Ain't no Sunshine when she's gone

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October 2nd 2011

Published: October 1st 2011

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Laotou

After dinner

Bye, bye, Sunshine

Photos:

…..the changing of seasons is marked by the weather's undecided shifts from clear & sunny to very cool & damp, with corresponding incidences of colds, sore throats & being caught out at night as the cold wind comes in from the west while still wearing the tee-shirt that was quite adequate when you left the house earlier in the evening.....

…..apart from a collection of black cars & SUVs around the new Canal Convention Centre last weekend & a possible lowering of the level of internet blocking, not by much, the visit that THEY made last week, those people from very high places, appears to be over. The street cleaning truck at least has not been heard on the west road near the school this weekend. Last week it was on constant patrol & I am convinced the road is noticeably lower having been eroded by the constant scrubbing & brushing.....

…..some of us missed the Grand Opening of the centre, apparently accompanied by a firework display of unrivalled magnificence, a worthy achievement in China, as we went to KTV karaoke with Sunshine & some friends. She'll be leaving for sunny Beihai next Wednesday, when Mike,

Wenchang Da QIao, Yangzhou

The bridge, all lit up, every night

George & I should be on a short visit to Qingdao, the seaside town with a rich German history. Today, (Saturday, 1st of October), is China's National Day so we get next week off. We have to compensate by working next Saturday & Sunday.....

…..a good time to leave for a few days, they've just started burning off in the paddocks near the school &, by extension, over the rest of Eastern China. At least at Qingdao there's the chance of a sea breeze to clear the air.....

…..I meet Eric, an American teacher from a school in the town centre. For someone who has been in China for less than 18 months he seems to be amazingly fluent, (sickeningly so...Grrrrr...), is very amiable, tells me he's a musician, though a little out of practice. Welcome to the club. It's interesting that he should surface just as Sunshine prepares to leave. Watch this space.....

…..Sunshine's last supper, or dinner. Hotpot actually. The weather is just cool enough now, especially in the evening, to warrant hot, spicy food again & it's her choice. Chance & Jenna go by taxi, (they don't yet have bikes), Mike & I, expecting

Sunny & Lili

Sunny with a new friend at karaoke

heavy traffic on the National Day, especially after seeing the gridlock at an intersection this afternoon, decide to take our bikes. In the end we all meet at the corner of Huaihai lu, or, as we call it, Hotpot street. Sunshine is already there, Sunny & Lili arrive, also Kevin with a colleague.....

…..for the first time I don't feel I've had quite enough to eat. The starters are great. Then first pan is topped up with the hotpot soup into which the next delivered dishes can be added & quickly cooked. I prefer the individual hotpots. This time a whole mixture of things arrives at the table. I didn't think I was a fussy eater but I am hoping the unidentifiable meats, including something that looks like spam & something that even our Chinese friends are not quite sure about but could be some sort of pork innards, are added after I have eaten enough. Of course this doesn't happen & my appetite is quickly gone. As a social event though it's a nice way to send off a new friend, who will return as she is aiming to structure her job so that she can work on