tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32071284752298102462024-02-19T23:57:54.206+08:00Kia Kaha KLMusings from a kiwi living in KLJonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-41928813072159265792011-11-03T14:03:00.000+08:002011-11-03T14:03:42.301+08:00Sri Panwa Resort - Phuket, Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEPeIhr4RDYCbYMw-38FrV2x7HI0qibdaC31Vdit5weQQnHCvuWnqNZvG0UqiXwgn287zrMRk4lsQdITyl1OuayJcv6RGJeWdLIGBMuWcRJ3X2lHVeTRtiyougn-JGmZCB_zZ4S4dN_c/s1600/P9190452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEPeIhr4RDYCbYMw-38FrV2x7HI0qibdaC31Vdit5weQQnHCvuWnqNZvG0UqiXwgn287zrMRk4lsQdITyl1OuayJcv6RGJeWdLIGBMuWcRJ3X2lHVeTRtiyougn-JGmZCB_zZ4S4dN_c/s400/P9190452.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-MY; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To describe <a href="http://www.sripanwa.com/">this establishment</a> as luxurious is only the beginning, for this place cannot be dismissed using merely one adjective. Firstly, lets start by stating that this sort of place is far beyond this families usual price bracket when it comes to holiday destinations. We were only able to do so with the extreme generosity of our Malaysian friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuy7mfcS4SJ4-xlkKFY0YKvS0MqNGV0aupVpc3fwnixkmbIZ5rmn30lDDVNfYHtKABEUvBk4Cyv3bf3bjKK5zBavdfNpyxacHJKh1QeczFtxlfvlJnHyPsKvSAoZVjbtqTcvXbrTRemY/s1600/P9200482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuy7mfcS4SJ4-xlkKFY0YKvS0MqNGV0aupVpc3fwnixkmbIZ5rmn30lDDVNfYHtKABEUvBk4Cyv3bf3bjKK5zBavdfNpyxacHJKh1QeczFtxlfvlJnHyPsKvSAoZVjbtqTcvXbrTRemY/s400/P9200482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-MY; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite being imposters in the world of the well heeled, Lina and I (just the two of us) made a creditable attempt to blend in. I did this by packing every nice shirt in my wardrobe. There were no ripped shorts, t shirts or jeans, a first for me as I recall. So we lounged by our private pool in our Luxury Villa, listening to the Bose sound system aired to every room. We awoke to a panoramic sea view behind the glass walled bedroom, as we lounged on the oh-so-comfortable king sized mattress. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Impossible to ignore was the service. At these sort of places you can genuinely let it go, just leave it to them. And I mean everything; checkout, checkin, it really was the full pampering package. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So comfortable were we that not once did we set foot outside the resort. Not once were we tempted. In fact we became so used to the style that Robin Leach introduced us to in the 80’s show <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyles_of_the_Rich_and_Famous">‘Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous’</a>, that it was something of a letdown when we arrived at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket">Phuket</a> airport for the return leg to Kuala Lumpur. It’s a downright shoddy airport in need of a substantial upgrade given the status of Phuket as one of the more popular tourist destinations in the region. The place was crawling with sunburnt, package Russian tourists, downing plastic cups of duty free liquor before the long trek back to Siberia, perhaps steeling themselves for the 6 months of urban freeze that awaits them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there were the Australians. Three generations commonly represented in various stages of tanning, resembling human <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pelt">pelts</a> with eyes and painted eyebrows. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9J6DAfdGvl7DvnntLAYPE_AIqE_IoYvoki2K4JB8iXgniTD4rpxsDH91_oQGHlEVXdWgQyL8DQ1ix3xZJADA0rQsCnX59X7ZaZhZ45EC1bOpqvn6aberGL_iiNVF9g4HjR51twFLgug/s1600/P9200476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9J6DAfdGvl7DvnntLAYPE_AIqE_IoYvoki2K4JB8iXgniTD4rpxsDH91_oQGHlEVXdWgQyL8DQ1ix3xZJADA0rQsCnX59X7ZaZhZ45EC1bOpqvn6aberGL_iiNVF9g4HjR51twFLgug/s400/P9200476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-36507499730958854712011-10-28T11:00:00.000+08:002011-10-28T11:00:38.915+08:002011 Rugby World Cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvwzKNdCPzGi_NW8DbMisOgJVzm-LBaPn4ErTjDfCDF7LvUibC7YNMAUOJO8OZeBjk3_pI1qamcj5HFe9CYLVfa2rdYAY_HEOMgi7Jf0qroI5MVMLWWPoY4yUyHC5W9LzUrvaCS5I_4c/s1600/richie_2036884a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvwzKNdCPzGi_NW8DbMisOgJVzm-LBaPn4ErTjDfCDF7LvUibC7YNMAUOJO8OZeBjk3_pI1qamcj5HFe9CYLVfa2rdYAY_HEOMgi7Jf0qroI5MVMLWWPoY4yUyHC5W9LzUrvaCS5I_4c/s320/richie_2036884a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Rugby_World_Cup">6 week period</a> its been.<br />
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This competition has been much anticipated by New Zealanders around the world. Personally, I've had my ups and downs when it comes to my support of Rugby Union and the New Zealand <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team">All Blacks</a>. I grew up with it, played for many years, and have wonderful memories of watching the All Blacks, nervously, through the 80's and 90's. <br />
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I've been a critic of the commercialism that has enshrouded All Black rugby since the start of professional Rugby in 1996. Of course its been inevitable and I don't begrudge the modern player the right to earn a wage playing the game. But its fair to say I've blown hot and cold.<br />
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However, I was completely swept away with it. A couple of years ago, if someone had asked me want I wanted to see happen with NZ hosting the RWC, I would have spoken about the fact that we need to be good hosts. To go along to the games such as Georgia VS Namibia, despite the Rugby on offer being of a lesser standard than could be viewed at any club ground on a Saturday afternoon. It was all this and more. <br />
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For goodness sake, I saw New Zealand blokes in the ground on the night of the final Vs France, clutching the silver fern emblem on their black jersey with tears rolling down their cheeks. Unheard of a mere 10 years ago in a society where keeping a tie on ones emotions and toughing it out have been one the mainstays of the culture.<br />
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We won after <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup/long-dark-cloud-lifts-as-all-blacks-close-the-door-on-24-years-of-pain-20111023-1meoz.html">24 long years</a>, putting to bed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choke_(sports)">chokers</a> tag that has been round our necks all this time.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-60281424958733089332011-08-31T10:37:00.001+08:002011-08-31T10:43:42.178+08:00Sounds of Kuala Lumpur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was taken on the patio at home during the evening <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhan">call to prayer</a>. Accompanying is the melodic din of the car alarm in the background. Ahh, the sound of the city........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turn up the sound.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztcdYjtfJ3WWaVcUC1YgtWz6XFiM9mIMBZtcyHCFbrkfvGx3TguSr6_NJzahEETHhMEm1XyZ7zkZnxDi4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-17497479153317895482011-08-29T19:59:00.000+08:002011-08-29T19:59:08.877+08:00Money, Money, Money<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtCoQv8jCz0LOjc_3XzTq0KACBUT0k8SlLz1M4u8gWqhXDUH1MCq30t0pPyZG4NjvV8gyYIZ6xcTcTLLfOFORl5NkQGtuXu0PMQj-1pTWu98Ihyw-W185l3gSO2wK3CviDi8UItSWW7A/s1600/money+lessons+for+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtCoQv8jCz0LOjc_3XzTq0KACBUT0k8SlLz1M4u8gWqhXDUH1MCq30t0pPyZG4NjvV8gyYIZ6xcTcTLLfOFORl5NkQGtuXu0PMQj-1pTWu98Ihyw-W185l3gSO2wK3CviDi8UItSWW7A/s400/money+lessons+for+kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's never to early to get the young ones proficient in handling 'the green stuff'. One of the many extra mural courses available to school age Malaysians.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-18276052238276254312011-08-17T10:50:00.000+08:002011-08-17T10:50:06.516+08:00Adventure Pastimes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbzJkXaRXUoAo-PMsqTcbjzXraM0sGDmAqWaXgaoNKs4N40DKdiJaoXZK05A_pg2H0zlzdesPZFNQEdFHZKc5YOU1u2oIFpqPfoa_F_9rhY6CcS9XVRLbclEGB09dFX8lXQ07typTE8M/s1600/skytrek+ladder.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbzJkXaRXUoAo-PMsqTcbjzXraM0sGDmAqWaXgaoNKs4N40DKdiJaoXZK05A_pg2H0zlzdesPZFNQEdFHZKc5YOU1u2oIFpqPfoa_F_9rhY6CcS9XVRLbclEGB09dFX8lXQ07typTE8M/s400/skytrek+ladder.bmp" width="259" /></a></div>The first time I realised that I am afraid of heights was in 1994 when I <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungee_jumping">bungee jumped</a> for the first and last time. New Zealand is well known as the ‘adventure capital of the world’. I have met those abroad who assume that apart from playing Rugby and admiring the scenery, we spend our day’s bungee jumping, white water rafting, and other such adrenaline sports that cater largely for international tourists. <br />
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Whilst on the subject of international perceptions of New Zealand, following is a conversation I have had many times whilst living abroad. <br />
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‘Where are you from?’ <br />
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‘New Zealand’<br />
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‘Ahh, New Zealand. It’s beautiful’<br />
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‘Oh, you’ve been there?’<br />
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‘Err, no,... but I’ve heard its lovely. I’d love to go one day’.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLR2yaajZy1Mgq1t9M-CCbjZ6cTXhVupMA_OUB4-9Ue5GN45VHzUay7Ej6s5C9JuXJd8xybwmGPruGfXh_1nU40vDml7WbaDu8ZD_U-LkQLgRuSaLCfkrA9AqmZmMCbLNHU3utLRaruo/s1600/skytrex+jono.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLR2yaajZy1Mgq1t9M-CCbjZ6cTXhVupMA_OUB4-9Ue5GN45VHzUay7Ej6s5C9JuXJd8xybwmGPruGfXh_1nU40vDml7WbaDu8ZD_U-LkQLgRuSaLCfkrA9AqmZmMCbLNHU3utLRaruo/s320/skytrex+jono.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Regarding my bungee jump, I was not cajoled into doing it. Quite the contrary, it was following my suggestion that I found myself strapped to an elastic cord 47 metres above the ground, trembling as my previously shy and retiring sense of self preservation began to raise its cowardly head. To call my experience a bungee jump is to be disingenuous. It was more accurately, a bungee knee-trembling-plummet. I had always imagined leaping forth into the air, all embracing of the sensation that comes with free falling from such a distance. This did not happen. After being convinced by my captors on the high platform, whom I had paid $147, that the best course of action was not to be unstrapped and return more conventionally to the earth, I decided, jelly legged, to collapse from the platform to the ground below. I was terrified.</div><br />
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Given all this, it may seem somewhat strange that I volunteered for the Skytrex adventure circuit. It’s a series of flying foxes, ladders and aerial obstacles negotiated at the height of 17 metres. Of course, we were all strapped in and attached with what appeared to be very safe devices. The fear of user error was always foremost in my mind however as I double, triple and quadruple checked my harnesses at various points. <br />
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After the first few platforms I began to breathe a little easier and at one point towards the end of the course I even enjoyed the sensation of throwing myself off a ledge. It’s a fantastic facility out at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Alam">Shah Alam</a> and I would highly recommend it. It’s a bargain price as well; <a href="http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=45&From=MYR&To=USD">45RM</a>, incredible value, so check it out at <a href="http://www.skytrex-adventure.com/index.php.">http://www.skytrex-adventure.com/index.php.</a><br />
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Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-60496879169091619342011-08-04T12:36:00.000+08:002011-08-04T12:36:25.139+08:00Mint in the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLwb-hf1uRB7mI34YF03YiYresj5ASJ-8Mb8iVOTNW1vUUd31ynvoSRLHvwXYUfv7dR_bFaQH_sr97xQdW9S0onj_HG-8Ag_PmMC6s3-3hNTtUBddsIu5Qd-hz6xyLCvQ-3q-wDhLZnI/s1600/mint+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLwb-hf1uRB7mI34YF03YiYresj5ASJ-8Mb8iVOTNW1vUUd31ynvoSRLHvwXYUfv7dR_bFaQH_sr97xQdW9S0onj_HG-8Ag_PmMC6s3-3hNTtUBddsIu5Qd-hz6xyLCvQ-3q-wDhLZnI/s400/mint+plant.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-79935569693941307322011-08-02T10:54:00.000+08:002011-08-02T10:54:22.127+08:00Plug For 'Allo Expat Malaysia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnER4SNU8-vS0VKhE1DQe4KOoilyslIBqN4EgzlAFIs89revQUfqTItuOWnrygMaJBWpatyX2rIBzB6VYprenuIiJKqi3sThNeq6AEEVU5l5hhMCczeEpUfUC3gC3CUfcK7Zx3Q-7oT0/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="42" width="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnER4SNU8-vS0VKhE1DQe4KOoilyslIBqN4EgzlAFIs89revQUfqTItuOWnrygMaJBWpatyX2rIBzB6VYprenuIiJKqi3sThNeq6AEEVU5l5hhMCczeEpUfUC3gC3CUfcK7Zx3Q-7oT0/s400/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Its a challenge for anyone to move to another country. <br />
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Luckily there are some very useful online sources that provide advice. One of these that I found most useful when I was trawling the net back in New Zealand looking for info on this strange, unfamiliar place called Malaysia, was <a href="http://www.malaysia.alloexpat.com/" minmax_bound="true"><span style="color: #005cb1;">http://www.malaysia.alloexpat.com</span></a>. It has everything from immigration to leisure tips and includes a discussion forum for any specific questions.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-36620105627567389212011-07-21T12:16:00.000+08:002011-07-21T12:16:26.179+08:002011 Rugby Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhephz5LOn4FvYFeZbjCfPD_aPa19WDFzMNaZh1YE1gNI3kh8MpNL47za7WZLETuwfJrXzLji8rlIiqOY62_icIRbE7Dg9YIrgjXY6UbgnsBtpG-Ul04yKKkGCV3Iwm0H53eA2T_dmSc-g/s1600/2011+season+-+best+forward+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhephz5LOn4FvYFeZbjCfPD_aPa19WDFzMNaZh1YE1gNI3kh8MpNL47za7WZLETuwfJrXzLji8rlIiqOY62_icIRbE7Dg9YIrgjXY6UbgnsBtpG-Ul04yKKkGCV3Iwm0H53eA2T_dmSc-g/s400/2011+season+-+best+forward+trophy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It is the end of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union">Rugby Union</a> season here and after his first full year of Rugby, Isaac was the proud recipient of the <a href="http://www.rscweb.my/rsc2/">Royal Selangor Club</a> 2011 Junior Section Best Forward Award at a glittering ceremony (by the pool - this is the tropics afterall) in KL last week.<br />
<br />
It can be difficult keeping the little tykes interested in my home country's winter code, when played in 35 degrees. Words of encouragement and some bribery go a long way.<br />
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The new season starts in September. Preseason training will commence shortly following a few weeks to freshen up. We don't want the under 6's to complain of burnout.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-14249861888898261602011-06-27T17:51:00.000+08:002011-06-27T17:51:53.892+08:00While We're on the Subject of Fruit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those lovers of fruit, particularly of the exotic variety, may be familiar with the variety pictured below. Being a former <a href="http://youtu.be/MOnEaKVtHxY">'kiwi kid'</a> I have weetbix for breakfast of course. Generously layered over is papaya, usually purchased from the TTDI wet market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These babies however are from our back yard. They need to get a tad more yellow and then they will be right and ripe for picking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5BhCDV3ceumqQ4wNuyNS8ezQi5dMtQiVeJWNBKoilslZr2NOJL0fhEznef7xowtECO_L8-R00Il5kiPJ5EwAZ5qBFzNg0932zZA5GuWmr2fVCMGywp_ifa5nUuKPVl1OzA8TE09bQsM/s1600/papaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5BhCDV3ceumqQ4wNuyNS8ezQi5dMtQiVeJWNBKoilslZr2NOJL0fhEznef7xowtECO_L8-R00Il5kiPJ5EwAZ5qBFzNg0932zZA5GuWmr2fVCMGywp_ifa5nUuKPVl1OzA8TE09bQsM/s400/papaya.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-68445538059523338992011-06-22T18:32:00.000+08:002011-06-22T18:32:58.198+08:00I'm Back - Here's the Durian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbkaQY1N0pqRyKizHucl-5kVc9gZjgoB3GogUdAB2t_bR_SfWNR1mF2esW0NT6If7CUpPBSwKceXRbGNoFq6OQ-CdXQ0CVSvjvsiWOe4KNKnDI1BgQ4aIttj_WdKyepeqiMJmNlWGFgY/s1600/P5030017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbkaQY1N0pqRyKizHucl-5kVc9gZjgoB3GogUdAB2t_bR_SfWNR1mF2esW0NT6If7CUpPBSwKceXRbGNoFq6OQ-CdXQ0CVSvjvsiWOe4KNKnDI1BgQ4aIttj_WdKyepeqiMJmNlWGFgY/s400/P5030017.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm...Tastes like chicken</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBJF8uX71Ko6FpOwy2lUiwBbR6WpKP6E00QxV0g46ZaKXfC0j77pGva0k4HG3rw3_AZmeskvmw6RYymqr6UVjFBou1oxEB1VhZ1fe0T4rsbP3s_8-9uojSNAhvLsQOkaV6DV0OsIQwsc/s1600/P5030003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBJF8uX71Ko6FpOwy2lUiwBbR6WpKP6E00QxV0g46ZaKXfC0j77pGva0k4HG3rw3_AZmeskvmw6RYymqr6UVjFBou1oxEB1VhZ1fe0T4rsbP3s_8-9uojSNAhvLsQOkaV6DV0OsIQwsc/s400/P5030003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These suckers are hard to get into</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-Fq0pk6ZOagXNJZbE_BAk4g149pUM2_TL9B2QKUFkMdIxTt_wsgxKJaFOL1khtJmweRFnSgIdhjqSv_YpfV4OInCmIWJvCLeA98-tOdLHmv22cO0hgpN3L6uqxQLYA46jIgozp1-Gqg/s1600/P5030007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-Fq0pk6ZOagXNJZbE_BAk4g149pUM2_TL9B2QKUFkMdIxTt_wsgxKJaFOL1khtJmweRFnSgIdhjqSv_YpfV4OInCmIWJvCLeA98-tOdLHmv22cO0hgpN3L6uqxQLYA46jIgozp1-Gqg/s400/P5030007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that thorny goodness</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKcYNgbrry4t9uaQK-4xPDl0vlOJqfgPOHNkqmyp7QvBrvwkKTbplTpTY3Hqs6hxFaeSMWFdbY8Vm4wixBj5Kph05slnaNoRUrj1n0vWiDlpDl5ebKk7OPyf2TXcoy-z8Glagbf3T-m8/s1600/P5030005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKcYNgbrry4t9uaQK-4xPDl0vlOJqfgPOHNkqmyp7QvBrvwkKTbplTpTY3Hqs6hxFaeSMWFdbY8Vm4wixBj5Kph05slnaNoRUrj1n0vWiDlpDl5ebKk7OPyf2TXcoy-z8Glagbf3T-m8/s400/P5030005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold, Durian as it's finest</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKKIwfLsU0qqi9jerYL8TiblY6dXQcM8u24lmUROZfBbvPvjQNnNGSYZOPTbTIvdEWye7qe4hADCNSMaVSTnZvYtjuv_HOUnQnRDM3jqUsSfrtWjBJiC1IIx-U6TxTViFO_N427uITXw/s1600/P5030004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKKIwfLsU0qqi9jerYL8TiblY6dXQcM8u24lmUROZfBbvPvjQNnNGSYZOPTbTIvdEWye7qe4hADCNSMaVSTnZvYtjuv_HOUnQnRDM3jqUsSfrtWjBJiC1IIx-U6TxTViFO_N427uITXw/s400/P5030004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I hate other blogs that appear to be going swimmingly, then all of a sudden, on the whim of the writer, are discontinued; abruptly and without a reason given.<br />
<br />
Did they arrive at a sticky end or, more likely, just move on to the next novelty? This has happened to my blog, and I will bore you with no excuse. Today.......(cue dramatic music)...it is resurrected!<br />
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And I will start with a few photos of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian">durian</a> buying and eating expedition. This legendary fruit, I have managed to avoid for the past 3 years. With the visit of my parents last month however, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to break the durian barrier hence it was included in the tourist trail that we followed during their stay.<br />
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The verdict: very creamy, rich, sweet, with a hint of peppery tinges. The infamous smell was most definitely exaggerated in my opinion; merely a very plant like, altogether organic odour.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-74229616167248476662011-01-27T09:43:00.000+08:002011-01-27T09:43:20.076+08:00Graeme's Leaving Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqyUhFkLDxbNVvSNiIQEhYG6Q3zB9bspazYPIMUPgEXK43kHDjuB3MKlnTwlBt7FrBBnSfOehgy4Okri2_eOkI9DUdfZZBNpgvdDSIqejy9esIaaL4UujE8CcH-aXIVEVo5JVutOUTtw/s1600/Manmums+-+Graeme+Raphaels+leaving+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqyUhFkLDxbNVvSNiIQEhYG6Q3zB9bspazYPIMUPgEXK43kHDjuB3MKlnTwlBt7FrBBnSfOehgy4Okri2_eOkI9DUdfZZBNpgvdDSIqejy9esIaaL4UujE8CcH-aXIVEVo5JVutOUTtw/s1600/Manmums+-+Graeme+Raphaels+leaving+party.jpg" /></a></div>Another manmum is leaving these shores hence a party was held at our place. Here are all the manmums that attended.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-32530952352250688662011-01-25T10:32:00.000+08:002011-01-25T10:32:11.049+08:00Mountain Biking in KL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXs2gJk_G0QBJex-RXvVpHr0URMY6zl-2zN-3Ejjqdn8o-NUQt3pOqKTtAeNDt8iey5JJcfuOM8YV6XdGirQ53HZSLTPkmupVFZqtGABFLyKVSpxgi14enN5uqer6IVoz_IU0DipQETE/s1600/imagesCAKD8QWE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXs2gJk_G0QBJex-RXvVpHr0URMY6zl-2zN-3Ejjqdn8o-NUQt3pOqKTtAeNDt8iey5JJcfuOM8YV6XdGirQ53HZSLTPkmupVFZqtGABFLyKVSpxgi14enN5uqer6IVoz_IU0DipQETE/s1600/imagesCAKD8QWE.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Living in KL, one thing that I don’t automatically associate with the lifestyle here is getting into the jungle. Sure it’s all around; little pockets have managed to tenaciously hold on against development, however ultimately KL is your typical big city. An urban jungle as opposed to the green tropical one that it was 150 years ago. Perhaps that’s why it was such fun to go mountain biking in one of these mini jungles tucked in between a couple of major highways. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzuFlfH42PzMF1GGfwIzAJm39FRRPTT-yND2F9NqxJW4xaJYFj-I7rOpFYZm6YZp3LydsPm8aA47J0yIH1oJhKKAmhR9vPhYF3gkzjVBBzRcfpaqm7k6mKCneTQg_eIrFwQOCmfy5Il8/s1600/imagesCAP3LPVM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzuFlfH42PzMF1GGfwIzAJm39FRRPTT-yND2F9NqxJW4xaJYFj-I7rOpFYZm6YZp3LydsPm8aA47J0yIH1oJhKKAmhR9vPhYF3gkzjVBBzRcfpaqm7k6mKCneTQg_eIrFwQOCmfy5Il8/s1600/imagesCAP3LPVM.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was an all kiwi affair with Damian and Paul, who kindly lent me his spare bike starting with a short road ride from Paul’s place in Sri Hartamas to the track entrance. For the next 2 hours we slid (there had been typically prodigious tropical rain overnight) and grunted our way through some technically challenging terrain interspersed with some nerve jangling, white knuckle downhill hooning. Despite it being many years since my last mountain biking experience (about 18 I suspect, which ages me terribly) I had only one spill, with no major damage done. So the question is whether to make the investment in the machinery, after all these things don’t come cheap?</span></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-30967691872128395802011-01-10T20:32:00.000+08:002011-01-10T20:32:44.747+08:00Save Our MaidsThis story was front page news on the main English daily in Kuala Lumpur, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_(Malaysia)">The Star</a>.<br />
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For those of us raised in countries where domestic maids are <strong><em>not</em></strong> a matter of necessity, this article will seem ludicrous and funny in the most non intentional way. There are some real crackers here. I especially like the line about 'parents sacrificing quality time with their children in the weekends (mall hopping presumeably), and doing household chores'. This is not a laughing matter here in Malaysia, a country with a massive over reliance on foreign cheap labour. The reason why Indonesia has decided to ban sending maids here is that relations between the two nations are very strained currently and the Indos want to hit the Malaysians where it hurts. <br />
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Easy answer Malaysia - Pay your workers a decent wage!!!<br />
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DISCLOSURE: We have a maid! (A lovely Filipino lady, see <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2009/03/ms-valentine-2009-filipino-experience.html">previous post</a>). She is home for a holiday and I'm counting the days till she returns. Cleaning toilets is very overrated.<br />
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<a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/10/nation/7765421&sec=nation">http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/10/nation/7765421&sec=nation</a><br />
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<strong><em>Monday January 10, 2011</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Maid shortage worsens with Cambodia running low</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>By JOSHUA FOONG </em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>joshuafoong@thestar.com.my</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>PETALING JAYA: Some 35,000 families are being forced to do a “huge balancing act” as the shortage of foreign maids turns critical with supply dwindling down to a trickle.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>To add to the problem of Indonesia’s moratorium on maids, Cambodia is also facing difficulty in sending domestic helpers aged above 21.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies is urging the Government to seriously attend to this pressing matter and consider lowering the age limit of foreign maids to allow more maids in from Cambodia.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>> Parents are sacrificing quality time with their children as weekends are used to complete household chores.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>> Freelance agents are cashing in on the situation to offer “informal” ways of providing domestic help, including getting Indonesian maids into the country despite the freeze by the Indonesian government.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Monday January 10, 2011</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>35,000 families badly hit by shortage of maids</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>PETALING JAYA: Tens of thousands of families are in a lurch as the shortage of foreign maids has become more acute.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>With only about 200 foreign maids arriving monthly compared to more than 1,000 several months ago, the waiting list is getting longer by the day.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) estimated that about 35,000 families were in desperate need of maids with the average waiting time now stretching to more than seven months.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The problem is caused by a continued freeze imposed by Indonesia – the biggest supplier of domestic helpers – on its people from coming to Malaysia as maids since last year. Now, it has been worsened with Cambodia being unable to meet the shortfall.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>On average, 7,000 maids are needed per month to replace those who go home after their contracts expire, but the number of new arrivals is less than 5% of that figure, Papa secretary Foo Yong Hooi said.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>He said the problem was temporarily solved when Malaysia opened its door to maids from Cambodia, but after about eight months of high demand, the country now faced difficulties in supplying enough maids.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>He said Cambodia would be able to supply more maids if the Government was willing to lower the minimum age limit of maids to 18 years from the current 21.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>“The supply of maids from the country for those above the age of 21 is currently overstretched. This is because many in that age-group are already starting a family and are not willing to come here,” he added.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>He said Papa had already made a formal request to the Home and Human Resources ministries last year to lower the age limit when the shortage first began to become serious.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>“We do not know how much longer we can sustain with this (maid shortage),” Foo added.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>A Cambodian delegation of maid agencies and labour officials is expected to arrive next week to discuss the issue of lowering the age requirement with the relevant authorities.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>“The age requirement is a concern for our Cambodian counterparts,” he said.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>For industry players, the more important issue was not just to find a temporary solution but to look at the primary issue – the continuing freeze of maid supply from Indonesia.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>“I believe the Government has done what it can. We always welcome maids from Indonesia. The Government has made its offer. The ball is now in Indonesian’s court.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>“The impasse will not end unless Indonesia lifts its moratorium on the hiring of maids,” Foo said.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Maids from Indonesia and Cambodia are sought after by many families because their monthly wage is affordable at around RM600 compared to the RM1,200 for maids from the Philippines.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Malaysia has also opened its doors to maids from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Nepal and India.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>However, Foo said, there were still some issues that needed to be resolved before domestic helpers from these countries could be brought in in large numbers.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Among the issues that needed to be addressed were related to wages and rest days.</em></strong><br />
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<em></em></strong>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-61120024189627117932011-01-06T11:55:00.000+08:002011-01-06T11:55:13.403+08:00Happy New YearHappy New Year Everyone,<br />
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This article from <a href="http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/12/31/central/7692663&sec=central">the Star</a> in Malaysia caught my attention, reviewing New Zealands <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annus_horribilis">annus horriblis</a> in 2010.<br />
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Lets hope fortunes improve in Aoteoroa for 2011.<br />
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<strong><em>Friday December 31, 2010</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Not hard to bid adieu to 2010</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>TALE OF TWO CITIES</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>AUCKLAND</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>BY CHARLES CHAN</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>AS the curtain falls on 2010, many New Zealanders will be glad to bid “good riddance” to what has surely been a rotten year, an annus horriblis.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>A slew of natural and man-made disasters — earthquakes, floods, drought, fires and corporate collapses — caused a lot of misery.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The government is running out of cash, with a deficit of NZ$15.6bil reported for the 2010-11 fiscal year, the same as in 1984 when the country was broke.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Memorial service: People sitting near individual tables covered with personal items of dead miners at Omoto Racecourse in Greymouth recently. Two explosions killed 29 miners in the underground Pike River coal mine last month.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>So although not broke, the National-led government under John Key is having to borrow NZ$300mil a week just to keep hospitals, schools and other essential services running.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Finance Minister Bill English said the deficit was “at the outer boundaries of what the government wanted” but was confident the country was still on track to bring the budget back to surplus by 2015/16.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Realistically, the cash-strapped government won’t be able to do much in the area of job creation, poverty and hardship alleviation.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The easy way out is to start selling off commercial assets worth NZ$52bil to pay the bills but with the general election in the new year, that’s quite an unlikely scenario.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>So it’s no surprise the Christmas season hasn’t been a cheerful one for some Kiwis, particularly those families who have lost fathers and sons from the 2010 News of the Year event — the Pike River coal mine disaster of Nov 19 that killed 29 miners and contractors.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Unlike the miracle of San Jose copper-gold mine in Chile, the Pike River tragedy traumatised the nation.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>More than a month after that tragedy, there’s still no indication when or if ever the bodies of the 29 mine victims can be recovered. The presence of dangerous toxic gases in the mine tunnels make it unsafe for recovery teams to enter.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The mine disaster has more serious consequences for the living. Debt-ridden Pike River Coal has bellied up and 90% of its 160 workers are out of work.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>For the West Coast town of Greymouth in the South Island, where most mine workers spend their money on daily essentials, it’s a sickening blow to the local economy.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The other big event that captured world headlines and media attention was the Sept 4 Canterbury earthquake near Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, that cost widespread damage to residential and commercial properties estimated at $5bil by Goldman Sachs.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Nobody was killed. The only fatality was a man who died of a heart attack during the 7.1 magnitude quake but more than 3,000 aftershocks have hit the area.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The latest swarm of aftershocks came on Boxing Day ranging from 3.0 to 4.9 in magnitude which sent bargain hunters fleeing for their lives as bricks and mortar crashed from buildings.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>So far a total of 161,600 claims had already been lodged with the Earthquake Commission, making the Canterbury quake the fourth most-costly earthquake for insurers globally since 1970 after Northridge, California, in 1994, Central and Southern Chile in 2010, and Kobe, Japan, in 1995.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The silver lining is that reconstruction work associated with repairs and rebuilding of affected homes covered by insurance will give the local economy a much needed boost.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>But in the meantime, due to bureaucratic delay and the sheer scale of repairs, many families will not be able to return to their homes for several years to come.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>It’s not in the Christmas spirit to derive some satisfaction over another person’s troubles but many New Zealanders are not shedding any tears for controversial businessman Mark Hotchin.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>His NZ assets have all been frozen by the Securities Commission which is investigating his role in the collapse of Hanover Finance.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The freeze order included his bank accounts and $13.5mil property on Waiheke Island and his highly-publicised $30mil unfinished mansion on Paritai Drive in the Auckland suburb of Remuera.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>That collapse in 2008 has left 16,000 investors out of pocket to the tune of $413mil, shattering retirement dreams, ruining plans for holidays, costly operations and negating inheritance legacies of many elderly couples.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Hotchin is moaning that the $1,000 a week allowance given by the Commission to cover legal costs, rent and mortgage payments, and food and other household expenses, is insufficient for his needs and the seven people he supports.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The stealth displayed by the commission, activating an existing law that had been gathering cobwebs for years, took Hotchins completely by surprise, sort of like Pearl Harbour in World War II.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Usually, assets are frozen with notice of a court order following the completion of an investigation into alleged irregularities.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Some financial analysts see it as a warning from the commission that it’s prepared to play hardball to nail corporate crooks.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Hotchin, who has relocated to a multi-million-dollar beachfront mansion on the Gold Coast, Australia, intends to fight the orders and a hearing is expected in February.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>In stark contrast, when South Canterbury Finance collapsed in August after being placed under statutory management, hundreds of people, including those who put their life savings in his company, staged rallies and marches in his support.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The collapse of the country’s largest finance company, triggered a payment of $1.6bil of taxpayers money to 35,000 depositors under the Government’s deposit guarantee scheme which ensures investors will get their money back with interest.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>But the significance of it was all buried under the sentimental mush over Hubbard, the Timaru-based multimillionaire philanthropist who lives with his wife in a modest home and drives around in an old car.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>It affected large number of rural sector loans estimated at over $250mil and poses a risk to New Zealand’s agricultural sector. This arises from the crucial nature of the rural sector to the overall agricultural industry in the country.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The real story is still unravelling but in the meantime, Hubbard who will be held accountable for approving questionable loans that led to South Canterbury’s collapse is still revered while Hotchin is reviled.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Other TV images that captured NZ’s economic woes poignantly were of tens of thousands of lambs dying in southland during the harsh winter and factory fires that put hundreds of people out of work.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Yet, despite these numbing setbacks, NZ success in sports provided some cheer.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Not often can New Zealand claim to have finished a year on top of Australia, its biggest rival, in three of the leading winter codes — rugby, rugby league and netball.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Even in soccer, it could boast a superior record at the World Cup in South Africa, thanks to a stunning unbeaten run. For the fourth successive time, New Zealand’s Black Ferns captured the women’s version of the Rugby World Cup, beating English 13-10 in a tense final.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>With just the inaugural world cup victory under their belt, the ABS have a long way to go but their stunning successes in 2010 — over South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland — make them the favourites for the 2011 Rugby World Cup which NZ is hosting in September.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Winning the Webb Ellis Cup, the symbol of global rugby supremacy, will give Kiwis some cheer in the difficult year ahead.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Just imagine that — so much hope placed on an oval ball the size of a durian.</em></strong><br />
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<em></em></strong>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-61823799747568428672010-12-23T11:28:00.001+08:002010-12-23T11:29:40.463+08:00Best Reading in 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwALKRGT154805wsD_0boKb2At6991d8auPvD49OsdTqUrB7NeIrxtlx5jXwTF2GFjv_30HaOAFutI3RL_3s_y_u9y7iJoqAnxE3efAxm_Dx7wWwQn_bJqGkplMAMKDv_8F6wsNNfPaP0/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwALKRGT154805wsD_0boKb2At6991d8auPvD49OsdTqUrB7NeIrxtlx5jXwTF2GFjv_30HaOAFutI3RL_3s_y_u9y7iJoqAnxE3efAxm_Dx7wWwQn_bJqGkplMAMKDv_8F6wsNNfPaP0/s400/untitled.bmp" width="145" /></a></div><strong><u>The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen</u></strong><br />
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I have reviewed this in Kiakahakl <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-review-corrections-by-jonathan.html">already</a>. I had been wondering about the hype for this author and I discovered it's well deserved. Unquestionably my favourite of the year and next year I am looking forward to reading his 2010 release Freedom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><strong><u>Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides</u></strong><br />
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I knew nothing about this novel when I started it, except that it made Oprah’s choice a few years ago. Fair play to Ms Winfrey, many of the books that make her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah's_Book_Club">Book Club</a> are excellent reads and this is no exception. Its a fantastic cross continental, intergenerational yarn that had me totally hooked. Furthermore it crossed into territory that is challenging to the reader, something I think good literature should always aspire.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVTK7FebtvmuNjGNVRRPloPKxMVpMwS6lm0Q_9IAttMue25NiJovO82dC-cdgqItj3MW3biaUeyKR6GzLEMBwLbx-U6iC5f4qkYAvl7onxbRp6gwnR6UHPsnzuJ4iwsLp4easzjfOkmc/s1600/middlesex.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVTK7FebtvmuNjGNVRRPloPKxMVpMwS6lm0Q_9IAttMue25NiJovO82dC-cdgqItj3MW3biaUeyKR6GzLEMBwLbx-U6iC5f4qkYAvl7onxbRp6gwnR6UHPsnzuJ4iwsLp4easzjfOkmc/s400/middlesex.bmp" width="140" /></a></div><br />
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<u><strong>Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes<br />
</strong></u>Reviewed <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-review-matterhorn-novel-of-vietnam.html">here</a>. War literature as good as it gets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u9WBzFhPq3Wsnh1AJzk5Q_-uaHZwWxj-jH1q2C8OlANd9wson0xb_aU7q05tGnwL53rc0rkt47F_1jUIts9k3XgSaQg48q-xOd0gBV7vnRHp0JRfOHURyTg2g5GEZACiNxZZV5ZS_bI/s1600/matterhorn.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u9WBzFhPq3Wsnh1AJzk5Q_-uaHZwWxj-jH1q2C8OlANd9wson0xb_aU7q05tGnwL53rc0rkt47F_1jUIts9k3XgSaQg48q-xOd0gBV7vnRHp0JRfOHURyTg2g5GEZACiNxZZV5ZS_bI/s400/matterhorn.bmp" width="138" /></strong></a><u><strong> </strong></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><strong>Paris Trance by Geoff Dyer</strong></u></div><br />
Dyer’s novels are an excellent ‘go to’ choice for me. I am a big fan of his style, and the capturing of contemporary nuances within his writing is outstanding. This is by no means an outstanding novel, <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-jeff-in-venice-death-in.html">‘Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi’</a>, reviewed last year was better, however it was still a joy to read. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlB-wSmbsXZAKTMkX5vaXl1CBSt10cTRQAG8XUoMSSdljXRbSK32tBurtImqSL2Ohnj_qhC5INW1rOPkkWY_8akFW5A3DLxluzGKw2q3s5tiTgYcbNOdhp4V11xISAp6sdrqjrk4Pj2E/s1600/paris+trance.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlB-wSmbsXZAKTMkX5vaXl1CBSt10cTRQAG8XUoMSSdljXRbSK32tBurtImqSL2Ohnj_qhC5INW1rOPkkWY_8akFW5A3DLxluzGKw2q3s5tiTgYcbNOdhp4V11xISAp6sdrqjrk4Pj2E/s400/paris+trance.bmp" width="136" /></strong></a><strong><u> </u></strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><strong>Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell</strong></u></div><br />
Also reviewed this <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2010/08/book-review-cloud-atlas-by-david.html">year</a>. This guy is an incredibly talented writer and I also had the pleasure of reading an earlier work <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number9dream">Number9Dream</a>. Next year, his latest release, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is on my list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3IDMlA46TyLDK9GDbuYALaYCGtrPqa_QcAwLQeDalN3LSaTsXBsJ1HsBzp0a3JKvzaVfPN55-GbRoFjoHKmPkw1ILg4YfT9b9mOV6k5JZ03lcMjn54LqGbLaib6KRDNeFJXwZbXRBIM/s1600/cloud+atlas.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3IDMlA46TyLDK9GDbuYALaYCGtrPqa_QcAwLQeDalN3LSaTsXBsJ1HsBzp0a3JKvzaVfPN55-GbRoFjoHKmPkw1ILg4YfT9b9mOV6k5JZ03lcMjn54LqGbLaib6KRDNeFJXwZbXRBIM/s400/cloud+atlas.bmp" width="144" /></strong></a><strong><u> <br />
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</u></strong><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><strong>Olive Ketteridge by Elizabeth Strout</strong></u></div><br />
The writing here is gorgeous. Strout is a class act using a central linking figure, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Kitteridge">Olive Ketteridge</a>, who lives in a small town in Maine. From this she moulds together a collection of stories that will charm the pants of you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDs6QQqb86BfrlLbgcLzNpr5GltcgWzHbRcK4VLbduuiOey6FHqlU7AznX2G009OX3vI68GGpkC-YmBpHCBl4eESqjA9-xBdUlKG1u7jIjWsrSob5wooFEcyYqYEY0YRC_eWi0hjlCwg/s1600/olive+ketteridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><u><strong><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDs6QQqb86BfrlLbgcLzNpr5GltcgWzHbRcK4VLbduuiOey6FHqlU7AznX2G009OX3vI68GGpkC-YmBpHCBl4eESqjA9-xBdUlKG1u7jIjWsrSob5wooFEcyYqYEY0YRC_eWi0hjlCwg/s400/olive+ketteridge.jpg" width="180" /></strong></u><br />
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Also enjoyed in 2010: Tinkers by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harding_(author)">Paul Harding</a> and Far North by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Theroux">Marcel Theroux</a></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-58500157951672942562010-12-21T10:31:00.000+08:002010-12-21T10:31:11.296+08:00Cars<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cars are everywhere in this town. But the extraordinary thing to me is the not the number of vehicles that are clogging the dozens of freeways, bypasses, junctions, Jalans, Lorongs, and toll ways in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klang_Valley">Klang Valley</a>. It’s not the ones moving that interest me, for their purpose is clear. It’s the ones that aren’t being driven that interest me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELkn-shepE4xOhwLzPTpIME1xvoXZ5Jw2ducTbTRVE0VlB4duwWvF6ryAzRvz1Dzx9ep5luVAQ92qxsREIAVRdbazV-y20LQ2Pbu4eHtbEXFo8EySuNGRTUhJM3m05gro48mB2BKIwJM/s1600/imagesCAP5J160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELkn-shepE4xOhwLzPTpIME1xvoXZ5Jw2ducTbTRVE0VlB4duwWvF6ryAzRvz1Dzx9ep5luVAQ92qxsREIAVRdbazV-y20LQ2Pbu4eHtbEXFo8EySuNGRTUhJM3m05gro48mB2BKIwJM/s1600/imagesCAP5J160.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although I have no reliable stats to back this up, for every car I see on the road, I see another couple in driveways, carports, garages, roadsides, mall car parks, street corners, curbs, grass verges, double parked half on a curb and half on a grass verge, and on yellow lines whilst double parked outside a police station blocking the driveway. You name it, it’s been parked there. Cars here are like litter. A mess of trashy, rusted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(carmaker)">Protons</a>, their windows having stopped descending years ago, apparently abandoned, under trees, brown mouldy leaves clogging the windshields.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Brash and beasty Porsche 4 wheel drives are squeezed onto the pavement to make way for the 4 other cars already parked in the driveway. When it comes to the resale value of your house, lots of driveway space will increase it significantly.</div><br />
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Strangely enough however, cars are expensive here, particularly foreign cars, which are taxed heavily to protect the domestic automobile industry. I assume that buyers are taking advantage of the 3% car loans that are available. I don’t blame them.<br />
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In Naples, Italy, it is not uncommon to see a narrow one way street blocked by a parked car, its owner ignoring the honking and abuse as they leisurely sip on their expresso in the cafe. The KL, Malaysian version of this occurred to me the other day. I was driving past <a href="http://www.foodlah.com/2010/11/24/kl-malaysia-nasi-lemak-tanglin/">Tanglin Hawker stall</a> near Lake Gardens, home of reputably the best <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasi_lemak">Nasi Lemak</a> in KL. My progress along the narrow lane was halted by a mighty Proton Waja. The Malay driver flashed me a quick wave and smile as he abandoned the vehicle, scurrying to secure his place in the queue. I was in no hurry, and after all, who am I to deny a man his breakfast. So I waited for his return, holding a plastic, styraphome wrapped delight. Another wave and we were on our way through an obstacle course of badly parked metal.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-38108805448258963922010-12-21T09:43:00.001+08:002010-12-22T10:55:41.754+08:00Star Wars Action Figures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan70fAC2OI-HC4SeBprnZuR4vEtjSJFbu6tu796ZjoKX7v2qnwExNdxSEt9MlAZXwjUMcxbpEqWlCvzqESbxlSymp_908u3OKz_gzloJtnCkb1A5ksee4SP0eMZ-yVJHL9QYGFVnuPGM/s1600/PB170023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan70fAC2OI-HC4SeBprnZuR4vEtjSJFbu6tu796ZjoKX7v2qnwExNdxSEt9MlAZXwjUMcxbpEqWlCvzqESbxlSymp_908u3OKz_gzloJtnCkb1A5ksee4SP0eMZ-yVJHL9QYGFVnuPGM/s320/PB170023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Its a big step I know, but I have decided that Isaac is old enough for the bequeathing of my treasured original Star Wars actions figures (there is also a Buddha that he thrown in there to make the play even more interesting).<br />
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For sci fi geeks out there you will also note in the photo, a wing from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIE_fighter">Darth Vaders tie fighter</a>. Readers will note its distinctive shape making it distinguishable from standard imperial tie fighters. <br />
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Also, my pride and joy, a landspeeder as ridden by Luke, Obi Wan, C3PO, and R2D2 in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_IV:_A_New_Hope">Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope</a>.<br />
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Bought for Christmas 1977, they have already taken quite a battering in the hands of a new generation. Luke Skywalkers head has broken off and subsequently been superglued back. Overall though, Isaac has been taking great care with my nostalgic items and has been enjoying them as much as I did 33 years ago.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-64091677957528694512010-11-23T10:31:00.000+08:002010-11-23T10:31:57.650+08:00Tech Talk - Ipod ClassicIts my birthday coming up and I've used this opportunity to replace the ipod that was stolen when we went to phuket (<a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2010/06/long-weekend-at-phuket-laguna-half.html">see previous post</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7JOu9aPQSTfTDjIBmIdv8csIE_3d74HbL7EmHWApI-9esVfZVbUySV0zU4-figZ25lILE4ObH6vpokFi2Uaq5aaqDs6EjVuaw2yjq7o3aS_YA1gJobHxoM6nsEbKY5sOT6RwsGJsvwA/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7JOu9aPQSTfTDjIBmIdv8csIE_3d74HbL7EmHWApI-9esVfZVbUySV0zU4-figZ25lILE4ObH6vpokFi2Uaq5aaqDs6EjVuaw2yjq7o3aS_YA1gJobHxoM6nsEbKY5sOT6RwsGJsvwA/s1600/untitled.bmp" /></a></div>It fits nicely in the the Bose speaker dock and thus truely portable music has been restored to the Snell-Soto household once again.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-65161727029241771372010-11-14T07:39:00.005+08:002010-11-14T07:50:12.400+08:00NZ Vs Australia - Four Nations Rugby League Final<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMS9fPpYUb2I-UoKpbwyjCzcw8SBQlo9VbskrWwiI8xIS8b3L4eFfLvt5kZwONlEdxRZ_F0P9KDx1BkuqXzzHnrw5hory1VOC76xXyFtPIuhNDgpeempU98eoqVPog8urSsqrP8lY6wQ/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 89px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539184900155931202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMS9fPpYUb2I-UoKpbwyjCzcw8SBQlo9VbskrWwiI8xIS8b3L4eFfLvt5kZwONlEdxRZ_F0P9KDx1BkuqXzzHnrw5hory1VOC76xXyFtPIuhNDgpeempU98eoqVPog8urSsqrP8lY6wQ/s400/images.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I'm still buzzing this morning after an incredible performance from the Kiwis in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_League_Four_Nations">final</a> last night.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The boys were under the pump for the first 30 minutes and were not playing well. Australia will regret that they did not put more points on during this period. The aussie commentators were continually trying to write the kiwis off (Phil Gould - tosser) and just after him making the comment that the kiwis were " out on their feet", the winning try was scored with time up on the clock. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In Benji Marshall, NZ has a champion player and leader and last night he really showed that.</div><div></div><div>Now come on All Blacks, the Kiwis have showed you how to do it in the big games. Get it done next year!</div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-38624769322287228502010-11-04T17:13:00.003+08:002010-11-04T17:24:30.782+08:00Book Review - The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujxABtqtNzwQW5WIZOShmp7lgkMQS4SiXp-UiJWPT4K2pG9nxbjAECu_RIXm7cT_2TeYnqE8tULHUzRCdHty8tOx1YMFnxBzxRFHFRtMbUqUgdNfYSW6P7Inkch9Ms__QhtgsZLWO1Q4/s1600/imagesCAXNZWU3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 194px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535621454703329234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujxABtqtNzwQW5WIZOShmp7lgkMQS4SiXp-UiJWPT4K2pG9nxbjAECu_RIXm7cT_2TeYnqE8tULHUzRCdHty8tOx1YMFnxBzxRFHFRtMbUqUgdNfYSW6P7Inkch9Ms__QhtgsZLWO1Q4/s400/imagesCAXNZWU3.jpg" /></a><br />WARNING: THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS EXTREME OVER ANALYSIS AND MAY BE PRETENTIOUS TO SOME READERS.<br /><br /><br />This novel was first released almost 10 years ago to significant critical and commercial success. ‘The first great American novel of the 21st century' is one example of the many plaudits that have come its way. Following his latest release, ‘Freedom’, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Franzen">Franzen </a>adorned the cover of <a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20100823,00.html">Time magazine</a>, an extremely rare event for a fiction writer in this day and age.<br /><br />The Corrections is the story of an American family. The elderly parents live in a dull mid western city and their three grown up children have moved away. The matriarch of the family wants to have one last Christmas together as a family and the narration follows their history both individually and collectively. Along the way Franzen weaves socio-economic, medical, racial and sexual issues and in doing so makes a hugely powerful statement on the state of not only the modern family, but society on a broader level.<br /><br />It’s an incredibly ambitious novel and when released on 11 September, 2001, it was at the forefront of an increasing critical introspective examination within popular culture of the dysfunctional behemoth that is the US of A. Expanding further on the historical context that applies here, aside from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks">9/11 </a>and the can of worms that opened, the watershed movie in American cinema, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beauty_(film)">American Beauty </a>had recently won the best picture Oscar. These 2 projects explore similar themes; however Beauty didn’t go far enough in challenging the facade of the American dream enough to be judged a masterpiece. The Corrections does. It lays out on the table the themes and characters of this family tale, then picks each up and dissects it under a surgical strength lamp.<br /><br />Nothing escapes Franzen’s microscope. He delves into the dark moral crevices between our comfy sofas to such an extent that only a saint would not blush on occasion when what he finds is a little too close to home. And it’s all carried out with plenty of humour and use of metaphor and imagery that challenges and interests on every page. As for the characters, we care, despite all there faults. For all its heavy themes, it’s a novel with heart. Masterpiece.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-91986946292980938322010-10-27T19:30:00.004+08:002010-10-28T21:44:02.186+08:00Book Review - Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPhY9nqKJCGcGsKgoSlFLOoAUk_8lyCL42Q5Y1JVB7zNiLU_KcgjECoc9-TCs-JJM5L1EqLwxqy-27uHAMks1ZLNokB_9587ShTC1pMU8JZccNqxUzxDn552n9F3OUzmhRFZic_2eJtU/s1600/matterhorn.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532688416335947586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPhY9nqKJCGcGsKgoSlFLOoAUk_8lyCL42Q5Y1JVB7zNiLU_KcgjECoc9-TCs-JJM5L1EqLwxqy-27uHAMks1ZLNokB_9587ShTC1pMU8JZccNqxUzxDn552n9F3OUzmhRFZic_2eJtU/s400/matterhorn.bmp" /></a><br />No other war (or police action to be precise) has been more dramatised in fiction in modern times than the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War">Vietnam conflict</a>. We’ve all seen the movies and heard the stories of this war that, like so many before and since, have appeared such deadly exercises in futility. Despite this being a well mined field (pardon the pun), Matterhorn takes it to a higher level. Written by a decorated Vietnam veteran over 35 years, we follow a young Lieutenant, who, unlike the other <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_were_the_grunts">grunts </a>he charges over, is well educated and not obligated to be there.<br /><br />This novel has an incredibly sincere quality and is consistently powerful. There is no doubt that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn:_A_Novel_of_the_Vietnam_War">Marlantes </a>really knows what he’s writing about and the peripheral issues such as race relations and politics within the marine corp are tackled head on. This is war literature of the highest order and the raw emotion captured is, at times, quite simply breathtaking. Its no boys own adventure but equally it is not portrayed without humour; there is much of the gallow variety here.<br /><br />The writing is superb, telling it like it is; and without pretention. This novel has reached a wide audience, including no doubt those whose previous knowledge of Vietnam was limited to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon_(film)">Oliver Stone</a> movies and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Beach">China Beach</a>. It’s clearly a project of passion and deserving of all the accolades it has received.Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-20708035555404992842010-10-25T12:51:00.003+08:002010-10-25T12:59:30.462+08:00Tech Talk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyWV-9jI5tPtynvIzokQVjWmQpPSPctWdB8EIXsHEexwMlcwWAjIG-CTSFq8dMvYejhLBB4knZTd5K2uZ9HUr68F7Cr8dUffrkx3eq50pDkLW05HB7KbuZ3YkqDOBziGvEvhJJRU13ig/s1600/ipad.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531843362186294962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyWV-9jI5tPtynvIzokQVjWmQpPSPctWdB8EIXsHEexwMlcwWAjIG-CTSFq8dMvYejhLBB4knZTd5K2uZ9HUr68F7Cr8dUffrkx3eq50pDkLW05HB7KbuZ3YkqDOBziGvEvhJJRU13ig/s400/ipad.jpg" /></a><br /><div>On a previous post I have talked about my <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-laptop.html">aversion to things of a modern, technological bent</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>No more.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have just returned from Singapore with this wonderful gadget, a surprise gift for Lina. Its fresh out of the box so it has'nt been given a test run but I'm sure its going to be a handy device. </div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-44963561501309208132010-10-05T10:06:00.004+08:002010-10-05T10:36:11.958+08:00Isaac turns 4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o33jqQiwgnpsbTTd7FnOfdfRVWq7jzp_n04HPLapunnV2nHe348jG_mfGDVvrWfPqzpe_al4Ws4rrTrGrVMMP7g_FkeCTEFpb7XtbAcYl4mjZxj367Ct59-hlrTFOhuv1KpAzpHm_gU/s1600/candle+blowing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524384060882760578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o33jqQiwgnpsbTTd7FnOfdfRVWq7jzp_n04HPLapunnV2nHe348jG_mfGDVvrWfPqzpe_al4Ws4rrTrGrVMMP7g_FkeCTEFpb7XtbAcYl4mjZxj367Ct59-hlrTFOhuv1KpAzpHm_gU/s400/candle+blowing.jpg" /></a><br /><div>On a <a href="http://kiakahakl.blogspot.com/2009/02/ultimate-childrens-birthday-party.html">previous post </a>I have written of the ultimate kids birthday party that were, to me at that time, a curious and unfamiliar Malaysian phenomenon.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Love a country - love its customs. Last weekend we laid on our Kiwi version of the Malaysian Birthday Extravaganza when we celebrated Isaac's 4th birthday. Dinosaurs was the theme and for another perspective on such parties in this fine city see this post of a fellow <a href="http://writernomad.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-party.html">expat KL blogger </a>(and no this was not quite the extravagance of our sons party; although it was pretty close).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Perhaps it's an unusual perspective on my part, regardless, I am firmly of the view that a children's party should also be cause for the adults to leer it up as well. It's difficult standing around at a kids party, clock watching, and longing for the a boredom numbing beverage, whilst the ankle biters are busy having all the fun. With this in mind, in addition to the pass-the-parcel games, chocolate fountain, and fairy bread, we laid on an adult food spread and beers. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So here is a snap taken that day, with more to follow later. We hope the party was enjoyed by young and old alike. Lina and I certainly enjoyed putting it on, and Isaac...... well the picture speaks for itself. </div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-10465355005683523142010-09-21T10:03:00.002+08:002010-09-21T10:56:52.189+08:00Back in my day.........Oh no!......I must have been in Malaysia for a while now because I am commenting on 'the good old days'.<br /><br />Our local neighbourhood is a traditional pocket of KL's satellite city, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaling_Jaya">Petaling Jaya</a>, more specifically the unimaginatively named, Section 17. We actually live in a neighbouring suburb called, you guessed it, Section 16, however 17 is where we go for food, marketing, and other life essentials. Massages for example.<br /><br />The central point of Section 17 is a park square which is ringed by open drains, Grandma/pa shops, noodle houses, and hawker stalls that have seemingly remained unchanged in living memory. Well, at least for the 5 months I have lived in this hood. In more exotic locales around the world it would be called a plaza. Section 17, as could be presumed from the name, is not exotic, however this should not detract from its unique and particular charms.<br /><br />The charm is certainly not historical in nature. Petaling Jaya, at most, 50 years old, is an example of post WW2 (sub)urban planning, Malaysia style, as people branched out from the KL inner city to the wide western expanses. The charm lies in sitting down for a bowl of pan mee spicy soup with pork innards and ikan bilis in a open air night market perched on a plastic, backless chair, elboes rested on wobbly plastic table that you share with several other strangers, sweat dripping down your forehead as a result of the 30 degree temperatures, 95% humidity and an additional chillispice factor of 10 degrees for good measure. It lies in nipping down to the kopitam on the square corner by 12 on the dot to get the best <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_siu">char siew </a>in PJ. The owner who looked well past retirement is legendary in these parts and his wares sell out by 1230.<br /><br />Last night I passed the aforementioned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_tiam">kopitam </a>and was horrified to see it gone. In its place was a monstrosity. A most heinous affliction that is without doubt threatening Malaysia's cultural heritage.<br /><br />A franchised kopitam. Its name escapes me, suffice to say there are several big names around who are apparently proving successful in spreading their evil scourge on the Malaysian landscape.<br /><br />These places are hideous, with their pristine photos of old style kopitams adorning the walls. Generically uniformed staff with notepad and pencil to write your order. Chairs so comfortable that people were dozing in them. Jets of spray sending a soothing mist over the patrons as they sip kopi ice, for which they were charged twice as much as the previous establishment. And the scary thing was that the place was full. To the rafters. Malaysians are undeniably aspirational. They want gleaming, shiny, modern things. And places such as these are meeting the demand. What happened in the old days was that the old man owner would pass the business on to his children. In this day and age, the children would rather work for investment banks then slave away in a coffee shop - of course. So in steps the franchise.<br /><br />Where are my pipe and slippers!Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207128475229810246.post-63799326564142954852010-09-03T10:48:00.006+08:002010-09-03T11:20:54.274+08:00DVD TV Series - Yes Minister<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF60oQhr_9QgkrKaQPC6M5RBZBsotXh8AbS8dkUqGMIUVj1mFN4UcX74gAlwKHBDaKj2SaT49XBm09tO4bLUCqS2HV7hLJnFmg9bYo9EvnddAwZfSFpEI0-UrM0Jh7el4hiB_xdLrHbEk/s1600/yes+minister.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512518608024669634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF60oQhr_9QgkrKaQPC6M5RBZBsotXh8AbS8dkUqGMIUVj1mFN4UcX74gAlwKHBDaKj2SaT49XBm09tO4bLUCqS2HV7hLJnFmg9bYo9EvnddAwZfSFpEI0-UrM0Jh7el4hiB_xdLrHbEk/s400/yes+minister.jpg" /></a> <div><div>This classic from the eighties has been our regular nighttime viewing of late. Of all the classic television series from this period, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Minister">Yes Minister </a>is the one I least expected to watch, but what a find its been. Featuring the irritating, self serving, head of the civil service, Sir Humphrey Appleby and the idealistic, yet ultimately equally self serving, Jim Hacker, (Minister of Administrative Affairs), this series was renowned for being Maggie Thatchers favourite programme. Its wonderful political satire and a reminder that the most important thing in TV or movies is the quality of the writing.</div></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13223247595041405891noreply@blogger.com0