Here I go again...

[Willy The Londoner]

Rob if I did not know better I would  think you just can't wait to get back to Barrow in Furness!!!!   Remember this should be your last trip to China whatever happens.  If you stay or if you go back to UK it will be your last trip to meet a lady.   You know that.   So keep on with your plans - settle down - forget this forum for a few weeks and the advice such as mine and come back and tell us all you are either staying or going home.  Problem is you are addicted!!!!!

You get used to the food as Chinese cook and eat it or you build a new Kitchen with all the facilities of a Western One.   Why the need for KFC and  Western fast food, over cooked and oversalted. 
 After 3 days I knew that I was staying here and now 15 months later I knew I made the right decision.     I regard China as my home.
My hair is now as dark as theirs.  Funny how mine gets darker as I get older!  Maybe I cannot read the instructions so clearly now!!!!! 

Willy

Chinese people are never embarrassed about where they live.  How they live maybe but not where.

[Scottish_Rob]

Hi guys

My snippets of information I am typing here is just that, 'Information' on my journey, I am LOVING this place, yes, of course I have a couple of slight problems, but NOTHING that cannot get sorted...Maybe I am coming across like I want to get back to the UK, THIS IS NOT SO...This is the last thing I want to do...

Myself and Sophie communicate really well we speak about everything, and like I said, I am being treated like a King...   We have made plans to walk or jog, for about an hour after dinner every night,  If nothing else, I will probably be the fittest Scotsman in China hahaha.  I do think though that I AM the only Westerner in Zhucheng at the moment..

David thank you for the talk and info on the fish hehehe.   Would have spoken to Willie, but the swine does not call me. (London Git) haahaha.  Willy you know I'm only teasing .  Paul thanks too for the call last night, Sophie was over the moon to speak with someone who is my friend, she NOW knows for sure I HAVE SOME hahaha

There is only one thing that is on my mind just now, and it is in the process of getting sorted, and that is, getting work.  I am out everyday looking about for schools etc, and Sophie has made a few contacts too for me...So like I say, it's getting worked on...  

I mentioned about the market I visited the other day, well the morning I went back there myself, (I even bought something, now I know thats a strange concept, a Scotsman spending money),  it is MUCH larger that I had mentioned, I have the blisters to prove it   On top of that it was raining cats and dogs...  Which brings me nicely to my little piece about last night.

As you all know, the heat over here is so much more than in the UK, well, we went for our walk after dinner, and I decided to wear the 'Shorts' that she bought me, with a tea shirt..of course there was a little drizzle and thought it would not amount to much....After 90 minutes and nearly home, the heavens opened up full blast, so Sophie got my rendition of Gene Kelly's 'Singing in the rain'.  She was in howls of laughter, and the looks I was getting from the locals, I am sure they have NEVER seen 'A Mad Scotman Before".

Ted can you Pm me your phone number please, cheers buddy

Because she works everyday, our adventure together (days away etc)  can only be done at the weekends, but not too worry, I have plenty things to do to fill the hours.  And of course being a nice gentleman that I am  I cook her dinner for coming in from work..   (Willy, hen pecked or what hahah).  She has asked me to go to Peters school and talk to his class for a morning, she asked me before setting it up, this time   Don't know when this is happening, possibly sometime this week.

So like I said, I'm sorry if this read wrong about my feeling about here...I LOVE IT 

[ttwjr32]

Rob,

happy to see its going well . so i was wondering if you and Sophie have started the process for the two of
you to get married ? i ask because i know when your from the UK you have that 21 day waiting period before
you can get married. just curious how its going. Willy and i can bring our wives and join you in that festive day.

Ted

[Scottish_Rob]

Ted  I thought I had to be here for 21 days BEFORE going to register the marriage?  so was waiting for that time to elapse before going to Weifang to do said deed...

[ttwjr32]

yes i remember now Willy couldnt do his until he was here 21 days since his last entry then he waited 21 days after that
then was good to go

[Bee964]

Rob,

Glad to hear that everything is going well over there. Looking forward to hearing some good news from you in the near future.

Dave C

[wilsbrough]

Great to read your story Rob. I am happy for you, and wish you all the best for you and Sophie. I'll look forward to your next update.

Wils.

[Arnold]

Mike , while your waiting for Robert's version .. here is mine . That was in Guangzhou and I was just finished when Qing took that photo me playing Gene Kelly .

[Vince G]

Glad to be reading a completely different story form the last time you were there.   

[Scottish_Rob]

Things have been going really good between Sophie and I, so I thought I should ask her to marry me...So last night I did, .....she said yes..   And this is done without the mothers blessing...

Went into the supermarket today to get some food for tonights dinner, picked up the usual, plenty of fruit, sausage, vegetables, fish and what I took to be 'Bacon' bits...Was speaking to one of the guards on my return and he was interested in what I had bought, so I showed him.    The 'Bacon' bits I bought, turns out to be some sort of sliced 'EARS'  ...(they never had a pencil on it, so how was I supposed to know!!!) Will let you know how they taste, haha and Ronan I saw the Chicken feet, hundreds of them...hahaha  NO BLOODY chance of me buying them, !!!

Once I had settled down this afternoon I saw what I can only describe as a brilliant sight.  You all know where I live is attached to 'Zhucheng Hanghua Middle School', well all the students were on the grounds in front of all the buildings, about 2000 of them.  I mentioned that I thought they either do exercise or military training.  On the blow of a whistle,  the students went in 'Squads' with a squad leader by the side of each one..  The whole school rhymed off some chant.  Then on another blow of a whistle they al,l at the same time, set of trotting at the same pace, around in circles and in unison.  Each squad had it's own 'tune'...It was amazing to watch.

The younger students had an older squad leader, and even these younger ones were in total unison with the older counterparts.  AMAZING  I cannot see this catching on in the UK though

In 11 days time, we go to 'Weifang' to register the marriage, So we will have to wait another 21 days, before the deed is done...but hey at least the process would be started..   I told her we would need to go to the Brittish Embassy or Consulate, and she told me no, that she had already checked this out...So all is good to go I think...

[shaun]

Great news Rob.  Congratz!

[David E]

Hi Rob

You dont waste much time do you....Speedy Mc Gonzales 
Seriously...many heartfelt congratulations buddy....I am delighted for you both.

BTW...what sort of awful River fish did you buy at the market...goldfish I imagine (haha)...cant beat a piece of good Cod to go with yer fried ears, can you 

Cheers...David

[RobertBfrom aust]

Rob congratulations to Sophie and you , see she does need someone to cook and clean , oh and shop for pigs ears , regards Sujuan and Robert .

[ttwjr32]

 soon she will have him doing the washing also as soon as she feels he knows
 how to safely use the washing machine  i think you left that one out Robert

i guess the cooking is ok she hasnt stopped him yet   

[wilsbrough]

Congrats on the news Rob. I wish you and Sophie years of happiness together. Oh, btw pigs ears are pretty chewy and lots of gristle if i remember right and yes, definitely stay away from the chicken feet. I have a pretty strong stomach and will try anything once, but when Li gave me a cold one to try, it was a clammy, soft, a bit gelatinous taste, i imagine if you cut your finger off, boiled it and left it in the fridge overnight and then ate it, it would probably taste like the chicken foot i tried. My stomach turned over and i almost brought it back up...... Not the best thing in a restaurant full of people.