INTERNATIONAL TRADE (Zhong Dian)

IT MADE the news when Australia signed an AU$1 Billion deal with China to supply petroleum gas. It seems Australia was becoming China's petrol station. Large ships would now carry fuel from Australia to China to meet their growing power needs.

I sat at Noah's Cafe typing in my diary, quite thankful because I was getting a bit behind. A CD played in the background.

All of a sudden the computer switched off. The CD also stopped. None of the shop staff looked particularly worried.

What had happened? Had someone tripped the powercable at the powerplant and yet to plug it in? Was someone draining all the juice with a backyard Aluminium refinery or nuclear accelerometer?

Of course! The ship from Australia was running late! All these poor Chinese people unable to use their internet access because we Australians weren't giving them enough fuel.

I waited for an hour an a half until the power came back on. The ship had finally made it!