Goodbye McNulty

Turns out I was really attached to that hamster. I keep choking up today.
McNulty went to sleep yesterday evening for the last time, in my hand. The vet said we could wait outside, but two days before she had refused several times to go back to her cage after feeding, and kept crawling up my arms, the way she used to run along them when she was still a baby.

Then the next day, when she couldn't do even that, she still climbed onto my hand when I tried to put her back, and spread out for a snooze - I suppose because she felt safe there, and warm.
So she went to sleep that way yesterday too.

My journey home from work was grimly ironic. The vets' last appointment time is 6.30pm, so I had left the office early and was hurrying home so that I could be on time for the last appointment I really wanted to have. I had hoped, a little bit, that we might wake up one morning to find that McNulty hadn't, and then the decision would be out of our hands. That didn't happen, so we took her to the vet on Second Street, still in her big cage. Possibly over the top, but we wanted her to be as stress-free as possible.


McNulty was adventurous and playful, not afraid to lick your nose or grab your fingers, though she never bit, and she used to pin her ears back against her head so it looked like she didn't have any ears at all.
She could jump six inches from a standing start if there was something that far away that she felt like chewing, and she had her own theme tune.

Went on the annual charity-related company trip last Friday. This year's event was a visit to Dialogue in the Dark, an experience in total darkness where, led by blind guides, you get a taste of what it's like to live without eyesight. The pitch-black walk recreates a number of everyday Hong Kong scenarios, including a walk in the park, a ferry journey and a trip to the market.

It was fairly fun, and interesting - one of the chief lessons I drew from the experience (and I think one you are supposed to get) is that in a lot of ways being blind isn't that big a deal. Sure, not being blind is a bit better, but it's not the end of the world.

Towards the end they sit you down in the pitch dark and play a suite of chill-out sounds and music. Sitting in a darkened room, chewing gum and listening to chilled trance with my pupils dilated - it really took me back to my university days.

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Went to the Sai Ying Pun public clinic yesterday evening. Nice enough, as clincs go - fairly standard 1980s issue NHS style building, friendly enough staff.
The downside to the visit is the doctor suspects I may have diabetes.
Annoying if true. Let's see what the blood test reveals.

This is mainly a test post for an Android app. Here is a picture of a dinosaur.

In other news

I just greeted a Chinese colleague - surnamed So - by the water machine, saying "ah... So."


Now I am worried that might have been racist.
 
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It's a Small, Odd World

Thanks to work I got two free tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland for last weekend, and entry to the preview of the new Toy Story Land area. It was OK, but I am glad I didn't pay $400 for the privilege. Definitely not worth it.

On the other hand I am glad I have now been, because it now makes sense of a lot of things Americans mention off-hand, and references in their TV shows. For one thing, the "It's A Small World" exhibit, which you can google for yourself, and which is downright odd. "I'm not sure what I just witnessed," I said to the wife as we dismembarked from the little boat. The ride gets bonus points for featuring Don Quixote in its steretyped Spain, and loses points for having Ireland consist entirely of leprechauns, shamrocks and the colour green. And a big harp.

The rest of the attractions are all very child focused, which is as it should be, but I feel Disneyland lacks the interest for the adult visitor that, say, Ocean Park has (for half the price and closer to most of Hong Kong).
Then again, the missus and I have determined that basically we are not very interested in theme parks, so there's really no pleasing us on this point.

I quite liked Tarzan's treehouse and the jungle riverboat ride.

Tarzan's treehouse was where I was asked by a passing American fellow - and I never thought anyone would say this to me seriously - "How do I get to Toyland?"

Head towards Fantasyland and it's the first turning on your left.
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Don't worry. You got away with it.

My Halloween costume was Donnie Darko. I think I overestimated the number of people who would remember the film, which in fairness did come out ten years ago.
Apart from the people I was with, only one guy recognised it, and even he said "What about the rabbit suit?"

"That was a different character," I said.

"Oh," he said. "Oh yeah."
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