The Classic All Blacks in KL

Mehrts running through the game plan

Yes I know what you're thinking and yes its fair to say Jonah has continued his lifelong aversion of the Beep test!

This guy sneaked in....his face is familiar....

Jonah lining up a place kick. A handy kicker as well.

The biggest Rugby occasion in Malaysia for sometime has hit town this week with the arrival of

the Classic All Blacks for an exhibition game against a World XV on Saturday.

I was lucky enough to assist with Physio duties for training yesterday afternoon and it was a veritable whos who of recent All Black Rugby. The star of the show is Jonah Lomu of course and he was swamped by autograph hunters. The boys were doing it very tough in 42 degrees and 90%+ humidity and it was awesome to rub shoulders with a few sports heroes.............and Ruben Thorne!

http://www.spiritofrugbychallenge.com/CAB.aspx

I will be in Phuket for the Laguna half marathon this weekend so will miss out on running the touchline for the game itself.

Article in Expatriate Lifestyle - Meet the Manmums

http://www.expatriatelifestyle.com/latest-articles.html

Book Review - From Third World to First: The Singapore Story:1965-2000, Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew

Having lived in South East Asia for the past 2 years, I had been meaning to read the memoirs of a giant political figure in the region, Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore. Under his stewardship, Singapore moved from a colonial backwater to a thriving first world economy. It is clear throughout the book that Lee harbours no regrets for being the architect of draconian policies in Singapore that have garnered widespread criticism amongst liberal outsiders. The results apparently speak for themselves as far as economic data is concerned. Singapore is top of the class, having started as a hopeless cause when they were expelled from Malaysia in 1965.

Of course along the path of Singapore’s transformation, there has been collateral damage; reduced free speech and personal freedoms, and for this Lee feels no need to apologise. It was all part of the greater good and those critical of the regime are always painted as troublemakers. Lee clearly has no time for the checks and balances system of governance in Western democracies.

Lee’s single minded strength of will resounds in his writing style, and love or hate his policies, one can only admire the way he has turned his vision into a reality. To do this in the context of a 4 million strong nation is undeniably impressive. Singapore is criticised for being sterile, and lacking in creativity and innovation as a result of the ‘nanny state’ mentality, but in fairness to the regime, within which Lee is still very influential despite stepping down as Prime Minister in 1990, they have introduced policies to make the Singaporeans more free thinking, something considered essential in today’s ‘knowledge’ economy. Furthermore, Lee never sought the cult of personality leadership style that has poisoned other such ‘fatherly’ leaders worldwide, whose egos far surpass their ability to deliver a better lot for the people they purportedly represent. His vision was entirely centred on the betterment of Singaporeans, not personal gain.

Mucho Running Ahead

Only a few weeks left before the first of 2 half marathons that I am doing in June:

Laguna Half marathon in Phuket

&

Kuala Lumpur Half marathon

1st Anniversary of Manmums Kuala Lumpur

It’s hard to beleive that it has been 1 year since the inaugural gathering of our stay-at-home dads playgroup in Kuala Lumpur. Our league of gentlemen with children under their trusted care started out as 3 and was mentioned in my blog last year. It has now expanded to a dozen or so plus children from all corners of the globe.

To celebrate this auspicious occasion, an original member, Michael opened his home for a party complete with presents, dress up (for the children only!) and cake. It has been fantastic to meet up with a great bunch of lads and I have been lucky enough to make some great friends. Isaac certainly looks forward to the Manmums playgroup every Monday and furthermore, we will appear in a future edition of Expatriate Lifestyle, the photo shoot already having been carried out

The 2010 edition of the Manmum Olympics will finally get underway this Thursday with a session of 10 pin bowling.

We party all day in this house

The inmates are rebelling

Isaac very excited about his Ben-10 gift

Nutritious Manmum food

Charles & Kayla

Sometimes being a manmum can turn you a bit potty

Latest News

My blogging has been virtually non-existent this last month or so. Perhaps this is due to our house moving upon our return from NZ and being too busy with cocktails and cool lagers poolside at the new pad. I do not like to crow but this place is fantastic. My intention was to post dozens of photos to illustrate this but Lina suggests that this would create a security breach hence your imagination is required. Its very open plan with large doors opening out the front to a beautiful pool. Its the tropical oasis we have been dreaming about since we arrived in Malaysia and after 2 years in a condo with no deck, we have been appreciating it.

The other major happening in the Snell-Soto lives is Isaac’s change of kindergarten. He now attends Little Mandarin House in Bangsar. As the name suggests Mandarin is the lingua franca. It’s only been a week and our little fella is toughing it out, not the happiest leaving his mates at My Montessori. We have promised a trip to China so that he can tell the taxi drivers where we want to go, as a reward! He really has been thrown in the deep end as far as languages go of late: Lina is speaking Spanish, our helper, Gee communicates in Tagalog, and I am ensuring he will be proficient in Niew Ziilund!

Film Review: Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have collaborated for their fourth film in Shutter Island. DiCaprio plays a federal marshal on assignment at Shutter Island, an island mental asylum for the criminally insane, and what plays out is an illustration of movie class at its finest.

Every scene, indeed every shot, is quality and packed with stylised cinema. Much of this style is unquestionably Hitchcockian, however the layers that are going on owe far more than to one genre only. This material suits DiCaprio’s acting down to the ground. There is no room for subtlety here and we know that Leo can deliver that in spades. For all the acting competency on offer, including Mr Reliable, Ben Kingsley, the accolades belong squarely with the technical staff, and Scorsese himself who have created a psychological, thriller, detective, drama, with a fair licking of horror to boot.

Its a rollicking journey: and an enjoyable one. It will be interesting to see if the notorious short memory spans of the Academy voters will extend to Shutter Island, this long out from the 2011 Oscars.