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HALLOWEEN
Samhain is considered by most Wiccans to be the most important of the four 'greater Sabbats'. It is generally observed on October 31st, starting at sundown. Samhain is considered by some Wiccans as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died. In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. It is seen as a festival of darkness, which is balanced at the opposite point of the wheel by the spring festival of Beltane, which Wiccans celebrate as a festival of light and fertility.
did you know that the carved pumpkin or Jack o Lantern replicates the ancient Celt tradition of beheading your foe and hanging the skull above your homestead?
THE TROLL-TEAR
A Children's Story for Samhain
The night was very dark, with a Full Moon hanging in the cloud-filled sky above. The air was crisp with the feel of late Autumn and the doorway between the worlds was wide open. Carved pumpkins sat on the porches of the houses in the little town, and the laughter of children dressed in costumes could be heard from the streets. It was a sad time for Beth as she climbed the little hill behind her house. In her arms was her cat and friend Smoky, carefully wrapped in his favourite blanket. A little grave was already dug on the hill, waiting, for Smoky had died that day. "Do you want me to go with you?" Beth's father had asked. "No, I want to go by myself," she answered. "I dug his grave beside MacDougal's at the top of the hill." Beth clearly remembered when their dog MacDougal had died after being hit by a car. Beth stopped at the top of the hill and knelt beside the little grave. She carefully laid Smoky's blanket-wrapped form in the earth and covered it with dirt, laying several large rocks on the top. Then she cried and cried. "Oh, Smoky, I miss you so much!" Beth looked up at the Moon, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why did you die?" "It was his time to rejoin the Mother," said a deep, gentle voice in the darkness. "Who said that?" Beth looked around but saw no one. "Dying is part of the cycle of life, you know." One of the boulders on the hill stirred into life. "Who are you?" The moonlight shone down on the little woman, and Beth could see she was not human. "I'm a troll-wife," said the creature as she came to site across from Beth. "This is a sad night for both of us, girl. I, too, came to this hill to bury a friend." The troll-wife wiped a crystal tear from her cheek. "The squirrel was very old. Still it makes me sad." Beth stared at the troll-wife. The little woman was the colour of rock in the moonlight, her hair like long strands of moss, her bright eyes like shining crystals. She wore a dress woven of oak leaves and tree bark. "The squirrel and I lived together for a long time," the troll-wife said. " We often talked to your cat when he was hunting here on the hill. Smoky and I were friends. I shall miss him, too." The little woman patted Smoky 's grave gently, "Sleep well, little friend. When you are rested, we shall talk together again." "But he's dead," Beth said, her voice choked with tears. "Child, this is Samhain. Don't you know the ancient secrets of this sacred time of year?" The troll-wife motioned for Beth to come and sit beside her. "It is true that our friends have gone into a world where we can no longer physically touch them, but the Mother has given us other ways of communicating with them. We can do this any time, but the time of Samhain is the easiest." "I don't understand how this can be done," Beth said, "or why Samhain makes it easier." "At this time of year," the troll-wife answered, "the walls between this world and the world of souls and spirits are very thin. If we quiet and listen, we can hear our loved ones and they can hear us. We talk, not with spoken words, but with the heart and mind." "Isn't that just imagination?" Beth looked down at Smoky's grave, tears once more coming into her eyes. "Like my thinking I can feel MacDougal get up on my bed at night like he used to?" "Sometimes it is, but mostly it is not imagination, only our friends come to see us in their spirit bodies." The troll-wife reached up her hand and patted something Beth couldn't see on her shoulder. "Like my friend the raven. He is here now." Beth looked hard and saw a thin form of hazy moonlight on the troll-wife's shoulder. "I've seen something like that at the foot of my bed where MacDougal used to sleep." She whispered. "I thought I was dreaming." She jumped as something nudged her arm. When she looked down, nothing was there. The troll-wife smiled. "Close your eyes and think of MacDougal," she said. " He has been waiting a long time for you to see him." Beth closed her eyes and, at once, the form of her little dog came into her mind. His tail wagged with happiness. She felt a wave of love come from him, and she sent her love back. Then she felt the dog lie down against her leg. "Can I do this with Smoky?" Beth asked. "Not yet," the troll-wife answered. "He needs to sleep a while and rest. Then he will come to you. This gives Smoky time to adjust to his new world, and you time to grieve for him. It is not wrong to grieve, but we must not grieve forever." "I never thought of it that way," Beth said. "It's kind of like they moved away, and we can only talk to them on the phone." "It is this way with all creatures, not just animals." The troll-wife stood up and held out an hand to Beth. "Will you join me, human girl? Although I buried my friend squirrel this night, I still must dance and sing to all my friends and ancestors who have gone on their journey into the other world. For this is a time to honour the ancestors." Beth joined the troll-wife in the ancient slow troll dances around the top of the little hill in the moonlight. She watched quietly while the troll-wife called out troll-words to the four directions, words Beth couldn't understand. Deep in her heart the girl felt the power of the strange words and knew they were given in honour and love by the little troll-wife. When the troll-wife was finished with her ritual, she hugged Beth. "Go in peace, human child," she said. "And remember what I have told you about the ancient secret of Samhain." "I will," Beth answered. "Will I ever see you again?" "Whenever the Moon is Full, I will be here," the little troll-wife said. " And especially at Samhain." "I wish I had something to give you." Beth hugged the little woman. "You have taught me so much." She felt the tears come to her eyes again. "Let us exchange tears for our lost friends." The troll-wife reached up a rough finger and caught a tear as it fell from Beth's eye. The tear glistened on her finger. The troll-wife gently touched her finger to her cloak, and Beth's tear shone there like a diamond in the moonlight. Beth reached up carefully and caught one of the troll-wife's tears as it slid down her rough cheek. It turned into a real crystal in her hand. "Remember the secret of Samhain, and remember me," the troll-wife said softly as she disappeared into the darkness. Beth walked back down the hill, the crystal clutched in her hand. Her father was waiting for her on the porch. "Are you all right?" her father asked as he gave Beth a hug. "I will be," she answered. She opened her hand under the porch light and saw a perfect, tear-shaped crystal lying there. "Did you find something?" her father asked. "A troll-tear," Beth answered, and her father smiled. For, he also knew the little troll-wife, and the secret of Samhain.
**************************** by D. J. Conway
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Shanghai Maglev Train
Passenger air travel revolutionised the transportation industry in the last century, allowing people to traverse great distances in a matter of hours instead of days or weeks or months. The first commercial maglev line made its debut in December of 2003. Learn about it and other maglev lines in the works.The only alternatives to airplanes - feet, cars, buses, boats and conventional trains - are just too slow for today's fast-paced society. However, there is a new form of transportation that could revolutionise transportation of the 21st century the way airplanes did in the 20th century. MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation is a system of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles, predominantly trains, using magnetic levitation from a very large number of magnets for lift and propulsion. This method has the potential to be faster, quieter and smoother than wheeled mass transit systems. The power needed for levitation is usually not a particularly large percentage of the overall consumption, most of the power used is needed to overcome air drag, as with any other high speed train.The first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world. The system and trains were built to the Transrapid standard. Construction began in March 2001, and public service commenced on 1 January 2004.
The line runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong, on the Shanghai subway line 2 to Pudong International Airport. The journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km. A train [using German technology]can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operation speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) reached thereafter. In January 2006, the Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train extension project was proposed by the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau. The extension would continue the existing line towards Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, running via Shanghai South Railway Station and the Expo 2010 site, with a possibly continuation towards Hangzhou. If built, the extension would allow transferring between the two airports—located 55 km (34 mi) apart—in approximately 15 minutes. The plan for the extension to Hangzhou was first approved by the central government in February 2006, with a planned date of completion in time for 2010. Work was suspended in 2008, owing to public protests over radiation fears. According to China Daily, as reported on People's Daily Online February 27, 2009, the Shanghai municipal government is considering building the maglev line underground to allay the public's fear of electromagnetic pollution, and the final decision on the maglev line has to be approved by the National Development and Reform commission.
In common with Eurostar the nearest I have been to either train is riding along an adjacent motorway . .. .!
Toussaint L' Ouverture
Toussaint L' Ouverture (c.1744-1803), son of an African prince and Haitian martyr, was a self-educated slave freed shortly before the uprising in 1791, he joined the black rebellion to liberate the slaves and became its organizational genius. A fervent Catholic, and member of high degree of the Masonic Lodge of Saint-Domingue, he rapidly rose to power, Toussaint joined forces for a brief period in 1793 with the Spanish of Santo Domingo and in a series of fast-moving campaigns became known as L' Ouverture [the opening], a name he adopted. Although he professed allegiance to France, first to the Republic and then to Napoleon, he was single heartedly devoted to the cause of his own people and advocated it in his talks with French commissioners. Late in 1793, Britian in attempting to reduce French influence in the area, occupied all of Haiti's coastal cities and allied themselves with the Spanish in the eastern part of the island. Following several battles Toussaint Louverture signed a trading treaty with the British in May 1799 whereupon they withdrew from the island.
Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough Within thy hearing, or thy head be now Pillowed in some deep dungeon’s earless den; O Miserable Chieftain! Where and when Wilt thou find Patience? Yet die not; do thou Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow: Though fallen thyself, never to rise again, Live, and take comfort. Thou hast left behind Powers that will work for thee; air, earth, and skies; There’s not a breathing of the common wind That will forget thee; thou hast great allies; Thy friends are exultations, agonies, And love, and man’s unconquerable mind. - William Wordsworth William Wilberforce’s Slave Trade Act 1807 abolished the trade in the British Empire.
OCTOBER 24
Ever wonder what it is about the month of October? So many battles.. 1942 The Second Battle of El Alamein . 1899 Battle at Rietfontein.South Africa. 1854 Charge of the light brigade Crimean War 1805 Trafalgar 1781: The American War of Independence ends with the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to George Washington 1066: Battle of Hastings And also 50 years ago today the world ignored the plight of the brave men and women of Hungary. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the Stalinist government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies. It lasted from 23 October until 10 November 1956 when russian tanks appeared in Budapest.
Britian and France had problems in the mediterreanean with the nationalization of the Suez Canal in early 1956 which was a threat to european economic interests. The British government decided in favour of military intervention against Egypt to avoid the complete collapse of British prestige in the region. They concluded a military pact with France and Israel that was aimed at regaining control over the Suez Canal and freeing Gaza of terrorist camps. The operation, aimed at taking the Suez Canal, was highly successful from a military point of view but was a political disaster due to external forces . The United States who saw an opportunity to enhance its own influence in the middle east put financial pressure on Great Britain to end the invasion. They threatened to sell part of the US Government's Sterling Bond holdings. Britain's foreign exchange reserves simply could not sustain a devaluation of the pound that would come after the United States' actions; Within weeks of such a move, the country would be unable to import the food and energy supplies needed simply to sustain the population on the islands. In concert with US actions, Saudi Arabia started an oil embargo against Britain and France. The U.S. refused to fill the gap until Britain and France agreed to a rapid withdrawal. This was completed by the end of 1956. The imposed end to the crisis signalled the definitive ending of the british and French influence and created a vacuum since filled by warlike dictators. It would be another 30 years before Hungary established its freedom from soviet tyranny.
THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT On St Crispin's day, the 25th October 1415 an exhausted, sick and starving English army are faced by a confident foe outnumbering them four to one. Forced into battle and against all odds, they annihilate the French and slaughtered the flower of French nobility. “If we are mark'd to die, we are enow ' King Henry V' Wm. Shakespeare [1564 - 1616]
TRAFALGAR DAYTRAFALGAR DAY
21st OCTOBER 1805
“England expects every man to do his duty.”
THE BATTLE SCENE
The naval campaign began as part of Napoleon Bonaparte's plan to invade Britain in the summer of 1805. Napoleon needed to gain control of the English Channel to allow his Grand Armée to cross. To achieve this he ordered the French fleet's three squadrons blockaded at Brest, Toulon and other ports to break out, meet in West Indies and then return as one fleet to gain control of the Channel. In March the squadron of Admiral Villeneuve at Toulon was able to evade the British blockade, joined up with a Spanish squadron and left for the West Indies. Nelson learned of his departure on 10 April and was soon in hot pursuit. Villeneuve lost his nerve and immediately returned to Europe. After a minor battle off Cape Finisterre he was bottled up in Cadiz in Spain. Recognising that the invasion was now impossible, Napoleon marched his Grand Armée to meet the threat posed by Austria and Russia in the east. Nelson's fleet of 27 ships of the line now waited for Villeneuve's force to emerge. The fleet was a high peak of fighting efficiency having been at sea blockading the French for almost two years. At the end of September, Nelson revealed his plan to his captains; the fleet would be split into two columns to break through the enemy line and overwhelm the centre and rear sections of the enemy's fleet.
Dawn on 21 October the British fleet was only 9 miles away from the enemy. At 11:48 HMS Victory hoisted the famous signal 'England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty' followed by 'Engage the enemy more closely'. The two columns led by HMS Victory and HMS Royal Sovereign successfully pierced the enemy line firing into the bow and stern of enemy ships as they passed between them. The fighting was severe and much of it was at close quarters. Many of the British ships were damaged, some seriously, including the HMS Victory which engaged the French flagship Bucentaure and the Redoutable. But Nelson's faith in the superior gunnery and ship handling skills of the British crews was fully borne out with the capture of 18 enemy ships including the Santissima Trinidad. Villeneuve had surrendered at 13:45 and despite renewed resistance by some Spanish ships the battle was over by 16:30. Today we celebrate a turning point in this countries history, but let us also commemorate those who died in the English, Spanish and French Fleets.
THE DEATH OF LORD NELSON
A French report: "Our victory was now complete, and we prepared to take possession of our prizes; but the elements were unfavourable to us...the gale abated, thirteen of our fleet got safe to Cadiz; the other twenty have, no doubt, gone to some other port.... Our loss was trifling.... However we lament the absence of Admiral Villeneuve, whose ardour carried him beyond the strict bounds of prudence...."
Villeneuve had committed suicide to escape the wrath of Napoleon.
***************************************************************************************
HMS VICTORY had a crew of 820 men commanded by Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy. There were 9 Commissioned Officers, 21 Mishipmen and 77 Non-commissioned Warrant and Petty Officers, the rest of the crew comprised of Able and Ordinary Seaman, Landsmen, supernumeries and 31 boys. Also within this complement was a detachment of 146 Royal Marines from the Chatham Division, commanded by Captain Charles Adair. Apart from the 700 English, Irish, Scots and Welsh, 18 different nationalities were represented on the Victory, at the Battle of Trafalgar. She suffered some of the worst casualties of the Allied Fleet at the battle with 57 of her crew killed or dying of their wounds a few days later, and a further 102 wounded
They got the guns ready for action,
SHANGHAI - THE FINALEUp at eight, after breakfast we walk to the railway station which takes 5 minutes, there is high cloud overhead adding to the humidity and it is hot, the hottest of days so far. Unlike on the first day I negotiated the barrier onto the platform with minimal difficulty! I still have the bruise above my right knee from my first encounter! Six stops later we are at the Oriental Pearl Tower. As with seeing York Minster, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Colliseum in Rome for the first time it is a heartbeat missing feeling of awe.
  I'm the one with the patterned shirt - no idea what the other bloke is doing !!
There was I remember a pleasant breeze by the river as we watched craft of various sizes glide passed us to the Yangze River and the Sea of China. We sat beneath the hot sun and gazed across at the closed Bund area, at least it will be re opened for 2010 Expo visitors. Here too, many visitors from all over China and nearby countries, I appear to be the only European here - "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" as Noel Coward wrote in his song!! Why is it that the hours appear to fly by on the last days of a holiday? We walk close to an open area where a group of traditionally dressed dancer's perform age old routines - accompanied by very large, and loud, drums. It is lunchtime. Today we use the escalator in yet another shopping precinct - only upto the 6th floor and we find a Cantonese Restaurant. This style of cuisine is less spicy we shared a bowl of beef and vegetables on a bed of rice, stuffed rolls and we tried the ice tea - thick not too sweet and served in what I can only descibe as a sample flask which rested in a champagne bucket of ice cubes.
Oh, and just to show I was mastering the chopsticks -
 Mid afternoon we were back on Zhongshan Rd, walking through the campus of East China Normal University towards the Chang Feng Park Lake.
 Many people have a picture by the statue of the founder of Communist China - 60 years ago.
 the Chang Feng Park lake - cranes in the background preparing for expo 2010 . . . .they worked 24 hours a day and throughout this national 8 day holiday!
Walked back to my favourite coffee shop - the best in the city! - they serve a glass of hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice before serving the coffee - we had tomato soup, rice and vegetables and meat stew, followed by another coffee and vanilla ice cream melon.
My final day in Shanghai dawns, the humidity has gone but the hot sun beats down from a clear blue sky as Yan and I with cousin Liang catch the 754 on our journey to Qi Bao. Close to Shanghai stadium we catch a 92 bus to our final destination.
 Qi Bao is some 12/14 miles from the city centre of Shanghai,an ancient town, built in the Five Dynasties Period one thousand years ago,it is a spiritual sanctuary, free from traffic jams, pollution and noise which now plague most modern cities.
 Pictures of myself, Yan and Liang at Qibao.
We sampled some fast food - a sticky cake before having our midday meal at a small cafe on the main street. Here I sampled Xiaolong mantou - a local favourite.
 Blackpool on a bank holiday monday was never like this !!
 The famous dumplings
with thoughts of tomorrows early start we returned to the hotel, standing on the first bus almost to the terminus at the Stadium. We walked around the corner to a small cafe beneath the railway arches and had our evening meal, washed down with cups of green tea. By eight o clock I had showered, shaved and the suitcase was packed - ready for the next days 05.30 start of the journey home. . . .
 It is now almost a week since I arrived back - I hope you catch a flavour of the city and the people from my recollections - my body clock has finally adjusted to local time - my adventure is over - until next year.
SHANGHAIPART ONE It was a dull day as I arrived at London Heathrow,following a 2 hour taxi journey,at 10.30. I booked in then went through the numerous security checks before finally boarding Virgin Atlantic flight 250 to Pudong,Shanghai. This was only my second flight and as the four Rolls Royce engines lifted the Airbus A340-600 into the air at 13.05 I contemplated the journey ahead. Lunch was served somewhere over the Baltic sea as we headed into Russian airspace. The moon rose soon after with the bright planet Venus keeping it company - gradually both bodies grew brighter as we headed into the night sky. The planes lights were dimmed and I slept fitfully. Somewhere over Mongolia the moon and its companion set beneath the distant horizon and we flew through the darkness at 38,000 feet. 5,6,7 hours elapsed and for the second time in 24 hours I saw the sunrise into a clear blue sky. The plane continued towards Beijing and halfway through our 'breakfast' [body clock says 23.00], the plane banked right [ I wish they would tell you it was about to happen] and we began the long descent into Shanghai.We touched down, with the help of tail winds, some 30 minutes early and it was pouring down with rain.
Shanghai is situated in the middle of China's eastern coastline, at 31.14 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude. It is bisected by the Huangpu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. It has a climate with four distinct seasons. The average temperature of the year is 15.7 C° and the yearly precipitation is 1,200 mm. During my stay the midday temperatures were 30C + and at night time hovered in the low 20’s. Shanghai is a municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the central government. It is the largest economic and trade centre in China and has a comprehensive industrial base. Shanghai Port is the leading port in China. It is a world famous historical and cultural city and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people. It covers an area of almost 2750 Sq.Miles.[6500 sq Km?]. It took all of 40 minutes to get through quarantine,having filled in two more forms on the plane, then immigration, and finally the long wait at the luggage carousel. Finally reaching the exit only a few minutes ahead of Yan, my friend who was to be my guide for the holiday. Two hours later [ and 20 hours after leaving home] I was in my hotel room. JinjiangInn,Changning Slept for a couple of hours or so until Yan called to take me for my first authentic chinese meal almost opposite the gates of the East China Normal University. Soon sizzling dishes began arriving, a bowl of rice, spicy pork - a little too spicy for my delicate western tastebuds! Finally a huge bowl of fish soup and copious amounts of green tea - which as a coffee addict was something I was to get used to! My craving for coffee was answered by a walk to a small coffee shop - double seater red settees - an armorial plaque on the wall and a great cup of coffee!! October 1st was the 60th Anniversary of the foundation of modern China. For the next three days all I saw on tv and the bus monitors was the military parade in Beijing. Several thousands of troops and civil defence forces had spent almost six months practising for the event. tanks parade past Tiananmen Gate, Beijing I waited for Yan to join me for breakfast in the hotel dining room - self service was the custom so we walked down the row of food containers - meat, vegetables, noodles, both boiled and scrambled egg with mushrooms. While collecting my cup of green tea I saw tubs of yogurt in the small refrigerator and sampled one - although ate it with a spoon instead of using a plastic straw. Meal over we walked 200 yards to the bus stop to catch the bus to Hongkou for lunch with Yan's parents and a family friend. The buses will have a whole blog to themselves! After a pleasant lunch, washed down with green tea and bottle of "Great Wall" red wine we said goodbye to the couple with there daughter Linda [I am sorry but cannot remember her family name], we went to Yans family flat where we took photographs and I saw Mr Chen's fish tanks,similar I must add, to my next door neighbours. Mrs Chen cooked an evening meal. Tasted my first mooncake with a cup of coffee - We shared Fish in tomato sauce,a kind of potato fritter, rice and pork, belly pork, chicken and a couple of vegetables - one like yellow celery and the other is a type of mushroom. Finally a large tureen of beef with vegetable soup appeared which was delicious. Home cooking - but no receipes as my hostest spoke no english. I noted that in my first 24 hours I had had 4 large meals! There had been a parade in Shanghai and as we drove back to the hotel firework displays were lighting the now dry evening skies.The seven hour time difference is affecting my sleeping patterns and only managed a few hours sleep before it was time to meet with Yan in the breakfast lounge.October 2nd and the rain clouds had cleared and the sunshine beat up the temperatures to 28/30 C. This would be my first of 5 days of HOT weather ! October 2nd and the rain clouds had cleared and the sunshine beat up the temperatures to 28/30 C. This would be my first of 5 days of HOT weather ! This morning we walked through the grounds of The East China University of Political Science and Law where Yan studies.
ECUPL is located in the Changning district of Shanghai betwixed the Suzhou River and Zhongshan Park. Since 1952 it has gradually developed into a multidisciplinary university of economics, management, finance and foreign languages with its main focus on law. It is on the campus of the former St John's university, [founded in 1879] and retains many buildings of historical and architectural value. With its tall trees and green lawns it presents a serene and unique campus environment. It is a haven of tranquillity amidst the bustle of city life.
University Library At the nearby bus terminus we caught the 921 bus which took us to People's Square across which stood Shanghai Museum.
It proved a popular venue on this public holiday and we joined the queue of sightseers, 30 minutes later we entered the building. In addition to the exhibition halls of Chinese artifacts we also visited the Columbian art - Pre conquest.
an example of early chinese porcelain
Other exhibits included: Furniture; Coins,some 3000 years old; personal seals; Art & caligraphy; sculptures some headless - a reminder of the "cultural revolution" in 1970's; bronze tools, swords and everyday items. After a while I became an "exhibition zhombi" and walked into 'Tea Room' only to discover it was an expensive cafe and not a study of Chinese tea production ! Later we walked back across the square, used the underpass to get to the other side of the road and ambled into a shopping precinct. I needed a coffee! We went into a local pizza place where I indulged in 2 Cappuccino's and an Hawaiian - that being my first real pizza! We waited 25 minutes for the 921 but it failed to materialise - due mainly to the fact that part of its route is along the Bund which is closed ! A little like closing the embankment in London I guess. So,another first, a trolley bus ride. My first since I lived in Doncaster many years ago. Getting on the bus proved 'interesting' I witnessed at first hand the rush-hour 'bus ambush.' It was as mentioned previously national holiday and weary siteseers were anxious to get home. If the scrum of passenger's fighting to board the same vehicle were an Olympic event,then the shanghainese would win gold medals! So the first 30 occupied the seats and the remaining 30 [!?] stood almost 3 abreast in the aisle. Makes you realise how strong the bus springs are! The traffic was at a standstill for long periods of time - gridlocked. It took several of the cities 8,000 whistle-blowing crossing guardians to sort out the chaos. Meanwhile people around me snoozed - use to this daily routine! a city trolley bus I was seeing the brightly lit streets - red lanterns hung from the trees like giant decorations. We arrived at the terminus - in a different district to the one we started our journey from. We walked through yet another large shopping precinct [9 stories from memory]. In China the ground floor is designated the 1st floor - confusing when you enter a lift for example. We walkd around a Carrefor supermarket and then along a road, over the river bridge, and along to the hotel where we shared a cup of red tea before Yan returned to the campus. ************************************************************************************ PART TWO
Today is Saturday and the Autumn New Moon Festival.This holiday always occurs during the Autumnal Equinox, so people often refer to it as the Moon Festival, since the moon appears bigger, brighter and closer to earth at this time of year than at any other.The moon cake is traditionally made in the shape of a full moon, symbolizing union and perfection, is usually about two inches in diameter, and is stuffed with a variety of fillings such as bean paste, egg yolk, lotus seeds, dates, pineapple, walnuts, almonds, and sesame. Chu Yuan-chang, founder of the Ming dynasty, instigated a rebellion against the Mongol rulers by concealing a call to revolt in moon cakes, leading to the downfall of the Yuan dynasty.
almost full size and the shape of mine. . . washed down with refreshing tea!
8.30 breakfast and a stroll through the grounds of ECUPL to catch the 921 bus to our connecting service to Pu Dong. The seats get no softer and this driver has his hand firmly on the horn, he is a little too fond of slamming on his breaks - my ancient whiplash begins to give me an headache! Before 1990, Pudong was mainly farmland and countryside today it is has become a New Open Economic Development Zone, and has emerged as China's financial and commercial hub. Pudong is home to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the skyline that includes the symbolic Oriental Pearl Tower.
Finally we reach our destination and walk to a block of flats where Yan's Grandfather lives. He is an active gentleman despite being in his 93rd year. In those years he has seen revolutions, occupation, and now a prosperity never dreamed of in his youth. The two 'old' men had there photographs taken and I had a coffee with 4 dumplings followed by a cake which I can only liken to an Eccles Cake, famous in Lancashire! I sent an email to England, had a ten minute nap and then we were off back to Huangpu on the bus. Our destination this afternoon was Book City, a store comprising seven floors of books, I could have spent a week browsing through all the floors ! All I bought for myself was a 20 Yuan CD of chinese music! Later, much later, we walked along the only car free, pedestrian street in the whole city, it was full of people taking advantage of the earlyevening. There were folk selling national flags at a Yuan a time, food vendors musicians I really should have brought a camcorder - still pictures could never capture the vibrant atmosphere, the red lanterns hanging from trees lampposts and at the entrance to all the shops.We went into one of these large buildings with the object of having a meal - we entered a lift and spilled out on the sixth floor, it was easier to walk the remaining 4 floors than attempt to get back in a lift - they are full to over capacity - ! but the walk was worth it - we sat at a window table overlooking the bright lights of the city. I prepared to have my first 'Hotpot'
pork,beef,chicken,vegetables, still not sure what the white strips are, remember they are pretty difficult to get out of the bubbling pot when cooked! we drank Chresanthemum Tea. . .the meal finished with an 'ice cream' mooncake. Watched Bolton v Spurs live on tv - so boring I fell asleep! I had hoped United would be on but no such luck. October 4th. Had breakfast on my own today - Yan joined me at 9 and introduced me to Cousin Liang a Pharmacist at a local hospital. He wanted to practise his English which he did, we had an interesting conversation before we left the hotel and today walked through Zhongshan Park and caught a bus to Hongkou.The park was full - families, like us in twos and threes just strolling along - two maybe three groups of five upto a dozen men having a discussion - probably about the Beijing grand parade. Others were singing and on our return later there was what I can only descibe as a community sing song. One man stood out - he was with a group of perhaps five others and he played the Saxaphone - music from films, jazz and an Elvis song. Playing just for his and his audiences enjoyment.On the main thoroughfare of Hongkou which is dominated by the giant stadium, we had lunch. The owner a tall large lady with long black hair and an even longer black and white patterned dress organised her waitresses with military precision- it looked chaotic but ran with an illogical efficiency. She managed the maximum number of folk through the process of eating in a minimum of time.Most customers had a bowl of noodles and a small portion of meat - because it takes me an age to eat spagetti with a fork I had egg with tomatoes.Manageable with chopsticks! [Egg foo yung?]. Soon we were on our way to the "Street of cultural celebrities" - a street of crafsmen - painters, calligraphers, other shops sold wooden crafts, jade,there was even a junk shop - sorry, antique shop!!!! We walked through Luxun Park where people were enjoying a leisurly afternoon,free from the daily jobs. We visited the museum dedicated to Lu Xun, who wrote at the time of the May 4th cultural movement, in the early 19th century. A fascinating man whom I guess not many of us in Europe have heard of but influential in recent Chinese history as the museum testifies. We left and my craving for a coffee led us into a coffee bar - groups played cards, in the windows the bench like seats were suspended by ropes from the ceiling- the coffee had about a tablespoonful of sugar in it, which was not to my 'no sugar in coffee' liking.A lady bus driver whisked us back to Changning - they must pass a test but are they instructed to blast the horn at all and sundry ??? It was meal time when we alighted - this time only on the sixth floor of the shopping precinct. This was a quiet and comfortable place - noone smoking made a pleasant change. Yan and Liang had the hottest, spiciest fish dish on the menu.....I settled for sampling the other dishes, sliced aubergine in a sauce, pork spare ribs and copious amounts of green tea - the waitresses one task seems to never allow a customer to have an empty cup!! So now we trek along that road with its 2 foot wide footpath and over the bridge slowly wending our way past the street salespeople, the cycle repair shop and finally reach my hotel . Tonight I sort out my suitcase I have only two days left of my stay in Shanghai.. . . ALL THAT PLANNING AND FOR WHAT ??
Planning is the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired objective on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behaviour. This thought process is essential to the creation and refinement of a plan, it combines forecasting of developments with the preparation of scenarios of how to react to them. The term is also used to describe the formal procedures used in such an endeavour, such as the creation of documents maps, the objectives to be met, and the strategy to be followed. Planning is a process for accomplishing purpose. It helps in deciding objectives both in quantitative and qualitative terms. It is setting of goals on the basis of objectives and keeping in view the resources. Planning is not done in an off handed random way. It is preparation after careful and extensive research. Spontaneity on the other hand means the quality of being spontaneous, that is acting out in complete surprise, and requiring no outside influence or help. Done by one's own free choice without planning arising from a momentary impulse a random decision, sudden, without warning. I am, always have been, a planner and so it was earlier in the year I planned my 2009 summer holiday. One factor I had not foreseen was the onset of pigflu, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray" and as the blog in april starkly ended, " All that planning and for what?" Following my two excursions to Paris and Jorvik, enjoyable as each one was, I still had a feeling that 2009 would be, like so many other past years, a failure, a write off. The English summer never materialised, cold, wet and unpleasant the cloud obscuring a pale sunshine, the heat barely surpassing 18 c. I felt restless. Friends had spent holidays in Portugal and Bulgaria, even my grandson had winged his way to Tunisia and so with uncharecteristic actions I again applied to visit China and despite my restricted access to the internet within 10 days of the visa arriving I was airbourne . . . . . . . . a totally spontaneous action . . . . . . . . . a flight into the unknown . . . . . . . and my next blog will tell you of my holiday in China . . where in Beijing they had a military display to mark my visit.
shanghai skyline: liam spencer - painting. |
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