Work as normal

A hard week this week, but only at work, lots of early mornings, late nights, dinners in good restaurants. Mainly the stuff they are paying me for.

The weather is picking up, shirt sleeves the order of the day on the golf course. Played golf with a remarkable Chinese gentleman at the weekend. He is three years younger than me, has 6 children, four boys and 2 girls. The eldest being 12. He lives close to me on the compound. However more importantly he has been to Scunthorpe many times. This came out in discussion as I was practising my Chinese phrases and asked where he was from. He responded and asked me, and followed up and asked if I had ever been to Scunthorpe!! You can probably guess he used to supply raw materials (Coke) to the steel works in Scunthorpe (and elsewhere in the UK). He now produces steel, H Beams and other bars. He owns a plant in Shaanxi province.

Played golf on another course – east of Shanghai – which I mention for the fact that the driver followed the sat nav very closely. As we were very near he turned left onto a very narrow bumpy potholed track between a large hedge and a canal. He kept following the direction indicator down the track until we were at the golf course. Which we weren’t. As he zoomed in we were to the side of the picture on the sat nav. A few phone calls later, we turned round, and then made it back to the main road. Turned onto the road and right in front was a large overhead sign saying Bin Hai golf, turn left – 50 yards further on.  Still we had a good game of golf notable by the caddies wearing hard hats!

So more work to do during the day and the Cricket world cup live in the evening. So I can sit there in perfect peace and quiet, no whats on the other channel, no can you check this, and watch England throw away a game, get back in it, cannot lose it, and end up in a tie!

Back to work

Chinese New Year ended this week. Sunday we had another evening of fireworks as we welcomed in the God of Fortune. This time more fireworks, but more firecrackers which went on into Tuesday!

Normality returned as everyone came back into the office on Wednesday. Stories of holidays in Thailand, Hainan, time with relatives and friends. It is very similar to the western Christmas / New year holiday. Plenty of eating and drinking, being couch potatoes!

The weather was much warmer during the week. The golf played (with much surprise to the locals) in short sleeves. Tomorrow back down to 3 or 4 degrees and sleet and snow.

Saturday (today) was an official work day, to make up for the long holiday. Makes it a long week and only one golf game this weekend.

Got some more good news this week, went to Carrefour for my weekly shop and found they now stock Quaker oats and Kit Kats. Bliss, off to finish the box.

Due to internet problems - have not been able to post until today.

Wonderful Valentines day in the Office.

Witnessed a fantastic act today in the office. The Sales director bought a single red rose for every female in the office. You should see the smiles it brought. Old and young, married and single were delighted to receive them, even the ones who had received flowers from husband and boyfriend.

Explosion

Back In China - 20 minutes from landing to being in the car. Amazing contrast to other parts of the world.
The week has built up in excitement as Chinese New Year approached.
We had to work Sunday - an official work day so the population can get a whole week off for Chinese New Year. We also have to work Saturday the 12th.
The office was decorated and the numbers present dwindled as people took annual leave to head off to their relatives in different parts of China. Everyone was excited by the holiday and looking forward to the traditional meals and celebrations.
Even the weather has picked up - today was bright and sunny and around 12C. The weekend will be 17C. Shirt sleeve golf.
This Lunar year is the year of the Rabbit. So if you are a Rabbit the year is meant to be lucky for you. I received a text from a colleague who is expecting a child this year and he is delighted as his wife is also a Rabbit. Very special meaning here. The long history and tradition surrounding the celebrations have proved fascinating as I have tried to understand why this is done and that is done.
The lady who cleans once a week for me was delighted with the Hongbao she received and the driver also with his gift. Apparently bosses have to do this for their servants. I had to make sure the gift had an 8 or 6 in it, but not a 4.
I bought some decorations for the house - and luckily picked up one with two fish in it. The sign of the two fish has something to do with bringing plentiful food for the coming year. At the new years eve lunch they serve fish which no-one eats, they show it and then throw it away - in order to ensure they stay fed for the year.
In the supermarket I picked up what I thought was a wind chime type decoration, all sparkly. When moving it to put the milk in the trolley I realised it was a chain of fire crackers. About 50 of them. I put them back, noticing they were about $3 for the lot!

Last night was New years eve. Left the office for home after dark and the fireworks had started - and went on for the next 5 and half hours, it was like New years eve at home but longer. Fun to watch but tiresome after a while.

Earlier this week there was a note in the press where one of the China TV channels had used a clip out of top gun when reporting new Chinese aviation tests. at 23.50 last night I thought they were re-enacting the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. for 50 minutes Shanghai exploded. The skyline lit up - and the boom began. Shock and Awe. It is something to be witnessed.

Fortunately it calmed down about 1am, and I went to sleep. when I awoke this morning there were and still are the odd firework going off.

I walked round today in beautiful sunshine, and trampled through the remains - everywhere, boxes and boxes of those light the edge multifire versions. They were about 5x the size of those in the UK. There were rocket sticks, charred roads, and red paper everywhere. Being china there were teams of people cleaning up.

I guess the inventors of fireworks ought to be able to put on a show.

I also opened the windows to let the old spirits out today and wore some new clothes.

few days off work - I was going to watch We Were Soldiers - bit tame now.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

PS I am a Dragon - and its my year next year.