So it's not possible to connect to the Internet via Google from China as the government evidently isn't happy for reasons I don't understand, so I've been incommunicado until today when a colleague told me about an app called 'hide my ass' which gives a false VPN address (whatever that means). So far I've only got it on my iPad so no chance of downloading pictures yet - I'm hoping another colleague may help with that, although to be honest the place I'm in is such a dump there's not many interesting photo opportunities apart from the daily fatal accidents on the road to work - I've stopped looking out of the bus window now as its too upsetting.
For reasons I don't really understand I'm now working in a shipyard on the Yangtse river opposite Shanghai in southern China. It all started when the news came through about dear bobskoot passing away; I was attending a funeral for a close relative when I read the sad news, and made an instant decision to pack up work and go home to England. Unbelievably, the day I got home my 93-year old Mother had a heart attack and was rushed to hospital; I spent the next few weeks looking after her. She's a tough old bird though, and soon recovered. I spent a lot of time thinking about my retirement and what to do with myself; it seemed like time to stop and smell the roses before it gets too late, if you know what I mean? However, reality soon set in; within a month I had to sell the Tiger to pay some bills; I also had a clear-out and sold some unwanted stuff on e-bay, but realised the only way I could make it work was to sell the flat that me and LF share, and go on the road with the proceeds. Which obviously she didn't think was a particularly great idea. Plan B was to go back to work for a while to try and save some cash, but with global oil prices dropping like a stone all new projects have been cancelled and most of my friends are sitting at home out of work. Then an old friend phoned and said he was running a job in China and was in desperate need of someone to talk to, did I fancy it? So here I am.
I may have made some worse decisions in my life, although I can't recall them; time will tell.
Journey's End
1 week ago
El D, This is is reading like a treatise in catastrophe theory! However it must be an experience learning some variety or other of Chinese.
ReplyDeleteNikos, I'm trying to communicate, but unfortunately Mandarin does not sound the same with the cockney accent!
DeleteWow, so many things going on in your life in such a short period of time. How are you still sane?
ReplyDeleteI am sure things will work out, but for now keep us posted when you can. (or when they let you :-)
Trobairitz, not much happening here, although it's bitterly cold and snowing. When I get a chance I'll put some photos up - they use scooters as the main transport here, and I'm amazed to see a whole family on a 50cc bike.
DeletePhew, lots of things happened in a short time. I was under the assumption that you were still entertaining the Dutch ;-)
ReplyDeleteI would have liked your idea to go on the road (in style though). I hope you get to post some pics eventually.
Good luck, and take care.
Sonja, I'm hoping to use the money I earn here to do that road trip next year.
DeleteIt is so hard to stop and smell the roses when you still have to pay for the soil they're potted in ... but look at the opportunity (maybe not for blogging but for discovering) you've been thrown into. If you totally retired you might get old and bored and cranky right? Better to explore the world! Looking forward to hearing more of this part of your adventure.
ReplyDeleteVstar lady, I'm already old and cranky!
DeleteI am planning some exploring here, hope to get to see the Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army before I go home. Hopefully I'll figure out how to get photos published.
DeleteAge gives you the right to be cranky ... and despite or because of it all you get the chance to see the Great Wall ... there are positives to this story. Looking forward to the photos of the places I will never see no matter how old and cranky I get.
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