Today I saw some of what I've read about that's for real – (things like having to bring disposable needles for blood tests are way out of
date!) Followed a lady walking a toddler and there were the pants with the hole in them that saves buying nappies! Must get really cold butts the poor little tykes. I saw a
couple of other littlies later on who had the hole in their outer pants but obviously had a nappy or something under them.
Found the Post Office this morning and spent ages gluing on the stamps
– 5 to each postcard I sent! They have an old style pot of glue on the counter – no pre-pasted stamps and envelopes here!
Took my trusty backpack with me this afternoon for the 10-15
minute walk to the little local supermarket and had a wander around. Managed to find a plate – I've been eating out of bowls so far, no tea towels or salt & pepper shakers (found out
tonight they don't use either over here!), some sweet bread that looks like raisin bread without the raisins and some POTATOES and onions! I passed on the live cane toads, fish,
tortoises and eels all swimming in their tanks! I'll take the camera down some time and get some photos for Sandi's classes – if I'm allowed to!
Tonight I had dinner at The Captain's Bar (complete with photos of JFK and Jacki, the Beatles, 
the Rolling Stones and several other Western subjects) with Amon, an Aussie girl who's lived here for 3
years, Pete, an American guy who is married to a Chinese woman, and George, a Scottish fellow who is setting up a textile business here. Western food with a slight
Chinese twist! I took a photo of coffee being made – if I work out to use the blog site Chantelle has set up for me, I'll put it on. Amon is going to meet up with me next
Friday to show me a decent hairdresser, the western food shop and whatever else she thinks is essential for ex-pats.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'm to climb the "famous local mountain" with a couple of the Chinese staff. Amon says it's more a "pimple" than a mountain! Apparently there's
a temple and monks at the top and it's a beautiful area.
Friday 18th
Climbed Wolf Mountain this morning – thank goodness it's overcast and cool or I would have had trouble! It's a bit
more than a "pimple" – I meant to count how many steps we climbed but it was plenty! The view from the top would
be magnificent on a clear day and apparently you can see across the Yangtze – but was quite foggy this morning.
(Heaps of shipping to be seen.) Plenty of gold coated Buddahs, traditional Chinese paintings, monks, prayer
kneelers, souveneir stalls, and even a small children's playground! I threw a coin into the Buddah's pool – 
supposedly if you hit the Buddah you will have good luck – I did it! So that's a
good omen. The gardens will be beautiful when they're in full bloom – tulips for miles, and interesting plants that look almost like miniature lacy cabbages, and
some purply ones. (Great plantologist that I am!)
Went from there to the Blue Calico Art Gallery – blue calico is one of the
traditional handicrafts originated in Nantong. They use the indigo plant for dying, and I wouldn't have minded souveniring some lounge chairs! Saw a
Chinese bride as we came out and got permission to take her photo. Should have got one of the car as well – full bunch of red roses on the bonnet with
ribbons and individual roses along the sides of the roof.
Then lunch! Who had the bright idea that I might lose weight over here living on rice and noodles? I lost count of
how many dishes there were, but fortunately it was all left in the centre today so I could just help myself. I tried the
Peking Duck (which looks like duck skin) wrapped up in a small thin "pancake" with spring onions and cucumber
strips then dunked into a "jam" which is made from beans. I had a piece of something that I'm told looks like a
snake, comes from the river, but is smaller and thinner than an eel! That came from the dish that I was told was
beef – just forgot to mention there were other creatures in there with the cow! 
That was a one-chew-then-swallow
job! I avoided most of the prawn and fish dishes – they lift the shrimp whole (shells included), hold the head with their chopsticks, then chew and spit out
the shell! I took one of the shelled ones later! Also had a small piece of crab which I enjoyed. Again, it's still in its shell and it should be bitten, chewed and
shell spat out! I resorted to a spoon today to help with some of those bits! Tasted chestnuts for the first time, and their brown rice wine, which to a
non-drinker like me, tasted more like port. The only real problem I had was the other duck dish! I took a piece expecting to be able to chew, was warned there
were bones in it, then when I tried to bite it, realised it was part of a neck! I gave up on that one!
Have been told I'll get my schedule this afternoon, so it will be interesting to see what's in store! I'm feeling much
more positive since having the internet connected and meeting the ex-pats. Just need Don over here now!
