Knobcottage in China

So it was National Day.  Nothing much planned.  I knew that if I went to the park I would see something, but chose rather to lie in bed until 7a.m.  Late by chinese standards, but they do all tend to go to bed here by 10.m. Then suddenly I got a text from Sherrie.  Ever the patriot, like most Chinese people, she was up early and in the park.  Some people had to go to their place of work to parade before the flag.  She did not, but did go to the park. we had a brief exchenge of text, and agred to meet later.  She said she would also help me retreive my missing parcels!   After a few hours at home, I decided to go out to play in the park.  It was pretty empty, everyone I suppose  was with family and freinds.  I played a while and had some food and was expecting to return home and sulk.  No such luck.  Restaurant bodss lady invited me to her 'shop' for dinner.  I told her I had eaten, but she told me to come and ...

Today I worked all day on conference stuff, but didnt't get far due to the noise next door and below.  The two falst next door and one below are being severely renovated.  They are having walls knocked out, plastering and also having the floor skimmed.  Because it's China everything arrives loose an is then carried up on in two panniers, one on each end of a bamboo stick.  Sorry no picture of this.  So there are spills everywhere, sand, stones, cement. The landing outside my flat is like a buidling site but slightly dirtier. One of the flats being renovated The landing outside my falt The sand and cement After another day of hammer drilling and little work from me, I decided to go out. I still have money on my cheap school meal card, so I went to school and ate rice and things.  I then went to my office and got about three hours work done in twenty minutes.  Excellent.  I then went ot the park.  There was drumming.  Not ...