The Dome Cafe is a Perth based coffee chain expanding throughout South East Asia & the Middle East; featuring an all day menu and superb Arabica coffee. The wooden floors, distinctive green tiling, plush seats and beans stored in glass wall mounted dispensers behind the counter create the style of the cafe.

The cafe at the Singapore Art Museum on Bras Basah Road doesn’t exactly follow the architecture of standard outlets; I find this an excellent ambiance to read a copy of The Straits Times and reflect on the fast paced life we all now engage in.

Quality coffee served at the art museum in the colonial district of the Singaporean city state is a throwback to a bygone era. I find the colonial district the most interesting area of Singapore, the history of Singapore dates back pre-11th century – formally becoming a republic in 1965. Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and British colonial powers ruled Singapore with Sir Stanford Raffles formalising the agreement in 1819 lasting until February 1942.

Japanese Imperial Forces took the island following the surrender by Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, who incidentally met his victor General Yamashima on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbour, refusing to shake his hand was cold comfort for the prisoners of war who endured Changi, the Burma Railway, Sandakan including hell ships, death marches, starvation, beatings, bayonet practice and beheading. In an ironic moment, MacArthur reportedly handed Percival one of the pens used to sign the Japanese surrender.

I constantly reflect on the most famous of cafes, the Le Dome of Paris fame known as the intellectual gathering place of the bohemian culture of post WW I artists, writers, sculptors, poets and dealers immediately enters my conscience. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Maugham, Picasso and Gauguin all graced the cafe during its heyday. Reading and discussing contemporary issues is the lifeblood of the modern cafe – I seek solace spending my time absorbing contemporary culture and observing people over a coffee.

Pemberton, a former logging town has now embraced tourism as the major driver of economic stability, whilst logging and sawmill activities still remain, it has been significantly reduced.

Fortunately old growth logging has been dramatically curtailed, unfortunately though, it still remains. However, newer species like Tasmanian bluegums are now harvested along with old growth karri.

Viticulture is now expanding in the region; cool climate wines are synonymous with brand Pemberton – pinot noir, shiraz, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and merlot are all regional staples. Salitage is my choice of pinot noir in the region, I also particularly enjoy Bellarmine reds as well, it is time to start exploring the whites of the region.

The Pemberton swimming pool, a favourite picnic location for families is located on Lefroy Brook, slightly more than 1 km from the Pemberton township. There are plenty of interesting sights to see in the region ranging from the Warren National Park, Gloucester, Diamond and Bicentennial trees, cascades and the steam trains of the Pemberton Tramway Company.

Tall karri trees line the natural swimming pool, my visit was in the middle of winter – there was no chance of going for a swim. As the light shone through trees in the morning, the fog started to rise and the early morning light, the steam train does not run during summer as the risk of fire is too great so I feel winter is the best time to visit Pemberton and surrounds.

For a young person to attend university to study management straight from high school is marginal at best and foolhardy at worst. The Master of Business Administration, or MBA as it is known was originally devised for professionals in diverse fields such as medicine, engineering and science – that is, a person with a technical education seeking the skills and knowledge to run a business.

Having owned a small business, I employed university graduates pretty much straight from school and I learned, to my misfortune that they were not adequately prepared to enter the workforce. Had those institutions insisted on a greater emphasis on workforce development; I would have been employing grounded personnel without the attitude and arrogance willing to undertake all the tasks on offer. 

In an argument with a staff member refusing to undertake a menial task, I pointed out I started out on the broom sweeping floors when required. His reply was that he has a degree, he doesn’t need to use a broom. To this day, I still jump on a broom or mop when required, at that time I had an Advanced Diploma in Management, not an insignificant qualification and was supervising up to 15 apprentices in my full-time employment. 

In order to keep the guys in my charge working effectively, it was more efficient for me to grab cleaning equipment whilst they finished their tasks, I could supervise effectively whilst pushing the broom around them. Not only did it not damage my credibility, it increased my credibility as the apprentices understand I possess technical knowledge and they saw a guy willing to get in and get the job done.

Furthermore, much to his surprise, I could discuss strategic management issues with him using business school terminology and phrases. Not the attitude to take with the person who pays your wages – many thanks to Navarro et al. I had the fortune, or misfortune some might argue to spend some time with a Harvard MBA socially, he was arrogant beyond belief after (according to him, 250k spent on his Harvard education) but well equipped to handle most business situations.

I, on the other hand had first hand supervisory experience working my way through the ranks having no formal management education at that stage. I could do the job, at a supervisory level as was proven in my employment without knowing the correct processes or functions. Upon my return to Australia, I was in a bookshop and the title immediately jumped out at me, I had to have this book and after paying a very modest fee had this valuable reference tool in my grasp. This was the text that gave me the confidence to undertake formal management training. 

To this day, I still reference this excellent book as it has all the major concepts and is more compact than my university reference books. While I now have a mature age bachelor degree, the time spent chatting to to my MBA acquaintance provided the impetus to get accredited. Much humour is now attained on my part, whilst working through the lower frontline management certificates and diplomas – it was predominately face-to-face delivery before undertaking an online university course (still requiring attendance at face-to-face examinations). 

I still face snide remarks from uni snobs at my workplace despite the fact I am their superior, that is, I have a higher position and salary, maybe it never ends short of a Harvard MBA after all. A university education gets you the job interview advantage, however, without actual workplace experience, they are likely to comprehensively fail. A person with on-the-job experience reading What the best MBAs know is at a distinct advantage to an arrogant university graduate.

I purchased a new notebook computer loaded with Windows 8; in short – I hate it. It is apparent this operating system was designed for tablets, I have to ask, why wouldn’t they release Windows 8 exclusively for tablets while maintaining Windows 7 for desktop and laptop computers?

I need to take some lessons on turning certain functions off because I can’t purchase a standard operating version of Windows 7; so I am just going to have to get used to it. Furthermore, I don’t want to fork out any more money to replace this program, time to turn as many functions off as possible.

I am informed Windows 8 is overlaid on the Windows 7 operating system, that is the start and app screen are posted on the main operating system. I try to revert to the standard desktop; although every time I plug in a drive, try to change a program or perform a task – it reverts back to this useless operating system.

Gawd, I hate this – I hope they release their upgrade as soon as possible. In their attempt to take on Android and IOS, the phone market seems to be driving the personal computer market, a computer novice like myself is just left frustrated wanting to smash my new laptop against the wall and revert to my old Vista powered computer.

We are now well into spring, the days are getting longer, we are seeing plenty of sunshine and some rain and overcast conditions as well. Heading up to Kings Park on the weekends, concerts are beginning and the outdoor cinema will be starting again soon.

Weekend outdoor concerts are great family attractions, people are out socialising, a casual and relaxed atmosphere ensures happiness. People can have a few drinks without affecting other people’s fun and still be able to drive home safely.

Sitting around the lake with plenty of room between people, you have the ability to get up and wander around. The volume was high enough to be heard at a distance but not so loud as to prevent casual chatting between family members and friends – roll on summer.

Leaving Perth early on a Saturday morning, a two and a half hour drive south saw us bypass Bunbury heading straight to Busselton. Heading further south from Dunsborough, a series of bays and inlets mark the landscape where the south west forests meets the Indian Ocean.

Bunker Bay, known to many for the resort on the overlooking the bay harbours the restaurant Other side of the Moon winning numerous awards, coming highly recommended. Not wanting to spend such a fabulous day indoors, some hiking around the surrounds was in order.

A clear blue sky and plenty of sunshine, we set out down the hill to the water’s edge, there were no waves crashing against the rocky shore, the ocean was calm and conditions perfect. My only concern was ensuring I had sufficient sun protection, a hat and sun glasses. Some excellent photo opportunities presented itself in this barely visited section of coastline, a small number of fishermen cast the rods out past the break where fortunately there was no swell breaking on the shoreline. I love the isolation of this coastline, avoiding the crowds is a large part of a summer break, unfortunately I only ever get to visit the southern coast when no sailing is scheduled in the summer sailing season. From Perth, a trip down the southern coastline is popular for both locals and tourists alike.

The tragic sinking of another Indonesian people smuggler vessel ferrying illegal immigrants to Australia raises further questions regarding the sea worthiness of people smuggling boats, the tactics employed by the people smugglers and the willingness of people entering contractual arrangements with crime syndicates breaching the sovereignty of Australia.

The vessel, reported 25 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast had a mobile phone programmed to call Australian rescue authorities in event of problems, while some discrepancy exists as to when the call to Australian rescue authorities was made, it is clear Australian authorities contacted Indonesian authorities who coordinated rescue efforts. The Australian rescue authorities responded by sending notice to shipping in the area with a diverted merchant vessel unable to locate the stricken vessel, a border protection aircraft also joined the search.Territorial waters generally extend 12 nautical miles, approximately 22 km from the coastline as defined by the United Nations convention on the law of the sea, the contiguous zone extends a further 12 nautical miles with the exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles. It is clear the vessel was in Indonesian waters and although headed to Australia, was still in Indonesia.

To keep things in perspective, Rottnest Island is 19 km from Fremantle, is viewed by line of sight from the West Australian coast line, once a year a swimming race from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island is held, it is not only possible for people to swim that distance, they do so on a regular basis. Private craft regularly get into difficulty west of Rottnest Island, Indonesian search and rescue is never called to provide assistance to these vessels, why then is Australian authorities called to rescue Indonesian vessels in Indonesian waters?

Australian and Indonesian authorities have been working together with the HMAS Ballarat rendezvousing with an Indonesian Coast Guard vessel transferring rescued people from another stricken vessel who then landed the people back on Indonesian soil. Cooperation between Australian and Indonesian authorities appears to be entering a new phase, the willingness of Indonesia to accept boat-people from the Australian navy in Indonesian waters is the turn around policy in practice.

Making the bus trip from Cebu City to the north of the island is an arduous journey, a slow uncomfortable trip costing just 170 peso, the boat trip across the straight to the island is a further 100 peso. The other option is the dive centre picks you up from the airport in the south driving you to the boat departure point for $125 AUD, at an exchange rate of 39, that is a bus ride of $4.35 with the boat trip costing $2.56. The banca ride from Maya to Malapascua was uneventful, even discounting the odd wave splashing the occupants due to the surface chop. Landing on the beach, I removed my sandals to walk down the gang-plate so they don\’t get wet only to stand on a dog turd, not the start I had envisioned.

A walk around through the back paths guided by a bunch of local kids landed us at the rear entrance of Evolution Diving, great hopes ensured after my first disastrous trip to Malapascua in 2007 where no thresher sharks were spotted due to the arrogance of Thresher Shark Divers, a dive outfit I vowed I would never dive with again.

Left waiting at reception wasn’t the start I needed but after finally getting it sorted, also spotting an electronic banking system sitting on the desk made me less than happy when I was informed to bring cash as no electronic facilities existed on the island despite paying electronically years earlier. I was forced to bring cash, I always feel nervous carrying large amounts of cash in the electronic age, I am after all in a developing nation with security always an issue.

I moved onto the dive centre where I added my name to the whiteboard for the 5.00 am and 9.00 am dives. I checked my mix for the early morning shark dive at Monad Shoal, to gain maximum bottom time, a EAN32 mix was tested and recorded. Great, increased bottom time; either more time searching for the sharks or a longer shark interaction should we be lucky.

After a late walk on the beach and an even later dinner next door at Exotic, the restaurant of the resort next door; I returned to the grounds of Evolution. I checked the whiteboard to find my name had been removed from the dive schedule for the dive trip. After a long discussion with staff, no further action could be taken as the boat was now fully booked. Further discussions ensured at 4:45 am the next morning with Mark the owner resulting in an even shorter answer “No changes, you will have to do some local dives instead.”

Further annoying me, it was made clear checking in that if your name was on the whiteboard and you didn’t attend, you would be charged the full price for the dive anyway. At their restaurant, you are also informed that if you are found having any forms of food at the resort, you will be billed the full value at their menu prices. Apparently, according to Evolution, if you cancel or don’t attend, you pay – but if they bump you for more important clients “suck it up.”

The first dive of the morning saw us slipping below the waves just after the sun had just appeared in the sky. We quickly moved to the first cleaning station and immediately spotted a single thresher shark circling. Only a short swim to the second cleaning station; we were able to view a further four thresher sharks slowly swimming with cleaner wrasse working hard. The sharks were at times just put of arms length and slowly circling with hardly a kick of their long majestic tail. While the sharks appeared to be trance like in their movements; as they swam past you, you could see their eye movement informing you they are alert and ready to respond to any threats. A response to a threat is kicking that huge trailing ribbon like tail accelerating their sleek body through the water and out of harm\’s way.

After we left the two cleaning stations, we kicked forward following the contour line of the shoal; the first of our group ascended on low air. I now buddied up with Reto, a tall muscular Swiss guy in his 40s who to me looked similar to Sacha Baron Cohen\’s alter ego, Bruno, the male model.

Looking down the sloping wall from the top of the shoal, I was able to spot a shark swimming in the deep on route to the cleaning station. Our chance encounter made our experience seem more natural and less of a premeditated show. At the cleaning station, our small group of three also shared space with a large Singaporean contingent of 15+ divers.

Everyone knows Singaporeans are well behaved above and below the water; this group in particular possessed fine diving skills, but unfortunately, sheer numbers made viewing space tight, our chance encounter, although at a distance felt so authentic, Reto commented afterwards back on the banca of our chance encounter.

Slowly working my way forward to the mooring line, a deep stop for 2 minutes at 15 metres allowed me to look back over the edge of the wall for any further sightings. Moving to my shallow stop depth, I was contented in finally viewing the thresher sharks after the disappointment of my earlier trip years back. Now the question remains, do I start making the rounds of competing dive shops to organise my diving?

Upon returning to the resort, I moved to my room for a quick shower to wash off the salt when a staff member knocked on the door to inform me I was indeed on the day trip. I quickly dried and wandered over to the whiteboard to see a couple of names had been removed and my name was now last on the list. Ironically, it was Reto and his partner that had cancelled, he even discussed the day trip on our return trip.

Previously, my name was listed as one of the first taking the trip, it was clear a last minute cancellation took place and I had been reinstated – cold comfort, but at least I was diving again. The long trip was worthwhile after all and by default, I was back diving again. The local Filipino staff at Evolution are excellent from their office staff, dive guides, instructors and boat staff. In my mind, it is the team you remember more so than the facilities, that being said – the facilities were very good.

It now looks like the long bus journey from Cebu City to Malapascua was indeed a success, the rest of the dives around the island are a little bland taking into account the quality of diving around Cebu, Bohol and Negros. If it wasn’t for the thresher sharks, I would never had bothered to make the journey north.

For the Fremantle football club, the first half of the preliminary final at Paterson’s Stadium on Saturday night defined their season. Despite kicking 2.11 in the first quarter, the pressure inflicted on the Sydney football club was immense and unrelenting, unfortunately, this was not immediately reflected on the scoreboard.

The game should have been over in the first quarter, Fremantle dominated Sydney around the ground applying intense pressure on the ball carrier denying clean possession to a team under siege, the tackling was intense, if not for Fremantle\’s poor kicking at goals squandering opportunities, the game should have been closed out at the quarter time break.

The second quarter is where Fremantle displayed total dominance kicking 5.2; allowing Sydney just a solitary point, Fremantle strangled the opposition into submission. Sydney made their move after the long break, however, absorbing the pressure of the fightback, Fremantle countered with late goals. Fremantle won the quarter whilst absorbing the Sydney fightback kicking 4.3 to Sydney 3.3 to win not only on the scoreboard but the psychological battle as well.

Heading into the final term, Fremantle was focusing on the grand final next Saturday. Under no threat of losing; Fremantle played the final quarter out ensuring no injuries or reports preparing for their clash against league leaders Hawthorn for the premiership. Sydney kicked 6.3 to Fremantle’s 3.3 closing out the game, for the first time in their history, Fremantle is off to the grand final. The atmosphere at the game was electric, the crowd of 44,000 was exceptionally vocal with the purple hue of the supporters dressed in team colours covering nearly every seat in the stadium, it was intimidating to Sydney and it showed.

My first trip to Zurich was in the summer where I spent a fantastic 3 months enjoying all the sun this great city had to offer. My second trip turned out to be in the winter for a much shorter duration; gone was the beautiful sunny days, now replaced with delicate snowfalls – all of a sudden I actually love winter.

This was my first time in the snow – it was great watching the snowflakes fall from the sky. Four years before I had flown over the Rocky Mountains from New York to Vancouver viewing snow from the comfort of an American Airlines passenger jet.

My second viewing was once again peering from the window of an airliner this time flying over the Snowy Mountains from Sydney to Perth. My first two sightings of snow; both from 30,000 feet – argh. I was over the age of thirty, yet to see a real snow fall instead instead restricted to long range views of snow laying on the ground. I had spent every afternoon on my first summer trip to Zurich hiking around the wooded paths and had become accustomed to the lush green forests surrounding Neu Affoltern where I was residing.

The centre of Oerelekon was just a short bus trip after turning right heading down the hill, turning left took me to the lakes or heading up the hill and past the technical university offered great views overlooking Zurich. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoy winter, I have found snow to be beautiful and I learned I could comfortably live in a cold climate. What have I been missing all my life?