Maybe it's because I'm a bit of a geek and I have persecuted many different computers over the years but I think that they are conspiring, via the inter-web thingy, to get back at me.
It has just come to my notice that the last blog update showing on my site was, previously, from 17 December. Now, whilst I admit to having been somewhat slack in my blog maintenance duties, I feel that I have been wronged by technology. There was, in fact, another blog post on 24 January which, for reasons known only to itself and the Blogger.com gremlins, decided to publish itself to its own page.
Anyway, for anyone who is interested, or bored enough, to want to know the story behind the Chinese zodiac, you can now scroll down and have a look.
You'll notice that the date of the wayward post, which is automated when you update your blog, although not beyond forgery given the time or inclination, of which I have neither, is 24 January 2009.
So, why did it refuse to publish in the correct place... ?
Your guesses are as good as mine. Please send your answers, on a postcard, to: Benny, East Coast, China.
I'm sure that they will all turn up in the right place as well.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Ouchie !!
It has been a long time since my last post and if you are wondering then [...insert lame excuse here...] and so I apologise.
I have had an eventful week this week. I rode my motorbike into a great big gaping hole in the ground that had been left by one of the utility companies. A hole which went straight down into the sewer. A hole which was in a street with no functioning street lights. A hole which caused me a great deal of pain, resulting in five stitches in my chin, cuts and bruises all over my body, and a period of convalescence away from work.
So, what is the outcome?
Well, the police have been very good and are trying to establish who is responsible for the monumental cock-up, whereby you can have a seven foot by seven foot hole in the street with no barriers, no signs, no tape, nor any form of warning whatsoever. They are pursuing this line of enquiry in order to compensate me for my injury and loss. This isn't America, however, so I am only hoping to receive the cost of my suit, my shoes, my motorbike, my glasses and my hospital bills.
The hole in the street, as yet, remains in exactly the same state as before: with no barrier, no signs, no tape, nor any form of warning whatsoever. And the street lights continue to malfunction. Until someone dies I guess that it will be left in its current state.
I will be sure to cross unlit streets from my preferred choice of routes.
Spring festival was good, apart from the fact that everywhere was closed. Lantern Day was amusing and my room mate and I made the local paper (see left, you can make out the two white faces in the top corner), along with all of the far more interesting traditional Chinese displays and costumes. But, to the Chinese residents here in Rizhao, the two westerners were of far more interest than any of those, hence the picture in Rizhao News the next day. Two of my students brought me in copies of the paper to show me, which is how I found out that we were famous.
Not much else has been going on here as everywhere seems to go to sleep during the winter. The fireworks have just about stopped a-popping every waking hour, as they are want to do during Spring Festival, and things are getting back to normal. The weather is getting a little better and it will not be too long before I am back swimming in the sea and lazing on the beach during my time off.
I will endeavour to get another post up again before too long but, right now, I feel the need to go and dose up again on pain killers. I'm not sure what they are, because all of the writing on the box is in Chinese, but swilled down with a bottle of beer they certainly take the edge off of the aches and pains!
C'est la vie xx
I have had an eventful week this week. I rode my motorbike into a great big gaping hole in the ground that had been left by one of the utility companies. A hole which went straight down into the sewer. A hole which was in a street with no functioning street lights. A hole which caused me a great deal of pain, resulting in five stitches in my chin, cuts and bruises all over my body, and a period of convalescence away from work.
So, what is the outcome?
Well, the police have been very good and are trying to establish who is responsible for the monumental cock-up, whereby you can have a seven foot by seven foot hole in the street with no barriers, no signs, no tape, nor any form of warning whatsoever. They are pursuing this line of enquiry in order to compensate me for my injury and loss. This isn't America, however, so I am only hoping to receive the cost of my suit, my shoes, my motorbike, my glasses and my hospital bills.
The hole in the street, as yet, remains in exactly the same state as before: with no barrier, no signs, no tape, nor any form of warning whatsoever. And the street lights continue to malfunction. Until someone dies I guess that it will be left in its current state.
I will be sure to cross unlit streets from my preferred choice of routes.
Spring festival was good, apart from the fact that everywhere was closed. Lantern Day was amusing and my room mate and I made the local paper (see left, you can make out the two white faces in the top corner), along with all of the far more interesting traditional Chinese displays and costumes. But, to the Chinese residents here in Rizhao, the two westerners were of far more interest than any of those, hence the picture in Rizhao News the next day. Two of my students brought me in copies of the paper to show me, which is how I found out that we were famous.Not much else has been going on here as everywhere seems to go to sleep during the winter. The fireworks have just about stopped a-popping every waking hour, as they are want to do during Spring Festival, and things are getting back to normal. The weather is getting a little better and it will not be too long before I am back swimming in the sea and lazing on the beach during my time off.
I will endeavour to get another post up again before too long but, right now, I feel the need to go and dose up again on pain killers. I'm not sure what they are, because all of the writing on the box is in Chinese, but swilled down with a bottle of beer they certainly take the edge off of the aches and pains!
C'est la vie xx
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Happy New Year (of the Ox)
I thought that I would go for a different approach to this particular update and inform you all of something which, until a few days ago, I didn't know and so maybe you don't either: the story behind the Chinese zodiac, which I found on Wikipedia.
A legend explains the sequence in which the animals were assigned. Supposedly, the twelve animals fought over the precedence of the animals in the cycle of years in the calendar, so the Chinese gods held a contest to determine the order. All the animals lined up on the bank of a river and were given the task of getting to the opposite shore. Their order in the calendar would be set by the order in which the animals managed to reach the other side.
The cat wondered how he would get across if he was afraid of water. At the same time, the ox wondered how he would cross with his poor eyesight. The calculating rat suggested that he and the cat jump onto the ox's back and guide him across. The ox was steady and hard-working so that he did not notice a commotion on his back. In the meanwhile, the rat sneaked up behind the unsuspecting cat and shoved him into the water. Just as the ox came ashore, the rat jumped off and finished the race first. The lazy pig came to the far shore in twelfth place. And so the rat got the first year named after him, the ox got the second year, and the pig ended up as the last year in the cycle. The cat finished too late to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.
The twelve animals, representing the twelve earthly branches are, in order, the: rat; ox; tiger; rabbit; dragon; snake; horse; sheep (or goat); monkey; rooster; dog; and pig.
And this year is the year of the ox. What does it mean? Well, it's probably about as much nonsense as any other astrological mumbo jumbo but, suposedly, people born under the sign of the ox are patient, soft spoken and inspire confidence in others. They also have strong codes and work ethics. However, they tend to be eccentric and bigoted, and are known to anger easily. Although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent, but when crossed have fierce tempers. Even though they are easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, hating to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with snake, rooster, and rat people.
Dependable and invariably solid, oxen are excellent organisers and systematic in their approach to every task they undertake while not being easily influenced by other people’s ideas. Loyalty is a part of their character, but if deceived they will not forget. Although not imaginative, they are capable of good ideas.
Oxen usually tend to be workaholics, and they should make an effort to relax more. According to ancient wisdom, and being strong and robust, they should be blessed with long lives.
And the upcoming dates for Chinese new years are: 26 January 2009; 14 February 2010; 3 February 2011; 23 January, 2012; and10 February, 2013.
Personally, I think that it is very decent of the Chinese government to honour both of the Lefroy children's birthdays – even though the celebration of mine is timed upon the nearest lunar date and not, actually, on 18 February – Hannah's, on the other hand, is on the fixed date of her birth every year, on 1 October.
Jolly good show, what?
A legend explains the sequence in which the animals were assigned. Supposedly, the twelve animals fought over the precedence of the animals in the cycle of years in the calendar, so the Chinese gods held a contest to determine the order. All the animals lined up on the bank of a river and were given the task of getting to the opposite shore. Their order in the calendar would be set by the order in which the animals managed to reach the other side.
The cat wondered how he would get across if he was afraid of water. At the same time, the ox wondered how he would cross with his poor eyesight. The calculating rat suggested that he and the cat jump onto the ox's back and guide him across. The ox was steady and hard-working so that he did not notice a commotion on his back. In the meanwhile, the rat sneaked up behind the unsuspecting cat and shoved him into the water. Just as the ox came ashore, the rat jumped off and finished the race first. The lazy pig came to the far shore in twelfth place. And so the rat got the first year named after him, the ox got the second year, and the pig ended up as the last year in the cycle. The cat finished too late to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.
The twelve animals, representing the twelve earthly branches are, in order, the: rat; ox; tiger; rabbit; dragon; snake; horse; sheep (or goat); monkey; rooster; dog; and pig.
And this year is the year of the ox. What does it mean? Well, it's probably about as much nonsense as any other astrological mumbo jumbo but, suposedly, people born under the sign of the ox are patient, soft spoken and inspire confidence in others. They also have strong codes and work ethics. However, they tend to be eccentric and bigoted, and are known to anger easily. Although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent, but when crossed have fierce tempers. Even though they are easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, hating to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with snake, rooster, and rat people.
Dependable and invariably solid, oxen are excellent organisers and systematic in their approach to every task they undertake while not being easily influenced by other people’s ideas. Loyalty is a part of their character, but if deceived they will not forget. Although not imaginative, they are capable of good ideas.
Oxen usually tend to be workaholics, and they should make an effort to relax more. According to ancient wisdom, and being strong and robust, they should be blessed with long lives.
And the upcoming dates for Chinese new years are: 26 January 2009; 14 February 2010; 3 February 2011; 23 January, 2012; and10 February, 2013.
Personally, I think that it is very decent of the Chinese government to honour both of the Lefroy children's birthdays – even though the celebration of mine is timed upon the nearest lunar date and not, actually, on 18 February – Hannah's, on the other hand, is on the fixed date of her birth every year, on 1 October.
Jolly good show, what?
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