Biarritz Musee Asiatica

Each time I visit Biarritz I meet the people who manage this splendid
Musee Asiatica for M Michel Postel
the founder owner and Director
each time there is another treasure from his travels to look at
this is part of one Gallery
near to the entrance

lunch at The White House

I like this sculptured head which sits on the
paved courtyard in front of The White House
where we had an excellent lunch in the sunshine
This is on the opposite side of the road to
The Victoria Surf apartments where I stay ...which face onto The Grande Plage
the beautiful beach of Biarritz
which is often home to many surfers reminding me of
Fistral and Watergate Bay beaches of Cornwall
where I have also stayed

Biarritz Bay..a favourite view

From the pathway into town one sees many aspects of this
picturesque resort............. famous for centuries..............
as a place of Emperor Napoleon
and Empress Eugenie

The Royalty

Coffee with friends near to Place Clemenceau with its waving trees ..a delightful place to
enjoy the summer breezes from the Atlantic.....which is the real delight of ~Biarritz..
Le Royalty offers a pleasant place to talk ..listen ....debate ..and enjoy this
beautifully elegant town..............

Saint Charles Square

The small village within Biarritz , Saint Charles is a quiet retreat from the elegant esplanade..
a place of narrow streets ..small shops..local produce..quite delightful... and here in the Square
one can sit peacefully and while away the day among the local people
who show little interest in the sophisticated town which is a few minutes walk away

La Concha at Anglet

Just along the coast Anglet ..with its famous fish restaurant....La Concha
surprisingly at the rear..and seen through a large glass screen...
an ice skating rink...not at all what I might have expected..however from the number
of people there during our lunch, it is obviously popular..I simply enjoyed an excellent lunch..

Les Collonnes

My favourite place for coffee
with a fine view of Biarritz Bay
with the owner
one of the two brothers Alain, and his brother Jean Michel who host this splendid restaurant
I liked catching the early morning flight
so that I can arrive for morning coffee outside under the umbrellas
and simply watch the people passing

In the evening the restaurant has a nice atmosphere ...........and excellent food................

Biarritz Le petit train

The view from my balcony the little train which circles the town
crosses the street on its way to the waterfront
Just for the experience I went for a train tour last time
that I was here..and did see a few sights which
I had not noticed previously

Indonesia Embassy meeting

In May at the Embassy we discussed the types of visitors
who go to Indonesia and who influence its future, its trade, horticulture,
banking, tourism...all the many aspects of a country's development
as it seeks a better environment for its people
further education, and enhanced international contacts.
As a Member of the G20, Indonesia has an important role to play
which reflects its status, and also places responsibilities on it
as other Members of G20 have,
to go to the Conference table, not only considering its own
future and prosperity
but that of the wider world which it can now influence
and affect

Whilst Indonesia is still a developing country
I think that it has the potential for much greater things,
it has an opportunity now to develop its democracy and become an

influencing factor on those countries who may seek democracy..but do not yet have it ..as a working environment
Indonesia as a developing country is, in many ways, easier for other less developed countries to relate
to ..and so it has a great responsibility ..as it is easier for the other countries to seek contacts, knowledge and relationships,
it is often difficult for those in a less developed nation to understand how the centuries old democracies can work..often
very little is written down..and if it is..it can be couched in complicated language
The language of a nation which has similar problems to that of Indonesia can better relate to it ..maybe it can even help it
in its own struggle...
for that it what it is..to educate, feed, house, set up farming, businesses, banks and all the systems and infrastructure which it
needs ....
I know that my own support for these vital, serious efforts are welcomed, and hope that those with whom I have discussed this
vast nation will be able also to contribute to its future ..which can sometimes be made so difficult by the violent weather conditions
which it experiences................like other nations in the region

Helsinki and Nordics briefing

I went to Coventry in May to hear people from overseas British
Embassies in Scandinavia speak to UK business people
about visiting these countries for business
development
I was curious, as I spent 5 years visiting those countries, almost every month
This is my Helsinki .... a city I like very much where
I was also involved with negotiations with Russia
and invited at the time to visit
The market was very near to our hotel and our Agent had his offices
in the same building overlooking the water I enjoyed this morning
break when we stopped... to take my photograph

Tourism Dinner of Malaysia

As the Governments of Malaysia and New Zealand were my Clients
it also seems to be quite appropriate to have the kite
of my former Client Malaysia Airlines in the back ground of this photograph of
myself and Soo Min
at the Tourism Minister's Dinner in London

Victoria at Ng's dinner

It was a very pleasant affair
with a wide cross section of guests
Eddi sat next to me
owner of Awana Malaysia restaurant..Mustapha Director of the
Malaysia Government restaurant Jom Makan in Pall Mall
was there ..the man who designs landscapes to beautify Frazer Hill
and many others........
some I have met previously
welcomed the new Tourism Minister to her first English event

At Ng Yen Yen's dinner

SK Lingam President of UK- ASEAN Business Council and I meet often..........
he came to my Malaysia Dinner at the Civil Service Club at which
Sir Patrick spoke....just an informal moment ........during the evening

Ng Yen Yen's dinner

Soo Min and I had many photographs taken
at the Dinner
to remind us both of this meeting........
after so many years
during dinner we sat with her husband
and Trevor Kreuger joined us
for this ..for both of us..
a very pleasant evening recorded
for us

It seeemed to me that very few years
had elapsed
since we had been such close friends
in Malaysia

The Malaysia Minister of Tourism Dinner

Just as I returned from new York
I was invited to Ng Yen Yen's Dinner
with her was Dt Victor Wee Chairman of Tourism who I already knew
Jimmy Choo,
then a surprise Soo Min Yeoh who I have known since early 80's when she and I..
also her brother Dt Francis Yeoh and I went out together in Kuala Lumpur
Soo Min often came to my suite at the Hilton in the evening and later
she came to my Seminar Corporate Image of Malaysia
at Club Mediterranee Cherating
with a mutual friend Dt Zainal Abidin
It was a special treat..a surprise for us both as we sat at adjoining tables
Jimmy came again, as he did when I first met him, like myself to support the
Malaysia Cabinet Minister's event
which was as is usual a great delight and success

Sunday morning

During my Sunday morning stroll I stopped for coffee
in the Bonhams Atrium
I knew that on my last day when I was dues to meet for breakfast with the Director
I would not have time to look at all that I wanted to see..........
so I had this preview
of this elegant home of arts ,antiques and very occasionally, special cars

which I am told are exhibited in the Atrium at the rear on the 5th Avenue side of the building..it would be fun to
see specialised cars in those surroundings..........................I enjoyed every minute of my 2 visits to Bonhams

Bonhams New York

The elegant entrance of Bonhams leads to a number of levels...........
exhibition and display areas conference centre private meeting rooms galleries ...a delightful building which shows the treasures there
so well...........................................

Bonhams Madison Avenue New York

The last day of my visit
I had a breakfast meeting with the Director of Bonhams the Company
which reccommends my Talks and Exhibitions

We met at the beautiful building which connects with an atrium to the Trump building on 5th Avenue

The Bonhams building, designed originally as a Museum, is striking in its simplicity and every aspect I found pleasing..........the large glazed areas are light and perfect to show the arts and antiques which Bonhams
feature and in whch it specialises

At that time a window featured Tiffany and I could not resist having my photograph
with these elegant lamps
I go to Tiffanys in New York to see their old and new designs..only to find on my first visit that my own pieces made for me, in

The Jewellery Quarter Birmingham
were much admired ..my Art College provided the training for that specialisation

There is an excellent Conference Centre with a nearby Gallery..

I would be delighted to give a Talk and Exhibit

my own drawings, paintings, photography and books which have been Exhibited in many parts of the world by The British Council..in The Photographer's Gallery

High Commissions, Embassies and other venues

Harvard Club

New York having stayed previously at The University Club
this time I moved along 5th Avenue to The Harvard Club
which in many ways prefer..it smaller but its Hall where one can sit for morning coffee
read the Wall Street Journal and instead of reading NewYork Times online as I do every dayI can scroll my way
through the bulky paper
The Harvard Club appears to live in its own
world as I found when I live in Oxford and spoke there at The University Club
It is a world which I like.. one week I met John Byrne Cooke son of Alistair, also well known in
England for his 'Letter from America' spoken each week on the BBC...another week a man based in the Gulf
who had very different experiences from my own visits to that part of the world
I love New York...I even bought a Tee shirt..not for me
and never tire of walking the length of 5th Avenue going off to Madison Avenue to The Pierre, Saint Regis
and the old Plaza has changed, but much else remains the same........
hope to return soon

New York at the Rockefeller Club

One of the real joys for me in New York
is to meet my dear friend the former International President of the Pacific Basin Economic Council
former Managing Director Morgan Stanley..now Advisor Director Morgan Stanley
we met first when he Chaired the Pacific Basin Economic Council meeting in Auckland NZ
My book MALAYSIA TERIMA KASIH had been the Official book for PATA
and a few weeks later it was the Official book for PBEC
My visits to New York are never complete without our meetings
he has an extraordinarily wide ranging background
and I enjoy his grasp of events and the way in which his
experience is, in its worldwide context, in some ways, similar to my own
and so we always have very much to talk about
This time we met for the 2nd meeting at The Rockefeller Club where he
had made sure that my seat faced exactly down the Central Park
which he knows that I love to look at
At lunch we met other Board Members, and Bankers
and for me, Frederick B Whittemore is one of the
most important people in my life
when that is looked at from any aspect, and from the respect which I have
for this very unusual gentleman

Himley England

Where I am now is delightful countryside
populated by very few people ....and many horses
The only drawback is, I suppose, too much rural life..which I love..but also for me, I have much of
my creative stimulus from Cities, towns, architecture, buildings,
interspersed with sea,trees, meadows..
Anyone who has seen my work will know this
and understand that, for me the
whole world is place which stimulates my work
Brisbane Churches ..Malaysia ..beaches..Mosques..New Zealand ..historic Library in Remuera..Wellington
The Saint Pauls Dome.. Trafalgar Square..Hong Kong waterfront
so soon I will take time to look at my home town again
I do hope that one day more of my readers will give me their thoughts ..................
that always makes it more exciting ..than in already is to be able to draw each, and every thing,
photograph it, and treasure each moment in retrospect

enjoyment ..............................rural life

The best of New Zealand

I was, when I returned to New Zealand, asked by Michael Guy,
an old friend, if I would like to be his Consultant, and illustrate his
third edition of The best of New Zealand

It was nice working with Michael, as we had discussed the possibility
of my producing a book with him
Whilst this is not ..all..my book
it is a very nice combination of his writing and publishing
expertise, my own, and my drawings ........
He selected the subjects and I had great fun
undertaking his suggested illustrations
This book sold widely in New Zealand, USA and maybe, but
I am not sure in Asia ..as Michael was, like myself, quite at home there too.........
Wherever he is now..I hope that one day he will see this copy
on my antique Japanese table..

The Harvard Club New York

This year I stayed at The Harvard Club, previously I was

resident at The University Club................

both are just off 5th Avenue.

The Harvard Club I find to be a real home for my stay in New York,

full of the history of the University but alive every day with new

affairs. ...in the time that I was there I met Alistair Cooke's son, who spoke about

himself..not only his famous father, who read his 'Letter from America'..for many years....

which it seemed everyone stayed to listen to on the BBC..........

and an excellent USA Government Official residing in the Middle Eas,t

who spoke about the difficulties and pleasures of life in that tumultuous region of the globe.

I always love my New York.. ...evenings for Exhibition at The Embassy to

The United Nations of the Phillipines,

and dinner at the Club meeting, among others, another Director of Morgan Stanley, I had met quite a few on this visit .................

which I will write about later

Dudley my Drawings Book and the future

I returned to England some years ago and, because
of the circumstances at the time, I decided to put together
a series of drawings which I had made during my life,
which reflected the places which I knew as a child.
Many of these are in Worcestershire, with a small digression into Shropshire, for Bridgnorth town
and one particular one features London, where I went quite regularly, as
holidays often were at Hastings, and my parents
made sure that we stopped off, so that I could learn about the capital
One special time, as they all were, I was placed on the wall of The Embankment,
so that, across the Thames, I could see The Houses of Parliament,
about which, even though I was quite young, I knew,
as my parents had many contacts in Government and politics,
and regular visitors at home were Members, and prospective Members of Parliament.

I wrote, to accompany these drawings, just a few words about my parents, my childhood,

and my book was complete.

A photograph taken at Himley Hall, my drawing of which I chose for the cover, by a busy Midlands based photographer

who I knew well, George Jenkins, and Dudley Print completed
the 'Local' presentation, which has been seen in many countries now,
courtesy of The British Council and The United Nations, Harrods, etc.,and many Exhibitions and Talks.
Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali repeated to me, the UN Director's request for this,
a second book of mine, to be in The UN New York,
when we met at Parliament in New Zealand, at the invitation of Don McKinnon, then Deputy Prime Minister, later Secretary-General of The Commonwealth,

and I said that next time we met, I would present it to him,
personally, as he had requested.
Some time later, in Oxford, at a private gathering, which included many Oxford Dons
I presented the Secretary -General of The United Nations with
'DRAWINGS OF MY CHILDHOOD PLACES'

The person who wanted to be the first to buy it, was Christopher Haviland, Deputy Managing Director Barclays Bank, who I knew quite well. I enjoyed his company and conversation,

and ... at a very interesting day at The Royal Commonwealth Society in London,I presented a copy of this special book, which I produced to honour my parents' memory, to Emeka,

Chief Emeka An Yaoku, then Secretary-General of The Commonwealth, now President WWF, who I am pleased to call a dear friend

This year I was finally able, at lunch in New York, to give a copy to a most important friend for many years, Frederick B Whittemore, former International President Pacific Basin Economic Council for which I had my book Malaysia Terima Kasih become the presentation book, he is Advisor Director Morgan Stanley....................................

I had always planned that this would have another book to accompany it to cover local aspects of my home town Dudley, and county,...................................................

I titled it 'DRAWINGS AND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES'

I have not completed this yet............................
but recently I asked an independent person, Director of UKTrade and Investment what he thought I should do next, and ...without knowing anything of the plans, which I had kept to myself, he said, another book with family and other local history, following your first English one,
and so, in the middle of all the travelling which I have made this year, to

New York, Kuala Lumpur, Biarritz, London...
and other parts of the United Kingdom...........................
I have had this in mind....I do not know the outcome yet......................................................

New York sights

One of my favourite things to do in New York
is to simply walk 5th Avenue...............
from the small Park past 44th Street to the
main Central Park which everyone knows, at The Plaza and The Pierre end
where the horse drawn carriages take visitors around the block
in style

along the walk are many famous landmarks for me to enjoy.........
The University Club on 54th where I stayed previously..Rockefeller Centre
in bloom, at this time of year...where I lunched on the 65th floor at The Rockefeller Club,
a favourite City lunchtime place with amazing views from Central Park to the Statue...
in the winter a fantastic icy skating scene..the Cathedral..Saint Regis Hotel..
until past the gleaming Trump building you can see the open spaces of the Park ahead..
and the Sherry Netherland at the right hand corner of that wonderful green space in the City