My Friend Henry

Now children, don't take fright. This is not something from a horror movie or Jurrasic Park. This is a recent picture of my best friend from my school (and post school) days- Henry Pook.

I mentioned Henry in my last blog as my fellow enthusiast in all things photographic. In fact, he was more than that to me; he was my constant friend and companion right through our high school days.

Henry and I lived about 15 kms from each other in towns which were beyond the suburbs of Melbourne. We travelled to school on different school buses, and I always felt so happy to see Henry in the school ground on my arrival. I think our close friendship helped us journey through the social aspects of schooling happily.

Henry and I were like chalk and cheese in our viewpoints on life. He was a strong socialist and I a capitalist. He opposed anything remotely connected with the Americans; I supported. During our school days, the Vietnam war was raging, and every morning, we would read the newspaper and debate endlessly about politics...and religion, history and social issues. I found that Henry could always support his ideas because he read books and magazines. Henry taught me to read! He may not have thought I read the right books, but he taught me this valuable habit.

During school holidays, we would spend our holidays together, hiking and camping...with hours of endless discussion. We took train trips, photographed everything of interest, stayed at each other's homes, visited numerous bookstore-of left and right wing persuations, and generally thought life was pretty good for us.

After high school, Henry went on to university, completing a Master of Arts and also publishing several books. He was a school teacher for a number of years but has now moved into a position of director at one of Melbourne's leading colleges. He is also pursuing his Ph.D. He is married to a delightful lady and has children who have obviously inherited their parent's brains and their mother's looks!

Henry and I met in Kuala Lumpur recently when Henry was over on business. We had such a delightful few hours together, reminising about days gone by. He was the best friend I have ever had, and his many positive characteristics had, and continue to have, a profound effect upon my life.

New Camera

During my younger days, my friend, Henry, and I spent many wonderful hours indulging in our favourite hobby- photography.

Now, those were the days when the only film- yes, film, not digital- was black and white, and the only money we had to develop our pics was our 'pocket money' or allowance that we got from our parents, or later on, some part -time work.

But that never dampened our enthusiasm and whereever we went, our cameras were always slung around our necks.

In those days, we struggled to buy a small Kodak camera, then after many months of saving, a second hand camera with a variety of shutter speeds and lens openings. It was only when we started working, that we could afford anything that had adjustable lens and exposure meter. Yes, it all sounds so prehistoric, doesn't it, to this generation!

Our dream was to one day own the best camera in the world- the one that the Queen of England has- a Leica.

Well, to cut a long story short, I just recently purchased my first Leica! I was so excited, I even convinced the agent to give me a Leica shirt! My friend Henry told me a year or so back that he had also purchased a Leica.

How many years did we wait for this fantasy to come true? I also have a fantasy of owning a Rolls-Royce car. But that may have to wait a little longer...!

Never give up your dreams...and never lose the 'child' within you!

Teaching in Vietnam

During the past few months, I have made several trips to Saigon, in Vietnam, to teach in DBA and MBA classes.

I love Saigon, the city, and the students there are also delightful. They are keen and we experience lots of good interaction, even though we have to use a translator in all classes.

These are students from my last MBA class.