Yet another free Breakfast, the Lotus field again and another free dinner!

Whilst I was in the park last night, I'd swapped WeChats with a few of the people, including Park Lady.  In the morning, I got a quick message "Have you had breakfast yet?"  I told her I had not.  She asked where I lived and I told her.  She then told me to go downstairs in five minutes as she was taking me to breakfast.  I am getting used to this 'immediate invite' stuff in China, so I got ready and was downstairs in five minutes.  There she was, and true to the invite she took me to breakfast.  She took me for a walk around the back of the shop and showed me how they make their own noodles
We ate, and as soon as I had finshed she got up and said "let's go!" and off we went.  We went to a nearby shopping mall complex.  I say shopping mall complex but really it was like a ghost building half finsihed and quarter occupied.  It is very near my school.  She got out and met her freinds.  They all had umbrellas, or rather parasols.  This could be interesting.  The music started and they did this sort of stepping dance.  I believe she called it Qipao.

I stood and watched for a while then started mimicking from behind the pillar.  Park Lady laughed and went to her bag.  She pulled out an umbrella and gave it to me and told me to dance!  I treid my best!
Well after that, Park Lady said she was going to take me somewhere else!  We went to her car and she took me and her friend to the Lotus Fields.  I've been here before.  It is apopular place for selfies!  So guess what?  Yup! We stopped for photos!
Me and Parklady doing a bit of a weird pose!

Me and Parklady's friend

Just me.

Well after all that, I was ready for a rest.  Park lady dropped me off at my house and I got a late afternoon nap.  Shortly after I awoke, I got a text "Come downstairs ain five minutes...we're going out to dinner with the Jiankou literary elite! "  So I got ready and went down. There she was.  We drove off into town, parked up and went into a back room at a restaurant.  The literary elite of Jiangkou were there...apparently.  They welcomed me, the meal started and all was well. 




However then came the toasts!  Huangjiu, a sort of whisky coloured spirit was no the table.  I tried to avoid it, but was persuaded to take a small plastic 'shot glass'.  Down in one!  Yikes!  It was strong.  Instantly I felt tipsy!  Not a good sign.  Anyway, the meal was soon over, and despite 'my condition' I managed to get home safely, but I had to concentrate a lot more than usual on the way home!  I don't think I'll be polite and accept that again.  Ill stick to my guns and stay tee-total.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Virus Diary - Evolving page - Each consecutive day will be placed ABOVE the previous day's entry...but I might add to the bottom of each day's entry during the day!

Image
 This diary page is now complete as I have returned safely to England Due to some weird anomally, I often can't seem to reply to comments people make, but all comments are much appreciated!  (Especially the Birkenhead one!) 5th February 2020 Today I woke at 1.30 am.  A combination of jet lag and worry and a napping sleep pattern over the last few days.  Running round in my mind was the need to get back home before I get stuck here!  The need to get home quickly and 'under my employers radar' has made me a little paranoid, and that has transferred to the last leg of my journey:   London to Dorchester.  In my mind I have not made it home yet...Dorchester, my house, that's home.  Not there yet.  I'll wear my mask on the home journey for the sake of others.  I have been isolated in Jiangkou and display no symptoms.  But I care about others too and want to be safe, not sorry.  What has surprised me so far, is that no one has asked me why I am wearing it!  I felt
Read more

Two trips to the hospital

Image
Well it was to be expected.  I was not built for 80% plus humidity and thirty plus degrees.  Something had to give.  It was my skin.  First it just looked like it got a bit dry, then it got irritated and then it turned nasty and paper-like.  I'd been to the pharmacies and bought various preparations that had had no effect.  Time to see a doctor.  There is no such thing as a GP in China so it means that to see a doctor you have to go to the hospital.  It is well known that the bigger the city the better the hospital andthe better the doctor.  Guizhou is a small province, Jiangkou is a small town.  I didn't expect much.  The hospital itself is quite a nice looking building set opposite the park.  I had not been i before but as I entered there were two things that struck me.  The first was the payment desk and the ATMs.  The second was the hot water machines.  Hotwater has the folklore ability to cure anything. The hospital reception.  On the right and below are the hotwater m
Read more

The longest strangest day ever!

Image
After the trip to Yanxi,I stayed in bed late and caught up with work in my apartment.  I ordered in some food and the driver brought it to my door.  Just before he arrived I got a phone call.  I think it was the courier.  He was slightly late and it seems couldn't find out exactly where I was.  There was a knock at my door and there he was with three little girls who knew where the foreigner lived!  They smiled at me.  I recognised one of them.  She was a little girl who had bought me some Chinese sweet dish in the park when I first came her.  She is a relation of the head of English who lives on the floor above.  The courier went, I said goodbye and closed the door.   I heard a little discussion outside and then a knock on the.  The three little girls wanted a chat.  I told them that I would love to chat but I was having my food.  I finished eating and there was another knock on my door.  They were back.  A safeguarding nightmare in England but not so over here in Jaingkou.  All
Read more