A New Year in China

Well here we go again...another roller coaster year for sure

To start it off right, I damn near missed my plane.....was sitting in Air China lobby instead of Air Canada and heard my name over the intercom... Would Darryl Walls please report of gate 53 or your ticket will be revoked....I was at gate 71 and had to hustle my butt to get there...but going through the ticket check was really easy.....but a little panic set in when I wasn't sure how far the gate was......this time the trip seemed to take longer...maybe because the summer was so short....anyway, arrived safe and sound and was able to get through customs and met a couple of people who were also going to CIS.....we booked a van and took all the luggage to the school and was able to get most of my stuff put away and then got ionto the other storage room and finally got all the packages into my apartment......after 2 weeks though it is still a mess as I try to get stuff put away...

A lot has happenend in two more weeks....have put in a full two weeks of school which is going good. Some very strong Math students who definitely will challenege me to keep them sharp....most are the regulars who need to be motivated to get better and they will...already have several who will be s[ending some quality time with me after school to improve......physed will be a challenge as they are under equipped in some areas so to follow the curriculum will be a struggle.....oh well I n=have done much of this before.....

Will try to get some pictures on this if I can figure how to browse on the Apple to get them here....haven't take many so there won't be much new.....that will happen later.

Have been running in the am so that I can be in 1/2 decent shape for the 1/2 marathon on October 21. The full marathon is completed filled so even if I wanted to run it now it is too late......interesting note.....Rosamund told me about the entry fee through the Hashers.....you pay 70 rmb for the 1/2 marathon if you register through a fitness club thaty they know about....but you would pay $50 ( about 400rmb if you registered like I did last year....who makes the money.....???? ... another teacher or two are also running in the 1/2 and a couple of students are doing the fun runassociated with it....I tweaked my ligament in the knee one day so I haven't been as faithful in my dedication this year,,,,

Have been out to a couple of new bars and eating places ...they have a couple of places where you can get a subway sandwich and burgers too.....sort of complement my stuff that I brought from home to keep me patriotic??????

Am trying to finalize the nubers for the golf sets so if you need to put in an order, let me know so that I can confirm with my "dealer" the niumber of sets and maybe get a good deal...

PLayed a hockey practice on Thursday of this week and will also play a game tonight at a bout 9. You play every week end and there is a tournament next weekend with 4 out of Beijing teams.....so that could be exhausting......we play Friday, Saturday and Sunday...it costs about 3000 rmb (apout $450 ) for the full year......I think I am in the middle of the pack...some can skate better and I am certainly not the worst....maybe one of the oldest though....

Today, Sunday, also, I played a round of golf with Fred Savoy who is an excellent golfer. We played in a tourney...there is one just about everuy sSunday at various location around Beijing......shot 108...not too good but did a 50 on the back 9 or I think it was there D set of 9...4 sets of 9 holes....but I did win a bottle of wine for being closest to the pin on one of the holes....funny thing is Fred also won a prize for being closest to the pin on another hole.....we had a good time and the weather was good.....smog but ok for Beijing...Fred said he will come to the srtore to help me select the good clubs for everyone...that's good....we had a driver pick us up at the door and bring us back...talk about spoiled...plus you have caddies who go find all your lost balls and place the ball on the green with the proper angle to the pin...all you have to do is guess the weight......and I am not much good at that...I did par my quota of 4 holes.....will probably do it again a few times...Fred is a great guy to golf with....

Interesting thing on a morning fun....caught up to a man who had four legs sticking up out of his three wheeled bike with the pick up like box on the back...sticking out of eaach corner was the leg of the pig that l;ooked like it had bee slaughtered that morning and he was pedalling it to his butcher shop in the supermarket just a few 100 metres ahead....I don't know how far he had cycled it but I don't think you are allowed to keep them in Beijing...this was at six am...also on the same run a lady ( in the middle of Beijing) was feeding her 10-12 chickens on the bottom level flat that she look likde she inhabited...am gonna try to get one of those three wheeled bikes.....Rider logo it too......

Bought a very expensive camera...one of my few indulgences....and haven't learned how to operate it fully....that's a joke ...even 1/100 ly......but can take pictures and am able to phone people....but haven't found out how to use the GPS, mp3 player,bar code reading, internet access, the ring tones even...but will use this year to become literate...in a pig's ear....but do have the technology...

Have done very little shopping so far but will start to soon...need to get my Christmas shooping done as it takes a while on the slow boat from China.....takes a few days getting used to the different school and the routines...rode my bike in from Tuan Li ..so now have my wheels for around here.... and that is good...I can bget groceries and do shopping and bar viewing....took 3 pictures of Sask over to get framed...cost about $13...will hang them in my apartment....

Have confirmed my trip to the Philippines....with the crew here for first week in October....not sure what to expect but will be able to R and R I believe....Blaine and Sandra Barnstable are coming over to Hong Kong for Christmas so will see if I can swing around there....it is supposed to be an intyeresting place to visit.....we'll see...

My apartment overlooks a park...sort of.....right now, there is a large building being constructed and there is alot of action there most days....further away is Chaoyang park and I believe it is one of the biggest in the city...it costs you 5 rmb to get in and one of these days I am going to take a stroll through it...maybe even get a month pass and uyse it as a place to jog....

Great news....I got 8 sets of tickets to the games here......Vball, softball, wrestling and soccer...and there is a chance for more....as they will be haviing another round of purchases in October...so I could get a few more....missed on the Tand F and the opening ceremonies but got most of what I wanted....

Well .....can't get any new photos on my blog so I will just keep my new grandaughter and my other two grandchildren with the old fart in the wheat field ...hope the new school year is going well and will try to keep you informed about life in the BIGS....

Over and out from the Saskatchewan connection.....go Riders....I have sliongbox and can watch them from here..... cool...thanks to Mark

Darryl