Kuala Lumpur

I just like this view in Kuala Lumpur...
my old home there was The Hilton
now Crowne Plaza

I am pleased to say that where I wrote many of the 200plus pages
of Malaysia Terima Kasih .....which was The Official book of Malaysia
by the pool.........................................
is still the same......even though the view has changed
and is not so green.. instead we have part of the Petronas Tower complex
The Chairman of Petronas was a very good friend...
Raja Mohar Badiozaman also Chairman of the Board of Malaysia Airlines
... my Client

Les Collonnes

Who would not want morning coffee here? ...........Jean Michel and his brother Alain
take each visitor into the delightful atmosphere
which they have created..the very best position along the road is taken by
the elegant restaurant which spills across the pavement...and captures everyone who passes
not only for the best coffee in town..but also for excellent lunches
and Dinners which would not fail to please
I especially like the way that I am now a local....
sharing newspapers, gossip, invitations, and the many other
delights for me of French resort life..in this a most elegant town
a favourite of Napoleon Bonaparte..The Duke of Windsor.. Frank Sinatra and many '
other ..quite discerning.. regular visitors
I have now my drawings of the brothers' restaurant =ready for print
so that we will be able to share some of the atmosphere with others

Biarritz

The White House hotel and sculpture faces Victoria Surf................

After the heat of Kuala Lumpur...
the Atlantic coast of ~Biarritz~ is so charming..

It is good to meet those people who I now know quite well
they were pleased that some of my papers are now in French...
a courtesy..as all my friends have quite good English..................
I walk from the apartment each morning along the esplanade to Les Collonnes for morning coffee..
I have some drawings now and many photographs
enough to commence that book...... which a number of people have suggested that I produce...
the local newspaper Sud Ouest provides my news from a slightly different viewpoint than
The Times.. I have talked with the Editor on a previous visit ..and I look forward to reading what he has to say

The Royal Commonwealth Society

I never tire of London
I used to stay here when accomodation stretched along Northumberland Avenue,
now as this is no longer available, the Conference Centre restaurant and
meeting rooms are all accessed from this corner entrance
The imposing one on the Avenue front no longer is the entrance
to this central place for those of the Commonwealth to meet..casually..formally
..at meetings... conferences... debates...all the essential parts of a busy group of
over 50 Countries spanning the world
The Secretary-General and the Countries of the Commonwealth
supported my invitation to The United Nations
by The New Zealand Government some years ago

Saint James Church Piccadilly

Whenever I have a few moments in London
free of meetings ..talks..I go into
Saint James Church Piccadilly...I made drawings of it long ago
and I listen to the music of the many musicians who
play at lunchtime concerts recitals and sometimes
they simply rehearse ..as they were this day..
prior to the lunchtime concert...one of the many delights of London
the many talents clustered together....and ..as I share my drawings, books and paintings
they share their music............
it is a comfortable relationship

Piccadilly Caviar House

I always think that only in London can be found such an
elegant home for that most expensive
dish CAVIAR..and of course
located near to The Ritz..................................
CAVIAR HOUSE LONDON

Dudley Worcs England

Near to my new home..in the town DUDLEY in which I was born
grew up, studied and later lectured
the main subject of my book
DRAWINGS OF MY CHILDHOOD PLACES

The area around the Metropolitan Borough Council,
clock tower, town administration, Concert Hall, Library, Art Gallery and Museum
is a short walk, and the area is all a conservation area
with buildings from 1700s 1800s..as is the one in which I live
and like this.............................. a later addition.................
just a hundred yards /metres or so from the open air market
with its ancient fountain..newer sculpture shops and banks
All in sight of the ancient castle, which I know so very well from hundreds of
visits since my early childhood.................................

Portugal

two years ago I returned to Portugal after many years

in New Zealand Australia USA and Asia

the photograph here was taken when I used to visit
Lisbon with my company GKN
and is an Exhibition stand which I designed and shipped...........
arriving before any other GKN Executiveto ensure that

everything worked properly for the International Exhibition being held there
.......................................

Later I met the President when he came to open the Exhibition
we had a very interesting conversation...
it was good recently to return to see how Portugal has changed
................................................................

One of my Talks

Joan Oakley
invited me to give a Talk
in Stourbridge...
one of two at which I spoke at her invitation.............


This one ............ the Townswomen's Guild
was held in Wollaston where I had visited
from my early years as my grandparents lived
in Wollaston................Stourbridge Worcestershire

It was really nice to have such an interested audience
here she is holding a very beautiful Thai batik
shirt.......
one which I do wear.......which is a modern batik
of birds and flowers of Thailand

I am wearing recent design for the Malaysia

Government....a silk in yellows and green.........

Bangkok

I have stayed in Bangkok quite a few times......
asked to stay for a major project..
and much later==
to return to be based there for international work....

Like many places which I have visited..and even worked in...
I find Bangkok to be quite fascinating, and always there
are invitations to stay....
however my
work of various kinds has taken me overseas for many years
and now..my interests are to be based in my home England....
so that I can enjoy a different life..from that previously..
which includes travel overseas of course,
but there is always, for me, the joy in returning home
......photographed at dinner.........................

Victoria at Himley Hall book launch

The picture of one of my favourite walks near to my home....

at Himley Hall was taken long ago
when I launched my book........
'Drawings of my childhood places' .... there
The Hall features on the cover..a drawing which I had made,
like many in the book, over a period of time..
not for a book particularly, simply because I love
drawing ..sometimes portrait ..landscape..
or as here........ an elegant building in a special place.....

Worcestershire

Return home to England

On the day that I returned from Kuala Lumpur
an old friend Emeka An Yaoku was Chairing a meeting
at The Royal Commonwealth Society
with David Milliband Cabinet Minister...
it was quite simple to stay in town to meet

Emeka before the meeeting telling him that I had just returned
from the Islamic Banking Forum where I had been
invited by The Commonwealth Business Council......
As former Secretary-General of The Commonwealth
Emeka is always interested in news of its activities
while now he is President of The World Wildlife Fund

Kuala Lumpur Najib

Prime Minister Najib had just completed his 100 days in power when I arrived
for the British Malaysia Islamic Banking Forum with The Lord Mayor of London
The Commonwealth Business Council and UKTI I had been invited by The CBC
following a discussion with Lord Malloch Brown at The Royal Commonwealth Society

I was invited to his lunch ...
and before that he spoke of his plans, and
his thoughts for the development of Malaysia
I had been guest of Dr Mahathir quite a few times, knew Abdullah Badawi,
I had seen Najib at Chatham House when he was Deputy

So it was good to meet and talk with him this day prior to his lunch