waggy tale no.2

Easter Greetings!  Sue and I have just returned from an excellent Sunday service at St Andrew’s.  The sermon was prefaced by a short film covering Holy Week, done in the style of a Facebook page, animated with each participant in the story sending a message.   The church was stuffed full, with dozens sat outside in the overflow area.

Easter is popular in the shops too, as they are always looking for some new gimmick to attract the punters. The Easter Bunny features prominently.  I don’t know if this is a regular feature of the season or whether its just a convenient association with the Year of the Rabbit.  Those of you aged around 25-30 might remember this character. 

A bottle of wine to the first correct name on an email! 

The Chinese New Year celebrations were marked with a spectacular fireworks display in Victoria Harbour and much lion-dancing in the towns and villages, where locals don an elaborate costume – a sort of lavish version of a pantomime horse – and prance around the streets to the sound of clanging cymbals (one guy improvised with a saucepan) and drums.  The lion stops at each shop or house where there are people gathered and dances for five minutes or so, the idea being to scare away evil spirits and to bring good fortune to those inside.  This picture was taken at Tai O, on Lantau Island using the mobile phone. 

I’m impressed with the picture quality of these things, but recently I discovered its achilles heel:  I was saying goodbye to Sue one morning and as I bent down to kiss her (she was in the bath at the time) there was a loud "clonk".  The phone had exited smartly from my breast pocket (note to self: tie phone to body), and I just caught a glimpse of it as it slid round the curve of the tub ........  Having fished it out, the screen glowed brightly for a moment and then went out.  Oh dear.  But Hand Phone Repair Man in Mong Kok came to the rescue, and all is well.  But I have to say the failure to work underwater is a disappointment; I mean, it works just about everywhere else, even on the MTR (Underground).  The irony is that the Home screen has a wet look, like, rain drops on glass.  What's a guy supposed to do when he's having a swim needs to make a call?  

New Year is a big deal over here.  All the shops and hotels are adorned inside and out with dahlias, chrysanthemums and tangerine bushes. Those with larger fruit have protective nets over them. 

Sue and I rounded off the period with a trip to Asia-World Expo to see Eric Clapton.  Slow hand was in good form, though the high notes were a bit of a struggle.  And he took a while to come back for the encore.  I expect he needed the toilet; he is 65 after all. Very reassuring to go to a popular music concert and not be the oldest person in the place. (On reflection I guess its merely a function of OFM) I had intended showing you a video clip but haven’t quite got to grips with the editing just yet – any advice on this gratefully received. 

The event showcased Hong Kong’s transport system: 10,000 people leaving the venue all at once, and most of them using the train, yet we waited no more than ten minutes and were home (some 15 miles away) within 45 minutes. 

I thought I’d continue with a series of three posts telling you something about what its like to live and work in Hong Kong.  For a title, I’ve paraphrased the old Mars bar advert, and called it WORK, REST and PRAY.   The first chapter is out soon! 

Kung Hei Fat Choi!  Good health to you in the Year of the Rabbit!



waggy tale no.1

 Well, here we are folks.  I finally got around to it, and, fingers crossed, when I press "Publish Post" it will appear on your screen as I imagined it; or not.  




Time has flown by since we arrived.  I cannot believe we have been here two months already.  I'm going to devote this post to thank yous, to the journey here, and to some first impressions.  Of all the things we wanted to do before we left was to say goodbye.  Sue and I have enjoyed re-reading the farewell cards, and have fond memories of the visits to homes (and not a few restaurants) around Wallington, in the West Country and Wales, and our last (I should say most recent) Sunday at Holy Trinity.   

 Our journeys through the Summer took us to Honiton to see Norma and Willy, then Abergavenny to see Jill Lloyd, then Little Stoke near Bristol for Marilyn and David. Back to Wallington; then Ashreigney, to see Frank and Janet and their delightful cottage (pic opposite); a quick trip to London to see the chaps, then onto the IOW ferry to see Brian's Mum and Dad, and Brother Jon and Barbara.  Sunday at Holy Trinity, then Monday evening with the kids.  Thank you everyone for your  hospitality and for giving us a good send-off.

The journey here was pretty good overall, though minutes before we left, we couldn't find the passports, tickets or money.  Sue assured me that I had them.  I hadn't.  A moment of real panic, which mercifully was just that.  Richard was great - saw us off at the Bus stop with all our stuff, and blimey! what a lot it was: two large suitcases, suitbag, overnight bag (15kg+), two laptops, flight bag, two overcoats, and bag full of CD's.  I feared problems at check-in as even a generous interpretation of the cabin baggage allowance wouldn't justify this lot.  Anyhow, no questions asked, and through we went.  Probably helped by the fact that before us was a large Japanese family who caused mayhem at the desk.  Two quiet and retiring English weren't going to be a problem. 

We like the flat.  Its compact at 700 sq.ft with two bedrooms but the view from the lounge is great.  On Sundays the harbour is busy with sailing boats, and throughout the week it is used by everything from the big "gambling ships" to cargo ships, the ubiquitous Star Ferry, and the little sampans used by fishermen.   

So who are all those people at the head of the blog?  Some of you will know that Sue found it hard going at first.  It was her first time over here and she knew no-one.  I was at work all day and the flat is small.  She was going mad, rapidly. But St Andrew's church was our saviour: there we met a number of lovely people, among them some really nice ladies who understood her situation exactly.  "You're what's known as 'a trailing wife' dear".  She was duly taken under a wing and introduced to one club after another, and now has a circle of probably 20 or so friends and is out most days.  The picture was taken at a dinner arranged by the Corona Club one Saturday.  Those of you at Purcell Miller Tritton reading this might be interested to know that the lady sat to the right of the lady in red is a neighbour of Jamie Coath.  Small world.