By the time a massive earthquake hit Pakistan and Kashmir the world had almost become immune to disaster. Further, there was not a large army of western tourists with video cameras to record the damage. Over 100,000 people lost their lives in the Pakistan earthquake. Maybe 1,000 people were killed in and around New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. The media coverage and hyperbole would suggest the numbers were the other way around. The world quickly moved on.

One year ago I wrote that "Iraq remains a nightmare for the USA. With deadly attacks on a daily basis it is a surprise that the US people are as long-suffering as they appear." 365 days later the situation is largely unchanged.  The US death toll is well over 2,000 and there is a growing anti war movement.

Tony Blair and George Bush are still in office but significantly weakened to the point of being ineffective. Bush was further damaged by the sloppy response to Hurricane Katrina.

The range of human emotion was all too clear in London in July when a day after the euphoria (and huge surprise) of London being granted the 2012 Olympics the English capital was hit by four suicide bombers in the subway and bus system.  52 people died and over 700 were injured.

Charlie and Camilla married and appear to be very happy. But the thought of him as King of England and the Commonwealth is hard to swallow. Maybe she will help him understand the issues that matter and how the royalty may be relevant.

The Queen, as up to date as ever, asked Eric Clapton at  Buckingham Palace reception for the British music industry, if he had been playing the guitar for a long time. About 45 years was the undeservedly polite reply.

There is a new Pope. Trouble is that the new one (Benedict 16th) is far from young. So the popemobile cannot be pensioned off.

England won the Ashes. Now that was worth celebrating. Not just as it has been so long; but for the way it was done and the sportsmanship that (mostly) shone through.

Live 8 came and went but does not appear to have generated the memories or the spirit of the 1985 Live Aid concerts. It did reunite Pink Floyd and that is probably a good thing.

Million Dollar Baby won Best Film and Best Actress. Deserved awards.

Michael Jackson was cleared of child molestation charges in the USA. Gary Glitter is facing similar charge in Vietnam.

Donald Tsang got a short term job as Hong Kong's Chief Executive. His slow route to greater democracy is an insult to Hong Kong's educated, well-traveled, talented and politically aware population.

North Korea carried on rattling the nuclear cage.

The Singaporeans hung an Australian boy, Van Nguyen. It was an unnecessary act and Singapore missed out on an opportunity to show its humanity.

Bali was hit again by suicide bombers; its tourism industry slowed once more.

The Burmese moved their capital without thinking they had to tell anyone that they were moving.

Prime Minister Thaksin is for the first time under real political pressure. Allegations of corruption occur regularly; the South remains in deep unrest and even the King delivered a strong message to the government at the end of the year.

My golf handicap improved. Down to 12 at the end of the year.

Work continues to be busy. Challenging. And frustrating at the same time.