Terminal lethargy. The epitomy of weekend malaise.

Slumped on the sofa, surrounded by bloody Lego (cut my foot open on a piece a few weeks back ... jolting my broken rib @ the same time. Yes the rib still hurts (~SEVEN~ weeks later) thanks for asking).

Took this pic of the boys this morning.

Rushed to get my camera because this pic I'll remember forever as a typical Saturday morning (it was a Wednesday, but public holiday today).

It epitomises how the boys are just now and how I feel too - a bit lethargic, a bit mid-term. Out of energy. It's the heat. I feel we're in rut. I need to go visit somewhere new - been to Bangkok too many times just recently. I (we) need to be cold somewhere and sometime soon (Joss and I are planning a look weekend trip into 'Tibet' in November so hopefully we'll get cold there).

M

Mid-Autumn Festival 2007

Not written much lately -- not really been in the mood. Too much going on to focus on anything other than work it feels like.

Anyway...

Today is a public holiday to celebrate the mid-autumn festival; or moon festival; or lantern festival etc.

From Discover Hong Kong:

During the Mid-Autumn Festival people eat sweet tasting cakes called moon cakes made of ground lotus and sesame seed paste, egg yolk and other ingredients. Moon cakes symbolise the gathering of friends and family and are an indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn festivities. Moon cakes are also associated with the overthrow of the Mongol invaders in the 14th century. The story goes that Chinese revolutionaries planned to revolt against the government on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. This message was passed around hidden in moon cakes amongst the people who subsequently rose up and overthrew the oppressive tyrant.

Like last year, we spent last night on the beach swirling luminous sticks around etc and going to bed just as everyone else 20 years younger than us was hitting the sand.



Pictures of the boys this year don't look that much different to last. I have no idea where the year's gone to ... blink and another month goes by. But have remarked on that before on this blog.

Unlike last year, I forgot to have any mooncakes. Dare say I'll be able to pick them up cheap tomorrow in the post mooncake festival sales!

M

Mega City plans for Hong Kong

Well I think it's madness.

Apparently there are plans afoot to merge the just-in-china city of Shenzhen with Hong Kong ... will create a megaopolis of 20M+ people.

Crazy.



The 'bit' in the middle of Hong Kong and Shenzhen is still largely (would you believe) rainforest & a major migratory wetland bird sanctuary (mai po). That will be concreted over, or have lead-water poured into it for sure.

To be one of the world's great cities, argues a research report by the government-linked Bauhinia Foundation, Hong Kong needs to merge with Shenzhen.

"You need to merge the two to create a bigger metropolis to take advantage of China and the world."

Wot rot!

Putting the environment aside, the idea also potentially threatens Hong Kong's status as a SAR (Special Region i.e. not 100% communist). Hong Kong risks losing its status as an independent international city and becoming just another bit of China. The implications of that potentially impacts Hong Kong's main freedoms - of press, of assembly and of ideas.

M

"Aie, aie, aie!"

"Aie, aie, aie!", (Ouch, ouch, ouch!) read the front page of Le Parisien yesterday - a reflection of France's loss in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup on Friday.

Yes, what a great weekend for English sport this has been. Yesterday the English National Football; Cricket and Rugby teams all won their games in major sporting competitions.

And to top it all, we saw the French rugby team lose the inaugral World Cup game - at home - in a tournament they are hosting. Superb.

The only downside? It was Argentina who had to hand out the French loss. In an ideal world, a France Vs Argentina fixture (in any sport), would result in both of these national sides losing. In this one instance, I don't mind too much that the Argies won!

M

Check out the trailer to our new Intel game

Produced by the great team at MRM Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Sevens - 2008

Bit premature to start thinking about it perhaps -- but then again, we only have one sofabed (sleeps 2); one blow-up mattress (sleeps 2) and one put-you-up fold out pouffe mattress (sleeps 1) free.

So Sevens next year are March 28; 29 and 30th. We can probably get 2 tickets for guests.

First come, first served!

M

A380 Flying low over Hong Kong

Hong Kong: A380

This morning, an A380 -- the world's largest passenger jet -- did a low flypast over Hong Kong's mass of skyscrapers to launch Asia's largest airshow. The conference is being held in Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years, since it moved from its original home in Singapore, a shift that organisers say reflects the booming aviation market. I was thinking of going one evening -- but that's probably just too geeky for words!

The double-decker Airbus A380 flew as low as 1,000 feet -- just off the territory's tallest landmark, the 1,400-foot International Finance Centre (IFC).

This is despite an accident in Bangkok that damaged the tip of the jet's left wing, (an aircraft hanger apparently ran out in front of it!), forcing it to delay its takeoff.

It's clearly a massive plane -- I don't fancy flying in it for a couple of years i.e. until its safety record is firmed. Can you imagine if one of these beasts fell out of the sky over e.g. Chiswick? Not nice.

M