Taxi Strike and English Job

Monday have taken Monday Tuesday off work to sort out things needed for my new abode.
so off to Auchan the new french supermarket to buy a DVD player and kettle toaster and iron ironing board.
So eventually over the 2 days manage to get everything I need plus a water dispenser so I don't have to keep buying bottled water far easier.
So Wednesday its back to work European time however i get a phone call from Amy at the school who wants to set my schedule with me for my part time teaching so i have to take Thursday afternoon off to go to the school to meet with Amy and collect the books etc i need.
The only thing making my navigation around Wuhu easy is the cost of taxis 2km for 5.00 rmb which is approx 50 pence and makes life very easy.
Wednesday afternoon I decide at my break to go home with Stanley to fix my DVD player which while I have connected it correctly( i think) IE white lead to white socket no volume from speakers.

However this coincides with the Taxi drivers in Wuhu striking as the local government want to increase the number of taxis on the roads which will impact on their earning potential.
The DVD player is sorted by Stanley who can obviously read Chinese you don't connect the white leads to the white sockets !!!!!!!! any way I now have music but cant play DVD on TV yet.
The impact of the strike is soon apparent as it takes me one and half hours to get back to the office by bus having waited 45 minutes for a bus for a journey that takes 5-10 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Thursday still no taxis and i have to go to the School for a briefing this requires 2 buses which cost 1 rmb approx ten pence regardless of distance unbelievable price maybe the UK should try a fixed price travel on transport may help solve the congestion problem.Any way manage to get to the school by bus without getting lost so quite pleased with my self.
Ive often considered just getting on a local bus and see where i end up might be an adventure may just try it in the holiday period.
My schedule for the school is set as Friday 7-8 Sunday 2 lessons 1.35-3.15 3.35-5.10.
Which is OK by me apart from missing the Friday meal with my colleagues I should still be able to attend the activity.
Friday still no taxis in the morning however by mid afternoon taxis seem to be back on the roads one thing really noticeable is how quiet the roads were without the taxis almost deserted.
Some taxis did work during the strike but were charging a minimum of 15rmb for 5 rmb journey so it was possible to get taxi if you waited long enough. H ave to say at 11.00 pm on Thursday night and no buses and faced with a 40 minute walk I quite happily paid the 15 rmb to get home.

So Friday night I commence English lesson it is called English Saloon so no set criteria we play a game then discuss Western food versus Chinese food and finish with a version of Hangman in teams of 6 I really enjoy it think the kids are ok with it. The odd thing is that 4 of the parents stay in the class throughout which helps with translation still need to speak slower.Which sounds easy but can be more difficult than it sounds.

The upside of my new apartment is i can make toast for breakfast which is great also my weight is still going down Ive lost 13 kilos (28 lb or 2 stones in weight)in the 3 months since I got here my trusty jeans for the UK no longer fit me and my waist is 4 inches smaller IM LOVING IT EAT LOADS OF FOOD LOSE WEIGHT I LOVE CHINA. However i would still like to lose some more weight and in February plan on joining the Gym when hope fully I may have the money to pay for the subscription.