Hong Kong finally seems to have shrugged off its winter/spring cloak of cloud, smog, fog, in-your-face-pollution and remembered to allow the sun through all the way to the ground. It looks better for it, with its harbour glistening and shimmering with a billion sparkles, the Peak outlined against a blue sky and people finally saying "what a nice day", shedding the coats, cardigans and scarves that have still been in evidence despite the mid-high twenties temperatures. I was explaining to a colleague that it never gets as hot in Ireland as it was here yesterday (29 /30 degrees). But then in Ireland we can walk on the grass, play in the mud and our ambulances don't stop at red lights. But then again, Ireland's taxpayers give money to its banks but don't get any deposit book or interest with the donation. And in Ireland many people are disappointed that when they are told that Ireland is the next Greece that it won't be an Irish remake of a John Travolta classic....
Say a prayer....for those in Ireland and those of us here, everyone is trying to get ahead, make some money, but some are sucking in more pollution and staying on the concrete path while others of are kicking a ball in the mud, staring into an abyss and wondering where it all went wrong ("Gimme someone to blame, certainly not myself"), but it gives them something to talk about.....And they can talk.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Monday, 24 May 2010
Observed
825am, Hong Kong. Ambulance in full emergency mode, siren, blue lights, moving quite fast, stops at traffic lights and waits for them to change green. Obviously it would ruin your day if you were the patient and the ambulance crashed, but seriously, anywhere else in the world, ambulances operating in that mode are entitled to and will go tthrough red lights. Suggestion for ambulance drivers in Hong Kong: get a grip on reality and break the odd rule from time to time. Your patients and their relatives may thank you. Otherwise don't bother with the emergency lights and siren.
Friday, 14 May 2010
When is it OK to Spill Champagne?
Only when the following elements are present and alligned:
1. When you are a Mom of two terrible toddlers going through the terrible twos, despite being one and 3.
2. When you made the effort to get all dressed up and went for a nice lunch at a swanky Hong Kong restaurant.
3. When you get there you realise that your are not as glam as you thought you were, in comparison to the immaculate Size 0 Asian girls eating their no dressing salads.
4. You grin and bear it with your fellow Mummy mates, secretly wishing and noting that those skinny b1tches will get pregnant one day and their bodies will go south, their ankles will swell up, their feet will expand and never come back to size, their backs will be broken from carrying heavier boobs and kids around.
5. But you realise, that such maladies probably do not happen to girls like those who will be back in their microskirts in days after giving birth. You wish them cracked nipples and acne.
6. You go home and your kids, while delighted to see you and who tell you that you are beautiful are wild, cranky, noisy and destructive.
7. You decide to try and entertain them with a movie so you can try and have a chat with your friend.
8. The kids finally settle, so you pour yourself and your friend (a fellow Mum) a glass of bubbly.
9. It's just Bubbly wine, not even champagne.
10. Your 22 month old crawls into your lap to watch the movie.
11. You finally feel relaxed after a stressful day of trying to be chic.
12. Your toddler wriggles in your lap and knocks your champagne all over his own head and down your frock.
Only then is it OK to spill champagne and be allowed to laugh and cry as much as you want.
By request.
1. When you are a Mom of two terrible toddlers going through the terrible twos, despite being one and 3.
2. When you made the effort to get all dressed up and went for a nice lunch at a swanky Hong Kong restaurant.
3. When you get there you realise that your are not as glam as you thought you were, in comparison to the immaculate Size 0 Asian girls eating their no dressing salads.
4. You grin and bear it with your fellow Mummy mates, secretly wishing and noting that those skinny b1tches will get pregnant one day and their bodies will go south, their ankles will swell up, their feet will expand and never come back to size, their backs will be broken from carrying heavier boobs and kids around.
5. But you realise, that such maladies probably do not happen to girls like those who will be back in their microskirts in days after giving birth. You wish them cracked nipples and acne.
6. You go home and your kids, while delighted to see you and who tell you that you are beautiful are wild, cranky, noisy and destructive.
7. You decide to try and entertain them with a movie so you can try and have a chat with your friend.
8. The kids finally settle, so you pour yourself and your friend (a fellow Mum) a glass of bubbly.
9. It's just Bubbly wine, not even champagne.
10. Your 22 month old crawls into your lap to watch the movie.
11. You finally feel relaxed after a stressful day of trying to be chic.
12. Your toddler wriggles in your lap and knocks your champagne all over his own head and down your frock.
Only then is it OK to spill champagne and be allowed to laugh and cry as much as you want.
By request.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Madness and the Cup of Tea
None of your broad sheets for me, with clever people giving in-depth analysis of whatever the flavour du jour news item might be. Nor for me the sensationalist tabloids filled with celebrity gossip and real life, tv movie type heartbreak straight from the suburbs. I prefer to get my, ahem, "news" from the free commuter papers thrust at you at your local underground/subway/MTR station. I am attuned to the fact that whomever publishes such paper is in a very powerful position, as the rations of news and the means of its delivery to hundreds of thousands of commuters daily can really shape the public's perception of current events. What you get to read about is controlled. So in reading it, I always try and take it all with a pinch of salt. In a way, I suppose all media is controlled, but at least with time, money and the right tools at our disposal we can seek out alternative views from other sources and places, other countries, other cultures and political persuasions. Heck, you don't even have to go down to your local newststand to do it, you can do it right in front of your nearest computer, iphone, tablet, television or radio.
My commuter paper, The Standard in Hong Kong, is quite a balanced little paper with local news, international headlines, business (mainly Asian), some gossip, mainstream sports, and periodicals on fashion, movies, arts, etc. I kind of like the way that the front page is highjacked virtually daily with advertisements for IPOs, investment funds and, bizarrely, over the last few days, Marks & Spencer's new food shop opening up in Wan Chai.
What has grabbed me in recent weeks has been the number of stories of knife-wielding crazies going on the rampage here in Hong Kong and in mainland China. Granted, this could happen anywhere - Europe, America, Asia, Australia alike - and often, in the US' case, with much more devastating effects, swapping gun for knife. Often the story in The Standard is accompanied by a picture of a bloodstained floor. It grabs you, it is emotive. These knife attacks have happened in nursery schools, appartment blocks, shops, hospitals. It is as if the mental state of many Asians is precariously balanced on, well, a knife edge. "Don't push me, 'cos I am close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head," could never be truer, judging by my daily news feed. Perhaps in Hong Kong and mainland China's case it has something to do with living in incredibly close proximity to millions of others. There is no respite from the noise, comings and goings, smells, sounds and just the very presence of your neighbours. Most of us have to grin and bear it and look for the positives in other aspects of living in Asia. But maybe for the less privileged, the heartbroken, the down at heel and downtrodden they cannot find those positives in their perceived miserable existences. If the niggles and hassles get too much, maybe those who are not getting the help, love and support they need just crack. "It's like a jungle out there, I often wonder how I keep from going under."
Society is shocked and outraged at the crimes perpetrated by such people. Yet, society should maybe take a look at itself and around at its neighbours and see if there is anyone who might need a hand, a smile or invited in for a cup of tea. We cannot expect the state to know the mental health of all its inhabitants, but we can certainly try and discern that of our neighbours and try and be a bit more neighbourly. Its just takes some tea leaves, boiling water and a cup or two.
One of the world's great tea drinkers (we are very excited to have you Rheda) is coming to visit our family for a week. She would surely approve of the remedy for some of society's ills.
If it works, what will The Standard report on now?!
My commuter paper, The Standard in Hong Kong, is quite a balanced little paper with local news, international headlines, business (mainly Asian), some gossip, mainstream sports, and periodicals on fashion, movies, arts, etc. I kind of like the way that the front page is highjacked virtually daily with advertisements for IPOs, investment funds and, bizarrely, over the last few days, Marks & Spencer's new food shop opening up in Wan Chai.
What has grabbed me in recent weeks has been the number of stories of knife-wielding crazies going on the rampage here in Hong Kong and in mainland China. Granted, this could happen anywhere - Europe, America, Asia, Australia alike - and often, in the US' case, with much more devastating effects, swapping gun for knife. Often the story in The Standard is accompanied by a picture of a bloodstained floor. It grabs you, it is emotive. These knife attacks have happened in nursery schools, appartment blocks, shops, hospitals. It is as if the mental state of many Asians is precariously balanced on, well, a knife edge. "Don't push me, 'cos I am close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head," could never be truer, judging by my daily news feed. Perhaps in Hong Kong and mainland China's case it has something to do with living in incredibly close proximity to millions of others. There is no respite from the noise, comings and goings, smells, sounds and just the very presence of your neighbours. Most of us have to grin and bear it and look for the positives in other aspects of living in Asia. But maybe for the less privileged, the heartbroken, the down at heel and downtrodden they cannot find those positives in their perceived miserable existences. If the niggles and hassles get too much, maybe those who are not getting the help, love and support they need just crack. "It's like a jungle out there, I often wonder how I keep from going under."
Society is shocked and outraged at the crimes perpetrated by such people. Yet, society should maybe take a look at itself and around at its neighbours and see if there is anyone who might need a hand, a smile or invited in for a cup of tea. We cannot expect the state to know the mental health of all its inhabitants, but we can certainly try and discern that of our neighbours and try and be a bit more neighbourly. Its just takes some tea leaves, boiling water and a cup or two.
One of the world's great tea drinkers (we are very excited to have you Rheda) is coming to visit our family for a week. She would surely approve of the remedy for some of society's ills.
If it works, what will The Standard report on now?!
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
It's all around you
Spotted today: a man on a public bus as it passed the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong with his hand over his heart. Was he: (a) a patriotic American overcome with compassion for his homeland; (b) having a heart attack or restarting his pace maker; (c) clutching some illicit substance in his breast pocket; (d) just happened to be sitting like that; (e) none of the above?
Life is there, right in front of you, all around you and with some imagination and thought, it is infinitely better than what's available on tv, especially in this country!
Look out for it on a street, a cafe or park near you: life. It's the longest running show on the planet.
Life is there, right in front of you, all around you and with some imagination and thought, it is infinitely better than what's available on tv, especially in this country!
Look out for it on a street, a cafe or park near you: life. It's the longest running show on the planet.
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