China Romance

General Discussion and Useful Links => The Campfire => Topic started by: chen yan on December 22, 2009, 11:31:01 pm

Title: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: chen yan on December 22, 2009, 11:31:01 pm
(http://www.maniacworld.com/three-bird-smiley-face.jpg)

(http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site571/2009/1109/20091109_090918_eoak1105smiley02_VIEWER.jpg)

(http://www.photolaboratory.com/kaiserpix/rkaisercardfront.jpg)

(http://www.diablomag.com/images/2009/July%202009/SOD/NoodleSmileyFace.jpg)

(http://www.diablomag.com/images/cache/f829787cd6ea3390716005db56e59b58.jpeg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3354312312_52989dca21_m.jpg)

(http://blog.spontaneoussmiley.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/img_5356-300x225.jpg)
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: shaun on December 22, 2009, 11:55:02 pm
Merry Christmas.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David S on December 22, 2009, 11:56:25 pm
Merry Christmas, and thanks for the smileys.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: maxx on December 23, 2009, 12:34:06 am
Merry Christmas
Title: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 23, 2009, 01:13:13 am
Quote from: 'maxx' pid='26247' dateline='1261546446'

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas from me in the country where it is said they do not celebrate Christmas!!!  If that is so then that must be a Dumpling tree behind me.

Willy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: zook144 on December 23, 2009, 06:11:49 am
Merry Christmas!
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Irishman on December 23, 2009, 07:04:53 am
Hah!, that is cool, happy Christmas everyone.

Here is an excerpt from a funny article I read yesterday on Xinhua - Christmas is Chinese Valentine's Day? (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/22/content_12688857.htm) , Martin ...I bet some of you guys can associate with this!!

Quote
"My ABC (American-born-Chinese) boyfriend's idea of a fun Christmas Eve is going to kungfu practice and then meeting up with me at a dumpling joint nearby. When I teasingly protested to this plan, he simply raved that these dumplings come in 'five amazing flavors.' What should I do? I don't want to be demanding, but Wing Chun and dumplings are not my idea of a special first Christmas together...."
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Martin on December 23, 2009, 09:14:29 am
Quote from: 'Willy The Londoner' pid='26250' dateline='1261548793'
Merry Christmas from me in the country where it is said they do not celebrate Christmas!!!  If that is so then that must be a Dumpling tree behind me.

Willy

THEY HAVE THOSE??????:icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:

Merry Christmas all.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Peter on December 23, 2009, 01:48:20 pm
Merry Christmas from the land where Santa lives.....
Hope you all will have a fantastic Year coming up..

Peter
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Martin on December 23, 2009, 04:00:30 pm
Quote from: 'Peter' pid='26289' dateline='1261594100'

Merry Christmas from the land where Santa lives.....
Hope you all will have a fantastic Year coming up..

Peter


Everybody knows Santa lives at the North Pole...and is Canadian.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: RobertBfrom aust on December 23, 2009, 04:22:51 pm
Chen Yan , you have a great time over Christmas , I trust you will be wearing a Christmas hat , ho ,ho , regards Ying and Robert .
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David5o on December 23, 2009, 06:19:09 pm
Lapland is in Canada??  And all these years I've been thinking Lapland was at the top end of Finland!!! ....Bloody geography teachers!! ....Grrrrr!!!

David.....
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 23, 2009, 08:14:32 pm
Lapland - that sounds good.  Been to a lap dancing joint but not to the place that invented it!!!!  

Willy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Voiceroveip on December 23, 2009, 09:23:09 pm
Haha Willy! Promise never to leave this forum, I adore your sense of humor!

Merry Christmas to you all!
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on December 23, 2009, 09:30:21 pm
Correction, the north pole is closer to Alaska, therefore Santa is American!! he only visits other country's, wonder where he gets his visa's...hummm

Anyway, great smiley's and MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

does this mean willy gets a new bagpipe that works? and yes willy there is a christmas in china, little tree with little wrapped dumplings underneath
santa's got a chinese elf that spends all year making them....
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 23, 2009, 09:34:24 pm
Quote from: 'rockycoon' pid='26315' dateline='1261621821'

yes willy there is a christmas in china, little tree with little wrapped dumplings underneath
santa's got a chinese elf that spends all year making them....


Thats great cos I get two little dumplings every night and I don't want that supply to run out!!!!

Willy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: daghoi on December 24, 2009, 03:55:46 am
Merry christmas from Norway to everyone.

Wish for more time in China next year :angel:
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Scottish_Rob on December 24, 2009, 05:41:54 am
Quote from: 'Martin' pid='26293' dateline='1261602030'

Quote from: 'Peter' pid='26289' dateline='1261594100'

Merry Christmas from the land where Santa lives.....
Hope you all will have a fantastic Year coming up..

Peter


Everybody knows Santa lives at the North Pole...and is Canadian.


And eats Dumplings while driving his big truck for the rest of the year:icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:

Merry Xmas to everyone
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: stuart barlow on December 24, 2009, 06:09:35 am
(santa is american) i always wondered why he couldn't fit down our chimneys in england.
merry chrimbo to all
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 24, 2009, 06:58:22 am
How much money is wasted writing to mythical people - no I do not mean the phantom  Chnlove ladies - that is small fry compared to the millions kids waste on writing to Santa.
 All it reminds me of isAussie  Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson song 'Wheres my Bloody Bike'

Willy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: ttwjr32 on December 24, 2009, 07:10:51 am
Merry Christmas to all on the forum

  Hey Willy the police are looking for someone
  who made off with some packages under the
  tree here in Guangzhou??
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 24, 2009, 10:34:17 am
Quote from: 'ttwjr32' pid='26348' dateline='1261656651'

Merry Christmas to all on the forum

  Hey Willy the police are looking for someone
  who made off with some packages under the
  tree here in Guangzhou??


If he was dressed in red with a beard then it was Santa.  If he was dressed in black and a bit shorter with a gun then Scottish_Rob  is their man.  OOPs sorry Rob did not mean to mess up your alibi.

To be honest I was trying to see who had left the presents outside Robs new house in China.

Willy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Johnboy on December 24, 2009, 06:11:46 pm
I have been missing for a while but you have all been in my thoughts.

And I wish everyone the happiness, joy and peace of this wonderful time of the year.

Thank you, and a very happy and merry Christmas to you Chen Yan!

Love, joy and peace are the true meaning and message of Christmas.

Johnboy
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David K on December 24, 2009, 10:00:27 pm
Yesterday (The day before Christmas) my sweet lady received this
(via FEDEX)

VISA:
Date of issue 23/DEC/2009     must not  arrive after 23 /MAR/2010
number of entries single  client number 43616548
FAMILY GIVEN NAMES WANG, YAN
passport NO: G14023533   sex female citizenship:cn
the holder may travel to NZ and on application may be granted a permit for 1 month.
Conditions ; You much leave new zealand before expiry of your permit or face removal. The holder shall not undertake employment in NZ. The holder shall not study for more than 3 months in NZ.

After a year of battling and two declined visa applications, this is the nicest Christmas present I could wish for :-)

I trust that, in time, all of the Brotherhood may be similarly blessed
Peace
David K
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on December 24, 2009, 10:34:34 pm
Congradulations, looks like Santa works in mysterious ways, those elves must have been working overtime.  What a wonderful christmas present to recieve.  The best wishes to the both of you!
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David5o on December 25, 2009, 04:34:59 am
Congratulations on Yan receiving her Entry Visa. They were a little stingy on the time allowance, I would have thought they would have at least let her stay for 3 months, instead of just the stated 1 month....

How come she can study for 3 months on a 1 month visa?? Do I take it, that this visa can be extended for a 3 month visa once in NZ??

Anyway, you got there in the end!!  Wish you both all the best for her visit and to the future....

David.....
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on December 25, 2009, 02:31:56 pm
Can't you get an extension on that visa? If you apply on that early enough she can stay longer while she is there.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Peter on December 25, 2009, 02:59:19 pm
I think the Santa came a day early to NZ.. Great news David..
Some say that fighting for something you believe in could be like trying to move a mountain.. I guess you moved a mountain or two :icon_biggrin:
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David K on December 25, 2009, 03:02:31 pm
Hi guys,
I've been told we can apply for an extention to 3 months, provided we do not break the conditions of the permit - ie tourism and travel. I have known of people who have got their lady here, rushed to the altar, and suddenly had their permit cancelled because Immigration deemed that the purpose of the visit had changed.  So it'll be one step at a time.

About 3 hours drive from here is what 'Lonely Planet has rated as the worlds finest day hike ( pardon yet another shameless plug for NZ).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10617404
Thats on the agenda - I've gotten all the tramping gear, ready for her arrival. It'll be a little different from the one person every square meter that she's used to in Shenzhen.:icon_biggrin:

And its kinda nice to be with someone to whom marriage is important, who understands that there are things we can never learn apart, nor understand on our own..

If its of interest. I'll keep the brotherhood posted :-)
Peace
David K [attachment=1214]
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David K on December 29, 2009, 11:01:13 pm
And also a happy New Year....to all...

My Lady, Yan Wang, will see 2010 in at 35,000 feet, on an Air NZ plane bound for Auckland.  I've told her to expect champagne at midnight... ..and certainly to go with her first meal in NZ, on New Years day :-) Pan fried snapper with soft baked Kumera (Native sweet potatoe) with a basil and rosemary sauce
[attachment=1217]
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on January 01, 2010, 04:35:35 pm
Didn' I see you on "Iron Chef"....lol
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: chen yan on January 02, 2010, 08:20:39 am
Hello david, Man in the kitchen is very attractive ,You choose the right spot
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David E on January 02, 2010, 04:01:48 pm
Pan fried snapper ...YUM...but what are you doing with the 3 bottles of plonk I can see...........not cooking with it I hope :icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:

You fought the Beaurocratic Tiger...and won...a memorable victory.

Have a great time you two

David
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Voiceroveip on January 05, 2010, 12:27:26 pm
Quote from: 'David K' pid='26734' dateline='1262145673'

And also a happy New Year....to all...

My Lady, Yan Wang, will see 2010 in at 35,000 feet, on an Air NZ plane bound for Auckland.  I've told her to expect champagne at midnight... ..and certainly to go with her first meal in NZ, on New Years day :-) Pan fried snapper with soft baked Kumera (Native sweet potatoe) with a basil and rosemary sauce



Wow nice kitchen! Is the base of your center block painted? I'm in the middle of finishing that bit in mine ... :icon_cheesygrin:
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on January 05, 2010, 10:09:13 pm
David, Beautiful kitchen!  I am also building and expanding my kitchen.  Couple of questions : 1. how do you keep the grease spatters off the wall with the stove top so close to it.   2. Is the dishwasher on the left of you or on the right next to that sink?  I am pondering wether to put my stove (instead of a sink) in the center console or go ahead and put the sink there?  It's got to be a toss up on that one.
Perhaps a stove and sink and just make the console extra long?  What do you think?  I'll bet you have some tasty dishes with that setup, and you have the guy's on this forum drooling, and the wifes planning the new kitchen the poor husband is going to be building..:icon_cheesygrin::dodgy:
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Vince G on January 06, 2010, 12:31:18 am
Rocky what is a console? Do you mean Island? You can put a stovetop on the island but not a range (stove). Before you plan for an island make sure you have the room for it. Minimum 3 feet to anything else like the base cabinets along the wall or for the oven door? If you put a stove or stove top on the island you should have a vent to catch any smoke vented to the outside is preferred. Ex kitchen designer.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on January 06, 2010, 12:49:17 am
Vince,
Going to kick the kitchen out 4'  
the "Island" will have plenty of room.  I have the hoods already, and the stove is a stove-top burner unit (nice). I'm trying to get things away from the wall.  The oven of course will be a built in the cabinet type of affair seperate from the stove.  I can ether put in a sink, with cutting board or the stove with a hood, I am setup for both ether way.  The dishwasher (lazy mans tool) will be built in under the Island.  But I am considering the stove top on one end and sink on the other or just one of them.  I hate grease on the wall (the way I cook -haha) so perhaps the stove top.  But I like the sink idea as the waterline connections are easy for the dishwasher.  I'm going to use PEX for the waterline, its great stuff.  If I do both, I'm going to need more room, damned if I do, damned if I don't....haha god I hate decisions....:icon_cheesygrin:

In your kitchen design day's, what did people want more; the stove on the island or the sink on the island?  And how would you design that?  Any suggestions are appreciated!

Keep in mind that the kitchen is going to be gutted, new cabinets, new everything including a floor (natural wood of course).
Also new walls & ceiling, also new wiring, so that is why I have to plan, plan, plan......
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: ttwjr32 on January 06, 2010, 12:03:50 pm
the sink on the island as you will prepare many things there
 or as i did in california in my kitchen i made a big mess there hahah
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: Vince G on January 06, 2010, 02:09:13 pm
I'll PM you about the kitchen. Don't want to go off topic.
Title: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: rockycoon on January 07, 2010, 02:59:00 am
thanks for the pm Vince, I'll get back to you on it very soon.
Title: Re: RE: spontaneous smiley- Merry Christmas Everyone!
Post by: David K on May 05, 2011, 07:26:46 pm
David, Beautiful kitchen!  I am also building and expanding my kitchen.  Couple of questions : 1. how do you keep the grease spatters off the wall with the stove top so close to it.   2. Is the dishwasher on the left of you or on the right next to that sink?  I am pondering wether to put my stove (instead of a sink) in the center console or go ahead and put the sink there?  It's got to be a toss up on that one.
Perhaps a stove and sink and just make the console extra long?  What do you think?  I'll bet you have some tasty dishes with that setup, and you have the guy's on this forum drooling, and the wifes planning the new kitchen the poor husband is going to be building..:icon_cheesygrin::dodgy:
Sorry about the long delay... planning a marriage, getting married.. and getting used to being married all took precedence.
To answer your questions:
[1] I got a quote of $1200 NZ to install a glass splashback on the wall close to the stove. Then I found a toughened glass sheet that was part of a renovated shower on the local auction site (=EBAY) for $10.
That option involved shifting a power point and painting the wall behind the glass rather than spraying the glass. Guess which option I chose :-)
[2] The dishwasher is on the left of the sink, so you can rinse and then stack the dishes.
Island kitchens are always problematic. In my case, I have the fridge, freeser and storage shelves on one
side of the kitchen, use the island for assembling and preparing food, and have the stoves and gas cookers on the other side for cooking. It works well enough, but you have to plan ahead, otherwise you keep going back round to the fridge and the shelves. Good exercise tho :-)  It also has the advantage of partial privacy when cooking, so our guests get something of a surprise when the meal is served - (the dining table is adjacent to the kitchen.)
They say "the way to a mans heart is through his stomach". I have found this  is also true of woman - particularly Chinese woman. The shelves are well stocked with things like Hosin Sauce, Sesame oil and a vast array of spices, to say nothing of the Gewurtztraminers and Reilings in the wine cellar :-).
It is a great pleasure to me to produce a healthy fresh and familiar meal for my now wife :-)