Week 52 End of the Year!

Rotary Engagements since July 1                              339

Not a whole lot to talk about from a Rotary perspective this week – having been confined to our home apart from a few forays out into the outside world.

Having said that, I managed to get a number of things done that needed to get done before the end of the Rotary year.  Disappointment on Wednesday when what I expected to be a routine hospital appointment and replacement of the back slab by a full cast turned into the news that the repair to the inside of the ankle has failed and has to be redone, so it’s back into theatre tomorrow for round 2 and then the six weeks non weight-bearing period starts again.  At least the outside appears to be OK?

So that was one of my outings, another to the Golf Club on Thursday to sort out arrangements for our Rotary club’s handover this coming Wednesday which unfortunately I’ll have to miss – hoping to be out of hospital by then but unlikely to be up to an evening outing.

 

But the big foray of the week was to our District Handover.  Thanks to daughter Jo and son-in-law Alex we were able to make our way over to Oxford and enjoy the evening.  Great entertainment from the Cotswold Voices and some decent speeches from me & our incoming DG Tim Cowling (he says modestly!).

And so, as they say at the end of every HannaBarbera cartoon, for this Rotary year "That's All Folks!)

Week 50/51 Back in the Thick of it and then …… STOP

Rotary Engagements since July 1                              337

And off we went into another helter-skelter week after our return.  Monday at Windsor & Eton to hear incoming President Geoff and his team set out their stall for the coming year in my role as the Assistant Governor for 2014-2015.

Similarly on Tuesday lunchtime with the folks at Ruislip-Northwood, the one club in the District I could comfortably walk to if I wasn’t lazy.  Followed later that day with dinner with the nice people from the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre at their Golf Day evening.  Terrific work being done just round the corner from me with state of the art imaging – awe-inspiring.

And on Wednesday nice to be back with my own club and be treated to Joan acting as our speaker talking about the life and loves (mostly the latter) of Louis XV.

Thursday and another couple of Club Assembly visits – this time to Gerrards Cross & Chalfont St Peter where our club’s close darts rivals treated ,me to their usual level of banter mixed in with a splendid set of plans for the coming year.  Incoming President John took charge in his inimitable way – good to see current President Jeremy back at the club after his stroke.  And in the evening to Slough where incoming President Mary & her team set out their plans.

Friday managed my first full 18 holes since returning from four weeks away from the course – saw enough good stuff to be encouraged about the summer.  And on in the afternoon to meet DGE Tim & Linda at the Oxford Hotel to finish off the details of the arrangements for our Handover dinner on Saturday 28^th.

 

And then to Saturday – which turned out to be the day that changed the summer (for us at least).  Every couple of years the community of Ickenham run the Ickenham Festival – historically in the grounds of Swakeleys House but this year in the grounds of Vyners School, permission to use the previous venue being withdrawn a week before the event.  So many congratulations to the organisers for managing to make the change so quickly and efficiently.  Mind you, as we got ready for the off the heavens opened and we felt it was not going to be a good day.  We, in this context being our own Rotary Club, whose stall provided the culmination of ticket sales for our “Meal for Two” draw, which took place that afternoon and , as a piece of fun we ran a welly-throwing competition.  Competition was fierce, with one particular competitor having a penchant for throwing long distances, not always accurately, but which culminated with a welly being thrown into a tree.  As chief retriever I (of course) set out to retrieve the welly, which culminated in my falling awkwardly with my right ankle under me and hearing it break in the process.  It didn’t look too good – bone pointing one way and foot the other but I managed to straighten that out and sat out the wait for the ambulance, which took an hour and 40 minutes.  Must say this was NOT down to inefficiency of the ambulance service but pure priority – there were others whose need was greater, like the heart attack victim.  

 

The poor ambulance guys had come all the way from St Georges in Tooting (about 50 mins journey) but fortunately took me closer, to Hillingdon Hospital where I was treated with speed and (as far as I can tell so far) great skill.  Less than 2 hours after arrival at around 6:30 p.m. I was in a ward and at 9:00 on Sunday was reviewed by an orthopaedic surgeon who told me about the op I needed and proposed to do it that morning, which he duly did.   

By mid-afternoon I was back to (a different) ward and on my way to recovery, apart from needing not to put any weight on my ankle for the next 6 weeks!  Discharged on Monday back to home, which was a great result – nasty places to be, hospitals. 

Apart from a bit of an infection towards the end of the week that made my temperature shoot up and down like a yo-yo I now seem to be “onwards & upwards).  More notes next week.

Week 50 delayed due to unforeseen circumstances!

With apologies my update for week 50 is delayed due to having broken my ankle on Saturday!  Back soon!

Week 49 Rotary International Convention & Singapore

Rotary Engagements since July 1                              329

Rotary International Conventions, like all conferences have their goo d sessions and their bad sessions – and that perception will be different for each attendee.  I know there was those for whom the opening plenary session missed the mark; for me it hit the spot.  And I’ve no doubt that there will be plenty of people for whom Monday’s plenary session was just what they were looking for.  Sadly I wasn’t one of them.  Professor Jack Sim, aka “Mr Toilet” started well, with his very clear message on the importance of sanitation, in addition to clean water, and ways of putting local entrepreneurs at the heart of the solution.  However his wider message, on something called the BOP hub was completely lost on me and diluted the impact of the early part of his impact.  Similarly Professor Martin Silink, taking us through his efforts to raise the profile of diabetes was no doubt very worthy but I didn’t see how we could use his message.  Tommy Spaulding had a good story to tell in terms of what Rotary had done for him that would have been much more powerful  had he been able to show what he was now doing to repay Rotary.  Australian cricketer Brett Lee had a good story to tell about his work helping children in India through music but I’m afraid didn’t quite hit the mark either.

For our first breakout session we went to see Michael Angelo Caruso, who is a professional speaker on the subject of “Better Speakers & Better Speaking”.  Michael is everything a Rotarian should be – proud of his Rotary, outspoken for his Rotary and a brilliant communicator on his subject – go check out his videos on Youtube – he has great stuff we can all use and subscribe to his Twitter feed – always good value (note to organisers, when you have a great social media communicator as a speaker, don’t put them in a building with no wi-fi!!!).  Michael made some great points:

·         all our recruits will hear our speakers before they join, so what will they think if the speakers are terrible?;

·         if we can get great speakers to talk to us, we can make it worthwhile for them as well as our members;

·         get more female speakers – if we want to attract more female members, give them something they want to hear

·         ditto younger people!

·         encourage social media use during speakers

Michael finished up featuring a great group of Rotarians in the audienec with a picture title of "It ain't your Grandpa's Rotary any more"!

 

Monday evening – a treat – in the company of a sold out group of Rotarians for a concert at the Sydney Opera House.  An unfamiliar programme to me (no surprise there, classical music isn’t really my scene) but played superbly by what might have been described as the second division of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (and Sinfonia) but as ever when you give a group of talented young musicians their chance under a young conductor they rise to the occasion.  Fabulous atmosphere, a real treat in a special venue. 

 

Tuesday morning was essentially Foundation morning – sometimes this can be the dull part of any conference.  But far from it – great line-up of speakers, all of them relevant and to the point.  Often we forget to celebrate our achievements but Foundation Chair DK Lee reminded us that all of SE Asia is now polio-free with India celebrating three years in January.  This year’s recipient of our Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award, Maja Ajmera is a real bundle of energy – since her Scholarship in 1989 she has worked tirelessly to support small-scale projects in developing countries building better lives for Children through her Global Fund for children – a deserved winner.   

Mwila Chigaga, a “Senior Regional Gender Specialist” for the International Labour Organisation is passionate about the need for her continent to promote the role of women and very pointedly reminded us that women are at the core of every aspect of Rotary’s six Areas of Focus for our grant projects.  Polio survivor and Paralympian Ade Adepitan wowed the arena with his story of determination and achievement in the face of the most adverse start in life.  And finally for the day, as ever, Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General was inspirational in reminding us why Rotarians need to keep going until we have finished the job of eradicating polio from the world.

Tuesday afternoon we took the afternoon off from Rotary and went to explore my past – or more correctly the past of my great, great, great, great grandfather, Richard Read, who found himself in Sydney in the late 1700’s.  Taken there following his conviction for being in possession of forged currency (£5 notes) he established himself as the colony’s first portrait artist, making a name painting the notables of the day, including Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his family.  Many of his works are held by the State Library of New South Wales and it was there we spent the afternoon with his works, thanks to Head of Pictures, Louise Anemaat and the staff of the Mitchell Library, to whom we are very grateful for a splendid close-up of works of 200 years ago – very special stuff.

Wednesday morning and a mixed bag at the Convention – promotion for next year’s event in Sao Paolo, introduction of Ravi Ravindran, RI President 2015-2016, and some interesting perspectives from our General Secretary, John Hewko.  As well as updating us on the progress on funding the Polio End-Game – more than $5 billion of the $5.5 billion required has now been raised or pledged – he had some direct words for those of us who wish to see Rotary make progress, saying “Rotary’s long-term survival depends on our ability to open the door and let in a breath of fresh air” – words we need to reinforce to all those who would keep Rotary as it has always been.  

His words were brought into clear focus by Ramkumar Raju, from India, whose Rotaract District has recruited 2,500 new members this past year and Ronald Kawadda, from Uganda who at 33 is considered an elder in a country where 70% of the population is under 30.  Food for thought!!  Our breakout was a well-led session on the use of Social Media, particularly on the use of Facebook & Twitter by clubs and by members.  Coming on the back of the session on bringing in younger people we have to embrace the communication methods that will speak to them.   

Also had the opportunity to meet up Karen Tamayo, DG of District 3180 in Manila, Philippines – Karen’s District really entered into the spirit of our Pounds for Polio initiative earlier in this year and District 3810 was the District with the highest percentage of individual Rotarians contributing to the initiative.  Given that Rotary’s Polio eradication initiative started in the Philippines it seemed particularly fitting that 3810 should respond so positively!

And so that pretty much wraps up the Convention – the closing session featured this year’s President Ron Burton handing over to his successor Gary Huang and linking this year’s Rotary theme and next year’s.  Closing entertainment from the Ten Tenors and Marina Prior and then back to the city for dinner with our successors, our District Governor-Elect Tim Cowling and Linda at the top of the Sydney Tower with the city stretching out5 below us – a great end to a great event!

Thursday saw us spend most of the day travelling before arriving in the late evening in Singapore.  Singapore is a city I visited once on a business trip and as usual saw nothing but put on the list to return to at some point.  So Friday & Saturday we did the tourist bit – getting our bearings on the open-top bus tour – always a good way to get to know a city, but not necessarily a great idea when the heavens open, which they did towards the end of our tour.  Stopped off in Little India, and also for a trip on the Singapore Flyer, billed as the world’s highest observation wheel, at 30 metres taller than the London Eye.   

Singapore Slings in the Long Bar and dinner in the Tiffin Room of Raffles Hotel competed Day One, followed by Chinatown on Day Two.  Bit of a whistle-stop but a great taster for a throbbing city which leaves you

wondering how it supports such a vast number of endless shopping malls with high-end stores – clearly lots of money here or passing through.

And Sunday back to the UK, via Dubai.  Round the world in 25 days – 9 flights on 6 airlines in 8 different aircraft types and no luggage lost (although it is a little heavier than when we left – we wait to see whether the same applies to me!)  Quite a trip.  Oh, and the temperature difference between  the warmest place we went to and the coldest – 45 degrees, and that’s Celcius, or 81 degrees Fahrenheit, from -3 (27) in Queenstown to 42 (108) in Dubai.  All of the countries we visited have English as an official language and four of them, in which we spent 80% of our time, drive on the left.  That’s probably enough mind-numbing statistics!

Week 48 Spectacular New Zealand and on to Oz for the Rotary Convention

Rotary Engagements since July 1                              321

Suspect this week is definitely the week that has had the least Rotary in it since Christmas – certainly no face to face Rotary this week, although I did chat to the Secretary of RC Hokitika – we’d normally have gone there on Monday evening but they weren’t meeting this week.

Compared with the storms of Sunday, Monday was gorgeous and we anticipated good news in the scenic flight front.  A series of calls with our pilot Ben during the day, however, showed naggingly persistent cloud over Mount Cook and the glaciers and definitely made flying down to Milford Sound a non-starter.   

 

So we made other plans to take advantage of the beautifully sunny weather – setting off to the previously buzzing gold town of Ross – a centre for gold exploration during the early twentieth century and “enjoying” a revival in the 90’s – now though it’s a very small town, the school boasts around 25 children and just two teachers.  Later we went across the pastures up to the Hokitika Gorge, through which the river flows and brings glacial minerals down to earth as it were!

 

Hokitika isn’t blessed with vast numbers of evening eating places – most of the eating establishments do their trade for breakfast and lunch – but Fat Pipi’s pizzas are pretty special (Fat Pipi is the name of a boat NOT a person).  Some unusual and tasty combinations of toppings here.

With the weather forecast not in our favour, Tuesday was thus going to be our last opportunity to take to the skies and the cloud overhead when we woke did not bode well.  However, to our surprise pilot Ben cheered us with the news that the skies were clear over our destination and we were going up.   

So with fellow passengers Bill from San Francisco and AC (Anne-Cecile) from Paris we took off in pretty cool temperatures to be blessed by cloudless views of the newly snow-covered spectacular Southern Alps, the glacial rivers, the cattle and sheep stations, the glaciers, the mountains, the glacial lakes and the simply breathtaking scenery.   

We flew for approaching an hour and a half and every second was a revelation – simply stunning – otherworldly – prehistoric almost, unreal.  (Actually words are not enough to describe the beauty of what we saw, so here’s some pictures).

In the afternoon we went up past Greymouth to see the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Panakaiku – seriously impressive stack rock formations (a little like on the West Coast of Scotland).  The coastal drive up to Panakaiku is renowned for its natural beauty and it lives up to its billing.

While we were having storms on Sunday and the mountains were collecting their first snowfalls of the winter, the South of the South Island collected some pretty impressive snowfalls and caused a fair number of roads to be closed.  So Wednesday we decided that getting to our next jumping off point for our flight to Sydney (Queenstown) as soon as possible would probably be a wise move.  That meant a 500 kilometre (300 mile drive), which, with UK motorways would not be an issue – longish way but not a problem.  However New Zealand roads are not motorways – single track all the way, maximum 100k speed limit, with most bridges being single alternate line (with no traffic lights!). 

However, being late autumn there wasn’t a lot of traffic – in fact we doubt we saw more than 100 other vehicles in the first 300 kilometres and maintained pretty close to the maximum speed all the way.  A mandatory stop at Diana Falls on the Haast pass for rockfall work slowed us down a little.  Cup of tea in Wanaka very welcome – Wanaka felt like a return to civilisation in a way – the first bigger town we’d seen, lovely setting also.  

 

And finally over the Crown Range pass – reopened that day after snow clearance – another spectacular drive and drop down into Queenstown where we lit upon our home for three nights, Pounamu Apartments.  Set on a bend on the Frankton road into the town it looks out over just a stunning vista of lakes and mountains.

So we enjoyed a really relaxing couple of days just pootling around Queenstown – little bits of shopping, bits of eating – taking of which – best meal in New Zealand at Sasso’s in Queenstown – billed as an Italian but with a really imaginative chef who does a treat of a 3 course chef’s selection – foo to live for!  We decided against the more extreme adventure options available in Queenstown – sorry to disappoint but our bungee jumping days are in the past!  We opted to settle for the natural beauty of the scenery around the town – it’s just stunning.  To be fair, on our first day much of it was invisible through the driving rain and low cloud (!) but Friday and Saturday were stunning days, bright but cold, oh, yes readers, our first frost of the summer, no wait, winter, well, whatever, we woke on Saturday to minus 3 – distinctly chilly!

And so to what is yet another highlight of our round the world extravaganza – Sydney.  Splendid service from Qantas getting us in a full half hour early (why are ground crew never ready for this eventuality – is it that it’s so rare?).  Great to meet up with successor Tim & Linda and catch up on some of the things that we’ve missed by being away.

Sunday 1^st June – Convention Day 1

There are few things more heart-warming in Rotary than the sights and sounds of Rotrainas from around the globe gathering together to excitedly exchange ideas on how to make our great organisation work better.  Sydney is a log way for most Rotarians and the distance has deterred a goodly number.  However, what is long way for some means that others have the opportunity to attend a global event on their doorstep and the Aussies and Kiwis are certainly taking that opportunity in huge numbers.  They reckon there’s about 18,000 of us here this week, which is hardly a bad turnout.  From the efficiency of the registration process to the enthusiasm of the exhibitors in an enormous House of Friendship featuring Rotary projects and commercial vendors, supported by free transport courtesy of the government of New South Wales it’s clear that our hosts have been determined that everything should run well.

 

Opening sessions at Rotary conventions can be a mixed bag.  Paying homage to the origins of life in this vast continent we were treated to a delight of public school native dancers accompanied by traditional native music. 

Recent elections in Australia have changed the post-holders – New South Wales Premier Mike Baird confessed to having been in post for only six weeks, as has Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who found his warm welcome refreshingly appreciative, the more so when he announced an Australian government contribution of $100 million to the campaign to End Polio.  

 

Australian origin Las Vegas cabaret band Human Nature gave us a fantastic Motown show, which was frankly brilliant for those of us who were children of the sixties.

International President Ron Burton reminded us of the need to make sure that Rotary is fit for the future, by regenerating our clubs and capitalising on our investment in young people – if we don’t we will have no one to blame but ourselves – wise words and definitely ones to ponder on.

Sunday evening and a great pleasure for Joan & I to play host with Tim & Linda to those intrepid travellers from District 1090 who made the long trip down to Sydney.  24 of us met for a very convivial evening of food, drink & fellowship including a couple of guests – nice ot see GSE team leader Chris Roach & her husband Adrian again – great way to round off a great day!  Thanks to the Lord Nelson Brewery for accommodating us!  (And apologies to Karen & Richie, Terry & Avril who arrived just after we had the pictures taken).