) I was frustrated on arrival to have no bed in the room for my child. But they did sort in reasonble time. Breakfast was included, but not for the child. This was not listed when I booked so I was not happy at all. It cost £7 for child breakfast. Madness as all she ate was a slice of toast.

The hotel is located just minuites walk from the ferry pier and bus station. But when we arrived by taxi we had to walk down a dark alley at night as its not possible to drive up to the front or side of the hotel. Its not that great to go to disney from. its either a bus and MTR ( at least 1 hour) or a cab (£25-30) There is a mac donalds near by and all the other places to eat are not at all inviting. So the hotel have you trapped a little. But the evening buffet is reasonabley tasty.

The rooms and cleaniness are horid. We booked a room in the new wing...maybe new in 1960. The carpet was stained the wall paper was peeling. There was mould around the bath. The floor was dirty in the corners. Lighting was terrible. Fortunatly the bed sheets were very clean. The only saving grace. It is so dated and the aircon was noisey and the fridge kept making stange tick noises that woke us up each night. ( at least I hope it was the fridge)

Returning at the end of a day was no pleasure. But checking out felt good.

Liverpool 2009

teosdee cycling with boys in Mui Wo

Ode to the beach

Still smoking

Why kids can't 'play out' anymore!

Computers at the speed of light.

I told a group of computer nerds about this technology about a year ago- they all looked at me as if I was crazy.


Super Fast PCs Near As Chip Passes Maths
Test

Super-fast and ultra-small computers have been brought one
step closer to reality with the successful test of a new
penny-sized chip?

Traditional computer micro chips are as small as they are likely to get
The optical quantum chip does away with traditional circuitry and instead uses parti cles of "whizzing" light?
Scientists asked the "photonic" chip to find the prime factors of 15 and although it took longer to work it out than a
schoolchild could have it produced the answer - 3 x 5?
The test is a massive breakthrough because it is the first time the chip.s processin g power has been condensed into
such a small size?
Normally to store the same amount of processing power it would need a pack the size of a work bench sitting beside
it?
The chip could eventually pave the way for "super-powerful quantum computers"?
Cherry Lewisg spokeswoman for the team at Bristol Universityg explained why we need this technology?
"We are almost getting to the point now where conventional computers cannot go any smaller so we need to go
down a completely new route?
"We are talking nano-scale? Particles of light?"
Quantum technology aims to exploit the unique properties of quantum mechanics - the physics theory that explains
how the world works at microscopic levels?
The main advantage is that unlike transistors in a traditional computer quantum particles can be in two states at the
same time?
Also photons are relatively noise-free and can transmit information at the speed of light?
In the near future the technology could eventually be applied to making internet con nections secure and to
developing new materials and medicines?
PhD student Alberto Politig who performed the experiment with colleague Jonathan Matthews said: "Finding prime
factors may seem like a mathematical abstraction but the task lies at the heart of modern encryption schemes
including those used for secure internet communication?"
The results have been published in the magazine Science?

Southport v Orb

A break in the rain.

Letter to the king

Sunday morning

Legal case against God dismissed

Legal case against God dismissed
God on a cloud in a 18th century depiction
The plaintiff argued an omniscient God would know of the lawsuit

A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served.....
Story-continued
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7673591.stm

plain silly

Are you having problems-starting smoking? Well worry no more, with this handy guide!

• How to start Smoking
• Step 1: Buy two packs of cigarettes and a bic lighter.
There are literally hundreds of brands and styles to choose from, each with its own taste and unique characteristics. To start, I recommend purchasing a pack of Marlboro Light 100s and Marlboro Red 100s (both in the box, not soft pack.) If you're not comfortable with these, then pick two that you are comfortable with, one light and one full flavor. Buy these from a store that sells a lot of cigarettes - you don't want to be stuck with an old pack for your first time out.
• Step 2: Get comfortable.
Sit down and relax.
• Step 3. Practice the act.
Open your pack of lights and pull a cigarette out. A cigarette is much like a straw insofar as you pull or suck something into you mouth with the straw and then swallow it. The difference with the cigarette, is that you will be inhaling rather than swallowing. Put the cigarette to your lips. Exhale out of your nose. Pull (suck) on the cigarette, open your mouth, moving the cigarette away, and inhale quickly, taking a full breath from your mouth. What's happening is that you're pulling the smoke into your mouth, then removing the cigarette, and inhaling the smoke into your lungs. It's as simple as that. Give it a few tries and get comfortable with it.
• Step 4. Light up and inhale.
Now it's time to really give it a shot. Since this is your first time and just like with coffee or alcohol, don't expect to fully enjoy the taste. That will come a little later, after just a few packs. Put the cigarette to you mouth, fully exhale, light the lighter, bring it to the tip of the cigarette, and then pull the smoke into your mouth. Remove the cigarette from your mouth and inhale quickly. Hold it in for a second and then fully exhale.

Smoking-click to open

Open publication - Free publishing - More solution

2 weeks-still smoking, but not drinking!

Update- Kids start school next week, and I start my 'real' interviews. The upshot of these interviews will be that the boys will only attend their new school for about 2 months, as we will have to relocate depending upon which job I get.
Weather is really crap here. Apart from the odd day when it doesn't feel too cold, it is generally shit. Getting used to continuous cold rainy and windy days is not easy-and it is summer!
Do I like being back? Simple answer is no. But I'm not here for me.
I think once we are settled in our home for the next 2/3 years, and I'm busy working and interacting with people, I will be more positive.The place where we live, and where I work is crucial. If we are in the right environment(better than last time) I will be able to deal with the 6 month winter that is coming.
I Already miss the beach and my friends, and would love nothing more than a long lazy afternoon having a few cans and a chat to whoever comes by.
I have started taking some tablets that will help me stop smoking-Champix. After 2 weeks I am still smoking, although much, much less!
I haven't had a drink for 2 weeks, I can't be arsed with the pubs around here, and I have never really enjoyed drinking at home. My brother did offer to take me out last weekend, but I can't stand the idea of Friday/Saturday night in the city. It's a f***ing jungle out there. They show nightlife on the streets of English cities on those reality cop shows, and it is not pretty. Gandhi was right when he was asked-What do you think of Western civilization? And he replied It would be a good idea.
I can't help but notice the dark side of this country, it does shout at you, from the newspapers, from the TV, and ultimately from the streets themselves. I have already been shouted at, seen arguments and I know more will come. I was expecting it, it's not a surprise. People in the UK may feel that I am exaggerating, but if you have lived somewhere else for a long period, then these things stick out . A woman on holiday from Sweden had her hair set alight by a 15 year old on a train last week!If only this was an isolated case, but it's not. Shit like this is happening everyday here. Everybody is outraged, the newspapers scream out their end of the world headlines, but still there seems to be nothing done to find out why these things are increasing, and what our country can do to fix it.

I'm ranting now. I must stop. Here is another quote from Gandhi about England;

This civilisation is irreligion, and it has taken such a hold on the people of Europe that those who are in it appear to be half mad. They lack real strength or courage. They keep their energy by intoxication. They can be hardly happy in solitude.
This civilisation is eating into the vitals of the English nation. ……They [the English] are a shrewd nation and I therefore believe they will cast off the evil. They are enterprising and industrious, and their mode of thought is not inherently immoral. Neither are they bad at heart. I therefore respect them. Civilisation is not an incurable disease, but it should not be forgotten that the English people are affected by it.

And so begins my love-hate relationship with this country, again-guess which this is?

Boys Try To Set Alight Girl Cancer Victim

Sunday, August 23 11:16 am
SkyNews © Sky News 2009



A five-year-old girl who is battling cancer is recovering after two boys sprayed her with deodorant and tried to set her alight.
Boys Try To Set Alight Girl Cancer Victim Enlarge photo

Scarlett Hellewell had to be rescued by neighbours when the pair pinned her down and attacked her with the aerosol can in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

She escaped with bruises when the deodorant did not catch fire.

The two young boys, believed to be only 10 and seven ran off.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The girl was playing when she was approached by two young boys.

"(They) kicked and punched her before spraying an aerosol in her face and attempting to set her alight. The match did not ignite."

Scarlett is suffering from a tumour which has left her blind in one eye and with marginal sight in the other.

Her mother Paula, 38, a home support worker, said she was hoping to move away from the estate where they live.

She told the Yorkshire Post: "I was disgusted when I heard what these boys had done, though this is not the first time they have attacked her.

"Scarlett's brain tumour is getting bigger and this was the last thing we needed to happen."

Neighbour Adele Brearley, 30, said: "Scarlett was really upset and her eyes were sore where they had sprayed deodorant. If they had managed to light the matches it would have been a lot worse."

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Classic- from Daisy(pinched from Lantau Chat)

Jane88
Junior Member
can you tell me where are good places to hike in lantau or maybe some groups i could join?



27th November 2008, 09:12 AM
Dragon
Junior Member
going for hiking....
Hi, if you are going for a small hike, i would love to join.
I have never hiked before, so wana start from a smaller level.
Thnx
Imran

Daisy.
Junior Member
Asl long as you arn't the Phantom Gobbler of Pak Gnan Heung-a repeat performance would do for me-you can join me on a mini hike every morn from Ma Po Tseun. Sunset Peak next week.

Daisy.
Junior Member


Difficult finding bad places to hike to in lantau. Sorry. Of course there are. The trek, back and forth between Rosanna's and The Toilet Bar is definitely to be avoided. Head for the hills, young lady..plenty of water and keep to the straight and narrow at this time of year. Not that the snakes will have you-as much chance of getting a nip as winning the mark six. Getting lost in the undergrowth..in this heat would do for you. Well, it might if you were stupid. Stupid or not, avoid like the plague the first mentioned trek! If you did not lose yourself at some point, there is a 100% chance of someone putting the bite on you. Have fun in those hills!

My view on Scottish justice

The director of the FBI may well feel angry(see link to story below) at the Scottish Govt's decision to release the Lockerbie Bomber, but surely he should do so as a private individual. What gives him the right, in his offical capacity to criticise the actions of a democratically elected government?
Have the Scots abused somebody's human rights? Have they denied somebody a fair trial?
An argument being commonly used at the moment, is that no mercy was given to the victims.This is absolutely correct, but unfortunately as my grandfather used to say- two wrongs don't make a right.
Under the Scottish justice system, everybody must be treated equally- without exception, a belief that I thought the US respected.
According to Scottish law- a prisoner with less than 3 months to live is eligible for release upon compassionate grounds. This decision is not made arbitrarily, it is not measured by the severity of a crime.
This law could be changed in the future, and possibly should have been earlier, but it wasn't, and therefore the rule of law must be followed.

All of our societies are built upon the fact that we follow the rule of law, this cannot be changed for angry US senators, politicians, or presidents. We can understand their feelings, but the law must be appied to all-without exception.

I am sure that in the US this week, numerous murderers, rapists, etc have escaped punishment although obviously guilty due to technicalities, or breaches of due process. This will have caused many victims and victims' families unbearable pain and suffering. Although morally distasteful the rules are there for all, when we begin to bend that law or ignore the law, we are no longer in a position to promote or uphold that law. Barack Obama has stated the same thing in his books, it is dissapointing that he seems to be backing away from that belief.
The Scottish people hold the independence of their government very dear indeed, and if (some)Americans want to boycott all Scottish goods, that is very sad indeed.


Back to the FBI director though- If this man runs such an important organisation then that fact alone is an indicator of the FBI's effectiveness.How such a STUPID man could run a federal agency is beyond me.

'In a letter, dated 21 August, Mr Mueller said the decision makes "a mockery of justice" and gives comfort to terrorists around the world.'

How can following the law make a mockery of justice? Is justice torturing suspects and holding them indefinitely without charge in inhumane conditions, how he envisages justice?
Fuck You Mr Mueller, keep your views to yourself


BBC NEWS
FBI boss attacks Megrahi release

FBI director Robert Mueller has launched a scathing attack on Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill over the release of the Lockerbie bomber.....

CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR STORY

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8216122.stm

Rambling

Collage

Monday

some pics

Aigburth Vale music at the Cellar Club

147CANON

Update

6th August- okay, i seem to have survived,just about without the family-although i do seem to have acquired bruised/broken ribs. I haven't moved off the island though,i must be getting old, apart from nearly having a barney-NEARLY. I fly... tomorrow. I've never been able to function without my family. Each time I try I always end up having to get back to them earlier than planned. UK here I come!

7th August-At the airport, didn't need to pay any excess-miraculously-feeling good!Looking forward to airplane food and beer-do they allow beer on Quata airways? Adios Amigos, will miss you all, and the weather, but I'll be back!!

7th August-In Doha airport-Qatar air is really quite good!The best selection of movies/tv and games I have ever come across,and beer!! I spent some time playing 'who wants to be a millionaire?' I won $250,000-if only it was real. Stuck here now for 7 ...hours, not sure whose connection I'm using though.

8th August-Okay, peeved off now! Smoking lounges are truly awful places-even for hardened smokers. This bloody airport is freezing and the announcements are very loud,intrusive and constant.Only another 4-5 hours!!!


8th August-Back in the bosom. long flight this time-9hrs in transit. Kids and my mum and Teosdee met me at the airport and we took the train home. Dad collected us at the station, me and teosdee walked home(20mins) and got a bag of chips from the Chinese Chippy...-who comes from Tai-Wai(Shatin). He was quite surprised to learn that i had just arrived from Hong Kong-probably thinks I'm a nutter!
Kids now upstairs watching Transformers.mum and Dad gone out, me and Teosdee watching the box-bliss! gotta get some deep heat on these ribs though!!



11th August.Busy couple of days, I've applied for work in Belgium, Libya(!), Burscough(!), Liverpool, Leeds, London, and Manchester-I have an interview in Manchester on Friday-for an English teaching job, my first teaching interview in the UK.Not sure where... I would prefer to teach-Manchester or Tripoli! Tripoli is probably safer, but the commute may be a drag.

Flying Home

Slower Daddy

"Walk a little slower daddy" said a child so small
"I'm following your footsteps and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes you are very fast,
Sometimes you're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, daddy,
For you are leading me.


Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I'll have a child who'll want to follow me.


And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true,
So walk a little slower, daddy
For I must follow you.

Don't jump off the roof dad!

Empty

Teosdee and kids arrived safely in Lancashire. Had nice day at the beach yesterday.Resisted the lure of Wanchai!
Spent all day sorting out the flat and throwing bags of crap away.Bored now.Time for the beach I suppose.House feels empty with just me here, and no TV. May leave sooner rather than later-maybe early next week.

Marry a teacher

Three couples marry and stay at the same hotel for their honeymoons, where they are taken care of by Dave the bellboy.

The first man married a nurse. Dave thinks to himself, "Nurses are known to be hot to trot."

The second man married a telephone operator. Dave thinks to himself, "Telephone operators have sexy voices."

The third man married a school teacher. Dave thinks to himself, "Poor guy, teachers are frigid."

The next morning, Dave reports to work and gets a room service call from the nurse's husband. He sourly says, "Don't ever marry a nurse. All I heard last night was 'You're not sanitary, you're not sanitary.'"

Then, the telephone operator's husband calls and sourly says, "Don't ever marry a telephone operator. All I heard last night was 'Your three minutes are up, your three minutes are up.'"

Later that afternoon, the teacher's husband calls and happily says, "When you marry, be sure to marry a school teacher. All I heard last night was 'We are going to do this over and over until we get right.'"

Moving on

Well, it appears that we are on our way again. After 2 years back here in Hong Kong, we are once again heading back to Europe.
Jack will be attending Primary 1 in September, and we feel he could do with a couple of years back in an English speaking school.Joseph has just been informed that he 'passed' Primary 2 and can go onto Primary 3 and study p3 Chinese with his classmates.Not bad after just 1 year in Chinese school,but it is not to be.He will be able to go to P4 in the UK.
I think we may be away for longer this time. I also want to further my studies. The money here in Hong Kong has remained an all too important issue. Teosdee was only able to earn a very small amount-Filipinos are still discriminated against here, earning far less than locals. A minimum wage law is being drafted, and the situation should improve in a couple of years.
Of course, I will miss the beach and friends, but I do sometimes think there is more to life than great weather and bbqs. Swings and roundabouts really! I know that after a couple of winters back home, I'll be desperate to get back to the beach-and so will the kids.
Ultimately, we are fortunate to have the choice to live in both places.

Dragon boat day 2009

Junk

Moon party

views from the ferry

Summer 2009

Chinese moon