Having been away from my home in Penang for a nigh on 3 month visit to children and grandchildren in uk and usa i was able to meet 4 of my UNICEF seniors...
Dr Nyi Nyi 89 years old with whom i had lunch near his Scarsdale home.As you might guess his house full to bursting with books everywhere but he could still unerringly pick out a book relevant for our discussions immediately.He brushed off arthritis and kidney problems which might have caused major depression for normal people as minor inconveniences as instead he focused on the more major threats of negative global politics and shortfalls in human development.We relived the glory days of the Jim Grant era and he convincingly demonstrated for a few glorious hours including a Japanese lunch that his intellect and enthusiasm for life is undimmed by chronology.
Richard Jolly at 85 lives near my son in Lewes England and although 13 years older than me is well ahead in walking long distances from the supermarket.I feel it very probable that we will be able to celebrate his 100th in less than 15 years from now.His house also full of books and his heart and brain fully focused on tackling climate disaster,global inequality and injustice.When i met him he sported a lapel badge urging young people to vote to stop nasty tory domination of uk politics and had just come back from a very long train journey to a meeting in uppsala sweden eschewing flights thus practicing what he preaches as eloquently and passionately as ever...
Next youngest Steve Umemoto at 79 who i met in London.. another great walker, intellect again undimmed and whilst also reliving our common glorious decades with UNICEF focused on how best to stop trump and his ilk in their tracks often in innovative practical ways...a hallmark of steve U.
The youngest Jim Mayrides at 77 as full of heart and humour as ever who showed me great hospitality in Elayne and his home in Downingtown Pennsylvania involving a super dinner,a comfortable bed and frequent use of the corkscrew and bottle opener.Jim also whilst reliving our joint glory days of the past looking at practical ways of slowing down the forces of nasty narrow minded nationalist right wing leaders.
Meeting all 4 of them....different personalities but with so many marvelous things in common...joy for our UNICEF past and a deep feeling of being so privileged;committed to continue to make the world a better place;angry at injustice;pragmatic idealists;positive and as sharp as ever.4 people of the utmost integrity honesty and commitment to our cause.As long as there are a Nyi Nyi,a Richard Jolly,A Steve Umemoto and a Jim Mayrides in our groaning world i myself have hope for the future and draw inspiration from them
....all best wishes Steve Woodhouse nearly 72!
Dr Nyi Nyi 89 years old with whom i had lunch near his Scarsdale home.As you might guess his house full to bursting with books everywhere but he could still unerringly pick out a book relevant for our discussions immediately.He brushed off arthritis and kidney problems which might have caused major depression for normal people as minor inconveniences as instead he focused on the more major threats of negative global politics and shortfalls in human development.We relived the glory days of the Jim Grant era and he convincingly demonstrated for a few glorious hours including a Japanese lunch that his intellect and enthusiasm for life is undimmed by chronology.
Richard Jolly at 85 lives near my son in Lewes England and although 13 years older than me is well ahead in walking long distances from the supermarket.I feel it very probable that we will be able to celebrate his 100th in less than 15 years from now.His house also full of books and his heart and brain fully focused on tackling climate disaster,global inequality and injustice.When i met him he sported a lapel badge urging young people to vote to stop nasty tory domination of uk politics and had just come back from a very long train journey to a meeting in uppsala sweden eschewing flights thus practicing what he preaches as eloquently and passionately as ever...
Next youngest Steve Umemoto at 79 who i met in London.. another great walker, intellect again undimmed and whilst also reliving our common glorious decades with UNICEF focused on how best to stop trump and his ilk in their tracks often in innovative practical ways...a hallmark of steve U.
The youngest Jim Mayrides at 77 as full of heart and humour as ever who showed me great hospitality in Elayne and his home in Downingtown Pennsylvania involving a super dinner,a comfortable bed and frequent use of the corkscrew and bottle opener.Jim also whilst reliving our joint glory days of the past looking at practical ways of slowing down the forces of nasty narrow minded nationalist right wing leaders.
Meeting all 4 of them....different personalities but with so many marvelous things in common...joy for our UNICEF past and a deep feeling of being so privileged;committed to continue to make the world a better place;angry at injustice;pragmatic idealists;positive and as sharp as ever.4 people of the utmost integrity honesty and commitment to our cause.As long as there are a Nyi Nyi,a Richard Jolly,A Steve Umemoto and a Jim Mayrides in our groaning world i myself have hope for the future and draw inspiration from them
....all best wishes Steve Woodhouse nearly 72!
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