Ah, even saying the word ‘Olivetti’ out loud fills me with affection and nostalgia. I learned my craft on it. I didn’t need ChatGPT then just as I have never felt the need for an automatic garage door.
Quirky
Filling in time before filling time as we say ‘Hello Hong Kong’
There that didn’t hurt a bit, did it? My dentist in the 1960s, a Dr. Landsberg, used to say that after drilling through my young teeth and practically straight through to the other side of the earth (which from Christchurch would be A Coruña in Galicia, Northwest Spain, which might explain my later predilection for Ribeiro wines).
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Quirky
Years of sorrow become tears of joy
Armed with my trusty Pokefi, I am seldom out of wi-fi contact. Trains, boats and planes, Ubers, it makes no difference. Heck, one day I might even get to post a story on a helicopter or in a submarine (though that would technically make me a sub-editor).
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Quirky
In search of Christmas miracles and festive rituals
‘Mistletoe Moments’ brought me a fortune balm, together with an instruction to prep, moisturise and protect my lips before applying my festive lipstick shade. I am still pondering my preferred colour though I suspect it might be New Zealand Pinot Noir red at lunchtime.
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Travel
I’ve been everywhere, man; I’ve crossed the deserts bare, man
Talking Heads and talking points. Road to Nowhere and Flights to Nowhere. I’ve been everywhere, man and it’s a long journey home. There are some great contenders for a travel retail anthem.
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Travel
Of Irish jigs, Triple Salchows and an end to Hong Kong hotel quarantine
In the face of inevitable and glittering industry acknowledgements Martin, you will always be more famous as the guy that did the Triple Salchow off the hotel bed during lockdown.
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Quirky
Celebrating 20 years as The Muffy Report is born for a day
Matilda’s name (and I’m not making this up) was taken from Australia’s beloved folk song ‘Waltzing Matilda’, a result of her penchant for stepping waltz-like from side to side.
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Quirky
Three RATS and a full moon in Hong Kong
Yesterday as I was packing to go and checking all the quarantine room drawers for my belongings, I noticed the room safe for the first time. If only I had spotted it earlier I may not have stolen my own passport.
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Miscellaneous
Mounting a challenge at Mount Juliet
“It’s not how, it’s how many.” With that well-worn golf phrase and a wry smile did Paraguayan pro Fabrizio Zanotti try to temper my disaffection with another ropey golf shot at the Horizon Irish Open Pro Am at Mount Juliet, County Kilkenny on Wednesday. There I was a guest of Executive Vice Chairman and CEO
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Quirky
So what’s in a (very, very long) name?
Yes, the story veered just a microscopic degree away from being true. Admittedly we are talking a very large microscope. But it was April 1, after all.
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Quirky
Twinkle Twinkle Little Earth – a timely tune from Sestus Omicron 3
“The closing four pages are so cataclysmic and catastrophic as anything I’ve ever done—the harmony bites like nitric acid – the counterpoint grinds like the mills of God.”
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Quirky
From A (Angostura) to Z (Zacapa): Toeing the line in a new kind of Rum Diary
The crack had appeared in the all-important distal phalange, one of 14 phalanges (a posh word for bone, as in ‘I’ve got a phalange to pick with you’ or ‘My favourite red wine is Côte de Phalange’).
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Quirky
Testing times, a Praying Mantis and a countdown to freedom in the Interim Quarantine Bureau
“We’re here for the test,” said a woman in full PPE, who at first sight looked like a giant praying mantis. “So am I,” I replied lamely. “The All Blacks are ahead 16 to 8.”