Neil and I were checking out Ocean Terminal and we walked by Waterstone’s. I spotted China Cuckoo in the window display (I think the technical term is ‘front of store’) as we passed and I did a double-take.
“Mark Kitto… I know that name… that’s the guy who did the magazine!”
We made what’s called a beeline, and I got a look at one of the two remaining copies in stock.
I repeatedly make promises to stop buying books — I was at two BookCrossing events last week and picked up ten used books, but I really couldn’t resist getting China Cuckoo. This is the man who blazed the trail and made it possible for all of us crazy foreigners (who like to push shit uphill) to publish expatriate-focused magazines in China.
I’m fairly convinced that I corresponded with him over email when the shit hit the fan with What’s On Xiamen back in 2004 because I needed some advice and he was very nice. And that was before he got forced out of That’s… because he’d been too successful.
I hope book sales since publication have already covered his advance and my small contribution (by way of purchasing China Cuckoo for full RRP in Waterstone’s and not on Amazon) has gone towards his royalty earnings.
(Read the Danwei interview with Mark Kitto when China Cuckoo was first published. Especially about the ‘self-important brigade’, the main reason I couldn’t wait to leave China in the end.)
While we were having coffee in Costa, I took the opportunity to dip into the book a wee bit, and I think I’m going to enjoy China Cuckoo.
It is slightly amusing that some people I met in Xiamen (who are still in Xiamen) cannot help but tell me about the new restaurants, cafes, bars, barbecue stalls, etc. opening in Xiamen. Either they’ve never had much to say to me and this was the only thing we had in common (since I’m so quiet, the latest interpretation I’ve heard is quiet = ignorant + stuck-up), or it’s something that’s become a reflex.
Heh.
(All are welcome to go wild with mathematical interpretations of what ‘quiet’ means in the comments, by the way.)
I’m very, very tempted to remove all my handcoded, static archives, and slowly, LABORIOUSLY, enter them into WordPress so my archives are all in one place (and I can fix any posts that are essentially dead or no longer suitable). The post numbers will be all fucked up, but I’m not about search engine-friendly URLs on this bloog anyway, so it doesn’t matter (or maybe I should do the nice permalinks thing just because I can).
Anyone at all think this is a good idea? With my rather panicked crafting of various swap items and birthday presents, WOX once a week (yes, it’s baaaccckkk, I’m going to start helping out as editor at large), and potential general not-very-manual labouring on the house project, deciding to move my static archives to WordPress seems dead foolhardy.
However.
Manually re-formatting the archives is a serious pain in the arse (if you look at what’s there at the moment, you’ll see they’re all over the fucking shop), and I am currently obsessed with reworking the site so as much of it is powered by WordPress as possible (fewer re-design headaches). I’m going to have to redo all the image URLs, though. That’ll be fun.
I’ve debated (with myself) the wisdom of writing what is printed below. I’m not annoyed because I’ve not come away with much more than bucketloads of experience, as that experience has been invaluable. I’m pissed off because not only is someone trying to pass off my work as their own, they’re doing it so poorly.
Neil showed me an e-mail from a friend in Xiamen. He’d scanned the editorial page from the last What’s On Xiamen he’s seen. In it, the assistant editor I’d picked to replace me on my departure said she was so stressed working so goddamn hard on the content to deliver the issue to her dear readers after I left suddenly and without warning.
Yes, she worked really hard writing that editorial and getting other people to do her job. I got a teeny tiny thank you at the end, with no mention that I’d done practically all the work remotely (one skim of the articles and the editorial makes it clear they were not written by the same person — I write using grammar and punctuation). She’s probably already been paid more than me because she’s salaried and I wasn’t. And she’s asked me to help her (free of charge) with taking over the website (and her first questions concerned how much profit it makes, followed by saying she has no clue how to administer a website so if I could tutor her through it she’d be very grateful).
My dear girl who spent a year studying in England but only hung out with other Chinese students and did not make one British friend, I lived in China for three years. Complimenting me then trying to scam me isn’t gonna work. If you want to do it, you’re gonna have to find help somewhere else, and I can guarantee you that your new foreign friends are expecting to profit from it, too.
- really learned how to eat (some) spicy food
- visited a bunch of Shaolin temples in Fujian
- moved countries TWICE
- got a new laptop after five years with my old one — almost a record, I like to think
- ended my relationship with a magazine I slogged to launch and run
- learned to use our old sewing machine again
- made my first sock monkey (and second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth)
- crocheted a shitload of stuff
- continued to suffer from chronic re-designitis
- became an employed writer and professional blooger (not this site, of course)
- was part of a Western-style family Christmas for the first time
Wow. Doesn’t look like very much when it’s written down.
There’s a programme on BBC Two right now called The Choir. It’s about a classical choirmaster taking on a school that has never had a choir, and training a group to compete in the World Choir Games that were held this year.
It’s completely freaky since the World Choir Games were held in Xiamen, and my magazine was the official guide book for the games. I almost feel like I have to focus my camera on the television screen and wait and hope to catch a glimpse of my magazine lying around on a table or something.
I’ve heard that there is an editorial in a later issue of the magazine saying that I left Xiamen suddenly. The impression I got was they are accusing me, behind my back, of leaving them high and dry. I didn’t. I got pissed off with the Chinese publishers because I spent my own money on research in China — as I always did — and did most of the writing and all of the editing from Singapore and they were, as usual, dragging their feet on actually getting it published. All this work for an issue I would never see. So I told them they could use the stories I wrote and edited, and to leave me out of it from then on.
No sight of my last What’s On Xiamen on the programme. Ah well! Hehe. Neil thinks the conductor, Gareth Malone, is a poof for crying at the end. I disagree. I’m sure it was an incredibly stressful experience, and when it was over, he did need to let it out.
I wish people would stop trying to appeal to my assumed vanity over What’s On Xiamen. Just because I was the one to re-launch it doesn’t mean I will do whatever you want to keep it going, disadvantaging and challenging my own principles in the process (i.e. stop prefacing your requests with, “You worked so hard to get it going and now it’s doing well,” followed with, “Now if you’ll just [insert request here].”).
If I never stop working on it because I’m selfish and want to reap all financial benefits (which, frankly, are due me, I worked hard — but I’m also practical), it will suffer. If I’m unhappy with how things have gone, I will say so. If the expat community and Chinese publisher are so desperate to maintain the site — buy it from me, by all means. My price is non-negotiable.
(I don’t know why people keep asking me to silence myself or lie for financial benefit when they know very well that it is not in my character. I don’t wish What’s On Xiamen to fail without me, but I’m not going to pretend I’m not disappointed with how the production almost immediately showed large cracks the moment I left.)
That all said, I am also not conceited enough to imagine that there isn’t someone (or some people?) willing to take over my role and its attendant responsibilities (although the unstable income will not appeal to most foreigners in Xiamen). If someone is found, good luck and Godspeed. If you want to ask me questions about the production process, I will answer, but I will not help you do your job otherwise. I have conducted myself openly — and I believe, honourably — over the magazine’s dealings. It is only fair, in my opinion, that people deal with me fairly and openly if they choose to take over the reins. But I also know what foreigners in Xiamen are like when they smell a business opportunity, so I’m not even considering holding my breath.
I’d seen this on the telly a couple of months ago — the Singapore government is going to provide countrywide WiFi coverage using WiMax. After my hacking scare on What’s On Xiamen, I’m extremely loathe to do anything using a public, unsecured wireless network — except aimless surfing. If you must check your e-mail or access password-protected sites while connected to a public hotspot, your best option is to use SSH tunnelling.
I’m big on re-designing when I feel unsettled. I think. I decided to completely re-do Twisted Sockster, because I wasn’t happy with how it looked the first time I re-designed it. So there you go. Only one post so far, because brilliance takes time. Ahem.
On being unsettled. Neil mentioned, over the phone, that he doesn’t feel settled in back home, and doesn’t know if he will, after being away for six years. Six years is a long time, I reckon, and he also mentioned that no one seemed to go out any more. He went to The Station with his sister and the place was quiet. His mate B— is getting married next year to his long time girlfriend. I imagine many of his childhood and university friends have changed a lot, too.
So will he settle in? We agreed that he would probably feel better once he finds a job and (consequently) eases into a routine. Irons are in the fire.
I’ve been in Singapore for something like six weeks now with no jobs on the horizon, full-time or temporary. I’m not settling well, either. My days are spent reading and snacking, or computering and not eating (I’m working on remembering to eat), and going for jogs or walks in the evening. I’ve made a total of one amigurumi duck (it’s still lacking wings), made and lost one wrist cuff, a second cuff has been stalled in mid-stitch, the sewing machine is fixed but I don’t want to sew on the floor amongst the cat hair, I’ve been to the bead shops and so far I’ve made one pair of earrings (I really like them), and I listen to the radio.
The designer in Xiamen says he’s too busy to finish laying out the September – October What’s On Xiamen, and since I haven’t been able to harangue him, this issue is going to be late. By at least a week, by my estimate.
Not working much is really frustrating! It’s fun for a few weeks, but it’s lost its charm. I need something. I’ve been considering what options I have. Craft like mad (I’m already mad, so this won’t be hard) and hope someone buys my duckies (unlikely)? Try to score a paid blogging job (well nigh impossible)? Come up with some harebrained scheme to sell stuff on eBay (my stuff is kinda crap)? Write a book about low-budget English magazine start ups (hahahahahahahahahahaha)?
I got a hit from a Google search for Andrea See and her What’s On Xiamen. Good to know people are finally realising that it’s actually possible for a non-Caucasian to be responsible for the editorial of an English magazine in Xiamen.
Singapore is comparatively cool and dry after a roastingly hot June and July in Xiamen. Never thought I’d see the day when I’d think Singapore wasn’t super hot. Hehe.
Went to MAAD. ‘Twas a touch disappointed that the venue was smaller than expected — but hey, they’re just starting, right? Saw some cool things and great ideas. Also saw someone who designs then contracts the ‘handmade’ production to artisans in India. That’s cheating, in my opinion.
Saw Superman Returns and Thank You For Smoking. I love salted popcorn.
Bought that Dopod. Neil runs down the battery playing the default games. Bought a new laptop. It should be delivered later this week.
Collected my stash from various craft swaps. The haul is in-fucking-credible. I love craft swaps. I visited the bead shops in Chinatown today and bought many things. Made my first pair of earrings. Not exactly a professional job, but they’ll hold and I now have a pair of earrings that match the garnet pendant I got in India.
Completed a lot of editorial for the next issue of What’s On Xiamen. Yes. Really.
My first time online in a week. I could get used to this!
Moving stuff about has gone into medium gear. The good news is almost all our stuff has been sold (yesterday was quite the day). We’ve posted four boxes via surface mail so far, with probably another four or five to go. Then we’re contacting shippers to move the rest.
(We’re pretty lucky we’ve got a post office within walking distance, one where the staff know us so well it’s never a hassle to post anything.)
I’m afraid to post my craft supplies, not because there’s a possibility they could get lost in the mail, but because what happens when I hit crafting withdrawal? I don’t want to get all new stuff that I already have just so I can craft something. But most of the fabric can go by post, I think. I promised myself one last trip (and no more) to the fabric market to score more cheap supplies (and remnants).
Meanwhile, my final in-Xiamen issue of What’s On is going to go to print this week. I am working on the next issue right now. This means another intra-province bus trip this week, headed north.
Having been pretty busy of late (What’s! On! Xiamen! isgoingtobetheofficialguidebookforthe World! Choir! Games! Thatseriouslyrocks), I’ve not been keeping up to date with important Singapore news, such as that headline grabber of some bloody interactive website the Straits Times has launched to make up for the crappiness of their news one.
Do you feel a rant coming on?
Fucking hell, what’s this “celebrity bloggers” pap? You know who a real celebrity on the blogging scene is? Someone who’s done the time, someone who works hard on their website and spends years honing their voice, not to be famous, but because they just love doing it. These journalists and MTV “Veejays” are merely (barely) famous people (and don’t even get me started about the lone existing blogger of the lot, blogwhores are not “celebrity bloggers” either) used to subvert the genuine independence of personal writing online and create a virtual, but very confining set of “rules” for what a “good” blog should be.
The thing I loved about blogging in Singapore back then was that virtually no one knew what the word meant. Now it’s become this ridiculous trend, this thing that the powers that be have decided must be co-opted into the nation’s approved-of culture. Why can’t they leave anything alone? The fun of personal sites and writing is that it’s freeform, it’s not bound by any rules or guidelines. Now they’ve got fucked up blogging competitions in SCHOOLS, they’re starting up this ludicrous Stomp blogging thing, soon they’re going to have courses for blogging and then they’ll start scoring blogs nationally along some scale with points for how many pertinent topics are covered with each post. It’s like ‘O’ level maths in words.
I’m from what might be considered the old school of blogs when it comes to Singapore — I’m not the first blogger in Singapore, but I’m definitely one of the early ones. Blogging becoming popular is one of those things, it tipped and people really got into it, I have no problem with that. I was tickled when Kristen’s site, Krisalis, was mentioned in an article in a Straits Times supplement years ago. But why oh why oh why does this government (or whatever “privatised” media or institution) have to stick their nose in something that, in my opinion, is an intensely personal expression of the self? Even my mother (who is allowed to be nosy about my life, she is my mother after all) doesn’t read or care too much about my blog. She knows it’s there, she might check it twice a year or something to see if I’m saying anything embarrassing, but she mostly lets it be because it’s MY thing.
And what the hell wrong is there with that?
Received a call today from What’s On Xiamen’s advertising salesperson. Turns out that the Sofitel sales and marketing people have told her that they are very unhappy with the fact that since the Sheraton‘s opened, Sheraton‘s name comes before Sofitel in our listings. Even though it has been explained clearly that the listings are arranged alphabetically within each section, and editorial decisions have always been made separately from advertising, “they may have to reconsider advertising in the magazine if Sofitel appears after Sheraton in the next issue.”
I would rather saw off my left arm with a dull wooden ruler than capitulate to an advertiser’s pathetic attempt at bullying. Here are a few tips so Sofitel Plaza Xiamen can “stay ahead of the competition”:
- Change the spelling of your name so it comes before all other hotels. I suggest AAAAAA Saaaafitel. Doesn’t look stupid at all.
- Don’t bother advertising in the only local English magazine foreigners read. There are lots more hotels who would love the space you’ll vacate.
- If you’re so afraid of Sheraton being a better hotel, I think you’ve got far more to worry about than where your name is in the listings.
Don’t push your luck, I’ve been through this before. I don’t acquiesce meekly when an advertiser demands something. I’ve had loads of advertisers try to gain free exposure — if you want an article about your business in the magazine, give me a good reason that is everything to do with being relevant, interesting, and useful to our readers and nothing to do with financial transactions.
Don’t threaten us with something as stupid as breaching the advertising contract two Chinese companies, bound by Chinese commercial law, have signed. In fact, don’t even think of threatening our advertising sales staff. Call me. Go ahead. I double dare you.
Roger, if you have a problem with me pointing the finger squarely at Sofitel staff for behaving so poorly, I suggest you instruct Sofitel staff to behave less poorly.
(Roger, I am also aware that it is unlikely you told your staff to try and bully us in this way — but let’s try and make sure they don’t do it again, shall we?)
So, three days on, and no solution but to move the What’s On Xiamen account to a new server. If that’s going to take another day at least, because their service has been slow lately.
I’m not going to bother finding a new host, for various reasons.
I sure as hell am not going to move the domain to this account.
What all this means is I’ve not been able to do anything else this past three days. Wait for tech support. Attempt to delete things that might close the door. Come back a few hours / minutes later after having a meal / coffee break only to find it’s been hacked again. Contact tech support again. Get told once again it’s not them, it’s me, and when I ask them to explain in more depth exactly which files are insecure since they claim my files are insecure, all I get is ‘We are looking into your issue, please wait’ and I wait for eight hours and still they’re not done looking.
I’m a touch frustrated. In my desperate search for relief, I re-designed the site. If you check it out within the next five minutes before it gets hacked again, you can see it.
You may be some Arabic writer or whatever. I’m not even American, I just run my site (What’s On Xiamen) on one. It’s a personal project, I don’t get rich or make much, if anything, on it. Leave my site the fuck alone. Goddamn it.