Boredom has set in

Got a bit bored so I thought I'd do another post.

Been sitting here thinking about the time I've spent here since July last year, and as it's nearly time to leave, what I will miss and not miss. I will do a couple of these on each post now before I leave on Wednesday, so here's the first ones :

Things I won't miss : Chinese Coffee, the noise ( it's the noisiest country I've been in ) and mosquitoes ( I guess that was obvious).

Things I will miss : Chinese tea, hot and iced ( some are really different and so nice), food shopping with Dennis (the meat counter is a Revelation) and the train ride from Hong Kong to Dongguan (I just like it).

Think I'll go for a beer tonight, back tomorrow perhaps ......

Donner und Blitzen

Was woken this morning at 6 O'clock to the loudest thunder I have ever heard, this was a mega storm, absolutely lashing down and it's still going on now 2:30 pm !!! thunder and lightning too.

Again there's been little to say, it's so hard to find stuff to write about when you're here alone, because of the wet weather recently I haven't been out much either so hence no post yesterday.

I have changed the leaving date to Wednesday next week, I can't change it again cos I think if I do Liz will do me some damage when I get back, think we've changed the flight 3 times already, the travel company must be expecting her to call every day now.

Dennis and I have nearly finished now, I think Monday should see the end of it, on Tuesday we can tidy the place up and I can start to get ready for the trip home,really looking forward to that flight lol.

So I'll be back on this if anything interesting happens at the weekend.

Song for the day : Let it rain, Eric Clapton. (awesome guitar playing on this)

A friend came to watch movies !!!

Tonight I was watching Beowulf on DVD when I noticed I had a new friend watching with me, a frog !!! in the lounge !! no idea how it got in, had to chase it out through the back door in the kitchen.

He's not the first visitor either, some weird and often horrible looking bugs get in sometimes.

Off to bed in a minute, heaven knows what I'll find up there.

Back soon ...........

Dennis the diner is back

Had Dennis back for dinner last three nights so not eating as much !

He sat here this evening watching The Matrix Reloaded, completely absorbed by it, just like Terminator 3. I think he likes that kind of science fiction.

There's not been much to say after the weekend, just work and watching TV, what an exciting life. Been eating lunch out this week for a change, today had noodles with Dennis.

I was supposed to be flying home on Sunday but I may have to stay on for another few days, will make the decision tomorrow.

It's so hot and humid at the moment and the mossies are back, got attacked in the lounge last night, not too serious though, escaped with one or two small bites.

Going to the shop in a minute need some more tea. Listened to The Ramones last night so here's one of theirs.

Song for the day : Blitzkrieg bop, The Ramones.

A happy day for eveyone

Yesterday lunchtime I walked into town for lunch, had a large plate of spicy noodles and a large plate of fried rice with mushrooms, followed by some sweet rice cakes for pudding. I'm OK when the menus have pictures (just a big kid really), all this because I knew Dennis wanted to drink Chinese whisky later.

So, to the events of the evening. Dennis picked me up at six in a strange car !

The wedding party had borrowed his, pic. What a pretty Merc eh.

The hall is a community centre for old people, quite large and full up with wedding guests, to get in you have to give a red envelope with money inside, good job Dennis primed me !

Loads of food on every table. Before I knew it Dennis produced the dreaded bottle.

Here's the happy couple, his brother told me about fifty times during the evening that it is a happy day for everyone, yes he'd been on the firewater too !!

It was lovely evening and lots of people came and shook my hand and smiled, even though I couldn't communicate with many of them I really enjoyed it. Got home about midnight and no I didn't have a headache this morning !!

A suitable song for the day : For me and my gal, Gene Kelly.

Hair cuts just ain't what they used to be

Dennis took me to the barbers this morning, what a different experience !! First you lay down on a bed with head over a basin, I thought I was getting my hair washed but no ! Face and head massage, then you get a complete skin clean (face) and then ears are cleaned out. Then your hair is washed. Off to the chair for a haircut. Once done your hair is washed again.

All this for about £5, Dennis had the head massage bit, but didn't get his hair cut.

We then went for lunch, soup, beef, dumplings and roll up pancakes, see below.

Dennis can't leave his phone alone, even when there is a meal on the table.
Today the temperature reached 40 C on the patio !

Song for the day : Fantastic day, Haircut 100.

An unexpected party

Well, here's the hundred up, I'll have to save the special post until Monday I think. The reason is that I think ?! I've been invited to a wedding celebration on Sunday. For a few days now Dennis has been trying to explain but I haven't really understood if it's a birthday, a christening (do they have that in China ? I don't know) or a wedding. Today he said "one boy one girl" so it must be a wedding (or a birthday for twins). It's all to do with one of the drivers at work, don't know which one, so it's difficult to establish whose wedding it is. Seems the wedding's on Saturday and further celebration starting with lunch on Sunday, should be a great experience, I'm looking forward to it.

No pics again, it's only just stopped raining.

So that's it, the song must be obvious,

Song for the day : White wedding, Billy Idol.

One more for a century

Been all work today, all I can talk about is food and weather (yawn !!).

Dennis and I decided to go out for lunch today, so we went downtown (Qiaotou) to a Hong Kong restaurant. Chicken curry, beef with ginger and spring onions and rice. It was very good, much better than at work, and I just had to get out today.

Tonight it was Duck with green beans, beef with green pepper and cold chips !! she likes to make chips occasionally they are always soggy and cold, so I bury them in the rice to warm up !!

Weather wet and hot.

Hey Kate why are you at home ? no lectures ?

This is post number ninety nine so hence the song : 99 red balloons, Nena

The barber of Dongguan

It hasn't stopped raining now for two days, everything feels damp and it's still warm too.

Last night went to the hotel where they had a special day for the earthquake appeal. Lots of Chinese men drinking Chinese whisky, I think I understood correctly, they were all sad and decided to drown their sorrows. This fire water they had was twenty five years old and costs over £100 a bottle and it tastes horrible !! no accounting for taste.

I think I'll have to brave a Chinese barber, hair is far too long (that's an age thing). So on Saturday I'm gonna walk to a newly opened shop just up the road, I'll have to take the camera.

This is post number 98, so in two posts time it'll be the century, have to try and find something special to write about.

Nothing else to add so bye bye until next time.

Song for the day : Whisky in the jar, The Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, Metallica and more I think.

The Amazonia is dead.

I'm back from my short break in HK, was nice to do something different. Had a mega burger last night, this in an American place in Causeway Bay, I was drooling !!!

Did a bit of shopping, just came away with some new trainers, so cheap.

Walked from Causeway Bay to Wanchai to listen to the band in the Amazonia, the place was dead !! and the band not on good form. Had one beer (Alison please take note) and went back to the hotel. Stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon this time. Seems I should take some lessons from my youngest daughter on how to get a busy social life !! see comments.

Back to China on the train this morning, very busy today, China must be getting popular.

Didn't take any pics, and it's rained all day so back tomorrow.

A very obscure song today ! Amazona, Roxy Music (anyone remember it, don't think it was a single).

A fish day

Had a lazy day ?, fed the fish, cleaned the pond, did some washing this morning, listened to music most of the day.

Fish for lunch, I think it was Carp, very nice, with rice and tomatoes and onions in soy sauce, delicious.

Just been for a walk, and something I never took much notice of before suddenly stuck me. On this estate all the foot paths have trees in the middle of them, how bizarre, so you are best walking in the road, see pics.

Notice the rubbish bin ? they are all the same on this site, fish !!

Back next week with some news, from HK maybe.

Song for the day : Fields of gold, Eva Cassidy (it just happened to be playing as I was writing this, got the player on random) and it's better than Stings version, in my opinion !?

A message to Alison

Alison, you know very well if YOU put a mountain of food in front of me I'll eat it !!

You should've seen it last night a big tub of rice and three plates of meat, chicken and vegetables, and it's nice !!! it's got to be eaten. It beat me last night though.

To answer Golden Oldie, the food is cooked for me by the maid, but I could manage ?!!

Weather (anonymous), 35 C today but humidity is low so not bad, I quite like it like this.

For those of you who can't read and like to look at pictures (only joking !), I took these in the little park by the lake, it's really nice in the evening.

There's nothing to say about the day really. Going for a beer tonight and tomorrow it's gonna be washing and ironing the stuff I don't get the maid to do. So back next week after the HK trip.

Song for the day : Tequila sunrise, The Eagles. I've been trying to learn this on the guitar this week.

No Dennis = more food.

I got five comments yesterday, think that's a record !!

I'm putting on weight !!! It's because Dennis hasn't stayed for dinner last four nights and I have to eat all the food, it's nice but I've been so used to eating less.

On the work front : things have slowed a bit but that was inevitable, however, we have done really well (I think).

Been missing home a bit this week, lack of conversation doesn't help, and I've watched all the DVDs ! Have to get some more. Has anyone seen Flight plan, it's got Jodie Foster in it ? I thought it was really tedious, think I'll watch Terminator 3 again tonight.

Going to HK on Sunday cos my 30 days are up, so that will make a change and I can eat something different.

Song for the day : Blueberry hill, Fats Domino.

Not a lot to say

Not been much to say of late, also had problems with the Internet connection in the house, hence the lack of posts last few days.

Took this pic, caught me unawares as I went for an evening walk.

This is what Dennis calls a "China car", I just wish I'd been walking in the other direction cos I'd a seen it coming.

I'd just been round the lake again, between it and the house is a hill with palm trees growing all round, I'll have to climb these steps, see pic.

Can't think of anything else so I'm off till tomorrow.

Song for the day : Drive my car, The Beatles

Earthquake

My daughter Katie and the ladies in the office back home, told me there was an earthquake in China. We didn't feel it here (maybe it was all that red wine !! lol).

No one seems to know about it here, I did ask around.

So another fitting song : Shakin all over, Johnny Kidd & the pirates, or The Who.

Sleeping on the job !

Saturday had dinner at a spicy restaurant just up the road, food V good but V hot (chili hot), had some fish didn't recognise the species. Walked around town in the afternoon for a while, places I'd not seen.

Yesterday went swimming at the hotel, water was V cold so didn't stay long.

When we got home tonight a lorry was parked outside the house, the driver was fast asleep, rushed in for my camera and he awoke just as I was about to take the shot, so I didn't. No pics today !!

No power at work tomorrow, it's gonna be hot in there with no air con.

Back soon,

Song for the day : Summer breeze, The Isley brothers. (that's what we'll need tomorrow).

Answers

Well I only got two contestants (again !!) Alison & Golden Oldie, both got 100% well done and thanks for taking the time. Shame on the rest of you !!

So for those who want to know, here are the answers :

1. Who was the Chinese girl warrior that fought against the Huns? : Mulan

2. What was the path called that went to the Ming Tomb? : The sacred way

3. What is the busiest river in China? : Yangtze River

4. What do Chinese that live in the northern part of China, eat as their main food? : Noodles

5. What was buried with the first emperor of China to protect him in the after life? : Terra cotta soldiers

6. What was the Forbidden City? : The home of the Emperor

7. What was the Silk Road? : Trade route between China and Europe

8. During the Chinese New Year festivities children are given Lai see. What is Lai see? : Lucky money

S'pose I'd better apologise now !!

My sincere apologies to anyone who was offended by those legs !!! and the socks !!! (Anonymous).

It won't happen again ha ha ha.

Rock n Roll

A few things to tell !!













Yesterday the Internet didn't work here in the house so no post. Dennis hurt his back at work and has been on light duties since.
The power has been off all afternoon, just come back.

He was able to take me shopping last night and guess what ? I got a guitar !! been thinking about getting a cheap Chinese one this time to amuse myself in the evenings. I got this one for £20, so it's not top quality but it's pretty good for the price. I took that one of me using the self timer, bit out of focus.

May go swimming this weekend, the pool has been cleaned out, also there is one at the hotel which you can use.

Anyone else gonna do the quiz ?

Song for the day : Guitar man, Bread.

Chicken run

This is Wednesdays post, didn't get time last night.

Busy day today got a lot done again, Dennis and Kenny are really doing well helping to get these machines built. Took this just as Dennis bent down then the batteries ran on camera, spare ones in the house !!


Tonight Cecilia and Carlsson took me for dinner at a place that is famous for it's chicken. This place rears chickens for their own restaurant, I've never tasted chicken so good it was brilliant. Between us (James (the driver), Carlsson, Cecilia and I) we ate six chickens (I think) together with a beef dish and some vegetables. Forgot the camera, shame cos it would be a nice thing to remember. Must go back again before I leave.

Weather report : Hot !!!
Mossie report : no bites last night, I've resorted to fly spray and insect repellent immediately before bed, worked for two nights.

Song for the day : Welcome to the machine, Pink Floyd.

Wot a surprise lol !!

Two weeks of unbitten bliss came to a savage end last night !! yes (surprise surprise) I got molested by mossies again. Clearly 19 floors up protects against these blood thirsty little monsters. 2 am and I awoke knee and elbow itching and swelling, I really should be prepared by now, complacent huh.

The satellite TV has expired (so much for that big loop !!), so I went and got some DVDs last night, Dennis and I watched Terminator 3 he loved it, it had Chinese sub titles so he was able to understand what was going on. He got quite excited in parts but had to leave before the end so he will watch the rest another time, I can't wait.

Rain again today (just for anonymous), bit cooler too.

Must get some pictures soon, back tomorrow.

Song for the day : Once bitten twice shy, Ian Hunter (remember that one Golden Oldie ?)

China quiz

So here it is, eight questions, most are easy but there are a couple of tough ones.

Please answer by email by Friday 9th May.


Hope you like it.

1. Who was the Chinese girl warrior that fought against the Huns?

2. What was the path called that went to the Ming Tomb?

3. What is the busiest river in China?

4. What do Chinese that live in the northern part of China, eat as their main food? Rice, Spaghetti or Noodles

5. What was buried with the first emperor of China to protect him in the after life?

6. What was the Forbidden City?

7. What was the Silk Road?

8. During the Chinese New Year festivities children are given Lai see. What is Lai see?

Hope that wasn't too bad, good luck.

Quiz

I'm now back in the house moved down here this morning, all alone this time so I need something to do. Been sitting out in the garden (such as it is, patio really) for a while.

So I've put together a short quiz, the subject is China, as I'm here and with the Olympics here as well a fitting subject.

The quiz will be posted on Tuesday, please send answers by email this time, you all have one for me so shouldn't be a problem.

Back next week.............

Song for the day : I never promised you a rose garden, Lynn Anderson.

Got to pack my bags !

The Olympic torch got to Hong Kong today, I'm told it's been very busy down there (can it get any busier ??).

Well I'm moving out tomorrow, seems like I've been here forever, it's not quite two weeks. I liked it here and it's comfortable but the house will probably suit me better. Went down there this afternoon and gave the maid my laundry (oh I bet I'm popular !!). I had to call Dennis to explain to her that I didn't need her to cook until Monday, it's gonna be fun with the language.

Two weeks gone, in some ways it seems like an age, in others gone like lightning. We made some good progress this week and I think in a couple of weeks we will have a clear idea when we will finish the work.

Don't know what I'm doing this weekend, hope the sun comes out it's rained all day today.

As all you guys at home have a holiday weekend I don't think I'll post anything unless something riveting happens, will try to put a quiz together though so look out for that next week.

No pics again, sorry. Back next week, bye bye.

Song for the day : House of the rising sun, The Animals.

Quiz

If I do this quiz, it won't be music this time.

You will have to wait and see ......

Neil.

Confused !!??

Well I'm sorry but what does "that sky is on one big loop" mean ?

See comment on 'A day IN the zoo'

Another song springs to mind : Dazed and confused, Led Zeppelin.

Layout

Please excuse the bad layout, having problems again and I don't know how to fix it !!!

By the way, if I get some time over the weekend might put a quiz on again, anyone want to play ? last time only got two contestants.

A day IN the zoo

Got up later today as it's a holiday, went for a walk around the lake again. Lots of people about and many in boats on the lake. I sat by the lakeside for a while and lots of the boats came by and stopped, the people just staring at me (I'd forgotten how fascinating we are to the locals), now I think I know how the animals in a zoo must feel !!!

I think there must be some kind of show tonight in the square opposite the hotel, the stage is all set and chairs have been laid out, might hear it later if it's music (see pic).

Don't think I've put up a pic of the hotel, so here it is :

Back to work tomorrow, so I'm going to bed early.

Another obscure song (sorry Golden Oldie) today I'm afraid, hands up anyone who knows it.

Song for the day : Dreamboat Annie, Heart.