Farewell Hong Kong...

...hello Cayman Islands!

I resigned yesterday, feels good after seven years in the same firm. I'm off to the Cayman Islands at the end of July.

I think I can sum up all of your moods with these few words:

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the Janek, let the goodbyes come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning all day long
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Gone,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that Janek in Hong Kong would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now in SiHK can ever come to any good.

See ya!

Seriously though mate, I'm gutted you're going. You better stay on the SiHK boards if nothing else. See you on Sunday.

Cayman Islands? Are you sure?

I heard that it's full of tax-dodgers and swingers!

You can expect your next door neighbour to be a cross between Ken Dodd and Daniel Reynolds!

- uueeerrrgh! what a mental image!

This is a big loss. Benny Cat, Janek....

WHO NEXT?

WOE.


I'll do the goodbye bit nearer the time. Its just too bloody painful. Get me my Valium....

Barry Lineker wrote:

Cayman Islands? Are you sure?

I heard that it's full of tax-dodgers and swingers!

You can expect your next door neighbour to be a cross between Ken Dodd and Daniel Reynolds!

- uueeerrrgh! what a mental image!

have you ever seen me and Ken Dodd in the same room?

I'll organise some farewell drinks nearer the time and post the details up here.

I will of course keep posting on the message board, although I will be posting when you're all alseep.

I can't find a Spurs in Cayman Islands yet, so I may have to set one up.

Barry - one of the reasons I was forced to go is that Daniel never invited me to his swinging parties. He rules the Swinging Scene in DB like his personal fiefdom and I just can't sneak in. I now have to look for pastures new. As for Doddy, he can clear the cob webs in the flat for me.

you'll be on a completely different time zone. This is bad news. Do people actually live on the Cayman Islands? Very touristy non?

Yes, there are about 55,000 living there, around half of whom are ex-pats. Big financial scene out there cos it is offshore and has 0% tax. It will be a more relaxed working environment, I'll be living on or right next to the beach, there is 0% tax so pay is much better and there is lots of sailing/scuba/snorkelling etc to do. Downside is that it is bloody small (22 miles long and 4 miles wide) and it gets full of tourists.

Have a read here is you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Islands

When's the house warming? I'll bring a bottle!

this reminds me of when I lived in Southend tbh. A tropical paradise but you know it can get tedious. Also the size thing - if you get mullered and have a punch up then you are bound to meet the person the next day. I don't like that. Beach? pah. Clean air? pah Hours away from the US? pah Wealth and the trappings associated with it? pah. Give me ShenZhen any day of the week...

Forgot to add, no drop down toilets on the island at all.

Does that help to sway you?

haha...yes ;-)

Will EPL be shown live there? or at all?

From Wikipedia:

"In order to work in the Cayman Islands as a non-citizen, a work permit is required. This involves passing a police background check and a health check. A prospective worker will not be granted a permit if certain medical conditions are present"

Janek, so I take it your STD never showed up on the medical?

This is the downside to SiHK. As great as it is meeting you all it is very sad to say goodbye. Bennycat aside.

ezza wrote:

From Wikipedia:

"In order to work in the Cayman Islands as a non-citizen, a work permit is required. This involves passing a police background check and a health check. A prospective worker will not be granted a permit if certain medical conditions are present"

Janek, so I take it your STD never showed up on the medical?

You may laugh, I had a medical and they tested me for Aids and lots of STDs like syphilis and gonorhea (sp?). I know I was clean about 4 years ago as I gave bone marrow and had all the tests done. As I've only slept with my wife since, there would've have been a lot of explaning to do by Mrs Janek if I'd tested positive for something!

James wrote:

Will EPL be shown live there? or at all?

Pretty sure it will as there is a lot fo interest in in in the Caribbean.

Janek wrote:

one of the reasons I was forced to go is that Daniel never invited me to his swinging parties. He rules the Swinging Scene in DB like his personal fiefdom and I just can't sneak in. I now have to look for pastures new.

Its an all too familiar story, the same reason that Bennycat is leaving! Daniel is such a tyrant with all the rules, regulations and elaborate costumes!
Apparently everyone in DB is scared to cross him in case he bans them from his parties!

Daniel wrote:

This is the downside to SiHK. As great as it is meeting you all it is very sad to say goodbye. Bennycat aside.

But the great thing is we can keep in touch over the internet, no need to lose touch.

true but somehow not the same though is it? Nothing quite like grabbing hold of each others moobs at the height of goal celebration. It's a big loss.

Aw, tis a great loss Janek!!

Looking forward to that leaving party tho!!!

Really a great shame you're leaving, Janek but the experience of working on Cayman Island for a few years should be a good one How did it go with the resignation? Was your boss reasonable about it?

Any chance of organising a SiHK junk trip in June? It'd be a great way to say farewell to those leaving and maybe hello to some new members.

Yes, boss was very good about it in the end. I don't want to leave on a bad note as I want my present firm to refer work to me in my new firm!

Junk trip sounds a good idea, will look into it.

Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio!

We can see you sneaking out!

Spoiler: