Gentlefolk,
This post describes our main activities during December 2021.
The contents of this post are in the following sequence:
Photos of our activities during December 2021.
Cartoons of 2021.
Books & movies.
Some news items which caught my eye in December.
International Trade.
The little word UP.
Covid-19 Pandemic.
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| My lovely sister, Aniko, celebrated 20 years as a realtor with Luton Real Estate. Her hsband, Peter Carey, joined her about 10 years ago to form the 'Dream Team'. |
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| It's true, Aniko and Peter really do go the extra mile for their clients! |
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| The Asia Bookroom held a book launch for Omar Musa's book "Killernova". He is an interesting guy. Grew up in Queanbeyan NSW and is re-discovering his roots (his parents came from Sabah in Malaysia). |
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| Former Austraders Xmas lunch. From left: Jim Enright, Brendan Dyson, Geoff McKie (convenor of the group), John Bush, Les Boag, me, Ian Ffrench. |
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| The National Library of Australia is holding an exhibition of the paintings by George Angas. He recorded some of the early German settlements in South Australia - it must have been very difficult to start a new life from scratch in these unfamiliar surroundings. |
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| The 'Guys & Dolls' group had our monthly get-together over lunch at the Water's Edge Restaurant. From left: Donna Ledlie; Ross Grigson; Helen Moffat; Dominic Caruso; Vera Olah; me; Nadia Potas; Neil Moffat; Dianne Grigson; Geoff Banbury. |
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| Kangraoo steak anyone? Delicious! |
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| Vera enjoying the lunch. |
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| Elegant Helen at the lunch. |
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| A get-together at Iis and Raden Dunbar's place. They are great hosts; these Indonesian events are always good fun. |
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| The annual Ex Trade Commissioner lunch was held at the Royal Yacht Squadron on Sydney harbour. |
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About 60 people attended the lunch. It was good to see former colleagues again.
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| I caught up with Ted Rule, whom I hadn't seen for many years; turned out that he went to school with Paul Milton in Melbourne (small world!). |
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| Representatives of the TC intake of 1971, from left: Patricia Radinoff; Geoff Gray; Frank & Helen Ledwidge; Vera Olah; Peter Bergman; Marion David; lloyd Downey; me. It's 50 years - a half-century - since we joined the Department of Trade. 1971 was an induction / training year, and then we began our overseas postings in 1972. |
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| With Peter Bergman - we were both members of the Class of '71. |
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| Inner Sydney High School on Cleveland Street, Surry Hills, is the first high-rise "vertical" school in Sydney. They kept the facade of the original school and added on a modern, high-tech, 14 storey building. It opened in 2020 and will eventually cater for 1,200 students. |
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| A screen shot of Eddie receiving his Meritorious Award at the final assembly of Bourke Street Public School. The citation was "For acting as a role model for his peers by leading with maturity and kindness." We watched on Zoom. |
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| My brother Andy (right) lives in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. He is a keen cyclist and loves giving young guns, like Jakub, a run for their money. |
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| Visiting our parent's graves on the 10th anniversary of Mum's passing (11 Dec 2011). |
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| Xmas picnic of the Australian Indonesian Families Association. |
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| 12 year old Sid flew down a few days early to bond with grandparents. He has completed Year 7 at Marist College Ashgrove. Now taller than Vera. |
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| We hit a few balls at the Driving Range. |
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| Vera with Barbara Roberts in Braidwood - Barb will take Sid to down to Broulee - he will spend a few days with his cousins at the coast before returning for Xmas in Canberra. |
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| We had lunch with Sharon Loiterton. |
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| Celebrating Heath McMichael's 63rd birthday. |
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| Xmas concert by Vera's Tuesday ukulele group. Vera really enjoys playing the ukulele and practises every day. |
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| To celebrate Xmas, Tom & Jen & boys came from Brisbane and Andrew, Caz & kids from Sydney. Dinner at home, from left: Caroline, Vera, Andrew, Jen, Tom. Xmas is all about families getting together. |
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Jay fell in love with the Roberts' dog (Rhodesian Ridgeback). |
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| Distributing presents (by Eddie and Jay) to all the youngsters; always fun. |
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| Watching the distribution of presents. From left: Kurt, Sid, Paul, Niniek, and Vera. |
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| Cousins, from left: Eddie, Nate, Sid, JJ, and Kurt. |
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Sid & Jen.
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| The Roberts family, from left: Tom, Sid, Kurt, Jen, and Nate. |
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The 'mob' at dinner on Xmas Eve (we celebrate Xmas European-style on Xmas Eve), from left: Michael, Vera, Adrienne, Aniko, Jen, Alex (me), Angie, Andrew, Eddie, Nate, Paul, JJ, Caroline, Sid, Kurt, Niniek, Tom, Nouvie, Lani, Peter, and Tuey. Late scratchings: Britt, Sasha, Davide, Bonnie, and Oscar.
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| Saying goodbye to the Roberts - they left after breakfast to have Xmas lunch with Tom's mother and brother in Broulee on the South Coast. |
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| Lunch on Xmas Day at the Yacht Club, from left: Vera, Andrew, Moritz, Eddie, Caroline, Paul, and Niniek. Moritz drove from Melbourne this morning to spend time with family. |
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| Aniko presented Moritz with a framed picture of the church in Weilheim (Angie and I were baptised in that church). Moritz is an impressive young man; joined Tesla Melbourne a year ago and is now a Team Leader. He is training for a Half-Ironman Triathalon in March (90km bike ride, 21km run, 2km swim). We wish him well. |
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| Our dear friend Tony Spinks died. He developed diabetes, had dialysis three times a week for almost 10 years, finally in April 2021 he got a kidney transplant but the good times didn't last. A lovely guy, always cheerful, he will be missed. RIP Tony! |
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| Photos: Ami and Tony Spinks, and their kids Jacinta and Sartria. |
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| We had a scare when a friend tested positive for Covid (Vera saw her last week), so we quickly bought Rapid Antigen Tests - both negative - relief!!! |
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| Price of fuel at Costco Canberra at the end of December 2021. |
CARTOONS of 2021
BOOKS and FILMS during December
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| Nobel Prize winning author. The story is set in East Africa during WW1, when Britain forcibly took over the German colonies (the Germans faced overwhelming odds). The book describes the brutality and tragedy of war - particularly how the poor suffer. I liked Hamza, the anti-hero, his life hanging by a thread, he finds his calling (carpentry), and love with Afiya and then a family. The life cycle continues even in the face of huge obstacles and great hardship. |
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| An interesting, easy-to-read history of Australian - Chinese relations. Several thousand Chinese came during the gold rush periods between 1850 and 1870. They were generally treated with suspicion and animosity. The first piece of legislation passed by the new Federal Govt in 1901 restricted non-white immigration (aka the 'White Australia Policy', which lasted until the 1970s). The last 50 years has seen significant immigration from Asia, especially from China. The book was published in 2017, when bilateral relations were starting to sour, and have gotten steadily worse. |
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| I was fascinated by the story of Geroge Ernest Morrison (aka 'Morrison of Peking'). Check him out, a remarkable character. |
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| We took Sid to see the latest James Bond movie. Action, from start to finish. Bring back Sean Connery! Daniel Craig said that this would be his last Bond movie, so at the end he dies. In the past James Bond always managed to survive, usually against great odds, but not this time. RIP James, your exploits have brought us much fun and entertainment over the years! |
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News items which caught my eye during December
2021.
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Global and others |
Barbados became a Republic after
400 years of British connection, but remained a member of the Commonwealth. Several European countries
introduced tougher restrictions following surges in Covid cases due to the
new Omicron variant: Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Greece, WTA suspended its tennis
competitions in China until Peng Shuai’s situation is clarified. The EU established a “Global
Gateway Scheme” with $340B to undertake infrastructure projects in
developing countries. 9/10 December President Biden
chaired a virtual “Democracy Summit”. 100 countries were invited to
participate (excluded were Russia, China, Singapore, Thailand, Saudi Arabia,
Venezuela, Hungary, Turkey, etc). According to The Economist, the only
countries with true democracies are: Scandinavia, Canada, Ireland, and
New Zealand. Australia was rated 2nd
tier; American democracy rated as “flawed”. Tensions rose over East Ukraine
with Russian military buildup on border. Cristiano Ronaldo passed 800 top-level goals
(Pele 769, Puskas 761, Messi 756). USA, Australia, Canada, UK
announced ‘diplomatic boycott’ of the February 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to
highlight China’s human rights abuses. Their athletes can participate but Officials
will not attend. New German coalition Govt sworn in, Chancellor Olaf Sholtz. Key policies by 2030: phase out coal; 80% renewables; 15 million electric vehicles. Samantha Kerr, playing for
Chelsea, flattened a pitch invader and got a yellow card! Lego, the world’s largest toy
company, announced a new $12B factory will be built in Vietnam; the company
aims to be carbon-neutral in 2022. 24 year old Max Verstappen (Red
Bull) passed Sir Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in the last lap to win the Abu
Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and his first World Championship (Hamilton has won 7
times). Proposed virtual trial of US citizen Anne
Sacoolas who is accused of dangerous driving in the motor bike death of Harry Dunn in
England in August 2019. She claimed diplomatic immunity (her husband worked on
an American military base) and returned to the USA. British court ruled that Julian
Assange can be extradited to the US to face charges. Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, was
crowned Miss Universe 2021. The Bank of England raised
interest rates, first major country to do so. Philippines: Super Typhoon Rai
killed hundreds. Chile: Leftist Gabriel Boria, 35,
elected President. Thousands of Xmas flights cancelled
around the world, primarily due to staff shortages caused by Covid. The James Webb Telescope was
launched to better observe outer space. Notable deaths in 2021: Bishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa,
anti-apartheid crusader, 90); Prince Philip (Britain, 99); Colin Powell (USA,
military and Sec of State, 84); Walter Mondale (USA, politician, 93); Stephen
Sondheim (USA, composer, 91); Bernie Madoff (USA, super-fraudster, 82); David
Gulpilil (Australia, actor, 68); Brian Henderson (Australia, broadcaster,
89); Andrew Peacock (Australia, politician, 82).
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USA
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15 year old Ethan Crumbly killed 4
and wounded 7 in Michigan High School shooting. His parents were charged with
involuntary manslaughter for providing him with a gun. US Congress extended funding of
Federal Govt until 18 February 2022 (HoR voted 221-121, Senate voted 69-28). According to Bloomberg, USA’s
trade deficit in October was $67B (down from $84B in September). USA CPI rose 6.8% (unadjusted) in
the 12 months to end November (fastest rate of increase since 1982). FBI recorded 21,500 homicides in
2020 (30% more than 2019); almost 80% were gun-related. Upward trend continued
in 2021. Tornadoes hit several States in
the US, over 100 dead. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin took 6
tourists to space and back. When Apple shares hit $181 it
became the first company with market valuation of $3 Trillion (Microsoft is
$2.6T, Alphabet is $2T). USA Gymnastics agreed $380M for
victims of coach Larry Nassar. Time Magazine named Elon Musk as
their “2021 Person of the Year.” But growing concern that his Starlink
Satellite Internet service will exacerbate space junk. New York City has first female
African American Police Chief, 44 year old Keechant Sewell. Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, former
associate of Jeffery Epstein - she was found guilty on 5 counts - sentencing to come. Caroline Kennedy (daughter of JFK)
nominated as US Ambassador to Australia. First all-Moslem local Council
elected in Hamtramck, Detroit. CNN’s CEO of the Year: Albert
Bourla of Pfizer. Harvard chemistry professor
Charles Lieber was found guilty of not disclosing ties (and income) with the
Wuhan University of Technology; the biggest scalp in Trump-inspired push to
restrict Chinese access to US expertise.
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Australia |
Report on Sex Harassment found 30+%
of staff in Australian Parliament House had suffered. Govt ministers Christian Porter
(Pearce) and Greg Hunt (Flinders) advised that they will not contest the next
election. TGA approved the Pfizer vaccine
for 5-11 year old. Australia signed a Free Trade
Agreement with the UK. Six children died in a freak
bouncy-castle accident in Tasmania. Covid cases jumped as Australian
States opened their borders (WA borders will open in February 2022): on 30
December 12,226 new cases in NSW; 5,137 in Victoria, 253 in ACT. Annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht race
had 88 starters but 35 pulled out; line honours went to Black Jack (Monaco). Australia beat England to take a
3-0 lead in the Ashes Cricket series (in the second innings of the Third Test England only managed 68 runs, the lowest total since 1904; debutant Aussie
bowler Scott Boland took 6 wickets for 7 runs off 27 balls).
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China
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China promised to supply 1 billion
vaccines to Africa. Evergrande Property defaulted, but
continued to limp on. People’s Bank of China cut the official
interest rate, and lowered banks’ reserve requirement ratio to encourage
lending. President Xi said homes were for
living in, not for speculation; real estate housing prices fell for 3rd
month. GDP growth estimated at 7.8% in
2021 (China was the only major economy to have positive growth in 2020). Prominent influencer (18 m
followers) Viya (real name Huang Wei), 36, fined $210M for tax evasion. China’s high speed rail network passed
38K km (75% of cities over 500K population have a high speed rail
connection).
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
My 30 year career as an Australian Trade Commissioner gave me an interest in matters related to international trade. I subscribe to Bloomberg's excellent daily newsletter "Supply Lines - tracking Covid-19's impact on trade" (former title 'Trade Matters').
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That little word UP proves that English really is crazy!
There is a two-letter word that has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'
It's easy to understand UP , meaning toward
the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we
wake UP ?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ?
Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for
election and why is it UP to the secretary to
write UP a report?
We call UP our friends.
And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the
silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the
kitchen.
We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the
old car.
At other times the little word has real special meaning.
People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets,
work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is
special .
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP .
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at
night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look
the word UP in the dictionary.
In a dictionary, it takes UP a big space and can add UP to about thirty definitions.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a
list of the many ways UP is used.
It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't
give UP , you may wind UP with a hundred
or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP .
When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP .
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP .
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP .
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for my time is UP ,
Now it's UP to you.
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COVID-19 pandemic
The following table shows how the pandemic has changed over the last 5 months.
Covid-19 Pandemic top 15 countries ranked by
cumulative cases as at 31 December 2021.
Source: www.worldometers.info/coronavirus
(accessed 31 December 2021)
|
Country |
Cumulative Cases 31 July 202 (millions) |
Cumulative deaths 31 July 2021 (thousands) |
Cumulative Cases 31 Dec 2021 (millions) |
Cumulative deaths 31 Dec 2021 (thousands) |
|
Global |
198M |
4.2M |
287M |
5.4M |
|
1. USA |
35.7 |
629 |
55.1M |
846K |
|
2. India |
31.6 |
424 |
34.8 |
481 |
|
3. Brazil |
19.9 |
556 |
22.3 |
619 |
|
4. UK |
5.8 |
130 |
12.8 |
148 |
|
5. Russia |
6.2 |
121 |
10.5 |
308 |
|
6. France |
6.1 |
112 |
9.7 |
124 |
|
7. Turkey |
5.7 |
47 |
9.4 |
82 |
|
8. Germany |
3.8 |
92 |
7.1 |
113 |
|
9. Spain |
4.5 |
82 |
6.3 |
89 |
|
10. Iran |
3.9 |
90 |
6.2 |
132 |
|
11. Italy |
4.3 |
128 |
6.0 |
137 |
|
12. Argentina |
4.9 |
106 |
5.6 |
117 |
|
13. Colombia |
4.8 |
120 |
5.2 |
130 |
|
14. Indonesia |
3.4 |
92 |
4.3 |
144 |
|
15. Poland |
2.9 |
75 |
4.1 |
86 |
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82. Australia |
|
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363K |
2K |
The highly infectious Omicron variant is spreading quickly and several European countries have imposed new restrictions to slow it down.
Early reports indicate that its health effects are relatively mild but more research is needed. The high vaccination rates in some countries (including booster shots) mean that hospitalisations have been manageable so far. The unvaccinated are the main sufferers.
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| This image from mid-December Bloomberg's Supply Lines newsletter. The 'rich countries' are getting vaccinated, but still a long way to go for others. |
The USA: average daily new cases over the last 7 days is 300,886, with deaths averaging 1,546 per day. 62% of the population is fully vaxxed and the Govt keeps urging more citizens to get the jab, but there is still much hesitancy particularly among Republican voters. Unvaxxed are 10 times more likely to be hospitalised, and 20 times more likely to die.
Australia: since the Federal and State Govts started removing restrictions in early December, the number of daily new cases has increased rapidly. Yesterday NSW reported 21,151 new cases, Victoria 5,919, and the ACT (Canberra) 253 new cases. I know these numbers are still very low by international standards, but they have increased dramatically (from a low base). About 90% of Australians (over 12 years old ) are fully vaccinated, so the hope is that our hospital system will be able to cope with these increasing numbers. Time will tell.
...
Today is the last day of 2021 - what a year it's been.
Some Highlights:
Covid-19: Started 2001 with 83M cumulative cases and 1.8M cumulative deaths; finished 2021 with 287M cases and 5.4M deaths (real figures probably much higher). New Omicron variant very infectious. Many people double-vaccinated plus booster shots gives hope for fewer deaths.
USA politics: 6 January invasion of Capitol Building; 20 January inauguration of Biden/Harris.
Germany: Merkel 16 year era finished in December when Olaf Scholtz took over as Chancellor.
Olympics: Postponed by a year, Toyko hosted in July 2021.
Afghanistan: foreign troops left after 20 years, Taliban back in power.
Climate Change: COP26 summit held in Glasgow. Much greater awareness / urgency.
Our best wishes for health and happiness in 2022.
Everyone: Stay healthy and keep smiling.
Vera & Alex Olah
Canberra, Australia
31 December 2021.
