The Late but not dead Darryl

A grandma playing pool with her grandson....this was outside a strip mall that ran for about 2 miles.....if you can see down that far....the tables were right outside the door...there were several guys playing on another one about 100 metres away...across the street was an industrial park.










Dennis my student from 11-10 who should be at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His desk is usually piled even higher with books....he is a nice kid and reads incessantly and is a royal pain because he does his work so quickly and with a lot of words that even I can't understand...he is a challenge and he challenges you to be better.....








Me and my thinkers pose on a rock near the Pna Mountains....something like the foothills....these were not big mountains and I did not climb them as this was the day before the marathon and I wasn't about to blow about three months of training to go up a mountain....some impressive features.....the writing on the rock...there were some temples to visit on the way up ...there were stairs up...not a hike like you would have in the Rockies.








A bike loaded down with cardboard and plastic and whatever he can carry...they are never ending....and they are piled higher than this most of the time....the owner was getting some more from just inside the post at the business.














Mark Chapman, a teacher, we will forgive him for his sweater....we were skating around the rink at the World Trade Centre.....lots of little kids...learning to skate...the rink was not official...we said...who would have imagined last year at this time that we would be in China teaching school...skating in the middle of Beijing....and then we laughed....

Geez, I tried to add some pictures but can't seem to get this bugger to do it so I will put this one on the blog and start a new one with some added pictures and some comments.

Bear or Bare with me whichever you prefer!!!!!!!!!!


Well I am finally back.

No reason for not writing other than I have been a little busy in some aspects and a little lazy in others. Will save this as a draft and try to add pictures in wherever they will fit.....if I can access them....tuxes and bikes and all.

We dressed up in our tuxes prior to the meal and had a few drinks at the Canadian Club. If you notice, one of the pictures has me with the Riders hat on...can't seem to get them out of my psyche....funny too....Mark had a kid say on his test that Green and Yellow ( the Sask Flag) was the colour of the Canadian flag....and they have one hanging in each of the rooms.....the Canadian flag that is......The banquet went quite well and I even won something or have I aleady mentioned that. A meal for two at a swanky restaurant which I will give away to Mike and Kirsten as they have been very helpful to me. The meal was a turkey dinner so we had a turkey dinner on the Thursday before the marathon, the Monday after the marathon and then that Friday aw well.....didn't hurt my feelings any. The 4 amigos with the tuxes were the talk of the night.....several of the ladies wanted their pictures taken with us...imagine that.....no dance (well a little one) but we went home early in the school vans

Last Sunday we (Don, Eve Mike and Kirsten) went to a bike dealer in Tonqzhou and purchase a bike....Don Eve and I that is. We got a good deal....came with locks and bells. We had to buy mud flaps and the kickstand....but they are good bikes....we will have to keep them in our rooms as they may develop legs and walk away if not. It will give us a little roaming freedom.....and we will learn about the traffic first hand.

Last week was a long one...we are teaching extra classes now ..called master students with the grade twelves...so that they can get ready for Canada or university life...not sure if I am making much of a mark with my topic...Taking Notes.....never was much of a notetaker,,,well I guess I had to take some.....but I give them some pointers and hope that they will listen and try to get something from the presentation....even if it is just questions about Saskatchewan or university of Canada or student life....Also are doing a thing called Chat Room or Homework Room where the students come to either catch uup on homework or to talk in only English.

Have used that as a form of discipline......you can't speak Chinese in my class or you will go to the English chat room..can't understand that....because their parents send them here to speak English and they try to get away with speaking Chinese....go figure.....

Am feeling a little isolated here....surrounded by 15 million people......no, I mean, i am the only westerner here and have to fight for the country music and the riders and the flames or oilers or just the west...actually done in really good jest...I am making some inroads..even with the kids...have them listening to country music...no Stompin yet...

Have been able to talk to many people using the computer.....Mark has me wired for tv through his computer and a thing called Slingbox so I can watch Canadian stuff as well as anything that is on satellite...what a deal...

Have not taken a lot of pictures as my camera is acting up a little...will be one of my next big purchases and then I should be done....But I will try to put some on this blog....had a problem with it for a few days that they said they fixed...not my fault...never is......

Went out riding last weekend just by myself...the bike does give you some extra range.....saw some neat things and will put them on the blog....

Forgot to tell you about the marathon ending.....I ran by the stadium that will be hosting the Athletics I think.....massive...stainless steel girders reaching to the sky.....am going to see if I can go aroung Beijing and take pictures fo the facilities and then email them back to you...

Great news....Jennifer ..my daughter is pregnant...due in April....I guess that I won't be able to be there for the event....Jack Wakeford, a very good friend said he would be my surrogate father and just needed the date and he would show up

Several of us decided to buy new golf clubs so we had Bob do some negotiating and he knows his clubs ....bought 8 sets of Ping clubs without a bag...the irons and driver and 3 wood.....for less than $90.....I got 3 sets....2 lefts and 1 right....can't believe the price....may have to set up a business.....like a few others have done....

Think I have finished my Christmas shopping...now how in the heck could that happen....I usually leave it until the 23rd or 24th....and then sit and watch others in the panic mode...will probably cost a fortune to send the stuff back to Canada...oh well it will be worth it....Jennifer will be my distribution point......we don't get much of a holiday at Christmas....just the day and then it is back to work....will seem strange...really strange....but we do get a long holiday at the end of January......from the 26th until February the 26th..Chinese New Year and some other make up days...so I think I will be going to Thailand for a stretch....10 days.....just to say i have been there.....

Well..better go it is past midnight and I have work to do...Riders play today or is it yesterday or is it tomorrow...hard to say....ran into a guy from Calgary and one from Regina.....had a good laugh over football...the real football. Hope that all the pictures get onto the page and that you can see me and others here in all our glory

Bailing out in Beijing

Darryl