tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87971234223037676342024-03-05T18:47:19.605+08:00Sleepless in SingaporeI would like to say I never lie but that would be a lie .......Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.comBlogger358125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-86586431675533700572016-03-15T22:30:00.002+08:002016-03-15T22:30:19.762+08:00The Mandala Painters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZzFbA1g44eNojMrDZ-mHWhvsQwei-ICEToXTugWM18E-0prAbtBu1wNFskvWDbUfBuf7Pehl1f2ZpaA7kOPMIB3BoJ7QHWVXMFNZewP1OxIDqvt3AIH7MhEQj44fb6sl8cXZauSAJK0/s1600/2monks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZzFbA1g44eNojMrDZ-mHWhvsQwei-ICEToXTugWM18E-0prAbtBu1wNFskvWDbUfBuf7Pehl1f2ZpaA7kOPMIB3BoJ7QHWVXMFNZewP1OxIDqvt3AIH7MhEQj44fb6sl8cXZauSAJK0/s320/2monks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am one very lucky boy.</div>
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Man. </div>
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OK - old man.</div>
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This morning I was most privileged to attend the Graduation Ceremony for students supported by the In Giving We Receive organisation.</div>
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Nice name huh?</div>
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A nice and true philosophy too.</div>
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IGWR are a group of Australians supporting a heap of Nepalese children achieve their dreams.</div>
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The delightful Raja and his wife run the show in Kathmandu.</div>
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We help IGWR a little as we can.</div>
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Today I witnessed the graduation of three nurses, two teachers and a young lady who has finished her PhD in Business Studies.</div>
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Graduation is no mean feat for any child but for these particular kids it is truly life changing. All of the IGWR children come from impoverished and remote communities where there would be no hope for education at all.</div>
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If you’ve got a few shekels to spare and you want to make an immediate and big difference it is easy. I would highly recommend you throw them their way.</div>
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The shekels.</div>
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Google them.</div>
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IGWR Nepal.</div>
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Their leader is an incredibly kind man named Peter Humphris.</div>
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I was also lucky as it was a day of many stories too.</div>
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Not all of them were happy stories but most had drama and intrigue, some tugged at the heartstrings and others were a little mystical.</div>
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This is Nepal.</div>
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It is the ways things are.</div>
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I was talking last week to my dear friend the Lama and Guru Rimpoche who is the patron of the Snowland School in Kathmandu. I mentioned the IGWR organisation and simultaneously we said to each other, <em>“I like the name”.</em></div>
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We smiled at each other.</div>
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I told Guru<em>, “We will soon be so on synch that we will complete”</em></div>
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<em>“Each other’s sentences” </em>he grinned.</div>
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We both roared in laughter.</div>
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I love the Guru.</div>
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I really do.</div>
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Before heading off to the Graduation I was taking my breakfast on the terrace of my modest accommodations here in Kathmandu.</div>
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It is just outside the bustling tourist district of Thamel.</div>
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Whilst sipping on my delicious orange and ginger chai an old Scottish bloke who was seated nearby alarmed me and all who were seated nearby - by pointing at a place above and behind me, and screaming,</div>
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<em>“By fook – I think he’s gunny joomp”</em></div>
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I guess I was probably the only one who could actually understand what the Scottish man said – as the other patrons of the café were all Nepalese - but in unison we followed the old guy’s pointed finger.</div>
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On a balcony on an adjacent building a rather alarmed and very skinny Nepalese guy looked panic stricken.</div>
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He was topless and sweating and he appeared to be doing yoga.</div>
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<em>“By fook – I think he’s gunny joomp</em>”, the Scot repeated<em>.</em></div>
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He was now standing and waving his arms about and seemingly appealing direct to me.</div>
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Excellent.</div>
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Wonderful.</div>
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I looked again just to make sure.</div>
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<em>“I don’t think he is mate” </em>I informed the Scottish man.</div>
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<em>“I think he’s just doing yoga”</em></div>
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<em>“Are yez sure yen?”</em></div>
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I looked once more.</div>
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Just to be certain.</div>
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<em>“Yes I’m pretty sure”</em></div>
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<em>“I ken see very will wi’out me glasses”</em></div>
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<em>“I really don’t think he’s going to jump”</em></div>
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He wasn’t completely mad it turned out.</div>
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Just a little edgy - and semi blind without his glasses.</div>
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The Scots name was John and he is a long time visitor to Nepal. John teaches at a school in Kathmandu and he has lived here almost permanently since he survived a plane crash in a place called Lukla in 2008. Fourteen of the twenty passengers were killed and John told me that he decided to remain in Nepal and use the insurance and compensation that he received to support local schools and hospitals.</div>
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John told me that he thought that he would die here in Nepal but hopefully not anytime soon.</div>
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I told John that I knew what he meant and I too would like to die here.</div>
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Also not anytime soon though.</div>
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When I asked the Scot what it was like surviving an air crash he told me that it was pretty good.</div>
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He told me that it was a lot better than not surviving.</div>
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I asked John whether he had any ill after effects he just laughed and told me that he sometimes imagines young men jumping from terraces.</div>
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Only without his glasses on though.</div>
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At the Graduation ceremony for the IGWR kids I was most fortunate to meet Ayu and his brother and sister.</div>
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I first heard about them a long time ago.</div>
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Here is Ayu and me:</div>
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<img class="center" height="853" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAcXAAAAJDVhNzQwZTU5LWYwNzktNDVlMS04ZjUxLTBlNWU4ZDU3OTFlYQ.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 30px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;" width="640" />He's the handsome one.</div>
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Raja is the one who ‘found’ Ayu.</div>
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He found him begging in the Pashmupati Temple complex.</div>
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As he often is – Raja was curious. He wanted to know where this boy was from and why he was so badly burned. </div>
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This was a number of years ago when Ayu was probably only five or six years of age.</div>
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Many of the burns on his face and neck and his feet were terribly infected.</div>
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I wont dwell on the story for it is a horrific tale. Suffice to say that his alcoholic father threw Ayu into a fire when he was an infant.</div>
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This was done solely to increase his begging prospects.</div>
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His mother was dead.</div>
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Raja and IGWR took Ayu in and discovered he had an elder sister and a younger brother but he didn’t know where they were.</div>
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Raja found them and they now live altogether in one of the IGWR houses.</div>
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Ayu has had a number of surgeries already and many more are required and planned to rebuild his ear and his foot and to better heal all of his scars.</div>
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I have never before met a child so strong and so brave.</div>
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The mystical part came this evening when I received the Mandala I had ordered from my village friend the Teacher.</div>
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All Mandala are mystical.</div>
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The Teacher lives in the remote village of Arubot where he oversees ninety children. He is only twenty-five years old and he appears to have become the BFF of the boyfriend of my daughter.</div>
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He teaches English and Computers and Nepalese History.</div>
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The Teacher and the BOMD have bonded strongly and instantly.</div>
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The Teacher told me that they are both the boys of a pair of twins – each with an identical sister. Both Teacher and the BOMD have two elder brothers too.</div>
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The Teacher thinks this is no coincidence and he refers now to the BOMD as “dai”.</div>
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“Dai” means “little brother”.</div>
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The BOMD refers to the Teacher as bhai.</div>
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“Bhai” means “big brother”.</div>
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“Babus” are “little boys and “Nanus” are little girls.</div>
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I often tease my seventy-year-old friend Babu that he is still a little boy and he beams every time.</div>
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I am grateful that the Nepalese children mostly refer to me as “kaka” – or “uncle” rather than “baaje” or “hajurbabu” – which means grandfather.</div>
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I’m not that old.</div>
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Yet.</div>
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In his spare time the Teacher paints Mandala at the local mountain Thangka school.</div>
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A Thangka is not a large vessel used to transport bulk liquids.</div>
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That is a tanker.</div>
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Thangkas are beautiful and delicate Tibetan Buddhist paintings done by hand on silk or cotton scrolls.</div>
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Sometimes they are made with coloured sands - taking hundreds of hours of incredible steady hands and patience my Buddhist monks.</div>
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Then they are washed away.</div>
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Beauty is often superficial and rarely is it permanent. </div>
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Mandala were originally very important teaching materials on Buddhism and historical recordings of important philosophies and lessons.</div>
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The Bhavachakra – or what we westerners call ‘the tree of life’ is a very common Thank. </div>
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It is a visual representation of the ancient Abhidharma teachings.</div>
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The Art of Enlightenment.</div>
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A Mandala is a Thangka that is both spiritual and ritualistic.</div>
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All Mandala are squares within circles.</div>
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Or is it circles within squares?</div>
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They represent the universe.</div>
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There are four gates within each circle and then there are intricate patterns and symbols and stories painted within each circle.</div>
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One can stare at a Mandala and some use it as a focus point in meditation.</div>
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Gazing at Mandala can be hypnotic.</div>
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To me they are simply beautiful works of art.</div>
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I ordered a couple of Mandala from the Teacher a while ago.</div>
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I wanted one each for my son and daughter.</div>
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This evening he delivered them to me.</div>
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They are flawless and stunning and each took the Teacher one hundred hours or so to complete.</div>
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Whilst admiring them I asked him what happened if he made the tinniest mistake when he was painting.</div>
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He smilingly told me that the Mandala had to then be thrown away and another one started.</div>
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I asked him if this had happened before and he laughed and told me many times. </div>
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The Teacher is always laughing and smiling.</div>
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He told me that Thangka is itself a type of practice of patience and meditation.</div>
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The Mandala painted by the Teacher are invaluable to me simply because they were painted by him.</div>
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My children will cherish them forever.</div>
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So too will I.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-10536749839533849832016-03-12T00:04:00.000+08:002016-03-12T00:10:49.261+08:00Roads Less Trod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPWsdhdR7pfxI4q6LcThA4UarISWPx85MCHGrY2fuqTXXhsPBWOLEZbIYlxSLzUlhiFUCwoD2cjnbQKLUyT1oTSH0SZbC_BRzhhRgLhEP9TZ4Q-NWuzFtlFdf367ZA6YsxUBlLux8FeA/s1600/IMG_3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPWsdhdR7pfxI4q6LcThA4UarISWPx85MCHGrY2fuqTXXhsPBWOLEZbIYlxSLzUlhiFUCwoD2cjnbQKLUyT1oTSH0SZbC_BRzhhRgLhEP9TZ4Q-NWuzFtlFdf367ZA6YsxUBlLux8FeA/s320/IMG_3953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am beaten and bruised and bedraggled.</div>
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I am battered.</div>
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I am content though.</div>
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Very content.</div>
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For six hours I have endured a bone rattling drive up through the Kathmandu valley to the village of Arubot.</div>
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Arubot is in the Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal. It is the home village of my dear and old friend Kumar Lama. Both the district and the village took a hammering in last year’s earthquakes with nearly a thousand killed, fifteen thousand injured and up to one hundred thousand villagers displaced. Many buildings were destroyed.</div>
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The road to the village was only constructed ten years ago and it is drivable only a few months each year. During the monsoons it is mostly washed away. The only way in and out of Arubot before the road was built and during the monsoon months is by walking.</div>
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Steep walking.</div>
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The road is rutted and pitted and it is only one vehicle wide. It cuts and snakes its way up mountains and through valleys with thousand feet precipices and drop offs for most of the way.</div>
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I learned long ago that the best destinations are reached through the hardest of journeys.</div>
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Hakuna Matata.</div>
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I have come to Arubot to commence the rebuilding of the Sunkoshoi Lower School and to deposit the boyfriend of my daughter here. The BOMD has come to Nepal on a journey of discovery of self and a search for the meaning of life and he expressed a desire to help how he could in a remote village.</div>
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So here we are.</div>
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It is spectacularly beautiful here in the village.</div>
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I am writing this sitting beneath a Bodhi tree, which is adjacent to my home for a couple of nights and the BOMD’s home for a few months. The sun is setting a pale orange and I all around me is the Himalayan mountains.</div>
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I am on the roof of the world.</div>
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The village home that the BOMD and I are staying in belongs to one of the teacher’s family members and chickens and goats meander around the neat stone terrace. The terrace looks down the steep valley into which are carved tiers for the growing of rice and lentils. Crops have been grown this way for nearly 2000 years.</div>
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I envy that the BOMD is staying here for so long.</div>
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My daughter is flying here to joining him for a couple of weeks and my brother will also be here soon. My wayward son comes here when he can and he loves the country and the people.</div>
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I love that my family loves Nepal.</div>
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I really do.</div>
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It is written that the Lord Buddha sat beneath a Bodhi tree and for 3 months he ate nothing but a drop of water and a grain of rice as he meditated.</div>
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He nearly died.</div>
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He claims that this discovery of his own mortality was an essential part of his learning on the path of enlightenment.</div>
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There are Bodhi trees scattered across the mountains and most have small Buddhist shrines beneath them. The thick boughs provide great shade and they are an excellent place to just sit and contemplate.</div>
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Or to write stuff down.</div>
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Clickety clack.</div>
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There are eighty students at the Sunkoshi School and it accommodates little ‘uns up until year eight. Like most mountain villages, kids generally have to then walk long distances to study beyond year eight or to go to a boarding school in Kathmandu.</div>
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For the Arubot kids they have to endure a six-hour trek <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">each</em> day – six days a week - to finish the final four years of their secondary schooling.</div>
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The resilience, perseverance and endurance of the Nepalese never ceases to amaze me.</div>
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The BOMD and I have attended a number of local festivals although in Kathmandu I mostly left him to his own devices.</div>
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I do not want to get in the way of his search for self.</div>
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It’s getting cool now and there is just a hint of sun now on the horizon.</div>
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The mountains look as if they have been dipped in gold.</div>
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After a few days in Nepal and still then in Kathmandu - the BOMD went to a local barber and had his shoulder length locks shorn from his head in his first haircut in several years. The event was quite a spectacle for an excited audience.</div>
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Here we are at the Boudenath temple:</div>
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<img alt="" class="center" data-loading-tracked="true" height="853" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_1000_1000/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAY9AAAAJGVkZGFkNTcxLWE5M2YtNGJiMS05MjA2LWE4ZmVmYzRkNGE1Yw.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 30px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></div>
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Chill out Mum.</div>
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Relax.</div>
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We have not been shot in the forehead.</div>
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They are Tilakas.</div>
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Sorry I haven’t written in a while too.</div>
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Same excuse.<br />
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None really.</div>
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A Tilaka is a ceremonial mark placed upon the forehead by many people of the Hindu faith.</div>
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Worshippers of Shiva call the marking a Tripundra and rather than being a blob on the forehead it is three horizontal lines with a circle in the middle.</div>
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The Tilaka are made from ash or clay paste mixed with sandalwood and most are orange or red.</div>
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Bindis are a jeweled version of the Tilaka that is only worn by women. A Bindi may be worn to signify that a woman is married or purely as a decorative item but a Tilaka is only applied as a welcoming or during religious festivals.</div>
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In Australia a Bindi is a sharp seed thing that sticks into your bare feet in Summer time.</div>
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Bindi is a native Australian aboriginal word that means ‘little spear’.</div>
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The BOMD has not asked for my thoughts on the meaning of life or self.</div>
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For this I am grateful.</div>
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For I have not a single clue.</div>
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I long ago ceased my search for self and I am content with who I am.</div>
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I think though that he will quickly discover a sense of perspective here in the mountains and living with the Nepalese they will teach him the value of kindness and goodness and consideration.</div>
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He will learn the importance of decency and empathy.</div>
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He will see for himself the significance of family and how true communities really look after the frailest and most vulnerable.</div>
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The BOMD has already told me that he misses his mobile phone and his Facebook account as much as he misses his hair.</div>
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Which is not at all.</div>
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He told me that he misses my baby girl though.</div>
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So too do I.</div>
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I like the BOMD a lot.</div>
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I can see that Kumar has arrived back at the house with his two brothers. Cousins and aunties and uncles are arriving from neighboring villages and we will sip on local beer and laugh and chat while we eat a delicious cauliflower curry.</div>
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Later we will sing and dance.</div>
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It doesn’t really get much better than this.</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-60734881076571352082016-03-07T23:39:00.002+08:002016-03-07T23:39:45.891+08:00Little Goddesses <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Today I attended the Pashupati temple with about a million and a half other people for the festival of Maha Shivaratri. I met a former goddess yesterday. </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She was my first.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Former Goddess.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have been to Maha Shivarati once before.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Both were brilliant.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I’m back in Nepal.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It is excellent.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The Maha Shivaratri festival is a celebration of the Hindu God Shiva who on this day saved the universe from darkness and ignorance and he married the goddess Parvati.</div>
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Shiva is considered to be the god of all gods. He is the oldest of all religious deities and he apparently appeared long before Hinduism began. 2300 years before the Christian God was written about he appeared in India as a Lord named Pashupati.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The name of the very temple where the festival is conducted.</div>
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Pashupati is the main temple in Kathmandu where the Hindu dead are cremated. Their ashes are cast into the Bagmati river which eventually flows into the holy Ganga river. </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Here in the Himalaya there are a number of girl-child goddesses who are revered by both the Hindi and the Buddhist populations. These girls are handpicked from birth and are known as <em>kumari</em>. They are believed to be incarnations of the Hindu Goddess Kali.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I caught a glimpse once of the Patan <em>kumari</em> a few years ago when there was a festival on and I was quite shocked at how little the girl was.</div>
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This was back in 2011.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
2066 in Nepali time.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have explained the 55-year discrepancy between western and Nepali time before and I am not Wikipedia.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Look up the reason why for yourself.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I didn’t know anything about the <em>kumari</em> at the time but I have learned much since.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The little girl’s name at the Patan Durbar was Samita Bajracharya.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She was nine years old when I saw her.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Samita was chosen as the new <em>kumari</em> of Patan after former <em>kumari</em>, Chanira Bajracharya, reached puberty.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have been back in Nepal for a while now and I have settled back into the rhythm of the place.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Life is still tough.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Not for me - for the Nepalese.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
My purpose here is to assist with the rebuilding after the earthquakes of last year.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I was here for the second one and I thought then that my number was up.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Mercifully it wasn’t.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Up.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The record low price of oil is inconsequential to most Nepalese.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It has been hard to get since the blockade of fuel at the India border commenced 8 months ago.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It is a political protest by an Indian ethnic minority group against Nepal’s constitution in the Terai region. This region abuts the border with India and through which nearly all goods to Nepal flow. The constitution was only formed last year after a decade of dispute.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
There are more than 100 different ethnic groups here in Nepal and a caste system prevails. Many are fearful that their already diminished rights will cease to exist.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The majority and the most needy are of course the ones who suffer the most. There is little cooking gas to be had so fires must be used and the cost of everything has doubled or trebled. There are still lines of cars and motorcycles that are three miles and a two-day wait long.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
With the earthquakes and then the fuel blockade 2015 (or 2071 for the Nepalese) was a very tough year.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It ain’t easy being Nepalese</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
From the moment they are chosen for their role, and they pass a rigorous 32-stage test administered by a panel of monks, these living goddesses are propelled to an immortal-like status.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Despite being the tiny children that they are - they are deemed to be protectors from evil by hundreds of thousands of adoring Hindus and Buddhists – particularly from the Newar community.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The <em>kumari</em> - which literally means both ‘virgin’ and ‘princess” in Nepalese - are taken from their homes and they are secreted away in temples. They are regarded as a living deity and they are only able to leave the temple when they are required to attend festivals and processions.</div>
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They are subjects of abject worship.</div>
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These <em>kumari</em> are considered too special to walk and they are instead carried around by hand or in mobile thrones. Their divinity is such that their feet must not touch the ground and often these girls do not learn to walk until they retire.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
They retire as soon as they start to menstruate.</div>
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It is mandatory.</div>
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Whilst they are <em>kumari</em> the girls do not attend school or interact with any other children at all and they only appear in public thirteen times a year.</div>
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Once the <em>kumari</em> reach puberty and menstruation starts, the girls are put through a 12-day ritual known as 'Gufa', after which their life as a <em>kumari</em> suddenly ends. They are then returned to their families where they are expected to return to an ‘ordinary’ life that they have never before experienced.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It must be very difficult.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
“Purpose” appears to be the latest buzzword for the New Year.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
There will be plenty more.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Buzzwords.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
A purpose is not a cute marine animal that resembles a small dolphin.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
That is a porpoise.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I mention this because I had the great misfortune to be seated next to a hyperactive and incredibly annoying “Purpose Consultant” on the longest leg of my flight to Kathmandu.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
His name was Dwayne.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Dwayne was a twenty something hipster American and when he told me he was a “Purpose Consultant” - I first thought he said “Porpoise Consultant”.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
That would have been far more interesting.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Although I chatted with the hipster purpose dude for a couple of hours – they were amongst the longest of my life. </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
He was loud and boring and he had an accumulation of foodstuff in his incredibly annoying hipster beard.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The desire to set the consultant on fire was as powerful as it was compelling.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I resisted.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Obviously.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Dwayne told me that a clearly defined corporate purpose is now essential for all organisations. He told me that there are three that are essential for any brand.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
He was very passionate.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The three purposes that are now fundamental are apparently financial, customer and social.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The concise version of the Oxford dictionary defines Purpose as being: <em>“The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists”</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Financial survival is of course a necessity for any business but it is very heartening to now hear that the “Purpose” that is being talked about in the corporate world is a lot deeper.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I told the consultant thus.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
He grinned manically and flashed his perfect and pure white teeth at me and told me that he lives now to assist companies improving the lives of their customers and being of benefit to society as a whole.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Dwayne said that Companies are beginning to determine what really matters to their employees, customers and stakeholders and they are developing business models based on a concept and platform of actual care.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Nice huh?</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I told Dwayne that I though that the concept of balancing profit with purpose was a very fine thing that has no downside at all and plenty of upside.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I told him that I used to work for an Investment Bank whose purpose I think was to dominate the world.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
By any means possible.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“What about mission statements?”</em> I asked of the hipster.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“Separate and redundant”</em> he retorted.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have been out of corporate life for a while now.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Dwayne told me that there are many companies and organisations around the world that operate with a very defined purpose.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
He mentioned the Body Shop and told me that they have operated with a mission of “Enrichment” as their purpose for many years. The hipster told me that the <em>mission</em> of the Body Shop is to manufacture products and packaging in such a manner that they not harm the environment. Their <em>purpose</em> is the intent to regenerate 75 million meters of land and build bio-bridges for at-risk communities by the year 2020. He told me that the company also instills its values on its substantial supply chain.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I asked Dwayne if the Body Shop were a client of his and he told me they were not.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I didn't write any of these facts about the Body Shop down. </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I Googled them a few minutes ago.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Quite annoyingly the automatic spell check function of LinkedIn is changing some words to the American way of mis-spelling. Interestingly though it has accepted the word "Googled". </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I told Dwayne that the Body Shop was an Australian company.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It’s not.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I felt a sudden rush of patriotism.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I don't know why.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The Founder – Anita Roddick – is British.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Most Americans don’t know the difference.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Dwayne didn’t.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The British Chef Jamie Oliver’s purpose for his “15” brand of restaurants is to provide opportunity – through cooking and Food & Beverage services – to assist disadvantaged youth. I would think that most NGO's have a very clearly defined purpose.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
When I asked what might the purpose of a company like Phillip Morris be – Dwayne told me that they might declare that they produce tobacco in an environmentally sustainable manner and they provide employment, education and healthcare in the countries they operate. Phillip Morris is an enormous multi-national cigarette-manufacturing organisation</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Their products have killed millions.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
When I asked the purpose of an armament manufacturer might be Dwayne started down the road of providing materials to ‘Fight for Liberty”.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I avoided the diatribe by going to the bathroom then on return to my seat I immediately lay back the seat and feigned sleep.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have asked many Nepalese friends what would they think if their daughter was selected as a <em>kumari</em> and whether this was considered to be a great honour.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Most didn’t think there was any honour involved.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
In a manner that is typically Nepalese – they told me that they would just accept that was the way things are.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Things are changing though.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Knowing my interest in the <em>kumari</em> and my curiosity about happens to the little girls when their life as <em>kumari</em> ends - one of my friends sent me some articles about Samita.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
A Nepalese photojournalist followed her life since she was first identified and gave the world the first ever glimpse into the life of the kumari.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Samita returned to her family and went to school for the first time aged fourteen. The transition period was described as being ‘very difficult” however Samita is reported to be doing very well now and she has learned to play the <em>sarod</em> – a guitar-like Indian stringed instrument.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She is devoted to her music and she does not talk much about her time as <em>kumari</em>.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Other to say that she felt she lost her childhood but it was worth it in service to her faith.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She thought that being <em>kumari</em> was her purpose in life.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
That’s kind of sad but very beautiful.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The first <em>kumari</em> to speak out was a girl named Rashmila Shakya, who is now 38-years-old.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She is the lady I met yesterday.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I have met her several times before and I like her a lot.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya was a <em>kumari</em> more than 20 years ago and in 2005 she wrote and published a memoir that I have read several times over.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It is called <em>“From Goddess to Mortal”</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It is enthralling reading.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya describes being selected when she was four years old.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"I don't remember much from the beginning because I was so young,"</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"By the time you're around 6 or 7, you start realizing you're the living goddess and you get used to being worshiped."</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Once selected Shakya was whisked off to a palace-temple where eight attendants waited upon her for the next eight years.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She stayed indoors except for 13 annual festivals when she appeared in public on a chariot.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The feet of a <em>kumari</em> must never touch the ground.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I may have mentioned this before.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I often repeat myself.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I often repeat myself.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Like all <em>kumari</em> before her, Shakya was fed specially prepared meals that she ate while seated alone on a raised platform.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She received almost no education.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
A goddess already knows everything.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
"<em>I was left with nothing but a gold brocade dress and my memories," </em>she wrote in her memoir.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"I was virtually illiterate."</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“When I look back it was a very lonely existence but I knew nothing else at the time. All the wise and devout around me believed I was a goddess – so I was a goddess.”</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“I knew nothing else”</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Even though Shakya’s parents and siblings were able to visit her freely at the temple, they could do so only during the day and living together again was a difficult transition for everyone.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya jokes that they "worshiped" her for a few days but she was soon required to help out with the cooking and cleaning ad other housework - skills she had never before learned.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I could tell by the way that she looked as she reflected on these times - that there was great difficulty in the adjustment.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I could see some despair in her eyes.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya told me that she recalled the shock of sharing a bedroom with her sisters, coping without attendants, and being out in public. She had difficulty even walking at first and she had not shared anything with anyone before. As Kumari her attendants catered to her every whim.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She told me that she had absolutely no social skills and no idea how to even make friends.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
It is to her absolute credit that Shakya was determined not to waste her life and she commenced her school sitting with 5-year-olds learning everything from scratch.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She caught up rapidly though and she went on to not only became the first former <em>kumari</em> to travel abroad and to graduate from college, but she was also instrumental in endeavouring to ‘modernize’ the <em>kumari</em> process to make sure that future <em>kumari</em> received a proper education. Now the <em>kumari</em> receive tutoring in their temple life to prepare them for life as mere mortals.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya is now a software developer who still lives in the family home. She likes shopping and watching Bollywood movies in her spare time.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
There is some obscurity as to when the <em>kumari</em> system commenced with some scholars believing it commenced in the year 769 however others believe it may have been as late as 1768.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
There is agreement though that the <em>kumari</em> are a link between god and king and they are undoubtedly revered now as much as they have been in the past.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Keep in mind that Nepal has only been a democracy for less than 30 years following thousands of years as a monarchy where there has always been a connection between royalty and deities.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
To a beef-eating outsider such as me it would appear that Nepali society has not fully resolved how to handle the royal <em>kumari</em> system in this Maoist post-royal age.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
This is a country steeped in tradition and some Ministers in Nepalese parliament today still solicit the <em>kumari</em> for her blessing for successful rule - despite them representing a secular state.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
As the twenty first century has seeped into the mountain kingdom there are a few more younger people who are questioning the institution's viability and fewer parents are offering up their daughters for this life. I understand there has been refusals in some cases.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The Maoists have publicly condemned it as a “relic of feudalism”, the former defense minister for the country termed it “child exploitation”, and in 2014 Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the government to safeguard <em>kumari</em> health and human rights.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The Kumari Ghar, or palace-temple in central Katmandu is a spectacular five-story red brick courtyard building with dark wood inlay. It was built in 1757 and mercifully survived last year’s earthquakes mostly intact.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The building has high walls surrounding it with signs warning we foreigners not to enter the <em>kumari's</em> living quarters or to take pictures of her if she peeks out.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
We eaters of beef are considered to be unclean.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Perhaps due in part to the age of the institution or the child goddess' colorful presence at Nepal's many festivals, the <em>kumari</em> tradition remains popular amid residual belief that she does connect Nepal's leadership and the gods.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“What is the purpose?”</em> I’m sure someone like Dwayne might ask.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"There's a belief the kumari gives the state more legitimacy,"</em> says Suresh Dhakal, an anthropologist with Katmandu's Tribhuvan University.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"So even under a republic, it will continue for some time."</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Other Nepalese, like sociologist Sanjeev Pokhrel, expect the <em>kumari</em> to gradually lose its meaning and eventually evolving into little more than a cultural sideshow and tourist attraction.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"Like the panda for China"</em> is his comparison.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Shakya told me that she doesn’t remember being unhappy when she was <em>kumari</em> but she said that she feels happy now.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
She hopes to one day design environmentally friendly houses for Nepalese villages.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Like most past <em>kumari</em> she remains a minor celebrity around Kathmandu. People stopped and stared at her and some came over and smiled and touched her as we talked.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"People still recognize me on the street, which is a good feeling,"</em> she told me.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>"They don't ever ask me about 'descending from heaven,' but they are curious."</em></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The possibly still ignorant pessimist in me might ask if the whole <em>kumari</em> process is one of child exploitation.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
A ritualistic function to placate devotees.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
I don’t think so but who am I though to make such a judgment?</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The child goddesses may in fact be divine and the reverence in which they are held may be warranted and they don’t need any other purpose.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-6846647905314884622015-11-07T20:47:00.000+08:002015-11-07T20:47:54.793+08:00The Festival of lights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAaHz8KDKW5A8KzK1Xy61kzJNYX5YZxVcYimELwd3cTfUmX-T3EL1WNgxy9fEbQoQ_4gY3WkFCSFLEkvWcOWjraPxIsuZjcH5aK3op1f8pUsowPiQb6QV3Gh2jRUZ1s-g_F0m2zk54nc/s1600/nepalesepolicedogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAaHz8KDKW5A8KzK1Xy61kzJNYX5YZxVcYimELwd3cTfUmX-T3EL1WNgxy9fEbQoQ_4gY3WkFCSFLEkvWcOWjraPxIsuZjcH5aK3op1f8pUsowPiQb6QV3Gh2jRUZ1s-g_F0m2zk54nc/s320/nepalesepolicedogs.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 150%;">The Indians know
it as </span><i style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Deepavali</i><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 150%;"> or </span><i style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Diwali</i><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 150%;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Here in Nepal it
is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tihar</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is a happy
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is a party
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">With all the
lights – it is also a very bright time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">I am back in Nepal
and all is good in my world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Not so much for
the Nepalese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">A blockade of all
petrol that arrives by land from India has crippled the country for the past
month. I saw a queue of motorbikes and cars waiting for their weekly ten litres
ration that had more than 6000 vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">My friend Babu
says he waits three days for his ration and he has also bought petrol on the
black market. Fuel prices fluctuate wildly in Nepal but about one hundred and
eighty rupees a litre is about the norm. The black market rate in Kathmandu is
six hundred rupees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The gangsters are
really cashing in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Driving is Babu’s
sole business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">He is suffering
badly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">So too are the
post-earthquake re-construction projects which commenced with earnest last
month when the monsoons subsided but most have now all ground to a halt because
of the fuel crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Tens of thousands
of Nepali still live in tents in their villages and throughout the Kathmandu
valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">More than one
hundred Nepalese villages were completely destroyed in the two earthquakes and
only a handful has commenced rebuilding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Hundreds of
schools and health centres and public buildings need to be constructed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">With winter fast
approaching the situation is becoming direr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The situation in
Nepal is often dire. As is always the case, it is the disadvantaged that suffer
the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The young and the
elderly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The resilience of
the Nepali people is astounding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It really is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">As far as I can
ascertain, the reason for the fuel blockade by the Indians is political. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">They don’t like
the new constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Nearly everything
in Nepal comes from India and much of what little is produced here goes to
India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Particularly the
electricity that is generated by the large hydro dams in the Himalaya.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Very little – if
any of that seems to stay in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Black outs and
load shedding are the norm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The price of
kerosene and cooking gas has also trebled in the last month and many people
have reverted to cooking using wood fuel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is much
cheaper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Cylinders of gas
that would normally cost 1500 rupee now cost 6500.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Few households can
afford it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Regardless - next
week in the mountain villages and across the Kathmandu Valley clay lamps the
Nepali call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">diyas</i> will be lit in
households and businesses. These lamps will often burn gee. These are known
locally and appropriately as butter lamps and the smell permeates in Kathmandu
and all throughout Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The smell of gee
lamps always reminds me of the Tihar festival in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Brass <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">diyas</i> burn in all the Temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">In those that are
still standing after the earthquakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">In Patan – where I
am right now - beautiful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rangoli</i> are
now appearing in courtyards and in building foyers. These are gorgeous and
intricate patterns made from coloured rice and flower petals as homage to the
Hindu gods and Goddesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">On the weekend
families will start their own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rangoli</i>
on the floors of their living rooms of their homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is a welcoming
invitation to the Hindu deity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">It is a
come-on-in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">There are five
days in the Tihar festival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The first is
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kaag Tihar</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kwah Puja </i>and it is the worship of both
crows and ravens. The craws of these birds symbolize sadness and grief in
Hinduism so devotees make offerings to keep such emotions away from their
homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Offerings of
sweets are placed on the roofs of houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The second day is
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kukur Tihar</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Khicha Puja</i> – and sometimes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Narka Chaturdashi</i> - and it is the day of
the dog. In Nepali Hinduism dogs are the messengers of the God of Death, Lord
Yamaraj. On this day the pooches of Nepal are given great treats and are
treated with much reverence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The night noises
of Kathmandu for me are the barking of the street dogs and the crawing of the
crows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">When I arrive back
as I lay in bed waiting for sleep to take me I always know I am here by these
sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Like the pre-dawn
morning chants of monks they are comforting to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">They bring me
peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The morning of the
third day of the Tihar festival is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gai
Tihar</i> – and it is worship of the cow time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">Cows are symbols
of prosperity and wealth and the Nepali Hindus make garlands of marigolds that
the locals call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sayapatri</i> – and they
glam up all of the cows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">The evening of the
third day of the festival the Goddess of Wealth – whose name is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laxmi</i>, is thanked for her gift of prosperity
and this is where all the lights are lit up in thanks and the partying starts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">There is much
singing and dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">On the fourth day of Tihar, there are a couple of
varieties of pujas depending on the people's specific cultural background. It
is mostly observed as <i>Goru Tihar</i> or <i>Goru Puja</i> – which is the
worship of the oxen. However people who follow <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vaishnavism</i> Hinduism perform something called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Govardhan Puja</i>, which is the worship of the holy Goverdhan Mountain.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Cow dung is taken as representative of the mountain and it
is bowed to and worshiped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I shit you not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">On this day the majority of the Newar community perform something
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mha Puja</i> – which is basically a
worship of one’s self. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Think self contemplation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This day is also seen as the beginning of the new Nepal
Sambat calendar year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the Nepal calendar it is currently the year 2072.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">There is a reason why and I have written about it before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Look it up if you want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am not Wikipedia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The fifth and last day of Tihar is called <i>Bhai Tika</i>
or <i>Kija Puja</i> and it commences with sisters applying <i>tika</i> to the
foreheads of their brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This is to ensure a long life and to thank them for the
protection that they provide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Being a big brother is serious stuff in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hindus believe that Yamraj, the God of Death, visited his
sister, the Goddess Yamuna, on this day and she applied the <i>tika</i> on his
forehead and she garlanded him and fed him special dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Together, they ate sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves
to their hearts' content. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Upon departing, Yamraj gave Yamuna a special gift as a
token of his affection and, in return, Yamuna gave him a lovely gift that she
had made with her own hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives <i>tilak</i>
from his sister would never die on that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So - sisters make a special garland for their brothers
from a flower that takes months to wilt, symbolizing the sister's prayer for
her brother's long life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Brothers sit on the floor while their sisters perform
their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)"><i><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">puja</span></i></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The <i>puja</i> follows a traditional ritual in which
sisters circle their brothers, dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher
and applying oil to their brother's hair. They then apply a seven-colour <i>tika</i>
on the brother's foreheads. Next, brothers give <i>tikas</i> to their sisters
in the same fashion along with an exchange of gifts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This ritual is practiced regardless of whether the
brother is younger or older than the sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Those without a sister or brother join relatives or
friends for <i>tika</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This festival strengthens the close relationship between brothers
and sisters. In addition to these, the Newar people make colourful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ashtamangala</i> mandalas and recite chants
in accordance with ancient Tantric rituals. Along with the seven-coloured <i>tika</i>,
sisters provide brothers with sweets and a special <i>Makhamali</i> garland, as
well as a sacred cotton thread that is similar to Janai thread. It is worn on
the wrist and is meant to protect their bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Tihar festival is very much a family affair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Many of the Hindu festivals involve a reunion with
families and they are wonderfully colorful and particularly nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Family stuff normally is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The five nights of the light festival of the Tihar in Nepal
and Deepavali across India are as spectacular as they are beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I can’t think of any other place I would rather be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-27110101436046937682015-10-27T12:14:00.001+08:002015-10-27T12:14:14.289+08:00Shoot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">I am
now insured for injury or death if caused in part or completely by acts of
terrorism or unlawful actions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
USA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
unsure if such cover was on my travel insurance and so I rang and checked after
I watched news reports this evening another young white American male who took
a gun to school and tried to kill all of his classmates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
succeeded in killing ten and maiming many others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These
mass shootings – that occur mostly in schools – occur every thirteen days here
in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have
been happening for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
frightening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
madness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
however insurable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
rang up the US Agent of insurance company that I bought my travel insurance from
he told me that being in the US meant that I was now more than seven hundred
and eighty times likely to be shot than where I bought my Singapore policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
him that I wasn’t that surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Insurance Agent’s name was Hank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
asked Hank if I was covered for death or injury caused by acts or terrorism he
asked me if I was affiliated with or the subject of any organisation or any sect
that promoted acts of violence or hatred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
Hank only the Human Race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He snorted
in gruff acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
some clicking and clacking on his keyboard Hank told me that I might not be
covered if it turned out any injuries or death I sustained was as a result of
me being a specific target of a terrorist action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Like a jihad Hank?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Against me specifically?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t
think that I am the target of any extremists but I can’t say for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What about being maimed or killed
collaterally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Covered” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hank informed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A million for medical expenses and two
million for death”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
thought these seemed sufficient amounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Will you be visiting any schools whilst
you are here?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Hank asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
him that I was not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hank
told me that the campus of an American high school was statistically the most
likely place to be shot dead or maimed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fancy
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A male
American between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five would likely undertake the
shooting and they will be armed with multiple automatic or semi automatic
weapons and many surplus rounds of ammunition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are generally armed to the hilt and have a thought-out and sometimes drawn out
plan of homicide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
shootings would most likely occur in the late morning or early afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even
teenage terrorists are late risers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">American
citizens own an estimated 270 million guns and a little over 3 million new guns
are manufactured and sold each year. One third of the population is armed. In
the first half of this year alone nearly 7000 Americans were shot dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hank
told me that he thought I would also be covered if I were maimed or killed as
collateral damage if I happened to be walking past a school and another such
shooting were to go be going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
Hank that I would completely avoid knowingly going near any educational
institutions here in America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are dangerous places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
asked Hank if my insurance also extended to cover me in the event of an
earthquake or a Tsunami.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
he asked me my whereabouts in the US and I replied that I was in Los Angeles he
made some more tut tutting noise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A force majeure. Not covered,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Hank replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Seismically a very dangerous place to
be”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Smack on the San Andreas Fault and
overdue for a big one”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I agreed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
negotiated additional cover for earthquakes and Tsunamis – including search,
rescue and repatriation cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
wasn’t cheap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
in Kathmandu in Nepal when the second earthquake struck there earlier this year
and I thought for sure that I was then going to die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw buildings
crumble and fall and I saw many people perish in only a minute and a half of
violent waves of shaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Never
before have I tasted such fear and fallibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
truly terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
this to Hank whilst he was taking my credit card details for payment of my
extra coverage – which now included Identity Theft. It is a major problem here
in the US and television shows are punctuated by advertisements telling
Americans that one case of Identity theft occurs every three seconds. There are
also major television advertising campaigns promoting the long-term use of anti
anxiety medication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
whole families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
quite depressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
asked Hank if there was any other insurance cover he thought might be necessary
for my rather long stay in the US we went through the limits and exceptions to
the policy I had bought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hank
told me that I was statistically more likely to be shot, run over or drowned
than any other loss event and he told me to be careful where I went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
repeated his earlier advice that I should avoid schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
asked Hank if he thought I would be safer if I bought a firearm whilst I was
over here and he said that is it probably wasn’t such a bad idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
told me that he had a couple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
asked Hank that if I bought a gun here would the Insurance Company give me an
“I’m packing” discount on my excess and he told me that he thought that they
wouldn’t but he said it was a good idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He in
fact said it was a “mighty fine idea”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
fired a gun once before and the friends with whom I am staying have a couple of
firearms here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
seen them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of
them is a Gloch pistol and another is an enormous Magnum - and my friends are
licensed to own and fire them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
wont let me shoot them though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Repeatedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
we were having dinner outside the other night on a balmy Vegas summer evening a
drone buzzed in out of nowhere and sat hovering in my friends garden - less
than ten meters from where we were eating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
were all a bit surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
wasn’t particularly big and it made a quite soft buzzing noise as it sat there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Observing
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
asked if anyone could see whether or not anyone could tell if it was weaponised
and no one could say for certain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
called for the Gloch and the Magnum – and there was a bit of a rushed
consultation amongst the Americans. I thought it would be an almost immediate
and automatic response here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blow
it away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of
them grabbed the hose and sprayed the drone – which quickly made it zip up and
scoot away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So we
assume it was at the very least camera-carrying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The US
army use the same ones to shoot people and to blow things up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
the excitement of the desert drone incident my American friends told me that
there are quite a lot of drones buzzing their way around the Nevada and
Californian skies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyone
can go and buy and build a kit and quite a few obviously do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although
the water drenching solution to drive the drone away was effective, the
engineers and lawyers amongst the group quickly suggested that having an automatic
drone intrusion system would be the way to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
suggested that installing a drone defense system where your own drones would
detect and respond to any drone intrusion on your property and then blow them
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seek
and destroy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the American way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-67168379715377639372015-09-11T19:07:00.003+08:002015-09-12T12:36:23.220+08:00Forest People<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">I went to the
pharmacist this evening.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is much haze
again here in Singapore as the Indonesians continue their insane deforestation
programs to plant palm oil by setting vast tracts of forest on fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Palm oil is touted
as being a diverse and environmentally friendly product but when one considers
the enormous damage done in clearing the land – it is in fact horrific. The
Banking sector proclaimed last year that they will dissuade such atrocious
practices by imposing financial penalties or restricted credit on palm oil
producers - but I have yet to see any impact at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">None whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some people
believe that there are a number of Singaporean Companies that actually own – or
have a substantial interest - in the palm oil companies that are wreaking such
havoc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps even the
Singapore Government themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The smoke clouds
that are generated by the burns are enormous and much precious wildlife is
killed. Some of the beautiful and already endangered Orangutans have been
killed in these fires and governments seem powerless to prevent this
catastrophe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The name "<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">orangutan</span>" is derived from the Malay
and Indonesian <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">words</span> “orang” <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">meaning</span> "person" - and
“hutan” - <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">meaning</span>
"forest". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thus they are the
"Forest People". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their genetic link
to we humans is incredibly close yet their behaviours are very distant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The orangutan do
not start wars or murder species and they never burn down the environments of
other creatures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been to see
these incredibly intelligent and gentle ape species in both Borneo and on the
Indonesian Island of Sumatra and like - but unlike - the smoke from the haze,
the encounters simply took my breath away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are rare times
when to witness such beauty and delight and joy elicits tears moreso than
laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was such a
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say it is very
distressing to think that man is destroying their habitat would be a vast
understatement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is an
abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been much
hardened by the great cruelty and injustices that are a constant in this world
but I was greatly touched and moved by seeing the Orangutans in the wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such moments are
as rare as they are magical and we need to snatch them when we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The memories are indelible.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The extinction of
the Orangutan is inevitable unless we stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It may already be
too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We in Singapore
and Malaysia choke on the smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We call it the
burning season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So anyway, I was
feeling a bit wheezy and I had run out of Ventolin. I have occasional bouts of
asthma. Yes Mum - I know that this is likely to some degree smoking related yet
I definitely suffer more in Singapore during the burning season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I normally stock
up on inhalers when I travel. Ventolin is available over-the-counter everywhere
except Singapore but I forgot to re-supply myself when I last travelled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I knew it was
going to be a struggle to get the pharmacist to sell me any for we have danced
this waltz before. However the local doctor's clinic was closed and I thought I
would give it a crack anyway. I walked down to my local pharmacy and confronted
the old fella behind the counter. He is a local man named Ken from whom I have
bought stuff before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For many years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have mostly purchased
stomach related medications that I stock up on for when I travel to India or
Nepal. I have found that it is best to be prepared for stomach ailments when
one travels to India - so this pharmacist and I know each other well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Good
evening uncle"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The term “uncle”
is one of endearment in Singapore that is used generically to refer to elderly
men. Yes we also use “aunty” for the old girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I am
feeling a bit wheezy and need some Ventolin please. Can Ken?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Lah” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I
added – just for the hell of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The words “can” and “cannot” are used liberally by the natives on the
Island – as is the non-sensical word “lah” - and I too enjoy their use.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Good
evening"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
he smiled back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot
lah. You need to get from the doctor"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<i>Ah I know
this Ken and you also know that I know this,”</i> I replied<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But the
doctor's clinic is closed and I think I might need some Ventolin tonight. I
need some now in fact"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You need
to see the doctor tomorrow then"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"OK lah"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was still
smiling when I said this but I was exaggerating my wheeze a little. I was
trying to extract a little sympathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Why don't
you just sell me one inhaler uncle? I won't tell anyone if you don't"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he repeated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was still
smiling himself and although his wrinkled face showed some signs of sympathy I
knew he wasn't going to budge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It is
against the law", </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">he
repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But I
don't think anyone can abuse Ventolin can they?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I implored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Surely no
one has overdosed on Ventolin before have they?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It is
against the Law. If you cannot breathe you must go to the Hospital"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh
well"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I hope I
last through the night then Ken. I don’t wish my death to be on your conscience"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is pretty
much what I expected so I wasn't too surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I was turning
to leave Ken said, <i>"Mr. Peter you should take some crocodile meat"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wasn't sure that
I heard him correctly. So I said, <i>"Pardon me?"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You
should take some crocodile meat. For your asthma". <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He looked deadly
serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<i>Where
should I take this meat uncle? And from where do I get it?"</i> I
enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It will
cure your asthma"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
he beamed - without answering either of my questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the Singaporean way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<i>OK"</i>
I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Give me
an inhaler of crocodile meat please then"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pulled out my
wallet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It does
not come in an inhaler"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Alright"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I replied<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Give me a
bottle of crocodile meat pills then"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he once again stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A theme was
emerging here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You must
get the fresh meat of a crocodile"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You
have?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
asked - knowing the answer already<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I do
not"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he
smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"So where
can I get it?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"From
Australia"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
he retorted with delight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<i>Cannot
Ken"</i> I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It is
against the law</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Not in
Singapore"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">With some smugness
I might add.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can't buy a
harmless life saving drug like Ventolin over the counter here but the
pharmacists are pushing asthmatics to purchase and consume the raw flesh of a
viciously dangerous animal from Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bizarreness of
this place never ceases to amaze me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just Googled asthma
and crocodile meat and yes, Chinese Medicine Practitioners in Singapore do in
fact recommend the consumption of raw crocodile meat for the prevention of
asthma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They don't tell
you where to get it from though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">I
will have to send home for a crocodile tomorrow</span><!--EndFragment-->
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-79080592652118221742015-09-06T19:07:00.000+08:002015-09-06T19:07:14.442+08:00A Boy on a Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBV0q3kKSFGM-c536lkR7ZzyqsyQ3U878uxSr5mn1vZMufDpOWz13Tb18jPSc1d791EEhJF4v2hJeTNmDZEH5th4jGdo_6rKzo9sWKJEFmttiwhXhZhyphenhypheno7Jrxq4bCNuW5AH23KJXitko/s1600/4427921003_c12b7b7d8c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBV0q3kKSFGM-c536lkR7ZzyqsyQ3U878uxSr5mn1vZMufDpOWz13Tb18jPSc1d791EEhJF4v2hJeTNmDZEH5th4jGdo_6rKzo9sWKJEFmttiwhXhZhyphenhypheno7Jrxq4bCNuW5AH23KJXitko/s320/4427921003_c12b7b7d8c_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">On breezy evenings
I open my front and balcony doors so the wind can flurry through.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singapore is hot
and humid all the time and I like to freshen up my tiny apartment with wafts
and drafts whenever I can. My English neighbours from across the hall are
like-minded and on occasion wee Liam wanders in and we sit and chat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam is nearly
five years old and he loves Postman Pat and chocolate ice cream and his little
brother Daniel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was sitting on
my sofa this evening feeling self absorbed and pithy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watching the news
has been horrifying the past few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">More horrifying
that it normally is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The conflict in
Syria seems never ending and the plight of the enormous wave of refugees being
forced from their homes and fleeing for their lives is heart breaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam walked into
my apartment dressed in his Fireman Sam pajamas and he asked me straight out
why I was looking so sad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don't muck
around with small talk and idle chitchat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told Liam that the
news about what was going in the world was distressing me. In a moment of
tenderness and benevolence and kindness – and in a flash of innocence that only
a five year old possesses - Liam gave me an almighty hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was as welcome
as it was unexpected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My television was
on at the time and images of refugees desperately trying to board trains in
Hungary was on and then the most despairing of sights came on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The little
3-year-old dead Syrian boy floating face down in the shallows of a Turkish
beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a haunting
thing to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is an indelible
image that has rapidly become symbolic of the horror of the conflict that has
been raging in Syria since 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw Liam looking
at the TV and I immediately grabbed the remote and turned the television off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam then asked me
if that was the little boy who drowned in Greece with his Mummy and his brother
and I told him that it was. He informed me that he had seen the picture before
at home and his own Mum had explained that a lot of families were trying to
escape a country called Syria where bad people were making wars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told him this
was true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam told me that
he thought that the bad people should stop fighting and he thought that they
might if they saw pictures of little boys drowned and then everyone could go
home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
him that I wished that this were true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
him that I thought that some people thought that <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">war</span> might sometimes seem be a necessary evil but I thought that no
matter how necessary people think it may be - it is always an evil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
Liam that I did not think that anyone would learn how to live together in peace
by killing each other's <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">children</span>.<u style="text-underline: #002C84;"><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At Liam's
suggestion we made a cubby by putting a couple of blankets over two chairs and
we sat in it on the ground and I put on one of Liam’s videos that he keeps over
here for his visits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We watched Postman
Pat together on my big screen television. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We drank chocolate
milk and Liam explained to me again who all the characters were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He taught me the
Postman Pat song. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His dad Warwick
poked his head in early on in the piece and Liam told his Dad that I was
feeling very sad because of seeing the people having to leave their homes
because of the war. He then asked him if it would be all right if I came over
for a sleepover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was one of
those moments that I could contain neither the tears nor the laughter and I
tried in vain to blink away the wetness that clouded my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life is full of
ups and downs and peaks and troughs and moments of tenderness that take my
breath away. There are climactic times when clarity and peace and joy strike
like a thunderbolt and one sits above the clouds. This was such a moment and it
was an apogee of sorts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The empathy and
virtuosity of little children astounds me at times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It really does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told Warwick
that much as I would like to come over for a sleepover I had to get up early
the next morning so I would have to take a rain check this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam’s dad nodded
his understanding and he told me to send Liam home when he became a nuisance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liam is never a
nuisance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Postman Pat
finished Liam wanted to talk more about the refugees and I pondered how much I
should explain such horror to a five-year-old boy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He asked me what
the war was about and it was a very good question. I told him it was just bad
people doing mad things but I think few people do actually know what this
conflict is all about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It started as a
civil war nearly five years ago with a large group of civilians holding
protests demanding President Assad’s resignation. The armed forces came down
hard on the protesters and shot many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which triggered
more protests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The violence has
escalated ever since and more than 220,000 Syrians have been killed. More than
4 million Syrians have fled their homeland and the UN estimates that nearly 8
million are displaced internally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The population of
the country is – or was – only 22 million people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neighboring
countries of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have been inundated with refugees for
the past 4 years and it is only in recent weeks that a tipping point has been
reached as more and more terrified Syrians have fled their homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The war has become
more than a civil war too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has become a
sectarian battle that pitches the country’s Sunni Kurd majority against Assad’s
Shia Alawite sect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Muslims are
killing Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Russians and Iranians
have been providing aid to the Assad government with weaponry and Arab states like
Qatar and Turkey and Saudi Arabia are helping the Sunnis. As too are France and
the US and the United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The United Nations
have as usual proved completely impotent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To add to the
terror and to complicate things further the terrible extremist group the self-named
Jihadists – the Islamic State - are raging a war within a war and have taken
over large swathes of the country and reign in terror.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is hard to see
how this nightmare will all end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t explain
any of this to Liam of course. I just told him that the people he had seen on
television were very frightened because of the war that was going on in their
country but they were very brave to leave their homes. I told him that leaving
was not an option – it was a necessity - and it was dangerous as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told him that it
was why little children had died trying to escape on boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though he
didn’t ask, I reassured Liam that we were quite safe here in Singapore but the
whole world needed to help these people and wars just had to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told me that he
agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We put another
Postman Pat video on but after awhile Liam fell asleep. I picked him up and
carried him home and I put him into his own bed. He was clutching his little
plastic dinosaur effigy tightly in his little fist – the green one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told me once
that it was his favourite thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He roused as I lay
him down and as I bent over to tuck him in and I planted a goodnight kiss on
his forehead - he handed me his dinosaur and he told me that I could keep it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told me not to
be sad anymore and that he was my friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The little
figurine is standing up on the table next to me now as I write this. A wave of
sorrow is flooding through me again as I think of all the little Syrian
children who must be so frightened right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wars are so
dreadful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wonder how can we
keep having wars on terrorism when war is an act of terrorism itself. I know
that the situation in Syria is complex and emotive and fanatics are difficult
to stop but the world needs to assist the hundreds of thousands of people
displaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are human
beings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are little kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They need to be
provided with assistance with dignity and respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There simply can’t
be any more little children drowning at sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No more little
children dying in war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No more dying at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All I can do is
hope that perhaps my children’s children can live in a better world and I might
one day be asked, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey grandpa, what was
a war?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will return the
dinosaur to Liam tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't get the
bloody Postman Pat song out of my head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He has a black and
white cat you know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is driving me
mad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-23125742719401031902015-08-07T15:16:00.004+08:002015-08-07T15:16:49.358+08:00Millennials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m_j179MxyoEg15gYJ4wPX0mbCYO_7NUZDCQWMIPBr2IRwP9XH8x9rNmxS0m1r_aSTnpp2OJoQZuE5O6EghsIyLCKzFFfwsYPEgaiw3BoKFwHG-GkAQ701yi5_cRBg2txS-CWgw1tJ20/s1600/images-28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m_j179MxyoEg15gYJ4wPX0mbCYO_7NUZDCQWMIPBr2IRwP9XH8x9rNmxS0m1r_aSTnpp2OJoQZuE5O6EghsIyLCKzFFfwsYPEgaiw3BoKFwHG-GkAQ701yi5_cRBg2txS-CWgw1tJ20/s1600/images-28.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">I hail from an era when a mouse was just a
small rodent, an apple was fruit, a Mac was a raincoat and a cursor was someone
who said ‘fuck’ a lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hipsters I think were a brand of jeans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The millennials are creating a new language
that I sometimes struggle to comprehend and some of them </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">are really pissing me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
word ‘millennial’ is not recognised by the spell-check function. A red
underscore appears under the word every time I write it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Millennial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
just did it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
annoying but unsurprising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much
of what the millennials do and say is contrived, abbreviated, incoherent or
disposable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are relentless in their pursuit of Apps believing that this is the way to
instant fame and fortune.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
probably is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
really annoying that the word “App” has been accepted by my spell check
function.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
young colleague of mine recently bought to my attention the fact that Airbnb
had created an Asian headquarters here in Singapore and that they were
recruiting for personnel. She showed me an advertisement for a role titled
“Regional Head of Trust & Safety” and commented that it would be impossible
to even get an interview for such a company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
assured her it would be easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
expressed doubt so to prove my point I immediately write an application email
and sent it off. I used the words ‘awesome’ liberally in my letter and I was
asked to be available for a Skype interview with a guy in San Francisco within
fourty-eight hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
email invitation I think had more ‘awesomes’ in it than my letter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
position description of the role that was forwarded to me was drivel and it was
very quickly apparent that I would never want to work for Airbnb. I thought the
interview would be amusing though and it certainly was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
interview was with an Indian American guy named Dwayne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was
a Bombay type of Indian rather than the red skin native type.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
desire to scalp him though was powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I
suspected Dwayne was in his twenties and was a dweeb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I knew
that he was going to ask me all sorts of strange millennial type interview
questions and I was prepared for the bizarre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
been around the block a few times and have been on the other side of the desk
many times in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I went
on the attack from the opening and started to interview Dwayne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good evening to you Dwayne”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I started with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How long have you been with Airbnb and
did you come from Google or Apple?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
looked alarmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I have been here six months from Google”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he stuttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nice one”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s a very brave move – Google are a
dynamic and brilliant and awesome and enviable company so I can assume you
moved so you could be there to cash in on the inevitable float? You are
enjoying life there at Airbnb? Is it awesome?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It is awesome” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">he replied without answering
either of my questions<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Will the lawsuits ever end there in the
US do you think on the fact that your providers are disrupting the hotel
industry and are not paying tax?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m not sure,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> confessed Dwayne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think we have resolved things in New
York” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No you haven’t actually Dwayne” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I responded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You don’t really think that the public
are swallowing the idea that Airbnb and Uber are actually altruistic and have
purposely created this ‘sharing economy’ concept do you Dwayne?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
looked quite panicked at the question and shuffled some papers at his desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m not sure,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m only new here”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The new ads you have are a bit creepy
though you must admit though Dwayne aren’t they?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I persisted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
didn’t say anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I mean things like ‘go look through
their windows so you can share their views’ is a bit weird but ‘sleep in their
beds so that you may know their dreams’ is a shocker don’t you think?” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I got
nothing back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
could however begin to smell his fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Perhaps I could ask you some questions
Peter”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Dwayne
said in a trembling voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure Dwayne. Fire away”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What do you know about Airbnb and its
growth?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It is a phenomena”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I unhesitatingly replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I understand that like many Apps it was
conceived by a couple of Californian geeks who lucked out on a concept that has
been tried before but rumor has it that they succeeded by black hatting off
Craig’s List accommodation lists and then it all took off with the London
Olympics”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Black
hatting is an Internet geek thing that secretly mirrors another site and
bounces them to a host site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Do you think the black hatting is true
Dwayne?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t know”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he stuttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
walked through a couple of mundane questions about my professional background before
Dwayne shuffled to a page with the silly questions that I knew he would
inevitably ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
wasn’t very confident by this stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If you were an animal what sort of
animal would you be?” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">he
enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
old chestnut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I would be a wombat Dwayne. The type
that eats roots and leaves.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is an Australian joke that few Americans would understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There is no acrimony in the wombat world
Dwayne” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
added.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I see”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he muttered and made some furious notes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
obvious that he had no idea what a wombat was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If someone sitting next to you on a
plane persisted in using their cell phone well after the announcement to turn
it off because the plane was landing what would you do?” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dwayne asked me anxiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I would immediately set them on fire”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I retorted straight back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dwayne
looked visibly shocked and he again made some furious notes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
eventually got around to talking about the role on offer and when Dwayne asked
me what I thought the position would entail I suggested that it would be likely
rapidly leading teams that dealt with Airbnb people’s complaints about their
houses being used as crack dens and pop up brothels and trying to keep such
news out of the media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
he asked me why I would like to work for Airbnb I told him that I was most
attracted by not only being able to ride my skateboard to work but also being
allowed to ride it at work as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
responses seemed to trigger yet another frenzy of note taking and I tried not
to giggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
interview concluded not longer after that and within a couple of hours I
received my machine written rejection email.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
delighted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
gaggle of Dwayne-like millennials of the Singaporean version intruded into my
otherwise peaceful morning coffee today whilst I was sipping on my double shot
vanilla latte. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
tranquility was interrupted by noisy and unpleasant diatribe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
first I thought the millennials were speaking a convoluted form of Singlish and
it was to a certain degree as there were a smattering of ‘la’s’ and ‘cans’ that
were interspersed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
millennials have however come up with their own more diabolical universal language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Dat”
is “that” and “doe” is “though” and there are a whole heap of silly acronyms
that they throw around like confetti.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">BAE is
‘before anyone else’, FTW is ‘for the win’ and IRL is “in real life’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">BAE is
actually said ‘bae’ rather than spelled out as “B”, “A” “E” – and it is
actually a reference to one’s partner – as in boy or girl friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
fuck’s sake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
IRL is not particularly relevant for much of what the millennials do is digital
or on the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
their thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
millennial is simply a young person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Young
adults. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Adult
children’ is probably a more adequate and accurate description.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
millennial define themselves as anyone born between they years 1980 and 2000
and they consider themselves the new ‘boom’ because of their instant connection
on digital media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Millennials
believe they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘on fleek’</i> – which
in millennial speak – means they believe they are pretty much perfect. They
think they rule the world, which is quite possibly true and perhaps it is why
it is in such a despicable state, and to many pre-millennials like me – it is
quite a worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is the Twitter generation and they are without doubt twits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
millennial believes that anything that can’t be expressed in less than 140
characters is not worth reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
even have an acronym for this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">TLDR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Too
long didn’t read it”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
goes books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is one of the prime sources of my annoyance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
millennials are an abbreviated generation where ADHD seems to be embraced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
noisy millennials at the table adjacent to mine were actually hipsters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hipsters
are a sub class of millennials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hipster
subculture </span>typically consists of white millennials living in urban area.
The subculture has been described as a "mutating, trans-Atlantic melting
pot of styles, tastes and behavior"</span><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> and is broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied
non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store-bought
clothes), generally progressive political views, organic and artisanal foods,
and alternative lifestyles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hipsters are typically described as affluent
or </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_class"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">middle-class</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighborhoods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">They were however born with proverbial silver
spoons and I would think they still have mummy dependencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Strangely, there seem to be many more male
millennials than females – so there is hope that they will last less than one
generation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
hipsters are the most irritating of all millennials<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> that I have encountered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The millennials seem to be a condescending and
disparaging bunch. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, which
the millennials like to tread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I like confidence in people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Arrogance - not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The millennial term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘thot’</i> refers to ‘that ho (whore) over there”. Many people and
things are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘ratchet’</i> to the
millennials – which means they are not up to the millennial standard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Fuckers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">From my experience millennials are very fond
of body piercings and tattoos and they get greatly distraught when they are
disconnected from the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It is their reason for existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">They have the attention spans of laboratory
rats except when it comes to messaging each other – as long as the text isn’t
too long. They are detrimental to people who work out in the gym too much and
refer to such people as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘too swole’.</i>
They also often refer to themselves in the first person, they confuse their
participles and their conversations are littered with some very irritating
jargon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I know most of this because I was eavesdropping
on the group at Starbucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I was translating much of what I heard on
Google. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">All four of the hipsters were conversing with
each other whilst playing with their mobile phones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">They occasionally squealed, took a lot of
selfies and then squealed some more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I was completely unsurprised when one of them
took out a selfie stick and group photographs were taken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Like much of the millennial jargon the word
‘selfies’ is also not being recognised by the spellcheck function on my Mac. My
pages are full of jagged and most unattractive red underscored words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It is a terrible thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I overheard one little fellow attired in
bright yellow pants, a luminescent green shirt and a polka dotted bow tie announce
to his other little friends, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Like I’m going
to make things happening today. Boom”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The little friends responded with their own
acknowledging <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“booms”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I gave a small <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘boom’</i> and a chuckle myself which caused the hipsters to turn and
gawk at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I have been living on the Island long enough
to master the long-blank-look and with ease I stared them down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Millennials tend to use the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘like’</i> a lot in their conversations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I don’t like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When I lit up a cigarette in and blew smoke
in their general direction one of the hipsters turned to me and asked me if I
knew that I was seated at a non-smoking table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I took a deep drag before I affirmed that I
did then we did the staring thing again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Trite I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I was a bit grumpy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Will
you put that cigarette out compadre?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> yellow
pants squealed at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Cannot
la”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> I replied in perfect Singlish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Boom”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> I added for hipster emphasis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“I will
tell the manager”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> one of his companions squeaked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“I will give
a fuck”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> I retorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">There was another stare off before the
millennials as one started playing with their devices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I suspect that at least one of the hipsters
took my photo on their little devices whilst I was ashing my cigarette and I
will likely appear on ‘Stomp’ before the day is out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stomp is a
Singaporean Web site where locals and any resident or visitor to Singapore can
electronically dob. They take photos of things that aggrieve them with their
mobile phones and they post these pictures on the Stomp Web page. The
Singaporeans love it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They really do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been
Stomped several times in my years of living on the Island and I don’t mind a
bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been
Stomped for threatening to set a young Singaporean man on fire on the train
when he refused to give up his seat to a pregnant woman and also for jay
walking across the street on which I live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dobbing is an Australian
term that means to tattle or to squeal. Dobbing is to tell the Authorities and
to inform the masses of someone else's wrong doings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The act of dobbing
is not well regarded amongst the Australian community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be regarded as
a dobber is somewhat derogatory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a bit
sneaky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have all done
it though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Australian
households it usually starts at home as children and particularly amongst
siblings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My sister Jane was
a dobber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Muuuuuum",
</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">she would
often wail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Peter
pulled the head off my barbie".</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or when she would
witness me stealing cigarettes from the packet my father may have left on the
kitchen bench.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I'm going
to tell Dad on you"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And then she
would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell Dad on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Singaporean
equivalent of dobbing is Stomping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The word 'stomp'
is a derivation of the word 'stamp'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its origins are
Germanic. To <i>'stampfen' </i>means<i> "to stomp'. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To me<i> </i>it
conjures up unpleasant images of German Nazis kicking poor Jewish people during
the holocaust or skinhead gangs brutally laying their boots into some poor
immigrant in horrible acts of violence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">An excellent
Australian film called 'Romper Stomper' was made in 1992 and was about a group
of Neo-Nazi skinheads who terrorized immigrant Vietnamese in suburban
Melbourne. The film was low budget and featured a very young actor named
Russell Crowe. He starred in his role as 'Hando' the skinhead gang leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tragically he has
not made a decent film since. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I finished my
cup of coffee I realized that the hipsters weren’t going anywhere anytime soon
so my peaceful tranquility was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I stood up and
walked past their table and I couldn’t resist lunging a little and growling in
an animalistic and semi threatening way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They predictably
squealed in unison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Boom”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I chuckled as I walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-8575037432570367422015-08-01T23:22:00.003+08:002015-08-01T23:44:30.110+08:00Belief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-4mziwGKLgAU00czvjKQu9KLuKcoBezdUcVyfgLDiqKvGyzPiZYyK1ciw1I1WSOpWM1rzLnMmXC8rNj1UXaXGpQU3FfnXMnFLD2kXShpUL3k-WnFge39ofVYpkjwirwl_pH9bLSEP4o/s1600/images-26.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-4mziwGKLgAU00czvjKQu9KLuKcoBezdUcVyfgLDiqKvGyzPiZYyK1ciw1I1WSOpWM1rzLnMmXC8rNj1UXaXGpQU3FfnXMnFLD2kXShpUL3k-WnFge39ofVYpkjwirwl_pH9bLSEP4o/s1600/images-26.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 24px;">I don’t believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or that there are fairies living at the bottom of the garden. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 24px;">I don’t believe that Elvis is still alive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 24px;">I don’t believe in war or violence or cruelty either. Conflict is inevitable but I do not believe that there is any rationale or justification to apply malevolence in the pursuit of one’s beliefs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t believe in or get that shit at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in most other things though and I believe in possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also believe in me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t once but I do now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I still have occasional doubts, of course I do - but the presumptions and suppositions of other people don’t concern me that much anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that everyone is entitled to his or her own belief systems - and I believe that ideologies are subjective things. I understand that some people need faith and they hold on to it out of fear of the unknown or to perhaps rationalize their own existence - but to ritualize devotion to an unseen deity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t believe in that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in ethics and integrity and honesty but I know that social fibs are at times acceptable too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would like to say I never lie but that would be a lie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The purest of honesty can be brutal and I don’t believe in causing pain or harm or hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have done it before though – both intentionally and unintentionally - because I am human and flawed and I am ingnorant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have learned from it though.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That's the most important thing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in miracles. I see them every day and I mostly take them for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is the miracle of flight and the miracle of sight and the miracle of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The miracle of life is the one where I think religion was born and the blindness in faith arose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By nature we need to understand who we are and why we are and where we came from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that we are often very fearful of where we are going too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is something that every person ponders at some point in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t believe that violent conflicts should be engaged on the basis of religious beliefs – or for any other reason for that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t believe in vehemence at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Murderous and coercive invasions and intrusions and hostility are just madness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are insanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aren’t they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in skepticism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have read both testaments of the Bible and the Qur’an and I have read large hunks of both the Hindi Shruti and the Smriti as well. I have read them as works of literature rather than trying to seek any answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">None are in there anyway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that knowledge is not the same as wisdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of all these works it is the Bible that is full of the most contradictions. I assumed that most people knew that it is a very broad collection of documents written by many people – most of them unknown – but there are enormous amounts of people who believe that it was scribed by a deity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I kid you not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The same book contains the command, “Thou shalt not Kill” but also declares “An eye for an eye”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the fuck?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No wonder so many Christians and Jews are so angry and confused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nowhere in the Qur’an is there any assertion for people of the Islamic faith to commit acts of atrocity and some of the gentlest and kindest people I know are Muslim. The teachings in the Qur’an emphasise passivism and empathy towards other people. Compassion and consideration and solicitude are the cornerstones of this faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Hindi scriptures - the Shruti and the Smriti - are really interesting reading and are quite beautifully written. The Shruti is ‘what is revealed’ and the Smriti is ‘what is learned’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nice huh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sutras of the man named Buddha are the beliefs that I personally like the most. I haven’t read them all but when I do pick up some they generally make me smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They don’t preach or threaten or endeavour to impose a code of conduct or a set of behaviours on mankind – they are just the words of a very simple man who was on a journey to try and discover himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He named his search a journey of enlightenment and I believe in that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He discovered that we are all of us imperfect creatures and that the meaning of life is that there is no meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My enlightenment is that I believe in goodness and tolerance and generosity. I believe in hope and charity and affection and tenderness. I believe in agony and ecstasy and I believe in love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When it's all said and done I think that’s all that really matters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The belief in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that anything is possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that everything is possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Believe that or not.</span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-31544242141863411202015-07-21T19:41:00.000+08:002015-07-21T19:41:05.120+08:00Dear Kids …...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbb7VmXWoiD89zWlgfmDb592ff7H4riZoelCTgIm6xF_qYjqGz76X-ZRq5JRu-AWkjpQWvGMxHyyOf0xolpxS3tQE7LVPkVPxOF8D0nLMVYJa5IITLZc5HckVIjFMzFrsnVg5hRO6cA8/s1600/images-24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbb7VmXWoiD89zWlgfmDb592ff7H4riZoelCTgIm6xF_qYjqGz76X-ZRq5JRu-AWkjpQWvGMxHyyOf0xolpxS3tQE7LVPkVPxOF8D0nLMVYJa5IITLZc5HckVIjFMzFrsnVg5hRO6cA8/s1600/images-24.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi Tom and
Charlotte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope you are
both safe and well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am glad that you
are both out and about and travelling the world and I want you to know that I think
about you every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to
explore and have adventures and experience everything you can in your journeys
and return to me enriched and wiser, but most of all safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I worry you know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a Dad’s
prerogative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are born and
then we die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are the only
two certainties I can assure you of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What went before
and what goes beyond is an unknown so the life that we live between these two events
is all that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is my belief
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The duration of
our current existence is indeterminable. I have learned this from experience
and as you well know, I have lost people who are close to me in both ordinary
and extraordinary circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Losing someone you
are close to sucks no matter what the circumstances are but that just is what
it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t want you
to experience such losses yet but they are inevitable - so steel yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Demise is sadness
in any exigency however grief is a process that is tied very much to love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The greater the
love – the more significant is the loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have learned
this too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You will as well<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We humans are
sapient creatures who are as complex as we are unpredictable. I don’t get a lot
of things and my life is littered with mistakes of my own making. I try however
to deliberate and excogitate from my erring and I hope you will too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s not so easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most perfect
things I have ever made are you two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I never knew that
someone like me could contribute to make something – some people - as beautiful
as you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My love for you is
boundless and unconditional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t forget that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you both left
for your travels I realized that when children become adults they are still
your children. This realization that my children have all grown up is a strange
phenomena. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is one that
takes some getting used to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There have been
some emotional conflicts with this realisation of mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have this
enormous sense of pride in both of you but this is also entangled with a
tangible sense of loss as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope resides there
with Fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a tough and
sometimes dangerous world out there that has wars and bombs and earthquakes and
tsunamis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monsters lurk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So there is worry
and there is pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is always
worry and pain in parenting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is great joy
too though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is more joy
than anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However there is
some sense of acceptance in this realisation as well. It resides amongst all
this mix of emotions. There is reflection too when I pause and think where you
may be and what you may be doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We grown ups have
all been at this juncture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This becoming an adult.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a Big
Moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember what it
was like to feel this all-grown-up emotion when I was your age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a time of
freedom and confidence and greatness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was Special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need you to know
though that the need to protect you my children does not diminish as you become
adults. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It doesn’t
diminish at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is instinctive
I think to want to protect you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At any cost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At all cost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However there has
been a letting go of sorts - by me of you and by you of your childhoods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The realization
that as you forge your own places in the world I won't be quite as close to you
anymore is a wistful emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a little
ache knowing and accepting that I won't be right beside you any longer - to
catch you if you fall. I can only trust now that I have taught you enough to
stand strong and to stand up again if you get knocked down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To keep standing
up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all get knocked
down at times and rising is more noble than falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is more
difficult too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This letting go is
both sad and happy for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is both winning
and losing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know that these
feelings will ultimately neutralize each other and then I will be just
left with Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope that you can
make your own way out there and that everything will be all right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you both to
not be afraid to mistakes - for the lessons you learn from mistakes are really important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be bold and brave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You both have
voices and don’t be afraid to express your opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stand up for what
is good and right and decent irrespective of the opposition you may encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t ever just be
part of the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t get
violence but I have been embroiled in it before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t like
cruelty either and I know that neither of you do either. You will encounter it
though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All too often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been both a
victim of it and to my shame a deliverer too. I have felt ignominy and pain in
many forms. I am perfectly imperfect and I hope that I have grown from my
inadvertence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t believe in
deities or in a faith that is blind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why would I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How could I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a personal
thing however - and I am not going to try and influence you one way or another
on such matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make up your own
minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have seen
cruelty and injustice and inequity that horrify me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The current
catastrophes in Greece and Syria and Iraq despair me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watching the daily
news is a horror story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I ask myself often
what manner of god would permit such atrocities? I have discussed and debated
this matter with men of cloth and monks and lamas and their arguments that man
is imperfect are sound - but they don’t convince me to worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I comprehend the
need for belief but my preference is to invest such faith in myself and you my precious
children – as well as the other people who I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a big
endowment but I can touch and see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Through grim
determination I can even shape it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe that the
majority of people are inherently good but there are vocal and powerful
minorities that are not - and they are the wreakers of chaos and havoc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are the
ruination of things that really matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please be wary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope that I have
taught you enough to understand we human beings are impaired creatures but our
development is really quite a simple path of practicing compassion and
compunction and lenity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is kindness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I understand that
I am in a minority here in a world awash with religions that seem more confused
than me. I think that the supposedly merciful gods worshipped by billions would
be appalled by the behaviours of the extremists amongst their devout. Tens and
perhaps hundreds of millions of people have perished in conflicts relating to
religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Look at Syria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Iraq.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is why I sometimes
wake in fright terrified about why you might encounter in your travels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I truly am
sleepless in Singapore much of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are both young
adults now and I can’t protect you like I could when you are little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All I can
reinforce to you again is to stand strong for what you believe in - and for
people less fortunate than you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is really
important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To many people
acts of bravery involve death and destruction and peril and I need you to
understand that real bravery is actually the complete opposite of these things.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heed this my
children - gallantry is providing for people who have less than do we.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is also tolerance
and acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have known love
and hate and joy and despair and I still seek wisdom but it is so difficult to
find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to be
wise and you already are in many ways but wisdom is not something we stumble
upon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We accumulate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Through our
experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My search for self
continues <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and so too should yours - but
as I age I am discovering that a purpose might be many things and there is
simplicity and some satisfaction in just being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is my belief
that we are formed by what we desire, we are shaped by what we experience but
we are ultimately defined by what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For others – not
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I endeavour to
experience as much as I can – and again – so too should you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I cram my life
with people and events and I move around a lot to take in what I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am restless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am reckless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">New cultures, new
people and talking to strangers have enriched me yet I still don’t know my true
purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being your Dad is
the most important thing though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know that much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have had a very
fortunate life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t complain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though I
sometimes do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to know
that I think that kindness may be the key to everything and life lessons
relating to compassion and morality are important but empathy is something that
is inherent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Selflessness is
not a natural state but it is an important one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to
frequently put yourselves in other shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need you to constantly
put your lives in perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please remind
yourself of that from time to time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wealth is not
possessions or money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is goodness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is virtuosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
righteousness and honour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are noble
and precious things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They may be
everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know where I
have been but I still don’t know yet where I am going. You will sometimes feel
this way as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Particularly as
you travel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At times you will
feel lost and dazed and directionless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t let this
distress you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just tread a path
that causes minimal harm but value and cherish every experience. I want you to
immerse and saturate yourself in your surrounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to
experience experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are the
essence and substance of who you will become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember this as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You both have the
potential to be anything you want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the moment
though – in these tumultuous and terrifying times - I think that just being
might be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thinking of you
always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love Dad xx<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-67921872424897937942015-07-15T15:06:00.003+08:002015-07-15T15:06:36.226+08:00I Love A Sunburnt Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-4OyBcu4FfQgFv4__xsH7t92zU5pq-rCLxTBXbkhAkpzqQP7ChYpI_WDI-dqEzJF08PbGiVVVo4i5Qz96SOuJWF9tl4oOj2oTuApcBRhSCQHCV3dYjSbGNaWwPCyZ4sUTMvUo8YLCs/s1600/images-22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-4OyBcu4FfQgFv4__xsH7t92zU5pq-rCLxTBXbkhAkpzqQP7ChYpI_WDI-dqEzJF08PbGiVVVo4i5Qz96SOuJWF9tl4oOj2oTuApcBRhSCQHCV3dYjSbGNaWwPCyZ4sUTMvUo8YLCs/s1600/images-22.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">It’s
happening again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have to
pretend I am a New Zealander.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t
really have to of course – but as an Australian living in Asia it is somewhat
embarrassing confessing that I am from Down Under when our politicians back
home continue to make such horrific policies and decisions in matters relating
to both Immigration and Climate Change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where we once
seemed to have such a great international reputation as being laid back and
friendly people – Australians are now fast being recognised as a heartless and
Neanderthal bunch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am often
asked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Why?”</i> when I am out and about
with my Chinese or Singaporean or Indonesian friends and I am verbally attacked
on matters of Australian environmental politics so I find it easier now to just
say I am a Kiwi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Five, sucks, seven, eight”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is no
easy task.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The New
Zealand accent bears some similarity to the ‘strine’ that we Aussies speak but
the Kiwi’s use of vowels is as dysfunctional as it is disturbing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is in fact
an abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The United
Nations International Climate Change Conference – or COP21 - will be held in
Paris in December of this year. It is now 18 years since the Kyoto Protocol was
first established. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Australia
eventually signed the Protocol in 1998 but it did not ratify it until a Labor
Government was elected in 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The then
Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd declared that Australia would set a target of
reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 60% on 2000 levels by 2050. Mr. Rudd
also committed that Australia would establish a national emissions trading
scheme by 2010 and set a 20% target for renewable energy by 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All seemed to
be heading on track with Australia’s Renewable Energy Targets (RET) with some
quite substantial investment in both the solar and wind sectors until February
2014 when the current Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Abbott declared that the RET’s
would be ‘reviewed’ and the proposed tax on Carbon would be repealed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Australia now
has the inglorious record of being the only country in the world to ever repeal
environmentally focused carbon reduction legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Renewable
Energy sector in Australia has been in rapid decline since then and the
likelihood of Australia reducing it’s Greenhouse gas emissions and achieving
the targeted 20% of renewable energy now seems most unlikely. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a
terrible shame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Senator
Christine Milne – who until very recently was the head of the Australian Greens
Party declared, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The RET was working
brilliantly until Tony Abbott realized renewables were undermining the profits
of the coal-fired generators and that’s why he decided to smash it……… he’s
removed all certainty from the renewable energy sector and handed it over to
his mates in the fossil fuel sector.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The enormous
black and brown coalmines of my country and together with iron ore they have
been the mainstay of the economy. They rake in billions of dollars of annual export
earnings for Australia and taxation revenue for the Federal government and the
mining resources sector were the primary reason that Australia did not fall
into recession in both of the Global Financial Crises. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have
made my country wealthy with such an abundance we have been blessed with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However coal
and coalmines and coal power generators are very rapidly becoming as uneconomic
as they are unpopular. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two are
intrinsically linked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The beginning
of the end is nigh for coal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consumers and
voters such as myself want Australia to step up and come up with a rapid and
sustainable plan to endeavour to move to a low carbon economy. We would like to
transition our love affair with harmful natural resources to the large-scale
development of renewable energy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our land is
vast and empty and is as equally blessed with long days of sunshine and more
than 35,000 kilometers of wind swept coastline as it is with coal resources. It
is ideal for huge arrays of solar and wind power farms that could easily
ultimately provide for the majority of Australia’s domestic and commercial energy
needs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is both
disappointing and perplexing to me that the Australian Prime Minister Tony
Abbott very recently directed the state owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation
(CEFC) to cease all investment in wind and ‘small scale’ solar projects. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The CEFC was
set up in 2013 by the then Labor Government. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abbott
publically described Wind Turbines as being ‘visually awful’ and “they make a
lot of noise”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not sure
if he was asked whether he thought that the horrendous black scars of open cut
coal mines or the chimneys of billowing smoke of our coal fired power stations were
visually attractive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will try
and find out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Australian electorate and we expatriates abroad are not sure what he is
thinking when he does and says such things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It really is
embarrassing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The offshore
wind farm potential alone in Australia is enormous and countries like the UK,
Germany and Denmark have very clearly demonstrated their ability to generate
commercial volumes of clean wind energy. The UK generates more than 13
gigawatts of power from wind and while Australia’s total consumption of
electricity exceeded 220 gigawatts in 2014 – Australia has significantly more
offshore areas than the UK where offshore wind farms can be constructed without
any impact on local communities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sunless
Germany produced nearly 26 gigawatts of solar energy in 2014 and their
renewable energy production now makes up 30% of their total volume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have
significantly more daylight hours and massive amounts more open space for mega-scale
solar arrays than Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All that is
needed is sensible politics and appropriate capital investment by a responsible
government. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sensible”
and “Responsible” government?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes I know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However simply
removing the subsidies that are given to the coal and oil sectors would have a
big impact - and then giving the same subsidies to the RE sector.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That would be
big.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
government seems to have got it the wrong way around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A 2014 report
conducted by the Overseas Development Institute and Oil Change International
group titled, “The Fossil Fuel Bailout” suggested that exploration by coal and
energy companies in Australia was subsidized by as much as 4 billion dollars
per year by Australian taxpayers. This came in the form of tax breaks and
direct spending.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The same
report estimated that the G20 countries are supporting and subsidizing oil, gas
and coal exploration to the tune of US$88 billion per annum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes that is
US$88 billion per annum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fancy that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The beginning
of the end of the fossil fuel era is well and truly here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We need to
just accept this in a global collaboration to save the planet. We can’t go on
burning carbon at the rates that we do to produce energy or we will face ever
increasing catastrophic consequences. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There have
been decades long warnings by the scientific community that the global use of
fossil fuels must diminish to halt the devastating effects of Climate Change
and Global Warming. Fourteen of the hottest fifteen years on record have
happened since the year 2000 and 2014 and the increased incidence of flooding,
heat waves and natural loss events are devastating agricultural, oceanography
and society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Human impact
is – at the very least – accelerating global warming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
indisputable and we must aim to stop it or at least slow it down. A cessation
of the use of fossil fuels to energize our cities and cars and planes is an
absolute requisite by mankind for us to prevent us from harming the planet any
further. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is choked
already and is in peril.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The science
is quite clear and it is as simple as that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The future of
the yet untapped coal in the huge Galilee basin in the state of Queensland is a
prime example of the uncertainty of coal mining in Australia. It is an
incredibly large hunk of pristine land covering more than a quarter of a
million square kilometers. Eight coal extraction operations were initially
earmarked for the basin with experts estimating that it contains up to 28,000
million tonnes of dirty thermal coal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In NSW
however, approval was granted a few days ago for the 1.2 billion open-cut coal
mine called ‘Watermark’ to proceed. The approval that was granted was by the
Environmental Minister Greg Hunt. The mine is to be located on the edge of a
place named the Liverpool Plains – a food basin region rich with agricultural
history. The mine is predicted to dig ten million tonnes of thermal coal per
annum for the next thirty years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is
already a loud political and community outcry at the announcement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As there
should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thermal coal
is the type used to feed the archaic, filthy and highly polluting coal based
Power stations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A report was
released only a fortnight ago by the Australian Climate Council stating that if
all the coal in the Galilee basin was to be burned - Australia’s carbon dioxide
emissions would double to more than 700 million tonnes each year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Climate
Council of Australia is an independent organisation that was set up by
crowd-funding after the current Federal Government abolished and dismantled its
own Climate Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fancy that as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was the
people of Australia who had to found and then fund their own Commission of
Climate Change - such was the mistrust in their own government. The Mining
Industry in Australia is powerful and obscenely wealthy organisation that
actively lobbies and influences governments at the State and Federal level.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever
interest these magnates have in Climate Change is dwarfed by their fear of
dwindling profits. These billionaires have already been hard hit by the
plummeting price of iron ore but they have divested resource interests and very
deep pockets to protect the mining interests. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mining
sector in Australia employed more than 260,000 people as at May 2015. A decade
earlier there were a little over 100,000 employed in mining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are a
very large and important sector that has whole communities in most states built
for purpose to mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This goes
back more than a century and a half to the Gold Rush days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Australian coal industry is massive. It accounted for more than 13% of
Australia’s total exports in 2012-2013 – down from 15% the year before. It is
Australia’s second biggest export commodity – iron ore being the first. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
export of coking coal generated $22.4 billion of export revenue in the
2012/13 financial year, with thermal coal bringing in $16.1 billion during
the same period. Coking coal is the type used to produce steel and thermal coal
is used for the production of steam – principally for power generation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thermal
coal contains less carbon than coking coal – which is also referred to as
metallurgical coal. There is currently no alternative commercially scaled process
or technology to manufacture steel without the use of coking coal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Processes
such as electrolysis are capable of producing steel sans coal, however it well
be at least two decades before the process can be scaled up and commercialized.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am not sure why I just used the French word ‘sans’ – I just sometimes do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
means ‘without’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Technologies
for reduced coke consumption in combination with natural gas and electricity
are being developed and trialed however the carbon release levels remain very
high in steel production.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
world needs to get much better at steel recycling to have a measurably positive
impact on Climate Change. Steel is an almost unique material in its capacity to
be infinitely recycled without loss of properties or performance. It is
estimated that only 30% of the world’s steel is currently recycled where a
figure of near 80% could actually be achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
need to wean ourselves off both coal and steel as much as - and as soon as - we
possibly can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A spokesman
for the Australian Climate Commission - Professor Tim Flannery - said that
Australia was currently responsible for more than one and a half percent of
global CO2 emissions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We are the 15<sup>th</sup> largest
emitter in the world and the largest per capita emitter on the planet,”</span></i></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Professor Flannery reported.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I recently
heard that we are thirteenth but I can’t recall the source.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In April of
this year three French Investment Banks - <span style="color: #0e0e0e;">BNP
Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe General</span> - announced publically that
they would not be funding any of the $16.5 billion required to finance the Galilee
basin projects – which are largely being driven by the Giant India Resourcing Company
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Adani. These French banks have all
historically been investors in the coalmining sector in Australia and they are
allegedly declining to invest on mostly environmental grounds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This means
that now eleven major international lenders have refused to finance the coal
extraction project - and none of the four ‘big’ Australian banks have yet to commit
either. The preliminary engineering works that were being undertaken in the
basin have now ground to a halt and many Australian environmental supporters –
including myself – are hoping that this particular batch of coal will forever
stay in the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are hoping
that the coal from the Watermark mine stays in the ground as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">$1.2 billion
would go a long way in the Australian Renewable Energy sector. The public
street lighting for every town and city in every state of the country could be
converted to off-grid photovoltaic LED for less than that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s a lot
of clean and green off grid wattage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
heartening to see that the export markets for coal from Australia seem to be
diminishing too. China’s use of coal reduced by nearly 3% in 2014 and it seems
that a similar or greater number will occur in 2015. This is very consistent
with the fact that other countries are investing more and more in renewable
energy programs to meet their carbon reduction commitments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not a lone
Australian voice hoping that both the global and local regulatory frameworks
and the trend towards renewable energy options will soon make new coal mining
ventures dinosaurs in the modern era. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I may well be
in a majority.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of the
big nations of the world are in the process of escalating the rates they
propose to reduce their GHG emissions and these will be committed to at the
Paris conference. Commitments of between 30% and 40% by the year 2020 appear to
be commonplace and are completely achievable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The tipping
point though is now and it is simply by virtue that there is near parity in the
unit production cost of RE against traditional coal or gas generated grid power
- with the obvious benefit of no production of carbon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This tipping
will escalate further when a global price on carbon is eventually calculated,
priced and traded as a commodity. Carbon pricing is inevitable in some shape or
form as governments mandate that the production of it is and should be a cost
or penalty through a balance sheet deficit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such stimulus
incentivizes the big polluters in the Mining and Energy sectors to reduce their
carbon footprints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
technology is certainly there and both governments and capital markets are now
investing heavily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wait with
baited breath to see what number Mr. Abbott and his government come up with in
the way of Australia’s GHG reduction targets by 2020 - and I hope that it will
be comparable to the EU and the United States and Great Britain and Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It needs to
be at least 20% and hopefully more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have my
doubts though and my concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a lot
of clout in coal back home and there has been for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The poem ‘My
Country’ was written by a lady named Dorothea MacKellor. She describes her love
of Australia as a great <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Sunburnt Country
– a land of sweeping plains”</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love my sun-drenched
country too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a huge
and mostly empty continent blessed with an abundance of natural resources and a
saturation of sunshine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is well
and truly time that we stop mining the carbon and start mining the sun – on a
grandiose scale. We owe it the future generations and our great continent is
the perfect place for clean energy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The days of
extracting dirty coal and the vile pollution that comes from the now archaic
process of burning this to produce electricity must come to an end if Australia
is to play it’s part in saving the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And play our
part we must.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The argument
that our contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions is tiny compared to the super
powers is now statistically quite incorrect and it just doesn’t cut it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The coal we
dig out of the ground has long burnt in the steel furnaces and power plants of Japan
and China and India as well as in our own backyard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">C’mon
Australia – lift your game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am well and
truly pussed off - and I really don’t wish to pretend to be a Kiwi any more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-6494408893576693482015-06-01T17:28:00.000+08:002015-06-07T00:02:42.885+08:00Before the Rains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHz10ZL7BvaRHp-N3g2PBHzYKb17Xr_HBMXzbBcNh_IyaZ7AOIiQvkdzcfC9kXneK7et4s2NYY6hNOatNJjZCVisZ3cn1uhRkPLYisJdkFj4T6skE4lC3Y22C_v3F912ic7cgitLCmYI/s1600/571381-india-floods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHz10ZL7BvaRHp-N3g2PBHzYKb17Xr_HBMXzbBcNh_IyaZ7AOIiQvkdzcfC9kXneK7et4s2NYY6hNOatNJjZCVisZ3cn1uhRkPLYisJdkFj4T6skE4lC3Y22C_v3F912ic7cgitLCmYI/s320/571381-india-floods.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">These
are dangerous and timorous and desperate times</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
returned to the Island from Nepal and I have been wandering about a bit in a
daze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
been a bit clumsy and forgetful and have not been quite myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I lost
something over there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps
I left a little of me behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
suspect some of my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
tears as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wept
a fair bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel
no shame at weeping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">None
at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw
suffering of the like I had never seen before and witnessed fear that was as
cruel and cold as it was unfair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
the life of me I cannot understand why nature would unleash such terror upon a
country that already has so very little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where
is the justice in that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
anguish and agony I felt at seeing our schools all broken and beaten up is
impossible to put into words. Nor either is the hollow dread in little
children’s eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
don’t understand why the earth quakes and building fall down and people get
crushed and die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
can one describe such a darkness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
were no tears for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
would be a waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
flew back to Singapore from Nepal last Sunday I was dirty and dusty and smelly.
I had a hotel room booked near the Snowland School but I spent much of my time
sleeping outdoors with the children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much
of the population of Kathmandu slept outdoors since the first earthquake and
again since the second earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nothing
could crush or fall on you outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
safer there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the
Wednesday after the second earthquake I was badly shaken and my back and my
head ached and I craved a shower and mattress so I returned to the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
water for my shower was a trickle of tepid brown water that washed some of the
grime from me but no matter how hard I scrubbed my skin still prickled with
fear and concern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
my exhaustion I tossed and turned with vexation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had
grown used to the frequent after-shocks however there was quite a big one
sometime around 3.00 am that made me open my eyes and I watched in a dream-like
state as a crack appeared in the ceiling of one corner of the room then raced
it’s way to the other side of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
bricks of the building shuddered and jarred and they creaked and groaned and I
dragged myself to the lawn outside. I lay awake there – huddled in my blanket -
until the sun poked its dawn rays into my weary eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
strange now sleeping in my own bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel
discomfort at the comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is a lingering sense of guilt being here too that washes over the sense of relief
I feel that the earth is not shaking. There is also a rage within me that
no-one seems to really understand or for that matter care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I get
that news is news and headlines only last for a couple of days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big
earthquakes only make the front pages of newspapers for a few days before the
birth of Royal babies and elections and atrocities in other far away places
push such events into the back pages and then they quickly disappear
altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
doesn’t dilute my dismay though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
people care about what the media tell us to care about and with the here and
now of the Internet our emotions flash and burn bright and quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I
carry my own grief silently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
heard it said that grief does not change a person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It reveals them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not sure yet that this is the case and I do not really
care either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">This whole concept of human capacity and empathy for grief is
mystifying. I don’t think we people are programed for adequate emotional
responses once the dead exceed more than a few dozen in number. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I see but can’t comprehend the blank looks in people’s eyes as
they tell me how terrible things must be ‘over there’ before they move onto
complain that their coffee is cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I get it but I want to fucking kill them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It doesn't just level off either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It rapidly just gives up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">100 dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">10,000 dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">A half a million people homeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is somehow this resetting at zero for
the majority of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Few people outside of Nepal really give a fuck
about the Nepalese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why would they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are not a part of most people’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nor are they affected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were just images on the television screen
that are no longer there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I understand this but it still saddens me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It riles and it angers me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know it shouldn’t and I don’t wish it to
distract me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I do not wish my grief to overwhelm me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
not the one who has suffered and there is much that needs to be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I
left Nepal to return to the Island I was waiting in the lounge for my flight to
be called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
were not many people there for the lounge at the Tribhuvan International
airport is hidden atop some cunningly placed staircases behind an obscure
doorway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
shuffled to my normal corner spot near the smoking room and I immediately
noticed a very large Anglo Saxon guy hunched over in a corner on his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
could tell he was an American by both his hand luggage and his teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
former was emblazoned with the stars and stripes and the latter were straight
and big and dazzling white.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both
are the American way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
dumped my dirty bag and retreated immediately for a cigarette and when I
returned I noticed that the big American guy was quietly sobbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
wandered over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
could I not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Are you OK?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
patted him cautiously on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
was something that was now familiar to me, as I had been doing this for a
fortnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patting
gently on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
a stupid question I know - as he was obviously not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">OK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
poor guy was ashen white and his eyes were bloodshot red with sorrow and
fatigue. He appeared to be about the same age as me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
wiped his eyes and sighed and told me his name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
won’t repeat it here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told
me that he came from a small rural town in the mid-western part of the United
States and this was his first ever trip he had made overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was
a few years older than me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He had
come to Nepal to find his daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
was about the same age as my daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both
our daughters were on great adventures travelling the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
daughter was on her way to Nepal before the first earthquake struck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
Totty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
was in Cambodia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
daughter was in Nepal that fateful day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like
my daughter, the American guy’s daughter had travelled with her best friend
through Asia, and the highlight of her trip was always going to be Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To see
the great mountains of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At his
wife’s request his daughter had messaged home every single day she had been
away. She was their only child and his wife was very worried that she was so
far away from home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So too
was he.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every
Sunday they would talk on Skype and he said they had never seen her so happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
told her Dad that she felt so free and that she never knew that the world was
such a big and exciting place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
told me that the last message they got from her was telling them that she and
her best friend had arrived in a mountain village called Langtang and they were
going to go on a trek to see some of the tallest mountains in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
said they sounded very happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I felt
something clutch my heart when he said the word ‘Langtang’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My good
friend Dil - who is a mountain guide - walked up to the Langtang valley one
week after the first earthquake and he said there was almost nothing left. He
told me that he talked to a local villager who was one of the very few
survivors up there who was returning from a faraway pass when the earthquake
struck. The villager told Dil that he felt the earth shake and move and shift
and then an avalanche of ice and rock that blocked out the sky fell from the
mountains and swallowed everything up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No one
in the valley survived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
happened from Langtang all the way to the base of Mount Everest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">More
than one hundred villages have been consumed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
American guy did not know any of this before he arrived in Nepal or even after
he arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All he
knew was that there had been an earthquake in the country and his daughter had
disappeared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
booked his flights for Kathmandu while his wife and the family of his
daughter’s friend sold everything they had to try and raise funds to arrange
for search and rescue missions. When he arrived in the chaos of Kathmandu it
took the American guy several days to find someone who could take him north
through the broken roads to what was left of Langtang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
immediately apparent that no one was alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
lingered and searched nevertheless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now he
was going home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
didn’t know what to say but I stayed with him until his flight was called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
flight left before mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
tale could easily have been mine as both my daughter and my son were to meet me
in Nepal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
wanted to trek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
have been there before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
will return once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So of
course too will I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will
never stop returning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are many broken buildings in Nepal and the land has been ravaged and torn from
not one earthquake but two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
may be more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life
goes on though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
hot and dusty there now and there is a shortage of clean drinking water and
shelter and there is great suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
has always been much suffering in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
a land of endurance and the people are born tough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are survivors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
monsoons are coming though and the dust will turn to mud and the mosquitoes
will arrive and the roads to the mountains will become impassable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much work
needs to be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
need to grit our teeth, pull together and get on with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Before
the rains arrive.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-28472827376618297672015-05-15T12:53:00.001+08:002015-08-25T16:08:13.685+08:00All Shook Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bhaktapur
– Kathmandu - the place of devotees. It is also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopo –
it is an ancient Newar city in the east corner of the Kathmandu valley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is where I was on Tuesday 2nd May 2015 when the second earthquake struck
Nepal and the northeast part of the country. It hit about a quarter to one in
the afternoon local time and it measured 7.4 magnitude on the Richter scale and
it’s epicentre was somewhere to the Base of Mount Everest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the
northeast of Kathmandu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
first one struck on Saturday 25<sup>th</sup> April 2015 at a few minutes after
noon. Its epicentre was near the Gorkha valley. It measured 7.8 on the Richter
scale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Gorkha valley is about 80 kilometres to the northwest of Kathmandu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
have been perhaps a hundred aftershocks between the shakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
not here for the first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I
was here for the second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Earthquakes
that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before
these two events the last big earthquake in Nepal was in 1934. It is referred
to as the Bihar earthquake and it recorded 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
first quake has already been named the Gorkha quake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
really big quakes seem to have been lunchtime events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Bihar earthquake struck at a little after 2.00pm in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
in Bhaktapur at the time of the second of the 2015 earthquakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looking
- somewhat ironically - at broken temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
city of Bhaktapur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
damage here is enormous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
loss is staggering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mother
Earth has unleashed a most detestable wickedness upon a country and people that
has so very little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">More
than a hundred complete villages have been lost from the first quake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know how many from the second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hundreds
of thousands have been displaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">An
entire nation is timorous and people are sleeping on the streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Children are having nightmares.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Great Temples have been broken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mourning Prayers are being chanted at dawn and dusk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Burial rituals for the Hindu and Buddhist are continuous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So many
people have died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
monsoons are coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is an already impoverished nation whose geography is as impossible and
inaccessible and isolated as it is spectacular and beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of
course it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the most the most gorgeous of places that are the hardest to get to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
learned that a very long time ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enormous
slabs of the Himalaya were sliced off in the earthquake and they rushed down
through the great valleys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mighty
avalanches that devoured all before them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
happened in the northwest at Langtang then in a band that went through the
Gorkha valley and on all the way through to Mount Everest in the northeast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can
only imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Again
this was after the first earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
not sure of the damage after the second one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
only happened less than 24 hours ago and I haven’t heard any of the reports
yet. Telephone lines and the Internet were down for a while and they are
intermittent now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So is
electricity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think I was in a pretty bad place in an urban environment for an earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
that I think there is a good place to be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Here is exactly where I was:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
were out in the open – in a long and narrow street with tall and damaged
buildings on either side of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
with my Nepalese friends Bhim and Kumar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had
driven specifically to Bhaktapur to see the broken temples. I wanted to see the
damage done by earthquake number one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
weren’t expecting number two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
friends and I were dawdling and pausing often sadly to reflect and photograph
the damage done to temples and surrounding buildings when Kumar suddenly
clutched at my arm and I simultaneously saw a crowd of terror struck people
running our way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
appeared to be looking up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
looked up and buildings were cracking up and falling apart and as my brain was processing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">E<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>T<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Q<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>U<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>K<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">FELT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">IT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
flung me around and I could easily have fallen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I
didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kumar
still clutched at my arm and I looked around for Bhim but I couldn’t see him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw
a lot of people still running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A lot
of people crouched in doorways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mothers
and fathers clutching frightened children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
was terror in everyone’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
could feel it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
was some crying but not a lot of screaming and I felt another wave of the earth
moving under my feet and a loud thump of a part of a building hitting the
ground somewhere behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even
though it was the earth that was moving I had to look up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
is where death would come from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Between
waves the noise of stone and wood groaning and straining was the most
frightening noise of all. I was dancing on the spot with Kumar clutching on my
arm with his eyes shut and whimpering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
eyes were all the time looking up and I was calling out my friend Bhim’s name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
moving away from the buildings that seemed the most fragile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
dancing on my toes and moving like a Scottish line dancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kumar
was attached to me with both his hands and he was swaying behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was weightless but his hands were biting into me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
on edge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
scared shitless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
all the time looking up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bhim
shot out of nowhere and I near jumped out of my skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Are you ok Bhim?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Glancing briefly at him but still mostly looking up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
frantic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I glanced again and reached out for him and touched his face. I wanted to be reassured by touching
him that he was alright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
whole façade of a large building crashed not far from where we had come from
and we all jumped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am OK brother”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He too
– like me - was now dancing on the spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kumar
opened his eyes and clutched now at Bhim as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bhim
was unhurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hic
cheek was hot and rough to touch and I could feel the trembling of his body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or was
that mine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bhim told us had taken shelter in a doorway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nepalese
have been drilled to do this since childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
practice at schools and at offices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
ground continued to shake and we had to get out from where we were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Where is the big square Bhim and Kumar?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That way”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Bhim replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
pointed to where the building had collapsed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kumar
closed his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We must go” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I insisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tell everyone in Nepali to go to the
open ground in big square”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
repeated this several times and Bhim and Kumar started yelling it out in
Nepalese and people started gathering and running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
paused first where the building had fallen as we had to climb over a large pile
of it and I noticed at once that the doorway had collapsed as well. It was
covered in brick and rubble so there was no way to tell if anyone had taken
shelter in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“Generations
of now questionable safety training” </i>was all I could think.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think I laughed out loud.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was manic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All
the buildings on both sides of the long street we were in were three times the
height of the width of the street. If any one of them came down they would come
down across the entire street.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big pieces of buildings fell off but they seemed to fall off slowly.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like in slow motion.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I felt like we could avoid those.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was the smaller pieces that scared me the most.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Single bricks or clumps of mortar or bits of cement.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hurtling down.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They scared the shit out of me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
stopped at open areas when they appeared and when there were aftershocks we
just stopped and went back to back and looked up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a lot of people calling out and there was weeping but it wasn't loud.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were eerie patches of near silence when it was just the buildings making the noise.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Creaking and crashing. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ground moved underneath of us in surges.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It rolled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
called out if we saw buildings moving or bits of buildings falling off and we
bolted accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We did
this a few times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
stopped when I was buggered too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
smaller open safer areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I
could catch my breath.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I still looked up though.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My neck hurt.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dust in my eyes made them sting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
wearing thongs and I am not very fit or used to running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even
to save my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We paused at one more open area and both Bhim and Kumar pointed out to me a building that had collapsed and only the doorway seemed to had survived. Somewhat bizarrely during our run through the gauntlet I had teased him about the decades old Nepali government educational campaign of a go-to-a-dooway-in-an-earthquake and its merits. Here it is:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbf3PmmvI7uxDQmUrksKmOz98mbOhpL1leqbdKpuZipQxR_XFcfvkQWKgrl-yr8hJONfvx7xjjoExSgkoQNQqwOeQl7pQtkdubONAGjzDI3HL5AVRcpGhxmsh8wCEerx8CoqjbtW4_4o/s1600/FullSizeRender-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbf3PmmvI7uxDQmUrksKmOz98mbOhpL1leqbdKpuZipQxR_XFcfvkQWKgrl-yr8hJONfvx7xjjoExSgkoQNQqwOeQl7pQtkdubONAGjzDI3HL5AVRcpGhxmsh8wCEerx8CoqjbtW4_4o/s320/FullSizeRender-59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">I paused to take the photograph and immediately </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">apologized</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> to Kumar and to Bhim and to the Nepalese Government.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Good policy Nepal. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">It may well have saved many lives.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
took us no more than twenty minutes I reckon to make it to the big Bhaktapur square.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It felt like hours.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
saw a lot of buildings and bits of building fall along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
fell pretty close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
gathered a lot of people on our run and I suspect there were perhaps a few left
behind underneath the rubble of bricks and mortar. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We may well have climbed over some in the rubble in our flight to the big square.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am harrowed now at the thought of that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am despaired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
were a lot of people at the square.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like us they were all petrified.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
were grazed and bruised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">More
were pouring in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
waited it out for a few hours with only a few more little aftershocks then we made
our way to the car and straight back to the school to check on the kids and the
building. Kumar and Bhim were frantically trying to contact their families to
check on their welfare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All
electricity, Internet and telephone lines were down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
drive back was agonizingly slow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tens
of thousands of people flooded the streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
roads were the safest open places for people to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
school was undamaged - well no more damaged than it was after the first quake I mean - and the the children were not harmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bhim
and Kumar’s families were fine as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All
were terrified of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
have been since Saturday 25<sup>th</sup> May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
a little after noon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
Nepal was first all shook up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-70937045246753550872015-05-09T23:03:00.002+08:002015-05-10T13:27:15.564+08:00Broken Temples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnnkGvYSP_9-aSHJS4nO5uQGsZ1xORTSJfLnobgLwiuuLWZJGuKTOjt7Sd_OXEqUCoJ5Vxy3bgx7ZO4KXjbvugCSqPeqe2A55bZFkpImNVKfDuvukmhE5C8OBLL_z2T7tO05r7sAv08k/s1600/FullSizeRender-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnnkGvYSP_9-aSHJS4nO5uQGsZ1xORTSJfLnobgLwiuuLWZJGuKTOjt7Sd_OXEqUCoJ5Vxy3bgx7ZO4KXjbvugCSqPeqe2A55bZFkpImNVKfDuvukmhE5C8OBLL_z2T7tO05r7sAv08k/s320/FullSizeRender-34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Kathmandu is chaotic at the best of times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">At the worst of times it is worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is dysfunctional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
the very worst of times now and I am here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In the heart of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am in Thamel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am in Kathmandu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I wasn’t here for the big shake or for the
many that rattled it for two days afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">There were more than fifty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It struck a few minutes after noon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Local time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My friends Bhimsem and Kumar and Mausam and
Dolma all said they swayed from side to side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However there have been many more since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I felt one just a moment ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a little ‘un.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There was quite a big one this morning
though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">An after shock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I prefer unshaking earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I think most people do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Being here is unnerving and I am shocked at
all the damage done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am after shocked as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Buildings are leaning everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are still falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here are some:<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7T4a2UsH4V2U_9y4Oij7WrQBlqpfJMdrDUGBv-q-uduPaiOs5QoLOXSNB2YQjrsOPwpTvhmb-a1Dovb0obv2B7hd0bcQ7z9D-hZZ07JYleWYIJ-DK1pninffs9pTM40eyQrgKVPE_hI/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7T4a2UsH4V2U_9y4Oij7WrQBlqpfJMdrDUGBv-q-uduPaiOs5QoLOXSNB2YQjrsOPwpTvhmb-a1Dovb0obv2B7hd0bcQ7z9D-hZZ07JYleWYIJ-DK1pninffs9pTM40eyQrgKVPE_hI/s320/IMG_2460.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFC690QMwwCn0c3sDJPXgiPcLw1wx9BIl_bxfkqSxWCytnHM4fw7tY-QlboHwK0j1bcXRFtZYrS_mHMgDgnFlRHeJgRpBY5UA2Qx3IihD7BX0NwmUUE9qXBWowThEQdhYrChHmP8DFYk/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFC690QMwwCn0c3sDJPXgiPcLw1wx9BIl_bxfkqSxWCytnHM4fw7tY-QlboHwK0j1bcXRFtZYrS_mHMgDgnFlRHeJgRpBY5UA2Qx3IihD7BX0NwmUUE9qXBWowThEQdhYrChHmP8DFYk/s320/IMG_2466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jI3lcZnybMrSmLvdIHn8Jb0HvGH8Cggu1N_2ZHM0TjwJGgEgx8zEpQpP4FZFiKhyCL_HGvn8qH3lKXTunfOuoA_ByIxZ1sv78WPJyagyN5VOpbiPHA3VkzLN49rBW7zBFc9yFVfeDIo/s1600/FullSizeRender-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jI3lcZnybMrSmLvdIHn8Jb0HvGH8Cggu1N_2ZHM0TjwJGgEgx8zEpQpP4FZFiKhyCL_HGvn8qH3lKXTunfOuoA_ByIxZ1sv78WPJyagyN5VOpbiPHA3VkzLN49rBW7zBFc9yFVfeDIo/s320/FullSizeRender-24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Much has been lost and a lot of my very
favourite places in the world are now just very large piles of rubble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They were once very old temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hindu and Buddhist ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Mostly Hindu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here are some:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCeTJVm9j9ENf9NYb5LlpFE8yFw8AtoYNzD9vHYhDJR_V5u-yqqXq9Lv32ok9ncZB1wAwY_7GZ_Xdi77i_ZYroJxQ1tvysDDbWg4-2AuIjr7yug5D5Fg_5vgfHcYFmV4_Bz9hi44zIL8/s1600/FullSizeRender-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCeTJVm9j9ENf9NYb5LlpFE8yFw8AtoYNzD9vHYhDJR_V5u-yqqXq9Lv32ok9ncZB1wAwY_7GZ_Xdi77i_ZYroJxQ1tvysDDbWg4-2AuIjr7yug5D5Fg_5vgfHcYFmV4_Bz9hi44zIL8/s320/FullSizeRender-53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkLbjd_uMB0XYuPdjIPxkO0A1av12MTEg-spJszgitr_1ZuF30jUR1PHYwxl7EgIqZnnQ69-hegApwZ7uJ_nfY_cs_bqAMfk1eEXnKYpruUhHC0pO7ODIxnyoJNcpnHHisuCHxk-9Q1E/s1600/FullSizeRender-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkLbjd_uMB0XYuPdjIPxkO0A1av12MTEg-spJszgitr_1ZuF30jUR1PHYwxl7EgIqZnnQ69-hegApwZ7uJ_nfY_cs_bqAMfk1eEXnKYpruUhHC0pO7ODIxnyoJNcpnHHisuCHxk-9Q1E/s320/FullSizeRender-52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU1IpR7zBok6SgZ9j3G5fKipEggegBg8gMFirjnVdyBOSW8lnFk8ChMXtgMMWo7GI-fVBBCPitXdndLAFfxHaj4XYucr8Qp1EiNOk9QiicNb0LVz-abgX7bHqAmnuZ-C72oLQzWX9HG8/s1600/FullSizeRender-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU1IpR7zBok6SgZ9j3G5fKipEggegBg8gMFirjnVdyBOSW8lnFk8ChMXtgMMWo7GI-fVBBCPitXdndLAFfxHaj4XYucr8Qp1EiNOk9QiicNb0LVz-abgX7bHqAmnuZ-C72oLQzWX9HG8/s320/FullSizeRender-33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is much more damage in the villages closer
to the epicenter of the earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Not even a hundred kilometers from
Kathmandu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Towards Pokhara.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">East.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had to come here and see for myself and
help if I could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There are many like-minded people from
around the world here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Many are with Agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some are from Government and others are
from Non Government Organisations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The non-government ones are NGO’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We are very small potatoes but we are
nevertheless an NGO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Japanese and Korean NGO’s are highly recognizable
as they are walking around Kathmandu in full emergency suits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are wearing hard hats and respirators and
complete emergency micro-organism prevention suits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nothing is getting in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are communicating on two-way radios.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are exceptionally cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is distinctive national identity on
the streets here as well. Tee shirts are emblazoned with national flags and
names of countries are clearly spelled out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There will be no mistaken identity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am not sure why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am starting with the Snowland School –
the Kathmandu facility with hostels for the Buddhist refugee kids from the uber
remote Dolpo and Mustang and Humla districts in the high Himalaya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Near the Tibetan border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are mostly without at least one
parent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My tee shirt is plain pale blue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It has no name or country printed on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It has a small label that says ‘Cotton On’
on the inside rear collar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And the letter ‘M’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am feeding the children of Snowland and I
am fixing their buildings with Nepali laborers. I have bought supplies with me
from Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We came by truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We are starting with exterior walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Between building I am playing cricket and
badminton with the children and I am singing and I am dancing with them as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We have also had sleep and cook outs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have introduced the Australian barbecue.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Without any meat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If I have excess bricks I may build a small
castle.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">For the little Snowland Nepali Princesses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I will work my way from the city to the mountains.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Where the big damage is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After Kathmandu, the place I know best and I
love the most and will need some work is in a district called Dhading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is a village called Katunge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Say it Kar-Toon-Jay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Katunge is to the east of Kathmandu and it is
lush with mango trees at this time of the year. It is nestled on the side of a
valley that is tiered with rice or lentils.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It depends on the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Steep walking tracks connect the village to
other villages of the ward. They are cut into steep precipices and are
unchanged after more than 2,000 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are well trod by man and beast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Life in Katunge is peaceful and serene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is gorgeous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The first road to the village was only
built a decade ago and it is not much a of a road really. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is a rutted track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is impassable in three to four months of
the monsoons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">These are only five weeks away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Katunge’s isolation is a part of its
beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And it’s people of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s children in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Katunge was far closer than Kathmandu to
the epicenter of the earthquake and many of its buildings have been badly
damaged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some have been lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Fortunately there were no fatalities in the
village or the Ward. The schools we supported in the district are all gone
though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">All of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They have been completely destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is a before and
after the earthquake picture of one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY_XwumNOzkoXxC_OmrWS258Xr28flgK9-LffeHXuNZcPOlQ5BtXH4lOtmKVzBiipFgqs1sblqc0lOWXaJG2uqlyBj5ovFMoWY-EbzrYK1GPGCDTuEu4V-WnLxK7M966HIkmN-HNCLUY/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY_XwumNOzkoXxC_OmrWS258Xr28flgK9-LffeHXuNZcPOlQ5BtXH4lOtmKVzBiipFgqs1sblqc0lOWXaJG2uqlyBj5ovFMoWY-EbzrYK1GPGCDTuEu4V-WnLxK7M966HIkmN-HNCLUY/s320/IMG_2382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It had a Visitor Centre on the second
floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had stayed there often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So had many of my friends and family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We liked it a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I loved it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Deciding to come to Nepal was an immediate decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I knew as soon as I heard about the earthquake
that I would come and I started to make travel arrangements straight away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I didn’t muck around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then I came as soon as I could be let in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There were initial travel restrictions and
the airport was closed for twenty-four hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a no-brainer though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was easy-peasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I used to agonize a lot over ‘big’
decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ones that involved an element of risk or a
large spend or if it theoretically had the potential to change a direction in
what I perceived to be my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Game changers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However I don’t any longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Agonize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I haven’t for quite some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I simply couldn’t be bothered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I just listen to my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I disregard the consequences or any other
factor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am guided by a moral compass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It makes things quite simple really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So when things like this happen its also a
lot easier for me to accept them and process them and assess my place in them and
mobilize myself to do something to try and make just a little bit of an
immediate difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Its no more difficult than deciding what to
have for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Or what to wear to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In this instance it is simple
consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I assume I have a responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I assume we all do really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Things are usually done better in a team
don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">An amicable and sensible team where egos
and silly things get parked aside for a good portion of the time and the job
get done and everyone goes home to enjoy things that don’t have anything to do
with work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That would be nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Terrible things seem to happen in very poor
nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Malnutrition and a starvation of
opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is an abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nepal is such a place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">This is such a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The toll of the wrath and fury of Mother Earth can be counted here in
the loss of thousands of innocent lives <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Thousands have perished and tens of thousands are missing here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hundreds of thousands have been made
homeless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Avalanches and rock slides have buried entire
villages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Many ancient temples have been broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">My friend Kumar - who has lost his entire village was talking to my
other friend Sanina - who has lost her entire village, and they started reeling
off the names of all of the villages they know that have been destroyed by the
earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a very long list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It alarmed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The names of villages went on and on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Tarpaulins and tents are the items most
needed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The monsoon rains are only five weeks away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Roads up to the mountains will then become
mud and they will become impassable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Supplies of rice and other imperishables
must be delivered up now or very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is harvest time soon so food wont be a
major problem but there is no time to rebuild all the villages that were
totally lost. Shelter is going to be the problem. It is now. Tents or other
temporary housing are the only viable options for the estimated hundreds of
thousands of villagers displaced in and around the Gorkha Valley regions alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The logistics required are terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have heard quite a lot on the
International news lately that Tribhuvan airport – Kathmandu’s only
international airport has been ‘restricted to just one runway’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It has only ever had one runway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As long as I have been coming to Nepal any
way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s a strange one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Never mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have looked today at the broken temples
of Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have been putting off this necessity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Because of the sadness involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They were once ancient and marvelous and
beautiful things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To see them broken is harrowing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The two Nepali men I was with were visibly shaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They had not yet seen them either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They – as was I - were particularly horrified at the state of the
Kathmandu Durba temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">We had no idea the damage would be so extensive. Bhaktapur is said
to be even worse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes the temples were very badly broken indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">There are more worrying matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Many more other buildings have been broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">As I have already mentioned – but its very important so I will
mention it again - hundreds of thousands of Nepalese village people haven been
displaced and the monsoon rains they are a coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They are only five weeks away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Dirt mountain tracks that are cracked and damaged already will
become rivers of running water and torrents of mud soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is no time to rebuild homes so temporary homes need to be
provided and non-perishable foodstuffs and medical supplies stockpiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The greatest immediate needs up in the mountain villages are tents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the middle of Thamel a number of main roads are flooded from
fractured underground water pipes. This is a catastrophe that could easily lead
to disease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It will require major excavation works in a narrow and winding and busy
vehicular and pedestrian area – and it covers a very large area - but repairs must
proceed immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The water pipes must be extensively damaged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is a major worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Yesterday was a happier day. Dolma - the head organizer at the
School and I and Kumar the Dolpo Guide took twenty of the Snowland little ‘uns
to Boudenath – which is the Tibetan Buddhist temple complex that is connected
to their Guru Rinpoche.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is Holy and very dear to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It suffered only minor structural damage in
the earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The kids and all visitors like to do a circuit of the Temple
spinning the prayer wheels and receiving blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Prayer wheels are the same concept and derive from the same branch
of Tibetan Buddhism as do the colourful prayer flags – which the Tibetan
Buddhists call ”Wind Horses”. Like the prayer flags - where every gust of wind
and flap sends a prayer – every spin on the prayer wheel also sends a prayer.
The mantra that is written on most prayer wheels is, <i>Om Mani Padme Hum.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">At Boudenath the 20 little ‘uns got off the bus in pairs and held
hands and formed an orderly queue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They were all very excited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">So was I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They were excited waiting for the bus and then it built the whole bus
journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">On the bus we sang songs and I told not-very-funny jokes and then
bawdy tales of my children Tom and Totty and of my brother Richard’s children
Ben and Georgina.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They weren’t too bawdy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">These are very innocent Nepalese children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">I didn’t sing any of the songs either. They were all in Nepali.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">My Nepali isn’t very good at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">However all of these children have met my heavily inked and multiple
pierced Thomas on a couple of occasions and they like him quite a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">He also likes them a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Many questions were asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">All were answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Typically most of the little girls questions soon drifted soon to
the theme of the sea and mermaids and things about dolphins and whales and
oceans and shells. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It always does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Nepali girls love such things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Their favourite movies are Saving Nemo – One and Two - and the
Little Princess – One, Two and Three. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The boys love Peter Pan – the Robin Williams version. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">They also like Shrek. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Blessed be the Apple Corporation for the device that allows me to
download the movies on my Mac and then beam it onto a wall in a faraway school
in Kathmandu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The little children at a number of schools watch them over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">And over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Before we all got off the bus - Dolma
explained to the little ‘uns - in what I thought was an unnecessarily stern
voice - that we would form a single line and follow her to do a circuit of
Boudenath and spin each wheel as we went. She would then say when we had
finished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">I announced then we had all finished we would go get an ice-cream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">There was a mighty cheer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ice creams can soothe a child’s fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It is tiny cooling rush of sweetness that might wash away for a blink
or two the terror of last week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is 2 weeks today it all started.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">It was ANZAC day for we Australians and New Zealanders and Turkish people.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">The 25th of April, 2015.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ice cream is a global remedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Even if it is only a momentary thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-14299522221496157992015-04-28T22:18:00.000+08:002015-04-28T22:18:08.388+08:00Rubble and Dust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1mJ779s0o58K4DUgrsUW3SGlQsKsnPI9Kb68Lo5HdSKo3x5tUvE6L2yHpOnQnp0CzqXa344sN0ewTbtkfjYSGRp0ZwYGy1i-SnPxkTjMfik62Hcws0D7gkP18m-8ofZ9E1Ebh0pJf9Q/s1600/6873200065_e45bf7cee8_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1mJ779s0o58K4DUgrsUW3SGlQsKsnPI9Kb68Lo5HdSKo3x5tUvE6L2yHpOnQnp0CzqXa344sN0ewTbtkfjYSGRp0ZwYGy1i-SnPxkTjMfik62Hcws0D7gkP18m-8ofZ9E1Ebh0pJf9Q/s1600/6873200065_e45bf7cee8_z.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Despair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It tastes like entropy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It burns like acid and bile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I never knew that grief felt so much like
fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had no idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">None at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have never had faith or religion but I have always found solace and peace and serenity in places. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I found them often in ancient places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Such a place was in a square that the native people called a
Durba - in region called Patan - in a city named Kathmandu – in a country called Nepal - that has been
reduced now to ruinous heaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The earth rumbled then shook with fury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They tossed buildings and people around until
they all fell over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They crumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There was devastation and great destruction
and horror and terror.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is surreal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">People in Kathmandu and all over Nepal are dazed and confused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are shocked and horrified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Since the mighty earthquake three days ago there have been
more than thirty aftershocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Many of these have been very powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hundreds have buildings have fallen over
and thousands have cracked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Roads have buckled and twisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is teeming now with rain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thousands are dead and tens of thousands more are
missing. People are wandering the streets hoping to find their love ones.
However hope I can tell you is an exhausting emotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is taxing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When it is combined with fear it is perhaps
the most exhausting of all emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is like juggling eggs in this
environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The hope resides inside the fragile shell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A single crack and the despair leaks out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It spills everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It stains everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I feel like I have lost something very important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Lost something really important.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is a selfish emotion given all that the
Nepalese have lost - but I feel broken nevertheless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I feel helpless and hapless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I can rebuild all of the schools and I will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I will make them better than they were but the
temples that I so adored - </span>they can never be replaced.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were built by artisans a thousand years ago</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are forever gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They are now just rubble and dust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-33805972283374497432015-04-22T21:14:00.002+08:002015-09-15T21:39:59.358+08:00Serendipity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6clbvSLuNZnuYp4eSy42Y7ZqjzjgahjbweC2Wl1t2Zej-v6_WiTN8Coq0GFUFPcla4b_oxeAzWxHBx9Zc8rtTe8kx_QDRVeUP3LFTsVQOprNlet8BPBZDvqJZxsw9dGXv1z7BGi6k_b4/s1600/Serendipity-Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6clbvSLuNZnuYp4eSy42Y7ZqjzjgahjbweC2Wl1t2Zej-v6_WiTN8Coq0GFUFPcla4b_oxeAzWxHBx9Zc8rtTe8kx_QDRVeUP3LFTsVQOprNlet8BPBZDvqJZxsw9dGXv1z7BGi6k_b4/s1600/Serendipity-Life.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">Many things
happen just by chance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
they are happy things it is serendipity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
finding something or someone nice without looking for it<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or them.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whichever the case may be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Serendipity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
the word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love
the concept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
things are meant to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also
like the word surreptitious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has
nothing to do with serendipity but it is just one of those words I like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
all words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
do it for me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
words I like better than others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It can
be the way that they sound or what they mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just
like them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of
my favourite writers Haruki Murakami wrote, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“When
the orbits of these two satellites of ours happened to cross paths we could be
together. Maybe even open our hearts to each other. But that was only for the
briefest moment. In the next instant we’d be in absolute solitude. Until we
burned up and became nothing”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the crossing of paths that is serendipity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
fate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am a
believer in it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't care whether you believe in it or not. I don't even know who who you are.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't give a fuck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
that all things are necessarily meant to be - but more that we all of us at
certain times in our lives reach those forks in the road where the choice of
what path we take defines our destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Serendipitous
moments are not really that. It is more when we by pure accident find something
that is delightful and wonderful when we weren’t actually looking for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
of us get lucky that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
of us battle for what is left over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
had some ponderings of late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
could have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
should have been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pretty
much every relationship that we humans have commences by happenstance. Even the
most fundamental of all relationships – that of parent and child starts
entirely by coincidence. Babies are born by whatever serendipity that bought
Mummy and Daddy together and children have no choice at all over the
relationship that is arguably most important to their very existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
contrast friends and lovers select each other but even those choices are simply
a by-product of whatever random event that paths crossed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What is luck?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> a wise man once asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But the opportunity to exploit
accidents”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
of course that life and love are funny things and a turn of events or a chance
meeting might seem quite trite at the time of it’s happening but we never
really know do we? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
could we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life
is short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Live
it fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be
brave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be
bold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I
were asked what I was bought into this life to do I would have to confess that
I didn’t know - but whatever I do I will do it loud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will
live as large as I can and with whatever I have and I will be as reckless as I
possibly I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I won’t
dwell on what could have been or what should have been or sulk with regret - because what’s the point
in that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will
push on and take as much joy as I can in just being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I
will wait for those sweet moments of serendipity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-15401577380017646012015-04-16T03:51:00.003+08:002015-04-18T20:54:35.960+08:00The Full English Breakfast. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6oag4RqjyUMFyAA46Q5ttsGheO9LuWHY5rTcoAgmzg6nBxhZfId5JsJpPD7c1huyeVE1hQMGjSmpjt4ey9vhAkrYKDMGoySaEkl64sQiCyhYqKukpyGKVZGIV-CCp07U_LMuCPis1H4/s1600/3795047065_57af362caf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6oag4RqjyUMFyAA46Q5ttsGheO9LuWHY5rTcoAgmzg6nBxhZfId5JsJpPD7c1huyeVE1hQMGjSmpjt4ey9vhAkrYKDMGoySaEkl64sQiCyhYqKukpyGKVZGIV-CCp07U_LMuCPis1H4/s1600/3795047065_57af362caf1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Y’Oright innit?”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
said this a lot already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
a bit open for interpretation but it is basically saying ‘hello’ in Geezer
English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
the phrase a lot and I use it liberally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
now in London<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
only in Seoul and Tokyo last week and I spent just the weekend home in
Singapore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here I
am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the
other side of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
ride here was a torrid one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
was turbulence for most of the thirteen-hour journey and I was much jostled in
my narrow but comfortable flat bed. Every time I began to drift off the cursed
pilot announced it was time to put seatbelts back on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
some inexplicable reason he also announced it was OK to undo them if we wanted
– but it was advisable not to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Undo
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To reinforce
the announcements the normally dainty and dignified Singapore Airlines
Stewardesses prodded and poked us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were relentless.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
happened all night and everyone in my section of the aircraft was pissed off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somewhere
over the Atlantic ocean seven hours was ripped from my time zone and combined
with less than 2 hours sleep and a full day in my London office I am somewhat
battered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
beaten as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need
to stay up for a couple hours more though least I wake up at 3.00am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
will really fuck me up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The driver who
picked me up from Heathrow airport was late. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They always are in
London. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was a bit
surprised when he did eventually arrive – about half an hour later than he was due – that it
was a bloke called Jack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack drove me to
the airport last time I was here which was in July 2013. He works for a company
named Addison Lee. The English for whom I work use Addison Lee to drive us in
London. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have an
Account. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Addison Lee is a very
big Company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have many
cars all over London and they are a major competitor of English Black cabs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack my Addison
Lee driver today was a geezer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A <i>"geezer"</i>
is a word some English use as a substitute for<i> 'man' </i>or<i> 'bloke'</i>. <i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A geyser is also a
natural phenomenon that sometimes occurs in seismic areas of the world. It
occurs when a lava flow deep under the earth heats up below-surface water -
which is then periodically released through a fissure on the earth's surface in
a high pressure gush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are geysers.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their gushes are
called "blows'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a very
famous geyser in Yellowstone Park in the US. The Americans named it 'Old
Faithful'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It gushes
regularly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have visited the
Yellowstone National Park and I have seen 'Old Faithful".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have seen it
blow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The English word <i>'geezer'</i>
emerged amongst the cockneys in London in the early part of the nineteenth
century. It was thought to have been originally used to describe 'odd or
unusual' people - however in modern times it is just used to describe anyone
male and the cockney English mostly uses it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strange characters
lurked the streets of London in the 1820's. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They lurk here
still. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the 1820's they
wore unusual costumes and the fashion of the day was peculiar. Some would argue
that the fashion of this day is peculiar. Such opinions are subjective - and I
digress. I am referring to the early part of the nineteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think Sherlock
Holmes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some people were
thought to be in disguises and they came to be known
as "Guisors". These people who were dressed in disguises
were perhaps the odd people seen by the London cocknies and they adulterated
the word to <i>"Geezers"? </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is one theory
on the origins of the word and it is the one that I like the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like the sound
and use of both words <i>"Guvnor"</i> and <i>"Geezer". </i>When
I return to work back amongst the English in my Singapore office next Monday I
shall use both words and I shall use them liberally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am sure that it
will not be appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The English with
whom I work are not a very grateful or gracious lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yorright mate”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jack said to me when he
picked me up at Airport<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yorright Jack”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I replied to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<i>Youse
remembers me name son?”</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> He
grinned.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<i>I do indeed
Jack,” </i>I replied. <i>“Is this a coincidence?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No me old
mucker – I saws your name on the booking sheet and fought I’d pick youse up”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good one Jack”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“’Edding ‘ome
to the Marriott then are we? At Canary Wharf?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am thanks
Jack”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Back for work
innit?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes I am here
for work Jack - and also to bask in the glory of Australian cricket and rugby
and all other sporting endeavours. How have you English been faring Jack?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last time I
was here in England – the English had been giving Australia a hiding in the
Cricket Ashes Test Series and the British Lions rugby team also destroyed us in
a number of games on our home soil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I copped a lot of
shit from the English for whom I work in London that visit - and also quite a
lot a jibing from Jack on the drive to the airport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Australia being
bested by the English in any field of sport is as rare as it is difficult to
swallow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s a right
old turnaroun’ innit”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jack
dourly replied<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You got beaten
by Bangladesh in the cricket Jack and by the French in rugby”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Innit”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I could ‘ardly
believe it”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jack
responded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack moaned and
carried on as the English do about their lack of ability in the sporting arena
- and he and I chatted about everything and anything on our trip into the city.
I reminded him at one point in our conversation that when I was last here I
asked him whether there was a man named "Addison Lee' who his company was
named for - and he told me there was not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack told me that a
geezer called John Griffin started the Company in the 1970’s with a single car.
He told me that the first job John Griffin got was a pick up on Addison Street
and the passenger's name was Lee - and that was the origin of the name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I asked Jack back
then whether he knew if Lee was the surname or the first name of the first
passenger John Griffin picked up - he told me that he didn't know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We agreed that the
name could be male or female or a first or a last name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jack laughed when
I suggested that the person could have been Chinese or English. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told me back in
July 2013 that he was going to look it up when he got off his shift and I told
him I was going to look it up myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I never got around
to it and as it turned out neither did he.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The drive to the
Airport from Canary Wharf took nearly two hours as there was an accident on the
M4 and traffic slowed to a crawl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neither Jack nor I
cared a bit though – as I was in no rush to get to the office and he was being
paid by the job. Our conversation was pleasant and comfortable and we had a
laugh or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told Jack that
when I was last here – and in fact on the day I arrived - the Royal Baby George
was born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told him that I
was hoping that another Royal baby would be born this visit too and I asked him
if there was any news about whether the next Royal baby might arrive early.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The baby is due
sometime next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I ‘aven’t ‘eard any news govner but we’s is all ‘opin’ the
little blighter is a girl”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is cockney
for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is no news yet but we are all
hoping that it will be a girl”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I hope it will be a little girl too Jack and I hope too
that they name her Dianna”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As an Australian I
am not supposed to care for anything royal but I actually do now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am passionate
about royal babies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was caught up in
the royal baby frenzy when I was here for the birth of little Prince George and
I am now the proud owner of a number of Royal baby tea towels, a Royal baby stubby
holder and a beautiful little royal baby soap box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a royal
baby collection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dianna was the
mother of the Princes William and Harry who was allegedly killed in a car
accident on the outskirts of Paris - whilst being pursued at high speed by the
English paparazzi. There is a conspiracy theory that secret agents may have actually
killed her as she was having affairs with at least one Arab prince - and it is also
rumored that the father of Prince Harry may not in fact be Prince Charles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harry is a ginger
and he looks nothing like his brother – but he bears a remarkable similarity to
an English Officer that Dianna had an affair with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dianna got around
a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So does her
youngest son Harry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A ginger is a red
headed person if you didn’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like them both a
lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harry and Dianna.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are not your
stereotypical royals - and I enjoy the scandals they have both been entwined
in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My body is telling
me it is time to go to sleep now although my mind is somewhat muddled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tapping away at
the keyboard here I am feeling a little delirious and I am craving the full
English breakfast I am going to devour when I wake up in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sans the black
pudding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is an
abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who the fuck would
put blood in a sausage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The French and the
English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why have I used
the word ‘sans’ – which is French for ‘without’?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have no idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jet lag is a
fucker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It feeds my
already festering madness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whilst I remembered
I have just sent an email to Addison Lee demanding that my driver back to
Heathrow airport on Friday night be the Geezer Jack. I have also demanded a to
know whether the first passenger Lee was male or female and Asian or Caucasian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am definitely losing
my mind <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have also cunningly
booked Jack for an hour before I actually need him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing that he
will be late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Innit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-91900443041932357752015-04-09T14:40:00.001+08:002015-04-09T14:40:21.509+08:00Mother <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoG8U4k5ywqMGY3VI-QlsyZzojFvplVYieLT33aM_8-eDuvoTn8A9UT2gLbFHsUWu0WnEJ6vPquaum3-fMq3xLilKstSEO6Ei0ldlr_-O50DuvLi45Mbxs4rzsHByp6-R5dZ2XIjkNC8/s1600/i-heart-mum4-300x266.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoG8U4k5ywqMGY3VI-QlsyZzojFvplVYieLT33aM_8-eDuvoTn8A9UT2gLbFHsUWu0WnEJ6vPquaum3-fMq3xLilKstSEO6Ei0ldlr_-O50DuvLi45Mbxs4rzsHByp6-R5dZ2XIjkNC8/s1600/i-heart-mum4-300x266.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">For
fuck’s sake Mum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
my repeated and emphasized requests for you to relax, calm down and chill right
out you obviously haven’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I most
certainly did not write that I had slept with a host of high-priced hookers in
Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
Korea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I didn’t
sleep with any of them no matter what the ladies at your Bridge and your golf
club told you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
no idea who this woman Ethel is but the lady sure can twist my blog posts
around and really - if they upset her so much why does she keep on reading them?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please
tell her to just stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s
driving me mad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps you
need a new Bridge partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps you
need a new golf club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not a
driver or a putter or anything - but a new place to play golf<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
where there is less gossip and with oldies who gets their facts straight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ethel
does not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Get
her facts straight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do
like the name Ethel though and if I ever get another golden retriever I think I
will name her Ethel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eth
for short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes I
got your voicemail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obviously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did
you read the blog yourself or are you just taking the word of the doddery
bridge and golf ladies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Never
expect an answer either by the way when you ring at 5.30am - and with the
shrill high-pitched hysteria of your voice it was quite difficult to hear what
your saying. I had to replay the message a few times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
would my father think you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
mean about the non-factual accusation that I bedded a host of Japanese hookers?
Well as a matter of fact I think he would be somewhat delighted and proud and a
tad bit jealous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why
don’t we ask him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
would my grandfather think? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He’s
dead Mum! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
doesn’t think anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">From
what I recall of the old fellow he would have loved it though - and he would
have pressed me for every lurid detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I
say once more, there are no lurid details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not a
single one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
assure you of this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
decided I might come over and live here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
Seoul that much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
hookers are sensational.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
only joking Mum! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chill
right out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
not the reason I like Seoul so much though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
country has four seasons for one and I am loving the crisp, clear and cool days
of spring and the gardens of this city are spectacular. I think the cherry
trees in full blossom are more beautiful then their Tokyo counterparts even
though they are reeking havoc on my hay fever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
out for dinner last night with friends and the food was incredible. We ate
barbequed pork with fresh wasabi and a dozen different varieties of pickled
vegetables. I drank far too much soju for my own good as my friends made a
toast every time they re-poured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soju
is a local type of distilled spirit. It is clear in colour and has a kick like
a mule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
pissed Mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Australian type of pissed – not the American.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As in
I was drunk<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- not angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes I
know the Bridge and golf girls will be shocked and Ethel will carry on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
will ask you what sort of son would do such a thing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well I
would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think my younger brother Richard would too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is
far wilder than me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or is
it he is far wilder than I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
English is not so proper sometimes and it annoys me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t really care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for
your voicemail message you left about me swearing – if you care to read the
post yourself you will note that I used the word ‘fuck’ once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just
once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
would like to hear Ethel’s opinion on how many times you swear on the golf
course? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
about it Ethel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
last time I played with my Mum there was a ‘fuck’ uttered at least once on
every whole and countless ‘shits’ as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Missed
short puts and slices off the tee seem to bring out profanities on the golf
course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
yet to witness you playing Bridge Mum but I’m sure there is an odd ‘fuck’ you
let loose there too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ethel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
anyway – I love you heaps Mum and I am glad you take an interest in my writing
and that your friends do too but I don’t need pre-dawn shrieking messages based
on inaccuracies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So let
me repeat the Hookers I wrote about were not Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
were Korean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I
didn’t touch any of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-15395321643735568212015-04-07T21:27:00.002+08:002015-04-09T14:27:45.976+08:00Seoul’s got Soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh7VZYcRsxWmlVqRDFArjXs_lFcikRhjuyzeLNhKjpeW3YeX-LATmVST9N9ifHYYMJfcI-hJyoTg45HNM6xlglKsi73J3sYqhB7v0Ct4vN-VXeQB7R_WcNax_TbOYUt-VVAbkJsKL168/s1600/north-korea-has-banned-the-use-of-the-name-kim-jong-un.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh7VZYcRsxWmlVqRDFArjXs_lFcikRhjuyzeLNhKjpeW3YeX-LATmVST9N9ifHYYMJfcI-hJyoTg45HNM6xlglKsi73J3sYqhB7v0Ct4vN-VXeQB7R_WcNax_TbOYUt-VVAbkJsKL168/s1600/north-korea-has-banned-the-use-of-the-name-kim-jong-un.jpg" height="159" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">Koreans
are incredibly cute.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
blokes and the girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has
been a while since I have been here in Seoul and I kind of forgot how nice the
people are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
the way that the Koreans replace their “l’s” with “R’s” when they speak English
– and vice versa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hurro”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am velly solly”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
brilliant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chill
out Mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
is not being the slightest bit racist at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s
not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
the fact that the South Koreans northern nemesis is a little fatty madman who looks
like a telly tubby or a character from a bad James Bond movie. Kim what’s his
face – spawned by his father Kim the other what’s his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
I shouldn’t think they are funny as the North Koreans allegedly live in a
horrible regime under a ruthless dictator who is nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I
just do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think
he is funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seoul
is a happening city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
hip and suave and it has class and style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seoul’s
got soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
staying where I normally do – at the Grand Hyatt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
one up on the hill surrounded by gardens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bloody
cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
cute little work colleague NJ Kim – who is no relation to the telly tubby - has
sorted me out with a suite with a river view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
arrived after dark so I can’t actually see the river but I will in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
greeted by an entourage at the hotel – all of them cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
flight from Tokyo is only a couple of hours and I flew Korean Air - on board a
meticulously clean and new big AS380 plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
not sure why but I was upgraded from Business Class to a suite but I was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
never been in a suite before and it is like having your own little room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cute
little Korean Airline stewardesses besieged me with food and smiles the whole
way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
a bit too much really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just
wanted to lay back and read my book but they kept poking their heads in to see
if I needed anything or to offer me tidbits of food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Things
I didn’t actually want really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tidbits
of food or their attention - but I didn’t want to appear rude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I
smiled gracefully and declined everything with great politeness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
had upgraded me after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a
suite person I was ushered quickly through the priority lane of immigration and
customs and straight into the waiting black Series 7 BMW hotel car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are always black these hotel limousines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Koreans
– like Americans – drive on the wrong side of the road – which is the right
side – if you know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
always find it disconcerting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
hurtled along the highway and within an hour I was here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the
Grand Hyatt,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes
the one on the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
stayed in the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo as well so it has been a grand week thus far
for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As is
usual after any plane ride I felt a bit restless and in need of caffeine so I
meandered my way to the classy bar upstairs and I ordered myself a double shot
vanilla latte. I know it will fuck up my sleep but I have a powerful pill I
will take to over ride it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t sleep well at the best of times and worse still in hotel beds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blessed
be the powerful pill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
sure the Grand Hyatt chain would never admit it - however very high-class
hookers frequent their bars all around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chill
out again Mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t
be shocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
no different here and the Korean hookers at the Grand Hyatt are both cute and
gorgeous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are incredibly expensive too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once
again Mum – relax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Calm
down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
these things because I have chatted to said hookers before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
have quoted me their prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
not however tasted their forbidden fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
you wouldn’t like it and I couldn’t afford it anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I
was sipping on my latte admiring some immaculately dressed and stunningly
beautiful ladies of the night when I inadvertently made eye contact with one of
them. There was instantaneous recognition by both of us and in a micro-second
and but a glance, a transaction was proposed – and denied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did
so with a smile and a shrug of my shoulders - that was returned with a smile
and a fake look of despondency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
extremely cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a
blink the despondent one came over though and she gave me a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“hurro”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
returned it with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“hurro”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her
skin and teeth were pearly white and her every being was exquisite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
was divine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
goddess hooker offered her slender hand and told me that her name was Belle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
shook her hand and told her my name was Peter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
her this because my name is Peter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Buy me a drink?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> she enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is a classic opening hooker line Mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In case you didn't know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
nodded to my half drunk latte and informed her that I was a non-drinker but I
would gladly buy her a coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
shrugged in a manner that I couldn’t really interpret but it was cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
very cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
thought I would cut straight to the chase and let her know I was not hanging
around – nor would I be partaking of her services.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am gay Belle,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I informed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Really Peter?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No not really – not that there is
anything wrong with that”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I politically correct returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“However I am unable and unwilling to
take up your offering,” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
added.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“My offelling?” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">she adorably queried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
gorgeous woman who’s every uttering is a question is difficult to combat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes your offering Belle”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
shrugged again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
chatted for a while about mundane things whilst I sipped on my coffee and as I
called for the bill – which the Koreans – like the Americans – call the check,
Belle once again asked me if I would like to buy her a drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“We
could take it in your loom” </i>she suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“My
loom Belle?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“Yes
your loom?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I laughed
as I shook my head no Mum. Then I once again shook her hand and bid her
goodnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then I
came down to my room and I took my powerful pill while I wrote this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can
feel it taking effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
a big day of work tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So now
to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-86014587823953627352015-04-05T20:04:00.000+08:002015-04-05T20:04:10.276+08:00Honoured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcYQ8UwtYnSLgGHRYp0Fg6fkjJqH6bwBt9ObsfeclTqb35X5yeR-YNPMG9FJGvYz8iA2sXc7-m0rC5dmOYBKvBMtTaXmKSsGV3D3-8kl7xseknIuJezE-4N4x-C-8RZIZMxYjT4tqZ4M/s1600/images-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcYQ8UwtYnSLgGHRYp0Fg6fkjJqH6bwBt9ObsfeclTqb35X5yeR-YNPMG9FJGvYz8iA2sXc7-m0rC5dmOYBKvBMtTaXmKSsGV3D3-8kl7xseknIuJezE-4N4x-C-8RZIZMxYjT4tqZ4M/s1600/images-10.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">So here I am.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Back in Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In Tokyo to be precise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am reclining in a leather
lounge chair in a suite at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Roppongi Hills to be even
more precise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I have been here many times
before<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Japan, Tokyo, the Grand Hyatt
hotel and Roppongi Hills - however I have only ever been here for work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Such is life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Well my life at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I flew out from Singapore very
early this morning and arrived in Tokyo in a little over seven hours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We must have had a strong
tail wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It usually takes about eight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Hours that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In the week prior to my
departure I had some email correspondence with my Japanese friend Myoki San –
who I met on a plane from Singapore to Tokyo last year. Myoki is an assistant
of some sorts to an elderly and I think very powerful Oyabun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">An Oyabun is a Godfather in
the Japanese mafia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am unable and unwilling to
name the Godfather as I promised him I would not and I tend to keep my word
about such things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I took an oath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On that particular flight the
Oyabun was accompanied by two very large and immaculately dressed bodyguards –
and of course Myoki San. I knew the Oyabun was an Oyabun because his be-suited
companions each had the pinky finger removed from one hand - and I could see up
their sleeves and I saw that they were heavily tattooed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I was sitting in the aisle
seat next to the Oyabun-who-I-will-not-name and I ended up chatting a bit to him
through Myoki – who had to interpret for the both of us. I know very little
Japanese and the Oyabun spoke little English. For most of the flight though I
chatted with Myoki. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She was seated on the aisle
seat opposite me – and the bodyguards were seated behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I found Myoki San to be both
charming and gorgeous and we got on very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am pretty sure I fell in
love with her within an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Perhaps it was a little less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I will not harp on about the
plane trip and the relaxed and easy conversation between the Japanese angel and
myself. Nor will I recant how the Oyabun and his entourage took me by
helicopter to my hotel. I will not elaborate on the afternoon I had tea with the
Godfather at his house in Shinjuku – and where I saw his glorious Zen garden
and his impressive Samurai sword collection – nor indeed the evening I spent with
Myoki San at one of the Godfather’s high class nightclubs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">For I have written about all
of this before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Read it for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Or don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I don’t care either way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The emails I exchanged with
Myoki were to initially inform her that I was coming to Tokyo for a few days of
business and I would be honoured and delighted if I could see both her and the
Oyabun again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She didn’t reply for a few
days but when she did she apologised for the delay and referred to me as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My dearest most Honourable Peter San”</i>
in her opening line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I liked that a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She enquired as to the dates
I was in Tokyo and what flights I was arriving and departing on and I gave them
to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I replied with the opening
line <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My dearest and most gorgeous and
wonderful Myoki San”</i> and I gave her the dates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Two days ago she wrote back
and she wrote that she was again sorry but she was not yet sure of the Oyabun’s
busy work schedule but she would be in touch to let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I wrote back and said I was
aware he was a very busy and important man – and she was a very busy and
important woman and I fully understood if they had no room in their schedules
to see me. I added that I was going to be a bit busy myself – as I was in town
for work and only for a few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I love the etiquette and the manners
of the Japanese. The reverence with which they communicate is as endearing as
it is delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It really is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I was not particularly
surprised when the plane landed at Narita airport and I alighted the plane to
see Myoki San waiting. Two hulking dudes dressed in very nice black suits
accompanied her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When one of them grabbed my
carry on bag and the other my laptop bag I took a peak at their hands and yes –
they were nine fingered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Yakuza.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Myoki was dressed in Western
attire however her hair was pulled up and held together in a delicate bun by
what appeared to be chopsticks. Her beautiful white neck was exposed and I
swear I saw bluebirds and butterflies dancing around her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When she smiled and bowed at
me my heart skipped several beats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am in love for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The yakuza dudes bowed deeply
and I bowed back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I will be doing a hell of a
lot of bowing in the next few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It is the Japanese way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I also embraced Myoki and I
basked momentarily in the scent of frangipani, which suited her well. She asked
if my flight was OK and whether I had any other luggage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I told her I did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She then asked for my
passport – which I gave her – and she barked some Japanese at a little
ten-fingered guy who bowed to me and took my travel documents. He whisked away
before I could bow back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With Myoki on my arm we
strolled away from the immigration area through some corridors and exited a
door to a helicopter pad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I had been there before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The same American pilot Buzz
was in the front and as we approached he jumped out and bowed to Myoki and me
grinned a big hello.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“How are you doing Buzz?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> I asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Like a pig in shit Peter San”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> he drawled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This I assume was a good
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As we sat in the chopper and
Buzz turned on the rotors the ten fingered little fellow ran up and handed
Myoki my passport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">That was quick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Oyabun is a powerful dude
indeed to bypass customs and immigration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Buzz spoke some Japanese into
his headset and within a couple of minutes we had taken off and were high above
Tokyo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It is a very big city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">After about ten minutes we
had passed the city and my hotel – and I asked Miyoki where we were going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“There Peter San”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">
she pointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Ahead of us was the splendor
of Mount Fuji.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Nice one”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> I
grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It took us only 20 minutes or
so to reach Mount Fuji and Buzz took us once around the edifice. I have been
there before – but I had never seen it from the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We landed on the west side of
the mountain – not actually on the mountain itself – but in what I initially
thought was a park of some sort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was the garden of one of
the Godfather’s houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When we alighted the chopper
I was overcome by the fragrance of flowers and the pollen that hung thick in
the air. Or is it that hanged thick in the air? Irrespective - I sneezed a
couple of times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Myoki San expressed her
immediate concern and I told her I was OK. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I told her that I had never
before smelled air so sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She smiled and took my arm
and guided me to a cobbled path that led between what seemed to be a forest of
pink cherry blossom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“It is Spring now Peter San. It is the time for new life and celebration
and the Master always comes to this house for the beginning of the season”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I have only ever heard Myoki
refer to the Oyabun as “Master” of “Senpai” and I am still unsure of what her
relationship is with the man. It would be very impolite of me to ask such a
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She could well be his
mistress or just his assistant or possibly even be his daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I may never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It doesn’t really matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Before too long the forest of
blossoms ran out and we were walking between two small lakes upon which floated
lilies of every shape and size and hue – all in full bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Beyond the lake was a
traditional Japanese house made of wood and stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was stunning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">From a large double door the
Oyabun emerged. He was dressed in traditional Japanese garb and he beamed a
very warm hello at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I returned the smile and we
shook hands warmly and then hugged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I feel very close to this dear
old fellow even though I have only met with him on a few occasions and even
though I know he runs a large and illegal empire likely to do with drugs and
murders and mayhem and prostitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I don’t know why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He took my arm and with Myoki
now trailing us we walked around the patio to where tea was laid out on a
table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With Myoki translating we
traded polite niceties for a while before the Godfather asked about my health
and my family and he enquired whether my son was still doing his bonsai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I told him that he was and I
showed him some photos from my I-Phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He seemed genuinely
interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I wont disclose too much more
of our conversation as it is personal and some of it secretive and I have
already declared that I have taken an oath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Oyabun was very
insightful though and whilst he was not a man of many words – the words he
seemed to carefully and thoughtfully impart conveyed great meaning and depth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When I commented how
beautiful his gardens were the Godfather smiled and said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Kachou Fuugetsu”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I looked at Myoki San and she
too smiled and said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Peter San there is
no literal translation of this saying but it more or less means that if you
experience the beauty of nature then you will surely learn much about yourself”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Nice”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> I said<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Very nice”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Godfather seemed
particularly interested in my boy Tom as we had discussed him at length during
my last visit. I had told the Oyabun that Tom was basically a good kid – but he
often did silly things and he was on a b it of a journey growing up. The
Godfather seemed to understand this and he implied without directly saying –
that his own son was similar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When he enquired how Tom was
behaving and I shrugged my shoulders and sighed – Sempai said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Saru mo ki kara ochiru”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Myoki San giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Sempai says that even monkeys fall from trees sometimes Peter San –
and that everyone makes mistakes”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I laughed myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Kaeru nook wa kaeru Peter San”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> the Godfather added and my Japanese angel giggled once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“This is a saying that means that a child of a frog is also a frog
Peter San – and I think you Westerners say like father like son” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">she smiled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Wise words indeed Myoki San” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Time flew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It was very pleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When it was time to go the
Oyabun told me through Miyoki that he had a gift for me. A little butler type
dude appeared and to my great surprise he was holding a Samurai sword in a very
ornate sheath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Myoki explained that it was
more than 400 years old and had once belonged to one of the Senpai’s ancestors.
She told me that it had been used in battle and was forged by a great maker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I could hardly believe the
kindness and generosity and I bowed as deep as I could to show my appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I then asked Myoki where my
bag was for I had a gift for the Oyabun and for her as well. She said something
to the little butler fellow who scurried off somewhere. While we were waiting I
said that I was a little embarrassed as my gift to them both was nowhere near
as beautiful or as generous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Godfather said something
that Myoki said was difficult to directly translate into English – but was
something along the lines of the act of giving being more precious than the
gift itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When my bag arrived I pulled
out two leather bound copies of my new book and a couple of hardcover versions
of my first book. The first one is not very good and is called “Alphabet Soup”
and I explained that in it was the story of my first encounter with the two of
them. Oyabun looked a little worried and I assured him there was nothing with
his name in it or anything else that would identify him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I told him that in fact one
of the stories was called “Oath” – and it was about the promises of secrecy I
had made to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I informed both Myoki and the
Sempai that I was much happier with the second book - and it had only just been
released. I had arranged for only a few special embossed copies for my dearest
friends and I had written a personal note to both the Godfather and to Myoki
San inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Oyabun asked Myoki to ask
me what the title of the book meant and I told them both that “With a rainbow
coloured flower and a khadak in my hand” was something that a little girl in
Nepal had written to me in a thank you note for being her friend and helping
her get an education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Godfather smiled in a
wise sort of a way and so too did Myoki.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I hugged the Oyabun-who-I-shall-never-name
again - and as Myoki and I walked back over the lake and into the cherry
blossom forest I turned and we waved to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The helicopter ride to the
Grand Hyatt hotel didn’t take very long and I felt quite auspicious being
greeted by the hotel staff on the rooftop helipad. I let the porters take my bags
but I insisted on carrying the Samurai sword myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am looking at it now as I
write this down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It is very beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am pretty sleepy after such
a long day but I wanted to write all this down while it was fresh in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I just got a text from Miyoki
San bidding me sweet dreams and asking if I was all right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am about to reply that that
I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I will tell her that I am
quite all right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-71004345052875730242015-03-28T21:43:00.000+08:002015-03-28T23:16:54.688+08:00Opting Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am a
bit footsore and feeling quite somber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has
been a bit of an emotional evening. I decided to go and pay my respects to Lee Kuan
Yew. He was Singapore’s first Prime Minister and is the father of the Island’s
current Prime Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
died earlier this week at the ripe old age of 91 and the entire country has
been in official mourning. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Lee has been on display at Parliament House
since Monday and all my local friends and colleagues have been to pay their
respects. The talk has been around how long they all had to wait in queue to
pass by his coffin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I went
past Parliament House yesterday and the line was more than a kilometer long so
I decided to wait until today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
wait was 3 hours but I didn’t mind at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
stood amongst many generations of Singaporeans who queued patiently and
quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singaporeans
love a queue at the best of times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the
worst of times as well it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
didn’t see any other Ang Mo lining up this evening but I am sure many thousands
have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lined
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">An Ang
Mo is a foreigner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
Hokkien language it actually translates to “red haired”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
an Ang Mo but I am no ginger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr.
Lee was a very great man and was well regarded as a leader and a politician
around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
chatted away to the people in the queue with me and was interested in hearing
why they held the Prime Minister in such high regard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their
reverence was such that they considered him to be like a father figure and from
what I understand he was very much a patriarch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
took what was an impoverished and resource less little island and turned it
into an economic powerhouse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
son has continued what has father started and the achievements of this little
island are quite remarkable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I
were a Singaporean I would be very proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think most Singaporeans are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Very
proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr.
Lee epitomizes my concept of Singaporeans. They are smart, humble and
incredibly decent and polite people who I like very much. I know I have written
much about their strange laws and funny ways that might be a little derogatory
at times - but the Island is actually a very nice and pleasant and peaceful
place to live. The mixed cultures from China, Malaysia and India – combined
with the colonial history make it an interesting place to reside and let’s face
it – if I didn’t like it or the people – I wouldn’t stay here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singaporeans
don’t make a lot of noise about their success as individuals or as a country
and it is this sense of dignity and a lack of hubris that I find endearing.
They just go about their business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the direct opposite of the Americans who still seem to think they are the
worlds most powerful and greatest country despite their dodgy economics and
their shady politics. Their patriotism is as fierce as it is misguided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Americans
continue to invade and occupy foreign countries in their war mongering ways I
think just because their economy is reliant on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singapore
has never invaded anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
never will either.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not physically anyway.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They invade financially.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are shrewd and clever in all things money.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Australians too are a bit misguided. We continue to call ourselves the "lucky country". I suppose we are in many ways.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are blessed with natural resources and have plenty of land and bountiful beauty.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is still much bigotry and ignorance though,</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is much growing up to do.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I culturally cringe at times.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But home is home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is my sixth year of residence on the Island and whilst I have pondered quite a bit about
leaving and I am nomadic by nature – I don’t think I will anytime soon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leave that is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of
my very favourite Singaporeans actually lives now in Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
smart and pretty and adventurous and funny and I chatted to her not long after
hearing of Lee Kuan Yue’s death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
told me that with Lee Kuan Yew's death she felt very far from home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
thought that was very poignant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
thought it was very sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coincidentally
one of Australia’s former Prime Ministers died on the same day as Lee Kuan Yew.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
name was Malcolm Fraser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
didn’t feel much emotion at all at his passing and there is no way I – or most
Australians would have lined up to pass their respects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
racked my brain trying to think what he had achieved for my country and I
couldn’t think of anything. What I remember him most for was that he once attended
a global economic forum in Washington and got so drunk that he took off and
then subsequently lost his trousers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
made the front page of newspapers around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nice
one Malcolm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
day of Lee Kuan Yew and Malcolm Frasers death is also the day I opted out of
all Social Media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did
so because dangerous dudes are looking for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chill
out Mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relax.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nah – they’re not really.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That dangerous.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I opted out of social media because I was sort of warned off by a work dude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
a strange call really. I don’t know the chap very well but I think he was a
journalist in a previous life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
a few of them actually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Journalists
in previous lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey
Nams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
are you doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
guy rang me and said he wanted to talk ‘out of left field’. That’s a baseball
term that immediately annoyed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
know what it means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
implied rather than directly suggested that my writing might be politically
incorrect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
certainly hope so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
suggested by the former journalist that I might damage the good name of my
Employer through my writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
didn’t think so but I was prepared to listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
example of Qatar was offered up and I had to ponder about what I had written
about that desert oil rich country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
reminded they were a very big client of my Employer and I then remembered that I
had written once how Qatar were slaughtering and maiming Nepalese workers by
the thousands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
wrote about this because they are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
horrific.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
many Nepali friends - and a lot of who are working in the construction sector
in the Middle East. Qatar is spending billions of dollars building soccer stadiums
and facilities in the desert for some future World Cup – whenever that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
work conditions and death rates are inconceivable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whenever
I go to Kathmandu the number of amputees that I see horrifies me. Hard working
and very decent people have been terribly maimed on building sites in Qatar where
the concept of health and safety is non existent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nepalese
labour is cheap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Qatar
doesn’t give a fuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
should all be outraged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
should all make a big noise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
erred by putting something about this on LinkedIn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Facebook for professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
work dude read it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
warned off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I
deleted my LinkedIn account and thought fuck it – I will disconnect myself from
Facebook too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
an easy call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t
miss them at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
work dude suggested a number of times that ‘we all need our outlets’ and that
my writing was an ‘outlet’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
might.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t think I write as an outlet though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
writing is not some sort of faucet either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
the fuck?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
always written.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
the attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
words and I like putting them together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
selling my books and having people tell me they like them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t mind people telling me they don’t like them either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just
like being read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However
I like my job and the obscene amount of money I am paid - and I like paying
very little tax here in Singapore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
that a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So opting
out of LinkedIn was no big deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is a lot of drivel on LinkedIn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is a hell of a lot of boastful fuckers shouting their greatness to their
wannabe peers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Look
at me. Look at me!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
my shame I was amongst them - and it was once a bane of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
couple of years ago I rather foolishly allowed an Australian Journalist refer
to my LinkedIn profile in an article. It was my summary actually. She indirectly
referred to me as a guru and she printed my name as a direct link to my
profile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
surname became a hyperlink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who
would have thought? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
journalist was from the BRW - which is an acronym for the Business Review
Weekly. It is a Fairfax publication. She writes very well and I like her
material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
like it a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
this journalist lady asked me if it was OK to write about my LinkedIn profile
I didn't give the matter much thought. In fact I gave it as much thought
as I gave writing my summary. Which was very little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thought
that is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
was very spur of the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
was done on a whim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
mentioned very little about my work - I just randomly scrawled down a few of my
likes and dislikes. There was a word limit and I could have written more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much
more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
fact this is what I wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am Peter. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Peter is me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am he.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am an Australian
expat living and working in Singapore. An ‘expat’ is an expatriate. It is
someone who lives outside of his or her native country – in case you didn’t
know. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>How time has
flied. Or is it flown? Either way it seems to have passed very quickly.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I live here alone
and I miss my family.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I miss them a lot.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Living in
Singapore sometimes delights me but it often bores me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Mostly it baffles
me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It is weird and
wonderful and at times woeful. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The natives are
friendly but it is a transient place.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>People come and
go. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>They hither and
thither and they breeze in and out. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It is a rotating
door.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I travel a lot for
my work and I spend a ridiculous amount of time on planes and in airports. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I like to read a
lot. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I devour books and
sometimes I write. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Just for me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Words do it for
me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>They really do.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I like to swim and
surf and the ocean is my friend. I recently discovered a love for mountains
too. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Big ones. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I often talk to
strangers. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This sometimes
alarms people - especially on trains and buses but less so on planes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I don't know
why. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I mean no
harm. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It is a cautious
world that we live in. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I talk a lot and I
often pat stray dogs. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I have yet to be
bitten. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I stand and give
up my seat for old men and women when I catch trains and buses and it annoys me
when others don't.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Stand up that is.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I have opinions
and I voice them and I mostly speak my mind. Occasionally it is to my
detriment. Age and experience has taught me that it is wise sometimes not to.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Speak my mind.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Silence can indeed
be golden.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Biting my tongue
hurts though and sometimes a fucker just needs to be called a fucker – no
matter the repercussions. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>When faced with
choices and making decisions I endeavour to do what is right. I am acutely
aware that I fail some of the time but I try not to do much wrong. I try very
hard not to cause any harm. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I believe that it
is better to be reckless and right than to be culpable and erroneous. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>We should all of
us challenge everything.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I admire and
respect kindness and I value morals. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Remember them? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The words “Please”
and “Thank You” are easy to say and they carry weight. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>So too does a
smile.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Mother Teresa
said, "Peace begins with a smile" and who could or would
argue with a Saint? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Not me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I want peace. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I often crave and
yearn for it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I believe that we
are formed by what we desire and we are shaped by what we experience.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I would like to
say I never lie but that would be a lie - however I try to be honest most
of the time though.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Or is that a lie?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It isn’t.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Is that?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It is not.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I do not like
spiders or snakes or bats and my favorite animal in the world is the wombat. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>There is no hatred
or war or divorce in the wombat world. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I also like whales
and dolphins. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I have swum with
them before. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Guns frighten me
and I don't get wars. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Violence appalls
me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I don't think of
myself as a coward but some things scare me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am fearful of
clowns and cornfields and being buried alive. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>If I were ever to
see a clown emerging from a cornfield with a shovel in his hand I would run
like the wind.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I fear losing
people who are close to me - although I know that this is inevitable and it has
happened before. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I found such loss
harrowing and excruciating. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Grief is a deep
wound that takes much time to heal and there are often scars.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tempus anima
rei</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Time is the soul
of things. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am sometimes
terrified about tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I can make a
killer curry and I also make a mean pesto sauce. The recipe for the pesto sauce
was handed down to me from my Hungarian great grandmother. It has a secret
ingredient that would surprise you. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I like anchovies -
however they are not the secret ingredient.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I ring my mum on
Tuesday every week. If I don't ring her she worries and it worries me when she
worries. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This only worries
her more.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>And so it goes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I wish I could
speak French, Italian or Spanish, as I think that they are musical languages. I
also like listening to Welsh and Irish people because to me they also sound
like they are singing.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I think that
giving is generally better than receiving and I truly believe that those who
have - have a responsibility to those who have not. I used to feel that I was
living to work but I don't anymore and I feel better for it. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Life is short -
live it fast.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>An Investment Bank
employs me and it is a BIG one. My job mostly satisfies me although
occasionally it baffles me. Irrespective, I am happy to take my Employer’s
money as it keeps the wolves from my door. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>What I do is not
who I am though. I once thought it was.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Then I grew
up. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I now value
contentment more than success - but that is easy to say.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I swear quite a
lot and much of the time I don’t fucking notice. They are just words and are
forms of expression and emotion. I am aware though that my profanity upsets
some people.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I don’t give a
fuck.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I like to go to
places that are difficult to get to and where my I-Phone has no reception. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Such places are
getting harder to find. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It doesn't stop me
seeking though. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It never will.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I waiver between
being an agnostic and an atheist but I believe in myself - most of the time.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am my own
faith. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am a cautious
optimist and I believe that most people are inherently good. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Until proven
otherwise.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I try and learn
something new every day. It is not that hard and it doesn't take that much
effort. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I understand that
winning is not everything and I have learnt much more from losing. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am more
experienced in losing as well. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>My life is
littered with mistakes but I have moved rapidly on from them for my ability to
change the past is something that I long ago accepted as being an
impossibility. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>However I love
things that seem impossible.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Erring has made me
stronger - and perhaps wiser.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I try to shun
temptation unless I can’t resist it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The unfairness of
inequity often disheartens and infuriates me and I worry too what legacy
we will leave to our children – and our children’s children.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I am a bit of a
worrier sometimes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I seek wisdom but
I understand that it is difficult to find. I know that we cannot find it in
books or on the Internet and we will never stumble upon it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>We accumulate it -
through our experiences. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I think that
Goodness is the key to everything. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Bonitas
non est pessimism ease meliorem"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is not goodness to be
better than the worst". <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>However this is
all just my opinion. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This is just a bit
of me. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
was it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">So when
the BRW article was published I was shocked at the number of responses I attracted.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
was swamped with connection requests and messages. There were also direct
emails and Facebook friend requests. There were thousands of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
kept on coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every
day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
people wrote to me just to say that they also liked wombats and others
suggested that we could go wombat spotting together! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several
dozen messages were received saying I was an inspiration and I attracted a
number of cyber stalkers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
fuck sake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
put a post up on LinkedIn a couple of days later asking people to please stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
told them that my inbox was being clogged and that some people were getting
creepy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
update said fairly succinctly that I am NOT inspirational and I am most
definitely NOT a guru. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
informed all of these anonymous people that I do not want anymore Facebook
friends and I would not accept friend requests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
tried to let them know that I am just a very ordinary bloke trying to make my
way quietly in this world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
all died down in a few months though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
joyfully heading back to Nepal again for a few days in a couple of weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is a country I love to go to as often as I possibly can. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
Nepal being LinkedIn means walking arm in arm with someone you love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
Himalaya the strongest and best ‘connections’ are with the mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are as spectacular as they are holy to the mostly Hindi population of the
country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
Nepal ambition is the hope of putting food on the table at the end of each day.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is not a vocational aspiration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
the Nepali people opportunities are simply far and few between. They are
definitely not job vacancies and they are certainly not career changes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is all so much more simple over there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
so looking forward to knocking the petty out of Peter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the mountains I will be able to LinkOut. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">I
very much need to put my life back into perspective. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">For a while at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the line finally moved this evening and I approached Lee
Kuan Yew’s coffin I bowed my head slightly in reverence and respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">You were the dude Mr. Lee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vale sir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman";">May you rest in peace.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-27754985276259915042015-03-22T19:26:00.000+08:002015-03-24T07:36:25.375+08:00Leaning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwHmZF_rS1sbZLs13YwGQAMW3BSx8ZdocGms1KD4qNJNxbCNfGcwAsge0KkAPBMM-AVSJ69PhN_ro3dmGMhaDda1qBbsc08g8Trr8AF783qJ3cayxqlKSTFPjU1RqqqO470O4eE8RxGM/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwHmZF_rS1sbZLs13YwGQAMW3BSx8ZdocGms1KD4qNJNxbCNfGcwAsge0KkAPBMM-AVSJ69PhN_ro3dmGMhaDda1qBbsc08g8Trr8AF783qJ3cayxqlKSTFPjU1RqqqO470O4eE8RxGM/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">So today I packed myself a picnic lunch.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I slipped on my new heels, grabbed my kite and prepared to run down to the local park so I could lean back and eat, smoke and drink.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span>
It was cloudy – so I took my umbrella too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I
was planning on doing a little jumping on the spot as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">When
I got to the park I was thwarted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I
often am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">This
sign greeted me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwHmZF_rS1sbZLs13YwGQAMW3BSx8ZdocGms1KD4qNJNxbCNfGcwAsge0KkAPBMM-AVSJ69PhN_ro3dmGMhaDda1qBbsc08g8Trr8AF783qJ3cayxqlKSTFPjU1RqqqO470O4eE8RxGM/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwHmZF_rS1sbZLs13YwGQAMW3BSx8ZdocGms1KD4qNJNxbCNfGcwAsge0KkAPBMM-AVSJ69PhN_ro3dmGMhaDda1qBbsc08g8Trr8AF783qJ3cayxqlKSTFPjU1RqqqO470O4eE8RxGM/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friends from
other parts of the world think I make stuff up about Singapore and the madness
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yeah OK – I often
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this instance I
am not though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This sign is the
real deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are all over
the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I often wonder who
it is in government that decides such stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No leaning?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">No heels or
umbrellas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It rains here all
the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly and
violently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I challenge
injustice by nature. My parents raised me thus as well - however rules are rules, and consequences can be severe here on the Island.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is quite
possible that wearing heels in a non-heel zone could carry a heavy term of
imprisonment in Singapore and I am fairly sure that flying a kite is punishable
by twenty lashes of the cane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I understand that
leaning in a public park is a capital offence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leaners are caned
then hung and then set on fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are then hung
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or it that hanged?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Either way – it is
not pleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The words ‘can’
and ‘la’ are the most common that are uttered on the Island however both are
trumped by ‘cannot’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many things are a ‘cannot’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have written
previously about the illegality of nudity here in Singapore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is not
permitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even in your own
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If a native were
to pass by your window and see you naked they could call the police who would
be compelled to arrest you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am most serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Google it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So feeling
somewhat dejected – and carrying my kite, umbrella, picnic basket – and limping
in my new heels – I passed by Singapore’s Speaker’s Corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The original
Speakers Corner is located in Hyde Park in London. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was established
in the late nineteenth entry to allow for British citizens to exercise their
freedom of speech in a public domain. I have been there on a number of times
before and I have witnessed all manner of lunatics standing up on boxes and
speaking their mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was very
entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great and
significant orators such as George Orwell and Karl Marx have made magnificent
speeches at the English Speakers Corner however I was not there to witness
these speeches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not quite that
old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Singapore
equivalent Of Speakers Corner is located in the Hong Lim Park just outside the
central business district of Singapore and was established on the first of
September in the year 2000. I have been there before on a number of occasions
but have I never seen anyone actually speaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publically
speaking that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have witnessed
groups of people having normal everyday conversations there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As with all things
in Singapore there are a number of rules and regulations that apply to speaking
at Speakers Corner and these are listed under the Public Entertainments and
Speaking Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I arrived at
the park I was a bit surprised to see that it was surrounded by a dozen or so
very heavily armed policemen. They were all carrying enormous machine guns and
they were looking very serious. I strolled nonchalantly into the park and
approached a quite elderly officer. He was the only one not carrying a
machine gun and he looked as if he was in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Good
morning uncle"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I announced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Are you
expecting trouble?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Maybe"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he grunted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Kites?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Perhaps"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You will
shoot them?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I would
like to give a protest speech about the English. Can?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You have
a permit?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I do
not"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Then
cannot"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"<i>Cannot</i>,”
he repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But there
is no-one here to listen"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I retorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It would
be like speaking to myself"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cannot"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"OK what
if I sat on the lawn over there and spoke quietly to myself. Can?</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You have
a permit?"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I do
not"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Then
cannot"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>"Is leaning permitted here?" </i>I enquired.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I received a stern but blank look that I could only assume was a 'no'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I was a bit worried
about the guys with the guns so I decided that pursuing the matter any further
was both futile and also potentially dangerous. I am also quite OK protesting
about the English direct to the English in my own office for I do this on a
daily basis anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyone who would
like to speak at Speakers Corner here in Singapore must register their
intention to speak at the Kreta Ayer Police Station no less than thirty days
before they intend speaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Under the
legislation only Singaporean citizens or permanent residents of Singapore are
allowed to speak. As a guest of Singapore who is working here on an Employment
Pass I am ineligible to publicly voice my opinions or protest or demonstrate at
Speakers Corner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even about the
English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even with a
permit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The use of
banners, flags, photographs, signs or writing is prohibited and people making
speeches can only do so in one of the four official languages of Singapore.
These are English, Mandarin, Tamil or Malay. Speeches are not permitted that
deal with any subject that relate to religion or race. Topics that may cause
feelings of "enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility" are also not
permitted and no political demonstrations are allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Otherwise complete
and utter freedom of speech is permissible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seemed futile
to have my picnic and kite flying lunch here and I was too afraid to linger and
lean so I went home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It turns out that
the police are in full swing on the island as the current Prime Minister’s
father – the very first Prime Minister – Mr. Lee Kwan Yue - is gravely ill and
his death is imminent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is – and soon
be was – a very great man who every Singaporean should be proud of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not quite
sure why his imminent death requires such a big police presence on the
streets however I am a bit nervous about asking anyone why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It may well be
illegal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-70563837249361713482015-03-19T20:35:00.000+08:002015-03-19T20:55:08.784+08:00Bazza<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuIz3n3gG15VvIB9Y5WzsPOMpqa3XF8Wt0DeZapupspOXgG_CoURNWEyvezGHEmpgwgzsQLw0aBhwfQLsgcrWvD26bsNxWAMe6xD9aehn-yHMlaqT8bqv5wtOQAHRW7_RL_OSTVuakrk/s1600/37445_a344685fa90cc54b91bb48a8c2d1a182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuIz3n3gG15VvIB9Y5WzsPOMpqa3XF8Wt0DeZapupspOXgG_CoURNWEyvezGHEmpgwgzsQLw0aBhwfQLsgcrWvD26bsNxWAMe6xD9aehn-yHMlaqT8bqv5wtOQAHRW7_RL_OSTVuakrk/s1600/37445_a344685fa90cc54b91bb48a8c2d1a182.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey Poida”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These
were two words uttered quite loudly earlier to me this evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
seated at the time at the Spinelli café - on my way home from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is something I do everyday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
consume a short double shot vanilla latte with now only a half a teaspoon of
brown sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
also consuming a bowl of steamed seasonal vegetables I had bought from my
favourite Hokkien restaurant in the Novena shopping centre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I eat
there at least once a week and know the two sisters who own and run the place
very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are delightful company and most excellent cooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida”</i> was repeated it was
this time only inches from my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
voice was male and booming and I knew immediately to whom it belonged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
wearing my headphones at the time and listening to music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do
this often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wear
my headphones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Listen
to music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
heard the first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida” </i>and chose
to ignore it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Willing
it to go away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing
it wouldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
could not ignore the second <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida”</i>
as it was directly in my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Poida”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the name “Peter” spoken in the Australian Bogan dialect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Russians I know call me “Pyotr” and my crazed now ex Danish neighbour Jens
refers to me as “skeepy”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jens
is not no-longer Danish – nor is he no-longer crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is
my former neighbour by virtue of the fact that I have moved abode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
respond to all number of labels and have been called many things far worse than
“Poida” or “Pyotr” or “Skeepy”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call
me what you like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t give a fuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
utterer of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida” </i>is a Bogan I
sort of know who lives somewhere in the region. I see him every now and then
around the place and on occasion stop and have a yack to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
name is Barry but he likes to be called Baz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I
call him Barry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz
the Bogan has been living here on the Island for only a couple of years and is
employed by some random Australian Insurance Company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
not sure exactly what he does there but he has most likely told me before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz is
very Australian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you
don’t know what a Bogan is Google it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or
don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t care either way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
typically see the Bogan Barry after work hours and he is always wearing the
same pair of khaki shorts and very similar singlets. The singlets are
emblazoned with beer advertisements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singa
Beer, Victorian Bitter and Fosters are the dominating brands although I once
saw him with a Heineken version and I jokingly asked if he was all dressed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
told me that he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was
deadly serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
being an office worker of some sort Baz always wears work boots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think they are Blundstones - which are an iconic ankle length lace-less boot we
Australians affectionately call “Blunnies”. Tradesmen and builders wear them for
they are tough and durable and have a steel cap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
protect the toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you
are kicked by a bloke wearing Blunnies - you stay kicked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is no place for them in the tropics of Singapore yet Barry belies this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
loves them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
really does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dress
wise - when trying to envisage Baz – think Crocodile Dundee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I kid
you not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Given
Baz and his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida” </i>was right in
my face, I had little option other than to remove the headphone plugs from my
ears and give him a, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Gidday Barry
owzitgoin mate?” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is a standard Bogan greeting for which the typical response is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“yeahgoodmateowzitgoinwivyou?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
one responds to a question with a question the potential for endless diatribe
is significant - so I immediately let it go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Release
was easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Youse till workin’ for those Pommy
bastards?” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz
enquired with a big grin on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
always asks this of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am indeed working for the Pommy
bastards Barry”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
Baz this because I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Working
for Pommy bastards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is no getting around it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Youse havin’ dinner and a coffee then?” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asking
the bleeding obvious is a Bogan thing. No harm is intended and no offence was
taken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am mate” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I responded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Veggies hey?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I retorted – pausing whilst I stuck some
Bok Choy in my mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barry
visibly cringed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a
rule the Bogan does not like veggies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
exception being the potato.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fried
or mashed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nothing
green.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bogans
are meat eaters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Medium
rare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Fuckin footy soon hey?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz
loves his footy and so too do I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
talking Australian Rules football here – not soccer or rugby or anything
similar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
season is soon to commence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barry
barracks for Richmond and my team is Geelong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
our main common denominator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
team is better than his and has been for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
been to the pub on a few occasions to watch the Tigers play the Cats. It is
where Baz and I bonded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
our mutual love for the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whilst
I am quite fond of Barry - I have had a very long week dealing with the Pommy
bastards for whom I work and I was in no real mood for a protracted
conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
only was my dinner being interrupted, but I was also enjoying listening to
music that I had illegally downloaded the previous weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the
time of Baz’s first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey Poida”</i> I was
halfway through the song “Rappers Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
original extended version<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
the remix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes I
am that old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I knew
that if I continued to small talk with Baz he would inevitably start to tell me
about how many local sheilas he had rooted (Bogan for having sex with girls),
what Ink he had done (Bogan for tattoos) and then invite me for a few beers
(Bogan for about 37 glasses of lager). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
always invites me to come with him and his mates for weekends to the island of
Bataan – an Indonesian island just off the coast of Singapore best known for
debauchery with nasty hookers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baz and
his mates go there often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
root sheilas, get ink and have a few beers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not my
cup of tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
known Baz for nearly 3 years now and even though I have been to the pub with
him to watch the footy – he simply refuses to accept that I don’t drink – nor
do I ever wish to go to Bataan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Go on mate aveabeer”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t drink Barry – I don’t like the
taste of it or the effect of it”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Youse are fuckin’ kiddin right?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am fuckin’ not Barry”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Come to Bataan then mate’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cannot”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Go on”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I will not”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
exchange has occurred more than a dozen times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is
nothing if not persistent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So it
was at that moment I decided I would speak to Barry only in the lyrics of
Rappers Delight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
used this ploy with Singaporeans before - using quotes from Hunter S Thomson –
one of my favourite authors – with great success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
success I mean that it amuses me and confuses them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is very little joy in my life these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grab
small moments when I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So youse want to come for a beer Poida?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Baz predictably enquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There’s a time to laugh and a time to
cry – and a time to live and a time to die Baz”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I replied in a deadpan fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barry
looked momentarily puzzled but he grinned and added, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Gorn mate – just a couple. The footy might be on”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There’s a time to laugh Baz and a time
to cry – and a time to live and a time to die</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">” I repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What that then mate?” he asked<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So after school I take a dip in the pool
which is really on the wall. I’ve got a colour TV so I can see – the Knicks
playing basketball”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Basketball Poida? Fuckin pooftas game”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hit
straight back with, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Now I’m feeling the
highs and you’re feeling the lows and the beat starts getting into your toes
Barry. Then you start popping your fingers and stomping your feet – and moving
your body while you’re sitting in your seat”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No worries mate” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">he grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Youse alright?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he added – somewhat nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
could sense his growing discomfort and my mind was scrambling for more lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t mean to brag I don’t mean to
boast but I’m like hot butter on a breakfast toast,”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I chanted to the Bogan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To his
great credit he simply beamed at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Fuck yeah”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So youse want to come to Bataan on the
weekend Poida? Get pissed and root some Asian chicks?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Baz from sun to sun and from day to day
– I sit down and write a brand new rhyme because they say that miracles never
cease – I’ve created a devastating masterpiece”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I felt
like a bit of a dick but was actually beginning to enjoy myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Poor
Barry was a bit stumped now and he stood up and looked around and made ready to
leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took
the opportunity to wolf down a forkful of broccoli and bok choy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
vegetables had unfortunately gone cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So no beers or Bataan then Poida?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took a deep
breath and unleashed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Like a can of beer that's sweeter than honey<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like a millionaire that has no money<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like a rainy day that is not wet<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like a gambling fiend that does not bet<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like Dracula without his fangs<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like the boogie to the boogie without the boogie bang<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like collard greens that don't taste good<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like a tree that's not made out of wood<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like going up and not coming down”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
wanted to continue but Barry waved and walked off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took
a sip of my now luke-warm coffee and hummed, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To the hip hop, a hippie to the hop – to the hip hip hop and you don’t
stop a rockin’ – of the boogie to the rhythm of the beat”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading
this now and reflecting - there is no doubt about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Six
long years of the tropical sun is wearing me down.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The relentless heat is paying a toll.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
losing my fucking mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-66028019389193769842015-02-26T19:21:00.001+08:002015-02-27T17:32:39.228+08:00A Lesbian Union & the Gefilte Fish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yLIEwwaoCOIi03vY8k2-z5zepFcK_cFDvFTwdf1mZHo32QdoqUO-MkHdI5eKHCU2VpTdR_SI07ssqKxi2uUMCiWIbewTYaJH_qlQlloJPo5PCwaY4d-hHSw-dbZnK3TTMV5ldikdWMU/s1600/400_300_fish_350cb9dc99ffed483da62440076b260188f08279_s6_c30_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yLIEwwaoCOIi03vY8k2-z5zepFcK_cFDvFTwdf1mZHo32QdoqUO-MkHdI5eKHCU2VpTdR_SI07ssqKxi2uUMCiWIbewTYaJH_qlQlloJPo5PCwaY4d-hHSw-dbZnK3TTMV5ldikdWMU/s1600/400_300_fish_350cb9dc99ffed483da62440076b260188f08279_s6_c30_.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;">I am back in
Singapore after 2 weeks on the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am battered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I only went to
India and Nepal but travel wearies me more now as I age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Airports and
planes annoy and bore me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I sorted
through my accumulated mail I was surprised to see an envelope from Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside was a
hand-written letter and a wedding invitation from an Israeli lesbian couple I
met some years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their names are
Maya and Liat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were getting
married and I was invited to the celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fancy that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know many Jewish
people and have Jewish blood in my veins. From my mother’s mother side – which
apparently qualifies me as Jewish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My children though
have much diluted blood and are not qualified as Jewish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suck ‘em Thomas
and Charlotte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I met the Jewish
Israelis lesbians Maya and Liat only once – in the Club street district of
Singapore at a friend’s farewell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was returning
to the Untied Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the city of
Bath in fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ironically he has
since returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was no party
for his return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maya and Liat were
amongst half a dozen Israelis in who happened to be at the same venue as our
farewell group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were all
women and of various ages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was quite
surprised when they collectively announced to me when I said hello that they
were all lesbians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I recall being a
little taken aback at this unexpected declaration and I didn't really know how
to respond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think that I
simply congratulated them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I then told them
that I was a heterosexual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a bit
strange.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of the group I
mostly chatted to Liat and Maya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were then a
couple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I asked them
why they thought that it was necessary to tell me that they were all lesbians
they looked at me in a fairly blank fashion and said, <i>"Because ve
are"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">They were also initially quite aggressive and informed me that</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">, <i>"All men are
peegs"</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told them that
simply didn't make any sense and they got a bit arrogant and petulant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Israelis are a bit
like this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I quite like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">When I enquired <i>"Israeli men are all pigs?'</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Beeg
peegs" </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maya
replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You think
this too"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I asked Liat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She shrugged in a
non-committal manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I assume
that you both have fathers? Are they pigs"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You are
calling my father a peeg?" </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maya demanded. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her aggression was delighting me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No I am
just asking. You said all men are pigs"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">"He ees
not a peeg"</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I chatted for ages
with Liat and Maya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They chilled out after
a while when they realized that I was neither drunk nor being sleazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I meant no harm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had then just
completed their national service and were doing a whirlwind tour of Asia before
going back to serve in the Israeli army.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think they also
warmed to me when I told them of my Hungarian Jewish heritage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Hungarian
grandmother was a mad woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She lived until
her late nineties and was as mad as a cut snake my whole life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps her whole
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was
certifiable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am very curious
about people who live in places where bombs are dropped and guns are shot at
people so I asked the lesbian Israelis what it was like living in a country
that was surrounded by Arab people who wanted to exterminate them. I have asked
other Israelis and Palestinians I have encountered the same question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not sure of
their sexual preference - nor am I particularly interested.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why the hell would I?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are not morally defined - in any way - by our sexual preferences.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grow up if you think otherwise.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bigotry is ignorance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maya and Liat told me that living
in a place where bombs regularly blow up was very difficult and stressful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thought it might
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have already
made reference to the fact that I have talked about such matters to both
Israelis and Palestinians before and can only imagine what it would be like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I often repeat
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I often repeat
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Living amongst
such constant violent conflict must be a real bitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It must be
terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was surprised
when they informed me that they had many Palestinian friends and that they
thought that Israel should remain out of Gaza. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told them that I
agreed that Palestine should be allowed to rule it's own destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the letter that
came with the wedding invitation from Maya and Liat - they informed me that
there would be lots of good Jewish food at the wedding celebration including
Borsch. They signed both the letter and the wedding invitation with their names
and, <i>"See you later Alligator".<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I taught the Israeli lesbians this when I last saw them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We talked a lot
about Australian and Israeli sayings and slang and language in the Club Street
pub and I told them that an Australian farewell tradition was when someone
would declare, <i>"See you later Alligator" </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">the correct and polite response would be to
say, </span>“<i>In a while crocodile"</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They Israelied it <i>"In
a vile croocodile" </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
reference to the “lots of good Jewish food” in the letter was that much of our
last (and only) in-person conversation was about Australian and Israeli food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mostly
about Jewish food though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
Jewish food<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
people know that we Jews are forbidden to eat pig however few outside the faith
know that we are also prohibited to also eat hare or camel as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are
only able to eat meat from beasts that are hoven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
has hoofs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or is
it hooves? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Curiously
the spell-check function on my Mac rejects neither of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hooves
and hoofs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I eat
a lot of bacon and ham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am a
non-practicing Jew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
attribute my love of Jewish food to the Jewishness that flows through my blood
from my mother’s mother’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
grandmother - the Hungarian mad woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
attribute my love of bacon and ham to my Dad and his Dad before him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
relatives on my dad side were fishermen and priests who came to Australia in
the mid eighteen hundreds from Ireland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
were meat eaters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
were fish eaters too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Israeli lesbians Maya and Liat seemed to like the fact that I like Jewish food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
were proud and patriotic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ess Gesunt” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">– is the Yiddish for eat in good health<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
challah and babka and matzoh ball soup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
Gefilte fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
borekas and kugal and shakshuka.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
trouble with borsch though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
an abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beetroots
in soup seems like a cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cannot”
in the context that I have used it is Singaporean for I-don’t-really-like-it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
Jewish latkes and sufganiyot though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
Rugelach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like
a lot of Jewish food.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like the sound of it as well and I enjoy saying it.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It requires throaty enunciation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
lesbians Maya and Liat left an RSVP with their email address.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
already emailed congratulating them on their engagement and telling them I am
honoured and delighted to attend the wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
quite like weddings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are celebrations of the union of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are joyous occasions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
opportunity to share in the celebration in love and joy don’t come along every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We should
snatch such moments when we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
will be great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797123422303767634.post-28443892156392393472015-02-22T13:31:00.000+08:002015-02-22T22:21:10.024+08:00Baby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LRqOc8OXz8WVkmIT9N5H5cBN-tw2TNeHLjMBxNKclrff2P_X4dZdjJsvk7X1NtJc16G-ABQzr36NMEQWB-2QxFlH3_iv-2p1sXyjKkNLAPloEMNeewkZGfwCnNqa32FiE_NoLNJ2P0Q/s1600/Demographics_of_Nepal-Changunarayan-Childhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LRqOc8OXz8WVkmIT9N5H5cBN-tw2TNeHLjMBxNKclrff2P_X4dZdjJsvk7X1NtJc16G-ABQzr36NMEQWB-2QxFlH3_iv-2p1sXyjKkNLAPloEMNeewkZGfwCnNqa32FiE_NoLNJ2P0Q/s1600/Demographics_of_Nepal-Changunarayan-Childhood.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey baby I’m home”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s
what I’d say if Kathmandu were a girl and not a city<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And if
she were standing here in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
really – or more accurately - and less poetically, I am standing here in her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I flew
in last night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">From
Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
New one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although
I actually drove through the New one - to and from my office however I stayed
each night in the Old one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
written about the naming and re-naming of Indian cities under different Empires
and government so I will not repeat myself here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
couldn’t be bothered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
reserve the term “baby” for ladies I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I call
my daughter Charlotte “baby” sometimes – as much as I call her Totty I would
think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe
more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also
call my very favourite niece Georgina “baby” as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are a few other persons I have referred to as “baby” but they shall remain
nameless here in this blog thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do
not use the word liberally and I reserve it for the girls in my life that I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Special
ladies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enough
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
would Kathmandu be a woman if she had to have a gender?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which
she doesn’t of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or he.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was just
pondering that whilst tapping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do
that sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Nepalese refer to the tallest of their mountains as Sagarmatha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
means “forehead in the sky”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or
something similar to that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Tibetans name it “ Chomolunga” which sort of means the Mother of Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
refer to at as Everest – who was some Welsh bloke who in the early nineteenth
century worked in a British surveying office in India and might have had
something to do with maps. He lived and worked mostly in Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Old
one I would have thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was
knighted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sit
George Everest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
you go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tibet
and Nepal share the mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
that big.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both
believe the mountains to be female.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Same
for me with Kathmandu. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
Kathmandu were this beautiful vibrant “baby” that I love <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- as I kiss her I might also enquire, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“S’up baby? How are you doin?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
a little shy in public at times but she is curious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
cheeky and funny and has a wry sense of humour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
very quick and really smart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
quirky but most of all she is humble and polite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
decent and she is respectful and she is very kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is
sexy and she is beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She is smokin'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
would call me “baby” back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
bulk of the Nepalese people’s heritage is from villages. These are in high and
isolated mountains. The villages are communities who are in many cases very
large extended families and the bond between the people is strong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are gentle and they look after each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are rugged and tough people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Very
tough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think
Ghurka. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are proud people who know their history and celebrate their culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Through
song and dance and colorful festivals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sat
next to a Tibetan Herbal Doctor at the Snowland School Lhasar celebration
today. He was to my right in the front row before the stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To my
left was the Guru Rinpoche – the Dolpo Buddha. The Doctor and I and many others
were the guests of the Guru. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is a picture of the Guru and the Tibetan Herbal Doctor and I:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyzUD_B4EGv_f0NPbgvnD3qyt8HfQR8kYKQm6UYfYEAVo6IviDKjj9A0h_wiHxG0mdN8JOg_ZKwOmT1SIf7mrBj7O20gSMra1hKvAMfZWmQKSxuTKLfVCgRjrZzA491P85f5mYvA0r_w/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyzUD_B4EGv_f0NPbgvnD3qyt8HfQR8kYKQm6UYfYEAVo6IviDKjj9A0h_wiHxG0mdN8JOg_ZKwOmT1SIf7mrBj7O20gSMra1hKvAMfZWmQKSxuTKLfVCgRjrZzA491P85f5mYvA0r_w/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lhasar
is the lunar year celebrations for Tibetans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are predominantly Buddhist people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the year 2142 in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
why it is not 2015 however I will not reveal it here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Look
it up yourself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
not fucking Wikipedia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Without
any prompting the Tibetan Herbal Doctor told me that his religion was of the
Bon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told
him that I knew the Bon pre-dated Buddhism and it was considered the oldest
religion in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Herbal Doctor said he was surprised that I knew of the Bon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I said
nothing in reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I only
know a bit of the Bon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Tibetan Herbal Doctor comes from the same village as Guru Rinpoche in the Upper
Dolpo region of the Nepali Himalaya. The village was once in Tibet then the
Chinese invaded and borders changed. Borders have always been a little blurred
in the mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are monasteries nearby that are more than 1000 years old. They have been carved
out of what Everest would have mapped the Crystal mountains. One of the
monasteries is Rinpoche’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
the Shey Monastery<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Shey Gompa to be exact.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
other two are the Saldang and Dho monasteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
haven’t been there – I have only seen pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
are spectacular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
asked the Tibetan Herbal Doctor whether he treated patients with Yartsa Gumba
and he told me that he did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
told me he mixes it with other Tibetan herbs though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yartsa
Gumba is half animal and half plant. It grows
from the nose of a specific moth and only at extreme altitudes. It is one of
the rarest and most valuable commodities on earth and it only grows in the
Upper Dolpo and Upper Mustang regions. It is used in Chinese medicine and is a Cordyceps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
a worm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have taken it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
written of it before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once
again, I shall not repeat myself here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Lhosar celebration and concert given by the children was spectacular. There was
much dancing and singing and laughing and clapping of hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
children had a ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So did
I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
sun is setting now and the sky is pink. There is a chill in the air as the wind
blows down the valley from the mountains. From where I am sitting now I can see
the silhouette of the mountain Himalay Ganesh – the snow is still heavy on its
peak - and I can hear the distant sound of bells tolling and the chants of
monks before the taking of alms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can
smell the sweet odour of Frangipani from the gardens below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
thick in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes
I’ve missed you a lot Kathmandu baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Come
over here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s
dance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ce5888a488&view=att&th=143c4c042eae61bb&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hqtknz9q0&zw</div>Sleepless in Singaporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14706006947888675152noreply@blogger.com0