6 degrees of separation, and Michael Jackson
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Posted:Jul 25, 2009 3:56 am
Last Updated:Oct 24, 2009 3:52 am 16545 Views
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I just had a thought ....
You know the idea that we are all connected to everyone else on the planet by no more than six links to other people ? (as popularised in a play by John Guare). Well you may be closer to Michael Jackson than you think !
One of Michael Jackson's friends was Uri Geller, the "mental spoon-bender"...
One of Uri Geller's friends is John Madejski (the owner of Reading Football Club)...
As a lifelong supporter and erstwhile sponsor of "The Royals" (Reading Football Club), I have met John Madejski on a few occasions...
That puts me only three steps away from the late MJ, so if you have met me then you are only four steps away from him !
If any of you want to add that to your CV then do pop round at some time....
(Then again, if that's the only reason you want to meet me, perhaps you'd better stay away.... you're too weird, and possible a danger to yourself and those around you  )
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I promised you some wedding pictures (1)
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Posted:Jul 16, 2009 5:20 pm
Last Updated:Jul 26, 2009 3:39 pm 16563 Views
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Hi Folks...
Have just been scanning my own blog to see if there are any comments I didn't answer during my time offline while Amanda was here, and I just realised that I didn't put up any of the "official" wedding photos that I promised you.
AFF is not all that hot on posting photos so, unfortunately, they will have to be one at a time.
A small selection follows, starting with this one....
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Too many things to do, not enough mental energy
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Posted:May 3, 2009 2:00 pm
Last Updated:May 5, 2009 4:11 pm 15304 Views
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Hello friends,
Sorry I haven't been around much recently. I have had to devote a fair bit of my time to the Brain Injury charity that I am connected with, and have also needed to do a lot of writing about the problems I have experienced since my accident the other year.
As I am not the fastest thinker or typist now that has left me feeling very tired, and it would be unfair on myself to spend hours on A.F.F. too.  As it is I have been showing signs of having been "overdoing it" and, unfortunately, there are times when one just has to say "enough" and hope that people will understand.
On the brighter side, Amanda arrives on Thursday morning for a 2 month visit   I can't wait  
Hopefully she will be able to instill a bit of "order" into my life 
Anyway, it's good to find that most of you are still here and happily blogging away, although I was disappointed to see that SGNohea has had to take some "time out", although I do understand that her situation has changed somewhat.
Do keep on enjoying life as much as you all can... I'll be keeping an eye on you.
Warm 
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Wedding pictures
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Posted:Mar 22, 2009 1:53 pm
Last Updated:Jul 16, 2009 5:27 pm 15987 Views
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Yes, they're here at last
I've uploaded them to an album for anyone who wants to see them, although you will need to be in my friends list first.
The other good news is that, on the same day, Amanda got her new visa. A full two year, multiple entry jobbie that will allow her to come and go as she pleases. Result !
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Winter sky
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Posted:Feb 28, 2009 3:41 am
Last Updated:Feb 28, 2009 4:11 pm 15385 Views
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Off-blue, off-grey, off-white…
the colourist has laid out an unmistakeable
winter sky.
Clouds:
Blending yet separated,
defined yet merging,
static yet fluid,
focussed yet blurred,
the palette used in ways of wonder and mystery.
Behind me the sky is more monotone,
more threatening.
This evening it will rain.
(c) TNH 2009
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"Look at your wife"
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Posted:Feb 9, 2009 1:48 pm
Last Updated:Jul 16, 2009 5:09 pm 16633 Views
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The photographer spoke in a monotone voice the whole time, and yet with a certainty that was apparent even though I could not understand a word that he said except on the occasional times when he broke into his limited English.
As the sessions continued I became more used to what was required of me, and gradually his utterances of “Sir” and a hand gesture became easier to understand. He smiled and said “Oh yes!” more often.
All the while his assistant busied himself with the task of positioning us, our hands and our clothes. His favourite expression seemed to be “Okay, Sir, take a break” whenever my involvement in a sitting was complete.
Sometimes there was a degree of confusion but, on the whole, things went fairly smoothly.
Amanda acted as translator for us, passing on the instructions from the pair of them, and the instruction I enjoyed hearing from her the most was “Look at your wife”.
I looked at the beautiful face so close to mine.
I looked into the eyes of my Amanda who was radiant as I had never seen her before.
She was happy, delighted, and delightful.
I looked into the eyes of my beautiful Amanda and wondered how life could ever be better than this.
“Look at your wife”…. MY wife… My beautiful, darling wife of just 24 hours. I looked at my wife, and every time I did my heart sang. I floated on clouds of love and wonder. What on earth had I done to deserve these moments ?
The most beautiful sight one could ever wish to see. My beautiful Amanda, my beautiful wife, looking simply perfect… stunning !.
I floated on air whenever I heard those words…. “Look at your wife”.
Once the pictures are ready you, too, will be able to look at my wife as she was on that perfect day, the day we spent at the photographers the day after we had been married.
In the meantime, and as a little taster, you will have to make do with this amateurish snippet taken by yours truly.
Amanda, my darling, my beautiful little Chinese wife, I love you so much !
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Ken - Bingqilinren
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Posted:Feb 4, 2009 12:21 am
Last Updated:Feb 7, 2009 5:25 am 15960 Views
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It is a couple of weeks since I was able to sign on to Asia Friendfinder as I have been in China and am unable to log in from there, but more on that in another post.... first things first.
While I was away the sad news of the passing of our friend KenBingqilinren came through.
Ken had been ill for some time with a failing liver and, as I was preparing to travel, had dropped into a coma. He came round from that sufficiently enough to, with help from his family, be able to have some last contact with his love Phuong sweetie170575.
Then, as great swathes of the world's population began celebrating the Lunar New Year, Ken went to a better life, his ordeal was over.
We are inclined to use the word "love" too flippantly... "I love that programme", "I love ice-cream". Ken loved life. Ken had a genuine love for people that he shared with those whose lives he touched and for which we are all blessed.
I feel in some way honoured that the last blogpost he put on here was directed at me. Thank you, Ken.
I will remember you as a "laughing Cavalier", someone who could always see the funny side of any situation but would stand up, say "No", and fight if they saw something wrong with the world.
You kept fighting Ken, right to the end. Fighting the wrong in the world, fighting for your dear Phuong and your family, and fighting for life. Oh that there were more like you in this world. 
There is an emptiness now in the hearts of all your friends, both in A-F-F and out there in the real world.
We will miss you dearly. 
Our thoughts, prayers and continual good wishes are with Phuong and your family. We have not met them but our love reaches out to them. We pray for you and them.
Bloodybuggersodpot sodpot sodpot
Bloodybuggersodpot !
Your words, mate, not mine.......
R.I.P. 
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