The time is fast approaching

We have been busy this week. I had an excursion to the Suzhou Weather Bureau on Tuesday, aerobics on Wednesday and a staff party on Friday.





On Friday night I had organised a progressive Cocktail Party around our complex. There were 19 expats in attendance and it was a great night. We had: Money shots, Bloody Mary's, Vodka infused Watermelon, Jager Bombs, Sangria, Champagne Punch, Frozen banana Daiquiri's an finally Margarita's. I got home around 12am feeling surprisingly OK! I think because everyone was telling us it was going to be the 'Progressive Vomit Party' and so I was expecting a hangover and really didn't want one, so I took it really easy. The next morning I also needed to be up early...





We had a netball game against Eaton House International School. We flogged them. I am glad I played. I tossed over the idea of not playing because I did not want to hurt my back again, but in the end I couldn't stay away :)





So now the time is approaching when my family get here!!!!! I am organising the beds today so that I don't have to do it tomorrow as we are going swimming. I can't wait. Here is a picture of them all:

It's a bit blurry because I had to take a photo of a photo. You can just see my reflection in the glass! My older brother in the photo is the only one not coming.

See you -

Kelly

Why is China so Polluted?

Check this out... This is a classic example of why China is so polluted.



These things are used to pump very thick concrete support poles into the ground because someone thought it would be smart to build on a marsh land (duh!!!)







OK - Now imagine several of these being used for each building site (there are four within the bottom picture), plus all the traffic, warehouses, and the fact that they burn most of their rubbish - and no one seems to care. If you see a truck driving around with all this black smoke back home, you know they're in for it and that it won't be like it for long, but here it's normal.



GOD HELP CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD WHEN INDUSTRIALISATION IS BOOMING HERE (WITH NO SIGNS OF SLOWING) AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CONTROL ON THE POLLUTION OUTPUT. IMAGINE WHAT THIS VALLEY WOULD LIKE LIKE IF IT DIDN'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THESE FORMER PICTURES


STUNNING -
WHAT A TRAGEDY!

East Mountain

It's been quite a busy week and weekend just past:

School is always busy! but here is a rundown of weekend:

Friday: Shopping, doctor, hairdresser, out for dinner, out or drinks with ladies from school and home by 2am.

Saturday: Sleep in, movie and breakfast, swimming at 1:00, home and cook lunch at 2:30, watch another movie, out for dinner downtown, home by 12:00

Sunday: Up at 7:30, meet friend downstairs at 8:30, meet another Chinese teacher at 9:00, head out to East Mountain which is a 1 1/2 hour drive, pick green tea, have lunch, buy some green tea, head home, get home by 4:00, walk around like a zombie until bed time which will probably be in around 1 and a half hours.

Mum will be here soon. My Mum and step-dad and brothers will be here in like 8 days!!!!! How friggen exciting:)

East Mountain -

Now this was a great experience. We walked up a hill and picked tea for like 1 hour and managed to get enough for maybe a week. So when we finished we bought like 1/2 kilo for $120RMB, but this would retail for like $400RMB in a shop here which would probably transfer into at least $200AU back home!!! Yummy tea!!!! Here are some piccies-

Kate picking tea

Kane has had a photo blown up of our trip to Cambodia. How great does it look.




I've reorganised our photo wall on the fridge and added some more photos. Paige I need some good pics of the kids. The ones you sent went funny when I tried to print them, maybe something to do with the pixels????




So there you go,
We come home in 11 weeks!

Long Weekend Almost Over

Our long weekend has been spent relaxing of course. The weather has not been quite as predicted. It was around 20 and overcast of Friday, around the same yesterday and today it is raining. Dammit - it was supposed to be sunny and 27 today, the perfect day for tennis!

Speaking of such, we had visitors to watch the AFL yesterday. We made sushi and talked, and after we went down to play tennis. Our visitors are from QLD/Tas, so it was nice to have some Aussie company. They have a 11 month old son, so it was interesting to watch him go, go, go, stop. As well as the baby-proofing of the apartment when they first arrived, but he is one of the cutest kids I've ever seen and you hardly see him with out a ball in his hands and/or mouth, so he'll definitely be a gifted ball something player! I keep telling Kane this is what we are in for eventually!

I seem to have finally gotten over this sinus blockage which is a relief, now I just need the wheezing to subside in my chest, however this is becoming less often, usually when I've not spoken in a while or just woke up, but I definitely need my Ventolin close by every now and then. Kane still hasn't caught it so hopefully he won't. There is definitely a bad bug going around as a friend of ours in his sixties, who is a really fit man has had bronchitis which has turned into pneumonia that has infected 1/4 of his lungs! The change in weather has been a welcome relief, bu it has also affected peoples health which is worrying.

My back is on the improve too, I was able to have hit of tennis yesterday with out too much hassle. The jury is still out as to whether I will go to see my funky Chinese man healer today. I definitely could, but I might try swimming tomorrow and go to step aerobics on Wednesday and see how I go first (I can see him between 6-8 Wednesday night). The triathlon is only 4 weeks away now and I only have 1 week to register if I think I can still get ready for it after the past 2 weeks of no training. I am so disappointed as I was really into the swing of training and was starting to see results. As the start is always so hard, now I have to start again with all the mind games that try to tell you - don't bother :(

I am going to go through some photographs on the computer today and go and get them printed down at our neighbourhood centre. I think our place needs some personalisation!

Congrats to Mitta on their mighty win! Girls - get your arses into gear and post your players/results too!
Cheers
KK

Foot Massage

One of the best things about China has to be foot massages! I had one tonight, 48RMB is all it costs, that's like $7. I lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes and includes a shoulder/back rub. It used to include a head massage, arms and hands, but the later has disappeared as they have more clients come in. You get refills of Green tea and sunflower seeds to chew on. Not bad me thinks and it has become a regular Tuesday tradition for the past 9 months.

Here is my girl today:

and here is Becki's (Becki and I go together each week):