Craziest week yet!

This past week:

Monday, went to see Kylie Minogue. Sure, not the coolest, and I did go with a bunch of girls, but nonetheless it was a pretty impressive show, in a great arena, and she pulled out a few classics. China doesn't get a lot of big names, so it was well worth going.

Tuesday...one of the year 7s at school, who I tutor, is the son of one of the most famous Chinese film directors. His most famous film in the west is Farewell My Concubine, and he has won a Palm d'Or at Cannes for another film. So...quite impressive. His son had four tickets to the premiere of his new film, and he gave me one! It stars Zhang Ziyi, perhaps the most famous Chinese film star (Crouching Tiger, Memoirs of a Geisha, Hero, House of Flying Daggers - so pretty awesome!), and also Leon Lai, who is a massive Hong Kong popstar. We went out to 'China Hollywood' for it. In fact, we did not see the film; it was a kind of chat show, Q & A session with all the stars of the film, interspersed with music, dancing, and excerpts from the film, which actually comes out this week. Despite the fact that it was all in Mandarin, and I couldn't understand a word (!), it was still pretty amazing to be there. Once people found out we were with the son of the director (plus we were probably the only white people there!), we were moved right to the front, only a few seats down from the director, Zhang Ziyi and Leon Lai.

Wednesday was a friend's birthday, and we went to one of the pretty cool Western places here for pizza and drinks. Once again, wasn't home until the early hours. Thursday I played football 8-10pm, in a temperature that, given wind chill, was calculated to be minus 22! Probably the coldest I have ever been. Took Friday easy, then partied again Saturday till about 3am. Got up early Sunday, played football for the last time before the winter break, scored the crucial goal in a 1-0 win, so that was great; then in the evening managed to find a bar showing Norwich vs Ipswich, and we beat them, so was in a very good mood!

This is all on top of the fact that my minimum average work day at the moment is about 8am-6pm, often later, and I'm up at half 6 every day. I am knackered! Got football xmas party next Saturday, and school xmas party Sunday, and a big carol concert to get the kids ready for. Off to California in 11 days!

Busy Billy x