Evil patronage is the only patronage

So. Patients, sorry pupils from Wistron took me out for a meal on Thursday after finishing their course the week before at the Parkson hotel – Kunshan.

Nice group of people. I’m pretty sure Wistron is the best factory around, and they’re pretty lucky to have a job there.
All good people…
Sounding familiar?

Nope. Yeah. Doesn’t matter?

Lost soul

Anyhow. Found this maggot in my au deurve. I was just explaining the differences between the foreign deserts. I looked down and saw this small movement. As I bent over to look closer, in my summer fruit flan I spotted I small, (very small), maggot, perched between an apple slice and a glacé cherry waving it’s head around (in that way that maggots do).

It was very small, but it was enough to gain the attention of my Chinese colleagues.

Parkson Kunshan
Summer anybody?

The maggot was soon a star! The whole restaurant had gathered round the maggot, people snapping it with their phones, jostling closer to get a better look… Laughing, smiling.

The restaurant owner arrived. I told her the maggot wasn’t really welcome, and although I wouldn’t mind eating it, (because it was so small), I didn’t feel that was appropriate behavior in a restaurant of this stature, (did she expect me to eat it? I don’t know).

She made off with the maggot and my puddings, which I was a bit disappointed about.

Soon she returned, and as we were leaving said “I’m very, very sorry about your food. I’d like to give you this bottle of wine”, looked kind of cheap, but Jacobs Creek in China is £11 and this was an Argentinean White. After perusal and consideration, careful consultation with colleagues, we kind of agreed that this was OK for me.

Organiser of the meal, Eric, was still not totally happy.

But I left it there.

Dire maggot

Wine tastes great. And I’d like to thank all the wild beasts of the world for providing it for me.

Osado Chardonnay
Osado Chardonnay

Should have a maggot on the label.
I know under normal circumstances, I would’ve eaten it, but that was inappropriate. So hey.

Kunshan sports and athletic center

Had a trip up here in the lunch hour on my e-bike.

Vast complex and no-one around.

It’s next to the forest park. A popular spot for Chinese yearning the simple life.

Had a look at the swimming pool then rode back.

It’s much too fare from my house , plus other one is cheaper and has an outside pool where I can sunbathe.

So. Yeah. Nice ride not worth the bother.

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Lost bike card

Lost my bike card.

Put it on the machine and thought I was being clever.
The only problem was i drove off before picking it up.

Had to go to the little bike stand and show my passport plus receipts and everything.

Didn’t cost much (259) but i’m anticipating this will become more maybe.

The woman in the stand said she’d ring me up.

I might drop in to see them, find out what’s going on in the next couple of days.

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Kunshan public bike scheme

So.

Have managed to acquire one of these since discovering my postal address.

image

It’s a free to access municipal e-bike .

They close at around 9pm , so you can’t drive it round all night.

They have a basket on the front which is ok for a little shopping.

The best thing about them is the stations, which are everywhere around town making it easy to pick one up or swop if you don’t like the one you have.

Haven’t crashed one yet , but one of the guys at work and I are thinking of making a stunt video with one .
Few jumps and a little freestyle that kind of thing.

Keep you posted on that.
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Yangcheng Lake – Kunshan

Fairmont Hotel - Yangchen Lake, Kunshan
Fairmont Hotel – Yangchen Lake, Kunshan

Taking a little trip around this lake.

Seems to be surrounded by married couples. I got ravaged by a lake monster. I made my way to the hotel, (luckily). It was from here I bolstered my constitution with bottles of Corona, whilst taking a short walk around the expansive gardens.

Fairmont hotel, Yangcheng Lake

There were many things to be seen here such as herbaceous gardens and fishing wu mao’s. The paths were so expansive, it was difficult to believe we were still in the grounds of the hotel. The Fairmont Yangcheng Lake. Bumped into some sunburned laowai in the lift on the way back down to the pool. We exchanged knowing smiles.

Fairmont Hotel - Yangchen Lake
Fairmont Hotel – Yangchen Lake

The staff were on the whole, friendly, and when I turned on the hot tap, hot water came out! This is not something to be frowned at in China!

Bak to the BBQ

I was originally invited to the BBQ by a mystery source.

This turned out not to be a member of Linestart, the company I work for, but a pupil! Although I spent some time with them, I get the feeling I should go back and socialise. Make out I’m really a friendly type of bloke.

Yangchen Lake - Kunshan
Yangchen Lake – Kunshan

I drag my arse back there. Now appearing by the lake are many happy Chinese couple!

Chatting to my fellow BBQ members, I gain the gen on the throwing of the bouquet, which will apparently give me health and a long life, not like the West where we will be the next to marry, but you will grow up big and strong with hairs on your chest. Which probably explains why all the men where about smashing their way forward to get a hold of it.

I love this sense of fairness amongst the sexes in China!

I love England, you love China

Chatting to some foreign girls, and they tell me all about what is good in England. I tell them it is a shithole and that I would never want to go back there, but they say the weather is fine and the food is amazing!

They tell me a couple of stories and I tell them a couple. Then we go.

Here are some photo’s.