Category Archives: Uncategorized

Casting on the lawn

I found this video – still makes me laugh. It’s Teal wearing the gorilla onesie and using the fishing rod I gave him. Casting was a bit tricky and the rubber fish on the end of the line kept getting caught in trees, bushes, plants, walls and I had to keep cutting the line.  The… Read More »

How not to write a murder story

Thankfully Ed gave me the use of his class for a couple of lessons so that I could do some research for my master’s. He was not wrong when he said they were all at different levels. One of the girls was the same level as their Chinese teacher (in my spelling test) and one… Read More »

The garage sale

Once a year the Hopeful Hearts charity has a garage sale. It generally happens at this time of year as people are leaving the country and having a clear out. Lynn persauded me to go and have a look although I kept saying I didn’t want to accumulate stuff but like a good friend Iwent.… Read More »

Valuable mini Snickers bar

It is not unusual to see expensive items in supermarkets with security tags on. They are mostly face creams and other hig value items. I thought security tags on toothpaste was crazy but last night I was at the local corner shop and found they have put security tags on small bars of chocolate.  The… Read More »

A quiet day at the office

I had done 60 lengths of the pool and felt like a sit down but was fed up of Costa Coffee. Anyway it’s getting a bit expensive using it as an office. Then it ocurred to me that I could actually go to own office. Mrs Zhang fell off her e.bike a while ago and… Read More »

Sleeping in Nanjing

It’s not unusual to see people asleep at their desks during lunchtime any time of the year. However, in the summer people crash anywhere and everywhere – even outdoors with pedestrians walking by.  I don’t know how anyone can sleep in a public place but I guess some have no option.  The railway station is… Read More »

Pembrokeshire Fresh Air

I needed a lungful of fresh air (my lungs are full of Chinese dust) and where better to find it than beautiful Pembrokeshire. The forecast wasn’t good but when has that ever stopped the British going to the seaside?!  We arrived in Newport in glorious sunshine and as the sunset across the bay we were… Read More »

The Apprentice

Young Leo expressed an interest in going out with his camera around Old Nanjing so I have taken him on several forays round the back streets.  Like many children he is particularly interested in animals and we stop and take pictures of pets and owners. This is a part of nanjing near San Shan Jie,… Read More »

100% Disposable

I don’t often go to Auchan Supermarket but I shall be going a lot more now I can buy 100% disposable plastic bags.  I’m sure that’s not what they mean but it makes me smile anyhow.

Nantong by bus

I wouldn’t have agreed to go to Nantong if I had known there were no fast trains serving the city. I had already agreed to give a one hour at the city’s best middle school when I decided to check the train times. The fastest train takes 4 hours and stops everywhere and in any… Read More »