The new Dragon: Rose Harries

What exactly are you supposed to do when people are swearing at you in another language?

I don't know any swears, apart from 'shizer', which I hear quite a lot, and I always consider saying 'Hey, you, don't say shizer old chap'. But when we tell the students off and stuff, they often retort in an angry monologue, no doubt full of profanities, but what can you do? 'hey don't swear at me', 'how do you know i was swearing? maybe I wasn't' 'okay then, well, just don't,yeah?' would be the only result. Marie and I always wonder if they're laying a curse upon us... I probably have about 50 curses on me for asking students not to apply manicures in the library and could they please not play mah-jong.

There's a thing called the nocebo effect, it's the opposite of a placebo, it's where you get ill effect from a control drug, curses are also an example of a nocebo, people have been known to almost die from the effects of a curse, then a pretend ceremony performed by the Dr. to remove the curse is enough to return them to full health.

anyway enough of all that. I am consumed by tiredness today and very nearly failed to get up.

Phew, this just came in, thought I wasn't going to make any money today!! Now 65 million, the most so far! Can't believe they keep choosing ME, I mean, i didn't even know that i was a renowned investor! but it seems I am! One of them actually said that I was 'well known' for my entrepreneurship! Isn't that amazing?

Dear Executive(Sir/Madam), RE: Funds Investment and Management Placement. We are facilitating for a private investor who wants to invest his financial estate in long-term business venture in your country/company under your supervision. You will be required to; [1]. Receive the funds. [2]. Invest and Manage the funds profitably. The amount available for the investment is over Sixty Five Million United States Dollars (US$65M). My client is willing to a negotiable percentage Management Commission as soon as the funds arrives your bank account. We expect to hear from you urgently as this is a high priority Investment Placement and kindly send the following information to enhance communication; 1). Full Names and Address 2). Company Name and Address 3). Telephone, Fax and Cell phone numbers. I look forward to your swift response to this mail and please acknowledge the receipt of this letter using the below email address,then I will bring you into the complete picture of this pending project when I have heard from you. Sincerely Yours, Ares Hseih. [Assistant General Manager & Chief Financial Officer] Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited. Website: www.icbcasia.com email: areshseih@yahoo.com.hk

They all seem to be coming from Hong Kong these days. I must be practically famous there as an entrepreneur. I guess I am a pretty good entrepreneur now i think about it... I mean, we did used to set up a stall on our wall when we were little, selling something, but I can't remember what, can you Chloe? and we had a club, 'The Environment Club' then too, but I'm pretty sure we didn't make any money...just sat in the tree in the front garden keeping an eye out for litter bugs.
Actually, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever made money in any capacity in my life except a job. Also, I really hate entrepreneurs, they're always like the people on the Apprentice, they only love money and acquiring stuff is of primary importance to them, more than people or morality. I find that whole thing of the hard sell so so cringemaking and degrading.

Anyway, maybe they heard about 'the environment club' or something in Hong Kong? Or that I sold 5 copies of my £12 book? I guess I am a pretty amazing entrepreneur actually? £60 I made off my own bat, 18 months ago, that does suggest I should be in charge of investing $60 million.

Planet Earth update, the end is in sight, 2 episodes left, Planet Earth has vertainly taken a darker turn, shallow seas was very excellent, especially the starfish bit, they speed it up so you can see them shooting all over the place, one is 2 METRES wide!!ARGH!! I guess it only gets depressing cause you reealise how horrible all animals are, how sneaky and cruel they are, and once that theme is repeating over and over again, you start to despair of the world a bit...No wonder Darwin started to question God, life is so so cruel, everywhere.
The only animals that are exempt from this are herbivores; your deer and your cow-type animals, your goaty and rabbity creatures, grain eaters like lots of birds, elephants are also continually just as you hope in Planet Earth, lovely, loving, clever and sensitive. Sharks and Crocs* are evil, so are lions and wolves* and foxes.
So there you have it. My analysis, which is growing more frenzied as my annoyance with a student sat near me increases.


*extra evil