Malaysia Week London

I was invited to Malaysia Week, in July ..................................
my first..in London.....It was held in Potters Field.. the very nice park alongside City Hall,
The Tower Bridge and the river
It was delightful to sit, during a lovely sunny day to watch and listen to Malaysia Cultural troupes
from the many different cultures and States
My host Dato' Seri Mohd Shafie the Minister of Unity Culture Arts and Heritage
spoke of the beauty of his country, of which I am well aware
and welcomed us with The Deputy Mayor of London, Mayor of Southwark
and guests from Embassies and High Commissions
As often happens at a formal Malaysia event ..the finale was the audience..........
pulled into the centre of the grassed area in front of the stage
we all danced traditional Malaysia Dances
not a new experience for me ......................I learned this long ago...................
but I did note few hesitant people ..however the dancers from the troups ensured
that all the sedentry spectators in the formal area joined in....... as did the Minister and I

Civil Service Club Annual Dinner

I decided to accept the Invitation this time to The Civil Service Club Annual Dinner,
and invited AGKader the Vice Chairman of OMEC, Overseas Malaysia Executive Council
to be my Guest
It was an excellent evening and David Rowberry
the General Manager, was interested to talk to myself and AG about our
publishing plan and also the possibility that I may have an Evening
at the Club to Exhibit a few paintings and books
already
one enterprising Member
has written to me saying that he wishes to come
word went around very quickly
as it can in this very business minded group
who are active in providing links for British and Malaysia people
who wish to have closer business and social links
As I had a Saturday meeting also I decided to add to my portfolio of London drawings
with Trafalgar Square, Haymarket and here a German visitor
photographed me in Piccadilly
with my latest drawingwhich joins Saint Pauls
Saint Margarets Houses of Parliament and other London sights which I enjoy so much
and which I am so happy now to be able to see so often on my visits

Townswomen's Guild Talk

At my Talks, I like to be able to tell my audiences
something more about the Countries to which I have been Advisor and Consultant, than they would ever learn from the
tourist guide books, or from holiday visits.
As my nephew so profoundly said when I took him to Paris for a few days
for his 15th birthday, which is the subject of my latest book 'A trip to Paris'
''I am seeing the real Paris, not just what
the tourists see''......
That sums up what I do with my Exhibitions, Talks and Seminars

I enable my audiences to learn about
the real life of countries,
not just about the facade, the obvious things,
which actually often tell one little about people's lives and aspirations.
This is a gift from Thailand where I went as a Consultant to a private project
with Government links, some years ago
It shows a hand designed new batik based on the birds and flowers of Thailand

My Talk at the Townswomen's Guild

On 8th July I was invited to give a Talk to The Townswomen's Guild in Stourbridge

I spoke about my work as Bilateral Aid Advisor to the New Zealand and Malaysia Governments,
my role as New Government Consultant to Tonga,
my invitation to The United Nations by The New Zealand Government
when Emeka An Yaoko, The Secretary General of the Commonwealth gave me his support
and that of the 54 Nations of The Commonwealth

I told them of the background to my later work, when I had travelled frequently throughout Scandinavia and parts of Europe
I was responsible for international Marketing, Exhibitions, Books and Advertising
with the international GKN Group, meeting Heads of State
I spoke about my meeting with The President of Portugal in Lisbon

I had on display a selection of my paintings drawings books and photography
The 60 or so Members looked at these and asked questions over coffee afterwards
it was an interesting evening
Joan Oakley who Organised this evening and I talked about some of my
latest work and we are seen here with STARBUCKS
one of my drawings from the time of my Spring Exhibition
in Southend on Sea Library Gallery
We expect to meet again in the New Year
when I speak to the Norton History Group
............................................
Margaret who assisted me took photographs

Milford Sound New Zealand

One glorious trip in New Zealand
was on to the Fox Glacier in a small plane
staying at Milford Sound, here
with Mitre Peak in the background

seeing the ski Championships in Queenstown ...enjoying the special quality which New Zealand has,
a freshness still, which cannot easily be found in our overcrowded
lands ......here it still can..... in New Zealand ...
try......as I have....... sailing in the Hauraki Gulf, taking a fast boat out from the shores near to Christchurch.
Akaroa, eat fresh cooked fish on the waterfront, and tour around the harbour, which people from France almost made their own,
it still has the French atmosphere, in a way which complements the New Zealand one.
For a great thrill learn to take a glider over some of the most beautiful, unspoilt countryside
that the world can offer ..I have had the unique role of Bilateral Aid Advisor to this special land
and Malaysia, and appreciate the qualities of it, and it forms and important part of the Talks and Exhibitions
which I have been giving recently in England

Certificate Malaysia Minstry of Tourism

As I left the Dialogue with The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia last month, at Chatham House,
Mohmed Razip and I met for the last time, before he left for Kuala Lumpur, from his post as Director UK & Ireland
of Tourism Malaysia, based in Malaysia House Trafalgar Square.
We talked about the possibility that I might visit Malaysia again
and also of course, a second Malaysia book, which always enters conversations with

Malaysia Government and business people,
away from home, and based in the UK .
I never did finish the tour arranged for me by the Government
I was so absorbed in my writng, photography, drawings and printing for my book
Malaysia Terima Kasih
then the presentations around the world
which were followed by The New Zealand Government invitation to the United Nations,
that a second book never eventuated

I still have the title, and my work for it, and for a small book on Labuan, the island where I was guest of
The King, The Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Sabah and Cabinet Ministers.
I hope that one day these will be published, and welcomed by Malaysians, as my first book was ,
and my writing and photography in The New Straits Times.

A few days later, at home, I received from Razip, this Certificate, which is a delightful way to show me that
my own special relationship with Malaysia has continued after many years,
and I am delighted that he thought of this way to show his appreciation.
Unfortunately at the moment I cannot thank him personally.
He will be missed in London.

Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister Dialogue

I attended, last month, the Dialogue with Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy Prime Minister Malaysia
at Chatham House
He was giving Malaysia's response
to global challenges
When I was first invited to Malaysia, becoming Bilateral Aid Advisor to New Zealand and Malaysia Governments,
the first Member of Government whom I met, was a previous Deputy Prime Minister
and during the years when I spent most of my time in Malaysia .
I was guest of His Majesty The King, and Prime Minister Mahathir, a number of times,
both formally, and quite informally.
One characteristic I found of all the Government people whom I met, and talked to,
was their interest in telling the world about their Country.
This afternoon was no different, I had not met Dato Tun Razak
but I had met the current Prime Minister Badawi,
as I hade met other Cabinet Ministers,
and whilst Malaysia, like the rest of the world, faces new problems
it was interesting to hear what its strategies may be.
Malaysia is cushioned by its capabilities in food production, I was asked to look in Horticulture,
as I had when I was New Zealand Government Consultant to Tonga.
At that time I was fully committed on other pressing Malaysia projects,
however I hope that it can develop new markets for its food products,
having met a few of the people involved in Malaysia and in the UK