2-14-13 .. Lunch with friends

Flying back from Tokyo, Tim arranges to meet us in Shi Jie town, for lunch and a pleasant afternoon.  Lucky this local restaurant is open .. most folks have gone back to their home towns, for CNY.

A quiet day on the South Side of the lake

Looking north: apartments and town homes can be seen on the east side.Mid-Scale vegetable gardeners support the local area.  Many of these family type endeavors dot the landscape.  Passing the day hoping for a bite.  I sometimes wish I had the bent for fishing, but suffice it for me to wish those that do, all the serenity they seek.

First day; The Year of the Snake – 蛇 shé

Early Sunday morning, The first day of the Year of the Snake, 2013. Out on a a tour around Song Shan Lake. Starting with virtually no people .. after 4 hours a few thousand friends show up.

Starting Saturday night at 11:55pm .. On Sunday morning, we see only the ash of a once bright display:Construction work continues on revamping the KTV, to meet a March opening:At 8:00 am its still peaceful with an eerie quite. One of the early birds, cleans up the detritus from last nights revelry.The spent fireworks casings speak silent volumes.Enjoying  the calm and possibilities offered by moored boats.This sight to be repeated many times over the oncoming daysThe smoke signals; Lunch Time:

Two Aussies, a Scotsman and a Chinaman went up a Mountain

Matt, Luke, A-Jing and myself went to: Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park, located in Zhangmutou Town of Dongguan City.

Breakfast in the Club

At this time there are very few guests staying here so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures around the club: …

Last supplier visit of the Year of the Dragon

We arranged to meet with Jane to review changes and additional details on some retail packaging.  …  After a great lunch .. Jane was off the Beijing for the festivities.

Matt .. Jane .. Betty

Tea and More

A second visit to see Mrs. Yang and family.  On this visit her son-in-law was our; Tea Host.

A-Jing, .. Luke, .. Matt

A VERY British Conundrum

After a few hours of being pampered by Cathay Pacific’s finest at 35k feet, plus a pleasant drive through; early morning Hong Kong, and having an all meaningful nod with China immigration it was on to Song Shan Lake.

Settling in to wash away the long hours of travel, my mind locked on the old problem of: “Who gets the Tap-End”

Looks like this one has been put to bed:…………….

Off to China

Robbie just got back from a month in the Philippines.  Big party this Sunday, Super Bowl and Baby Shower for Sara and Sean.

Thursday 31st. I’m off to China for some 26 days. My first trip of 2013.  New business ventures are afoot.

I’ll straddle Chinese New Year, best to get in before the “Mad Rush” and depart well after folks have returned from the family home. Some of my friends are back in Taiwan and various other mainland providences.

New Year finds- Coasters 杯垫 Bei Dian

Sorting through stuff .. these four coasters came to light ..  forgotten “K-Mart” promo for video game coupon  .. Thx Andrew, adding to an already eclectic collection:..Promotional advertisement from 2010”Bethesda has something strange going on with retailer Kmart. With a $5 purchase of the Fallout coaster set seen above, you will get a $15 Video Game Savings coupon that will be redeemable the week of the Fallout: New Vegas release. It's like a strangely worded pre-order offer with bonus gift. Who cares how it goes down, though. It's Fallout coasters! “ “Quantities are limited and there is a one-per-customer.”

One–One and all's well

Robbie is packed and ready to start her first trip of 2013  (more are on the drawing board)  …  The 9:10pm flight from LAX to Manila. Then on to her favorite Philippines dive location; Anilao, for a month of underwater photography. Sean and Sara are under orders: “No Baby until I return “

Heather is enjoying some seasonal downtime, Jake is out on a 2 day charter.

Here on the mainland, Andrew is home, back from San Diego,  his new assignment in RSM starts in about 3 weeks. Trevor started a new job yesterday. Cameron came by at Xmas and he is doing well.

Sara and Sean have long list of carpentry projects lined up for yours-truly.

Matt, returns to China 1/7 .. With all those unploughed fields ahead…. New business ventures await …