What's in store for 2014?

What's in store for 2014?

I've read recently an article that referred to 2014 having a "4", therefore it's not going to be a good year. I'm not overly superstitious but I intend for 2014 to be an amazing year - there is so much to look forward to on a career and personal level.

My prayers go to all that aren't doing well and I wish you the best year ever in 2014 !

Interesting that as you listen to music on your playlist or even Spotify that you start to hear songs from the dead.  Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Lou Reed, Luther Van Dross.....the list goes on

But the Rolling Stones -- still appear to be still rolling on and we have tickets to see the 70 year olds next year. (Can't wait to see them)

My kids, our moments when we are together are precious and we do have plans to see them in their element in 2014.  In London, Singapore and Shanghai -- my kids are all expatriates, just like Dad & Mum.  I'm looking forward to sharing a meal and some great experiences with them (Can't wait)

My beloved Wallabies, have gotta be better in 2014 after a mixed 2013. At least we have built depth with so many new players that have debuted for Australia. What they now need is continuity and to built combinations.  The world cup is approaching in 2015 and it will be critical for the Wallabies to make progress in their game during this year. (Can wait....)

My friends, I hope to meet on our travels during 2014 -- St Peterburg, Napa & Sonoma, Hong Kong, Shanghai and in Tokyo.  Can't beat such meetings in exotic places around the world. It's just magic and adds to the great occasion.

My wife, I plan to be a better husband than last year. More considerate and loving, not that I believe I have lacked attention to her but I can always improve.

My career, I have enjoyed so many experiences in different countries and industries.  Just been privileged to work with great teams and leaders.  I'm looking forward to more of the same in 2014.

Myself to work on my fitness and flexibility. Ensure that I give myself 'me' time and allow myself to physically at my prime.  

My mind.  I want to retain this as sharp as I can.  My plan is to ensure that I revitalise my reading of both biographies, fiction and current affairs.  What I have noticed is that during 2013 that my memory and how my brain works has surprised myself. There have been a few moments where I was able to identify person(s) from my past life that I have not seen for 40+ years. But could name the within a few microseconds. In both cases this scared me that I can recall such details. As both persons were not in my thought patterns and I saw both of these person(s) outside of their normal cities. 

My bucket list -- I have a few items that I plan to tick off in 2014.  The Tennis Championship at Wimbledon and eating Beluga Caviar in Red Square.

Bring on 2014.....it is going to be great.

Ah.....Xmas

I can't remember how many years it has been since I've had all my kids together for xmas. If I hazard a guess this may be in 2007 when we were in Japan and all the kids visited.

Yes, alas they are grown up and living all around the world, but it never really feels the same.

Maybe I'm getting nostalgic, however I do remember in fine details the rituals of decorating the Christmas Tree, the shopping for gifts and the family time together.

On Christmas eve we always did the annual custom of leaving out a glass of milk and cookies for "Santa".  He (Santa) always just left a few suspect crumbs on his plate.....

Then the Christmas morning, trying not to over indulge before lunch and having lots of fresh cherries.  The inevitable family lunch with extended family which is always a treat.  Then comes the gifts, the ones that you really like and the other that you say "Oh Thanks".

A trip to the cemetery to visit Granny and Dad,  a poignant moment to reflect on past years and
 a good moment to wish them both well and do some basic grave sweeping.

Finally dinner with extended family, usually some leftovers.  Always enjoyable, less about the food and more about catching up. Before you know it, Christmas is over for another year.

Perhaps next year we can work out a Family Christmas somewhere in the world?

Ashes Cricket - The Barmy Army

Yes it is that time of the year again, summer and cricket is back on TV.

The English cricket team is touring Australia and playing at the Gabba, that arena famous for the Lillie and Thommo fast bowlers terrorising the english players.

In train with the England Cricket team is the Barmy Army and I'm curious what motives a person to fly across the world to drink beer and sit at the cricket all day?  Actually in this case it is a large group of supporters that travel on their own pound and see very little of the country except inbetween the test matches.

Indeed you have to admire the fact that until recently this Barmy Army has had little to cheer about. 
Just like the LION supporters who are the definition of boisterous, this group has a number of songs and chants that they sing and sound out to support their team.

Not the snobby and polite hand clapping that the Lords would appreciate, however this is now part and parcel of the test scene.

Actually in truth, Australia from a sporting prowess has declined.  But is this really an issue?

Would I prefer that Australia wins the Maths or Science Olympiad -- I think the answer is yes.

We need to also be encouraging that our children learn one or more foreign languages and I mean Chinese and not French or Indonesian.  The future of Australia lies north of these shores and while I am starting to see evidence that some people get it, it was saddening to see the Victorian Educators not embracing this clear fact.

Do we want to me the Barmy Army, no offence they are a fun lot and are great for the economy but it is not where Australia needs to focus.

Sports are fun, and I enjoy being an armchair competitor, however it the game of life it only matters somewhat.

A call out to Clive James.....

I watched an interview of Clive James by Kerry O'Brien and it was a such an interesting dialogue with an special person who is truly gifted with an ability to express himself in the written form.

There are words and expressions that he uses that plays with one's mind and Clive is an extraordinary poet, who also just happens to do so many other things well.  Despite being in the middle of a battle with leukemia and emphysema; Clive is incredibly alive and his intellect is as strong as ever.

As I watched I marveled at his gift for using words and making these come to life.  Clive talked about his 'Unreliable Memoirs' and in this his is legendary billy-cart races and his uncomfortable teen age years and sexual experiences.

I'm not sure that I ever read any of his Sydney University Honi Soit articles, as our ages are quite different.  I am convinced though, that his style and influence was still felt in that radical student mag that I would glance through in the library and delay the reading my prescribed texts.

Clive is writing what will be his last memoir and he is reflecting on his upcoming death.  I really hope that he gets to finish this piece of work and it will be truly fitting that he has this chance to write his last chapter.


Some of his most classic quotes are just 'fantastic' to read, here are a few that I found on the internet:

A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all”

“Fiction is life with the dull bits left out"




“Stop worrying… nobody gets out of this world alive”



 "Experts say men think of sex every 10 seconds... What do they think of in the other nine?"

On the Viking Trail

In Stockholm for the first time, a remarkable place with an archipelago of islands joined together by bridges. The Vikings were the remarkable race that marauded Scotland but also named the icy country as Greenland and the evergreen one as Iceland.  They also made there way to Newfoundland, what we now call America.  

Sweden was the kingdom formed from three warming tribes and the 'Swedes' won, hence the name of the country.  The country ranked 2nd in 2013 as best reputation in the world.   Here is my summary of the place:

- a naturally beautiful country, rugged with either too mostly little sunshine 

- physically beautiful people that match the countryside (striking blondes everywhere) 

- chiselled model metro sexual males on the street that belong on the GQ mag or a runway 

- expensive yes, a byproduct of the high standard of living they enjoy

- high taxes 

- note that the richness can be traced back to their neutrality during WWW2 and they were the supplier to rebuild Europe. 

- Sweden was never invaded by the Romans or Germans (too cold?)

- they have an eye for home furnishings and design (reason - indoors as too cold outside?)

- 25% tax on Alcohol (same reasoning they drink a lot as its too cold to go outside)

- Sweden lives the principle of equality of sexes and don't just talk about the idea. (There are more females than men in parliament)

- A byproduct of equality is that the most attractive blonde (woman) construction worker I've ever seen walked past us with her hard hat in hand. 

This is the country that punches above its weight in terms of Fortune 2000 companies : which includes Volvo, Astra Zeneca, H&M, ABB, Skype, Spotify, Electrolux, Ericsson, IKEA etc With all this the population is only 9 million people !

For such a macho country, forged by Vikings the Swedish are well dressed, well groomed and live in well designed houses.  It has been said that if Apple was a country it would be Sweden - it's all about design. 

Cool, Sleak and White (Blonde)

I guess it all makes sense, if the alcohol is sooo expensive, the weather is usually snowy that you have a long time indoors to think about how best to design and redesign your space.  

Bryan Adams concert

Bryan Adams has this gravel voice that's really quire distinctive. Ideal for rock songs or in a Ballard with an acoustic guitar it just works !

He has a career and 16 albums - you could tell as he worked his way through a 2.5 hour concert. So many raunchy rock songs and then tender Ballards.

To me it is clear that so much of his material has 'cliche' verses that with the wrong artist just would sound corny. For Bryan they all work and he sung his repertoire with all of the audience in close company.

It wasn't Karoke, but you could easily think that what's going on. The audience knew all the words and Bryan knew that they knew. He then allowed for his own timing of passages so that we both could contribute to the song.

Bryan had video cameras going in 'black and white' and showing his own view of the audience. It was the first time that I had seen this and it was effective.

Famous people I've seen in person

I've always been a person who is really naturally good at facial recognition. During my travels I'm been fortunate enough to see a few celebrities that are 'incognito' that I recognise and usually within a few minutes others will also been taking a second look. 

Recently I was in the security line and recognised a volunteer at his holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings.  That person I last saw 40 years earlier in my early teens.  That person walked past me and I immediately remarked that I know that face and her name is Lee Berryman. At that point I walked back to say hello and she had no idea who I was, actually she was staggered that I remembered her. 

From memory here is my list; most of these celebrities is usually at Airports or Business / First Class Lounges. Do doubt, some of these are A- listers and others just on a list.

- Will Smith (Actor)
- Danny Glover (Actor)
- Helen Hunt (Actress)
- Bob Hoskins (Actor)

- Kristie Lu Stout (CNN)
- John Laws (Journalist)

- Babyface (R&B Singer)
- Karen Mock (Canto Pop Singer)

- Tony Abbott (Australian Government Politician)
- Andrew Peacock (Australian Government Politician)
- Rod McGeoch (Sydney Olympics)

- Kobe Bryant (NBA)
- Paul Pierce (NBA)
- Swimming)
- Pat Rafter (Tennis)
- Tony Mundine (Boxing)
- Jeff Fenech (Boxing)
- Andrew Gaze (Basketball)
- Christian Cullen (All Black)
- Sean Fitzpatrick (All Black)
- Peter Fitzpatrick (Wallaby and Journalist)
- Quade Cooper (Wallaby)
- Michael Hooper (Wallaby)
- Kane Douglas (Wallaby)
- John Ribot (Australian RL and past owner Melbourne Storm)