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.