RIP to the fly that used to be, his days are over....

I will explain the fly story later, I promise but I like to go in order. Soooo on Sunday I lay around feeling very sorry for myself until I realised that antibiotics are available easily in China. Cue me heading out to buy medicine (I gave a quick and impressive performance of sinusitis, which persuaded the chemist that I was ill) and I came straight back home because Wuhan is currently minus a million degrees Celsius. On Sunday evening, Carley and Marie came round to use my internet as theirs wasn’t working and we ended up watching lots of episodes from ‘An Idiot Abroad’. The China episode still makes me cry with laughter every time!

Chinese antibiotics

 On Monday, I did absolutely nothing except watch trashy TV and drink copious amounts of tea to keep warm and then in the evening, I tutored my older children and they were particularly crazy. It annoys me how parents in China just don’t discipline their children because I don’t really enjoy forcing apart two fighting children during ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’. One of the parents told me that I was ‘tired tonight’ – no I’m not tired, I’m just not prepared to tell your children off when you don’t. Anyway rant over, they paid me, which always cheers me up and I went home to relax.

Tuesday was a much more exciting day and I braved the now artic conditions to go and meet Brooke for coffee. We went for a browse around the new shopping mall beforehand and I managed to find something that fit me! It was still deemed a ‘large’ but the dress was very nice, not too Chinese and half price in the sale – a definite win. After my successful purchase, we headed for coffee and waffles, where the trauma unfolded. Brooke and I ordered about a minute apart from each other, yet whilst her waffle came in 5 minutes, mine took 35 minutes!!! I wasn’t even hungry but I REALLY wanted the waffle immediately and as the minutes ticked on I became the person who looks over at the kitchen area every 3 seconds in case the food is coming. Finally, my waffle made it to me and by that point, didn’t even stand a chance. I demolished it all (except the fruit) and my levels of calm just about returned to normal.

A New Year display in a mall

My bargain dress

Unimpressed at how long the waffle took to come...

It started to get really cold in the café as we spent time there, and after sitting with our coats on for a while, decided to go to Huashi cultural street for a wander. I got some new hair bows, Brooke bought some incense, and then we went for more food, because it was cold and it would warm us up. We ended up in ‘Kebab Kingdom’, and even the name of this place excites me. After about 20 minutes of menu deliberation, (even the server was getting slightly irate), I finally settled on Thai curry and a portion of chips. We both underestimated how big the portions were, now that we’re used to Chinese portions and once the curry arrived, I immediately regretted my decision to also order chips. With potatoes also in my curry and a serving of rice, I valiantly struggled through the carb-filled food and ate most of it.

Brooke deciding what to have...

My excitement over a restaurant named 'Kebab Kindgom'

When I’d finished, a fly landed on my remaining rice and I used my spoon to try and swat it away. However, I managed to hit the fly and then had to finish off the murder of said fly until it lay limp in my rice. This now mean that it looked like I’d left my rice because it had been served with a fly in it. We had to make a pretty sharp exit after this incident.

On Wednesday, I was looking forward to doing a few jobs around the house and then having a pampering day. However, when I went to brush my teeth in the morning, no water came out from the tap. The water from the whole area was out. Luckily, I don’t drink Chinese water and always keep bottled water in my fridge, so I was able to have a cup of tea etc but my washing bedding and showering plans were put on hold. It finally came on at 2 ish, just as all the Chinese head back to work so I took full advantage and had the longest shower ever. It was fantastic! Later on, after still not being warmed up by the four heaters in my apartment, I went out to get some spicy noodle soup for dinner.

Vegetable malatang

I woke up on Thursday to eerie quietness, which only meant one thing...SNOW! It wasn’t that bad but people in China don’t seem to use grit on any outside surface to getting to the subway station was a terrifying experience. Luckily, I made it, and after meeting Carley and Paul, we travelled to Hanyang to go to Brooke’s apartment. We first got a cheeky Burger King and then the girls went to have their nails done whilst Paul and I had a wander around Walmart. Now Walmart is an American Asda so there were actually some Asda branded food here – very bizarre! I got tons of freebies on my way around, including some gum, cake, a red wallet and a window sticker both for Chinese New Year. A good hour later, we finally made it out alive and then went back to Brooke’s apartment. The afternoon consisted of attempting a gymnastics session (unsuccessful, now bruised) and gossiping.

First snow I've seen in China

We managed to go home on the subway at rush hour, always a fantastic experience and squashed and cold, Carley and I headed back to the warmth of my place (with a quick stop for vegetable noodle soup, of course). Paul and Brooke came over to mine later on and we just watched lots of TV and relaxed. Brooke then stayed at mine overnight (sleepover!) and when we woke up on Friday morning, I just couldn’t relax! My parents left England Friday morning so I had to busy myself with cleaning and cooking to make the time go quicker. Poor Brooke got abandoned with my hard drive of films but I fed her and watered her like a fantastic host. Finally, I heard the news that their flight had left England, albeit an hour late but they were on their way! I spent Friday night watching films and wanting time to go faster.

On Saturday I flagged down a taxi to go to the airport (fei ji chang) and arrived nearly an hour before they came out of arrivals. As soon as I saw them, I pushed all the Chinese out of the way and ran straight over! I was so excited to see them and couldn’t believe that they were finally here. Their first day was an experience, but I’ll let my mum explain her first thoughts about China in a minute. The taxi driver on the way home thought that we were all tourists and tried to charge me over the odds for a taxi. Quick argument later, he gave me a thumbs up and I got the price down to a more suitable level. First Chinese argument – Ellis 1 : Taxi driver 0!

My dad relaxing on the 'comfortable' sofa

First cup of tea in China!

 Anyway, over to my mum, who really wanted to write on my blog! Well done Jojo:

We have arrived after 24 hours of planes, trains and automobiles! The very nice lady at Air France check-in took pity on my 17kg of hand luggage and checked it in for free alongside my 35kg suitcase and Tudd’s (dad’s) 22kg case. This just left us one holdall, one handbag and one manbag to take on the plane. Thankyou to the lady for not charging us excess luggage and Ellis has received all her nice goodies!

I don’t think Wuhan airport was prepared for the Tuddenham’s reuniting after 4 ½ months and everyone moved quickly out of the path of Ellis running towards us. One emotional group hug later and we were quickly introduced to Chinese culture. A rather interesting ride to Ellis’ apartment ensued, where we disembarked on a very busy main road and had to cart the aforementioned luggage across three lanes of traffic to the middle. Here we had to lift it over a barrier and then again over across another three lanes of traffic – good job we are not the nervous types!

A quick cup of Yorkshire tea later and slightly more revived, we unpacked everything including chocolate and clothes before reliving the traumatic luggage / road experience and flag down a passing taxi to take us to our hotel. The driver loaded the cases but couldn’t shut the boot so off we went with the boot flapping up and down! The hotel is stunning (so glad we picked the deluxe room) and I think that over the next two weeks it will be our saviour! We did briefly venture out that evening and spent more time laughing at Tudd’s reaction to the food that was being cooked by the street vendors.

My impressive hoard

As quoted by a friend...."It looks like you've robbed a supermarket"

At the top of the Ramada hotel

Today is Sunday and this morning we visited Hubei Provincial museum and then decided to go for lunch in an upmarket restaurant. Now, I am quite adventurous and will try most things but when the menu had photos of chickens, ducks and frogs all arranged with vegetables, I opted for the rice. We took a detour later on to the local market to buy strawberries and biscuits for Tudd (lightbulb moment – No35 egg fried rice and No71 chow mein only exists in the UK Chinese takeaways!). We then had a walk to where Ellis works and took the subway back to the hotel, which was fine. Even better, we spotted a McDonalds at the subway exit so I think that will be Tudd’s favourite place over the next two weeks! No doubt there will be quite a few stories to tell during our time here so will sign off for now, Jo.

Sunday snowfall!

Outside the Hubei museum

Chinese afternoon tea

Back to Ellis (quickly!). Tomorrow, we are going to go for a wander around the Optics Valley area where mum and dad are staying, before I tutor in the evening. My parents will be left on their own so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for their survival! Anyway, I have just got home from my parent’s hotel and after having a luxurious bath, I am going to read a BRITISH magazine and enjoy some CADBURY’S chocolate – bliss.

xxxxx