Padd Solutions

Woah, it’s JUNE?

 

Yikes!

 

May went really quick. The Chinese gov3rnment continue to block blogger, so I’m delivering this blog via a resistance member I only know by the name of Scarlet Croissant, I leave the message on the inside of a wine bottle label on the table next to the northern side of the church tower in Sainte-Mere-Église … maybe.

 

If you just like photos, they’re here: Gallery

 

So… let me think whats been happening…

 

My good high school friend Tim came to visit. Not to be confused with university friend Tim who already lives out here with me. Tim wins the prize for being the first person to come visit me. Umm, I’m not sure what the prize was… but I’m sure I must have bought him a bottle of water or two. J

 

So, while he was out here we visited the Terracotta warriors which was pretty neat… photos in the gallery (the link is above!) and generally had a fun time trekking around Weinan and Xi’an. He also brought with him a big shiny flash for my camera, so that’s been fun to play with… but… most of all, he brought mars bars!!!!!!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… I’m trying to ration them and go through them slowly. But I just had one while writing this to remind myself just how awesome they are. So, so, so good! Thanks Tim! :D

 

The last few weeks have been a bit light of work too. A cross between various public holidays (Dragon boat festival, Children’s day, etc) and exams at school has meant there’s been little teaching to be done. I’ve used the time (unconstructively) to catch back up on LOST. I have to say, season 5 did get a bit better after episode 5 or 6, but… meh, that show is just going through the motions now. I enjoy it while im watching an episode, but if I look back on it, it just seems like a waste of time to watch.

 

Hmm, what else has been happening… I can’t remember… time is flying!

 

Oh, yeah.. the weather is HOT. Well, the past few weeks have been the “rainy season”… we had one week with 5 days in a row of rain! But… the past few days have all been above 30’c, with blue skies. The women are wearing their short shorts, and the men have their t-shirts rolled up with their beer-bellies out.

 

Ummm… also went to a baby-shower type thing! Basically a meal to celebrate one of the Chinese teachers’ baby’s one-month birthday. In China no men are allowed to visit the baby for the first month, but then there’s a meal where the mom shows off her newborn. It was pretty cool! If blogger was working properly, this is where I’d include a picture of the super, super cute baby for you all to “awwwwh!” at, but… no can do, so I guess I’ll just throw it up in the next gallery I put together.

 

Took my skates apart today! That was kinda fun, just because it was (not really) just like working on a car. Rounded-nuts and everything. I miss the smell of my oil-soaked garage, dad’s huge drawers of tools, and of course… the scream of an engine… but, I’m getting greedy… I have my Mars bars… I guess the next visitor will have to bring over an engine. J

 

And in super fresh 10-minute-old-news… I also had to break into my own apartment today! I went out on my balcony to let my skates dry out, and the door closed behind me. D’OH! I had the choice of going out the window (I love my ground floor apartment) and running to school in my slippers for a spare key… or… just break back in. Some scavenging of various things that had been dumped out there, and I was able to disassemble part of the door, and make my way back in. I’ve since re-build my damage, and reinforced security to make it safer than ever.

 

Hmmm… well, the back of this wine label is starting to get really crowded with text… and an A3 label on a wine bottle may make the SS suspicious.

 

If you still read this, drop me a line or leave a comment to let me know I’m not shouting into a void.

 

Ciao!

 

( Fun fact: Hugo Boss used to make some uniforms for the SS. J )