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Published: April 9th 2008
Relaxing at the Venetian
Taking a break from the gaming tables.Life can get pretty busy in Hong Kong. Simone and Georgia came with me to Macau for a work function at the Venetian. At the Venetian all roads lead to the gaming tables, which are densely populated outposts of compassion, where people enthusiastically donate their money to impovrished casino owners. The suites upstairs were plush, but the huge shopping mall in the St Marks Square is a setting that is as Italian as McDonalds.
The Consul General, Murray Cobban, retired and left Hong Kong at the start of March. Murray is a great bloke and will be missed here. We held a farewell dinner for him with some of his close friends. It was a lovely night.
Glenn Forrest and his son Cory visited for a couple of weeks. It was great to have their company. Glenn and I went to the 2nd Asian Film Awards presentation. Amusingly, we arrived at the main entrance. Our driver, Charlie, saw the red carpet and rows of photographers, and correctly tried to reverse away. Unfortunately, there were cars behind us, and a steward at the red carpet was waving us forward. Luckily, Glenn and I had had a few gins, and so
Murray's farewell
Murray (centre right) left Hong Kong after three years as Consul-General. A dinner at our place for his close friends. bounced out of the Lexus and pretended we were born to make the Academy Awards sort of entrance that celebrities make. It was a black tie, gala event, although some interpreted black tie as meaning shiny silver jackets with matching shoes and jeans, and then frustrated us all by keeping secret the name of their tailor.
The Rugby 7s was also on. Even for those with the good sense to oppose rugby at every level, the 7s is a lot of fun. It is three days of 16 or 20 teams competing for a cup or plate or something. During those days many of the bars in town never close, and 7s enthusiasts go from drinking at the game to patronising bars. On the final day, 40,000 drinking fans sing and dance, make unauthorised jaunts around the field, dressed and undressed in fancy dress, and turn to watch the rugby after something interesting happened that they missed, but were alerted to by the cheers of those few who actually watch.
Georgia continues to grow - 70 cm long and 6.70kg - in technical terms, tall and skinny. We love her happy smile, which is often on display. She
Georgia's first beach adventure
Try as she might, Georgia can't avoid undesirables at the beach. hardly cries or gets upset, although she indicated some concern during her six month vacinations. On the second needle she gave me a look of horror and burst into tears. Luckily, Simone was there to console her. Georgia loves coming for walks to the Peak, which is not surprising, because she in fact does not walk up the steep hills, but rather reclines in her pram and smiles knowingly at me as I sweat at the back of the pram. Georgia has also started to eat solid foods, for which she has a strong appetite. She eats with passion and makes full use of the bib and near-by washable surfaces (including her face!).
Simone had a birthday, the first since the Big G was born, so it was a special day indeed. Guided by cryptic hints, such as, "I want a Chinese birdcage", I managed to buy her exactly what she wanted, and added a few of the beautiful roses and lillies available in Hong Kong. Because of work commitments (which have been too many and too long), we haven't been to dinner to celebrate, but we shall next week at the Pearl restaurant at the Peak.
Simone
Simone comes to the rescue
March at Chung Hom Kok beach, Hong Kong and Georgia head off to Australia on 20 April, and return 10 May, along with our friend Jenn and her baby daughter, Zoe. It will be great to see them here. Before they return we'll move house, going from the Midlevels, to a townhouse in Stanley, where we will be close to the Stanley market and a few beaches.
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tarek
non-member comment
it is nice to see you enjoying fatherhood and motherhood with georgia.she is growing fast,and she is a lovely baby.amira,who is now 8,wouldnt leave her at all if she sees her.i am missing hoda and the girls.i will see them in cairo in two weeks.all the best.bi