Lots Going On - Double time

Okay so today is when this shit gets real, to quote not only Bad Boys II, but more importantly, Hot Fuzz.
As I type, two men are in our apartment packing up all our worldly goods to ship them off to China on a container. I've always fancied a long sea voyage, although as Caroline pointed out, it wouldn't be much fun in a container. Have to ask Jack Bauer, that's how we last saw him at the end of Season 5 heading off to China.
I think my entry will be a little less dramatic.
It certainly should be now that it has been confirmed my visa request will be approved, I'm relieved - the olympics has been making visas harder and harder to come by, but I've got the coveted (by me) 'Z' visa. Or I will have when I take the work permit and invitation letter to the Chinese Consulate in Manchester. It's all going to be a bit of a rush though, hopefully all will work like clockwork. Caroline also received her contract today - again a big relief, it means she can start on 1 September as planned and I won't be spending all of September alone in Beijing, where I don't yet know a seoul. Probably surviving on food like this.
A slight surprise with the length of the contract though, what we expected to be 18 months is in fact 3 years.
So it looks like we're going to be in China until 2011, when I'll be 31!

Our Leaving BBQ & preparing to move

So, ... this is the first of (hopefully) many blogs from the German. After Mark has showed me the beauty of making this page our own, I thought I straight away use the opportunity to just summarise our leaving party last Saturday. Many many people came (even some we didn't invite and thought they could just steal a sausage without even knowing us. What has the world come to?). Food was plentyful and thanks to Ben, the Master Chef, we had a constant supply of grilled goods, to (even ones we didn't own).

The night ended at our house (no neighbours in sight) with Water Pipe (strawberry and apple flavour after loud discussion) and Tamey's wedding DVD. At 4am, Kerry, Richard and Ben got a taxi and I went to bed. Mark and Steven managed to stay up even longer (I'm clearly too old for this these days).

So, what is to come? Well, on Wednesday we will move out of our pretty little flat and seek asylum at Mr & Mrs Henderson's house. On Sunday, I will fly back to Europe mainland and enjoy the German sun, Mark is to follow on the 18th. And then, .... off to Beijing!!!!!!!!!!

Introduction to Beijing

The blog is far from finished, so expect some changes.
In fact it hasn't even really started.
However, I did see this page on the Guardian and thought it might be a useful link for anyone who doesn't have a clue what Beijing is like.
Obviously stay tuned and you'll get a better description straight from the horses mouth.
Or mine, if the horse is tired.