This post contains an index of the 22 posts I did during 2018.
Alex Olah’s blog: alexolah.blogspot.com
This
blog was started in February 2014 and describes the lives of Alex & Vera
Olah. After 6 years teaching English in
China (2009 – 2016) they returned to Australia in September 2016. They are now
retired and living in Canberra.
Index for 2018, Post #163 to Post #185
Post number and date posted
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Main events described in post
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Post # 163
(20 January 2018)
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Activities 1 – 20 January 2018, mainly around Canberra.
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Post #164
(6 February)
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Describes our drive up to Brisbane and back. We saw Geoff & Albert Gray, Kate &
Leon Norgate, Siri & Bob Morrison, Paul Barratt, and the mob in Brisbane,
especially Kurt at Marist. On the way back stayed with Niniek & Paul
Milton in Sydney – they put on a lovely dinner.
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Post #165
(28 February)
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Activities 7 – 28 February, mainly in Canberra: Chinese New Year;
AIFA stall at Multicultural Festival; ACFS Lantern Workshop.
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Post #166
(19 March)
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Activities 1 – 15 March. ACFS Lantern Festival; Chinese Embassy Day;
1968 Exhibition at NLA; Birthdays of Jay (1 year) and Eddie (4 years); Queen
concert at Commonwealth Park; Lunch at Tomoko & John Scott (Bowral).
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Post #167
(30 March)
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Covers the period 16 – 31 March. Mainly photos of when we were in
Sydney looking after the kids while Caz was away.
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Post #168
(10 May)
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Describes our visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, 1 – 4 April 2018.
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Post #169
(12 May)
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Describes our stay in Tehran at the beginning (4 – 7 April) of our 18
day tour of Iran and at the end (22 April) before our flight out.
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Post #170
(15 May)
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Describes our short (overnight) stay in Kashan, half-way between
Tehran and Isfahan.
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Post #171
(20 May)
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Describes our stay in Isfahan, 9 – 11 April 2018. Probably our
favourite city: lots of history, lots of parks, lots of art and culture.
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Post #172
(25 May)
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Describes 12 – 14 April, starting with our visit to Maybod (Pigeon
House and Ice House) enroute to Yazd, desert city. Yazd Water Museum. Jameh
Mosque. Zoroastrian Temple and Tower of Silence.
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Post #173
(27 May)
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Visit to Zein-o-din Caravanserai, Maymand Stone Village; Kerman; Lut
Desert; Kerman market; Rayen Citadel.
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Post #174
(29 May)
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Visit to Shazadeh Garden; Shiraz: Vakil Bazaar, Karim Khan Citadel,
Aramgah Shrine, Hafez Mausoleum, Pink Mosque. Persepolis. Necropolis.
Farewell dinner in Sanaz’s home.
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Post #175
(1 June)
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Describes our visit to Penang (Malaysia) 22 – 26 April 2018. Liong
& Pina at Batu Feringgi. Georgetown. Botanical Garden. National Park.
Restaurants/food.
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Post #176
(5 June)
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Describes our visit to Singapore, 26 – 29 April 2018. Amazing the way it re-invents itself and
keeps getting better.
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Post #177
(8 June)
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Describes activities in May 2018: in Sydney catching up with Eddie
& Jay-jay; drive to Brisbane to see the Roberts mob. Moritz &
Valentin. Hugo Hofgartner. Michael Tjoeng.
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Post #178
(2 July)
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Describes activities in June 2018. Drive back from Brisbane to
Canberra. Many events in Canberra (COTDC, ACFS).
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Post #179
(29 July)
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Describes activities in July 2018. Spent 3 weeks in Sydney looking
after the grandkids while Andrew & Caz were away.
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Post #180
(31 August)
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Describes activities in August 2018. Vera’s lumpectomy on 1 August. ACFS.
Jay’s first steps. Hadn’t seen the Roberts for a while so drove to Brisbane,
and back.
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Post #181
(14 September)
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Describes activities in the first half of September 2018. On 4 Sept
the surgeon, Dr Cho, extended the ‘margin’, and pathology found more
cancerous cells.
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Post #182
(12 October)
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Bali 17 Sept – 5 October. We had a week by ourselves (Tuban,
Canggu and Legian). Then 7 nights in a
Villa in Jimbaran with the Roberts and Olah families; followed by 4 nights in
a Villa on Nusa Lembongan.
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Post #183
(31 October)
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Describes our activities from 6 – 31 October (following our return
from Bali). Floriade. Visit by Niniek & Paul. AIFA. Fiona Patten. Vera
mastectomy on 24 Oct.
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Post #184
(30 November)
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Describes activities in November 2018. WW1 commemorations. John
Holmes. Panda Competition. Author talks. Vera started chemo on 20 Nov.
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Post #185
(31 December)
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Describes activities in December 2018. Author Peter FitzSimon
launched his latest book “Mutiny on the Bounty”. Volunteer guide at Museum of
Australian Democracy. Cook exhibition. Baseball. Xmas.
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President Trump continued to amaze and intrigue - never a dull moment when he is around! According to the Washington Post's Fact Check, President Trump made about 5,600 false or misleading statements during 2018 - an average of 15 per day! But he doesn't care, lampoons his critics and goes his merry way. Teflon Trump = nothing sticks; no one else would get away with this, why does he?
How to explain this behaviour by President Trump? We have been told that he doesn't read briefing notes, in fact he doesn't read much at all - prefers getting information verbally or visually. He knows what he knows, and is convinced his version is right. Precise figures or data are not important - the big picture is what matters. Image is everything. I doubt he considers 'exaggeration' as false or misleading, just part of the message.
During an interview in December President Trump said "I usually try to tell the truth, I really do". I can only conclude that his truth/belief is different from what most people consider the norm.
He has been very consistent with delivering on his promises; for example, he pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement - against most advice saying that the targets are voluntary and can be changed at any time. He also pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal, despite the other signatories (UK, France, Germany, Russia and China) and many other countries saying that Iran was meeting its obligations. But he had said during the campaign that it was a bad Deal, and despite all the evidence, he didn't change his mind. He knows best!
Many international events of note in 2018, including:
The Trump / Kim meeting in Singapore;
Trump started trade war with China;
France won the World Cup (beat Croatia 4 - 2);
Legalisation of marijuana in California;
Rescue of boys in Thailand who were stuck in a cave for 9 days;
US students campaigned for gun controls;
Aussie students campaigned for climate change;
Devastating bushfires in California;
Brexit negotiations;
Awful war in Yemen;
US Mid-Term elections;
Yellow Vest movement in France;
Detention in Vancouver of Meng Wan Zhou of Huawei;
New record time set in the Berlin Marathon: 2 hours 1 minute 39 seconds;
Scott Morrison became Australia's 30th Prime Minister (replaced Malcolm Turnbull).
Notable deaths in 2018 included:
Stephen Hawking;
Ingvar Kampard (founder of IKEA);
Billy Graham;
Anthony Bourdain;
John McCain;
George HW Bush.
May they RIP.
...
That's it for this post.
Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Vera & Alex Olah
Canberra, Australia
Saturday, 5 January 2019
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