Today in History: 16th March

Hello again Gentle Readers. Lets pull on our skin tight jeans of history and slick our hair into the Rock n Roll style of time.

1812: The Siege of Badajoz begins during the Peninsular War.

1911: Nazi doctor and war criminal Joseph Mengele is born.

1935: Adolf Hitler orders that Germany tear up the Treaty of Versailles and start rearming.

1968: In Vietnam, up to 500 unarmed men, women and children are killed by US troops during the My Lai massacre.

1978: Supertanker Amoco Cadiz runs aground causing the biggest oil spill recorded.

#16march #todayinhistory #badajoz #hitler #mylai #mengele #amococadiz

50 Dreams: 5 years on

Hello again Gentle Reader. 5 years ago I posted a blog entry called 50 dreams. These were dreams or goals that I set myself to
achieve.
3 years ago I wrote an update blog post in which I ticked off all the things that had happened

In this update I am going to let you know if I achieved any more of my goals. If the goal has a comment that means I achieved or partially achieved it.

1. Own my own home
2. Have a garden
3. Eternal Happiness
4. Be comfortable financially.
Lena and I have been able to save up so yes we are better off.
5. Be healthy
I lost a lot of weight. Put some back on though.
6. Be fit
I ran the 5k in the Riga marathon and I regularly walk
7. Be a published author
Does the blog count as published
8. Be successful in my career
I was Curriculum Coordinator in China and Head of Humanities in Armenia.
9. Be a valued colleague to my workmates
I think my colleagues see me as valuable.
10. Not have to worry about money
11. Be a good father/grandfather
12. Stand on every continent including Antarctica
Now up to 5 just South America and Antarctica to go.
13. Drive Route 66 in USA (Chicago to Los Angeles)

14. Be in an earthquake
15. Witness a volcanic eruption
16.Want my mum healthy
Shes Cancer free
17. Marry Lena
Yes for nearly 5 years
18. Adopt a handsome little boy
See the pic below

19. Father a beatiful girl
20. Have my art in an exhibition.
21. Have a nice family friendly car
Yep Peugeot 2008 but had to leave it in Latvia. Now I dont need s car.

22. Want to see Fulham back in the Premier League.
Got promoted then after 1 season relegated.
23. Want to stand on top of Ben Nevis

24. Want to walk the West Highland Way
25. To visit New Zealand and see  the Lord of the Rings scenary
26. To speak Latvian and/or Russian
Russian is getting better
27. To visit every European Capital City
Only a few more to go.
28. To write a Doctor Who script (even if not transmitted)
29. To be the best husband in the world
Ask Lena
30. To walk across the frozen River Daugava
31. To read music, even though I cannot play
32. Finish the 5k run in May
Done
33. To do a Masters in Education
Planning to do one in Educational Administration
34. Do another degree (philosophy maybe)
35. Keep Learning new stuff
36. Actually see the Trevi fountain working.
Was going in April but had to cancel due to Covid-19

37. See Scotland fully independant
38. Live in a country where white people are the minority.
2 years in China
39. Retire when I'm 60
40. Own a place in the country
41. Be involved with a charity
We have helped an orphanage in Liepaja
42. Have more time to do things I enjoy
43. Stay up all night drinking and NOT suffer for 4 days
44. Be asked for my autograph
45.Win an award (could be anything)

46. Have a really fancy dinner party
47. Make my children proud
48. Help my pupils achieve their goals.
That will never end.
49. Write a teaching theory manual.
50. Sing at Karaoke and hit every note.

As you can see. Some I have achieved, others only partly but life is a marathon not a sprint and I know that most of them are going to happen.
Keep checking back to see my progress. You know I will probably be blogging about it.

#50dreams #2020

Top 10 Fun facts about China

Hello Gentle Readers.

A few years ago I wrote a blog post about China that was a little bit negative. Later when I discovered we were moving to China, I deleted it.

Its been 8 months since we left China and as I never intend to return I am going to post this.

1. 30 million people in China live on less than $1 US a day.

2. Over 35 million people in China still live in caves.

3. China uses the death penalty 4 times more than the rest of the world combined.

4. Nearly 700 million Chinese drink contaminated water.

5. Every 30 seconds a baby is born with a birth defect.

6. In China the word Censorship is censored.

7. 4 million cats are eaten in China every year.

8.  Between 2011 and 2013, China used more cement than the USA used in the entire 20th century.

9. In order to make chopsticks over 20 million treescare cut down every year.

10. China has between 30 and 40 million men who cannot find wices.

#china #top10

Spring has sprung on Youtube in Yerevan

Hey Gentle viewers

Here is our latest Youtube offering. Enjoy

#yerevan #springtime #youtube #thomsonsworld

Coronavirus Armenian Referendum Pashinyan

Hello again Gentle Readers

I feel proud to live in Armenia. Countries like China, the USA, Italy, Britain are falling apart and running out of loo roll.

In Armenia, although it shares a border with Iran (6000 cases and 145 deaths) has regular flights to Italy (6000 cases 200+ deaths) there has only been 1 (one) confirmed case.

Seems unbelievable....there is a referendum on government policy due at beginning of April???

I hope the government isnt playing politics with people?

I am not saying that only one case is an Armenian government lie  but I do find it exceedingly strange that Armenia, which lacks many of the healthcare advantages that richer more developed countries have has been so lucky to avoid more cases.

Many countries around the world are coming up with plans of action. Where is Armenia's?

The referendum on the Pashinyan government is a month away. Pashinyan himself is on a charm offensive. Travelling on the subway in Yerevan and handing out flowers to women on the 8th March.

I like him....but if he or his health minister are hiding the truth; the referendum may become a vote of confidence.

#armenia #referendum #pashinyan #coronavirus

Happy 8th March

Happy 8th March Gentle Readers, especially the mums, wives, daughters, aunts etc.

Its International Womans Day. So wherever you are, put your feet up and let someone else take care of you.

Have a great Day.

#8thmarch #internationalwomansday

Please read this post. It could save you.

Hello gentle readers. I saw this post written be Adam Wren on Facebook and wanted to share it with you.

Read it. Share it. Thanks

https://medium.com/@amwren/forget-about-the-death-rate-this-is-why-you-should-be-worried-about-the-coronavirus-890fbf9c4de6


#adamwren #coronavirus #getinformedstaysafe