June and counting

Some of the taxi drivers outside the compound who wait daily for fares...the guy looking at us on the chair is Mr Li....he is a good driver and has taken us to our golf sessions
This was from one of the shows that the kids got to go to...well done....a little sappy with the boy finds family after leaving to live in the big city theme....costumes and lighting were good...but they ( the audience) talk throughout the performance...weird

Girls playing poker...some of them were tour guides and some worked in the shops....
The rubbish that you see every where....and this is just a small area....there are some massive areas where the rubbish just piles up...such is China


Well folks, I almost tore up my contract for next year and you may not believe why.....Detroit is out of the playoffs but we wanted to have a Slingbox version of the playoffs and our principal would not allow us to have it projected on the wall.....whenever they want us to be Canadian to their advantage, they bring out that card...but when it is "you know it is China", they use that....I wish they would make up their mind....especially the principal....anyway we are able to watch the playoffs...and I didn't really give a rat's......because Detroit was gone...just the principal of the thing

Tomorrow is memo day...that is how the principal communicates and it is a joke....so we are making a joke out of it....funny...

Talked to Jay yesterday and had a chance to see the new grand daughter....she is cute..and content and funny...can't wait to hold her...and play the grand dad role....

Have been enjoying the last few months as the year moves to its end.....there will be a graduation prom which is similar to ours.....

My sore knee is still there...I am hoping it will clear up...or I will get it checked out when I get back home...also want to have my pinkie checked out as well...got it jammed when I played a soccer game.....Bob wants to start training for the fall...He and I may go into the 1/2 marathon in the fall in Beijing....we'll see...

Went out golfing....at least I thought I was getting better....well not.....shot my worst in 5 years....seems that driving does not improve your game....at least not mine....Don did well...we got lost and went to the wrong course....the Japanese course....we thought we would play one round until we found out it was 1200 rmb per person.....about $180....walked away and eventually found our group....shot 108 with some mulligans.....so much for the clubs....ah well, I looked good when I showed up....good course...we played at guest members rates....abut 600 RMB ....I think that it is still high....the clubhouse was ok but not like the other one....but you still had your own caddy per 2 golfers....we were playing with three in a party so I had my own as I was slicing all the time and the girls had to go from side to side looking for our balls....

Still haven't got my debit card working.....pin number not coming for at least a week....man!!!...still some issues with our cheques and getting paid on time....they have a hard time to admit that they screw up and no one takes the blame and no gets canned.....hard to believe that you couldn't find another cousin to run the banking.....nepotism....

Signed up with the Beijing Hash House Harriers...a Drinking club with a Running problem for a weekend away at a beach resort of sorts..they are not so serious runners that go out running every Sunday, rain or shine, for various runs.....it is a world wide organization and you can find them in many big cities so if you go there, you would be able to meet up with people of same interest....we'll see how it goes...something like the Running Room.....speaking of which.... I have to get a new set of sneakers as mine are done and will be going up in smoke with me when I go

Will be starting to wind down at the school and am starting to think of what to pack and what to leave...we have to clean out our rooms so will fill some garbage bags with stuff that will stay...Am going to pull the tourist stunt I think...go into the basement of the Yashow Market and buy a bit suitcase and then go from floor to floor and fill it up with what I think I will need or want and then just fill the remainder with clothes and such.....I will be bringing 2 sets of clubs back with me with whatever I can stuff in the pockets

Jennifer says the Riders play 3 games when I am back so should get to see a couple of them....one thing I miss is the news about them...but keep posted on CBC as my home page...

Actually am trying to get my own place here...in case anyone decides....hint, hint, hint....to come over for a visit, they would have a place to stay for free.....remember the flights can be cheap if you keep an eye open...lots of things to see and do and it is fairly inexpensive for many things here and I wouldn't charge much for Room and Board.....just kidding.....give it a thought....

New Sign....The Pleasnty of Surprise Groping.....saw that on a shop.....I think it was leather or something....go figure.....Don't Drive Tiredly......on the Knock off Pings.....Frim Grip.....Ahh well we would have the same trouble translating into Chinese....if we even could....

Got a few days extra early leave so will leave here on the 11th with a 6 hour layover in Calgary so will stop and hopefully see my sister....will enjoy the extra days ....should find out soon also if I have made the first rounds of Olympic tickets......would be nice to get them all but I don't think so Dick....only 3 teachers coming back for next year....Bob and I and the son in law....not a lot of confidence in the principal anymore....over manages....petty stuff that one should never have to worry about....secretary stuff that teachers do......seems a waste of talent

Will add a few pictures and then post this...If I put in the same ones..well do darn bad.....

Talk to you in about 1 month.....maybe personally....