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.

Seeing in the New Year in Wuhu

So celebrating the Western new year in Wuhu not quite as I imagined the rest of the population unsurprisingly seemed to be not in the least bit bothered about the New year. The westerners and various other foreigners were determined to at least try and celebrate.
A group of us arrange to meet at a Japanese Restaurant at 8.30 for a meal which includes free drinks we have negotiated a price of 130 rmb per person which includes all the food you can eat and a selection of free drinks including Plum wine and saki.
Have to say the food was great varied and plentiful not a great fan of saki so get stuck into the plum wine which is fine.
Normally lots of restaurants etc in Wuhu all close at 9.30 ish but we have managed to get the Japanese to stay open till 10.30 which we manage to stretch to 11.00 by basically refusing to leave.
at 11.00 we all pile into 3 taxis and head off to the New club (which is not new now its been open for months but is still referred to as the new club)Any way 12.00 arrives we have a countdown and wish each other a happy new years the club then continues as any other evening and New year is a decidedly anti climax and very low key.
Maybe Chinese new year in February may be lively.
Any way Thursday morning dawns do not feel at all hungover which makes a change for new years day.
Get a phone call from Lily a Chinese girl I met a few weeks ago and we arrange to meet near to wall mart she wants to show me around Wuhu so mid afternoon we meet and wander down food street to Zhe Shan Park. I have been here previously but from the other side next to the Buddhist temple so this area of the park is new to me we wander around and in one section there are lots of Chinese exercising outside on the park equipment.
We wander further into Park and I see a sign saying Portrait of MAO which actually turns out to be a statue of Mao not sure the sign translated very well.
We have a pleasant afternoon and wander off to have some food at what I call the Spring roll restaurant which is open 24 hours handy when you leave the club and want some food or in some cases more beer.
Later we make our way to Walking Street where one of the malls has reopened and is doing a promotion of spend 150 and get 200 to spend free.
So i take advantage of this and buy a watercolour painting and 2 iron art pictures
so i am more than happy with my purchases which makes the flat seem more like a home.
So the holiday is drawing to a close have to say next year i hope to travel elsewhere and not see in the new year in Wuhu too quiet for me.

Christmas week in Wuhu

So Christmas week dawns have to say I don't feel like it Christmas at all apart from the odd sighting of Christmas trees and decorations and Santa hats.

As this is a normal working week I revert to normal hours 8.30-18.00 on Christmas day I work until 12.30 (first time I have ever worked on a Christmas day)and take a half day off to get ready for the staff Christmas meal at the evening.

So most of the staff turn up at the Rose Hotel including the part timers and peoples partners. Luca has been cooking an Italian dish from his region as one of the dishes for the meal.
This is called Fricule and proves to be very popular although Luca says it is better when it is hot.
The main meal is Chinese food which is good along side jugs of Sangria made by Kit and this seems to be well liked even by people who don't normally drink.
After the main food we two types of Italian cake provided by Kit and the hotel have allowed him to use the kitchen to make some English custard which is very popular.

Also Kit has made 2 large Trifles which every one seems to enjoy and most people seem to be enjoying the evening.
Thanks to Lydia reminding me about the lyrics to Santa Claus is coming to town which I gave her in the morning it is suggested that I sing the aforementioned song are you serious (anyone unfortunate enough to her me sing will understand why)
Any way Kit sporting agrees to sing along also and we enlist Luca to help not sure how good or bad it sounded but we get through to the end of the song and some polite applause.
At least it feels a bit more like Christmas and it was a successful evening meal and a chance to relax a little.
After the meal we head off to Bar Street which sounds grand but there are only 4 bars that i can find on there we go to a little Bar called DOORS which is fine and later we head off to the Overseas students bar as some colleagues are in there having a drink.
We finish the evening in the club and its a nice end to Christmas day.
So although it felt nothing like Christmas day it was an enjoyable evening and the meal was the highlight of the day
update unknown to me Christa took a video of us singing not a potential pop release by any stretch of the imagination.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

New Appartment and the joys of renting property

As previously stated I have been flat hunting in Wuhu at 2 locations both close to site of our new office which kept get changed depending on the negotiation's with the landlords and letting agents.

So after at least 5 attempts to find a flat, I find one location near to our now decided office location which has gated entry,lakes and trees and fountains.And is allegedly only 10 minutes from the new office on foot.
So on Saturday Luca,Lydia and my self go to view an apartment to rent in the complex block 3 13th floor.

Renting in China means dealing with the agent and the owner both have a different standpoint which leads to lots of negotiations and compromises.

The apartment is in very good condition 2 large bedrooms one big bathroom with a wet floor type shower no bath and no shower cubicle one massive living room and dining area and a kitchen.To the front of the apartment is a balcony big enough for 2 chairs and a table for coffee in the mornings when the weather warms up a little.
The quoted cost for the apartment is 2000 rmb per month plus utilities plus management fee.This by UK standards is very reasonable however as I am no longer earning UK wages its not so affordable.However if I can share with someone it is within budget.

Decide to think about it overnight and work out the costs involved.Late Sunday Luca decides the flat is not possible for him as the timing is too quick I decide to go ahead on my own which would mean Luca can move into my old room which will make his life more comfortable.

So on Monday Jaquelyn is asked to help me arrange the letting however we discover another agent has the apartment listed at 1800 per month so we call them its the same flat so we say OK lets meet to finalise the deal.
So next day meet the agent and the wife of the owner who then realises we are the same people who viewed it Saturday at 2000 rmb net result she wants 2000 plus 6 months in advance. Jaquelyn tries to negotiate but this woman is not playing ball at all so we leave.

The next day we go to view another apartment in block one however this although in theory is the same size 100 sq mt rs the apartment is not as nice.
So we try again with the agent who talks to the landlord and the first agent also contacts us to say she will also try at 1800 per month.

So eventually it is agreed at 1800 but 6 months up front and all the missing items ie washing machine fridge dining table and two air conditioning units which also provide heat which given the outside temperature of minus 4-5 is most welcome.
Although most Chinese just wear layers and layers of clothes to keep warm and see the air conditioning as expensive and unhealthy.

So we decide on Friday 2 days away to meet and pay deposit and sign contract.
Friday the contract is signed and it is agreed I can move in on the 15th which is next Monday.
However on Saturday Ginny gets a call to say that on Sunday we can sign for the apartment and pay the balance so in total to move in has cost me

deposit 3000
advance rent 10,800
agent fee 900
cable TV one year 135
total 14,835

So Sunday at 12.00 we meet at the apartment it is as promised 2 new air con units one new table 6 chairs one new washing machine and one used fridge but in excellent condition.
It takes a little while to get everything signed then I have the keys so can move in today which means packing up from my previous apartment. I arrived in China 3 months ago with one large bag and a camera bag.

When it comes time to pack i have one large bag one camera bag one new suitcase one new holdall plus quilt plus heater plus new clothes plus bedding.
When everything is packed I have 9 bags in total cant believe how much i have acquired in such a short time.
Thankfully dong dong arrives back and with his and Lucas help we get all these items down 6 floors to the street and grab a taxi to my new apartment.
Thanks guys for all your help it would have taken me 3 trips at least so by early Sunday I'm in and unpacked.

Have to say that the location of my new apartment is not as convenient as my previous one but the surroundings are more pleasant so its a balance between convenience or comfort ill take the comfort of my new apartment over the location.

So i am now in a very nice apartment with plenty of heating and tons of hot water pure bliss mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Thanks to LYDIA, JAQUELYN,GINNY, DONG DONG, LUCA for all the help in making my move happen.

An Italian in Wuhu with a Green Hat and cooking with Friends

PICTURE OF LUCA WITHOUT THE INFAMOUS HAT !!!
This week saw the arrival of our new Italian colleague Luca who is to share the apartment with dong dong and I.
As I am working European time I'm not about when Luca arrives Tuesday evening but have arranged on Wednesday morning to take Luca for some food and show him the route to the office. Luca is not too comfortable in the upstairs of our apartment have to say I don't blame him as it is very basic with a window at above head height and no decent storage.
Anyway we head off towards the office and for food we go to a place near the apartment called a Little Flavour which is some sort of franchise but is always good very fast and approx 16 rmb or approx one pound sixty pence don't you just love a place that will feed you good food for under two pounds.
Decide to walk to the office down walking street to show Luca a little of Wuhu in daylight.Luca is not due to start work till tomorrow but will spend the afternoon with Kit who has arranged to show him around Wuhu and let him recover a bit from the jet lag.

Luca has however a GREEN HAT which attracts quite a bit of attention (Consider the green hat. The phrase "wearing a green hat" in Chinese sounds like the word for "cuckold," so a green hat on a Chinese man is said to mean that his wife is cheating on him) However Luca takes all this in good spirit and is totally unfazed by the attention paid to his hat. Not that we need to attract attention as we do tend to stand out a little from the crowd as it is.


Saturday we have been invited to Lydia Echo and Christas apartment for some food and we all end up helping a little with the cooking and I get to cook two dishes with lots of help from Echo Lydia and Christa Luca did a superb job of chopping vegetables and meat as directed by the three girls.
The food is superb as usual and a very pleasant way to spend Saturday lunchtime.

Saturday evening is good we meet up with friends for a drink and go to the new club is busy and we enjoy ourselves without consuming too much alcohol.
Sunday we have been invited to visit the weather centre in Wuhu by the retired gentleman we met at English Corner on Sunday a few weeks ago.
So Sunday morning we grab a pancake from the stall on the corner which is 1.5 rmb bargain for breakfast then get picked up by Ginny & Kit to go to the weather centre. After guided tour of centre we walk back towards the amusement centre in Wuhu Fangtewild Adventure park we then head for a restaurant advertising good Chinese food don't suppose they would say anything else would they.The meal is as usual good lots of different dishes have to say the food here is always tasty and varied.
After Lunch to English corner with Luca which is a little busier than normal Luca it turns out also juggles which is an added attraction for people to enjoy not just the conversation.
I wont post anything else regarding Luca as he wants to publish a post on this blog so you will have to wait for Lucas guest blog.