The Voice Box

A House is Not a Home I know quite a lot of people to whom their home is everything. For a start, in selecting a home, they insist the property should represent everything they stand for. The more expensive the better, even if in some cases it may be far beyond their budget. Home making today has become a competitive game in one upmanship. The constant moving, with the focus on the social ladder, or the ever so important improvements, to make the property that more attractive, has become standard practice everywhere. The home seems no longer a focus for the family, but a grand investment in the real estate bubble. Yet, there are many who would insist the house is still the main focus of family life. But I don't accept this, or to put it bluntly, this is not what I see being practised. What I see more and more today, is the house is used as a staging ground for all our activities, business, leisure or otherwise. Of course, it is still probably the place where we spend a great deal o

A House is Not a Home Leaving home in a hurry is difficult for all of us. Leaving home when the elements whether hurricane, flooding, or any other disaster threaten your every existence, is even far more problematic. In the last few weeks the tragedy of Katrina has taught us a lot of lessons. If forced to evacuate when some disaster strikes, there is a chance that you may return to find that your home is no longer there, or even no longer habitable. This presents us with a serious question. How important is your home to you?

Another German Election? Another election for Germany, absolutely not. The people have spoken, and now it is time for the politicians to deliver. Of course, almost of all of them will have to eat their words, and start dancing to a very different tune. But that will be a wonderful experience for them. I am one who truly believe that politicians do benefit, ever so often, from being humbled. It is obvious that some kind of coalition has to happen. Angel Merkel feels her time has come. But I am not so certain. The fact that her Christian Democrats and the pro-business party, hold a slim majority over the Social Democrats, does not suggest to me that she should naturally be the next chancellor. The truth remains, that together they are still a minority in the German Parliament. The same applies to the combination of Gerhard Schroeder and the Green Party. Any way you look at it, the coalition could go either way. Unless there is a dramatic development, and the two principal players suddenl

United Nations Party The world leaders gathered in New York to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations. The intention was that they would meet and greet, and eventually come up with a better way of continuing international dialogue, and promoting cooperation between countries of the world. Most important were issues of poverty, free trade, treatment of Aids victims, promoting peace and democracy, fighting terror, etc. What did happen? By the end it was obvious that they celebrated their differences. Whatever the individual members of the group felt, and there were those who taught that by bringing so many leaders together in one room was itself an achievement. As the world's foremost international I think they missed a great opportunity. For once you would have hoped that they could have suspended their own personal agenda, and considered the good of all mankind. Did they? No, they did not. At the end of the conference they managed to cobble a statement of a f

Imagine a situation in which tragedy strikes, and you have one hour to evacuate your home. What would you take? I would select one of my medium size travelling bags which must be enough to hold all of my personal effects. I will start with three pairs of trousers, two light and one heavy. I will add three pairs of shorts, two regular and one knee length. For underpants the magic number will be seven, one for every day of the week. Three short sleeve shirts and two long sleeve ones will then be added. I will complete the clothing collection with my favoutite sweater, four tee shirts, and one coat (suited to the time of the year). Footwear will comprise of one pair of shoes which I will be wearing, a pair of sandals, plus four extra pairs of socks. Three towels of varying sizes, and a small bagpack. And of course, a case with all my personal effects, and a portfolio of all my private documents. Money and credit cards in my pockets, I will be ready to evacuate in forty minutes. PS. I deba

One Hour to Evacuate Imagine a situation in which tragedy strikes, and you have one hour to evacuate your home. What would you take? I would select one of my medium size travelling bags which must be enough to hold all of my personal effects. I will start with three pairs of trousers, two light and one heavy. I will add three pairs of shorts, two regular and one knee length. For underpants, the magic number will be seven, one for every day of the week. Three short sleeve shirts and two long sleeve ones will then be added. I will complete the clothing collection with my favoutite sweater, four tee shirts, and one coat (suited to the time of the year). Footwear will comprise of one pair of shoes which I will be wearing, a pair of sandals, plus four extra pairs of socks. Three towels of varying sizes, and a small bagpack. And of course, a case with all my personal effects, and a portfolio of all my private documents. Money and credit cards in my pockets, I will be ready to evacuate in for

New Orleans: After the Storm Every time I saw an image on televison about Katrina's devastation of New Orleans, I would cringe in disbelief. This is not the New Orleans I know. This is not the New Orleans which I visited only last year. Indeed, I was right. This is a different New Orleans, a New Orleans facing annihalation, a city drowning in its own waters, a city where death and destruction have become the norm. Whatever happens in the next few weeks, New Orleans will never be the same. I am not going to start to allot blame,for me there are too many individuals who are already doing that. But there were times when following the sequence of events, I could only feel shock, and outrage. Hurricanes always bring a mixture of emotions, and this one seemed no different . At least, that was the way it looked at the start. But then the rot set in,and everything seemed out of control. Suddenly, the human face of tragedy was everywhere. Many of us watching from around the world couldn&

New Orleans: Before the Storm I remember New Orleans, as it was. After all, I visited only last November, and I loved the pulse of city life. Don't get me wrong, I could see that the city was not perfect. But then no city is, and therefore on this occasion I suspended indiscreet judgements. I took the streetcar on many occasions because it was the last thing you expect to find this side of the USA. In many ways, it was the best way to travel especially on holiday, as it took its time, always cruising at its own speed. Many a time I headed up St. Charles street, studying the avenues, the grand houses, the commercial options for eating, and the large overflowing trees which lined some of the roadways. Life was easy, and enjoyable. I remember making my way to the zoo after a walk across a park, happy to see the animals, definitely not the kind of activity that I would contemplate while at home. But it was the nightlife that made New Orleans different. Bourbon Street and its surroundin