nosnow

There were parts of the country that saw heavy snow, but not here.We are disappointed.It did snow lightly this morning though.]
3 weeks and still not smoking.

A free world.

A free world.
Originally uploaded by cmercer.

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Originally uploaded by cmercer.

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Originally uploaded by cmercer.

Stick your head in the oven!

The gritters and the snowploughs have been started up and they are ready to go.The arctic weather arrives tomorrow evening.They have been warning us for nearly a week now.Traffic disruption is expected-Why? Even when they have a week to prepare this country still can't and wont get ready.It is winter, but yet they seem surprised by the onset of snow and ice. It has apparently been mild here for the last 8 years so most people have forgotten what a real winter is like.The weathermen say this winter will be the worst since 1967.They are quite certain about this, but yet they can't tell me if it will rain tomorrow! The Prime Minister spoke to parliament today about possible gas shortages, because of the cold weather.He also spoke about doctors running out of flu vaccinations.This is due to the population panicking about bird flu and rushing to their doctor's and demanding to be injected with something that only helps against your run of the mill winter flu.This has left none for the poor old dears who actually need to be vaccinated against 'normal' flu.
Government ineptitude is not limited to the SAR govt by a long shot.Being a twat is a worldwide epidemic, with no known cure at the moment.
Gary Glitter made the front page of one of the tabloids this week- 'Pervy Glitter faces firing squad' serves him right really. The Chinese president visited last week and stayed at Buckingham Palace.I wonder did Prince Philip or Charles for that matter insult him. Prince Charles is suing a tabloid this week for publishing parts of his journal where he referred to the Chinese leaders as waxworks.Prince Philip once referred to them as 'slitty eyed'. It's no wonder that we are charged more for visas when visiting China.
Liverpool is full of drunken Spaniards this afternoon.Liverpool are playing Real Betis this evening.Not sure where 'Betis' is but they seem like a friendly, lively lot. Many pubs will close tonight at 11pm and reopen at 12.01 as the new licensing laws come into effect at midnight. I finish my Mandarin course at 9pm and am very tempted.
How long will I stay here? That is the million dollar question. I promised Teosdee 2 years , I cannot see me staying longer than that. School is great for Joseph.There is no teaching work here in Liverpool for me.I can't see me doing any other job.I miss teaching. After next summer I think it will be hard for me to stay on here. I miss the world.The UK seems such a small place. The shops will start opening later this week for Christmas shopping, I can now go shopping until 7pm, sometimes even 8pm.Practically the middle of the night!!! The most popular programme on TV now is called ' I'm a celebrity...get me out of here' it is basically 'survivor' with famous people. I say famous but I haven't heard of any of them. Broadband is advertised with great gusto with up to 1mbs bandwidth, in hongkong this figure is now up to 100mbs. I cannot get caller display on my homephone. A cheque still takes 5 days to clear at the bank!I have started keeping the oven lit and open to warm the house up!
Still not smoking.

It's just not funny anymore!

It is 0c outside with freezing fog! There has been a frost every night for a week now.On Sunday morning we went to the country park near my house. The fields were were thick with frost and the duck pond was frozen.The kids loved walking through the winter wonderland, and Teosdee made 'snowballs' with the frost.By the time we were walking home Jack was screaming, as I think he was just too cold.My ears stung and my nose turned numb as I took Joseph to school this morning. The weather forecast is for snow and blizzards this weekend.The wind is apparently going to come direct from the North Pole!I think it is still about 28c in Hong Kong.
15 days without smoking now, not a single fag! The patches really do seem to work.I have reduced the stength of the patches as well.Still a long way to go before I am nicotine free.
Christmas is in full swing here.Some houses already look like Santa's grotto.Do these people really enjoy Christmas or do they, as I suspect always feel let down on the day after building up to it for so long?
24 hour drinking begins in 2 days.I still haven't been in a pub since July, although a 24 hour session in the OCH would definitely go down well right now.

The Darkness

It is -1c here now, it got down to -5c last night. It does look pretty though.The kids and Teosdee are amazed by the frost and why everything is now white. It gets dark now at well before 5pm! The streets are not safe enough around here to be walking around.This is how a mole must feel.Teosdee has to go on a visa run before the end of December, so we sent off an application for an Irish visa yesterday. Her visa is valid until May, but she can only spend 6 months at a time here. We will apply for a more permanent visa before May. I seem to have spent the last 10 years dealing with visas, I should find a job as an immigration expert. I don't worry too much about visas anymore as whatever will be will be.A refusal would give us a good excuse to escape and go back to the warmth, although that would be a big shame for Joseph's school. 10 days without smoking-is it getting easier?

7 days is a long time

7 days without a fag.It feels like I am underwater waiting to come up to breathe.I feel on the edge constantly.Does this feeling go away, or is this really how life feels drug-free? The air has a chill to it here, and I don't miss having to stand in the garden to smoke.The back door is firmly closed enabling the little heating we have to stay inside. The kids are driving me loopy, especially my little angel Jack.This may not be because I have given up smoking though, as Teosdee seems as stressed as me.I think it is the 'terrible twos' more than anything, and having to stay indoors a lot.
Winter in Liverpool, the idea scared the hell out of me just a few months ago.I think I can cope now though,but only with the knowledge that I can get out.The knowledge that I won't be doing two winters here.the idea of spending an extended length of time here still does scare the hell out of me. Imagine if you lived here?
It is 'Parents Evening' tomorrow at Joseph's school tomorrow-should be interesting.

Hail! Joseph.

Leaving the house to take Joseph to school yesterday, started out well enough-a bit chilly, but sunny.Halfway there the sky opened and we were both soaking and cold but had to press on or we would be late for school. Then it started to hail and I could feel the temperature drop.Joseph was shocked, "ouch, ouch!That hurts!" It was his first experience of ice falling from the sky onto his head."Is it snow Daddy?" He enjoyed it I think.He had to change into his PE stuff in the classroom along with Beth and Kyle the other 2 unlucky kids that have to walk to school as well. Funny thing was, was that it had completely stopped on the way back, the sun was shining again.Teosdee often remarks "crazy weather" as she runs to get the washing in for the tenth time that day or as we take shelter with the kids on a Sunday afternoon walk.She comes from the Philippines where as I write a typhoon is boring down, probably for the 10th time this year-it will hit HK on Saturday night.English weather may seem boring, but to foreigners it is actually quite puzzling how 1 day can have every kind of weather, sometimes all at once.
Bonfire night was much better than I expected.In some ways it was more impressive even than the Hong Kong fireworks.Apart from the fireworks beginning a good 3 weeks before the actual night, the actual night itself was spectacular. The fireworks began as the sun was still heading down, and when I went to sleep at 2am they were still relentless. We walked to the local community centre at 6.30pm and watched the organised display, which was great as you could feel the earth move as they banged, and the smell was so strong that I am still coughing.The Hong Kong fireworks always seem so far away even after you have battled a million people to get that 1cm of sky view. We spent just as much time stopping and wowing on the way home at all the other fireworks .English people are also quieter as they watch fireworks, the only person shouting waaah was me!
I am attempting to give up smoking again! I have not smoked for 3 days, although I am wearing patches.Which is more likely to kill me though-smoking, or being a fat bastard? Answers on a postcard please to 'Fat Bastard or Smoker' 10 downing street London.I have had to edit and correct this blog because of mistakes-giving up smoking makes you stupid as well, so let's change the above to 'stupid fat bastard'.
Apart from killing me, is there really anything wrong with smoking? This is not helping me give up.later.

Great Uncle Chris

This week I learnt that I had become a great uncle. My nephew has a 5 week old daughter. This is my mother's first great grandchild. I had to check that I am actually a great uncle as grand uncle seemed more logical, as the baby is my brother's grandchild. Apparently 'great' is the common term although grand can still be used. Grand uncle seems a bit camp, whereas great is well..great! I was a bit surprised to have greatness thrust upon me at the age of 33, but feel that I can live with it.Not sure that Teosdee is too thrilled though.
Last night was Halloween, so we switched off all the lights and pretended we weren't home.Not really but, not that far off.Kids around here expect money, no apples thank you, and may use the opportunity to case the joint. I did see 30-40 teenagers having a game of cat and mice with the police, but the evening passed off harmless enough.
We are now being treated to a nightly display of the latest fireworks.Bonfire night is on Saturday.The kids are already waiting outside the shops with a bunch of crumpled up old clothes with a balloon inside. I have acquired a definite hearing problem as the kids shout 'penny for the guy'. Is this not the silliest tradition of them all? Trying to explain to Teosdee the reasoning behind it has not been easy, especially the part about burning the effigy on top of a bonfire.Trying to justify going to watch it has been even harder.
I have enrolled on an Open University course- Diploma in English Studies, which consists of 2 parts- The Art of English, which definitely sounds interesting, and English-Past,Present, and Future which did, does and will sound challenging.I did am and will keep you posted.