THS Reflections – All good.

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The benefit of the face to face

As a technology coach and teacher at the Hong Kong International School, Middle School I am fully aware of the situations, both good and bad that have been introduced into our operational processes due to the Covid 19 realities.

I am reminded again this weekend of the titanic differences that having a face to face interaction when learning. I have been teaching an adult student the acoustic guitar via zoom weekly for months.
Whilst I recognize the communication brilliance of the digital tools we have access to I am in no doubt that they pale when compared to the power of face to face interaction and resulting learning. The ability to read a person is so very different, the seem less flow of communication both visible and audible cannot be digitized.
Spending 60 minutes face to face has helped me identify the best steps going forward. These items were unreadable online.

Not forgetting that face to face lessons are held onboard Alhmabra. That makes the experience even more fantastic.

An old 12 string friend of mine onboard Alhambra

The real and far reaching benefits of being together should be enough to motivate us all to follow all safety protocols placed around Covid 19.

Together we can overpower this thing and move on the wiser.

Timeless Production – Summary

Beauty & the Beast go 70s

Spent a good few weeks working with the Starlit Voice Drama School Hong Kong on a student production of Beauty & the Beast. Creatively with a 1970’s styling…..

5 performances (Dec 5 – 7) ran in Hong Kong’s Art Centre, McAuley theatre.

With minimal set (very minimal…), acting and tech systems needed to help build a suitable environment for the audience.

ETC’s Element Lighting mixer controlled the carefully located and focused 60 light units ( ETC Source 4 Jr – 565w profile, Strand Canada – 1KW profile, CTC Starlette – IKW fresnel, Altman 65Q – 575w fresnel). Plus a strobe – for good measure and those weird moments…

The lighting plan – thanks Notability

The audio program was run from the very handy QLab. A combination of pre-recordings, recordings and SFX helped frame the scenes and build the mood.

This time round the students were less involved in the operation the technology. We look forward to changing that next time and getting the kids on board.

The theatre’s a good place to work in. I like the idea that down the road we explore some projection options within the venue.
I am sure we can work wonders.

Setting up an Organised Google Drive structure – Sept 2017

6 months onboard – Alhambra

As we begin Chinese New Year and the start of the Year of The Rooster we are celebrating being onboard Alhambra for six months.
A View from the bow.

Over the time I’ve found the word Mesmerising  captures how I feel about being onboard the boat.
It remains interesting, calming, lovely and adventurous all at the same time. 

Residing in HK for over three decades and having lived in many places: Repulse Bay, Sheung Shui, WanChai, Mid Levels, Pokfulam and now Aberdeen. One wonders about preferences: where have I preferred living?
Though they have all been lovely and interesting places there is something about being placed within the water world of Aberdeen.
It’s not as decadent as Repulse Bay, though some of the boats “just over there” are excessively spectacular in both elegance, comfort and cost.
It’s not as “country side” as Sheung Shui, but is every bit as cultural and community oozing as one should enjoy. 

Travelling to and from Alhambra requires some sort of water based transport. Tenure seems to encourage the buying of a little boat to run around in. No swimming isn’t an option. These little boats are known as the”tender”. Vessel’s over 10 ft or 4 hp require a Pleasure Vessel Operator Certificate (PVOC level 2). I will get mine by the summer.

Meanwhile we’re Sampan dependant. Stepping onboard one of the many phone called Sampan’s guarantees to restart the adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable outing. Every time.

Sitting on the upper deck brings hours of entertainment. Watching: all sizes and styles of boat cruising about, lighting ambience calm as the sun settles and shimmering lights emerge, to the nightly silhouetted dragon boat row-past – brave souls.
Aberdeen harbour, like Hong Kong – seldom sleeps. 

In only 6 months we’ve been around:

• a 10 signal Super Typhoon. We questioned getting off the boat when people nearby started suggesting that everyone get off their boats. We checked the ropes, lashed the bikinis, reminded ourselves where the life jackets were and settled in for the experience. Amazes me how much noise ropes make.
  In summary of the Super Typhoon – the Typhoon Shelter worked very well – no worries. 
• the Marine department, Marine Police & Marine Fire boat’s rescue of the famous Jumbo restaurant’s sinking back kitchen, (that subsequently shot off for repair and return – fixed),
• The sinking of 2 boats and collapse of a large catamaran’s mast.
• A large fire at the nearby shipyards that was finally extinguished by the fire boats.
• And loads of social events onboard.
• ..

There’s a load of things that one can be working on to maintain the quality of the boat. I enjoy the hands on aspect of being on here to. A load of wood and chrome to deal with too. I’ve blogged separately about the wood work adventures – currently suffering from RSI in my left shoulder from sanding the deck…

We make lots of choices in life  and this one has been a good one.
ONWARDS 🙂