The Searchlight of Insight

Sebastian turns 10 and leapfrogs technology

Today Sebastian turned ten. We finally caved and bought him an iTouch. Generally we are not on the leading edge when it comes to technology. The computer I am using to write this post is eight years old: younger than Sebastian but older than the triplets. Tess and I have Kindles but we don’t have ipads or much else when it comes to gadgets. Naturally the kids have been pressuring us to get their own gadgets, especially phones. I have a lot of fun answering the question, “But how old were you when you got your first phone?” I will cock my head to the side and say with a cryptic voice, “Twenty seven!” This is true and that phone was the size of a shoebox, weighing the same as a large bag of rice. (Left: the first picture taken on Seb's new iTouch just before the kids went to bed.)

Shoeboxes and rice have come a long way since I was twenty-seven, lugging around an almost briefcase sized phone during the BC Yachts years. Today, most household phones no longer have wires attached to them. “Oh I remember them!” reports Sebastian triumphantly. The kids marvel in disbelief at the notion TVs were black and white when I was their age, cartoons were only on the television Saturday mornings and the Internet was only a sparkle in the late Steve Jobs’ eye.

What I didn’t know about Jobs’ latest version of the iTouch, is that the device -0 even though it is not a phone - is Skype enabled. Last night after the kids fell asleep I set-up Seb’s iTouch, loaded on some of his favourite apps, created a Skype account for him and charged the battery. Then I carefully slipped it back into the package.

Tonight we went to the ABC for dinner. The kids played in the pool for Floaty Wednesday – the only time the lifeguards allow inflatables in the pool. After dinner Sebastian opened his presents. (This involved closing his eyes and reaching into a recycable shopping bag because Seb doesn’t want us to waste paper on the environment.) He acted suitably delighted at each small present, strongly suspecting that at the end of the tunnel was the grand prize iTouch.

Back at home we set-up the wireless connection. Sebastian tried calling me on Skype. It worked. Then he called Auntie Pammy and Uncle Ed in Canada. It worked. I sent him a message via Skype chat, “It’s time for bed.” He wrote back, “Hi, ok.”

The idea dawned on me that perhaps, by the time Sebastian does get a phone, it might be obsolete. In fact he may never own a phone, as his parents now know them. Instead, at ten years old, Sebastian, long beyond copper, discarded even fibre, and leapt over technology into the wireless world of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). That subtle but transformational technology shift is not one I anticipated when he was born ten years ago this morning.

Thinking, thinking...

Tess blogged about being willing to leave Hong Kong but not Pokfulam… and that she is processing. Here’s why. Three years ago we seriously considered moving to Sai Kung and looked for property to buy. In general there is more space for less money. We could likely get a house. I know Sai Kung is not everybody’s cup of tea, but we seriously thought about it. We viewed at least 100 properties online and 30 in the flesh. One property caught our eye. We saw it twice: once by ourselves and once with the kids. The kids loved it but the area is somewhat isolated. Tess and I said to each other, “Not quite right, but IF there was a house built immediately in front of that house, it might be perfect.” So we said, “No,” to the disappointment of the delightful realtor because it really is a charming village.

Flash forward three years later shortly after the July snowball fight in Canada. I’m on the phone late one Hong Kong night with Tess back in Canada who says, “I think it’s time to start thinking about Sai Kung again because the kids really need more space.” (I thought: “Start thinking again? Who stopped thinking about it?”) Having just spent a week in their own rented house with a huge yard, and then back on Lake Okanagan for three weeks, the kids were thriving in the wide-open space.

The next day for kicks and giggles I did a quick search. The first property to pop up looked much like the one we’d said “no” to and listed through the same agent. I email Delightful Realtor and asked her if it was the same house. “No,” she replied, “It is a new house, built immediately in front of that house.” Okay, so that’s weird.

Once Tess and the kids returned to Hong Kong we drove out to look at the property, along with four others to bring our in-the-flesh total to 35. The house we like is a shell, with an occupancy permit – ideal for renovating according to one’s tastes. (Read slightly easier and cheaper – no walls to knock down during reno.) There is a plot of land attached to the house (about 1,000 sq ft) so it would come with a small yard. The whole village is surrounded by woods for the kids to explore (one of the things they love about Canada) and a deserted road. Yes, the village is isolated, but not that bad compared to other parts of Sai Kung or Clearwater Bay: off the beaten path you have to work it out. Most people who live in Sai Kung rave about it. Most people who live in Pokfulam rave about it. (At left: view from the third floor master bedroom.)

Back to the village: the deserted road is not a thoroughfare. Essentially it forms the street into the village, plus another half click, and then comes to an end. (It’s politically incorrect to say “dead end” but there is in fact a teeny cemetery about a fifteen-minute walk from the village.) A trail follows onwards from the errrr, end. Eventually the trail comes to an end because it turns back into a road accessing another major road... from the other side. I am thinking ahead at the possibility that someday these two roads might connect and that…  would be huge.

So Tess and I are processing this situation, weighing the pros and cons to determine the way forward. The fact this would be a HUGE, long project is not lost on me. The kids love the idea of moving into this house but they despise the idea of switching schools and being separated from their friends. (BTW, one of the girls' good friends just moved to Sai Kung.)  "But just think, playdates would be three days long: arrive on Friday night and depart Monday morning!"  (Their friends' parents love that idea!) Truthfully, only Sebastian is old enough for this move to have a big impact. Although, my parents switched classes on me when I was in kindergarten and I harboured a grudge for a few decades. Silly really. For the triplets, new friends would emerge quickly and eventually for Sebastian. Jasper is bereft at the idea of anything changing in his life if it involves effort. Carys is digging in her heals a little. Sela has already packed her bags.

Sleep update

Thank you everyone for some great ideas on getting a better night sleep. In general, things have been slightly improved but I still go through a restless period each night. I thought people would get a laugh out of the accompanying graph from last night. (Gweipo, please note the time I went to bed!) Quite a roller coaster ride. I don't remember much of this ride except I do remember waking up in the morning and not feeling so rested. The kids were also early risers this morning, which surprised me. The girls were tired out from a Saturday night sleep over. All the kids had quite an active day on Sunday, too with early morning rugby training for the boys. I was certain would give the kids a little extra sleep this morning. They were quiet, but they were not sleeping!

Lovely Tess suggested I show everyone what her sleep cycle looks like. I forgot to get a copy off her iPhone. However, I found a diagram of a reef dropping off into the ocean that looks the same as Tess' sleep patterns. Starts with Tess reading a book, which is code for circling the airport or entering into the sleep zone: not to be disturbed. After reading for a while Tess will get sleepy, but then suddenly awaken enough to discard her book and turn off the light. Sometimes, often, this task will be left to me - I will turn off the light for Tess and move dropped book off of the bed because, Tess has already dropped off into an ocean of sleep looking like an angel bathed in white light. Tess needs no beauty sleep.

Mini-rugby has begun!

The Hong Kong mini-rugby season is upon us. Today was our first day of practice after missing last week. We are doing Sunday practice after merging the Saturday satellite group I was coaching into the regular Sunday group. This requires Seb starting Sundays at 9:30 AM. And that means Jasper wants to play Sunday morning, too - an 8 AM start. (One of Sebastian's beefs is when Jasper copies him, but Seb has yet to figure out that this is actually happening with rugby on Sunday mornings!) This also makes for a long Sunday but that's okay. The boys are happy and enjoying the sport.

We dealt with a mountain of indecision leading up to the season start. First they - including the girls - wanted to play, then they didn't want to play, then they did, then they didn't, did, didn't, did, didn't, did, didn't, did. Oh my gosh this drove me nuts. Then today while playing Rugby Basketball I tossed the ball into the group and it immediately bounced up into Seb's stomach and winded him. This didn't help. But we're here, and we've started and are on our way into the season. Hong Kong-based Canadians friends are not impressed, arguing that the kids should be playing ice hockey. (Which, believe it or not IS offered in Hong Kong.) Prayers appreciated!

A Special Moment

On Saturday morning I attended a prayer meeting at Union Church – a long but truly worthwhile session. The point of this story is not to share about the prayer meeting, but about what happened beforehand. Recently the church sanctuary received its annual touch-up, re-paint, new TV screens. Turns out there is a small window hidden at the very front of the sanctuary. I am not sure but I suspect an opaque curtain has covered it for years. The curtain allows a little light in but nothing striking. During the touch-up someone drew back the curtain. Net result… I was one of the first to arrive at the church early Saturday morning. Venturing into the sanctuary I discovered an intensity I’d never before seen on the Bible near the front. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Alone, I moved forward, curious and mesmerised, until face to face with the Bible.  Beaming down was an intense sunlight illuminating The Book in a way I could never describe appropriately.

Suddenly from behind, and above, came a voice, “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Chris Yorks, our Music Director, who I think discovered the perpetrating curtain, had watched me from the sanctuary balcony. We marvelled at the scene and the fact that long ago – really long ago – someone put a window in that exact spot to capture the sun on the Bible each morning. (When I returned later to capture a picture the sun had moved but I think you'll still get the idea.)