Post #143 4 June 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post covers events we experienced during May 2017.

Boy, where did May go?  Time sure flies when you are having fun ...

I managed to read two books during May.  I thought that I would do a lot of reading now that I am fully retired, but there never seems to be enough time.  This month was different - I actually finished two books! The first was "I stand corrected" by Eden Collinsworth.  She spent some time teaching English in China and I was able to identify with many of her experiences.

The second book was "Comrade Ambassador" by Stephen FitzGerald.  In 1973, at the age of 34, he was appointed Australia's first Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. An interesting autobiography. On completing university Stephen joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra. He was taken aback when assigned to learn Chinese, as he had no interest in Asia, but that turn of events changed his life: he became fascinated by the language and culture, and became, in turn: diplomat, university lecturer, Ambassador, business consultant, govt adviser.

Dr FitzGerald recently gave the 2017 "Whitlam Oration" at the University of Western Sydney - to listen or read click HERE.

A quick word about the weather.  The last 2 months have seen perfect autumn weather in Canberra: cool nights, but lovely sunny days with maximums from 15 to 20C. Last week saw the first snow in the mountains (about 150 km south-west of Canberra) which heralded the real start of winter.  The nights are colder (last night's minimum was -4C) but the days are still pleasant with maximums of 10 - 14C ... long may it last!

President Donald Trump continues to dominate the news virtually every day. Were there any headlines BT (Before Trump)?  In May he undertook his first overseas trip: to Saudi Arabia, Israel, The Vatican, and NATO in Belgium - to me, a strange mix of (religious) destinations.

A few days ago President Trump announced the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Accord, a decision which has been widely criticised by many Americans and others. The irony is that the Accord is basically voluntary, but the symbolism of  the US withdrawal is very damaging.

Another big event in May was the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' fabulous album "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" featuring songs such as With a little help from my friends, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, and When I'm 64. Timeless classics.

Here are some photos taken in May:

Lunch with ex-AUSTRADE colleagues, from left: John Bush, Jim Enright, me, Peter Kane, Geoff McKie, and Dick Wilson.

We attended Brian Tink's funeral - sad day.  We met Brian and Jan in the Canberra Old Time Dance Club. Brian was also a keen member of the Triumph Car Club and loved baseball.  A man of many talents, he suffered for years from a rare form of cancer which got him in the end.

At the Asia Book Room we attended an author's talk by Jenevieve Chang.  The family moved from Taiwan to Sydney when she was 4 years old.  Her father couldn't handle the huge cultural change and returned to Taiwan, but her mother and kids stayed on. At 20 Jenevieve ran away to London where she studied dance.  Later she and her husband opened a dance studio in Shanghai, where she also performed in a burlesque show.  Wow!  It took the authorities a few months to realise how risque Burlesque is, and then they shut it down.

Jenevieve Chang addressing the crowd at the Asia Bookroom in Jamison, Canberra.  What an interesting life; she was quite a rebel.  She parted ways with her husband in Shanghai and returned to Australia.  She is still dancing professionally and has just published her first book "The good girl of Chinatown" (could easily have been titled "The bad girl ...").

We attended a concert by the Brindabella Orchestra held in a church in Queanbeyan.

Our friends June and Craig Pearson gave us tickets to a concert by Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt.  Mainly Bach and Beethoven.  She was wonderful, world-class.  

Angela Hewitt performing at the Llewellyn Hall.

After the concert Angela signed CDs and then participated in and interview for the audience.  

We finally figured out how to display our collection of Chinese Blue & White porcelain - which we acquired during our posting to the Australian Embassy Beijing 1984-86.  Most were said to be100 - 200 years old (Qing Dynasty).   Many of the pieces had been in storage for years - it was a thrill opening the boxes and finding this treasure trove again,   We bought two large display cabinets, and installed lights.  Came up very well.

Our best pieces are displayed in the living room. The craftsmanship is just amazing.

We oiled the wooden statues and krises from Bali.  Several are cracking in Canberra's dry atmosphere.

We have hung the scrolls presented to us on our departure from Qingdao in July 2016.  The Chinese character is Fu, meaning good luck or good fortune. It was given to us by Professor Shan Hong Hong, President of  China University of Petroleum.

This scroll was presented to us by Mr Jiang Da Sen, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office of UPC.

This is a scroll we bought back in 1986 when we lived in Beijing.

Our living room is pretty well set up now.  After a disheartening start, when we thought we would never adjust to this apartment, we are now much more settled.  The living room windows (and balcony) face East and North - the room is full of light and warmth during the day.

We have been going to lectures and movies at the ANU's China Centre.

We saw this Chinese movie, about the impact on residents of the huge rise in the water level caused by the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. Over 2 million people had to be relocated. It was a lovely, quiet, humane film.  In the discussion afterwards it transpired that one of the audience grew up in the town of Feng Jie which featured in the movie.

Luminescence Choir gave a performance in the National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery provided drawing materials for any budding artists in the audience who were inspired by the music.The harmony of the vocals was just incredible.

Well, that's it for May highlights.

Can't conclude without mentioning the unexpected election of 39 year old Emmanuel Macron as President of France.  Obviously a remarkable man (and his wife who is 24 years his senior!).

...

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra, Australia
Sunday 4 June 2017