counting down

The countdown to my treatment has begun in earnest.  It starts on Monday (Aug 25).  I have three days to go.  It’s going to be an ordeal for sure — very, seriously, unfun — but at the same time I’m really not worried.  I’m almost completely healed up after the operation, I feel strong and […]

my friend Nasser

Inevitably I think of my friend Nasser who died of cancer a year ago.  He lived with his wife and two daughters on the next street from us in London.  He was an academic like me, my age, his youngest daughter was in the same class as Beata.  I used to meet up with him […]

already missing the Olympics

The Taiwanese TV coverage of the Olympics is actually totally abysmal.  A couple of different stations carry the event, but none has spent any money on the production.  They don’t have a proper studio, no invited guests or background reports on the participants.  In the day-time they show a random schedule of synchronized diving and […]

things my cancer taught me 1: my students

My cancer has taught me a lot of things.  Having cancer is a very educational experience.  In fact it’s difficult to learn as much elsewhere without paying exorbitant tuition fees. I used to think, for example, that my writings were very important to me — all those books and articles I’ve written over the course of […]

“Döden, döden, döden”

Saga and Beata, our two oldest, claim we talk too much about death.  Almost every topic around the family dinner table ends up at the same conclusion.  “I listened to the Beatles all the time when I was a boy.  John Lennon was the best — he is dead now.”  “Passion fruit is delicious.  And […]

my right ear

It seems a measure of sensitivity is returning to my right ear.  Yeah!  The doctors said they took out the relevant nerves and that I’d lose feeling in it.  At the time, I didn’t complain too much since I was delighted they didn’t permanently disable my right arm (which also could have happened).  But for […]

a Filipina amah?

Outside of the NTU hospital they are distributing flyers advertising Filipina amahs.  An amah — from Portuguese ama — is a domestic servant who combines the roles of maid and nanny.  She cooks and cleans and looks after the children.  Amahs from the Philippines are reputedly the best.  Meaning, they work hard, don’t complain, and they are cheap.  You can get one, […]

lazy weekend in Tainan

We’re back from our mini-vacation in Tainan.  I can’t remember when I spent a lazier weekend.  Despite all the historical and cultural attractions of the city, we barely left the hotel!  I’m recovering from a cancer operation, remember?  I don’t have to do history and culture.  All I have to do is to call up […]