wheresmywoody.com

I have had a long week. I went to a conference on offshore stuff- don’t need to go into too much but suffice to say there were a lot of false smiles. The conference was however quite enjoyable (in terms of content and speakers), although it was ratifyingly evident they didn’t hang around post sermon..i have an eye for petty, sinister detail. Indeed, I should have absorbed the atmosphere and awkward networking perhaps a bit more than I did. However, sometimes I feel that i’m not made to enter into such a false repartee. I struggled a tad after say 8 o’clock and tended to exit early. Perhaps in the end I spent a bit too long talking to the employees of the New World Rennaissance Hotel (who incidentally were well turned out- classic menial labour, although their footwear presented, I thought, a heritage of their lifestye away from the hotel- cheap, scuffed shoes- I can talk!). Additionally, I had memorised most of their first name towards the end of the two days..slaps on the back..both ways..the works, get you a deal on rates..hey talk to me; i’m the man. Drags on a rolly, nods etc.

Seriously though, there comes a time when you walk away from the assembled group of “networkers”, perhaps excuse yourself for the toilet, a feigned expression as if your bowells are about to burst- dia pan dong style..”oh sweet jesus, what is that i’ve eaten?”. The pastiness of your face confirming your predicament, although in reality hiding the previous nights exploits a la Mui Wo and the China Bear..(exit general meeting area) from the stereotypical loud lawyer from Cayman desperate to engage you on the China story (again..) debate.

Percy, real name Ching, was most gratifying and absorbing in conversational terms, he should have been at the confernence- a speaker perhaps- a nodding simpleton of an accomplice not only to my act of rebuke, but as a sure fire courier of contraband cigarettes. Indeed, I have to add, upon engagement, a sage on the subject of general low-life “musts” and “must nots”, as he peddled his wears (reduced price mind..special price..) to the lower level esculator belt lounge bar where I was typically poised volubely accounting stories of the west during break time over half a dozen cigarettes. Clearly, that’s something i’ll have to deal with. I must attract it. I love it!

I have to stop this bullshit also. As is evidenced in my writing technique, I get sidetracked. No result from the exam as such-they like the suspense of the arrangement. Hopefully in a few weeks i’ll get some feedback. Last semester has brought with it Portfolio Theory and Strategic Management. I understand these to be the toughest modules, although I can clearly see the end of the tunnel now, or is that the light at the end of the tunnel..I prefer the former..so close.

Finally, I have to thank Olen for all his help in setting up this website for me. He is a marvelous man, together with Evan, and I hope to see both of them fairly soon. They are the Cheng Du contingent- guys I met through Jonny B- all English teachers in China. Their blog pages are attached to the list at the side of my website and are very much worth a read.