Straight to hell

Jesus may of been the son of god but I found a far better way to spend Easter than he did!

But before all that a few exciting stories:
1) at my works annual dinner - themed "Princes and Princesses" and held at HK Disney no less, woohoo - I was denied a place in the final of the Ogilvy Princess competition even though the glass slipper clearly fit perfectly...
2) one I forgot to mention from the 7s, the incident of Hans (of Helmet Heading fame) and a policeman’s hat - can you believe he nicked it, modelled it and gave it back all without spending time in a cell.
3) not quite safe cracking but - I was victorious in the Saturday night challenge of undoing women’s bras, with just one had, the left hand, and through a t-shirt. If I do say so myself it was an impressive and unrivalled display generating awe from all (especially the girls) involved!

So, back to a better way to spend Easter. Other than the fact I was dog sitting (Sonny the mutt) I had a great one. It kicked off with the prerequisite Thursday night drinks (well it is the new Friday), then a rather good sea food meal out on Lamma Island (where all sorts of shell inhabiting critters were eaten) followed by a fantastic ride back on a mates ridiculously phallic speed boat. There was Saturday night all you can drink wine buffet then, to cap it off on Sunday night my folks arrived from what sounds like an amazing trip through China for a now rather well refined JP guided tour of HK.

It was brilliant having mum and dad in town and we had four of the best days I've had in HK. We managed to cram in the Big Buddha, Rat Alley, Macau, LKF, a sampan trip round Aberdeen harbour, dim sum, the Star Ferry, Aqua Spirit for the HK light display, a veggie meal (not my choice!), golf, Thai BBQ, Kowloon Park, The Peak and a look around my flat and office that only parents can appear genuinely interested in! On top of all that they were fooled into thinking my mates out here were all great people and that despite all the evidence to the contrary that I'm not an alcoholic, happy days!

And finally, I may be on my travels again fairly soon..... I'm clearly clumsier than I thought as I've managed to lose my job. With out going into dull details I've been made redundant so I'm looking for a new job. If I find one that I'm interested in then all good and HK gets my company for a little longer, if not then I get to go on holiday again, hell life's hard.

So, watch this space and until the next time.

Jonathan.

PS. Happy St. George's Day for yesterday, hope everyone was on the G&Ts to celebrate.

Jonathan Partington
Hong Kong SAR
+852 6429 4092

Life changer.

There have been quite a few fairly significant events during my time away (two years on Saturday don't you know) that have had serious effects on the way the rest of my time has gone and the way I've looked at myself and the world around me, however there have been few with more impact than the hangover I had last Monday morning following the Hong Kong Rugby 7s weekend .....

Seriously, it was quite probably the worst hangover in the history of alcohol consumption and for a little while there, in one of my office meeting rooms, on a sofa, with the door locked, the lights off, desperately trying to will my body not to reject me and to cling onto life I did think I may have to go dry for at least a day or two!

I have to say, it wasn't entirely my fault, they made me do it. Made me scream and shout until I had no voice, made me raise a glass countless times and see off the drink I'd only just had filled, made me jump and leap and dance (on a pole at one point though not sure you need details of that) like a man possessed. I talk of cause of the Mighty Mighty England as they stormed to victory beating Fiji in the dying second of brilliant tournament, Com'on!!!

Needless to say I had an entertaining weekend.

Before the 7s I celebrated my 29th in not a lot of style. As it fell (like every year) on Saint Paddy's day and a Friday I felt obliged to have a couple of quiet pints of the black stuff. I unfortunately followed them by not one but two kebabs, a cab to Wanchai and a few less quiet drinks before passing out in a random bed. Older but seemingly not wiser!

Other than that things are fairly calm here in HK. The temperature and humidity are beginning to soar, I've paid a few visits to the driving range trying get to grips with my fabulous fake golf clubs before summer golf trips to China ensue, I've discovered doing shots of sherry isn't fun, the footie team I play for recorded its first ever clean sheet and in a week or so its Easter and my mum and dad are heading to HK for the all singing all dancing guided tour, life is good.

So, until the next time just remember, rehab is for quitters!

JP.

Jonathan Partington
+852 6429 4092


PS. Don't worry mum, though my liver may be feeling unloved I can stop drinking whenever I want to, I don't have a problem I promise.