I am surprised how many people seem never to have heard of cloisonné ware. It’s an ancient form of making metal containers dating back to ancient Egyptian times and has been made in many countries. It’s called cloisonné, a French word for ‘partitions’ or ‘compartments’ filled with vitreous enamels. I admire and…
Recently my doctor admired my walking stick. He asked if I had made it. I told him it was Australian Jarrah wood and I had purchased it in a shop at the Rocks, in Sydney, for A$159 – it was beautifully designed. When travelling I always tried to buy a local stick. Not…
At short notice, I was asked to go to Laos. New Zealand had been short-listed by the Asian Development Bank to put in a team to help Laos stimulate its agriculture. New Zealand had selected a strong team led by Dr. Neil Worker – who had held a senior position at the World Bank.…
Periodically five generations of my family have lived on the Tinakori Hill (recently renamed Ahumairangi) in Wellington, New Zealand. They all have stories to tell. One of my favourite stories was told by my father. Let me tell you his story about a boy called Sharkey. “When I was 16, Nick Winter…
Success occurs when opportunity and preparation meet – it is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration. Study the work habits of successful people – cultivate those that can help you. A Handful of Tips to help you on your way * Life is short – make the most of it The…
In August 1989, at short notice, I was called to the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila in the Philippines. They needed me to help them with an urgent mission in Sri Lanka. My role was to go to the head office of the Department of Agriculture in Kandy and collect…
The most scary event occurred in a country I enjoyed living in – that was Thailand. We lived in Bangkok for eighteen months. We rented a very pleasant apartment, in a guarded compound, in a affluent area of the city. It was next to the First Army Division Headquarters. We believed this…
A son asked me, “What was the most interesting country I worked in.” I had no trouble answering that, it could only be Sri Lanka or Ceylon as it was called when I first visited in 1946. I have visited ten times and carried out many missions for national and international organizations. I…
After twenty visits to the Dhaka airport, I am now over my nightmares. It was the site of many bad experiences. Having carried out ten missions in Bangladesh I classify it as the least liked country I have worked in. Bangladesh is half the size of New Zealand and has a population of…
Having worked in some sixteen countries I have been asked “What is my favourite and why was that my choice?”. I have carried out ten jobs and visits to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – lived in Thailand for eighteen months and Samoa for seven months. After some consideration I said Singapore. Let…
Another Handful of Tips 