Bike porn

Sometimes, other words just don't fit; Sabliere's 1990s time trial bike.

The mighty, the wonderful, the forever excellent and rightfully looked up to Harrow International School

I'm afraid it's more football photos.  Ev did not have a game (but did have a party at Luca's house).

Aiden on the other hand, played at the truly wonderful (yes, the forever excellent and rightfully looked up to) Harrow International School; wonderful because having paid all that money for the name, they waste no time in assuming their rightful place at the top of the social pile (as it happens, looking very much down on all that goes on far below).

Leaders in largess, followers in manners

So for example, here at Harrow, we like to make our less well heeled guests stand outside the gate and wait, unneccessarily (in the road, the entire other side of which is a building site). Never mind that they were told to arrive at 9am (and did so) for a 9.30 kickoff - because ... WE THE MIGHTY HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL are only opening the gate at 9.25am.

Yes indeed, ladies and gentlemen, as is proper, the proletariat should learn their place by being kept waiting until they are called.

To make the point, we ensure that there are people standing right at the gate, inside, telling the proletariat that they can only come in at 9.25, so they actually get the full message. (look, there we are in the white shirt in the centre of the picture).  Otherwise they might just think that we were, oh I don't know ... running late or some such, and not get the point!  So yes, unfortunately, that is what you must do with the proletariat - you must remind them at every given opportunity of the differences between them and us.

We also have the very best words to go with the name ... Leadership for a better world ... and ensure these are visible for people to see.  Of course the better world is really our better past - you know the one where we sat on our horses right at the back and sent the cheeky unwashed devils off over the top; that better world.

Not the sort of reception that you want after getting up early and driving an hour to get there.  Just because I can, I will be giving the headmaster a little call to tell him how much I admire their whole approach to cohabitation with the other people of Hong Kong.  It's important that he gets congratulated, so that he does not soften into some kind of pinko, or falter further down the road.  I only wish the fees (at today's rates R571 299.44 per year) weren't so high, because then I might be able to send Aiden and Evan off there.  Alas, alas.

Good eyes, looking up, seeing the space...

... power and pace, fit, fast, running hard...

Aiden's team won 1-0.  It should have been more, but all credit to the opposition keeper who was excellent.

The Darkness in Paris

I called Jacques to offer my condolences for the travails his home city Paris experienced over the weekend.  He sent me this comment from the letter pages of the New York Times, which I thought were lovely and likely quite true:

France embodies everything religious zealots everywhere hate: enjoyment of life here on earth in a myriad little ways: a fragrant cup of coffee and buttery croissant in the morning, beautiful women in short dresses smiling freely on the street, the smell of warm bread, a bottle of wine shared with friends, a dab of perfume, children playing in the Luxembourg Gardens, the right not to believe in any god, not to worry about calories, to flirt and smoke and enjoy sex outside of marriage, to take vacations, to read any book you want, to go to school for free, to play, to laugh, to argue, to make fun of prelates and politicians alike, to leave worrying about the afterlife to the dead.

No country does life on earth better than the French.

Paris, we love you. We cry for you. You are mourning tonight, and we with you. We know you will laugh again, and sing again, and make love, and heal, because loving life is your essence. The forces of darkness will ebb. They will lose. They always do. 

Aiden loving football

It's debatable who likes it more - they both are heeltemal soccerbefok - Aiden is simply loving it completely.  This past Saturday his APSS played against a Japanese team and beat them soundly.

Through-ball from Gary, Aiden powers into the box (and goes on to score, below).  Plays centre midfield; seems to have a good understanding of how the game flows, is coached well and frequently (as part of this team, he now plays or practices three days a week) runs and plays into space really well, can dribble, but thankfully gets that it is absolutely a game of passing.

Goal - I was terribly impressed - he's further out than the zoom makes him appear - and this had a whole lot of curve on it and was motoring, keeper (who was more mobile than he appears - started off going the wrong side of the swerve - so didn't stand a chance).

Ange was saying how he is getting much fitter because he plays so much (along with rugby and swimming) - and it shows on the field.

in the past he would not have taken on a 50/50 ball with much conviction, now he gets the value of hard work, the big push and stretch, and will compete and win balls that others would have assumed were theirs.  Love the little look of determination on his face above.

Holly's new home

Holly has fully adopted us - and very much part of everything that she can possibly be.  Personality-wise, very social cat, likes to hang out with people, but very much on her own terms (is having a nice sleep on the desk here as I type, right next to the keyboard).  As cats go, pretty greedy, hyper-inquisitive, and very keen on hunting.  Anything.  If she lived in my parents old house in Pretoria she would have been a four birds a day cat (and consequently highly unpopular).

6am get-up for Aiden's football match on Saturday morning.  Very cool now, must have a bit of media with your breakfast cereal when no one else is around... the cat watches hopefully, thinking of its gut - one of its organising themes.  Still, much less greedy or food enslaved than a dog.  Dogs have a definite weakness in that regard.

This is from a couple of weeks ago.  Noticed that she was getting into helping Ev with a bit of homework.

Messi shows his true affections.  Giving a sleeping Holly a nice cuddle and tummy rub; supernice soft fur to bury your face in.

Sunday morning a while back, helping Ange unpack the dishwasher.  

Taken from outside - Aiden who's supposed to be showering, getting sidetracked by a little cuddle opportunity upstairs on our bed.

Other days, sort of recently

At the moment the BIG thing - the thing that you cannot not discuss - is football.  If you call it soccer, a long and annoying conversation ensues.  The brothers (and Evan's friend Max) are purists, and have in common that their sole career plan is the very simple one of "be one of the people playing in the british premier league".  Duh.  This is such a good example of parents having like wtf no idea - wanting one to learn times-tables or how to write.  This is why you are suffering; doing an office job when you should have just played in the premier league.

In the team coach - just check how luxurious it is, now that we are british premier league okes

Aiden blazes down the wing - goalie in the top corner getting itchy feet - the mom on the side bag is .... wtf?!? ... not realising that she is pitch-side BPL!?!?!! .... moms are soooo clueless.  

In between the stadia and the crowds, I managed to slip away fishing with Simon and Jordan and Courtney a couple of times - the summer hung on forever with its heavy-heat humidity - even the sea a lazy sweaty green.

Doosie (should be the SA word for the selfie) but nice because Sheung Sze Wan is in the background.

First match in his new team



The best part of the story below, is Evan's account of it, written as part of his homework (in which he had to provide an account of something that he'd done that was out of the ordinary for him; all of what follows is true - needless to say it was a less than perfect night's sleep for all).  Here it is:

On Saturday I had a football tournament I was very nervous. That morning I woke up at 5 am and vomited then I got even more nervous. When I got there I had no idea where to go then I saw my coach. I did not know anyone but I saw a Dylan who I knew who is in another school. When we did training I met one person called Aiden. We were not friends at the start but we became friends. Just before we played we did a 5 minute warm up. I played Goalkeeper. In Goalkeeper training there was one other person called Sebastian he was my first friend in squad he was kind.

 

When the games began we played football club team 1. Aiden said they were one of the best teams, we tied with them 0-0. Our last game was the bowl final the score was 1-0 to us we won the bowl.

Looking so cool in his purple kit (and, as he'd point out, matching gloves and boots)

Shot coming in ... there was action a-plenty and he did so well - pulled off some killer saves (parents suffering from the anxiety of having a kid who is sort of solo and last line of defense - can't watch half the time).  Love this pic, shows the weirdness of the Hong Kong setting, and delightfully, Aiden who came to watch, behind the net in support.

Close-up action from behind the net, another shot coming in.

Collecting the silverware afterwards - always a nice way to end (but even more delightfully, while being hyper-competitive, afterwards it does not seem a massive issue for him, appears to enjoy himself thoroughly irrespective; the delight of intrinsic reward).

Midweek Mils beach for a braai