I am looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. Turkey day is tomorrow, yet I truly enjoy this one holiday that everyone in America participates in and takes but a moment to be thankful for the year.
This year I am truly thankful to the people at CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) our agency in Colorado and especially Hillary in the Dossier Team, together with other wonderful people we have met along our adoption journey who have the experience delightful. Martine at the British Embassy is another, and how can I not mention the notary at our local bank who has worked with us and not charge one cent for notarizing many pieces of paper needed for our dossier.
I am also truly thankful for family friends and co-workers who all express great interest in learning about our adoption journey, and have participated in one way or another, giving us furniture for the nursery, helping to prepare and decorate the nursery, passing along helpful baby items that we will need, giving us bears for the room.
I am thankful for my family on both sides of the Atlantic, in England, Wales, Pennsylvania America and British Columbia Canada. I am thankful for the opportunity to have travelled to Britain over labor day weekend to catch up family and spend time with Kevin , Louise , Hannah & Dan in Wales and to see my Mum & Dad. Although the trip was too short I truly loved every minute.
But most of all I am thankful to my wife Taney. This last year has been one interesting rollercoaster with our adoption journey. We signed the paperwork with CCAI last Christmas Day and everything that has followed has taken us both through every emotion and I am thankful that we could share the great days and support each other thorough the days of waiting and delays in the paperchase.
This holiday season the jigsaw puzzle pieces fit into place to make a colorful picture. We are expecting our Daughter sometime soon. The reality is far closer than it was this time last year. I truly love my work at MSAA and am thankful to the thousands of volunteers who have come to MSAA whether to help with fundraising, public education, special projects, support group leaders or professional volunteers.
I could go on, but here I stop, simply thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.
LONDON CHIMES by Malcolm Friend. An expat Brit from London who now lives near Philadelphia.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Saturday, November 13, 2004
The Polar Express
Tom Hanks is an executive producer and provides the voices to more than a couple of characters in what is surely to be the must see family film over the holiday season, "The Polar Express". A computer generated (CG) animated style film based on the book of the same name.
The Polar Express is a beatiful film that evokes the spirit of christmas and belief in Santa / Father Christmas living at the top of the north pole. For a seven year old boy the magic of Christmas seems to wane after reading that the north pole is barren and desolote and he leaves his younger sister to put out the milk and nibbles for Santa on Christmas eve night before heading to bed, trying oh-so-hard to keep awake all night.
Just before midnight the Polar Express stops outside his house and so an adventure with other children begins.
The Polar Express is a good solid family film, the young families who shared the theatre with us certainly enjoyed the film that had a good solid message for all children both young and not so young before the credits rolled.
Hollywood seems to be rolling out more than just a couple of "must see" offering before the end of December. National Treaure starring Nicholas Cage filmed in Philadelphia is one of the must see's on our family list. The concept of a treasure hunt is appealing especially as it entwines American history into the plot.
The Incredibles is another that is critically acclaimed, again a CG animated style film that has strong writing talent to appeal to both young and old audiences. I have heard that this is THE film to see.
The Polar Express is a beatiful film that evokes the spirit of christmas and belief in Santa / Father Christmas living at the top of the north pole. For a seven year old boy the magic of Christmas seems to wane after reading that the north pole is barren and desolote and he leaves his younger sister to put out the milk and nibbles for Santa on Christmas eve night before heading to bed, trying oh-so-hard to keep awake all night.
Just before midnight the Polar Express stops outside his house and so an adventure with other children begins.
The Polar Express is a good solid family film, the young families who shared the theatre with us certainly enjoyed the film that had a good solid message for all children both young and not so young before the credits rolled.
Hollywood seems to be rolling out more than just a couple of "must see" offering before the end of December. National Treaure starring Nicholas Cage filmed in Philadelphia is one of the must see's on our family list. The concept of a treasure hunt is appealing especially as it entwines American history into the plot.
The Incredibles is another that is critically acclaimed, again a CG animated style film that has strong writing talent to appeal to both young and old audiences. I have heard that this is THE film to see.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
US Election 2004 - A commentary from an Englishman in America
Not that I have any responsibility for the fact but I feel compelled to write and apologize on behalf of this Englishman for the coverage of the result of the Presidential election in the mainstream printed newspapers in Britain.
Months ago on London Chimes I predicted that President Bush would win the election, that it would be a very close race regardless who ended up as the democratic candidate. Since then I have watched the political campaigns rollout as a very interested observer unable to vote in the election.
Pennsylvania was marked early on as a battleground state and it was very interesting to watch the buildup to the election unfold in my back yard.
I have always kept a finger on the pulse of the mainstream media in the UK. To see the goings on in Britain and to see the UK's side of the story. But recently the days following the election results I have been thoroughly disgusted by the Guardian and the Daily Mirror to name but two of the traditionally left-wing newspapers. The Guardian attempted to interfere directly prior to election day with an editorial asking where presidential killers when you needed them most insighting an individual to take the life of George Bush. In another instance writing to voters in Ohio directly as a measure to interfere in the election process from outside the United States.
The front cover of the Daily Mirror was beyond insulting.
Truly the mainstream media not only in the UK but also the US has truly flown their true colors up a flagpole that clearly show their deep set political bias.
Thank goodness for fair and balanced reporting, talk radio, in particular Philadelphia's Big Breakfast Talker Michael Smerconish, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and blogsphere who are in some instances going head to head with main media and they inturn complain of people wearing PJ's sitting in front of computers all day. Not at London Chimes.
I am a "W" guy, thanks Michael for the term.
I am delighted that George Bush and Dick Cheney were elected by a majority including the popular vote and that morals was a significant factor in choosing Bush by 4 votes to 1 for Kerry.
Morals may surprise many outside the US. America is not hollywood, what you see on TV is not an accurate portrayal of what America is like or how the people think. Middle American is not dumb, they have a voice and last week they screamed so loud the world had to hear them.
George Bush is not everyone favorite person, but he is the elected president with a significant mandate from the people who did vote, more took up their right than since President Reagan. The French, Germans have to deal with W. Tony Blair I am certain is relieved with the level of support Americans gave Bush during a time of war, and yes we are at war. With a General Election in the UK soon, I will ensure that I do vote and my vote will be made based on the needs of global politics and that vote might just make me vote for a party I have never voted for before, being brought up and living in an area represented by Maggie Thatcher.
In the UK I supported the Liberal Democrats. To the right of New Labour and the left of the tories. In the US I consider myself a moderate right. A "W" Guy , the man who will be president when I bring my daughter home from China and is a man who has the metal to make the hard decisions.
This President deserves, nay demands the respect of the mainstream traditionally left wing media.
Months ago on London Chimes I predicted that President Bush would win the election, that it would be a very close race regardless who ended up as the democratic candidate. Since then I have watched the political campaigns rollout as a very interested observer unable to vote in the election.
Pennsylvania was marked early on as a battleground state and it was very interesting to watch the buildup to the election unfold in my back yard.
I have always kept a finger on the pulse of the mainstream media in the UK. To see the goings on in Britain and to see the UK's side of the story. But recently the days following the election results I have been thoroughly disgusted by the Guardian and the Daily Mirror to name but two of the traditionally left-wing newspapers. The Guardian attempted to interfere directly prior to election day with an editorial asking where presidential killers when you needed them most insighting an individual to take the life of George Bush. In another instance writing to voters in Ohio directly as a measure to interfere in the election process from outside the United States.
The front cover of the Daily Mirror was beyond insulting.
Truly the mainstream media not only in the UK but also the US has truly flown their true colors up a flagpole that clearly show their deep set political bias.
Thank goodness for fair and balanced reporting, talk radio, in particular Philadelphia's Big Breakfast Talker Michael Smerconish, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and blogsphere who are in some instances going head to head with main media and they inturn complain of people wearing PJ's sitting in front of computers all day. Not at London Chimes.
I am a "W" guy, thanks Michael for the term.
I am delighted that George Bush and Dick Cheney were elected by a majority including the popular vote and that morals was a significant factor in choosing Bush by 4 votes to 1 for Kerry.
Morals may surprise many outside the US. America is not hollywood, what you see on TV is not an accurate portrayal of what America is like or how the people think. Middle American is not dumb, they have a voice and last week they screamed so loud the world had to hear them.
George Bush is not everyone favorite person, but he is the elected president with a significant mandate from the people who did vote, more took up their right than since President Reagan. The French, Germans have to deal with W. Tony Blair I am certain is relieved with the level of support Americans gave Bush during a time of war, and yes we are at war. With a General Election in the UK soon, I will ensure that I do vote and my vote will be made based on the needs of global politics and that vote might just make me vote for a party I have never voted for before, being brought up and living in an area represented by Maggie Thatcher.
In the UK I supported the Liberal Democrats. To the right of New Labour and the left of the tories. In the US I consider myself a moderate right. A "W" Guy , the man who will be president when I bring my daughter home from China and is a man who has the metal to make the hard decisions.
This President deserves, nay demands the respect of the mainstream traditionally left wing media.
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