Blog again

A few months have passed since I sat down to write another part of the blog.

Apologies to those who are avid readers, but not a lot happened in between, in part as I was not in China for some of the time, and the rest just head down grinding out what they paid me to do.

Brief overview

April – went home to see my family, which was too short a trip and too long in coming. Saw my daughter perform at Sadlers Wells which was a real treat. Saw Scunthorpe lose and were effectively relegated. Saw some of the people at the Bridge cricket team.

Arrived back in China before the Wedding. It is then you realise how important the Royal family are to the UK profile. The Chinese people I spoke with, in the office, at the golf club, and elsewhere were fascinated by it. The ladies talked about the dress and how beautiful the princess was. They were glued to it. It was also prime time here, straight after work. Then I had further conversations with my American colleagues who were also transfixed by the whole event, getting up in the early hours to watch it. In the UK indifference, thanks for the extra day holiday.

Had a week in Dubai, and on arriving at the airport you realise how relaxing the environment is there, even though I was working. With many of my colleagues from a number of the disaffected countries it was refreshing to hear and see their positivity. Their view is that the turmoil will resolve and that life will be better afterwards. Traumatic now but temporary.

Minor in the scheme of things but Emirates now fly the double-decker Airbus planes from Dubai to Shanghai. I can now fly from Manchester to Shanghai via Dubai on these super planes. The hub in Dubai is becoming a real centre for traffic connecting Europe and the East, and some parts of the US.

The golf course has seen fantastic transformation, the green has returned and the spring blossom followed by the purple azaleas make wandering round looking for your ball at the weekend a pleasant experience. Just need to try and keep it more on the fairway.

This weekend went to Hangzhou, a beautiful city an hour by train from Shanghai. When I say an hour, it is an hour at 348km/h (for those in UK/US - > 200mph) Left on time, no one in my seat, arrived on time, smooth ride. This isn’t the high speed train either! Hangzhou is supposed to be the richest per capita city in China which given the massive construction work going on is difficult to see. They are building a metro so it looks like the Big Dig in Boston a few years back. Mind you there were many of the top brand shops Armani, Zara, Cerutti, and car dealerships such as Bentley, Lamborghini. Stayed at the Hyatt Regency West Lake. Great hotel, with great service.  We had dinner in the luxury Chinese restaurant there and some of the food was fantastic. We were told the restaurant was one of the top 15 in China. They provided us with three house specialities. The first was a pork and mushroom dish, in the shape of an Aztec pyramid. It came with small (pitta bread like) chestnut bread. You open the bread (like pitta) and then peel off the pork from the pyramid, drop into the bread, add some mushrooms, and close. Eat like a bacon roll. Exquisite. One of the best bacon butties ever. The second dish was a crispy chicken which had a distinct flavour but not that remarkable. The third special dish was a beef dish, with local spices. This was also mouth-watering – salivating here again just writing about it. The small pieces were tender beef, succulent that after enjoying the full flavour (almost melting in your mouth) there was a little kick from the spices. Fantastic. We finished the meal with a fruit salad. The fruit of which there were three types of melon, grapes, lychee, mango, pawpaw, was just perfect, not hard but not over ripe soft, exactly in between. Definitely one for the list if you visit there.

Hangzhou is an old town, modernised and is around a huge lake. For those in the UK, basically Keswick but all the way round Derwentwater. From the foreshore you look across the lake and see hills. There are boat trips etc, as you would expect. (see pictures)

On the Saturday evening we traipsed halfway round the lake to see a theatre show, on the lake. The performers walked on water. Brilliant, and not just the lights. The theatre was a small part of the lake which was connected by a small inlet. So the mini lake was surrounded by trees and the foreshore and stands for the audience. The trees were illuminated individually by different colour lights as a back drop and the colours changed with the mood of the performances. The story was a Chinese traditional theatre love story. Where a local girl is courted by a regal male. He wins her affection but then has to go off to war and is killed in battle. The two hearts transform into white cranes and they meet in a distant world. In real world his spirit pursues her until something happens and they get to meet. Something like that. Still haven’t grasped all the subtleties of Chinese theatre yet. The actors and performers were all ON the water, the whole thing was illuminated by bright spotlights. Scenery and props were changed with the boats. The stage lifted out of the water at times. Music was on loud speakers. Only an hour but riveting. About 5000 people watched.

Zhongwen lessons progressing, and sometimes it is more frustrating as I know more words but get the sentences wrong and bring about more confusion than if I just stuck to shouting English to make people understand.

Starting to understand Chinese football. In the Asian Champions League the Chinese teams are very weak and lethargic. In the local Chinese premier league they run round furiously and kick lumps out of each other. Bit like League two on steroids. One of the local players broke both his radius and ulna whilst playing this weekend. On the TV they showed the fall, and then his treatment! Followed him into the treatment room in the stadium. There after the X-ray two medics one at either end of his forearm, pulled the bones back into alignment. The player was sweating a bit. They attached a brace and sent him off to hospital in a taxi. On arrival at the hospital he was taken through the crowds in the hospital waiting room, to theatre. He looked comfortable on the operating table as they put him to sleep. The following day they showed his X-rays and the plates that had been fitted. He looked surprised in his hospital bed.  Fascinating to me just to work out which product it was, however can you imagine Vidic, Cahill, or Dawson allowing the arm to be pulled into place without anaesthetic and on TV.

Well time to stop writing again. Hopefully the work will lessen and I can enjoy more experiences to share with you all.

Zai Jian

Indian adventure over

First venture to India over. In the end I was not called on to resurrect the England bowling attack, though I wonder of Mr Dilshan would have coped with the prodigious  away swing. Mr Rashid now knows what it feels like to travel the world for a day in the office!

It seems my enjoyment of the cricket world cup is totally over, as the channels I had on my TV now have disappeared completely from the list, much to the bemusement of the leasing office. Fortunately they disappeared before the demise of England.

Didn't see much of Mumbai. Airport to hotel, to office (a few times) and then to Airport. Noticeable how much easier it was in India where English is spoken easily. I was fortunate to be travelling with an Indian colleague when we arrived. We took a nostalgic taxi from the airport to the hotel. Nostalgic in that the car was a Suzuki Wagon R, a pale blue and grey, not purple. In the boot (that huge cavernous space) was the drivers belongings, so our carry on bags had to be strapped on the roof, and i had to help the driver do it as he couldn't reach to put the bags up there. So we set off. After 100 yards we had to stop as there was a horrible grating sound at the back. The driver got out and walked round kicking the tyres, and checking the car. He opened the back door and told my colleague to sit in the front. No more grating sound. My colleague is about 5ft 9in, and 10st!

The most noticeable thing about the hotel (Marriott) was the security to get into the compound, and then each day to get in through the front door. Sniffer dogs, metal detector scanners and pat down search!

At airport on departure I was taken to the terminal door, where there was a huge queue, as there was at every terminal door. So set off to the back queue (still outside the terminal) and came across a gentleman with a board with the name of the airline I was flying on it. So he took me to the front of the queue, past the army guard who was checking details, passports, and to a young lady inside the terminal who checked my passport, and then showed me to the check-in desk. Can you see that happening in the UK or US?

The wonders of modern pharmaceuticals managed to keep the "Delhi belly" under control for the journey home. Still took a few days to fully recover.

Another holiday coming up here, Qing Ming festival, or Tomb sweeping festival. Many Chinese do exactly that, tending to the graves of their ancestors, lighting candles, adding flowers etc. To get the two days (Monday and Tuesday) we have to work Saturday!

Saw an unusual site today on the way to the local shop - a group of kids playing football on a patch of grass. Girls and boys of mixed sizes and I guess ages. I have seen many basketball hoops no one playing them, but not seen sight of football goals, and spaces for kids. They even had jumpers for goal posts. I resisted the temptation to go and join in, as normal would have gotten shown up.

Am looking at attending a football match in the next few weeks - Shanghai Shenhua - who play in the Chinese Premier League and are in the Asian Champions League at the moment. My colleagues are very sceptical given recent scandals over corruption in the game. They did offer to find out the result before hand to save me the expense and effort. They do not understand the madness that afflicts a football fan. Anyway the best seats are 200RMB. The time of kick off seems strange at 4.30 in the afternoon, on a work day. You would think they would wait for the fans to get there, but if you already know the result...

Had a consulting firm in this week, and as usual they brought more people with them than we can accommodate in a meeting room. However what was notable the three native Chinese consultants all spoke with classical (Oxbridge) accents. The expats all had dialects that were challenging to follow! The Australian was perhaps the easiest, the Canadian next though the french twang caught me out a few times. The three Irish lads were the hardest so we switched to Zhongwen. At lunch conversation shifted rapidly to cricket, rugby and football. Unfortunately we haven't played Ireland at football for a while. You can guess which three teams these guys follow, Man Utd, Liverpool and Celtic! At least the Liverpool and Celtic supporters acknowledged the existence of Scunthorpe, only because of the star player we have supplied these two clubs.

Looking forward to my trip home at the end of April, if only to see the relegation of the mighty Iron.

En route India

Well after two bowling disasters, messrs Miller, Flower Strauss and co finally saw the light and have asked me to join them to avert further embarrassment and an early exit from the world cup.Not sure who is being left out but needs must. 10 overs of slow fast in/ away swing (depending which way you stand) should be enough to see England through.

Not a bad dream for a 53 year old en route from shanghai to mumbai for a week.

Laobans birthday last week, which was well received in the office. Went to dinner on Saturday with him and the restuarnt baked him a cake, took his picture and presented a copy in a card which all the staff had signed. Nice touch.

Gala Dinner

Found out today the Chinese Government spent $565bn on internal security in 2010. This includes police, and traffic control as well as internet security. For the Chinese Government conference they have put 739000 officials on the street to control traffic, marshall crowds etc. in Beijing this week. That number is 3x the population of the city of Hull. Still there are 4000 government officials in attendance at the conference.

Why is this relevant – only that the office Annual Gala dinner was held this week. Apparently most businesses get all the employees together at the end of the Chinese year, and have a celebratory dinner. So many of our distant colleagues travelled into Shanghai for the evening. There were a number of performance awards with prizes first and then the dinner. 7pm to midnight. Normal Chinese banquet – big round tables with lazy susan in the middle, and ten to 12 courses.

The excitement for the vent had been building for a couple of weeks, not around the free food and wine, or the go home gift, nor the performance awards, but for the entertainment. If you go to a sportsman’s dinner in the UK you will be entertained by some celebrity, and then a raucous comedian would round off the evening. Some company events in the west see variety singers, or copy bands. I had asked around about what happened at these events and been told they vary, but could include a lot of drinking (and the ill effects), karaoke, dancing and other performances. The latter was what the office had been getting excited about. People had been rehearsing for weeks their acts.

The evening entertainment consisted of the 23 different performances from different combinations of staff and included songs, dancing, comedy, drama and TV shows. We had a mixed group male and female dancing to lady gaga, a duet doing a Chinese equivalent to Romeo and Juliet, a drag version of a TV dating game, Spanish flamenco dancing, Chinese version of Steptoe and son, and much more in between. Some of which I understood, others I didn’t.

The remarkable thing was that people who are quiet in the office, and wouldn’t say boo to a goose, were transformed on stage, in front of 250 of their colleagues. So 23 acts and I would estimate that close on 180 of the 250 performed at some stage of the evening.

Which brings me to the censorship. Obviously the department I am part of were expected to take part. Well our Chinese assistant expected us to take part. As we are all expats of the retiring shy type, we were not so keen to participate. However we agreed and she organised that we would go on to “I’m too sexy for my shirt” by Right said Fred, dressed as a collection of Village people, with three people dressed as a cow, tiger and bear, oh and carrying a huge stuffed Garfield. This was Ok, when we saw the pop video that we were supposed to go on stage to. Very very distracting. You will have to download it to see. However at the last minute HR felt it was a bit over the top for the Chinese audience, and so they substituted the cartoon version, that failed to play. So they projected us on the big screen instead. Fortunately it was only two and half minutes and we didn’t have to sing. Exit stage left. The feedback was very positive which goes to show I am a long way from understanding the Chinese people. Next the video of the evening to be shown on the reception monitor.

The following day the company arranged a tour for the out of town employees. I tagged along for the sightseeing. Sunny day so when we ascended the pearl tower and the financial centre the views were pretty impressive. The Financial centre observation deck is 100 floors up, with a semi-transparent walk way!. The pearl tower – not so tall has an outside observation walkway, with a glass floor. The group I was with didn’t like the fact I jumped up and down a couple of time on the glass. From the financial centre I could see a football game being played. It was a poor game as the 20 players all seemed to be congregated around the ball as it moved round the pitch.

Enough for now as the second half of the cricket is about to start – Canada need 199 to beat Kenya.

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.