Carshalton Ponds - Slip-Way!

Honeywood Museum: Charshalton Ponds & Billiard Room! (21.2.2026)

We visited the Honeywood Museum in nearby Carshalton Ponds – as the Staff and Management added a Chinese New Year display to the usual mixture of local history artefacts. We have visited in the past – but I do not recall the impressively “large” Billiard Room which seems to have been converted to a “Snooker Room”. Me and Gee sat and drank a cup of coffee outside the Honeywood Museum – watching the numerous types of birds traverse the surface of the water. I think we entered the Museum probably in the wrong direction – and immediately emerged in the Billiard Room – which seemed to corelate seamlessly with Pond itself. During Victorian times, the well to do, those who owned local business and large country-homes – often could often afford all the lateest scientific devices. The air around the Ponds was fresh and yet mild – a thoroughly invigorating experience!

Rest in Peace Chan Yin-lam [陳彥霖 – Chen Yan-Lin] - We Love You!

Hong Kong: What Really Happened to Chan Yin-lam [陳彥霖 – Chen Yan-Lin] -Inquest Verdict Debunks Murder Conspiracy! (3.1.2026)

I have a particular fondness for these people as they rather comical approached me in early 1999 – when I was stood outside a shop in Kowloon that was so “small” I could not fit in it. Two armed Police Constables – in perfect English – asked me what I was doing in a “Chinese” area. It was a good question and I have to admit I was stumped to furnish a convincing answer on the spot – until a Chinese relative appeared and explained in Cantonese that my “ugly” Western appearance “was too big” for the “properly designed and shaped Chinese shops” (I am 6′ 2″ and weigh around 20 stone – so you can see their point). My relative also told me-off for not “bowing my head” out of respect and keeping my eyes looking humbly at the ground – where they belong. One Constable then answered in Cantonese – saying to my relative that “Hong Kong is no longer a British colony and the English should not be allowed to walk around like they own it.” We were let-off with a “Warning” – which I very much appreciated at the time as it was my first offense – and I believe I taught gongfu to one of the sons of the Constables! It was a little bit nerve-whacking, as the Constables authoritatively “fingered” their truncheons during the entire encounter.

Qi Journal - The "Great Treatise" Translation

US: Qi Journal – My Published “Great Treatise” Translation! (26.12.2025)

This material will be published throughout numerous (and obscure) academic journals – but I will make every effort to have a version published for “free access” on the internet. The fee I charge is that your return the six senses a) to the empty mind ground, and that b) you allow the empty mind ground to expand to embrace the entire environment. As you can see, this is a much higher price than just an ordinary exchange of money – be it supposedly empowered metal or paper. Here is the problem – I will accept no other payment for my work – but I will not “demand” in a dogmatic manner. Your realisation of “freedom” is entirely a matter of your own affair. Look within properly – or do not – the choice is yours. I will not alter my charge regardless of your decision. I will not stop you reading – as reading is the first-step.

Fire Boat Festival (Lai Heua Fai), marking the End of Buddhist Lent on October 7, 2025. Coinciding with the full moon of the 11th lunar month

Laos: Rainy Season Retreat Comes to an End for Buddhist Monks! (13.11.2025)

Beyond the spiritual rituals, the festival grounds came alive with vibrant activity as local vendors showcased a wide array of goods, ranging from traditional foods and drinks to handmade crafts, clothing, and household items. The lively marketplace added a festive touch, transforming the event into not just a religious celebration, but also a vibrant community gathering.

Well-organized and secure, the event provided a safe and joyful environment for all attendees. It stood as a testament to Laos’ rich cultural heritage, while also promoting environmental consciousness and community unity.

As the glowing boats drifted peacefully down the Mekong and candlelight danced in the night breeze, the Fire Boat Festival once again proved to be a captivating blend of faith, folklore, and festivity—a timeless tradition that continues to illuminate the hearts of those who take part, year after year.

World's first solar magnetic-field telescope operating in the mid-infrared wavelength range!

China: World’s First Solar Magnetic-Field Telescope Operating in the Mid-Infrared Wavelength Range! (23.10.2025)

The world’s first solar magnetic-field telescope operating in the mid-infrared wavelength range has officially become operational after gaining government approval, marking a major breakthrough in solar magnetic field research.

The telescope, known as the Accurate Infrared Magnetic Field Measurements of the Sun, or AIMS, is located in Lenghu township, Qinghai province, at an average altitude of about 4,000 meters. AIMS’ development addresses a long-standing bottleneck in the century-old history of solar magnetic field measurements by achieving a leap from indirect to direct measurement, scientists said.

“The sun, being the only star we can observe with high precision, has a magnetic field that acts as the energy switch driving intense solar activities such as flares and coronal mass ejections. Yet, more than half the sun’s overall magnetic field manifestations are relatively weak, with strengths of only a few dozen gauss,” said Deng Yuanyong, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the telescope’s construction.

Zen of Galmpton! (24.8.2035)

Here we are. Zen is Ch’an in reverse – which is good as perception is the wrong way around. Turn it the right way around – and Zen becomes Ch’an the right way around. Not always an easy task – like catching a steam train whilst it is obscured by it’s own smoke. What a joy such contradictions are. They exist to test our perception and determination. As such, nothing else matters. We all look up – and we all look down – just like every koan (gong-an) you may have viewed. Still, none of it matters if you cannot lay it all down. None of it matters at all.

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