Election fever, fear and fervour!

Fascinating to be able to watch at close-hand two elections – one in Cambodia and the other in the UK. Now we know that they are very different, so you can't make true comparisons, but they do give rise to interesting and valid observations on electoral processes.

One major distinction is clear. For the ruling party in one country the election was wanted and called, whereas for the other, it is not welcome, at least while there's any risk of losing.

It's a strange world.

Observations to go with the great breast-milk debate

Cambodian Mother and Child from Bunong ethnic minority in Mondulkiri

UNICEF and Child-Care experts united to persuade Cambodian authorities to outlaw poor Cambodian mothers from selling their breastmilk.  The issue has gone global and viral.  See for example this BBC report. Here is my tweet, not well-received by the experts.

Count your blessings!

Cambodian Children singing about Hurricane Katrina in Kampong Chhnang 2009 at a "Disaster Preparedness" Event

Heather George was as adept with her children as she was with her old piano at producing tuneful renditions for morning assemblies at Country School, Saint Helena. I always remember one song and it came to mind thanks to Santil Phin in Cambodia. Count your blessings, one by one. Please tune in to it.

Santil Phin is right.

Cambodia - Dark Clouds Gathering

The Thor of Cambodia politics has gathered his forces ready for the next battle.

Cambodia coffee: grounds for optimism?

Not the opulence of the gold sink - straight from the oil-rich Middle East?

Preface and Update 9 June 2019

Now most in this site is still true but Cambodia and Takhmau being what they are, there are constant changes. So keeping up with them is not easy.  The Coffee Shops seem to be doing OK, with more new shops and kiosks opening than closing. Beer Gardens have fallen from grace. It seems the barbecue/soup more family orientated places are more popular and the beer garden customer is hiding in the karaoke parlours that also seem to be doing well despite problems. Just along the road from there, one of the best fast(ish) restaurants closed a few months ago. This was my usual Sunday Brunch place as it did (does) excellent Asian and Western style food. Today I see it's reopened just off the main arterial road - turn opposite the TOTAL garage by the LHR one and you'll see it on the left.

Inspirations, anniversaries

The humble Salmon - what a remarkable journey it makes with sheer dogged determination to return to where it was hatched, to spawn and die. 
Photographer Mike Smith similarly persisted. It took two years to capture this Northumbrian image at Hexham Bridge.

Inspirations, lasting impressions
Anniversaries

The original blog title included "lasting impressions" but in 2022 I decided to pen a sequel because quite a lot of personal anniversaries are coming up.   Some are most significant - my graduation in 1973 followed by a decade later my departure from UK to live and work abroad. (I talk more about this in a recent blog.) One more is 25 years in Cambodia in January 2023.

Anyway here is the original blog with the sequel added at the end.

.....ooo0oooo.....

Very often people ask me “What keeps you going?”  There is no doubt that work in the “Aid and Development” industry is a struggle and frustrating. Just ask Nate!

Saints – Heed your Pope!

Who am I?

Who am I to judge?”posed Pope Francis in 2015 when asked about gay people.

No-one should be surprised that “full marriage equality” was not achieved straightaway on St Helena.  It has been a struggle everywhere else in the world. (For non-St Helenians, please read Lermarc's all-too familiar story below and the grand finale.)