j a m e s f o r s y t h ✡ n e t

We’ve just returned from an overnight stay in Singapore’s holiday island Sentosa. None of us brought bathers/togs/swimmers/swimming-costumes so we didn’t get wet, except when Asher fell over when he was running around one of those special water installations in which the water spurts out of the ground.

We went to the Underwater World where I found that the Chinese words for “stingray” and “jellyfish” that I’d be using up to now might not be the standard ones - mind you, whether Singaporean Mandarin is an indicator of usage in China itself is another question…. so please, if there are any Chinese readers out there, please tell me the words for these two creatures of the sea. Unfortunately I can’t type in Chinese using this computer.

I’m still without an easy way to post photos on here until we return to Melbourne.

We’re enjoying our time in Singapore visiting my in-laws and showing Asher around. He’s enjoying the roti prata.

This photo is actually from last time we were here, because I forgot to bring the adapter from the digital camera to the computer.

Right now we’re in an internet cafe, here is the only place we can actually easily access the web, so it’s not easy to keep this updated. I’ll try. Anyhow, on our return I’ll put up a few new pictures, not only from Singapore, but from the time just before we left.

This is, from right to left, Willy, Asker, Else and Mum. I’m not in the photo, but I think I was in Denmark with them at the time, only about 3 years old.

The next generation (Ying and I) returned to Denmark in 2001. We watched the Islamic attacks on the World Trade Center (sic) live from Else’s loungeroom.

Hopefully we’ll return to Denmark again sometime soon. We really miss the family, food, and Denmark generally. Most importantly, we want to show Asher.

*** UPDATE My Mum says this photo is from a few more years ago than 33 because of various clues she has picked up from the photo itself (i.e. the Christmas tree etc). More like 35.

We bought these chopsticks at the National Gallery of Victoria shop. Asher got into them straight away. I’ve got other pictures of Asher using real chopsticks quite some time ago, and even a video. I’ll have to see what I can do about posting those too.

Advocate (1 John 2:1)
The Almighty (Revelation 1:8)
Alpha & Omega (Revelation 22:13)
The Amen (Revelation 3:14)
Anchor (Hebrews 6:19)
Author & Finisher of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)
The Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Branch (Isaiah 11:1)
Bread of Life (John 6:35)
Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15)
Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
Carpenter (Mark 6:3)
Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)
Dayspring (Luke 1:78)
The Door (John 10:9)
Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)
Faithful & True Witness (Revelation 3:14)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23)
High Priest (Hebrews 6:20)
Holy One (Mark 1:24)
The I Am (John 8:58)
Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
Immanuel (Matthew 1:23)
Judge (Acts 10:42)
King of the Jews (Mark 15:26)
King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15)
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
Living Water (John 4:10)
Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15)
Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)
Master (Matthew 8:19)
Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
Messiah (Daniel 9:25)
Only Begotten Son (John 3:16)
Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
Prophet (Matthew 21:11)
Redeemer (Job 19:25)
Resurrection & the Life (John 11:25)
The Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)
Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1)
Saviour (John 4:42)
Servant (Matthew 12:18)
Shepherd & Bishop of Souls (1 Peter 2:25)
Shiloh (Genesis 49:10)
Son of Man (Matthew 20:28)
Teacher (John 3:2)
True Vine (John 15:1)
The Way, the Truth, & the Life (John 14:6)
Wonderful Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6)
The Word (John 1:1)

Fry and Laurie on linguistics.

Walter Starbuck, the main character of Jailbird, has much more control over his life than the main characters in some of Vonnegut’s other novels, notably Paul Proteus in Player Piano and Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse 5, among others. Starbuck’s rising and falling doesn’t really get described in graphic detail… never does he really hit rock bottom nor seem to touch the stars (!) at all. The result feels a little flat. Sirens of Titan sees Malachi Constant go to tremendous extremes - which I personally find makes for voyeuristic, quick reading.

As an Australian, and an ignorant one at that, I have to admit to knowing very little about the Watergate scandal at all. Jailbird whetted my appetite to learn more. Perhaps I’ll have to pick up some good non-fiction on the subject for some more in-depth investigating.

I don’t know whether this says more about the book or about myself, but I have just reread this book after several years and found that I remember virtually nothing from the first reading.

About a week ago Ying, Asher and I got together with Kristian, Adrian and Anthony (from left to right).

Unfortunately Sue, Adrian’s wife, didn’t make it into any photos this time. We went to La Porchetta’s in Doncaster. Last time I had dinner with Kristian he was much younger - and really into reading at the time! This time he’s a teenager. He’s polite, easy to get along with and has a great sense of humour.

Renold took me out to our favourite Sichuan restaurant this evening. Pictured are us with our 孜然排骨 and 麻婆豆腐.

It was really special to get together with Renold, as always.

Another picture from Nick’s party. This is Julian, Rose and Nick.

Rose thinks Nick and I look similar. Other people have said that we have the same mannerisms. We’ve spent a lot of time together over the years.