Month: August 2017

Next week is Independence Day in Malaysia, and the flags have been appearing all week. There was an article in the newspaper saying that any business not displaying a flag will not have its licence renewed next year – hence the zealous hoisting of flags all over the country. I was glad to see that…

The new KL metro line has just opened, and we can now get a train directly into the city centre, which is very good news as the traffic can be appalling, particularly at rush hour.  So I went on my inaugural ride this week, to spend an evening in town. There are very helpful notices,…

I’m sick and tired of getting insolent stares from monkeys I’ve always been under the impression that we evolved from monkeys, and not the other way around, so I don’t know what they’ve got to feel so superior about. One minute they’re staring down their nose at you or flaunting their crotch in a so-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it…

My three year-old terrorists were back under the table this week.   But this time they built a barricade of chairs to stop me getting anywhere near them.  It was just like a scene from Les Misérables … with me as Javert, obviously.  But I quite like the idea of playing the baddie – it’s…

Life in the expat staff common room is certainly different.  Last week we were all given sheets of Shakespearean insults and instructed to use them at all possible opportunities – presumably to underline our own Englishness and to enrich the students’ vocabulary. And we all have to have our own boxing ring entry music.  This…