July 6, 2008
It’s Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final today. For the third time in a row, it’s Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal. Can Roger win the Wimbledon for the 6th time in a row? Or is Rafael going to break Roger’s dominance on grass surface? Oh, I’m feeling nervous now. The final is supposed to start in about an hour’s time. But the weather forecast for today is not good. It was raining quite heavily just now in Reading. In fact there’s a likelihood that the tournament organiser may have to postpone the final to Monday due to the heavy downpour.
Here are some photos I’ve taken when we went to Wimbledon on Day 5 last week. We got Court No 1 tickets through the public ballot. Quite lucky. So for the first time we don’t have to queue to get into the All England Tennis Club. And we get to see women’s current world number 1 Ana Ivanovic and Lleyton Hewitt. But we wished we had the Centre Court tickets instead, as Roger Federer was playing there! Sigh, maybe next year…
Posted in Photography, Tennis 
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June 24, 2008
“Only God will remove me!”, declared Robert Mugabe. It’s sad to see what’s happening in Zimbabwe. What used to be a booming country is now a living hell. Inflation thousands percent, people living on food aid. The people of Zimbabwe want a change in regime, yet Mugabe still want to remain in power. He seems to still cling on to the idea that he has saved Zimbabwe from colonialism, from the British, and that he has given the land back to their own people. But doesn’t he know that he or his government has done an incredibly poor job since then, perhaps more harm than good to his country and his fellow countrymen? In fact I suspect that he has done so much evil that he’s afraid that he’ll face hell once he lost his power.
If there is any chance that there will be a change in regime, it is the African leaders, most of all Thabo Mbeki, who hold the key. Even Mugabe cannot cling to power without their cooperation. Avaaz is launching an emergency campaign, petitioning these leaders to call an immediate summit, isolate Mugabe, and broker a legitimate government for Zimbabwe. The call will be published in big newspaper advertisements in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique this week — click here to see the ads and endorse their message.
Zimbabwe’s neighbours supply its electricity and goods, and control the borders. Many Southern African leaders are already calling for the postponement of the election — but there’s a real danger that they will end up accepting this charade. This would be a grave miscalculation: if Mugabe succeeds in his de facto coup, Zimbabwe’s implosion will accelerate, and chaos could spread throughout the region.
The campaign will publicly name those African leaders who hold Mugabe’s last remaining lifeline. If these leaders step up strongly now, they can convince enough of Mugabe’s officials that change is coming one way or another — and set the stage for Morgan Tsvangirai to lead a unity government to pull Zimbabwe back together. Let’s give the people of Zimbabwe some much needed hope…
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June 21, 2008
I’ve spent the past week commuting to London for a training course. Compared to 10 years ago when I first started living in London, there’s probably 1000% increased in the number of cyclists cycling in London during peak hours. Incredible, considering that London still has the same old narrow roads, with virtually no dedicated cycle lanes. What has improved is probably the traffic load, with the congestion charging scheme having been in place for a number of years now. And of course the public awareness on green issues, and drivers’ attitude to cyclists. I think it does help when some MPs even cycle to work themselves.
For me it’s quite pleasing to see as cyclists somehow seem to be able to enliven up a city, making it a bit more friendly. This is what I like most about European cities. People can get to everywhere without having to always go on a car. Plenty of walkways, cycle lanes, parks, good network of public transport etc. Would people like to see cars in the city? I doubt it. I hope less and less people drive in the city, as then there will be more chance that cycle lanes will be built in this old world city.
Posted in Cycling, Travel No Comments »
June 21, 2008
Two years ago when we were considering which fixed-rate mortgage deal to go for, there was this “financial adviser” recommending us to take a 2-year deal, instead of a 5-year deal that we are interested in. He even showed us a prediction, from Royal Bank of Scotland I believe, on the trend of the interest rate, that it would be heading down. But of course we knew that he has some vested interest in trying to get us to go on the 2-year deal, as then we might be looking for him again in two years time for “advice” when the deal ends, rather than in five years time. Hence more commission for him, you see?
It’s now just over two years into my mortgage. Looking at the news on the current mortgage rate, I’d say we’ll need to shell out 2% more per annum if we were to take out a mortgage now! And that hasn’t even included the higher mortgage arrangement fees borrowers need to pay, and the higher equity they need now to secure good rates!
This so called “financial adviser” makes me laugh. I’m proud not to have listened to him, and my friend is certainly very pleased to have taken my advise rather than his. Perhaps I can call myself financial adviser too 
Posted in Money matters No Comments »
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