LATEST GOSSIP
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You will need quicktime to play most of these vids. If you haven't got it, download it from here |
| January 2013
I still have the girls coming to class on a Saturday and here they are looking more like monkeys each time I see them!
Here are the girls down below, while I'm up on the 6th floor...run the mouse over for a closer look.
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After some dreadful weather here it started to improve and we even managed to have class outside on my terrace one time. At the same time in the UK snow was hitting large parts of the country. Here is a picture of my sister's house
One of my old students, "Morgan", had sold me some health insurance in 2012 so I was invited to his Wei-Ya(尾牙) end of year party. I wasn't very keen on going but having spent the day with Crystal, she agreed to go with me so at least I had someone to talk to! Anyway, after the food and a couple of beers we had the lucky draw. I was getting more and more wound up as the volume increased with everyone getting excited about the chance to win some prize or other. Just as I was on the verge of leaving my name was called out and I won a.......new TV!!!
I was probably one of the most ungrateful winners ever!!
| February 2013
| March 2013
Just as I was starting to get a bit of money together, along came Chinese New Year to knock a week off my salary and then to top it all I found myself on a mere 15 hours a week teaching...thanks UKEAS!!
There is a also a waterfall near the station that obviously used to be a popular picnic area but has long been forgotten. Anyway, we went there after a couple of weeks no rain....I'm sure it would be pretty impressive after a downpour!
Decided to upgrade Nina's helmet as the old one offers very little protection. Had to take this picture sharpish as she doesn't like having her photo taken!
| May 2013
When going to pick up my health documents for my annual visa renewal, I was informed of a "suspected apex nodule" on my right upper-lung. Feeling a bit of panic creeping in I decided to make an appointment immediately to see a doctor. He informed me that my lungs are operating at less than full capacity and asked if I smoke. when I replied that I don't he told me that To get myself fit for the big one, Laura and I hiked from Ping-Xi(Lien Jiao) all the way over the mountains to Chi-Du...a mere 7 hour stroll! The following week would be tougher...
Went on a weekend trip to Jia Lou Lake out in the mountains of Ilan. Another tough one...but worth it in the end!
| June 2013If it's not raining at the weekend then I'm out hiking
Went the back way to Ping-Xi in order to cruise with the helmets off.
Come the weekend decided to go somewhere else for a change and made the trip out to teapot mountain once more.Only this time we climbed Tsan-guang-Liao Mountain as well, which meant swathes of Silver grass. Sounds nice, but this stuff should be called Razor grass!
The sign said that it was dangerous and you're not allowed past this point...Having climbed the Teapot several times, there was no need to pay heed!
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH
Busy preparing for classes at UKEAS!!
For the 20th anniversary of UKEAS, the company hired a boat to cruise along the Danshui river.
Food, music and drink were provided in lavish quantities!! It was quite good fun, though I didn't get a chance to show off my guitar skills.
As Chloe left for the UK in February, Lily became the second student for my Saturday class. Restaurants became a regular feature and here are the girls in a post feed coffeeshop.
My new app maps my hikes giving me details of climbs, duration and a map to view. Next week it was off to darkest Ping-Xi.
July and August were super busy months so I was able to save some cash for my trip back to the UK.
Nina moved in to my flat for her final year of school, bringing with her tons of stuff to cram into her little room. Every Saturday was class in the afternoon followed by a restaurant in the evening. Apart from my fave, "Woolloomooloo" we started going to a couple of new curry houses plus a Greek place called "Opa"....all good!
I invited Laura to come for a holiday to the UK and she promptly booked a two week trip....BUT....her parents wouldn't let her go unless they saw me first, which I think was a little harsh! I didn't really want to meet them but agreed to see them at Woolloomoloo with Nina and Lily as back up. It went OK, they seemed a bit nervous, but the great thing was I ordered tons of food and they paid for it all!!
Not only was I going away for a month, but our coordinator, Doris, was leaving as well as Mark O, who was headed off to join Mr Walpole at the British council. In celebration of our time together we put a little photo together to give Doris as a parting gift. Seems like I was the only one who didn't need a Photoshop makeover!!
Left Taiwan on the 4th Sept...leaving poor Nini behind to hold the fort for 5 weeks. With my new camera I took a panorama shot of Mum's sunny garden with Heather's dog Alice getting some rays.
After my first week, where the weather had been pretty good and there were things to do. the second week was much quieter and the weather turned to rubbish! Anyway, to avoid cabin fever I went out to where Mum works in Twford and did a walk from there to Wargrave and back.
Here is The Greyhound in Wargrave, which I took with my new panoramic camera.
The first game of the footy season for me was a live game on Sky, which meant Sunday and a 1pm kick off. I invited Sharell, one of my IELTS students now studying in the UK, to go.
The following week was a trip to Beer in Devon, via Stonehenge on the way down and Avebury on the way back. Laura left on the Saturday which saw Reading chalk up another victory....The Madjeski stadium is very quiet, I much prefer away games!
Luckily there were two away games coming up so that meant another roadtrip of five days to take in Barnlsley and Burnley. The football wasn't up to much but I did win the Paul Black bet and it would have been two as I saw him in the pub we were drinking in in Barnsley. I then foolishly asked Nick if the bet was on and he twigged what had happened and said no...damn! I also met Mark Popplewell, a friend from Taiwan, for a brief pint before the game.
Helvellyn was pretty spectacular as you would expect, but the Coniston copper mines were pretty impressive too. Ah! the lakes, a top destination, never fails to impress.
The whole view of striding edge and the lake
And so my annual farewell picture with Mum was taken on a nice sunny day in the garden. Mum sporting a new hairdo!!
Back to Taiwan and a flat that resembled a bombsite!! Nina was not at home as Natasha was in town. One bird dead and several plants wilted! Back to work and an easy first week followed by a full schedule the following week. In darts, the Throbs took the title on a memorable night against the assbillies.
At work, Mark O had left for greener pastures at the British council, so we had two new guys.
Young Tom, who I know very little about, other than he seems like a posh kid from the south of England! The other guy, Ewan, is a very experienced teach who has taught everywhere...His experience is so great that they have now appointed him as our Director of studies...a good move I think. Meanwhile here is a poster of the old crew!
The month started badly with me rushing Nina into the emergency ward as she was being violently sick. Quite scary at first, but after a battery of tests which revealed nothing I think it was probably food poisoning.
The rest of the month was a work frenzy with me hitting the max of 36 hours a week and Rob strolling into class progressively later. As Rob put it, He is getting more like Francis and I'm becoming more like Mark O. There were a few outbreaks of rage. Rob over a late meal at HDX, Rich over forced weekend hours and me over my Saturday class...quite amusing with hindsight.
In the meantime, my tree got sick...
Rich who refused the Loving Hut as a new food venue was introduced to the delights of Yentyl
And I think I deserved a crown after all my hard work
New years eve was a complete cock up. The lads were supposed to come to my place to play darts and poker...but, they didn't...so I stayed in!
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Naturally did some hikes and visited some pubs. First trip was out to
After the game we stayed in a "gay" hotel before making a jaunt over to Southport to see the Morrises followed by hiking in the lake District to climb Helvellyn.
