Moving Along

Several readers have enquired how it came to pass that I have moved home so many times in recent years. I can tell you that few moves were made by personal choice, but rather dictated by circumstances. The current tally is 10 homes in 8 years – which is pretty stupid really!

I’ll begin by leaving Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where I had lived for about 5 years. I’d basically lost everything and run out of options – so I moved back to the parental home on a temporary basis; that would be March 2002. Having no home, no job, no partner, no cash = nothing, you could say I was down and out? I wasn’t of course and I saw it as a new opportunity and a golden chance to do something different with my life. I had somehow managed to keep hold of my car, a mark 3 Scorpio2.9 4x4 made especially for the then Mayor of Dudley. Although old, it was a superb car and came fully featured with leather seats and electric gismos of all types. But I digress…

Over the years I had vaguely wondered about going to University and doing a degree of some description. Years ago this was in ecology and environmental sciences – but when I examined the job market there was not much chance of any worthwhile career arising from the studies. I binned that option way back then. I had always been extremely interested in nuclear physics, but when I looked around for courses there simply weren’t any associated even obliquely in my personal areas of interest. However, whilst I had been working in the West Midlands I had developed a growing interest in computers. I made tentative enquiries with several leading computer faculties, and was immediately offered a place as a mature student at Stafford … hello? That’s where I am living now. Small world. I still contracted for occasional work in the exhibition trade – building stands for companies in places like the NEC, Olympia, and Earls Court. Otherwise I worked around my parent’s home and made many improvements until courses began in late September. It was a requirement of study that I lived in Halls, and I was lucky enough to be given a room in old police quarters on Beaconside. This was a three bedroom semi which I shared with two other students. The whole area was student housing, so we had quite a community going for us. So that’s already three homes in the first year!

I really enjoyed University life and made many new and lasting friends. I also gave some free time to act as a student ambassador, a posh title for showing prospective students around and selling the University to them. This got me known around all the Staffordshire University campus’s and faculties. Whilst I was showing a group of prospective Masters students around my home faculty, I received an urgent message that I was required in Placements office immediately. My placement was not due until the following year, so quite what the fuss was about I could not discern. Fortunately the potential recruits were due for an introductory briefing, so a few minutes later I knocked on the door of opportunity. John Hodgekinson was then in charge of Placements office, and he greeted me amiably. He immediately asked me if I would like to spend my placement year in China. I immediately said “Yes”! And that was that all sorted!

Meanwhile I still had another year of studies ahead, and whilst foreign students living in the Beaconside houses were allowed to stay for two years, I as a native British student was required to move into private accommodation. I queried this with the housing office, pointing out I was a mature student. Their reply was the standard “It is our policy for all (Native) students to spend their second year in private housing. This lets them experience the rigors of short term rental, which in turn prepares them for after they leave University.” I tried to point out I had already experienced this many times, but to no avail … apparently it was deemed good for my personal development. Some student buddies of mine rented a place down Salt Avenue, and knew a room would soon become vacant. I took this and moved again at the end of July 2003.

It is then you realise what a ball-ache moving is. I hired a van (£30) and student friends Mike and Gez helped me move my stuff. Well, what there was of it – as living in one room meant a lot of it was still in boxes scattered around the country. I had to cancel the internet, then get reconnected – I mean, a student studying mobile computing with websites as a second does require constant internet access. The low and behold, the infamous TV Licencing people decreed that because this house was rented to 5 different student tenants, that is required 5 different TV licences – at £ 76 each. Cummon, we students don’t have much money spare, and what we do have will be spent on more useful things like: cigarettes, beer, and girls. To be honest, a lot of mine actually went on computer peripherals and software for my courses of study.

So another academic year comes to pass, and I hang out a lot with Max from Malawi, and his good friend Sandra. Later Sandra needs a place to crash, so takes an empty room in our gaff. She was a student last year, but now is desperately in need of funds to continue her studies – so she fits in well. Completing our home are Kate from Hong Kong (Replaced by Sandra from Malawi), Gez from Stoke (Replaced by Manresa from Pakistan), Kevin from Hong Kong, and Francesca from Italy. It was pretty cool between us all and pretty mixed up also.

My studies went very well, and I was headed a First. I had moved over to more website orientated studies as the semesters passed by, something I really enjoyed, and was also very good at. I (Along with Mike) was one of only 5 students from the entire year to complete all 15 exercises in Java coding. Not bad for an old man of 50 eh! My friendship with Max also grew, and we became the social animals at student disco’s and student union events. I did not press my presence, unless invited; as being a lot older than most I did not want to spoil what they were enjoying by forcing myself into social situations. I think they adopted me as a fun old guy and good for a laugh. Neither was I at all interested in ‘hitting’ on any of the females, although occasionally a look in their eye gave away more information than it should.

Exams were over by the beginning of July, so I had several weeks to chill before my impending departure for China. I spent much of this with my great friend Dawn and her lovely husband Dave. We spent time in the Welsh hills near Snowdonia, and my Russian girlfriend Tanya came over to stay for a few weeks. She loved the castles and the contrast between this area of Snowdonia and London, where she had visited previously. I remember one evening we went to a local bar and the elderly owner was taking a seat beside the bar. His children now ran the place, and it had a traditional elongated snooker table, with two extra balls: purple and orange. It was made from a local bed of slate, and was more than I could master. We introduced Tatiana to this oldster, and he immediately struck up conversation with her in Russian. It transpired that not only did he know of her home city (Nizhniy Novgorod aka Gorky), but had been there years ago. Needless to say we all had a great time that night!

Returning to Stafford a few days before my departure for China, I had ample time to pack virtually all my possessions for storage, and sort out what to take with me. Mike again helped me move, and we later caught up when he and his wife Marisol (Yeah, she’s Spanish) came out to visit. I document the travel and arrival in China in the missive “Destination China”.

Arriving to the hottest place I have ever experienced in the world, I move into my new gaff around 10am. All I have with me from my previous lives is one suitcase and a load of memories. The flight was awful (Air France), and I am really jet-lagged and out of it for most of the day. However, the apartment is pukka, and nothing like what I was expecting. Well, I don’t actually know what I was expecting, but after two years of living in a small room within a shared house, this seemed like a palace!

Much of my time in China is covered by missives, some not published as yet. I won’t regurgitate contents here, except to allow for some small continuality. However, let’s check – Heah! It’s now July 2004, and I am already on gaff number 5!

My contract is slightly vague, but I am here in a town called Long Jiang for the next 12 to 16 months. Immediately we are into a 5-week Summer Camp and concurrent English Speaking Competition. August simply vanishes within the blink of an eye, although I do spend 5-days in Beijing. I tumble to the fact that some things are kept hidden from Neal, my great friend and person responsible for offering me a chance to work in China. Having run my own company for 8 years, I know some of the tricks people can do with ‘cash’ China is a wholly cash-based society, so it wasn’t long before I sussed a few things out. I did eventually tell Neal, but I don’t think he believed me until a Chinese friend told him virtually the same some months later.

By then I was long-gone. My first lesson in Chinese business was that contracts don’t mean a thing; and are basically the starting point from which Chinese bosses begin to change things to their own advantage. This contrasts so markedly with the hard working staff whom are so genuine and helpful. Having completed all the work of my contract by mid January 2005, I received a txt message on 19^th stating that from the end of the month I was no longer employed. I was not due back in UK until October, and still had 9 months left on my visa. I asked if I could continue to rent the apartment, or take over the lease. Both requests were immediately turned down, and I was informed quite forcefully that come the first of February I had to be out.

Well, that’s an unexpected problem then.

I basically get wrecked that night, and find I am left with 8 days within which time to find new digs. In UK this would be a serious problem, but in China it doesn’t really work the same way. I was undecided what to do, but took a chance on moving to the nearby city called Foshan. I had a friend there called Irene, and she met me a few days later to help me find somewhere to rent. It was a bit of a nightmare, which another soon to be published missive covers in detail, but suffice to say I learnt a great deal that day about Chinese Face. Having eventually convinced both Irene and the rental agents that I did not want to live in a brand new and pokey rabbit hutch, I was finally shown an older 3-bed gaff that was excellent. I loved it immediately, and we signed contracts later that same day. I had built in a ‘grace’ period, so whilst the contract did not officially begin until 1^st February, I could move stuff in the day or two before.

Now all I had to do was get my stuff moved. I talked to the owner of the local bar I used, and he came to the rescue. Therefore on the 28^th January he and the manager of a local brewery rocked up in a small truck, and we all worked to make my move as smooth as possible. They wouldn’t even accept any money from me, so I treated them dinner back in Longjiang. Did you know that Chinese bar owners and brewery managers are quite good at drinking beer? Well, I don’t remember getting home that night, but recollect having a mother of a hangover the next midday. Sure, we all had a great time that night – which was also my send-off party.

Around 2pm on 28^th, the apartment landlady shows up with one of the directors, and they basically check and decide everything is ok. I hand over the keys and depart for my new gaff in Foshan. This year my removals clash quite badly with Chinese New Year, which is the one time all Chinese go home to be with family. It is my first time, and I worry about finding suitable supplies. Therefore I drop by several retailers before heading to my new home, stocking up with essentials like: cigarettes, beers, and pot noodles. As it happens, I needn’t have worried because it turned out China works: 24/7/365 … or 366 this year!

I take with me in my heart several new friends, most notable of which are: Jane, the office manageress; Uncle Sam, who we learn a lot more about later; Kenny, Step, Jeff from Oz, Folora, and Caroline – an English teacher who leaves Longjing a few days after I do. She has two weeks associated holiday at the end of her contract, but is no longer allowed to stay at the school she has taught in – so she bases herself at my new gaff, and goes off exploring China with her boyfriend Chris. My guanxi or network of friends also includes: Harvey Wu, Nancy Wu, office girls Sue and Yuki, The bar owner, several Chinese English teachers, Men Gai – the owner of the first streetbar I frequented, Andy and Hervey – two lads from my first night in China when I went ‘walkabout’, and many others too numerous to mention.

Arriving in Foshan I am well settled in the new gaff, which lies on ‘Moi Gui Dong Lo’. You could probably play football in the living room, and the three bedrooms are all at least double bed size. The kitchen is western, and there is also a wash area and two bathrooms, with shower. My deal was made with a guy who appeared to be from Hog Kong, whilst I usually pay Ivy, who has spent 2 years studying at University in England. The rental period is for 10 months at my request – as this is when my visa runs out, and about right for my return to Stafford campus also. However, I decide I like China so very much, I stay another year. They hike the rental from Y2, 000 per month to 2, 400. I agree to this, on condition we can hold the rent static for two years. They agree and so I spend all of 22 months living in the same apartment – a wonder.

During this time three important others come into my life. The first is Eason, and he is a designer of condominiums and interiors. We meet one evening by chance at a local streetbar, and later over the years our friendship developes into that of ‘Brothers’. I learn a great deal about China and being Cantonese from him, supplemented with lots of beer, girls, and local food. The second is Candy + her husband Lawrence. I have the greatest respect for Candy because she taught herself English! Later she becomes a central member of China Expat’s, and also becomes Dave’s main person in China. Dave arrives first in February 2007, and he is from Stafford, and even played squash at the same places I did, at the same time. However, we had never met before = how odd? We source for him and develop to loading containers and handling all his exports – in company with Step from Longjiang. We have a great team setup, and Dave soon becomes another true friend. As is my way in life – we all interact with each other, Eason taking over nightime drinking duties on behalf of Candy. We are all very close and have a great circle of friends and lifestyle.

Accommodation problems begin the October of 2006, when my new Thai girlfriend Yupa is visiting for the second time. I go into the meeting expecting to sign for another 12 months. The Hong Kong guy opens by stating the new rent is set at Y2, 800 per month. I am riled instantly, and Yupa immediately picks up on this and places a calming hand on my arm. I bite my words, but only just. His smile reminds me of Toad of Toad Hall for some equivocal reason? We discuss and eventually agree at Y2, 600 per month, fixed for 2-years. Again! Ivy no longer looks me in the eye … so I know what is coming already next time.

During the intervening period I enjoy life, and Yupa moves on with her life (We are still good friends, but her life is in Bangkok, and mine in Canton). Eason and I spend most nights out together doing ‘Boys stuff’, and Siu Ying comes into my life during June 2007, and after staying for one night – she never left! We are cool as a couple, and continue with our crazy lives.

Come October, and Mr Toad is back for more. He opens this time by stating the new rent is now Y3, 000 per month, and no offers! I repeat the terms of our last agreement, being Y2, 600 fixed for 2-years. They say it was never so, and whilst Ivy hides behind the knowledge that I am correct (Her face gives her away), her ‘brother’ proffers his smarmiest smile and looks just like a fat toad at a bug festival. His demeanour is that of Jabba the Hutt, and knowing these lies were coming, I play a small part in his self-efficating mockery. I make a comment about Chinese being deceitful and having no face, to which Ivy squirms, and toad-boy smiles. No way am I accepting this type of treatment, and so we agree to differ. Ivy then states I have to move out as they need the place for their parents (Who actually live in another apartment a few floors below). Chinese shenanigans at work, and I am not that stupid. I say ‘OK’, and ask to extend our current agreement until the end of the year – at the existing monthly rent. I have a lot going on right now and moving complicates things greatly for me. They are not happy, but it appears to suit all of us. We agree to two months held at the same rental, and off they go! We will move out around Christmas then.

This is a record of sorts, as I have lived in the same apartment (March 2005 to December 2007) for 34 months!

I later verified that this apartment was left empty for the next 2-years at least. You see, rather than rent at less than the most modern of housings rental prices, Chinese landlords would prefer to have no rent. This is their face. If they rent for a lower price then they give their face away. To me it is plain bonkers.

So between Christmas and New Year 2007, in between playing Father Christmas at the local restaurant for kid’s parties, and loading a container bound for UK, we also move home. I set ‘The Rottweiller’ on the task (AKA: Siu Ying in negotiating mode), and we ended up moving to another apartment within the same block. This complex is a complete block for the first 3 floors, and from floor number 4 apartment blocks rise. The forth floor also has a kiddies playground, swimming pool, and other attractions + the management office and staff quarters.

Due to logistics we actually sign for the new apartment on the 17^th, but specify we won’t move in until the 27^th at earliest. This suits the new landlady very fine, as she still has some work to do and things to supply. Therefore, whilst the contract is physically singed on the 17^th, it is only effective from 27^th. Well, that is what is stated in black and white. I pay two months in advance as deposit + one months rent. We get the keys around Christmas day, and actually move beginning on the 27^th. It takes a few days, as we are basically carrying everything over the flat roof on floor 4, a suitcase at a time. This is at 3 am by the way. By 29^th I have to order Siu Ying to find a couple of beefy likely lads to hump the heavy stuff over, which she does and we are moved. This is detailed in missive “7 Days Before Christmas 2007”.

We live there for the next 20 months, until such time as the credit crisis has taken deep root, the Beijing Olympic madness has seen the price of visa’s sky-rocket, and with the RMB rising and Pound falling … something had to give! Our landlady, an English teacher who can’t speak any English, lost a lot of money through the financial crisis, and wants to replace it from us. We are also suffering, and it’s the new and ridiculously expensive, short-term only visa’s - more than any other factor that, are making my life hell.

The Chinese reacted to the financial crisis (Their first), by completely stopping spending any money. Restaurants closed and my burgeoning business simply stopped dead! Instead, any spare money was immediately put into savings accounts. My Landlady then began altering our contract, so that rent was due on 17^th, and not 27^th. Then we sort of lost a month, as the month I paid for in advance, became the current month (OK), which then became last month – she was using the 17^th to do this. I tried to set Siu Ying on the task, but ultimately had to concede that without Chinese litigation, I was going to loose 1-months rent to her … simply because she needed the money for her ‘Face’. You can perhaps tell I am becoming slightly jaundiced now by Chinese contracts and landlords/ladies.

Come June 2009 I have had enough and am looking to move = anywhere else! I settle on the Island at Gaogong, as the rent is a mere Y500 per month; and a sharp drop from our current Y2, 800. To renew she wanted Y3, 300 by the way. The new gaff is a tad ‘rural’, but has three bedrooms and is a detached gaff near the island centre. Siu Ying refuses 3 offers to go and check the pad out, so we move late August 2009.

This is all detailed in my Island series of missives, but basically Siu Ying hates it.

This is complicated by the fact she is very pregnant – but hasn’t bothered to tell me yet … even though I support her and ask how our baby is doing? What a bizarre world I appear to inhabit. But life is also good and now our finances are finally under our control, we can begin to enjoy life a lot more.

Whilst my wife and I were both born into farming communities, we are basically city people these days. I did find the island retreat to be very stimulating and peaceful – so much so it was very easy to set time aside to write these missives, or pick up the guitar and play. Whilst I retain a 5-year lease on the island home (Now sublet to Uncle Sam), family logistics with a new baby needing both Mother and Father present prompted our latest and hopefully last move. This also has a lot to do with Chinese culture, because any newborn baby is normally looked after by its Grandmother. Therefore Siu Ying basically left our island home in February 2010 and never returned. She stayed with her Mother, learning how to be a Mother herself. As a couple, it was very difficult for us to be separated for so long, and again, somehing had to give!

This prompted our move to Toisan City, a short bus ride from her Mother’s home, whilst offering us city life as a family of three. Our new gaff is so similar to those of Foshan, but comes at a fraction of the monthly cost, and basically it has 5 bedrooms! I really like it here, and city streets suit us all well. We are so central to everything of any consequence to our daily lives that the living is easy, and the rice is high.

Adding-up and that comes to 9 homes within 8 and a bit years. Perhaps I forgot about one? It’s still a lot by anyone’s standards I am sure. I really hope this one lasts, if simply because I am really fed up with moving all the time!