Homeward bound

Ayat and I went to Guangzhou yesterday for a look around (again), the railway station there was really busy so we decided to buy the tickets home in the morning. Good job we did, when we got back to the station it was heaving and most of the tickets were sold. Dennis told us that 100,000 people will try to take the train home for the new year holiday this weekend, 40,000 will be disappointed !!! There were people everywhere, never seen anything like it.

We saw an army officer park his BMW in the wrong place at the station, the police dragged him out of the car and an almighty row ensued, although we couldn't understand what was being said it was quite entertaining, they eventually let him go.

In the supermarket the other day we saw something new on the meat counter, dogs paws !!! can you believe it ? and I thought the frogs were a revelation.

Just finished packing and will be leaving for HK at lunchtime, got a bit of shopping to do, then to the airport.

So this will be the last for a while, found it harder to write this time, I guess because we've got used to being here and not so much seems extraordinary.

See you all soon,
Neil.

Song for the day : Take the long way home, Supertramp.

Eviction time again

It's Andys last night tonight so we may go for a beer or two, but can't stay out too long cos we've got customers coming tomorrow morning. So Andy will be back to work in England next week. Here's a pic of the "old chap" on our day trip last weekend. This at the end of the monastery, got a picture of inside this one of the others took through an open window, below.


Been wet and windy all day today (I know Janet likes to hear about the weather).

Not so much to say today, back tomorrow.

Song for the day : Blowing in the wind, Bob Dylan.

Another evening with the TV

Got home tonight and Dennis wanted to watch Lord of the Rings, I don't think he knew how long it lasts, so he was gone before half way through, just put on the second part, so I guess we're gonna be up all night.

Been another work day so not much to tell, we've got to go to work on Saturday to see some customers so I doubt we'll get to do much !!

So just a few days left now, think it'll be good to get home to a house with some heating, cold here again, seems to go up and down.

Thought I'd tell some stories of the trip on Sunday, got to the station at 9:20 in time for train at 9:45, only just as we'd got the tickets Heidi annouced that she'd forgotten her passport !!!
Being the gentlemen we are ??? we decided to wait and catch the train at 10:55, so Dennis had to come back and take her home to fetch it . The boys had a bet as to how many times she'd mention it during the day (she did feel bad), I lost the bet as the others said I cheated by coercing her to speak about it !!!

While at the Bhudda site Heidi decided to lose her camera !!! eventually found it at the souvenir shop, the lady there had kindly kept it. So a bit of a traumatic day for the viking. Bus trip back to ferry was incident free.

No pics again !!! need to get some more.

Song for the day : Magis Bus, The Who.

The Shah goes to bed early !!!

Bit dull today, not a lot to report. Just been for a walk to the shop near the gate to get coffee, some of the houses here are decorated for the new year celebrations, they look very good with paper lanterns and Christmas lights.

The Shah of Iran (Ayat) is really tired today and has gone to bed 7:45, not like him at all !!

No pics today, but there have been a few recently, so maybe tomorrow.

Andy Lowe is leaving on Saturday and I should be away on Monday night, don't know about the others yet, I wonder what the Chinese new year will bring ? maybe some us will be back again.
Sitting watching DVD again !! getting to be a bit regular.

Nothing else to say, so bye bye for now.

Song for the day : New years day, U2 (well nearly)

You're nicked me old China

Had a busy day today, lot to get done, all work I'm afraid.

Anyway, we had a bit of a to do last night, just finished dinner after coming back from HK to collect some parts, there's a knock at the door and it was the police. Fortunately Dennis was here, turns out they want to photograph all our passports. We are assured today that this is normal for this time of year, so no bother. We've all been joking today about it, so there you go our first brush with the law !!!

The pic is of the monastery from Sunday, inside is amazing but you can't get in, we saw all the monks praying and chanting, great day for all.

Song for the day : I fought the law, The Clash.

More steps

Yesterday we decided to take a trip to see the Bhudda on Lantau island, we were all looking forward to it after a hard and frustrating week. 9 o'clock we set off and arrived at railway station at around 9:20.

Got down to Hong Kong and took star ferry to central and from there a ferry to Mui Wo town on Lantau island. From here a bus to the Bhudda up and down winding mountain roads. This monument is really very impressive, see pics. To get to the top we had to climb 301 steps, these steps are becoming an obsession !!!!

The view from

the top is amazing,

it was difficult to get

a shot that captures

it properly, see pic.

From there to the monastery next door, beautiful building, but you can't go inside.

Took the bus back to the ferry and back to HK. I will tell more of this journey in a later post.

Song for the day : Ferry cross the Mersey, Gerry and the Pacemakers. It's the only song I could think of with ferry in it !!

An afternoon spent walking

Went for lunch on our own today at a proper Chinese restaurant, managed to order dumplings, noodles and beer (menu had pictures and English ha ha) very nice.

After lunch we found our way to the only piece of traditional Chinese architecture we have seen in Dongguan see Left.

This tower is on top of a hill, 347 steps to base of tower and 137 steps to the top the view is good although it was hazy today, you can see from the pictures that the city spreads out to the horizon. The stairs are very steep and the lintels very low so you have to be careful.

The picture (right) is a view from the top, the tall building in the distance is the new hotel close to where we are living. Left is another view from the top.

Made a change to do something different today, I had not noticed this building before. Going out for dinner tonight.

Back soon, hope you like the pics.

Song for the day : Stairway to heaven, Led Zeppelin.

Market day

Got in early today hoping that we would get some parts from UK, turns out they are in Brazil !!!

Well it could only happen to us. Got to wait for a second shipment may come tomorrow.

Went walking earlier, we got off the beaten track a bit into some small street market area's, quite a lot of people around and everything is so cheap, but the smells, can be horrible can be nice depends on the kind of street restaurant.

Got some pics,

Song for the day : Market square hero, Marillion.

Wine, Whisky & Tea

Another fairly long cold day, wore my overcoat all day even in the office, no heating there either. It's funny cos I never realised how cold your feet can get wearing only flip flops all day long !!, for those who don't know we have to wear them in the clean area, which includes the office.

We got home tonight and decided to drink some Chinese wine with dinner, considering it's only about £1 a bottle it's quite good, a couple of Johnny Walker reds after that and a cup of tea before bed, helps to wind down after the rigours of the day (we don't do this every night !! ).

Ready for bed now, can't wait ! the room is freezing cold, we've only got two heaters which we use downstairs, it's a job to force yourself out of bed and into the shower in the morning.

No pics today, maybe tomorrow.

Song for the day : In these shoes, Kirsty MacColl.

Wednesday and it's cold again !

It was a funny kind of day, started off well, ended not so well (on the work front). As usual we still are waiting for parts to arrive to continue with the work in hand, V frustrating at times, just have to learn to live with it I guess.

Stayed until 8:00 pm last night to deal with a small problem Andy Lowe had, got home to find Heidi and Andy G ( who will be referred to as Dave from here on) had eaten and we had to microwave the leftovers, China microwave not so powerful !!! took some time. Anyway wasn't bad.

Hedi went out to a birthday party for some of the people at TC, we were too mucky and tired so didn't go.

Lobo was making his normal lunch time call to is girlfriend Marie, see below.

Still V cold, gonna last all week by all accounts, just like home, lol.

Back soon, hope all are well at home.

Song for the day : Hanging on the telephone, Blondie.

It's cold here !!!

Not much to say again, had a better work day than Monday, long may it continue.

We all sat in watching a dvd tonight, Legend got Will Smith in it, not bad, but not very exiting.

Really cold now, had to go and buy some more warm quilts, everyone is freezing !!!!

Got to go, can't think of anything else, so back again soon,

Song for the day : Cold as ice, foreigner.

Winter's here

Not a lot to say about today, first real day back at work in China, usual stuff, I've said it all before !

Andy Gill got his first taste of a full day here, not sure what he thought, we're both still very tired from the journey over. Back to good old Chinese food, not so bad really.

So a bit about who's here : Andy Lowe is here again, Heidi is still here from December + Andy the new boy. Maggie has now left the company so we don't have a resident Chinese speaker those duties now fall on Dennis when we are out. Not been out for dinner so far, takeaway last night (Chinese takeaway in China eh !!).

Weather has turned quite cold, had to use heaters tonight.

Song for the day : New Kid in Town, The Eagles.

It's just like coming home (lol)

Got back to Dongguan at 11:45 (13th Jan), came by train from HK.

Didn't get to do the sights as planned, visa was late and time ran out, however did wander round and took these pics on Star Ferry going from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, it was a lovely bright warm day.

Went straight to work after dropping bags at house !!! It's 5:00 am now (14th), can't sleep, just had a cup of tea, time to go to work in 2 hours so may as well stay up.

Back tomorrow with more (bet you can't wait ??).

Song for the day : The boys are back in town, Thin Lizzy.

On the move

I'm now waiting for a lift to the station, so the journey is about to begin (11.00 am 10.01.08).

Meeting Andy at the airport, although we are travelling on different flights. Andy is going straight to China, I have to apply for a new China visa when I get to HK so I won't get there until Sunday.

In the meantime if I do anything interesting while in HK I will certainly post the details, so as from Sunday there should be a daily account of the thrills in Dongguan !!!??

Keep looking, back in a few days.

Song for today : On the road again, Canned Heat.