Last night on my way home from the park, I got a text from Sherrie, Star's wife. She invited me to breakfast the following day after exercise, or at least that was what I thought she had done, it turns out she invited me TO exercise as well as to breakfast.
I knew there was some sort of run planned as the park had been transformed, but I did not know when the race was. As luck would have it as I arrived the race was due to start. I hung around near the exit tunnel and got ready to take photos. I hate watching stuff like this because I so wish I could still run. I am actually having trouble walking at the moment and that aggravates me even more. Anyway, they were off.... but not as I expected, after all, this is China! First came the keen ones in the proper gear, but shortly afterwards came a raggle taggle bunch of all sorts, most of them carrying umbrellas! It was a big event for Jiangkou, policve, media, etc, and the main rod closed to traffic. It would have been nice if someone, for instance our Director of Froreign Affairs, could have told us.
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| A policeman with an umbrella. Practical but I don't think I'd ever see on in the UK! |
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| Looking down the exit tunnel towards the start line |
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| The starting gate after the start |
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| The local Media van |
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| looking down towards the start from the exit gate. |
A good mixture took part in this race!
...and and even greater variety and lack of speed. Strangely theese were also some of the early finishers!
After the race had started I met Sherrie. She said she was gong to Wan Yi's exercise group. Yikes! She actually wanted me to join in too! Fortunately I knew Wan Yi was away in Guiyang and it was unlikely his group would be training today. However Sherrie spotted another group and walked over to them. I explained that I was not keen on training this morning as I was not feeling well. but suggested she trained and I would wait. She suggested a walk instead...I didn't realise that she meant the half marathon! We set out and walked through the park. On the way I met one of my sing ing friends Yuan Yin Fe, she thought that Sherrie was one of my students! Haha! Sherrie does look young and is about 4 inches short of my shoulder, but she is not one of my students! We walked and talked for a while, and then walked more....
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| Sherrie left and Yuan Jin Fe |
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| Yuan Jin Fe's friend. |
I was worried that this was going to be a long walk, but people seemed to be returning from the half marathon and Yaun Jin Fe saw a few friends and turned to walk back with them. She called to Sherrie and fortunately Sherrie turned and started to walk back too. Any further and I would have needed to take the bus back! I was also suspicious. The returning 'runners' were the ones dressed in wellies carrying umbrellas and it was only forty minutes after the start of the race....I suspected a bit of cheating here!
We headed back to town and Sherrie asked what I would like to eat for breakfast. I wanted baozi and jiaozi, so Sherrie took me to a little street market, the one I used to visit before the seventieth celebrations of China. It had been closed down prior to that.
We sat down at a little table on little chairs. The chairs , like most street restaurant chairs in china, were only about 30cm tall. Not easy to get down to or up from if your are nearing 60 and not Chinese! But I managed. Jiaozi and baozi, and some soya milk. Lovely.
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| Sherrie dipping her baozi in her rice porridge. The small bowl of red sauce is a spice dip for the baozi and jiaozi |
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This is what the market looked like form where I was siting. I noticed that there was someone here who did not want to be in the video. I have no idea why!
After that I went shopping. The women in the shop are becoming bolder now and like to take photos with me. I don't mind, they are a nice bunch.
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| Me and the supermarket ladies! |
I bought my shopping and headed home via the park. Unfortunately I had managed to break some of the eggs and they had spilled all over my bag and through that to my coat. Ah well, it was a good morning anyway!
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