While working on petrochemicals in Saudi Arabia and having a lot of spare time in the desert, over 1996-1998 I wrote a play called "Sibylla" (ISBN 0 75410 117 7). This came from my overall interest in history which perhaps I ought to have studied at university in 1955 instead of natural sciences. My interest was aroused by a book by Professor Norman Golb of the University of Chicago on the Dead Sea Scrolls where he mentioned the discovery by Solomon Schechter in 1898 of many very old letters and documents in the store room of the Jewish Synagogue of Fustat in Cairo. This treasure-trove of documents is now at Cambridge University.
One of these letters was 900 years old and had been written by the Jewish Rabbi of a town in Provence after what seems to have been a massacre of Jews by the passing of the Crusading Army en route to the Holy Land in 1096. The letter asked the Jewish community in Cairo to look after the destitute wife of one of the prominent citizens - I call her Sibylla - with her last remaining son, as the community had been decimated and the husband killed. The town may have been 'Monieux' but the name had been obscured on the document and may have been somewhere else. Monieux would certainly have been on one of the routes of the Provencal army.
Who was Sibylla? Apparently she was the daughter of a Norman knight in Normandy and therefore Christian. How was it that she had married the scion of a Jewish family from Narbonne in the south? I assume in the play a love affair, an elopement and the bad luck of moving to an obscure town, which just happened to be on one road to Jerusalem.
I went to Monieux in 1997 and spent four days wandering around the old village and climbing up to the medieval watchtower on the hill, with most of the town within fortifications on the hillside itself. I was quite moved to relive some of the history of a family now dead for 900 years. Anyway my play tells the story as I imagine it to have been. The country side was beautiful and I was struck by the color of the lavender fields, so dark a blue that they were almost black!
This ancient story is quite relevant to today when we have yet again sent a crusading army into the Middle East with our own leaders showing considerable ignorance of Arab and European history. In 1096, the Normans justified their massacre of Jewish communities by saying 'We desire to attack the enemies of the Lord after travelling eastward over great distances of land, while before our very eyes are the Jews, who of all people are the greatest enemies of the Lord'.
How sad that it is still all so familiar 1000 years later! We have not changed very much.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Life and hospital Insurance for 50 years
My father insured ne for hospital insurance when I was 18. Over the last 50 years I have spent some $200,000 for global family hospital insurance and only claimed twice for varicose veins, a dog bite for a daughter and long ago an ectopic pregnancy for my wife. I gave up hospital insurance three years ago and already have saved myself £12,000. There can't be many operations that cost much more than £12,000 so Iam already ahead! Since the children left home 20 years ago I have claimed very little. The same applies for comprehensive car insurance for 40 years. I had one accident in tropical rain in 1965. Now the experts will surely say that statistically I am just lucky amongst all the others. But I can't help wonder whether I might not just be more careful than others - drive carefully, asleep by 11 pm, rather healthy at age 72, and rather fond of iced tea. I begin to suspect that I am statistically atypical and in fact always knew this. I have the horrible feeling that I ought to have put this money into a saving account every year from 1952 for the last 55 years and not insured myself at all.
I also noted that when my mother was ill in England, we never claimed on her hospital insurance ever, but felt it was our duty to have her insured. The NHS always sent an ambulance and refused to be paid! One of my friends recently said to me that the Insurance Companies are very good investments as profits are high! He may be right!
I also noted that when my mother was ill in England, we never claimed on her hospital insurance ever, but felt it was our duty to have her insured. The NHS always sent an ambulance and refused to be paid! One of my friends recently said to me that the Insurance Companies are very good investments as profits are high! He may be right!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Dogs
Perhaps it comes from a childhood spent in the countryside of England, but I have always been fond of animals in spite of the Sunday roast. I am not sure of the argument that animals do not suffer like we do. I suppose it is true that they cannot foresee that they will be on my dinner table in one month's time, but apart from that I think they do feel as much pain as I do! I see that children in the USA and UK are not treated well and I am aware from my own childhood that "Children should be seen and not heard". Our aristocrats sent their sons away to be trained when they were 10 years old over 1000 years of our history. It made Englishmen cold and logical without much emotion. Perhaps children survive better if treated with a certain amount of harshness!
Dogs are a different matter. They need to be looked after. My dog 'Bruno' has been with me since he was born, and I have never had a dog with such a sweet character. He has never growled at me and I expect to him stay with me until I die!
I like the story of the man who has just died and is accompanied by his dog (must have been an accident for both of them) on the road up to heaven. Eventually he gets to a beautiful gate made of gold and studded in precious stones. He is told this is heaven but sorry no dogs are allowed as they would dirty the place. The man refuses to abandon his dog and walks on for many miles. Eventually he comes to a broken down old gate and a muddy track. He stops and asks if dogs are allowed. Of course dogs are allowed. He asks what place this is. It is heaven came the reply. You are welcome to come in with your dog. Then what was the place I passed some time ago all gold and emeralds. Oh, that was hell - no dogs allowed in there! ---- I would hope my dogs will be waiting for me on the other side.
There is also a story in the book by Le Carre "A Perfect Spy" where the spy -master's old dog is too ill to stand. He takes her out to the hill looking over the valley, digs a hole and shoots her quickly. He leaves no stone, but aligns the dog's grave with landmarks so he can greet the old dog whenever he passes. I am a much better person for having a dog to talk to!
Dogs are a different matter. They need to be looked after. My dog 'Bruno' has been with me since he was born, and I have never had a dog with such a sweet character. He has never growled at me and I expect to him stay with me until I die!
I like the story of the man who has just died and is accompanied by his dog (must have been an accident for both of them) on the road up to heaven. Eventually he gets to a beautiful gate made of gold and studded in precious stones. He is told this is heaven but sorry no dogs are allowed as they would dirty the place. The man refuses to abandon his dog and walks on for many miles. Eventually he comes to a broken down old gate and a muddy track. He stops and asks if dogs are allowed. Of course dogs are allowed. He asks what place this is. It is heaven came the reply. You are welcome to come in with your dog. Then what was the place I passed some time ago all gold and emeralds. Oh, that was hell - no dogs allowed in there! ---- I would hope my dogs will be waiting for me on the other side.
There is also a story in the book by Le Carre "A Perfect Spy" where the spy -master's old dog is too ill to stand. He takes her out to the hill looking over the valley, digs a hole and shoots her quickly. He leaves no stone, but aligns the dog's grave with landmarks so he can greet the old dog whenever he passes. I am a much better person for having a dog to talk to!
Sailing ships
In the oil crisis of 1974, many of our senior management thought the end of the world was nigh. One of the interesting ideas talked about at the time was would it not be possible to replace engine driven cargo ships and tankers by sailing ships again. The idea seems to have died away although if the price of bunker fuel rises too far - say if crude oil goes above US$100/200 per barrel -- then it seems to me that wind power might indeed come back and be competitive. The old clipper ships travelling at 16 knots were much more beautiful than anything existing today!
I detect a certain scepticism that could happen, but there may just be too many vested interests in present assets to promote a new sailing ship! The figures seem to be consumption of 150 million tons of bunker fuel per year costing about US$350 per ton and a cargo ship would use 300 tons of fuel per day going at 24 knots but no doubt that needs checking in more detail.
In the old days sailing ships were quite unreliable and could becalmed for weeks on a voyage home from China (with tea). Today however weather forecasts would be very accurate and a sailing ship could look for the best winds. On board computers would plot the course. Although wind would be the power, nevertheless the idea would be to place two small (diesel) engines at the bow and stern for manouevering in port ( and occasionally on a voyage if there was no wind). Finally the new technology for wind vanes (now used for wind mills) might mean that aluminium vertical vanes would replace canvas sails. After a brief discussion of sailing ships in 1974, the whole idea has lapsed. I still believe that sailing ships will come back if oil prices climb too high and one wonders what research is taking place at the moment. The other aspect is of course that pollution from burning bunker fuel is slowly destroying the atmosphere. Any body got any ideas on bringing back the sailing ship?
I detect a certain scepticism that could happen, but there may just be too many vested interests in present assets to promote a new sailing ship! The figures seem to be consumption of 150 million tons of bunker fuel per year costing about US$350 per ton and a cargo ship would use 300 tons of fuel per day going at 24 knots but no doubt that needs checking in more detail.
In the old days sailing ships were quite unreliable and could becalmed for weeks on a voyage home from China (with tea). Today however weather forecasts would be very accurate and a sailing ship could look for the best winds. On board computers would plot the course. Although wind would be the power, nevertheless the idea would be to place two small (diesel) engines at the bow and stern for manouevering in port ( and occasionally on a voyage if there was no wind). Finally the new technology for wind vanes (now used for wind mills) might mean that aluminium vertical vanes would replace canvas sails. After a brief discussion of sailing ships in 1974, the whole idea has lapsed. I still believe that sailing ships will come back if oil prices climb too high and one wonders what research is taking place at the moment. The other aspect is of course that pollution from burning bunker fuel is slowly destroying the atmosphere. Any body got any ideas on bringing back the sailing ship?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Discrimination
I was asked by one of my Asian students the other day whether (as a white Englishman) I discriminate against anyone. History suggests that indeed my ancestors might have done so. I immediately protested that of course I did not, and my joke is that I am not white but pink. However I think on these things and find that I am always making choices between what I see as good and bad. How can I distinguish? I sometimes teach a class on 'culture' where the differences between behaviour and attitudes are mentioned in relation to international business and national ethics. Worse is that I have now come to the conclusion that in spite of 35 years in South America, Middle East and Asia much of my behaviour is the result of living for the first 21 years of my life in England. I see quite clearly that there will be certain ideas and attitudes in me that I cannot change and maybe do not even realise that I have. Most of us are brain-washed as children into ways of thinking which appear absolutely normal until we go somewhere else! I am now much more careful after 35 years of exposure of being too dogmatic about what I am. I may not even know! I like very much the people I have met in traveling for the last 40 years around the world, but try as I will I think I am still recognisably English, even if I am more eccentric, transparent and open than I used to be when I was 21. So why am I saying this?
It is because when I look at President Bush or Prime Minister Blair or The President of the World Bank, I think they are very much representives of the worlds that they come from, and I suspect discriminate against most of the foreign world that they come up against. The reason is that they cannot be other than what they are based on their childhood, education, and fact that they have hardly ever lived overseas. They may protest that they do not discriminate, but their actions belie their words. They cannot help themselves, in the same way that I am not always sure I can help myself, even after 35 years of trying. So much is subconscious. So when nations go to war, I wonder whether this is not an inheritance that the decision makers are not even aware of! Never to have lived anywhere except one's own country suggests there will be an inherent background of prejudice, that they are not even aware of. That makes the world a complex and dangerous place!
It is because when I look at President Bush or Prime Minister Blair or The President of the World Bank, I think they are very much representives of the worlds that they come from, and I suspect discriminate against most of the foreign world that they come up against. The reason is that they cannot be other than what they are based on their childhood, education, and fact that they have hardly ever lived overseas. They may protest that they do not discriminate, but their actions belie their words. They cannot help themselves, in the same way that I am not always sure I can help myself, even after 35 years of trying. So much is subconscious. So when nations go to war, I wonder whether this is not an inheritance that the decision makers are not even aware of! Never to have lived anywhere except one's own country suggests there will be an inherent background of prejudice, that they are not even aware of. That makes the world a complex and dangerous place!
Logging in!
I suppose it is advancing age and ignorance of modern electronics that makes it so difficult for me to log in. I have already changed my password twice and still needed one hour to understand the 'Google' system. I finally identified 'New Post' and got here at last. However I am not completely convinced it is only my stupidity and wonder sometimes whether things cannot be more 'user friendly' at the start. It is possible to write simple English even in the modern world!
I began by registering a password which seemed acceptable! But next there was a request for 'Display Name'! I am still not sure what this was for, but I have written it down in case it is important. Then there was the 'blogtitle' presumably different from the 'display name'. Next there was the problem of 'user name', which might be my name but perhaps something else - the blogtitle? When I went back and entered my e-mail address, I got a reply this was not recognised - yet here I am using it every day!
One does have to be careful about being too cosmopolitan! I have used my 'barlovento' e-mail fo many years, but when I came back into an Anglo-Saxon environment, there were immediate chuckles that my e-mail was made up of "Bar" and "Love". Clearly I was the life and soul of the party! I was horrified, as actually "Barlovento" is a province in Venezuela and there is a song "Barlovento, Barlovento". Silly of me to be so sentimental about my past and not to understnad any more the Anglo-Saxon mentality. Why I am so puritan I just do not know, but travel has also made me quite tolerant most of the time!
I began by registering a password which seemed acceptable! But next there was a request for 'Display Name'! I am still not sure what this was for, but I have written it down in case it is important. Then there was the 'blogtitle' presumably different from the 'display name'. Next there was the problem of 'user name', which might be my name but perhaps something else - the blogtitle? When I went back and entered my e-mail address, I got a reply this was not recognised - yet here I am using it every day!
One does have to be careful about being too cosmopolitan! I have used my 'barlovento' e-mail fo many years, but when I came back into an Anglo-Saxon environment, there were immediate chuckles that my e-mail was made up of "Bar" and "Love". Clearly I was the life and soul of the party! I was horrified, as actually "Barlovento" is a province in Venezuela and there is a song "Barlovento, Barlovento". Silly of me to be so sentimental about my past and not to understnad any more the Anglo-Saxon mentality. Why I am so puritan I just do not know, but travel has also made me quite tolerant most of the time!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Iraq
This is my second blog and I had great difficulty in logging in, and have now changed my password. Not sure what I did wrong, but suddenly the system worked without, I fear, my doing anything!
The news this morning is about the British withdrawing from Iraq - by the end of 2007. It seems a bit premature to announce an event 10 months in the future. I recently spent 17 years in Moslem countries which of course means I am forever banned from contributing to any political debate or solution to the problem, as the British and American governments have experts who know all the answers! I jest!
There is a very considerable nasty taste in the mouth to the average observer trying to absorb the explanations from our politicians on what they are doingin Iraq. Talk about 'headless chickens' running around! My main concern is not that nations should not defend their interests but that they should get it right. The weasel words coming out now would do Machiavelli proud. The British are not 'cutting and running' of course, but one cannot help noticing there is an election in the UK in May. I see the Australians have been invited to put in 20,000 new troops into Iraq in support of their American allies, but in spite of saying 'in no circumstances should anybody interpret the British move as any kind of cut and run', they won't do much more to help. The Americans are in a very difficult position as with fading support from their Anglo-Saxon cousins in Britain and Australia - mainly political - there is no certainty that things in Iraq will not get worse. All that can be done then is declare a victory (as the last American helicopter leaves the Embassy roof) and go home. Unfortunately the history books are not going to be very kind.
I wonder sometimes why governments are so incapable these days! My suspicion is that the world is full of capable people with high levels of education and with years of personal experience overseas who would know what to do in many cases - from Islam to nuclear energy. These people have become disconnected from the system and cannot help. Unfortunately governments with national sovereignty are staffed by politicians who hardly ever live overseas for any length of time. Such people have no experience of a globalised world and one suspects from the expression on their faces (in Saudi Arabia, South Korea or Venezuela) that they often feel quite lost. Would they cut and run from such situations - who would ever dare to say so!
The news this morning is about the British withdrawing from Iraq - by the end of 2007. It seems a bit premature to announce an event 10 months in the future. I recently spent 17 years in Moslem countries which of course means I am forever banned from contributing to any political debate or solution to the problem, as the British and American governments have experts who know all the answers! I jest!
There is a very considerable nasty taste in the mouth to the average observer trying to absorb the explanations from our politicians on what they are doingin Iraq. Talk about 'headless chickens' running around! My main concern is not that nations should not defend their interests but that they should get it right. The weasel words coming out now would do Machiavelli proud. The British are not 'cutting and running' of course, but one cannot help noticing there is an election in the UK in May. I see the Australians have been invited to put in 20,000 new troops into Iraq in support of their American allies, but in spite of saying 'in no circumstances should anybody interpret the British move as any kind of cut and run', they won't do much more to help. The Americans are in a very difficult position as with fading support from their Anglo-Saxon cousins in Britain and Australia - mainly political - there is no certainty that things in Iraq will not get worse. All that can be done then is declare a victory (as the last American helicopter leaves the Embassy roof) and go home. Unfortunately the history books are not going to be very kind.
I wonder sometimes why governments are so incapable these days! My suspicion is that the world is full of capable people with high levels of education and with years of personal experience overseas who would know what to do in many cases - from Islam to nuclear energy. These people have become disconnected from the system and cannot help. Unfortunately governments with national sovereignty are staffed by politicians who hardly ever live overseas for any length of time. Such people have no experience of a globalised world and one suspects from the expression on their faces (in Saudi Arabia, South Korea or Venezuela) that they often feel quite lost. Would they cut and run from such situations - who would ever dare to say so!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Hello, World!
Everyday I write to the newspapers in England or Philippines some commentary or other on what is happening in the world. Quite often my comments get published, but if I leave it a day, I lose the reference and never know whether my writing is accepted or not. Then recently a UK newspaper decided to limit publication of comment to the top 10. This leaves me either rejected entirely or even I might think censored in some way I do not understand. Are comments rejected because they are not liked by the newspaper or just not good enough as a literary offering? Once I remember another UK newspaper seemed to blacklist me and I have never been sure why - although maybe I was rude about a politician - but no ruder than most! Or perhaps I just pushed the wrong computer button! The main worry must be that comments are not published for not being politically correct or someone is censoring comment for reasons not entirely clear. This strikes me as being rather sinister and leaves me feeling helpless. So what to do? Perhaps the best way would be to publish my thoughts every day and not bother to send them to any newspaper any more. At least I will keep track of my own work if nothing else. I guess that is what 'blogging' is, but I stand to be corrected
So here in Manila it is time for a merienda (snack) before I start the day. I am not entirely sure a blog is the right way to proceed but I suppose it depends on what I write and whether anyone is interested or not.
Why 'Wedmore'? Well, that is where King Alfred burnt the cakes and where I drank long ago 'scrumpy' cider. I do think of myself sometimes as a (last) Wessex Englishman in a time when Scotland and Wales will soon be independent. But I have also been overseas for 35 years on and off so I am not sure where I come from any more. So good morning Asian time and hello!
So here in Manila it is time for a merienda (snack) before I start the day. I am not entirely sure a blog is the right way to proceed but I suppose it depends on what I write and whether anyone is interested or not.
Why 'Wedmore'? Well, that is where King Alfred burnt the cakes and where I drank long ago 'scrumpy' cider. I do think of myself sometimes as a (last) Wessex Englishman in a time when Scotland and Wales will soon be independent. But I have also been overseas for 35 years on and off so I am not sure where I come from any more. So good morning Asian time and hello!
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