Going to the docs

When you go to the doctor here, you also get the drugs included in the cost of the consultations (about 4 pounds). The docs tend to self dispense and you get all the little baggies. Wonderful stuff.


This is the pic after you've taken your drugs.

What a lovely day...

I went to a presentation during the Easter holidays to see a Year 8 student celebrated for his excellent work at the Center (sic) for Talented Youth. It was a fabulous occasion and I’m very glad to have been there. It is run by Johns Hopkins University.

There were about 500 children from the Pacific Rim being awarded and my student was the top achiever for maths.

His SAT score of 770/800 is near perfect, (to put this in context only 4 of the 500 scored over 700). SATs are the US uni entry exam. An 18 year old achieving this score would be admitted to just about any college he chose. My student is 12 years old.

It is very difficult to explain the measure of this giftedness, it goes beyond the profoundly gifted.

I'm glad I went to represent the school. It was so lovely to be so respected for an afternoon. Here is my name tag...


Isn't it fabulous? It is silk too, so I can keep it forever.

Everyone was saying, "Oh your a teacher? How wonderful." I was placed front and centre in the audience and asked to stand at one point for a big round of applause for my fine work!!
What a change from the usual "You teach maths? Why would you want to do that?"

It is too easy sometimes...

This actually takes all the pain out of mozzie bites.
It is too easy to giggle at naming of things here. There are so many.

fulgora candelaria linnaeus

Look what was wondering about last week. It is the "elephant leaf" insect.
Hard to see just how big it is from the image - about 2 inches long.

Very cool caterpillars

I went to check the damage to my tomato plants this morning. I knew they would be battered by the typhoon. What surprised me most was this:
And this:


And this:


This last one is about to pupate. And when it finishes up will look like this...

A Death's Head Hawkmoth - just like the Hannibal Lecter one.

Here is the lifecycle online: Death's Head Hawkmoth The 5 instars are further down the page.

Typhoon Molave

Last night Typhon Molave made land fall directly over Hong Kong.

We've got tree confetti everywhere. Looks like someone emptied a 40 footer of salad over the house. Anyone have a drum of olive oil and vinegar?


Whilst some of us were shaking in our beds, some silly buggers decided to video it:

Video of Typhon Molave

My own room

I have my own teaching room from August. It's very exciting. I have space allocated for pupils' work, but also have a lot of places for little bits and pieces. Though I might add these.

Silly intermission

Every now and again I see a silly pic online.
Sorry that I don't remember where I found this one.

A fine day out

It is the end of the school year, which means many goodbyes as teachers leave for pastures new.
Neighbour and Maths / SEN teacher Tracy and her family were leaving, so a junk party was organised.
A junk is usually an old-fashioned wooden boat with an engine. However ours was a bit posher. Here we are all lounging at the back of the boat. We took a range of booze and snacks with us and at 11.30am the party was in full swing. Here's me (in orange) with my friends.


We didn't take our own monsters that day as they didn't want to go. Heather went to a friend's house for a sleepover and Alexandra did playing on her computer all day.

Back to the day - The boat had an upper deck. We stopped in a cove on the way to the restaurant and people did this:

By "people" I am not including myself. I could have stepped daintily down the ladder of course, but being out of my depth after plentiful beer does not not top out my list of good things to do.


So we went onto lunch - yummy. You can see the back of me in orange, chowing down even when everyone is finished and chatting. Jaspa's restaurant can be reached after a very long hike over the hills, or by this more refined method of boating in. We ordered a mix of foods and shared. BTW there was more beer (funnily enough).


So we wended our way back home via boat - the sun setting over the mountains - pleasantly full and slightly tipsy (more than slightly tipsy in some cases).
And here is the farewell photo:

It sums up Hong Kong in June/ July. Bikinis and Face Masks.
Or if you prefer not to wear the face mask on your face it makes an amusing accessory.
Bye Tracy & Chris we'll miss you loads.

New Warning!!

New warning.
We had a T8 - T9 - T8 last night. It was a scary night as the wind was gusting in a swirly pattern. It kept picking things up and throwing them at the house.
This morning there is a lot of tree debris about but the house and windows are all intact.
As the warnings drop back to T1 and Thunderstorm, I am hibernating!
However I did find a new warning sign to excite me:



LANDSLIP WARNING

Landslip Special Announcement issued by the Hong Kong
Observatory at 3:00 a.m. on 19 July 2009:

The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Landslip Warning.
Keep away from steep slopes or retaining walls.

Motorists should avoid driving in hilly areas or on roads
with landslip warning signs.

Cancel non-essential appointments, stay at home or remain
in a safe shelter.

If you see signs of landslip danger, keep away from the
area and report to the Police.

Temporary shelters provided by District Offices are now
open. If you receive a notice to evacuate because of
landslip danger, or believe that your home is endangered,
you should make immediate arrangements to move to a safe
shelter.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 03:02 HKT ON 19.07.2009