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3月27日

Been back a month...

Well, the return to the UK has been a little bit eventful to day the least.  Obviously it's been great to see my family although i think that they are wishing that i move on now especially Annie, who's room i've taken over. 
 
I've been to Manchester catching up with some mates although this wasn't planned.  I originally went to see my ex Myk and the night was really nice, went out for a meal, met some of his friends but when we got back to his house, it all went bad and i ended up getting rammed up against a wall and pushed around.  My hand was swollen where he grabbed me and it still hurts a couple of weeks on.  I left at 3am wanting to get the hell away from there calling a friend - the great Tony who helped me out bless him.  It did cost £40 in a taxi but hey, money well spent and a lesson learnt.  Think both Myk and I will agree that relationship has been done and is pretty much over. 
 
Went to London last weekend and caught up with mates from home and uni.  Also met up for a drink with Gus who i'd met in Beijing.  Pretty chilled out weekend and made me feel better after the previous weekend.  I also made a decision that i'm going back out to Aisa to see and travel with Jason.  Think i have about 5/6 weeks to make some money so I can travel around Thailand.  Can't wait to see him and get back traveling again.  Really need to do this before I think about moving away from this little town in Wales to get a 'proper' job.  May move back to Manchester but Myk and my sister are there - 2 very good reasons not to go back.  Altough I realised why i loved Manchester so much over the past couple of weeks, especially after going to London.  Manchester seems so much more together unlike London which just seems disjointed and unfriendly.  I have warmed to it and considered going there to live for a while especially after being worked on by all of my mates who live there.  But i really don't think it's for me.
 
Anyway, don't think i'm going back to China any time soon.  Not to live.  Johnny's really ill in Shanghai hospital and it would be really nice if i could go and see him maybe i could go when i'm in Thailand.  Have to see how the money stretches...  I've spoken to him quite a bit since I've been back which is really nice.  I do hate that word but sometimes it just works.
 
Anyway, off to watch Neighbours.  Awesome.  Maybe have a cup of tea.  Been working all weekend in Spar - the local shop.  It's great talking to old ladies about the weather and listening to the rugby boys going on about who's fighting whom.  Great.  well, i'm off!
 
2月21日

I'm leaving China

Yep, it's true.  I'm packing my bags.  It's finally time for me to return back to the UK and leave China.  This is so weird.  I can't believe I have been here for 1 year already.  Having a little farewell party tomorrow to say goodbye - have no idea how to do that.  Ahhhh, so sad.  But i guess it's comes with the teritory.   Friday I catch a plane back to Manchester with Myk to pick me up.
 
 
I've had an amazing time and experience.  Glad I came and I may even be back...
2月3日

Thailand

Well,  i've returned froma a really fantastic, relaxing (mostly) break in Thailand.  The sad part was leaving the gorgeous beach and Bangkok where i left Jason.  I originally met him in Beijing but our paths crossed again in Bangkok but only for one day and night which meant lots of beer.  It was so good to see him again.  He's been traveling for 5 months which he gladly mentioned - just to piss me off (but in a nice way).  He's a cheeky Irish chap who loves to wind me up and being easy to wind up, it's not such a hard task.
 
I managed to get a bit of a tan but it has started to peel a bit.  Could 've done with a couple more days on the beach and in Bangkok.
 
I'm re-thinking my plans to stay in China. I've really missed traveling and meeting new people etc.  I guess we'll see what happens in  the next 6 or 7 weeks.  Depends on a few things; Johnny, getting a job, how i feel when i go back to the UK.
 
Spoke to the EX (myk from manchester) and he m ay be picking me up from the airport.  Gotta call him in  few weeks. Not so sure this is a good idea.  Maybe some things should be left in the past.  We'll see.  I'm not one who usually follows the best ideas and usually go against them.
 
Ah well, i got a week or so before i have to go back to work.  Johnny's back on the 8th.  Be good to see him.
 
 
12月29日

Chirstmas

Well Johnny and I went to the big Foreigners dinner that i was invited to after telling the headmaster that i wasn't gonna go.  My name was still there and there was a space by me.  But one of the leaders from my school still went even though i didn't.  He quickly got onto the phone to get someone who speaks English with me to tell me that he couldn't sit by me and that I can't invite me.  Luckily though, someone from his company was there and there was a spare seat for him so my leader had nothing to complain about.  Yeah, i didn't get to sit by him but there were some nice people on my table and i spent most of the night running round drinking with people who i knew and got exceptionally wasted.  So all was good. 
 
We then went on to Blue shell where we continued to drink but left by 11:30pm.  We had been drinking since 4:30pm.  Good night really and got some photos which i'll put on here soon.
 
SInce then, there have been more arguments with the school resulting in them blackmailing me.  Can't wait to just seve my time here then go!!!  What a bunch of buggers!
 
 
Spent Xmas weekend moving Johnny into his new apartment which is really sweet.  Such a nice place which i have been making the most of and will continue to do so if he buggers off to Shanghai for New Years.  Wanted to spend it with him but nevermind, i'll just have to kiss someone else at midnight.
 
 
 
12月22日

Wooooohoooo It's Chriiiiissssstmaaaasss!!!

Christmas is gonna be really strange - Working right up to Christmas day well i have Christmas eve off but i think i will be teaching with an extreme hangover on Monday.  I have only had a 2 day working week this week though, wish i could have swithed this week with next!  Beggars can't be choosers i guess.  I'm teaching Jingle bells to the classes and the best one is getting a prize.  Grade 1 seem to like it but it would take a rocket blasting off in class to get grade 2 going. 
 
Think Christmas day is gonna consist of a party and grub in Blue Shell.  Quite a few people will be there so it's all good.  Friday I have another party so i'm trying to get into the festive spirit but i can't help thinking of all my mates back home.  This is the time when you know almost everyone is back and all cheery and festive.  I love that feeling.  Still no xmas pressie from back home.  Guess i'll be back in a couple of months anyway so it's all good.  Besides, my father couldn't be bothered to go out and buy pressies for the kids back home let alone send something to Shanghai.  Just gave 20 quid for each kid under the age of 18 to my mum and told my mum to get something.  Ah, there's the thoughtful and giving attitude i love so much.
 
 
Anyways, even better news.  I won't be going to Thailand with Johnny.  He tried to get a month off work to go to India for Spring festival which i wasn't up for but didn't mind him going (well as long as he doesn't take a liking for beautiful Indian girls).  I wanted to relax for my break.  I trecked around China for a while and really just want to chill out on a beach holiday seeming as i've never had one before.  So, thinking that i would be by myself on a beach i contacted cool-as-hell Kiki who i met in Yangshuo in the summer and checked out if she fancied joining me.  Fantastic - she can't wait to get away from cold Hong Kong.  But now, Johnny has come back and said that he can only get 19 days off so he's not sure what he's doing.   Well he didn't seem nothered about leaving me for a month and now i've made plans, i'm not sure he's so happy.  ahhhh, it's all good.  He's got a friend there anyway so he can go meet him.  Woo hoo can't wait.
 
I;ve got such a cool couple of months planned before i go home.  Still thinking that i will returen - trying to sort out a job as we speak.  I love the feeling of CHristmas and the freezing cold here is making it better.  It's just not xmas if it's warm.
 
 
Well Merry Christmas everyone, have a great time.  Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may get hit by a bus - think that's along the lines of a famous quote by someone.
12月20日

9 weeks till i go back home and see everyone

Wow - can't believe that i will be back home with family and friends in a few weeks (well 9 actually).  Also, four of those are actually holiday.  I really can't wait to see and catch up with everyone.  THis year has gone so fast.  Gonna really miss Xmas at home but i will just have to celebrate it a few weeks later then usual when i get back i guess.
 
Not exactly sure what i am doing for xmas day, there were talks that Johnny and i were gonna go to Shanghai which may still go ahead but i will have to come back on Sunday night which would truely suck.  So think we will just end up staying in WEnzhou.  I think there is a big dinner for all the foreign people here that the Govenment put on but in true Chinese style they haven't informed anyone yet and probably won't till like the afternoon of the party or something.  I haven't received any pressies yet off anyone from back home which is rubbish.  There is still a few days in which they might come but i'm not holding my breath.
 
Hmmm - oh, gotta call my grandparents, it's my grandad's b'day today so Happy Birthday to you John Hale!!
12月12日

Aaaggghhhh!!! Am I really settled?

Had a conversation with a friend who had described me or rather my situation as 'settled'!!! I hate this term.  He said I've changed.  I no longer spend most of the week nights and weekends supping it up in blue shell and that even when i do go i leave at a reasonable hour.  He wants me to go back to my former ways and be fun again!!  Granted i am seeing someone and it is better and more cost effective to chill out and watch a film rather then getting drunk most nights but I dislike the idea that you change just because you are seeing a guy. 
 
So... think i'm gonna make an effort to go out and see more people.  I did try and get some people together on Saturday night but either they didn't have credit on their phones or they themselves were at home with their guys cos they were tired.  So what can i do???   Gonna call Lucas and tell him I am changing back!  Plus the guy i'm seeing's away this weekend so a better chance to chill out with mates.  I have noticed that the guys who used to invite me out don't do so as much now either so it's not purely my fault.
 
 
 
 
 
 
12月6日

not up to much

Haven't really been updating this recently. Guess i've just been doing the same old thing, working, having dinner on Thursday nights with the usual clan and seeing Johnny. I've been looking into getting a job in Shanghai, spoke to a couple of places there and sent off my CV. Could be a nice change. It's easy to settle in one place and i have ties and friends here. Definately going home for one month at the end of my current contract and hopefully coming back to China. IT's all up in the air. I have a month off in Jan/Feb time and Johnny has suggested going traveling, somewhere in CHina, maybe even to Thailand which would be fantastic to lie on a beach somewhere (doing it with him won't be too bad either). Wes - maybe you should warn him about traveling with me!!! Right noe, I look forward to my weekends and mainly chill out during the week. good but i remember i was much more active and seeing far more people before I was seeing Johnny. Not his fault but i never understand why this happens to people. Anyways, i'm off to get a coffee and chill out for a bit.
11月14日

This weekend I have mostly been dancing!

Friday i went to see my friend Carl who lives an hour away.  Spent the afternoon looking round his little town and i went to one of his classes. This one with kindegarten kids.  They were so cute and his class was so easy in comparison to mine.  Then we met his friend Nathan, went for dinner and then went to a new club.  We danced all night, them absolutely loving the cute Chinese girls and i had fun dancing with the guys.
 
Saturday i came back and it was Mark's b'day so we went for a Korean BBQ with some friends.  Ate sooo much.  Went to a club, got drunk and i dared Mark to do a pole dance.  If he did 1 minute then i would do 5.  He did about 3 so i did aboiut 15 i think.  It was the best fun ever and i think the audience liked it.  Apparently you get paid loads to do that so i'm thinking about doing it as work, i'll just need about 10 beers before i do it!!
 
Relaxed last night and got bitten to shreads despite killing 5 mosquitoes so i didn't have a great night sleep.  Johnny's back today although I think i've pissed him off so we'll see how that works out...
11月11日

It's the weekend!!

Had a really relaxed week - no work due to the student's midterms which has meant that i've had nothing to do for 8 days.  It's been bliss apart from the school still being on my back.  THis time about me staying out at Johnny's.  Apparently it's not safe for me to stay in WEnzhou.  They are also trying to do me out of money that's owed to me.  Hopefully it'll all sort itself out.  Only really have 8 weeks of actual teaching left; i have 1 month paid holiday for spring festival which i may try and do some part time work for to get some more cash before i go home at the end of Feb.  Not sure what i've really done all week though.  Didn't go anywhere. just met up with a few people.  Had plans but they haven't really come off.  Was good to just catch up on sleep for a change - on Monday i didn't get out of bed till 4:30pm after returning from Johny's at 9am. 
 
This weekend - off to go see Carl in a couple of hours.  He lives about an hour away from here.  Be good to have a break from Wenzhou.  Been delaying it all week.  Tomorrow i'm back here though to have dinner with the guys.  It's also American Mark's b'day so will be out for that too.  Sunday - hopefully realx and cos i'll have to start teaching again. 
 
May be going to Shanghai some weekend.  Really wanna go dancing and Johnny mentioned he'll take me. 
 
Christmas is coming.  Gonna be so weird not being at home.  I have only spent 1 xmas away from home and it was strange without all the manic trauma of sorting out presents and cooking xmas dinner and it's gonna be even stranger to have it here but i'm quite looking forward to it.  They don't really celebrate it here as such but they do put up decorations and stuff so it may feel a bit christmassy.  They only thing that's lacking is severe cold.  I'm still walking round in just a jumper and even then i'm still warm sometimes.  If i was at home there would be at least 3 layers, coat, hat, scarf, gloves but that's what lets you know that christmas is coming.
 
No presents for me this year
 
11月2日

Apparently these are traits of mine according to some personality test

 
 
trait snapshot:
messy, outgoing, open, self revealing, ambivalent about chaos, unpredictable, not good at saving money, social, likes large parties, likes to stand out, risk taker, quick to make friends, does not like to be alone, rash, fame seeking, sarcastic, craves attention, social chameleon, low self control, food lover, not rule conscious, weird, assertive, not a perfectionist, anti-authority, thrill seeker, vain, likes to fit in, reckless, emotionally sensitive, leisurely, trusting
 
 
Not sure if I agree with all of them... but i like the sound of it, i think

life is good in china (except the job of course)

Things seen to be going ok in China.  Of course the job could be better but i have plans to sort that out (when the contract is up and i get all my money back). 
 
The weekend was pretty relaxed except Friday - dinner with David, his bird, Ed, Andrew and Gary and if you go out with David then there is always going to wine at hand, so there was and so I drunk and then got drunk.  We then made our way to blue shell where Ed and I thought it would be a great idea to down our drinks.  Went back with Johnny and passed out on his sofa - too drunk to move so he left me there with a blanket and made sure i wasn't going to die or anything.  Needless to say, my head was feeling a bit tender the next morning  but Johnny and I had nothing planned then to just spend the day dossing around and chilling out.  WE did venture out to get some food and have a look round Wenzhou a bit.  He then made a great dinner and American pancakes the next morning which i was a bit impressed with. 
 
Sunday - went to a couple of Halloween parties and got invited to one in Austins (some bar here) but had to turn that down.  Ran into a guy i hadn't seen in ages as i was leaving one party and almost got dragged into going with him to drink but decided against it.
 
Monday - another Halloween party at Blue Shell this time.  Pretty good, people made more of an effort to dress up, good music, good atmosphere and caught up with Lucas who is a friend of a friend. They wanted me to look after him and make sure he was ok in Wenzhou cos he's new and young (and cute with a lovely aussie accent which makes it more enjoyable for me). 
 
think that's the update on things, not much to tell but it's all good.
 
 
Only have 4 months left here, not sure what the plans are, if i'll go back to stay for a while at home or come back, go to another city, another country. we'll see!
10月23日

great weekend

Friday
 
 
had a really relaxing night.  didn't go out. didn't see anyone. just stayed at 'home' (my little hotel room) and watched the funniest chinese soap.  couldn't understand much if any at all but the acting was so melodramatic that that in itself was pure entertainment.  you should have seen the male actor's 'serious' look - pure class!!  I was a bit at a loss as what to do on a friday night at home by myself for it hasn't happened since i don't know when.  I am usually out most nights to see someone or go for supper with someone at least.  It was a bit weird.  Gonna have to invest in a DVD player.  would've thought i'd have done that by now but never ot round to doing it and i'm rarely at home unless i'm sleeping.
 
 
Saturday
 
Had a lie-in. Again, haven't done that for ages either.  Went with Qun Qi for lunch with her family, went to go see Laura at her shop for a bit. Then went to go watch the boys play basketball against some other school.  TEnse match and we eventually lost so didn't go through to the final.  It was so sad.  The boys were all teary-eyed.  This was the last time they would play basketball in a competition together in middle school as they are grade all grade 3 students.  Awww bless. 
 
Then was going to have supper with the leader of some uni here and Qun Qi but her husband said that she mush have supper with him! so i just went to see laura and help her get ready for the party she was having for her shop.  It was really good.  A bit drunk.  Then we decided to go to a mountain close by at about 12pm.  I decided to go in the less drunken driver's car.  When we got to the mountain, i noticed one of the chinese guys had a pair of rollarblades in the back of his car.  Thank god for little chinese feet as they fit mine!!  so there i was skating round a mountain at 2am.  He also said that i could keep them!! Fab!!  Stayed at Laura's.  Got texts from a friend wanting me to go round his hous to 'comfort him' . thought against this idea for various reasons (johnny being one of them i'll admit) so i didn't.
 
 
Sunday
 
relaxed day - got the bus back home. skated round my school for an hour.  Slept for a bit. woke up. slept a bit more. eventually had a  shower. came here and now trying to sort out lesson plans. hhhhmmmmppphh
10月18日

THE GAME!!!

woke up feeling rubbish, a bit groggy and full of cold.  No idea why, i've actually caught up on sleep, haven't been gettting too drunk or going out too much so can't really explain it.
 
THink i'm off out for supper tonight.  I was talking to one of my chinese friends about her boyfriend.  He hasn't called her for a few days and i commented that he just wants her to think that he's not bothered about her i.e THE GAME!!!  She wasn't sure what i meant so i explained.  I asked her why she wouldn't call him or text him and she said that she's a girl so she shouldn't and she doesn't want him to think she cares.  I just said that this is what he's doing too to which she was shocked - that guys do this too.  She didn't believe me and chose to think that he actually doesn't like her anymore.  Anyway, coincidently just as we were discussing this he called.  HE commented that he thought that she wasn't bothered so he wanted her to think the same - he was playing THE GAME!!! But he messed up by telling her he was doing it.  They are all good now and meeting up later and i think i am going out for supper with them and some of his friends later.  It's so funny that guys and girls do this here too and it's funny watching it.  Don't know why people bother making out that they are not bothered about eachother, doing the whole give it three days before i call thing.  I just suck at it - if i like someone then i let them know, too much effort otherwise.
 
Anyway, gotta go get ready to meet my mate...
 
 
10月17日

getting a bit tired of this...

everyone seems to be making comments about my weight.  One minute i'm too skinny.  then i put on weight and then i'm getting fat so i was advised to not eat supper and only fruit in the evening.  then i lose weight again and i'm too skinny again.  Didn't see Johnny for about 2 weeks i guess and he commented on me losing weight - as if you can tell in that short amount of time anyway.  He did then say that he just wants me to be healthy which i guess is nice.  Better then the ex who said that we were getting comfortable after 2 years and that we had both put on weight.  Everyone just seems to be making comments on it which gets you thinking a bit too much about it.  I never used to be bothered or think twice about what or the amount of what i was eating but i am now which is stupid.  Gonna have to go back to england not so many people commented (apart from my ex).
 
 
Just a little rant for the day.  Oh i also managed to piss off my school by blasting my music across campus after lunch when the girls were trying to sleep.  I commented that i didn't care and that if they didn't want me to have my music so loud then i should have my own appartment.  I did turn it down though, i'm afraid of people above me who are bosses or leaders. Aggghhhh.  And if i do try to stand up to them, they knock me back down and make me feel like crap so there's just no point really.
 
But overall, a good day. teaching was good.  The day was nice.  Not up to anything tonight but i have already been 'booked' for Thursday night and one night this weekend so the week is looking good!!

weekend

pretty good weekend.  Friday - i took David and Ed out for dinner.  Went to blue shell.  Johnny turned up later.  Went back to his.  Saturday - went to watch the school play basketball.  Both the boys and girls lost but they did well.  Pretty impressed with the girls cos i didn't think they could play that well, they all seem so meek in class (maybe that's cos my lessons are crap!) but they were actually really good.  It was good to hang out with the P.E teachers again cos i haven't spent much time with them recently.  In the Evening, Johnny and I went on our first date.  It was really nice. We went to this really nice restaurant - completely different to the big manic ones you get in Wenzhou, somewhere where you can actually talk.  It was a really good date and the following day, we actually hung out with eachother as opposed to just getting up and me or him having to rush off and go do things.
 
Last night, i just chilled out back at my place.  So tired, watched some random film on TV and managed to catch up on some sleep. 
 
In all, it was a fun weekend but now it's Monday but I woke up and it's a really nice morning - blue sky, sun shining but not too hot, a bit misty and cooler.  Really pretty.  Anyways, i gotta go teach and chat to Geeno online cos i haven't for ages...
10月13日

Hungover once again!!

Only been out a couple of times this week and that includes last weekend.  Went out with Qun Qi and her friends for supper.  They had my favourite foods ready on the table for when i arrived and because we were late (Quin Qi takes ages getting ready), we were made do play catch-up and down a few glasses of beer.  I have noticed a really clever trick that Qun Qi plays.  She drinks bai jiu - really strong rice wine and till about 2 weeks ago i thought she was an amazing drinker for drinking that stuff.  However, when she drinks a shot, she follows this by either having some soup, using her napkin or going to the toilet - so she can spit it out!! Good trick, no wonder i was always hammered and she wasn't.  I drink beer so it's not so easy to do the same trick plus what a waste of alcohol.  The men i met at dinner all have their own show factories so one of them said he'll make me a pair of shoes just for me.  However, i have discovered that Chinese people say a lot of things when they are drunk and they don't always work out.  But this isn't just a Chinese thing i think.
 
Anyway, then got invited to KTV.  More beer, KTV girls lining up to be chosen to play with the other men, bad singing and men wanting you to try and sing.  Only stayed for about an hour then went to blue shell.  A few people there, met a nice guy who bought me a beer so all good.  Johnny called and me being drunk made an idiot of myself.  Oh well, not gonna be hearing much of him i think. Shame, he's cute and i kinda like him.  We'll see.  Maybe he'll see past the drunken ramblings or maybe he'll see sense.
 
had a good week of teaching - watched Disney films with my grade 2 classes which they enjoyed.  Haven't seen them in years and it took me back to my childhood watching 'Aladdin' and 'Beauty and the Beast'.  So sad!!!
 
 
10月9日

currently drunk after a ranom dinner with chinese friends...

Was asleep when my friend Qun QI called inviting me for dinner and I initially said no cos I was soooo tired and wastrying to be good - i.e no alcohol.  Then a i randomly got up, called Qun Qi and found myself in a taxi on the way to the restaurant.  This of course being supper with Chinese people meant a lot of downing beer and eating little.  The owner of the restaurant, who was also my friend's uncle invited me to drink with him and his friends so i eventually end up drunk.  But they did order food i like, crab and salmon - sooooooo good here!!!  MMmmmmm...
 
 
Then go back to drink with the people i was originally invinted out with and drink some more...  are you getting the picture.  I was however strong enough to say that i was tired and that i didn't want to stay out too late and i was driven home - by my friend who was totally over the limit, well not that i have any idea what the limit is here.
 
so here i am, on the computer at 10pm hoping to catch my mate Geeno on here cos i had a few missed calls from the US and i think it is him as he is the only one that calls me from there. but he's  not here so think i'm off to bed cos i have to teach so many lessons tomorrow - what an effort!!!
 
also - had an argument with my mate David - scottish guy. not happy. he hung up on me.  but cos i am stubborn and i am not in the worng (as far as I can see at least), i'm not gonna call him!!
 
happy thoughts and sleep.....
10月8日

Finally went to Beijing

As predicted, Friday night was a bit crazy. WE went for free beer then bought our bottle of rum which together with a lack of sleep and me working all week led to me sleeping on the sofa in Blue Shell.  This wasn't due to the excessive alcohol but because i was sooooooo tired from a long week of, working, staying out late with Suzi and staying at Johnny's a couple of nights.  The funny thing was that Suzi did the same thing at the same time but in another room upstarirs.  Woke up to find another drink from Suzi ready for me to drink- so thoughtful.
 
WE finally left at about 6 am after poor little Dennis chucked us out.  I went back to pack and managed to get an hour sleep before we set off to Shanghai.  We got there really late but managed to sort out tickets to Beijing for the following nignt (Sunday) ready to arrive Monday morning.  Got there, sorted out our hostel thanks to Sarah (Suzi's mate from home who came out a couple of days later and had arrived in Beijing before us).  We spent the day in Shanghai looking at the Jade Buddha temple and then I took Suzi too the Yu Yuan Gardens which were manic cos it was the National holiday.
 
When we arrived in Beijing, we dumped our stuff at the hostel, then headed to Tiananmen Square, had a look around, went to the Temple of Heaven Park then went back to the hostel to meet Sarah.  Went out for Peking Duck with her and some other cool people from the hostel.
 
The next day was THE GREAT WALL.  This was absloutely amazing!! WE did a 10km trek across it.  Think we just chilled out at the hostel that night with Sarah, Darren (cute, lovely, Irish guy with gorgeous green eyes), Jason (another Irish guy who was really cheeky when i first met him.  He continued to wind me up for the rest of the week but it was all good and i'd like to believe that I gave as good as i got!).  There was also the most boring person in the world there who went by the name of John. Oh and I met someone called Gus who is Sweedish but lives in London.  Pretty cute too and also very lovely.  I met a Slovakian girl called Anna who was really nice and kind.
 
The following day, Suzi, Sarah, Anna, Jason and I went to go see the embarlmed body of Mao Zedong.  A bit of a strange experience.  Then Jason and I went back to the hostel while the others went to the Lama Temple.  I have been pretty templed out since i came to CHina and while i'm sure this was probably one of the best I was knacked and just wanted to chill out and not run around trying to fit in everything.  Had a really good day with Jason, ate chatted and realised he's not just a git who likes to wind me up, he's also a really great guy who i got on with really well.
Jason and I went on a mission to find hot chocolate which i was really craving.  So good when we finally managed to track soe down. 
 
On Thursday, Sarah, Jason, Gus and I just hung around the hostel and chilled out again.  I know I should;ve been doing something but I was mentally preparing for the 14 hour train journey back to Shanghai which Suzi and I could only get standing tickets. WE spent most of the time sitting on the floor in the aisle.  See picutres!!
 
It was during this chill out session that my new name was coined - Lois Victoria Horseballs - Hale the 3rd (pronounced 'turd' in Jason's Irish accent).  'Horseballs' was partly due to the guy i'm seeing's name which Jason was asking about.  Anyway, his chinese surname means 'horse' and Jason often calls people 'horseballs' in Ireland so they decided to double barrel my name and then add a title which with Jason's Irish accent made my new name that little bit tackier and funnier.  So a great 'thanks' goes to Sarah, Gus and Jason for that new title!!
 
 
Think that is the basis of my little holiday in Beijing.  So glad that I won't be going back to England without having done the Great Wall!!
 
 
9月30日

don't think tonight is gonna be pretty!!

Went out for supper with Suzi and David last night and i was totally exhausted and nearly falling asleep.  Had a really long week; teaching and going out every night has finally caught up with me.  I even left early last night and refused drinks!! 
 
I woke up this morning to a horrible swollen red eye.  It looked like i had been punched in the face.  This has happened a few times now, have no idea why.  It's so good to have a doctor as a friend, sorted out some medicine so i have been popping about 5 different pills and it's getting better.
 
Suzi has planned a bit of a carnage night for us.  As soon as i finish work i'm meeting her and we are going directly to blue shell where they have free beer till 9pm and then we are getting a bottle of Morgan's dark rum and drinking that.  Oh and we have to fit in food at some point.  Not sure this is a good idea.  It is like we are back at uni again.  Think i may be drunk tonight.  Oh, then we have a bus ride tomorrow morning which'll be fun!!