China just about killed my blog

China after 17 months

American working time ie Night Shift (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

August in Wuhu Departures and Arrivals all change

Hot Weather

Barbecue Canadian style and Pizza Hutt

1st May 3 day holiday so having been invited to a Canadian style Barbecue on the Friday and as I normally work such strange hours the chance to be up and around during daylight definitely appealed to me.
The Barbecue was held in Ting Tang Park on the outskirts of town, this large public park is a great place to walk through tranquil tree-lined lanes, and admire the crystal-clear lake which is dotted with islands and small floating houses. Many festivals and activities are held here throughout the year. You can hire rowing boats and even go horse riding.

but to be honest it could have been any western country in Europe or USA with a emphasis on meat and some imported items.

We had lots of good home made food and numerous cans of bud were consumed throughout the afternoon have to say the highlight was some imported Canadian sausage which was smoked precooked and just slightly spicy followed in second place by home made burgers which were brilliant thanks to the efforts of the Canadian contingent.
The afternoon went all to quickly and the weather as predicted was sunny and dry the forecasts here seem to almost without fail 100% accurate time and time again.

I had arranged to meet a Friend for a meal in the Centre of Wuhu at 7.00 and had been persuaded to go to Pizza Hut not my idea as i perceive it as overpriced and decidedly average food and for what I spend on one meal in there I could eat out for 3/4 days at the local restaurants. Which I find to be varied low cost and extremely tasty.
So as its a holiday there is a queue for Pizza hut and I take a slip and assume i am now on the list for a seat when one becomes available. My friend is running late and I get seated and am joined shortly afterwards and we order one pizza between us and one crab shell starter and 1 coke and 1 tea cost after discount card 120 rmb or approx 12 pounds by western standards not expensive but my local standards expensive.
In comparison the barbecue was superb the pizza was OK but not brilliant.
On the subject of costs etc over half of Wuhu seems to being demolished and new fancy apartments are being build all the time my only question is who is buying them the average wage here is under 2000 per month I believe and I can not afford to buy and what happens to all the people displaced when the demolition is going on.
The growth rate and expansion here is phenomenal and seems to be carrying on unabated Financial crisis what crisis does not seem to have reached here yet.
The rest of weekend is taken up with relaxing on Saturday and teaching English on Sunday as the newly acquired teacher has left after only one month not that I am complaining the pay is good for me and I really enjoy the day spent teaching.

New suit in preparation for Exhibitions

Well as discussed in previous blogs need a light summer coat and new suit that fits so went to the Tailor who made my down jacket for winter and who also fixed all my jean pockets which had lost the stitching free of charge.

Not sure he could do it but he said he could so as I trust him from my previous dealings with him we pick the material for my light jacket went for black maybe the wrong choice but doesn't show the dirty marks so maybe its right choice.
As regards the suit went for Navy blue very light material with bright blue lining in the inside of the jacket at least it brightens up a fairly conservative suit.
The whole process took under 6 days from start to finish went on Sunday got measured picked material and style from books and yesterday went to collect the suit and the summer coat although judging from the weather on Saturday not sure I will need it it was 27deg yesterday and humid.

Anyway the coat fitted very nice cool and lightweight with the same blue lining as my suit coat I tried the suit jacket on in the shop but not the trousers as it was too warm to be trying clothes on and not sure he had anywhere i could and didn't fancy standing in middle of shop in my boxers.

This morning tried the suit on with a proper shirt tie and my dress shoes it fits really well and looks good. Nice and lightweight so at least I now have a good source for clothes and jackets etc etc.

The absolute best part of all this is the cost the suit cost 360 rmb approx 36 pounds the other suit I have was purchased in the UK not made to measure and was considered cheap at 120 pounds i cannot see a lot of difference between them apart from the Chinese made suit fits me better. My total outlay for the suit and the lightweight jacket was 500 rmb less than 50 % of what i paid for a off the peg suit in the UK.

So now I am ready for the 4 exhibitions I will attend this year 2 in Germany 1 in Shanghai and 1 in California really looking forward to going to USA as so far I have only ever been to Vegas which is not apparently like the rest of the US I hope to maybe take a week holiday to spend some time in the States stock up on shoes which I desperately need and will need before next winter arrives.

We seem to have an influx of new foreigners in the last week but so far not sure who they are but seem to have kids and may be teachers which is normally a safe bet.