A room with a view & Uzbekistan

What a lovely day it is here in Cheshire. I thought I would treat you to the beautiful view from my room. I may be moving to Chester city soon, taking a look at a new place on Monday. This photo is taken from my parents house and long time residence, but I will always be able to come back here to unwind.

My flights are booked to Beijing. I leave Manchester early September on my odyssey. The trip is on!

Central Asia in in the headlines again, this time Uzbekistan. The predominant view in the UK media is the almost the Uzbek government line! Muslim militants on trial, terrorist crackdown etc. The TV journalism is very sloppy, print a bit more balanced (in at least some papers). The fact that it is a Stalinist dictatorship, these people have do not democratic voice. Good luck to them I would do the same if my community was being repressed and my relatives disappearing. Where do the US stand on bringing democracy to this part of the world? They have been happy with the supporting the president as they have been using the country as a base in the "War on Terrorism" and turning a blind eye to the fate of it's people and the human rights record in Uzbekistan. If democracy does flourish it will be nothing to do with the US policy of speading "peace & democracy" throughout the world. More to do with the population saying enough is enough, out with corruption, I want a voice. We'll see how things develop.