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I’ve only had my mobile number for a week and I’m staggered at the amount of phone calls and text messages that I have received. When the phone rings I block the number, when I receive a message I translate it as I have done above. This is why the English is not very good.

Below is a message from the local government.

【Jiangsu Provincial Public Security Department】Recently, fraudsters have used the FaceTime function of Apple devices, and there are many phone fraud cases targeting middle-aged and elderly people! Please pay attention to the majority of Apple mobile phone users, if you don’t listen to unfamiliar FaceTime calls, you can’t believe them, and if you don’t need to turn them off in time (Settings-FaceTime). Don’t believe the “customer service” who comes to the door, such as mentioning words such as “deduction, refund, loan, credit information” and so on, most of them are scams

I think these messages are a good idea because there are many folk out there that don’t take the time to question, to have a second look, to go to a different source to confirm or deny what they have been told and of course never give out banking information . Years ago many of these scams would have stuck out like a sore thumb, however as we all know if it’s on Facebook or Tik Tok it must be true. 👍

On another note, this is a common sight 😭 At times it really feels petty and childish and you feel like shouting “Grow up for fucks sake” or many other such things………. I mean why can’t I listen to Tony Blackburn on Radio 2? Is he really going to rock the establishment, is he a threat to “Chinese Democracy” yes that’s a things belive it or not….. Not sure what it looks like though.

I’ve been here a week, the first week was a bit hectic but since we found our new home it’s been good to catch up with old friends.

Some of the houses we saw had some strange architectural features. We went to one place that had three levels which had been made from the original two floors. A few comprises were made along the way as you can see.

Today I went to the old city to find one of the old ladies that have a sowing machine, the two spots that were familiar with me were empty and so I tried another area and came across this old auntie who mended my trousers for 10 RMB.

After catching up with Lydia I made my way back to the SIP to Jinji Lake where I was meeting Sissi and her boss to have dinner in a fancy restaurant, it was very nice.

Her boss is an interesting woman, well travelled and very unconventional compared to others. She is 64, travels alone to many countries on her own and in a few days time is heading to Siberia for a week. She had no fear and enjoys going off the beaten track, a big like myself really.

She treated Sissi and I to a wonderful dinner, noveau cuisine I think is the phrase…… everything expensive, the dishes are all beautifully presented and the portions are small.

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Sissi bought tickets for tonight’s performance and I had a front row seat in the balcony looking down onto the orchestra, perfect.

I don’t know if I have ever been to a performance like this. The sound is amazing and clear without blowing your ears to bits. Watching the individual members of the orchestra is fascinating, the foreigner members seem to be way more animated than the locals, mind you the young solo violinist was incredible and was nearly letting his hair down.

It’s the interval, so looking forward to the second half of the evening. I’ll have to find out what pieces of music they are playing because I haven’t recognised anything so far.

One thing that really surprised me was that I only heard two mobile phones being used although I did see a few people being told off, the Chinese are not known for doing as they agreed told.

Went to 西园寺 today with Lydia, it’s been over four years since we last saw each other but it seemed like only yesterday that we spoke. So familiar and within a few minutes the four years drifted into dust.

The temple was busy, being a Sunday many locals had come to pray to Buddha to ask for all kind of things I’m sure, I didn’t trouble him with anything, I just decided to say hello.

I like some of the temples here, however they are very traditional compared to say Thailand.

Lydia wanted to come here for the noodles and to ask the Buddha a favour, however the restaurant was so busy we headed back outside and found a small place that charged only 8 RMB for a bowl of noodles with veg, incredible!

So delicious 😍

Caught up with Partick today, I met him on my second day in Suzhou many moons ago. He introduced me to many people and places in Suzhou and also gave me an opportunity to teach as well as be a guest at many cultural events. I have to thank him a lot for making life in Suzhou so much better. One of the many friends that I made in my time here.

Still looking for a unit and we ended up walking around the old city near the north tower. It’s all traditional Suzhou architecture using only black and white for effect. It’s interesting getting off the main roads and wandering around here, the atmosphere takes you back to another time until some clown comes tearing up behind you on an Ebike sounding the horn.

Sissi and I spent most of the day looking at new apartments for her to rent. It was a cold wet day and so it was miserable wandering about in the rain. After the 10th tour and having to put on remove covers from shoes it was becoming tedious, we saw the last place at about 9:30pm.

Some of the styles and conditions of these houses are quite unbelievable and miserable at the same time. One of the places was only four years old and it looked like it had been built in the dark ages and then there was the one that had delusions of granduer where the decor and furniture had a Ming Dynasty feel for Emperor who flung dung. It was the gold phone that really wanted to make me vomit.

This is what is being promoted on Chinese Social Media at the moment, not sure that it is the truth somehow. I can’t use my vpn to check the BBC or other news sources but I’m thinking fake news 😁

On the 28th, the State Council held an urgent videoconference of various departments and conveyed the spirit of the provinces and cities throughout the country:
Nanjing Lukou is equivalent to Wuhan seafood market, the situation is very serious, the State Council sent more than 50 experts stationed in Nanjing guidance, Lukou today more than 4000 people emergency transferred to Yangzhou, Zhenjiang medical isolation. This time the virus is stronger than Wuhan, very contagious, Nanjing work has a lot of deficiencies, these two days will increase the code layer by layer, we must protect themselves, do not run more, do not take public transport. ！！！ * the new Covid variant of Delta * can even affect vaccinated people, so be careful!
:: the third wave hits the world *

• Please protect yourself immediately. ***
• * do not go out unless absolutely necessary. ***
• 2. * wear a double mask when you go out *
• 3. * Don’t eat out. Don’t let people enter your home-whether they are relatives or close friends. ***
• 5. * Don’t go to the house of relatives or friends. ***
  These precautions are very important. This has been underestimated in India and Pakistan, where millions of people are now dead. If we do not take precautions now, a large number of people in the world will be destroyed.
• novel coronavirus does not discriminate against the victims and will be infected if he is not careful *

:: world status is accepted. 👇 🏽 *
:: Canada * prohibited inbound and outbound flights, with more than 1000 deaths per day
:: Saudi Arabia * visas are blocked and there are no inbound and outbound flights.
:: Colombia * the border is completely closed.
:: Brazil * is entering its worst phase, with more than 4100 deaths today.
:: Spain * declared that the state of emergency must be extended.

• the United Kingdom * declared the border closed for a month.
• French * locked for 2 weeks.
• Germany * packed for 4 weeks.
• Italy * followed closely.
• all * these * countries confirm that * the third wave of COVID19* killed more victims than the first wave and the second wave. Therefore, we must be very careful and * take all precautions *.
  Become a vigilant communicator between friends and family. :: save everyone from the third wave.
• Don’t judge that the second wave didn’t happen.
  History tells us that, like the Spanish flu of 1917-1919, the third wave is more dangerous than the first wave and the second wave. ***
• protect yourself and your family *.
• maintain biosafety measures, wear masks, maintain social distance, wash hands frequently, etc.

History does not lie. Let’s look back.

:: please do not leave this information to yourself and forward it to family and friends. ***