Post #141 22 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post covers the period 9 to 22 April 2017.

On 8 April we flew overnight from Hong Kong to Sydney, arriving on Sunday morning.   Unfortunately on Saturday my right knee "blew up" and became swollen, hot and tender, so the flight was rather uncomfortable.

This happened to me two years ago, also in Hong Kong (must be something in the air???).  It was diagnosed as Bursitis, when the bursa (a sack of fluid on joints) becomes inflamed. At that time I used a new piece of equipment in the gym which must have triggered it off.  But this time I hadn't done anything unusual, so don't know what caused it.

Sydney International Airport (Kingsford Smith Airport) is a joke, an embarrassment.  Thirty years ago it was regarded as ahead of the game, but these days it is way behind.  Airports such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Beijing are so much more modern and efficient.

About 20 years ago the Government went through a period where it privatised a lot of infrastructure, including Sydney Airport.  Of course the main aim of the owners is to maximise profit - and they squeeze every last cent out of it, and put as little as possible back in.  For example, they increased parking fees to exorbitant levels: in the last year Sydney Airport earned $97 million just from parking - unbelievable.

Why would you privatise a monopoly asset?  The new private owners can virtually do what they want, and bugger the common good.  Maybe there are benefits of efficiency if it is a competitive situation, but that doesn't work when it is a monopoly.  In retrospect, it is a crazy policy.

From Sydney we flew to Canberra; to a cold, rainy welcome.  When we left, just 2 weeks ago, it was still summer, but now autumn has definitely arrived.

The next day I saw a doctor and he confirmed Bursitis; no cure, just RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation.

Friends were coming for the Easter weekend (Good Friday 14 April to Easter Monday 17 April) and our big plans had to be revised.  They were Howard Eakins and his gorgeous partner Angie from Sydney, and my ex-student Yu Zhi Chao (Charles) who is at the University of Wollongong.

Here are some photos of the Easter weekend and later.

Howard Eakins and me at home.  I met Howard in Jakarta in 1972, when I was working at the Australian Embassy and he was working for an Australian consulting engineering company.  

Going through some old photo albums with Howard - a walk down memory lane.

Vera with Charles.  He is on a 3 + 2 program: does 3 years of an undergraduate degree in China followed by 2 years at an Australian university.  In July 2017 he will graduate with two engineering degrees: Chinese and Australian.  He is doing well in Wollongong, getting credits and distinctions.  He is a clever lad!

Vera and I waving from our balcony. Note the beautiful clear blue sky.

Back in the early 1960s Howard designed a bridge on the Cotter Road, near Canberra.  We took a drive, but couldn't find the bridge.  It was a lovely autumn day, clear and bright. From left: Angie, Vera, me, and Howard.

The Cotter Dam which provides Canberra's water supply. 

Charles and Vera in front of the Cotter Dam, the water supply for Canberra.

Two old farts reliving our youth. Howard was a Civil Engineer and specialised in bridges.  Later he also built golf courses, and wool stores - a man of many talents - and obviously a very good engineer.  By a strange coincidence his father was manager of the Commonwealth Bank in Cooma, and got me my first job in the Canberra CBA in 1963 when I finished High School.  I met Howard in 1972 when we were both working in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

 

They visited the War Memorial, probably the best museum in Canberra.  It has many impressive displays. But it tends to glorify war rather than condemn it.

The Commemorative Wall at the War Memorial, with lists of Australian war dead. Australia has participated in lots of conflicts, big and small. Back in the second half of the 1800s were: NZ Maori War; Sudan War; Boxer Rebellion in China; Boer War in South Africa.

One of the many fine dioramas inside the War Memorial.

Angie and Howard on the steps of the War Memorial.

Angie at a barbeque on Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday we had lunch with the extended family at the house of my niece, Britt.  From left: Sasha, Adrienne, Davide, and Peter (partly obscured)

Vera with my two sisters, Angie and Aniko, at the family Sunday lunch.

After the traditional "Easter egg hunt", the kids enjoyed playing games in Britt's garage.

On Wednesday 19 April I gave a talk to the Australia-China Friendship Society about "Teaching in China". I described the nuts and bolts involved in getting a teaching job in China.  An animated Q & A session followed the talk.

On 20 April I attended a talk by the author of "Birds of China", Yong Ding Li. He is from Singapore and doing a PhD in Australia.   The Asia Bookroom holds many interesting talks by authors and I intend being a regular attendee.

Here is Yong Ding Li in conversation with Sally, the owner of the Asia Bookroom.  He is a dedicated conservationist and knows a lot about birds. Apparently China has about 1,400 species of birds, almost twice as many as Australia.  That surprised me as there was not much diversity where we lived in Qingdao - only seagulls, sparrows and a type of magpie. But China is a huge country; there may not be many along the over-populated East Coast but obviously lots more birds elsewhere.

On 21 April Vera and I attended an Elvis concert all the way from the USofA.  Featured 3 singers: rock & roll; songs from movies; and ballads.  A most professional performance, and enjoyable.  Elvis is rightly known as The King - a wonderful performer - and a great favorite of the baby boomer generation.

The big crowd at the Elvis concert.

Autumn has well & truly arrived in Canberra.  Nights are quite cool, down to 5 C & 6C, but the days are beautiful, around 20C, bright and clear.  In a few days will be ANZAC Day, 25 April, when traditionally people switch on their heating (but this year many people started heating at night at the beginning of April). 

...


That's it for this post.

My knee was very sore for about 10 days, and is now getting better. At least I can drive again, but it will take a few more days before I can walk comfortably. It's awful being incapacitated.  This is perfect biking weather and I can't participate. Bloody bursitis!

There was an unexpected benefit to having a bung knee -  forced rest and reading.  It enabled me to get into Bill Clinton's autobiography "My Life" published in 2005.  It's a monster book at 969 pages; I am now up to page 520 (April 1993), where he has just completed his first 100 days as President. A fascinating story.

Hugh White is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University.  On 11 April 2017 he gave the annual lecture at the ANU's China Centre, titled "China's power and the future of Australia". It is a thoughtful and thought-provoking talk. To listen to the speech click HERE.  Highly recommended.

The Brumbies started the Super Rugby season well, but have lost their last 2 games. They should have beaten the Melbourne Rebels last week - scored 3 tries to 1 - but woeful kicking and ball control cost them the game. Last night they played the Wellington Hurricanes.  The Brumbies were leading 21-14 at half time, but then fell apart.  The final score was 21-56. How the hell did that happen?????

...

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra,  Australia
Saturday, 22 April 2017