Golf's got it right

From last weekend's Fitzfiles:

I WANT to pen a paean on golf. In what other sport can you get anything remotely close to the scene we witnessed at the British Open last weekend? I mean, a legend of the game such as Tom Watson - whose last major win was 26 years ago! - taking on the world's best, including not only Tiger Woods, but a 17-year-old from Japan, a 16-year-old from Italy, other players of all ages from as far afield as Colombia, Argentina, Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, Spain and Fiji … and getting within a single shot of winning the whole tournament! Not one of them threw a tantrum; not one raised hell in local nightclubs before or after their rounds, all behaved impeccably. The sporting theatre of the whole thing was spectacular, and there were no corporate billboards flashing, no logos emblazoned on the greens, no nuttin'. In all the codes in all the world, golf is the big-time sport that has got it absolutely right, and Watson's achievement last weekend served to highlight it as never before.

Face

Face is a funny thing.

Back home, the word face commonly means the outer-front-side of someone’s head, some of which are quite nice to look at. In Asia, it is a misty mystifying social veil of beauty, frustration and humour.

Beauty in the sense that the concept of ‘face’ and ‘saving face’ is so culturally intricate, thus difficult to understand and at times exclusive. You just can't help but admire the social pillar.

Frustration in the sense that its unspoken language can be excruciating at times to navigate. Why hasn’t he returned my emails? Why do they have such dark tinted windows on their BMW? Why say the bus would take 4hrs, when it always takes 16?

Humour, well sometimes you just need to sit back and smile. For example, I’ve been meeting weekly about a forward sponsorship strategy with a whole bunch of the bank’s VPs and execs. Every week, this important-looking dude walks in, is wai’d profusely by those in attendance, sits in an remote part of the boardroom, doesn’t say anything, then leaves after 5-10 minutes.

Reason? All for face I reckon. It’s important to show respect in meetings by turning up in person (as opposed to just sending apologies). It’s also not necessary to contribute to a meeting if you’re not an important cog, and it’s cool to send a minion there on your behalf to report back to you. It's also cool to just leave after 5 minutes without contributing.

With all due reflection, every country and sub-culture has its own language of face. At home, you never visit someone for a meal empty-handed. Or you always remember to return a shout at the pub.

It’s quite an introspective human behavior really, fascinatingly manifested differently across every culture. The world is quite charming, isn’t it?

It would be interesting to know what variations of ‘face’ you see where you live, or what circles you hang in?? Rural, city, European, beach, work, gay, sports clubs, shopping, politics…

To Saigon!

I'm on my way to Saigon for the weekend for a rugby tour. Just got through immigration and am having a quiet one while the other blokes arrive.

Spammers are getting creative

'Boris Burger'??

Are you serious?

This appeared this morning in my junk email folder - spammers either have a good sense of humour, or have been watching Wimbledon whilst smashing some McDonald's delivery.

Thailand PR tip #1

Need to big-up a customer letter or some other ad/web copy?

Chuck something in about the royal family.

Books I’d like to read this year

‘One Step Ahead’ - Rod McQueen

One from a few years back...combines approaches to rugby and business.

‘It’s not about the bike’ – Lance Armstrong

Recommended by Libby!

‘Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson’ - Mitch Albom

Been wanting to read this one for a while, further to the recommendations of many friends.

‘The Aussie Expat - The Luckiest Person on Earth’ - Steve Douglas

Talks about investment options for Aussie expats.

‘First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them’ - Steve Cannane

This one doesn't come out until August, but wouldn't mind getting a copy for some light reading. Steve Cannane was a favourite journo when I used to listen to Triple J's hack, so hopefully it'll be replicated in the book.

‘First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong’ - James Hansen

A 2005 biography about some bloke who once walked on the moon.

Any other recommendations??

Phuket pina colada

Currently at a clifftop Bob Marley themed bar, sucking down a pina colada as the day wanes.

We're staying the weekend down the bottom of Phuket, at my mate Gearing's holiday house. Enjoyed an excellent day at the beach - a bit of surf, swimming and beach cricket retribution against a few poms. Magical stuff.

State of Origin: Greatest biff

I was too busy getting bollocked by a voracious client last night to be able to watch Game 3 of the State of Origin.

From all accounts, it sounded like a little pearler of a match, fit with freakish athleticism, hard hits and the odd spot of biff. Saw the fight on YouTube when I was finishing up last night.

Got me casting my mind back to some of the great Origin biffs. I reckon Game 2, 1995, has to be the best. Blokes coming in from everywhere to have a good old fashion Maroon vs Blues stoush. And it was only 2:27 into the game!

Also brought the best out in Ray “Rabs” Warren:

“Well, they’ve come from everywhere…almost like it was a rehearsal”

“Well! We’ve seen plenty of this in Origin – this is one of the best!”

“Av a look at them throw them!”

Message to KRudd

I’m now following KRudd’s Twitter updates via my account – I think he uses it well, giving insights into the role of Prime Minister and politician that has seldom been done before in Australia.

Anyway, as I mentioned in my last post, I’m off to Phuket this weekend to meet up with some friends. So is KRudd. Except his friends are the leaders of different ASEAN nations across the world. I’m yet to crack that clique.

So I updated my status, hoping it will get through to KRudd:

In Phuket this w'end...beach cricket. Trying to get @KevinRuddPM to come & roll his arm over…an expat game might be a good break from ASEAN!

You never know, might get lucky, like some at the recent Winter Ball.

It's all happening

God bless budget airlines. Over the next five weekends, I certainly won’t be doing anything for the global push to reduce greenhouse gases emissions:

18-19 July (this weekend): Flying to Phuket with Clare, not to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and KRudd who are there for the ASEAN summit, but to hang out with some friends from Bangkok and Singapore. On the agenda is a bit of beach cricket, maybe see if we can find a place to watch the rugby, and a couple of beers.

25-26 July: Flying to Saigon on a 1-game weekend rugby tour, playing and meeting up with a few of the blokes from the Saigon Geckos.

31 July – 2 August: I’ll be flying down to Singapore to meet my mate Dave as he travels back to Australia from a UK business trip. It’s also his birthday on the Monday, so will see if we can arrange a bit of festive action for him somewhere…

8-9 August: I’ll be staying in Bangers, meeting up with my mate Al who’s coming to stay with Clare and I. The Wallabies play the Boks that weekend, so will be watching it in between showing Al the finer points of Bangkok.

14-16 August: Flying to Chiang Rai for the weekend with Clare. Chiang Rai is tucked right up the top of Thailand – there we might go on a day jungle trek (if I can convince Clare), likely do some market shopping (if Clare can convince me) and enjoy each other’s company for the long weekend alongside some good grub and wine.

I feel very fortunate!! So will hopefully have a few more interesting blog posts to throw up over the next month or so…watch this space!

For Willis