. . . some of us are always going to be wishing better times for that generically brown kid symbolising the sidekick tag-along of the postcolonial partnership.

Yes, indeed.

Snoopy's Christmas bellowed by visiting cuzzie stretched out in the tatami room. Frozen NZ greenshell mussels from Costco and chook from the euphemistically named "Sakura Farms."

New Year in HCM City navigating the roundabout with 15 billion scooters. Controlled chaos. Dinner at 5 floored local eatery specialising in seafood. Loud, loud, loud. Empties put on the floor. Waiters tally by checking under the table and counting the empties that are around the table legs.
Next day: sick, sick, sick. Bugger!

Wonderful! Love the guy in the waka too. Thanks.