Don't know if you can access UK TV progs in HCMC, my sweet, but you may be able to pick this up on the internet on IPlayer after it's on: prog on BBC1 2moro night (Tues 24/6) @ 10.45pm in the "IMAGINE" series where Alan Yentob visits Japan to interview "reclusive novelist" Haruki Murakami, sure you'll want tro try and catch having read all his books! Last week's prog was Sir Simon Rattle conducting Berlin Phil Orchestra on their Tour of Asia, gr8 shots of Shanghai & HKong, also worth watching! XXX

Can tell you are of a literary bent the way you say things "phase" you (it's faze - different word entirely!). Bn ejoying catching up w yr e-mails & blog now I am home but will be glad when ur text-able again! Bn worrying what Chaz means bout cancer but worked out she means Cancer as in your birth sign (how picky am I!). G'ma abs bowled over by the gorgeous handbag/handmade card & 'phone calls so WELL DONE YOU! She wants to know as soon as you are contactable by text! Missing you lots!

those are both excellent suggestios!!! thanks dad, if its dry we'll do both of thos tomorrow :) if anyone else has any ideas - all suggestions welcome! :) today i had them all singing never smile at a crocodile and by the end they could do it unaccompanied with only a little bit of trouble over 'imagining' (which is hard, be fair!).

Delighted that you're winning with the kids. Get some sports going with the kids - have they heard of three-lgged races, egg & spoon race etc (may have to improvise the egg, but sounds like you've got a spoon (if not being used for soup!).. Arf Arf.

Well dont you look the proper teacher!!

well just count yourself lucky youre cycling on the london roads and not the ho chi minh city roads! I read an an article in the paper today about how 60% of vechicles wouldnt pass an emissions test, and an article about a tourist coach with 40 passengers hitting a motorbike on route 1, something like 17 dead (Im heading out on a tourist coach tomorrow..) and ANOTHER article about all the children in hospital in this city with respiratory diseases cos the pollutions so bad. niice.

you and I never did run the Thames path together did we. Next year - its a definate ok.

I will wait to hear from Kim. When shes ready for me Im hoping Ill be able to take a cheap flight to KL.

nice to hear from you sir, whos turn is it to email? (cant be mine, surely??)

xx

I just ran a 5K and I think I was the same colour as you when you ran.

...and I thought cycling would keep me fit. :(

When will you be heading south to Malasistan?

you havnt paid your fee??? thats 1 million dong, get a cheque in the post - quick! ;) Well what can I say Dad, I learned the ways of a comedian from you.. "theres no arm in that", "dont call me shortly", "this train doesnt stop here on a wednesday". Glad to hear my bad day made SOMEONE laugh!

Brilliant last entry - laughed so much I nearly paid my licence fee.

I agree with Charmayne - you can do it... If your kid sister can cope with a dozen kids of the same age, you should be able to breeze through a pile of mixed age, funny language, disadvantaged, etc etc kids - just go for it, and have some fun..

Babe after reading your last entry i just wanna give you a hug and say it'll get better i promise. Chin up babe one thing you forgot to mention about cancer is that we are resilient too. You can do it hun we all know you can!!!!!

oh no - I never claimed to be a unix expert, I decided not to persue it further when Mark suggested I grow a beard and wear Jesus sandals to fit the type. Plus by chapter 6 I was actually laughing out loud at some of the wisecracks the author was making and people were looking at me funny on the tube - 'who is that dweeb who finds Unix for dummies so hilarious??' - it was time to put the book down.

Mark - didnt get a text. Suspect you sent it to my old number. I have a new international swizzy travelling number, which unfortunately doesnt work in Vietnam. Dont worry about wierdos, Ive worked alongside enough of them in my time for it not to phase me :P

Hows the new role at HSBC was it? I saw the lion statues outside the branch in Hong Kong that the Japanese shot at for target practice. Go figure...

Great to hear that you've arrived in HCMC, but even better to hear that Mark is prepared to dish the dirt - I'm all ears...I was never convinced by the 'I'm a Unix expert, now..' stuff