 JD and I are off late this evening for a little impromptu holiday. I have two weeks off from University while my students go on internships and so we are taking JD out of school for a few days and he and I are taking the overnight sleeper train for 8 hours up to the old town of Dali. Jiajia needs to stay in Kunming as her store in being moved (hopefully temporarily) and our old house is mid-decoration. JD is very excited about the trip and "packed" a week ago! I'm hoping it will be fun whilst being aware that looking after a child 24/7 in a new environment, without the usual home amenities and toy/game options might be a bit of a struggle.
 Maybe this is meant to convey GREAT and CREATIVE?
No, probably just a mistake...  JD helped raise the Chinese flag at his Kindergarten yesterday. The flag raising ceremony happens every Monday, so it's not a particularly huge honour to be chosen, but it was fun watching him practise his marching last week [light green, centre].
A sunny day with a cooling breeze, JD at school, Jiajia busy at the store and my afternoon class cancelled - no excuses left for avoiding the "long run" which I planned for myself a few weeks ago. So I took the e-bike to my University and, from there, ran along the PanLong River for 10km to the Waterfall Park. I was too tired to run back, so I took a taxi back to the University for a half hour swim and the drive home. Great day out.
 JD and I explored a street near our home the other day which we hadn't walked down before. We were surprised to find nearly al the parked vehicles had wooden boards chained to their tyres. I've asked a dozen Chinese folk why this is and nobody seems quite sure. Some say it is to protect the tyres from other cars or from people kicking them. The most common answer though is that it stops dogs from weeing on the tyres. Apparently the urine weakens the rubber. Seems a little unlikely to me though. Odd.
 I've had my very own "Sea fire of my mind" the last few days, with a fever, headache, sore throat, stomach upset and extreme fatigue. I've slept for 32 of the last 38 hours. My "Green Body" is not well!
 Completely unbreakable - except
the word itself, it seems...
After a tip-off that following the PanLong River north made for a nice walk, ending near the Waterfall Park, JD and I set off last Saturday. It was indeed a picturesque route in lovely weather, but a little further than we imagined. After 4km, JD was flagging and we took a subway train and bus to complete the journey. After walking around the largest man-made waterfall in Asia, we headed home by three-wheeled bike, subway and taxi. Later that evening Jiajia and I started to realise that JD wasn't "just" tired from the walking. Turns out he's got "Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease". We've had to cancel his Birthday party as it's very contagious, though thankfully not serious.
 It seems China has banned April Fools Day. State news agency Xinhua announced on social media last Friday, “'April Fool's Day' is not consistent with our cultural tradition, or socialist core values. Nobody should believe in rumors, make rumors or spread rumors.” So that's that then!
 JD turns five today. He's had a large pile of presies taunting and tempting him since last weekend! We've allowed him to open one gift each day this week as long as there was no crying on arrival at school that morning - a relapse he's been struggling with for a couple of weeks. Happy Birthday, Son!
 No idea why e-bikes in Kunming are suddenly sporting "spiritual" stickers!?  |
 About the authorPaul Hider lives and works in Kunming (SW China) and updates his blog about his life there every other day. Past blog entries
February 2018
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