Today my sanity was restored with the help of two American ladies, Jordan and Mr Lee. We made a day of sightseeing and shopping that was made so much easier by having their company.
Mr Lee was our driver for the day and it was a great comfort to know he was there to take us anywhere we wanted and knew how to get us back to the hotel. For 300RMB (£27) he picked us up at 10am and dropped us off at 7pm and drove us anywhere we wanted and gave us advice on where to find certain things.
Our day started with breakfast at Hooters, i don’t know why we went so don’t ask, which was ok if a little strange. The waitresses are very tiny chinese girls in little white vests and fluorescent orange hotpants with not one set of hooters between them and are certainly there for their looks and not their brains. The all american breakfast is what you would expect to get in china and halfway through the waitresses do a dance for the customers. It was 11am and there was 8 customers.
From there we went to the Zoo which by western standards looked like cruelty. The cages are very small and are all made of concrete with no greenery. It was interesting to see but not something i would do again, those of you that know me will know i’m not a big animal rights activist and not particularly sympathetic to most plights but it was a little upsetting and i was quite glad Grace couldn’t see a lot of it. The worst bits i found were a childrens ride that had little rickshaw type carts attached to Goats and they were made to carry round kids for 10RMB, and a blond bear that was so desperate to get out of it’s enclosure it walked backwards and forwards constantly in-front of the door not even wanting the fruit and vegetables people we’re throwing it.
After that the day picked up at LinYing Temple which was beautiful and the day was cooling down so it was nice to take a walk around the grounds.
Then we turned our attention to shopping! While i was out i had to stop myself because i thought i was spending too much, i should have carried on.
Pair childrens silk pyjamas £3.
Pashmina £3.50
Decorative Parasols £1
Decorative Fan 78p
The day came to a nice end with a drive around West Lake. Even the most common buildings here are beautiful and everywhere is clean, no litter, no chewing gum on the floor, no gangs of intimidating teenagers outside the co-op.
We have next weekend off so i’m going to try and see a little more then. It doesn’t seem so daunting now i know the driver stays with you and i don’t have to get a strange taxi home.
Back to therapy tomorrow with her last injection friday. Home in 11 days.
saw the photo’s – dear god that’s bad at the zoo huh! but an experience non the same. The temple grounds looked beautiful.
so chuffed for you that you had some company & it’s always much better not having to worry how you’ll get back & getting lost etc – we could do with a Mr Lee here, it cost us nearly a tenner to go about 3 miles on Friday night (Uncle Matt is still squirming but it was cold & I wasn’t walking LOL)
love to you both xx
What a day you and Grace have had! It is always amazing to get a look at a different culture and it seems that you have witnessed quite a contrast throughout the day.
It was a strange day here as we woke to a covering of snow,which soon disappeared and then the most lovely sunshine mixed with snow showers- very weird.
Am just about to print off the gorgeous photo of Grace pushng herself up so that it can go up in the staffroom tomorow- she looks fantastic! It’s back to school for us -the last two weeks have flown by and I only hope they are going as quickly for you. You are over half way through now and it’s great to hear that all is going well.
Take care of each other.
Jane
So glad you had such an interesting and relaxing day out after the stressful day on Friday; the place sounds fascinating. Back to school for us today, I’m just off to pack the car with all my stuff for the new term. We’re so pleased things are going so well and really look forward to seeing you both next week. Look after each other – it won’t be long now and you’ll be home! Debby
Hiya lovlies
Well, you are sounding a bit brighter than Friday, not long to go now and Michael will be there soon, so keep positive and sane!!
We all had a weekend off then, you and Grace got do some sightseeing although I agree, with you about the shopping, you should have carried on, but never mind there is always next weekend, remember not to leave any last minute shopping for the airport ‘cos it’s not very good. Michael and Rose went to Ireland and when I spoke to him last night, it seemed they had had a good time, although they were delayed a couple of hours coming home. My weekend in Spain/France was lovely, my flight back was delayed by about 4 hours due to ice and snow at Liverpool, this information I found a bit bizzarre as I was wandering around Carcassonne it a tee-shirt!!! anyway it didn’t matter, as it is a small airport we were able to go into town for a few hours. Got back about 1 1/2 hours later than Michael and Rose at about 9.30 pm.
I have to say that Grace looks very ‘cool’ in her new buggy and she’s looking so relaxed considering what she’s been going through, you are both doing a sterling job out there and we are all very proud of you. Lind and John, next door send their best to you both.
Ged has seen the new photo’s of Grace and he was amazed at how she looks. But typically, he didn’t leave a message, but don’t worry I can’t even get him to e-mail. He is watching your progress and sends his love with a big kiss for Grace from Granddad.
This is starting to look like a long posting so I’ll give it a rest now and be in touch soon.
much love to you both
Mum xx
Hi Leanne and Grace,
I have just been catching up with your news for the past week. It’s good to hear things are going well for Grace and that she is coping so well with all the treatments. The photos of Grace pushing herself up on the bed are amazing, she looks so beautiful with that big smile of hers!
It’s good to see all the photos of Hangzhou, I’m glad you have had a bit of time to sightsee over the weekend and do some shopping.
Not long till you’ll be home now, hope all goes well with the rest of the treatments, love to you both, Sheila and Nursery class xx
Hi Leanne and Grace
we’ve read your latest blog.. and we’d love to meet the american lady callled Mr Lee…. ha ha …. glad the injections have gone well and you’ll be home soon.. thinking of you both…. see you at college soon….
Take Care, from the girls at college.
`
Heelo Leanne, Grace.
I have been getting your progress from your dad via M53, M6 to Teeside, glad everything is going well. We will look forward to seeing you all soon. X
Hi Leanne and Grace.
Donna here, from college. We had a right laugh at college. Jenny found your blog on Monday night, we all crowded round the PC and Jenny read out your message. She read out the first bit about the two american ladies, Jordan and Mr. Lee. Well it sounded like the two ladies were CALLED Jordan and Mr Lee.
Reading through your blog I kept picturing you and the girls when I met you in Asda, how pretty they both are. Its hard to really imagine what you and Grace are going through, but I hope every thing works out and you both come home happy.
Love and best wishes
Donna
Hi Grace and Leanne,
Nearly there,not long to go now….. It’s good that you got out and about and that you could trust Mr Lee to take you places and you felt safe.
As regards the Zoo… I’d be so upset.
I love animals to bits (I’m veggie),I would be trying to get the animals out.. I’d stage a sit-in….. the chinese need to treat their animals better than they do….
Love the photos, I don’t know what type of camera you’ve got but you’ve taken some good photos….
Good Luck for the final injection on Friday… I’ll be thinking of you both
Jenny
Hi Leanne and Grace
It was lovely to see the new pics of Grace – isn’t she doing well, propping herself up like that! I bet you’re so pleased. If it is ok with you I will print one or two off for my wall in the office.
If I was you I would definitely go back to do some more shopping – with prices like that you can’t go wrong!
I’ve been buying a few more items for use in the dark room, one is like a coloured disco ball which everyone in the office wants to keep so we can have a rave up at Christmas!
Anyway take care of each other – not long to go now
Anne
Finally got my way around to leaving you a message. Have been reading all the comments that everybody has left and nice to see that so many people care. Gled to see that you heve still got a sense of humour and that you are both coping pretty well with everything. Anyway,took me about 20 mins to type this with my computer finger ,
see you both soon and love you xx
How are you doing hun? What has been happening? I can’t believe that its the last injection friday it has gone so fast. Michael is coming out Monday and I bet you can’t wait to get home and see Rose.
Your a wonderful mum and a wonderful friend.
Love ya!
Hi, can you believe that I am actually writing this all on my own, I have figured it out and everything! (Polly usually sorts all this stuff out). 11 days eh? where has the time gone, we shall have to make an effort and come and see you when you are back, promise me though, no alcohol. I am so pleased it is all going so well. The zoo doesn’t sound very good (the Bear had gone mad by the way), but then they have different standards I suppose.
TTFN
Matt
Hi, sorry I havent been keeping in touch, this stupid computer does what it wants to do and if it decides its tired during my reply to your blog, it doesnt care, it just goes off to sleep… I have called it every name under the sun and am giving it one more chance to behave before it goes out in the bin. (to anyone who doesnt know me, i have no children or pets so dont worry about them being caught in the crossfire between my computer and I)
Anyway……
Sounds like the zoo was a welcome break from the hospital even if the animals were not treated very well. The photos of Grace holding herself up are fantastic. My friend at work thinks she is stunning. Well she is a Duggan after all, what more can you expect!!
Wedding plans going mad at the moment, got my invitations going out next week. Aisling had them printed for me in Ireland, what a wonderful bridesmaid, all I had to do was send the money and she did eveything else. The photographer and video man have been booked and the bridesmaids dresses are ordered. I have not ordered Grace or Rose`s dresses in case they decide to shoot up by a few inchs in the next few months, they will be ordered closer to the date. I dont understand why girls get so worked up about planning their wedding, I seem to have coped very well, the only worry I have now is that I am forgetting something very mportant and will suddenly remember on the day before and end up having a heart attack!! Althought I have forgotton to lose weight!! HA HA
Regina text me on Tuesday saying she has been told she can come out of hospital next Monday. She must be delighted.
No more news from here. Sinead is in Ireland again this week and Gary is still working in London so I have been home alone, which was nice for a few hours every day but whn it gets dark and I start hearing funny noises it doesnt seem like such a good idea. i have to sleep with the landing light on and I keep thinking about bl**dy Ghosts ( see how I gave Ghosts a capital G, thats so they know I respect them and they will leave me alone!!!) I think I am losing my marbles, maybe the wedding planning is affecting me more than I thought….
Sorry, i think I might have rambled on a bit there. Sorry for boring you.
Looking forward to seeing you both soon. Big kiss to Grace as always.
Lots of love,
Your Step-daughter! X x X x X x
Oh dear, that was a very long rant…. Sorry