The Polish edition of my memoir (Yes, still milking the same old cow) is called Socialism is Beautiful. The publication of the book was one of the reasons that landed me here at Sopot literature festival. (Yes, I’ve become a literature festival junkie!) I am so pleased to report that my event went very well… Continue reading Sopot

On Sunday, I hosted a Nuvoices podcast, with Huang Hung as my guest. Coming from a prominent family, her grandfather Zhang Shizhao was a renowned scholar who offered financial support to Chairman Mao at one point; her mother was a highly accomplished diplomat, who interpreted for Nixon when he visited China in 1972. She also… Continue reading interviewing media mogul Huang Hung

My last weekend in Beijing before heading home was a busy one, partly I wanted to keep myself busy so that I wouldn’t drown in the sadness in the wake of my mother’s passing. On Saturday, I was a guest on BBC World Service’s Weekend, a news and current affair radio program. They always have… Continue reading Be a guest on BBC

I had high expectation of David Mamet’s new play Bitter Wheat, starred by John Malkovich, one of my favourite actors. It is inspired by the movie mogul Weinstein’s fall from grace for his sexual misconducts. It’s fair enough to tell the story from the male perspective but this play verges on apologist. The greater problem… Continue reading Bitter Wheat

The British ambassador in Washington Sir Kim Darroch had to resign; and our ambassador to Cambodia Tina Redshaw, an old friend, is thriving. The buzz word ambassador reminded me of a book my friend Alfy gave to me entitled Parting Shots. Up till 2006, a British ambassador quitting his post abroad would write a valedictory… Continue reading Parting shot

Sir John Major, the former PM, was in the news again. On BBC radio 4’s Today programme this morning, he announced that if Boris Johnson is to become Prime Minister, he would be prepared to take legal action to prevent the government proroguing Parliament. Well done, Sir John. When I first arrived in UK in… Continue reading Sir John Major

I am happy to see that the gender pay gap within the BBC is narrowing, thanks to the fight by courageous people such as my old friend Carrie Gracie. Way to go! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48826586