My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, Easter was the Saxon goddess of the east and her festival was held in the spring. April was called Ostermonath, or the month of the Ost-end wind (wind from the east). Easter was therefore the April feast, traditionally lasting for eight days. Our Easter Sunday…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, I had promised a past president some weeks ago to discuss e-mail protocol in this series. For some reasons, I have yet to do that. Something happened this week and I decided to deal with the matter now. Let me go back to the very…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, I took a look at the notice outside Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. It said something like there would be no interval in the two and a half hours performance, which sounded like a warning that one should visit the bath room. We did….
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, I will remind you upfront that my last letter in this series was written on New Year’s Eve, or eight weeks ago. I can also confirm that it is the longest break between letters, and I am glad I received occasional reminders in person and…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, It is New Year’s Eve. Just as one has barely recovered from the mandatory partying and merriment of last week, one now has to brave yet another weekend sinking in a gentle pool of wine, or champagne depending on one’s taste and affordability. One is…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, The Year 2000 will almost certainly go down in the family annals as an eventful and unforgettable one. We coped with my mother’s death, Rosita’s cancer relapse, the son going abroad to study, our training at Anaheim, my becoming District Governor, my three visits to…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, I said last time that I might talk a bit more on the yacht race which had been very much part of me these days. But where do I begin with such a complex and multi-line story? I think I would tell it as it…
My Dear Rotarians and friends, in particular my Action Presidents, Edmond Chan (Channel Islands) looked at my Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People’s Republic of China Passport and said, “John, this is your special passport to Mongolia.” Edmond Chan of course is District Secretary (Returns). He and Herbert Lau (Tolo Harbour) accompanied me to visit…
My Dear Rotarians and Friends, in particular my Action Presidents, I cannot recall when we last had an approach in November by a severe tropical storm that resulted in the Royal Observatory having to hoist typhoon signals. I was expecting air movements and cooler weather; maybe a little rain; that would make me sleep better….
My Dear Rotarians and Friends, in particular my Action Presidents, After I despatched my last letter, I received a message under the subject of “Friends” from a friend who often sent me messages, pictures and jokes he picked up from God knows where. The message was about a father-and-son dialogue over anger and 37 nails…
