Wednesday, 19 August 2009
C.G. Tracey
I have been reading a lot and getting closer all the time I think, to what I want to do for the future. I am currently reading the auto-biography of C.G. Traccy-had never heard of him before, but was apparently one of the main driving forces of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). It was incredible how much he did-commissioning valuable research that would lead to Zimbabwe's agricultural success in the 1980's, setting up and running a huge amount of organizations such as Rhodesia Promotion Council, Cotton marketing, gold mining, sanction-breaking. And the calibre of people he associated with-v.p. of the USA/British MP's, business leader etc-he was invited to speak at the Oxford Union on one occasion but was tied up doing something. However, the title was 'All for nothing?' and was it just that? Zimbabwe went from a net exporter of commoditiest to having a reliance on UN food aid currently in the space of less than two decades. He lost his farm at the height of the farm invasions, and died, aged 86, last month. It is just tragic, that all that people like him did for Zimbabwe has now been lost because of the whole political and economic circus. Anyway, maybe it is a calling for some of us youngsters to leave the past behind, and get on with building up the country again to and beyond its former status?
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Summer 2009-Cape-Town/Kariba/21st/Work
It been a while since I last blogged-I should really get in the habit of writing a bit reguarly, rather than long chunks every once in a while.
I completed exams in mid-May, and then went to Cape-Town for 2 weeks with Francesca. We stayed with Emma and Alistair in their very nice flat in Rondebosch. We spent most of the time dining in good restaurants, driving around and seeing different sites and went to Franschoek (French Corner) for a weekend which was great fun. I managed to meet up with some friends whilst there, and paid a visit to African Impact in Noordhoek to speak to Rob Graham about the agency for Oxford.
I then flew on to Harare to spend most of the summer. On about the second night back, I was watching the 20/20 cricket tournament and so didn't hear dad calling from his room (mum was away playing bridge). Anyway, when she returned and came back, she rushed in to say that dad had collapsed. We called the ambulance, but they would not come as they said they didn't accept Inter-Global health insurance-which turned out to be a mistake, so we had to drive him there. It turned out that he had a peptic ulcer that had burst and lost 70% if his blood-hence the collapse. A few days in hospital, then he was out and on the recovery.
The next week, Obadiah, our cook was crossing the main road and didn't see a car, which subsequently knocked him with its wing mirror. I thus made my second trip to hospital in a week-he was in for about a week-very lucky indeed, as his face was really messed up. It took him a good month to recover, but still not 100%.
Murray Turner invited me on a houseboat trip to Kariba early July-about 12 of us in all with some of his friends from South-Africa. Fishing was terrible-our team caught one fish that ended up slipping away! Relaxing trip and nice to get out of the city and away from the cold! James Brown, my good friend, was on a canoe trip on the Zambezi, and got knocked out of a canoe by a hippy and subsequently bitten on the arm and swung around under water. Very luckly to have come out in one piece, despite being hospitalized for two weeks-another few visiting trips to hospital for me!
I think one thing I have learn't is to be grateful of each day that passes with no unfortunate events happening-accidents etc. Because, once you, or a close family/friend is critical, life seems so out of control and you can't do anything but wait. Suddenly, all those career ambitions/wealth etc mean nothing when you are in those desperate circumstances.
I had my 21st party on the 18th July which was really enjoyable, and am grateful to my parents for making it happen. Lots of family and friends were there which was nice. The following weekend I had some friends over dinner and a poker evening which we played until 7am! Good fun, albeit losing $5.
I went to Mozambique for a few days to stay with Dave Sole at his farm. We chatter over many ideas for his farm, and I really loved it, and feel Mozambque has huuge potential for business and development in the future. Will definitely be back again.
Worked on a research document for the Brenthurst Foundation. This meant mapping out what research activity was going on in the country, and I found it interesting meeting NGO's/government etc.
I completed exams in mid-May, and then went to Cape-Town for 2 weeks with Francesca. We stayed with Emma and Alistair in their very nice flat in Rondebosch. We spent most of the time dining in good restaurants, driving around and seeing different sites and went to Franschoek (French Corner) for a weekend which was great fun. I managed to meet up with some friends whilst there, and paid a visit to African Impact in Noordhoek to speak to Rob Graham about the agency for Oxford.
I then flew on to Harare to spend most of the summer. On about the second night back, I was watching the 20/20 cricket tournament and so didn't hear dad calling from his room (mum was away playing bridge). Anyway, when she returned and came back, she rushed in to say that dad had collapsed. We called the ambulance, but they would not come as they said they didn't accept Inter-Global health insurance-which turned out to be a mistake, so we had to drive him there. It turned out that he had a peptic ulcer that had burst and lost 70% if his blood-hence the collapse. A few days in hospital, then he was out and on the recovery.
The next week, Obadiah, our cook was crossing the main road and didn't see a car, which subsequently knocked him with its wing mirror. I thus made my second trip to hospital in a week-he was in for about a week-very lucky indeed, as his face was really messed up. It took him a good month to recover, but still not 100%.
Murray Turner invited me on a houseboat trip to Kariba early July-about 12 of us in all with some of his friends from South-Africa. Fishing was terrible-our team caught one fish that ended up slipping away! Relaxing trip and nice to get out of the city and away from the cold! James Brown, my good friend, was on a canoe trip on the Zambezi, and got knocked out of a canoe by a hippy and subsequently bitten on the arm and swung around under water. Very luckly to have come out in one piece, despite being hospitalized for two weeks-another few visiting trips to hospital for me!
I think one thing I have learn't is to be grateful of each day that passes with no unfortunate events happening-accidents etc. Because, once you, or a close family/friend is critical, life seems so out of control and you can't do anything but wait. Suddenly, all those career ambitions/wealth etc mean nothing when you are in those desperate circumstances.
I had my 21st party on the 18th July which was really enjoyable, and am grateful to my parents for making it happen. Lots of family and friends were there which was nice. The following weekend I had some friends over dinner and a poker evening which we played until 7am! Good fun, albeit losing $5.
I went to Mozambique for a few days to stay with Dave Sole at his farm. We chatter over many ideas for his farm, and I really loved it, and feel Mozambque has huuge potential for business and development in the future. Will definitely be back again.
Worked on a research document for the Brenthurst Foundation. This meant mapping out what research activity was going on in the country, and I found it interesting meeting NGO's/government etc.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Head of the River Race and EHM
I raced in the novice eight category (pictured 2nd from back), and won the race fairly convincingly which was is always nice, and backed up with a spell of really sunny weather which was nice. Should be having the presentation ceremony in a few weeks time. Did our 2k race last week and got a time of 6.35 which is a big improvement from last time.
I am reading 'Confessions of an economic hitman' at the moment, and would recommend to anyone. Basically, EHM (abbreviations) are really well paid people who go into mainly developing countries to build empires for corporates in the developed world. Sometimes, they will get loans (provided by world bank) and get top US engineering and construction companies the contracts, and then to charge them interest on the loans, forcing them to default, and then taking control of more of the countries resources/set up military bases etc. 'Corporatocracy' include banks, governments and corporates and they have an empire in the west. I now understand how the British education system works-same story-loans extended to students, force them into debt and make them work for a corporate, meanshile feeding the empire billions!
So why work for a big fancy corporate/bank? Why not go and start your own thing/help developing countries get around the greedy hand of these economic hitmen? And I think that is what I am striving to achieve.
Easter break coming up which I am really looking forward to, and then exams and summer!
Monday, 16 March 2009
Week 7 (11)
Summer is well on its way, and its incredible how much energeting one becomes-all the winterly weather is subsiding and I can now go outside with shorts and a shirt on! Although, on the other hand I bought an expensive jacket the other day and now I'm gonna have to pack it away for another year!
Rowed in the Kingston head of the river this past weekend and came second in the novice category, but had a really bad race, one of the rowers crabbed and was generally very scrappy compared to senior 3. Anyway, had a pretty good ergo session today, have improved a lot since Christmas where I was 'stuck' on one score couldnt really get off-feel I have broken the psychological barrier and am moving down reasonably well. London head this weekend and will hopefully be a good race.
Been quite a social week-went for a pint with my macro group and turned out to be an all nighter-I find a lot that the best nights are those that are planned at short notice when you aren't expecting much, rather than those that are planned and looked forward to for ages! Had a curry with the novice rowers on Cowley Road after the Kingston race-we bought drinks first and saw they had 'Tusker' beer which I think is an alright drink, or perhaps its the fact that it is from Africa that I enjoy it! Introduced some of the guys to it and they thought it was terrible! What can Africa produce that is up to scratch with the western world!?
Was reading a paper today and saw that the average individual has lost 40,000 pounds this since the credit crisis began-including house price falls/securities etc. Government prancing around trying to stimulate the flow of credit but I really believe Britain and much of the first world will enter a long period of stagflation similar to Japan and its 'lost decade'. I would not buy a single asset here I dont think so for a long time to come! I also think its the end of the road for big flashy careers in investment banking in 'the city' for the time-being anyway-cannot believe how bankers are making huge losses and still demanding massive bonuses-I think its ludicrous-Goodwin of RBS is due to have a pension of nearly a million pounds a year, when he made the biggest loss in British history, AND had to be bailed out by the government-surely that is unacceptable greed!?
I think I'm going to cancel my trip to Malta over the Easter break as I really need to get some hours of work in before exams in May, but definitely going to try to get to Portugal for a surf trip after exams.
Rowed in the Kingston head of the river this past weekend and came second in the novice category, but had a really bad race, one of the rowers crabbed and was generally very scrappy compared to senior 3. Anyway, had a pretty good ergo session today, have improved a lot since Christmas where I was 'stuck' on one score couldnt really get off-feel I have broken the psychological barrier and am moving down reasonably well. London head this weekend and will hopefully be a good race.
Been quite a social week-went for a pint with my macro group and turned out to be an all nighter-I find a lot that the best nights are those that are planned at short notice when you aren't expecting much, rather than those that are planned and looked forward to for ages! Had a curry with the novice rowers on Cowley Road after the Kingston race-we bought drinks first and saw they had 'Tusker' beer which I think is an alright drink, or perhaps its the fact that it is from Africa that I enjoy it! Introduced some of the guys to it and they thought it was terrible! What can Africa produce that is up to scratch with the western world!?
Was reading a paper today and saw that the average individual has lost 40,000 pounds this since the credit crisis began-including house price falls/securities etc. Government prancing around trying to stimulate the flow of credit but I really believe Britain and much of the first world will enter a long period of stagflation similar to Japan and its 'lost decade'. I would not buy a single asset here I dont think so for a long time to come! I also think its the end of the road for big flashy careers in investment banking in 'the city' for the time-being anyway-cannot believe how bankers are making huge losses and still demanding massive bonuses-I think its ludicrous-Goodwin of RBS is due to have a pension of nearly a million pounds a year, when he made the biggest loss in British history, AND had to be bailed out by the government-surely that is unacceptable greed!?
I think I'm going to cancel my trip to Malta over the Easter break as I really need to get some hours of work in before exams in May, but definitely going to try to get to Portugal for a surf trip after exams.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Oxford happenings
For the first time in quite a long time, I feel under quite a bit of pressure from particularly the academic work. There is a lot of economics and finance which is all new stuff; you cant really use your A-level/first year knowledge anymore, and it takes a lot of reading to understand. None the less, Im happy with my modules, and am sure they will be of good use when looking for a job etc...
I also obligate myself to fit in other things as part of my university life to get the most out of it, such as Oxford Union debates/business school forums, socializing and of course rowing and so I guess it is out of choice essentially that I am under a bit of pressure. Almost missed a practice assignment deadline today which was not good!
I saw Brad Rosser speak the other day-he founded some virgin brands and also the property company inside track, which I asked him about as had heard many press reports about it and I myself almost got hooked in!! Attended a development forum at oxford some weeks ago which really got me interested inwhat I intend to do with my life.
Am setting up a SIFE organization at Brookes which should be good, but watch the space for further info!
Long days and shortish nights are the order of the day here... Rowing training now, then back for shower and dinner then Bridge club tonight!
I also obligate myself to fit in other things as part of my university life to get the most out of it, such as Oxford Union debates/business school forums, socializing and of course rowing and so I guess it is out of choice essentially that I am under a bit of pressure. Almost missed a practice assignment deadline today which was not good!
I saw Brad Rosser speak the other day-he founded some virgin brands and also the property company inside track, which I asked him about as had heard many press reports about it and I myself almost got hooked in!! Attended a development forum at oxford some weeks ago which really got me interested inwhat I intend to do with my life.
Am setting up a SIFE organization at Brookes which should be good, but watch the space for further info!
Long days and shortish nights are the order of the day here... Rowing training now, then back for shower and dinner then Bridge club tonight!
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Christmas break/Oxford semester 2
Going back to Zimbabwe for Christmas was great-I arrived on the 22nd on a flight delayed flight from Nairobi and had Matthew Williams 21st the next day. It was really good fun, except for the fact that I drank a bit too much before having to make a speech!!
Christmas was spent at Ruwa which was really enjoyable and then I went to Kariba for new year. I stayed in the Mvurwi chalet and was good fun catching up with friends after a long time away in the UK.
2009 came, and I decided to do some rowing training; a bit of sculling on Mazowe dam and also weights and rowing. I did a half-marathon with Sarah and Kevin at Old Georgians which was exhausting, and had a bit of a knee problem during the run.
I played a lot of squash whilst back home and went to many braais and drinks parties which was really enjoyable and good to see so man friends again. Been asked to join an Antarctica expedition in 2012 which sounds exciting, will have to see??
I got back to the UK on Thursday and have settled down in my house, and ready to start a new semester which is going to be tough with lots of finance modules, but am looking forward to it.
Watching the super-bowl final now, and saw the Australian open final today which was incredible.
Christmas was spent at Ruwa which was really enjoyable and then I went to Kariba for new year. I stayed in the Mvurwi chalet and was good fun catching up with friends after a long time away in the UK.
2009 came, and I decided to do some rowing training; a bit of sculling on Mazowe dam and also weights and rowing. I did a half-marathon with Sarah and Kevin at Old Georgians which was exhausting, and had a bit of a knee problem during the run.
I played a lot of squash whilst back home and went to many braais and drinks parties which was really enjoyable and good to see so man friends again. Been asked to join an Antarctica expedition in 2012 which sounds exciting, will have to see??
I got back to the UK on Thursday and have settled down in my house, and ready to start a new semester which is going to be tough with lots of finance modules, but am looking forward to it.
Watching the super-bowl final now, and saw the Australian open final today which was incredible.
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