Made in Scotland fae Girders

Jamie's 7th Birthday -11-5-09

2009-05-13T09:22:00.001+08:00

Trip to Lamma Island for a seafood dinner

2009-05-08T08:34:00.009+08:00

Waiting for ferry to Lamma

Duk Ling

Pilot boat

Lantau Ferry

Container ship at sunset

Sunset over Lantau

Black Bean Clams

Hannah enjoying her dinner

Garlic Prawns

Steamed Fish

Seafood Fried Rice

Cray Fish

Fish and shellfish tanks

Rainbow Seafood Restaraunt

Large Garoupa

(click pictures to enlarge)

Various Beach pictures from the last couple of weeks

2009-04-21T05:58:00.005+08:00

Jamie's School Sports Day

2009-03-20T06:04:00.004+08:00

Wedding Anniversary 18-3-09

2009-03-20T05:43:00.004+08:00

Jamie's school prize giving

2009-03-13T09:21:00.002+08:00

Let's get this Blog going again....

2009-03-12T09:39:00.002+08:00

Back.....AGAIN !!

2007-11-13T01:44:00.000+08:00

Finally I have managed to log in and had time to post.It's been a very busy last few months and is only now starting to calm down.
I think now the blog will be more photo orientated and might even squeeze in a video if I can work out how that is done.

Back...

2007-03-14T02:14:00.000+08:00

No, I have not given up the blog.It's just that life at the moment is pretty hectic.I am hanging on at work waiting for word of a new premises, as the lease at the present location will be up in April.

It seems like I have just posted tons of photos but as they say a picture says a thousand words so I will leave it at that, short and sweet.

Happy Chinese New Year - (belated)

2007-03-14T02:05:00.000+08:00

January Blues...

2007-01-25T00:06:00.000+08:00

Had three nights off work this week due to day off and a couple of statutory holidays owed to me.Plan was to sort through all the paper work I seem to have accumulated over the years and arrange or throw as need be.It has not happened.I have managed a couple of great sleeps and some good home cooking and spent time with the kids which kind of makes up for it, or is that just me kidding myself.
Had a couple of old friends pass through Hong Kong this month at different times, so had a couple of drinks with them and we caught up on each others news which was good.Apart from that it's been a quiet month at home and work.

The Peak

2007-01-15T21:17:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year to you all!

Here are a few pictures of a trip we made up the Peak last Monday.It's been a long time since we were last up and since then they have refurbished the Peak tower which now houses a wide selection of restaurants and a Madame Tussuad's to name but a few.

Now in to mid January and all is quiet at work as it is every January.New Years Eve was a great night with a near full house and plenty of merry making.

Now I am seriously considering the year ahead, will 2007 be the year of change.Will I stay in the bar business or will I consider a new profession.Will we stay in over crowded Hong Kong or move to the UK or beyond.These are questions I need to think about this year, and it is already mid January.

Will keep you posted.

Seasons Greetings

2006-12-30T01:42:00.000+08:00

Seasons Greetings, it's been over a month since my last post so where do I start.
We moved into our new flat at the beginning of December, what a difference 3 bedrooms make. It is much quieter than the old one as we are now 2 streets back from the main drag of Bars and Nightclubs.
Work wise it has been a strange month with some very quiet nights and some very busy ones.On New Years Eve we have a big party with 10 DJ's so that should be an interesting night and morning as it will finish around 7 am.
At the moment Hong Kong is having major problems with telecommunications due to an earthquake off Taiwan at the beginning of the week which has cut underwater cables.Most e-mail accounts cannot be accessed at the moment like Yahoo and MSN, so if anyone has e-mailed me it could take up to 3 weeks for me to reply.The reason I can post this is because it runs from a different server.

The weather is cool but nice still manage to get out and about in my shorts and t-shirt.

Our Flat..

2006-11-26T15:07:00.000+08:00

Been playing around with Google Earth this morning and came across the building I live in or rather going to live in.

What else has been happening. At the moment we have 7,000+ American sailors in town on R & R. They should be all gone by the morning.

We are in the process of moving to our new flat. Jamie told me he will write to Santa after we move so that Santa doesnt go to the wrong address.This is the first year he is really getting in to Christmas and has already circled the 25th on the calender.

Weather is great just now, nice and cool but still shorts and T-shirt friendly.

Moody Hong Kong

2006-11-20T21:58:00.000+08:00

Some views of Hong Kong I found on the internet,taken at different times of day,night and weather

Halloween Pics

2006-11-12T11:09:00.000+08:00

Been a while since my last post, time seems to be passing by so quickly at the moment. Jamie, Hannah and myself all had a nasty stomach virus a couple of weeks ago but that has thankfully gone.We have been flat hunting over the last few weeks as we need to move from our present one at the begining of December.Finally the other day we found a reasonable place not too far away so will be moving within the next 3 weeks.Above are some photos of a Halloween party Janicel took the kids along to at the end of October.Have got loads of photos to post but just finding the time at the moment seems impossible.Weather wise it is finally starting to cool down,been a very warm October.

Two Birthday Cakes

2006-10-10T19:55:00.000+08:00

Last week we celebrated Hannah's Birthday twice.Once on Wedesday the 4th her birthday, and again on Sunday when we had a childrens party at Mc Donalds.
Above are some pictures of both.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2006-10-06T23:11:00.000+08:00

Couple of days late in posting this as Hannah's Birthday was actually on Wednesday, how time flies.
Will post pictures after the weekend when we are having a party for her.

Eck comes to town...

2006-09-29T23:34:00.000+08:00

more pics...

2006-09-29T20:34:00.000+08:00

Last week my mate Eck , whom I used to work with on the Rigs came out to see us with his girlfriend Julie for a week.
We headed off to Ocean Park on Tuesday and had a good time touring the aquariums and various rides.
Now Eck is a hardened offshore man having spent years on the rigs but there is nothing I enjoy more than taking him on a roller coaster and hearing him squeal.
Anyway after a good day out we went to the Korean BBQ which I think opened Julie's eyes a bit when she saw the chickens feet laid out to eat.
All in all a good week was had and they headed back home last Thursday morning.

Jellyfish exhibition at Ocean Park

2006-09-28T17:53:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday Janicel

2006-09-27T00:00:00.000+08:00

It was Janicel's birthday yesterday so we both took the night off from work and all the family went out for dinner at one of the local Hotels.
I'm not going to tell you how old she is or she will kill me.

Earthquake

2006-09-16T20:05:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong hit by 3.5 earthquake
Sep. 15, 2006 (China Knowledge)
Hong Kong was hit by an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale last night, with tremors reaching all the way to Shenzhen and Macau, media reports said today.Fortunately, there have not been any reports of injuries or casualties and the only effects that the earthquake left on residents were a swaying of the region’s high-rise buildings, a power outage in Central, and a rude shock that took many residents out of their homes and to the streets.According to media reports, the city’s Observatory said that the earthquake took place at 7.53 p.m. Hong Kong time last night and was centered around the waters of the Dangan Islands, about 36 km south-southeast of Hong Kong.Last night’s quake was the first to hit Hong Kong since the year 2004, and although papers described the quake as a relatively mild one, it was also one of the most widely felt quakes in Hong Kong’s tremor history.The special administrative region has had a history of quakes with an average of two happening every year since the year 1979. Since that year, a total of 51 tremors measuring up to 4.0 on the Richter scale have been recorded.The strongest earthquake that the city has ever felt was on Feb. 13, 1918 when an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale hit the area and killed 1,000 people in Shantou, Guangdong province, about 300 km east-northeast of the territory.Hong Kong, with a population of about 6.8 million people, is not located squarely on a seismic belt, experts say, although it often feels tremors from surrounding areas. Most of the city’s high-rise structures are built to be tremor-proof.

Happy Golden Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad

2006-09-10T13:39:00.000+08:00

10th September 1956

More Holiday Pictures

2006-09-09T20:44:00.000+08:00

The Manse on Jura (where I grew up)

Eck with Jamie in Aberdeen

A Red Deer Stag on Jura

View from above Small Isles Bay, Jura

A cloudy Paps of Jura

Hannah thinking about walking

Jamie met his Hero.Thomas the Tank Engine

Jamie with Percy

Janicel & Jamie with Desperate Dan in Dundee

Back from Holiday...

2006-09-09T17:54:00.000+08:00

Mum and Jamie at Edzell Castle

St Andrews Aquarium

Jamie with his cousins,Caitlin & Anna

Boarding the Jura ferry

Jamie & Hannah

On the Jura ferry going to Islay

Waiting for my turn!

Janicel and Hannah

Out for a hike..

in Edinburgh

at home

Family at home.

Finally I have a chance to put up some pictures of our holiday.
We flew back to Hong Kong on the 30th August after two weeks in Scotland.It was great to see all the family and also to visit some old friends as well.
It's been 22 years since I left home as a keen 16 year old heading off to sea in an old fishing boat from Stornoway,which meant it has been around 18 years since I had last set foot on Jura.This has been bugging me for many years so off we went.I must admit it felt strange to be back and how everything looked so small compared to when I was younger.We only stayed for one night which wasn't long enough to show Janicel and the kids where I had grown up.Anyway it was good to see old friends again after so long and I promise not to leave it another 18 years before returning again.
All in all it was a great break which we all enjoyed.The weather stayed good for most of the time, and just being in open spaces like fields or on top of a hill with fresh air really made me realise how cramped and polluted Hong Kong really is.Now we are back to our flat with a lovely view of concrete all around.
Am I getting itchy feet you ask? Yes!

Ten Day's to go.....

2006-08-05T16:22:00.000+08:00

Ten day's to go and we will be leaving this...

....for this.

It will be Jamie and Janicel's second visit and Hannah's first so the whole family is looking forward to seeing her. Just hoping the weather in the UK will be as good as it has been for the last week or so. It was December 2003 when we last went over and it was snowing hard most of the time, a first for Janicel and Jamie.

Typhoon Prapiroon (Rain God)

2006-08-04T17:22:00.000+08:00

Two Games to go....

2006-07-08T21:09:00.000+08:00

Only two more games to watch and it will be all over.
So far I have watched every game and witnessed the emotional rollercoaster that football puts people through.
Business wise the Germans were the best closely followed by the England supporters, always a full house for those games.
Weather wise it's getting very hot and humid.Looking forward to a couple of weeks in Scotland to cool me down.

Video at last

2006-06-25T20:33:00.000+08:00

2006-06-25T14:41:00.000+08:00

(click pics to enlarge)
Very busy at work with the World Cup on, so here are some pictures and a video of the kids until I get a chance to post more.
Double click the arrow in the center of the video screen to watch.

Good Night Out....

2006-05-26T23:19:00.000+08:00

Friday the 19th saw the Hong Kong Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club hold a night out at work.They normaly come each Saturday to watch the games live as we are the official bar of the supportes club.
On friday they brought a few guests with them, namely Mark Walters, Gordon Durie, Ian Durrant and John Brown.Now I,m the first to admit to not being a huge footy fan anymore, but these were the players I used to watch back in the late 80's early 90's at Ibrox when I had more enthusiasm so it was good to meet them.They were in town for a seven a side tournament over the weekend.

Happy Birthday Jamie!!

2006-05-12T00:36:00.000+08:00

Jamie was 4 years old on Thursday, how time flies.So after school we headed off to Ocean Park for a fun filled day out.He really enjoyd the go-carts but Janicel reckons I was enjoying them more.We then returned home exhausted to blow out the candles on his birthday cake.
So what else has been happening, we had the rugby sevens at the end of March then the US Navy in town then more navy last week.Work wise we are gearing up for the world cup next month which should be really busy time or us.
We are also in the preliminary stages of planning a visit back to the UK at the end of August which we are all looking forward to.
Weather wise it is starting to get hot and humid, not my most favourite time of year as I seem to get through 3 or 4 t-shirts a day with the humidity but at least its not snowing!
Nearly forgot, Hannah has her two bottom front teeth and can now pull herself up in her cot, wont belong before she is crawling around under our feet.

7,000 Sailors

2006-04-16T14:04:00.000+08:00

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- The men and women of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG) wrapped up a port call in Hong Kong April 10 after four days of liberty.The ship pulled into Hong Kong April 6, after successfully completing the Reception, Staging, Onward-movement & Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/FE 06) exercises off the coast of South Korea, March 31.During their four days in port, ALCSG Sailors toured the Hong Kong area, played soccer and rugby, lent a helping hand in community service projects and even found time to squeeze in a run with a local chapter of the Hash House Harriers.Lincoln’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office sold tickets for more than 1,230 tours of the area. Additionally, more than 350 Sailors took advantage of the opportunity to stay in hotel rooms in Hong Kong and Kowloon.While Sailors explored places such as Lantau Island and the New Territories, Lincoln’s soccer and rugby teams played local clubs, getting a taste of international competition. A few other Sailors spent time either playing basketball - both men's and women's teams - or golfing.ALCSG Sailors participated in six community service projects, including work for the Salvation Army, the Banayihan Trust and other local charities. They assisted in preservation, moved supplies and contributed to other projects to extend good will.According to Personnel Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Jon Westrum, these projects are “a great chance to give back to the community [and] spend time with friends.”Westrum is a member of Lincoln’s First Class Petty Officer’s Association (FCA). The FCA volunteered to repaint a classroom at the Banayihan Trust, a Hong Kong charity.“We’re part of a military organization, and with our primary job being what it is, it’s nice to do something a little bit different, something where we’re giving back in a positive light and showing good citizenship,” he said.Many Sailors also took advantage of offers of in-home meals with local residents. In all, amidst the shopping, tours, food and local nightlife, ALCSG Sailors had the opportunity to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Hong Kong before returning to sea. Abraham Lincoln is currently on a Western Pacific deployment. Hong Kong was the ship’s first port call in a foreign port during its deployment.
Taken from www.news.navy.mil

Hong Kong Sevens

2006-04-16T14:02:00.000+08:00

Some pictures from the Rugby Sevens weekend which saw England win for the fourth year in a row.

Quiet Month

2006-03-21T00:43:00.000+08:00

Here's a selection of recent pictures of Jamie and Hannah.
Jamie is doing really well in school with both English and Chinese.He can now write the the whole english alphabet A-Z and also 1-5 in chinese characters.I think thats pretty good for a 3 year 10 month old child.He has also been trying his hand at a spot of baking as you can see above.
Hannah has really developed her own personality and is becoming a right little madame if she doesnt get her own way.
Apart from the kid's it been a quiet month at work.I think everyone saving their energy for the Rugby Sevens tournament next week which will see a massive influx of players and supporters decend on Hong Kong for the weekend.
Short but sweet,cant think of much else,will fill you in after the Sevens weekend.
How could I forget,Happy belated birthday to Lyn and Happy Birthday Mum.

Congratulations.....

2006-03-13T22:04:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to Jing and Joey who got married on the 18th of February in Melbourne,Florida,USA.
As you can see the ceremony was held outside on a lovely sunny day and everyone looked great, I especially like the figurines ontop of the cake.
Hope you have a long and happy life together, and by the way Jamie and Hannah would like some American cousins to visit in the near future.
(Click pictures to enlarge)

Visit to Ocean Park

2006-02-12T02:08:00.000+08:00

Janicel,Jamie and Hannah went off to Ocean Park for the day on Saturday with some friends ,while I had a well deserved long lie in (well I thought it was well deserved).
Anyway,they had a great time as you can see by the photo's and another visit is planned for my next day off.

Chinese New Year

2006-02-07T23:59:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since my last post so let's see what's been going on over here.

My In-law's headed back off to the Philippines in the middle of January after a most helpfull stay with us.Now it's just Janicel,myself and the kid's,so we have had to try and arrange some kind of routine to keep us all in order.So far so good.
Janicel took Jamie to see "The Barney Roadshow" last week which he really enjoyed.His first time to watch a stage performance.

Then last week was Chinese New Year,most people had a four day holiday and most shops and businsses close for a few days which makes Hong Kong like a ghost town during the day but busy at night with people out to see the fireworks and various shows that are on.I was unfortunately working all the way through the holidays as the American Navy were in town at the same time as all the New Year celebrations, which meant hundreds of sailors walking around in various stages of inebriation.
Apart from all that I can't really think of much else exiting thats been going on but will keep you posted as and when I have news.

Kung Hei Fat Choi

2006-01-30T14:33:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

Belated Happy New Year

2006-01-06T04:20:00.000+08:00

Been very busy over the festive period.Work wise we had a good few party's during the week and a massive Hogmany Party on the Saturday night and a wedding reception on the Sunday.
Janicel and I did managed to get out with some friends a couple of times between work which we both enjoyed even if it meant I only got a couple of hours sleep.
Now it's all over for another year,Jamie is still telling me Santa forgot to bring "the train set" to which I reply "next year".He has two already.
Hannah is growing fast and becoming quite a wee character laughing and playing with everyone.
And thats about it just now,next big event is Chinese New Year at the end of the month,another long weekend.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-25T15:59:00.000+08:00

The Wait is over...

2005-12-25T15:52:00.000+08:00

USA here I come

2005-12-24T03:58:00.000+08:00

Jing, my sister-in-law headed off to America on Tuesday, well Melbourne,Florida to be precise .She is off to live with her fiance Joey.
We all went to the airport to see her off which ended in an emotional send off as the family is very close.She arrived around 22 hour later and has been in constant touch through web cam and yahoo messenger since.I know it will take her time to adjust to a new life out there as she has been in 24 hour Hong Kong for around 9 years, but we all wish her well.

Weather getting colder,had to stop wearing shorts last week.

Riot in Wanchai

2005-12-19T14:13:00.000+08:00

Well it did turn nasty on Saturday night as predicted when a large group of mostly Korean farmers tried to enter the WTO Conference area.When they came up against resistance from the police they started to hurl metal barriers and anything they could lay their hands on at them.This resulted in the whole of Wanchai being shut down for 24 hours as the riot police moved in.They announced the imminent use of tear gas and urged all to stay indoors as hundreds of riot police in gas masks filed down the streets.A sight I'm sure not to see again in a hurry.
Later they managed to round up around 1,000 protestors after an all night stand off and take them away for unlawful assembly to various police stations around the territory,where most still are today under investigation.

The pictures above were taken around 200 meters from our front door.

W.T.O.

2005-12-11T03:30:00.001+08:00

It's been a few week's since my last post so let see what has been going on.

Hannah spent a full day in hospital for a CAT scan last week thank goodness all is well after her fall, her fracture has healed and the slight blood in her brain has disappeared, what a great relief to both Janicel and myself.

Jamie is doing well at Kindergarten,infact he is now speaking Cantonese, well he knows his numbers and how to tell Janicel and myself to sit down.Not that I know what he is on about which is very bad after 10 years in Hong Kong.

The big news is the W.T.O which is due to start on Monday.
Hopefully the Hong Kong government have gone into overkill on what they expect.They have enclosed all walk way's over roads to stop hard core protestors throwing themselves off onto on coming traffic.
We live less than 3 minutes from the conference area and are expecting many disruptions over the next week.
Some shops and hotels have already boarded up there windows.Work wise we are on a major route to the conference area so we will have to see what happens
Tonight seems busy with many strange faces in the bar for this time of year,could they all be hard core protestors? Will keep you posted on this .

Guiness World Record

2005-11-22T09:33:00.000+08:00

A light and sound show around Hong Kong's symbolic Victoria Harbor on Monday won the city a Guinness World Records certificate for being the largest permanent show of its kind around the world. Guinness' Head of Records Marco Frigatti presented the certificate to Eva Cheng, Hong Kong's Commissioner for Tourism, at a ceremony held here on Monday afternoon. The Guinness document certifies the show named "A Symphony of Lights" as the world's "Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show," which was put into performance since January 2004. The 13-minute long project is a synchronized light and sound show performed on the existing 20 high-rises on the Hong Kong Island facing north along Victoria Harbor. Since its launch two years ago, the daily light show has become a popular scenery site at night for both locals and visitors. With the newly-given Guinness Records award, Hong Kong's tourism authority vowed to keep the project going and work more on it to promote local tourism.

Hong Kong Market Pictures

2005-11-20T10:48:00.000+08:00

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Korean Barbecue

2005-11-07T01:13:00.000+08:00

Busy week at work due to a new project finally opening,but still found time for a night out at our regular Korean Barbecue Restaurant with my in-law's who are over from the Philippines and Joey (Jing's fiance) who was over from the U.S.
You pick your own raw meats and veg and cook them yourself on a hot plate in the middle of the table.A very enjoyable and fun evening as you can cook what you like when you like and only have yourself to blame if it's burnt.We got a bonus this time and were given a private room,it was fitted out with a sunken table in the middle and cushions all round and even our own TV.

Hannah is doing very well,growing at an incredible rate and seem's none the worse for the bump on her head 10 day's ago. She has a check up this week so will keep you posted.

Tough Wee Girl

2005-10-30T10:13:00.000+08:00

Well it's been a couple of weeks since my last post and in that time Hannah had a nasty accident.Last Thursday morning she slipped out of the back of her stroller on to her head while being lifted up some steps.She was rushed to hospital and had x-ray's and CAT scans which revealed a small fracture on her skull,luckily there was no cut to her head and only very slight internal bleeding which stopped almost immediately.
Janicel and I spent a sleepless night at her bedside and by the next morning she was kicking,crying and even smiling at us. By Friday afternoon the doctors were very pleased with her progress and behaviour and said as she is so young the slight fracture would heal very quickly and the very small amount of internal blood will get absorbed over time.
They were happy enough to allow her home on friday afternoon much to our relief.We have two check ups booked for her in two and six weeks time, but just looking at her now you wouldn't think anything had happened but what a fright it gave us as we only brought her home from the maternity ward 25 days ago.

Home sweet home.

2005-10-12T22:54:00.000+08:00

It's been a week since my last update.I've been very busy since Janicel and Hannah came home last Thursday.
Jamie was off school for a couple of day's with a bad stomach.Of course I got blamed for not looking after him properly while Janicel was in hopital.But he soon recovered when she came home,funny that.
We were up at the Mother & Child Health Care Center today and they were very happy with Hannah's progress.She has put on some weight as well,she was 3.075kg when born and a week later is now 3.3kg.
Weather 29 degrees,that's around 80+ to others.
Starting to cool down!

Hannah Elizabeth..

2005-10-05T21:21:00.000+08:00

It's a Girl.........

2005-10-04T21:32:00.000+08:00

It's a Girl.Finally at 13:22 Hong Kong time she "popped out".Well is wasn't quite that simple but all went well.I attended the birth which I was very nervous about.
As "she" (sorry,no confirmed name as yet)was delivered by cesarean I was positioned at Janicel's head and was quite happy about that.
Janicel kept asking me to look and tell her what was going on,but even after year's at the fishing,oil rig's,working door's in Edinburgh and bar's in Hong Kong I couldn't face looking.But now I can't stop looking at our beautiful baby girl.
Well that's it for now,I am exausted and going to bed,more later.

The Wait...........

2005-10-04T21:21:00.000+08:00

One day delayed so just sat it out.

Tomorrow is the big day.......

2005-10-02T22:06:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was Peoples Republic of China National Day,and as you can see amongst other celebrations there was fireworks over the harbour.The above pictures are of Jamie and his Auntie Jing.

Tomorrow is the big day.
Janicel is booked in to hospital for a cesarean section at 10am.She is more happy with this as with Jamie she went through 14 hours of hard labour and then had an emergency cesarean in the end.
So stay tuned and I will post pictures and news as soon as I can.

Hong Kong Skyline

2005-09-25T02:27:00.000+08:00

Jamie's Lantern

2005-09-20T22:11:00.000+08:00

Jamie came home the other night after being out with Auntie Jing on a Mid Autumn lantern shopping trip.I could hear the screams of joy even before he reached the door.Once inside he excitedly showed us his inflatable "chinese super hero lantern".
But something was wrong, during the manufacturers haste to mass produce these "modern" lanterns they have forgotten to consult anyone on appropriate tunes to install in them.
So we all went out later that night with Jamie proudly parading his new lantern to the tune of "Jingle Bells'.

Mid Autumn Festival

2005-09-19T10:05:00.000+08:00

It's Mid Autumn Festival here which means lots of Mooncakes and Lanterns and a long weekend for some, not for me.
Below is an explanation of the festival.

Each year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate what is — outside Lunar New Year — the biggest event of the year: the Mid-Autumn Festival.
It’s a time of reunions, where families get together to feast and snack on mooncakes.
Mooncakes symbolise the full moon, and the most famous legend associated with them dates back to 1368AD. In the 14th century, China had been overrun by Mongols. The Chinese used mooncakes to hide messages with plans for rebellion. The Mongols, who did not eat mooncakes, were unaware of the subterfuge. Families were told to eat the cakes on the day of the festival, and the revolt began.
A traditional mooncake is filled with lotus seed paste with a salty egg yolk in the center, which represents the moon; today’s cakes are made with many other fillings. They are high in calories and therefore are cut into quarters to be shared.
Another tradition in the eve of the festival has come to be known as the Lantern Festival. Children will carry lanterns of birds, animals, dragons, or many other shapes.
One legend behind the Lantern Festival suggests the Jade Emperor of Heaven was angry at a town that had killed his favourite goose. He was intent on destroying the town in a firestorm, but a kind fairy warned the town-folk to light lanterns on the day of retribution. When the Emperor looked down from Heaven, it appeared the town was ablaze; he decided not to destroy it, satisfied the goose had been avenged. Since that time, people celebrated their escape from vengeance by lighting lanterns on the anniversary of that day.
Other traditions go along with the day, such as lion dances and in some places, fireworks.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most colourful and fun events of the year.

Disneyland Opens

2005-09-13T09:31:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong Disneyland has finally opened it's door's to the paying public. According to the new's last night all went well on the first day open, numbers were down on what was expected but are sure to increase nearer the weekend with many mainlanders already booked.

We are setting our sights on a visit to Disney in the new year. Can't honestly say I'm holding my breath but as it's now on my doorstep I should at least make the effort. I'm sure Jamie will love it, but then again I remember when I was very young having my hand shaken and being hugged by an eight foot tall Baloo (jungle book) at a cinema, and I was terrified.

As you can see I have included a couple of pictures of the before and after of Penny's Bay where Disneyland is. This is what Hong Kong is good at (reclamation) and is a concern to many as Victoria Harbour shrinks in size each year.

Views of Hong Kong

2005-09-10T05:23:00.000+08:00

Kindergarten-Day Two

2005-09-06T22:44:00.000+08:00

A few more pictures of Jamie in his School uniform.

First Day at Kindergarten.

2005-09-05T23:05:00.000+08:00

Well,today was Jamie's first day at kindergarten.I unfortunately missed taking him there as I was working, but I'm off for a couple of day's now so Im on school duty tommorrow.Janicel and her sister took him this morning.I think they were teaching him to raise his hand before they left the house by the pictures they took.
All was well when they got their, some other kid's were crying their eye's out and Jamie was asking "why the little kid's crying" only for Janicel to be told on her return that he had cried himself for an hour after she left.
When I got home I was excitedly presented with a school bag and homework!
I had been warned about this and found it hard to accept that a 3 year old would have homework, so I checked it out only to find a piece of paper with a drawing of a man with a spoon and chopsticks looking over an empty plate.His homework was to draw grains of rice on the plate for the hungry man, so after dinner we all sat down and Jamie procceded to fill the man's plate with large and small pencil marks, enough to feed an army I might add.
So homework was easy.I suppose I should enjoy it now as in a few years it won't just be grain's of rice.

Hong Kong at Night

2005-09-04T11:57:00.000+08:00

View of the harbour at night.

Not long now.........

2005-09-01T11:22:00.000+08:00

Six week's to go and we still can't think of a name.I have suggested name's, both boy's and girl's but they just do not sound right.Anyway, I will keep trawling through the baby name website's looking for something that we both like.Jamie is starting Pre-School next week, Monday to Friday 9am-12pm so that should take up some of the endless energy that he has.Not sure how he will find being left alone with strange people for the first few day's, but I'm pretty sure he will make friends quickly.
We have tried to explain that very soon he will have a brother or sister,he seem's to understand and has even offered to share his bath with "ading" (filipino for younger sibling).He love's speaking to, hugging and watching "it" move around inside Janicel, which can look like something out of Alien at times,quite scary.We were out last week on a buggy hunt,will it be a local model (made in china) which nearly turned me into the hunchback of Notre Dame when Jamie was a baby or a european model that will keep me in the upright position for a couple of years.I never considered buggy handle height before becoming a father but am nearly an authority on the subject after a few years of purchasing the wrong buggies and numerous tubes of Deep Heat.
Weather fine,very hot and hazy,80-92 degrees F.

2005-09-01T00:02:00.000+08:00

Janicel & Jamie at Deepwater Bay,July 2005.