Australia as a nation kept international borders closed to keep covid-19 out, we also had closed interstate borders and even regions were isolated as well. We had low infection rates and a high degree of freedom, Melbourne and Sydney had long lockdowns but the rest of the nation’s capitals were relatively lockdown free. 

As we begin to open up, the world is facing a surge of Omicron infections and Europe returning to restrictions and lock-downs. We need to ask ourselves, do we delay the reopening of Australia? My preference is no, the purpose of closing Australian borders was to vaccinate the nation and allow the medical system to prepare.  

We have achieved that, Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, we are now entering the booster phase where we will receive our third vaccination after 6 months to increase waning immunity against the Omicron variant. We have high vaccination rates, we have a hospital system that has had enough time to prepare and treatments are improving – it is time.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is now an iconic timepiece, when it was released in 1972, the watch was pretty much different than anything that had been released before that, this was a huge risk in the quartz crisis.

Designed by Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak pretty much set the standard for a stainless steel luxury sports watch. Previously, luxury watches were dress watches manufactured from precious metals and featured movement complications. Released in 1976, the Nautilus, whilst not identical to the Royal Oak, is similar in many regards. This isn’t too much of a stretch as the Nautilus was also designed by Gérald Genta although he wasn’t under the same time pressure to sketch a design concept.

The Nautilus is a more refined design, the dégradé dial is streaked, the index markers are similar on both designs and the finish is very eloquent. This is the quandary, this is a stainless steel sports watch with no serious mechanical complication priced well above a precious metal dress watch. The sharp and hard industrial lines of the AP or the smoother rounded lines of the PP? Well, for me, the rounded lines of the PP along with the streaked dial do it for me. The Nautilus, although released well after the Royal Oak is the superior style.

Genta used the window in a diver’s helmet as the inspiration for the octagonal case, a porthole was the inspiration for the Nautilus. Both share integrated bracelets, the Royal Oak is bold in their link design, the sharp edges are defining. The Nautilus a little more rounded and the centre link although not to my tastes is defining.

The tapisserie dial of the Royal Oak is fascinating to watch on video being hand cut, I have to admit I am not a fan of petite tapisserie but respect the process. The dégradé dial, translated as a gradual procession of colour to colour, of the Nautilus becomes lighter as you move to the centre of the dial. Given the funds, I would prefer the rounded bezel and bracelet of the Nautilus over the sharp edges of the octagonal case and bezel of the Royal Oak. Given both are Gérald Genta inspirations, I appreciate both design styles even though they are five years apart in concept, they accentuate the style of the era.

I tried to not get involved in any workplace disputes since my return, that didn’t happen and I was required to attend a meeting. This was an on-going issue, I couldn’t believe it, one year later and the matter was not concluded.

Sure, this was a complex issue but one year later – get real. The meeting I attended achieved nothing, whilst I pushed for a solution, it was stopped as the parties refused to deal. I had been away for almost a year when I was on leave without pay. Now another year later, this issue is still not resolved and despite a series of meetings, it has gone nowhere. He is now threatening to take this matter to the Industrial Magistrate’s Court – what a wasted effort.

I like to at least try on a timepiece before offering a review, I was lucky enough to wander into a Glashütte Original boutique in Dresden. So while this was the opportunity, it was some time before the green dial of the PanoMaticLunar was released so I never tried on the green dial.

The PanoMaticLunar is a stunning timepiece, what I don’t know is if the forest green dial will age gracefully. The current trend is green dials, this is ok, people love this right now. I am seeing the larger dial trend reversing back to smaller dials and I would think green dials are a fad. At 40 mm, the PanoMaticLunar is sized at about the maximum a dress watch should be, I am guessing 38 mm is the ideal size for a dress watch. Some with smaller wrists prefer 36 mm, that is fair.

The 90-02 in-house movement is pretty special, 47 jewels with a 42 hour power reserve. The finish is exquisite, the three quarter plate is Glashütte design, the skeletonised rotor has a 21 carrot oscillation weight. I think the PanoMaticLunar is a pretty special timepiece, the dial design is amazing and whilst I have never been a fan of moonphase, I like this one. Glashütte Original is a top-tier watchmaker, this is an excellent example of Glashütte watchmaking.

I like both TAG Heuer and Tissot, so hopefully I have not pre-conceived notions of either of these watches. These two watches are set at entirely different price points, so it should be a fairly simple comparison – or is it? 

Firstly, the TAG Heuer Link is an update on the highly successful S/el of the 1990s, it hasn’t been marketed anywhere near the current watches TAG Heuer offers, it is almost the forgotten timepiece in the TAG Heuer catalog. It is a shame that the Link hasn’t been promoted as well as it should be, this has really inhibited sales of this line. For me, the Link is the dress watch of the TAG Heuer line-up with the Carrera and Monaco being sports chronographs. Although, there is a three-hand version of the Carrera though that could be considered a dress watch, they are generally considered motorsport inspired.

The Aquaracer is a dive watch, so once again a sports watch. The Formula One series is clearly a motorsport sports watch so that leaves the Link as the dress watch. The S/el was sports/elegance and was water resistant to 200 metres that could also be worn with a suit later that evening after a dive. The Link has a modified bracelet, the rounded S-link bracelet was the distinguishing feature of the S/el. The Link has a sharper double S-link construction that neatly attaches to the case. The Link is all about the bracelet, the 41 mm case is brushed and polished, the sunray dial with applied index markers, the text below the hands pivot point isn’t over done, and the TAG Heuer logo looks good. 

The Tissot Gentleman Silicum with the applied baton index dial reminds me of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. To be fair, Rolex didn’t invent the straight baton index, although they might claim to have done. This is a simple and clean dial with a sunburst dial patina, there is a simple text layout, I feel that manufacturers have cluttered dials with too much, and unnecessary text. What interests me with the Gentleman Silicum is the automatic movement. The base ETA 2824-2 has a silicon balance spring improving its anti-magnetic capabilities. The frequency has been lowered from 4 Hz to 3 Hz increasing the power reserve from 38 hours to 60 hours.

The display caseback allows the wearer to view the automatic movement, although the Tissot winding rotor is hardly outstanding, the rest of the movement finish is respectable for the price range. The crown is small with no crown guards, the crown itself is advertised as water resistant to 100 metres, there is no way I would test it out. Where the Gentleman Silicum lets itself down is the bracelet, it is lightweight, stiff and feels cheap. The double butterfly clasp is fine, it sits neat on the wrist and looks good, this timepiece is a little bland and never gets any comments, not like a TAG Heuer does.

However, the pricing of the Tissot Gentleman Silicum with the Powermatic 80 coupled with the lack of advertising investment by TAG Heuer allows me to suggest the Gentleman Silicum is a better value proposition even though the bracelet lets the Gentleman Silicum down, the TAG Heuer Link with the better bracelet lacks the movement technology. The Calibre 5 can either be the ETA 2824-2 with 25 jewels or the Sellita SW 200-1 with 26 jewels is considered to be an inferior movement as the ETA 2824-2 is not fitted with anti-magnetic capabilities or increased power reserve from 38 hours. 

At Voyager Estate, it is all about the experience, with my father we travelled down to Margaret River but the estate was never open, the owner wanted the estate to be perfect before official opening.

Despite our annoyance at the time, we understood this philosophy as a winemaker. It is imperative and this attitude is reflected in the winemaking. It has been a while since I have been down to Voyager Estate, but if I am bringing guests, this place is on the schedule as the gardens are magnificent.

One of my former colleagues and his wife had planned to come and stay with me in 2020 but the covid restrictions really killed this trip. As he is coming from Africa, I am guessing they are more likely to be at the end of the covid vaccine roll-out so this trip with them could be a while off.

Working in a toxic workplace is exhausting, it manifests both mentally and physically creating a detrimental effect on your wellbeing. Whilst a small number of people benefit from this situation, the majority don’t and productivity is low.

Harassment is accepted as normal behaviour, this is the saddest part, this is the culture of a toxic workplace. Staff are pitted against each other – discrediting colleagues, taking credit for work and blame shifting is modus operandi. Bullying is an integral component of a toxic workplace, this is the normal behaviour of the crew in the team. This is not based on knowledge, skills or ability – this is cronyism in its purest form. There is one ringleader who generally enlists others into this clan, they are generally weak and seek the protection of the ring leader.

What a toxic workplace does is demotivate individuals, damage output, stifle creativity and ensure talent leaves so only the non-performers remain. It makes people sick, for no other reason they show up to do the minimum work to receive their paycheck – nothing more. This is purely the relationship of the weak. They are attracted to the power and seek the protection that this person in power offers. This is base schoolyard dynamics, people just seek to get through the week and this is a poor reflection of senior managers.

The TAG Heuer Carrera reference CBG2A10.BA0654 is not to my liking, this reference put me off the whole Carrera range for a long, long time.

I am guessing when Jean Claude Biver came over from Hublot to run the company, he brought the Big Bang signature features to the designers. Hublot is a new brand established in 1980, has second rate brand ambassadors and is pretty much garish. The Carrera reference CBG2A10.BA0654 is a watch for the nouveau riche. This is a statement that doesn’t sit well with me, this was a quote picked up from a former girlfriend who hung around in old money. I cannot really call myself nouveau riche, I am self made, that’s pretty much true.

The 1960s vintage Heuer Carrera design is stylish, this came at an age when the leading watchmakers were all scrambling to release their chronographs. The automobile was increasing in technology, it was also marketed to the masses. The Omega Speedmaster, Rolex Daytona and Zenith El Primero were examples of outstanding design and style. The Heuer Carrera was not out of place in this stylish group, this is a chronograph belonging in esteemed company.

The reference CBG2A10.BA0654 is too large, the skeletonised dial is too similar to the Hublot Big Bang and the diameter at 45 mm is too large. This will be a watch that will date quickly, it has no classic lines, doesn’t fit under the sleeve and is not stylish – it has a short shelf life. This watch carries the name but not the prestige of the Carrera lineage, it is too large in just about every measurement and for me has no redeeming features. It is overpriced at $8750.00 AUD and I wouldn’t be parting parting with this much for this watch.

Since covid has ravaged the world, a number of companies have reinvented themselves, they had to or face oblivion. One of those companies is Dettol, the leading antiseptic, disinfectant and cleaning supplier.

We need to now remove all the germs and virus, Dettol is the brand synonymous with cleanliness. I am going out and purchasing Dettol related cleaning products. For years, if you had a cut or graze that you wanted to prevent infection, Dettol was the product. Sure, it would burn a little, as a kid you would pull a face when it was applied but you knew it was over after that. So as we battle the covid virus, Dettol is a known and trusted brand. If you have Dettol in your cleaning products then you can forget about that as a source of infection.

The xiǎo fěnhóng known as little pinks are swarming social media, make any negative comment about China on social media and watch them attack you. It gets very personal, any replies and you are accused of being a white supremacist and racist despite these commentators discussing race themselves.

Surprisingly, the little pinks are mostly young women from what I am able to decipher, they are overseas students or working overseas. Naturally, they are Chinese nationals abroad as mainland Chinese are blocked from social media in China. They may also have special access to internet sites if they are based on mainland China and in the employ of the government.

They are proud, nationalistic and loud, they have no internet etiquette, they don’t just post an opinion, they seek to dominate the conversation to drown out any comments. They have fake personal images and make 20+ posts on an issue, at times, they may join together in a team to become a real nuisance. The wǔmáo, or fifty cent army are reportedly paid fifty cents per post. Most are argumentative, just about all are fake accounts and they don’t follow rules of courtesy. Ranging anywhere from 500,000 to 2,000,000, a Harvard University study found most are government employees and are organised.