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.

Looking forward to Better weather

The weather through the winter has in parts been very cold but overall not too bad if you are dressed correctly IE to the uneducated involves wearing layers of clothes the most I came across was some one with 7 layers of clothes which makes everyone look larger than they actually are.
I survived the winter with 2 plus a big down jacket gloves and a hat but have to say that next winter may purchase some long thick underwear as suggested by my Chinese colleagues.Another thing which struck me as slightly bizarre I lost half the hairs on my legs in the winter ok if you want to be more streamline for swimming but I would have looked strange with half a hairy leg and half hairless no sign of root nothing so next year will try the thick Long johns see if that works.
The weather is starting to warm up slightly and is certainly getting nicer and the daylight hours are creeping longer each day.

I arrived here in September and thought it was warm so not sure what I will make of Summer in Wuhu but no doubt it will be hot apparently it can reach 40 deg c so I think shorts and loose tee shirt with light shoes and no socks not sure if that fits in with office dress code.And not convinced normally at that sort of temperature I'm in and out of swimming pool to cool down not an option here when I have to work,but maybes the afternoon and evening hours will be better may be cooler and more bearable.

Any way no doubt I can spend ages on the blog moaning about how hot it is through the summer still need to get some more weight off so with the bike and the heat maybe i will lose more weight which is one of the really positive parts of my time in china eating better and losing some weight.

Wuhu Rain and more Rain

I put the picture from Nanjing of the Temple as it makes me feel good to see such beauty all around me as I discover China.
As we have just celebrated Spring festival I naively thought that meant the weather would get better IE warmer how wrong its now rained for 10 days and is forecast for a few more.
The downside is that I cant use the bike so have to resort to taxis again however spurred on by Luca I now have Chinese lessons 4 mornings Monday to Thursday I am making progress but its slow and I can now order food and get taxi home without using the address written down.
Small progress but nice to be able to do some basic things without feeling so useless.This time i am more determined to keep going with this and try to hold a basic conversation soon.
Anyway the rain is not good for getting around or walking so hope it stops soon cannot believe soon we will have hot weather right through till November, I found September to be warm enough so not sure what i will make of June July and August glad Ive lost some weight otherwise it may have been too hot.The main picture is me in November still in short sleeve shirt at the stadium in Wuhu don't think i would be doing that in the UK.
Anyway regardless of the weather it has been a good few weeks some more Westerners have shown up in Wuhu most working for Aston Language centre or attending the University to study Chinese a good bunch who all seem nice so a welcome addition to the numbers of foreigners in Wuhu.

Wuhu Noodles Amazing

This Islamic restaurant is amazing for noodles and the price is awesome under 10 rmb for a meal the surroundings are basic but the food is superb.
If this place was in Europe behind a glass screen for the kitchen they could charge a fortune!!
Maybe a franchise idea for some enterprising person here its just normal nothing unexpected or even considered amazing at all.
The quality of the food here is absolutely FIRST CLASS and this is perfect example of what is available in numerous places in Wuhu and no doubt the rest of China we have eaten there and some times at the tables they have on the pavement area thats how basic the surrondings are but worth it for the food.

Trip to Nanjing more shopping Valentines day

After all this time just realised my blog is still on UK time hence the posting been on the 15Th February not 14Th as I had thought also not sure now how to adjust it believe me took me weeks to load the pictures link which should only take 5 minutes talk about technophobia.
Any way had a choice of 2 places to go to on Valentines day Hefei the capital city of Anhui or Nanjing pick Nanjing for no other reason than I have been there twice and I don't get lost as easily and the DVD shop is there. DVD and Cd's for 10 rmb approx £1 also have never yet had any problems with the music DVDs great quality and fairly good choice.
Travel to Nanjing by bus from Wuhu which takes under one and a half hours not recommended to watch the road as the driver swerves all over trying to get ahead listen to my ipod and the time passes quickly.
As it is now lunchtime we head off from station towards castle wall and find a restaurant have my usual Beef potatoes and green vegetable with rice so now I'm a happy bunny.
Have spotted a sign for park which looks nice so head off towards there and wander round lots to see in the park including various fountains and monuments and the twin spring of the Yangtze river as the translation is never great not sure if that's what it is the park is huge and is complete with temple please see pictures on Picasso not sure i can do it justice verbally.
After a pleasant wander around the various parts we head off by taxi into centre of Nanjing and as usual end up in Starbucks for a coffee at European prices allegedly one is going to open in Wuhu but no sign of it yet.
Wander round the shops then head off to the DVD shop I spend the grand sum of 120 rmb and get 12 albums some which are double albums for a total of £12 amazing would pay that for 2 in the UK.
By now its heading towards 5.30 and the bus is at 6.30 so near to the bus station we go looking for food its not easy to describe the basic cafe type places which in the UK with regulations and council interference would be closed down as unhygienic and not suitable,here they flourish the food is cheap tasty and varied.Have never in all my time been ill or suffered at all as these places need regular customers to survive the food is fresh and delicious and at prices which by western standards are unbelievable.So we have noodles and beef for less than 10 rmb cooked and served within 5 minutes of sitting down delicious.
So Valentines day is nearly over not Romantic by western standards but I enjoyed my day out in Nanjing again still have not found the Indian Restaurant maybe next time need to go and stay overnight.

My Own Transport and Office Move

Well after months of searching and some what seems to me strange negotiations which seem to have no logic or rhyme or reason and not convinced anywhere else it would work at all. Our new office location which is 5 minutes from my apartment although the most direct route is through a section of demolished houses and soon to be built upon. This is OK in daylight but not recommended at night due to the potholes and uneven road.
The new office means we are no longer near to the city centre and walking street but looks and feels more like an office and space wise its a lot bigger.
The move is fairly painless from my point of view i lock my desk drawers and bundle up my computer at the old office and on Monday turn up at new office and its all in place again a testament to Chinese efficiency and organisation and from the IT department a lot of hard work on the Sunday to connect everything.
Any way over the weekend we have a look at the location from the point of view of food and where it is in relation to everywhere else I decide to invest in some transport of my own as my complex is on a road to nowhere so getting taxis is not always easy.
I have been looking at various cycles from mountain bikes to normal bikes to electric scooters and petrol motorbike.Have to say when i first arrived here i could not contemplate any type of transport as i found the roads chaotic and seemingly with no rules or observation of traffic lights or crossings.
However now after 5 months of taxis and walking around I feel i have more of an idea as to what is the expected norm.
The traffic lights here have abrilliant sysyem of counting down to the change to green so you arrive at the junction and it may say 89 secs then counts down to zero makes life so much easier the only other thing strange to me is turning right on any colour of light fairly logical when you think of it and quite easy to work with maybe in the gridlocked roads of the UK we could try the same for turning left at junctions etc.
Any way decide on healthier option of cycle which having seen Jacobs newly purchased bike we decide to go to same shop near to Auchan the French supermarket.
So Saturday afternoon meet Jacob and after some negotaion agree price of 600 rmb for 2 bikes 2 shopping baskets and 2 locks this is for a classic style bike with chain guard no suspension and not the worlds best braking system but as I dont expect to go very fast its not a problem.
Having purcahsed our bikes we cross the road to Auchan so Luca can buy some food for the next day he has promised to do a pasta dish for Lunch.
We then have to cycle home which is no mean feat as it is some distance from my apartment and I have not been on a bike for over 12 months and then it was my mountain bike with gears gel seat and suspension I soon realise that the seat is not the most comfortable and after 20 minutes arrive home in one piece having only had one minor mishap at a junction.
If the sight of two foreigners walking around Wuhu the apperance of two on cycles seems almost to stop people in their tracks as we cycle down the road.
Sunday meet Luca and Dong Dong for lunch cooked by Luca which is nice spaghetti with sauce cheese which was given to me by Elodie on her return from France after her break over the CNY.
Having now got some transport of my own its now a lot easier to get around and as a by product I get some exercise which is an additional benefit, I am still losing weight all be it at a slower pace now and the new jeans i bought a few months ago here are now also too large,I need to have a suit made and my original suit altered to fit for when I attend Exhibitions later this year in Germany and USA no doubt finding a tailor will be an experince as are most things in China.

CNY Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year don't you just love any country that has 2 celebrations for New Year talk about feel good factor its here in abundance. The opportunity to celebrate the new year twice once for the lunar year and once for Chinese calendar new year the year of the OX.
My impressions of china just keep getting stronger I love the place the people the vibrancy I feel more alive here in the last 5 months than I did in the last 3 years in the UK I get up each day looking forward to each new day with a relish and zest for life that leaves me feeling great and cherishing every minute.
Yes at times its frustrating and my inability to communicate properly is annoying for me but overall my day to day here is exciting different and full of surprises from food to people to places and i haven't seen a lot of places yet but some of the parks are awesome. Full of people enjoying the space playing exercising singing along with the kids maybe this was how parks were in the 50s in the UK places for all to enjoy together,bygone times in the UK but that's how it is now in the Parks in China delightful and enjoyable.
Chinese new year is not like our new year in that it lasts all through the week long holiday and includes a mini new year night which marks the end of the celebrations.
Fireworks here seem to be either very colourful or very loud the loud variety seeming to be the most popular.
The fireworks are also used in day to day celebrations during the rest of the year for things like Marriage Death and moving to new House this is accompanied by lots of fireworks at what ever time of day or night the person chooses or so it seems to me

January in Wuhu cooking for friends and back to work

So back to work after a short break for new year on Saturday several of my colleagues are invited to Lydia Christa and Echos flat for a meal which is always good as the 3 girls really love to cook and the dishes are always superb.
Luca offers to help and soon discovers how much slicing and cutting is required before cooking I opt for the easier option of cooking and do get to cook to dishes which are considered to be acceptable however i can take any real credit as i am handed the ready sliced vegetables and meat which i bascially stir fry and serve up.
We seem to have as usual 12 dishes and also some hot pot food as they have set up the hot plate in the living room.
After the meal we play Majong which is Lucas first time to play and with the help of Lydia he wins the first game. I manage to win the second game so 2 nil to the westerners apparently it is mostly luck the skill level required is minimum or so I am led to believe.