Stanfords Finest

So my son has reached 24 weeks in the womb. This is great because now it impossible that my wife can miscarry which was a huge fear after the airport incident. I’m relieved and now quite happy it’s all progressing as nature intended. If was born now he would have a chance of survival although those chances are greatly increased after 28 weeks. We have a picture of him in 4D and there he lies asleep in his rubber room. His face is kind of formed and he looks so peaceful and so innocent. This child has no idea how cruel this world will be to him and no comprehension as to man’s utter hatred to man. I feel guilty about bringing him into being and I’m not sure if this is normal but I do. I’ve said it. We purchased some baby clothes today, the first things we have bought. 0-3 months old. These clothes are so amazingly small and I could almost feel him in my arms when I unfolded them from the packets. Why I am telling you all this is hard to fathom. I feel I should document my feelings now so I remember how precious he is when he is screaming and shitting all over the shop. 3 months to go…

So I met the yanks. We are go, go, go. I’m in and I’m willing but there is just one catch – I have to wait until the end of October! Damn. I want to go now!!! So I have to again bide my time at the current place until I get the magic phone call. This is one of the downsides of having too much opportunity. This land (Hong Kong) is awash with loot and opportunity and when there is so much of it you feel like a dog with two dicks. Where should I jump? It’s all very well chasing the dollar right now but you have to project where all this will end. For me I am projecting ahead and I believe that China is calling me. If I want to succeed I need to be with a factory with bases around the world – these guys have that. My decision is final and I have wavered from time to time but I must stop messing everyone around. I’m going. I will know when this week.

So I feel like das fool. I’ve been at the new factory a few weeks. It seemed OK but the guy that interviewed me is never there and the verbal cheques that were written out in the interview are unable to be cashed. When I say he isn’t there I mean he is but not there for me. Actively avoided from the get go. Was it something I said? So I am kind of sat down in an arbitrary location on the shop floor but from there I can see how it stacks up and I don’t like what I see. (more…)

I’ve neglected you. I’m sorry. The thing about a blog is that you cannot just leave it there to fester. No. Like dogs a blog is for life not just for Christmas. So it’s been an age since I last updated with a rather cruel cliff hanger to boot. So what gwan? Well, I decided to plump for the company that loved me, wanted me and believed in me. I think I have, thus far, been proven correct. I rejected the yanks. Again. Ha! I will never work for them I know it. It’s fate. It will always be. Anyway these smaller guys have been taken over by a big huge company so it looks like the old swings and roundabouts cliché would be appropriate here. I have been there a few weeks and so far it ace. The thing is my old factory was so bad that it warped me. It warped my perceptions of HK and my perceptions of the locals. My Cantonese friends that I know outside of work are mostly great people but then I contrast them with the beasts I worked with and found the two worlds difficult to balance. Looking back I was so naïve when I landed here and I had no idea what the subtle nuances are when working and living in Asia. Not a clue. I was awash with conflicting signals and isolation and it has taken me a year to adjust to the Hong Kong riddim. Now I get it. Just. (more…)

Day four is surprisingly similar to days one, two, three and four in terms of how it begins. It begins at 10am. I awake and check my phone. Any missed calls? Have they rung me? What are they playing at its 10am for Christ’s sake. Are they messing with my mind? I check my emails. Sweet FA. Nothing. No other companies have sent me anything. No response. Yes, seemingly, it all hangs on yesterday. Mess this up and I’m dust as far as HK is concerned. (more…)

The day starts like the last two. I get up late. Well, what’s to get up for? I’ve done all I can in terms of contacting every known Handbag factory in the SAR of HK and nothing has happened. I consider a job flipping burgers but I won’t get a visa for that. My brash swagger has now been replaced with a hopeless slouch. I sit on the sofa in my pants playing my Xbox. I am all at sea.

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Ditto day one but without the Central bit. Just stayed at home waiting for the offers to flood in. Nobody contacted me. Where is everyone? I feel lost and pointless. The world passes me by today. The only hope is the interview tomorrow. It all hangs on that.