Captain's Day

Back from Porthcawl and played in Captain's Day at Buckingham. Somehow, my game has deteriorated since Wales, but I managed to pick up a prize for nearest the pin at the 4th (see picture). It was a well struck 5-iron, with slight draw and it curled up to about 3 feet. Birdie - a rare birdie!

Porthcawl

The best beach so far this summer was the one at Porthcawl in Wales, which I glimpsed from time to time in between shots at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, where my friend Peter Evans is the pro. We took a group from Buckingham and spent three happy days at Southerndown, Rolls of Monmouth and Porthcawl. Sam and I stayed in the Dormy House and the food and the craic were superb. The golf and the weather conspired to provide a perfect setting and my most abiding memory is dinner in the clubhouse taking bets on exactly what time the sun would set! Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer indeed!

Ethiopia

For some reason, I've been thinking more about Ethiopia, the time I spent there (and the awful Altitude Sickness), the meeting with Prime Minister Meles and the outcomes... All the OU programmes and initiatives that have followed, such as HEAT and the Unicef funding.

A friend has made some fantastic programmes about Ethiopian heritage for TV and I'm trying to think of a reason to go out there again, this time via a slow boat, so that I can acclimatise to the altitude.

When I met Meles Zenawi (pictured), he was sitting in his office in a white leather armchair. We were offered delicious coffee (of course!) and water. We spoke for about an hour and I felt the man's charisma: he has been inspirational and - whatever the criticism of his government's human rights record - Ethiopia is pulling itself out of poverty through his leadership and the Mengistu regime is just a distant memory. Viva Abyssinia!

Here is David's website and the link to Lost Kingdoms of Africa:

http://www.davidgmwilson.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/LKOH%20page.html

Sunset

Looked something like this...

Another beach glimpsed

Back in Malaysia, Penang Island, this time - and glimpsed is the operative word. I have been at a conference all week and hardly left the confines of the two conference hotels - Park Royal and Holiday Inn.

Both hotels are right on the beach, which is Batu Ferringhi. But the advice is not to go in the sea because of swarms of poisonous jellyfish - total heartbreak and frustration.

Not only that, but you run the risk of being trampled by ponies, or para-gliders, or jetskis!

I've been too busy even to jump in the pool, which looks very inviting in this heat (35 degrees + 85% humidity), and the one afternoon at the end of the conference when I thought I might have a splash, we had one of those tropical storms when the rain lashes down in sheets for about an hour and you just read a book and listen to the roar of the rain on the roof.

Later on, after the end-of-conference reception, the sunset is divine and much photographed.

I'm voting Labour - what about you?

It is 5 May 2010. The eve of polling day - and everyone seems to forecast doom and disaster for the UK. It will be either a hung Parliament or a minority Government, probably followed by another General Election, and yet another inderterminate outcome. So runs Cassandra's prediction.

Everyone in Britain is awaiting massive spending cuts. The only question is whether the cuts will fall upon the individual, the organisation, the private sector or the public sector. You can guess the outcome...

Oh well, other things are happening. Apparently Bob Dylan has a son called Jacob Dylan - who sings quite well. Listen for him. If the Tories win tomorrow, we will need his support.