Day Thirty Five – Out on the town

Today has been totally different – weather wise and emotions. We had a low day yesterday. Jill was very tired and things where just a bit too much. A good night sleep for all of us and a new day – the typhoon has passed and the weather is very humid but no rain.
We were up at 6.30am and then we decided to go to Macca’s for breakfast- I should say that I went to Macca’s early (7.45am) Hash browns, Bacon & Egg McMuffin & Sausage & Egg McMuffin. Tastes much the same as back in OZ.
Early morning much the same as usual Mary cleaned the room and we even had a change of bedding today. This was followed by a visit from Doctor Liang who had prescribed some tablets for Jill’s knees. She is still having a fair bit of pain. He said that he can inject some medicine into the Knee joint. Called Diprospan – we looked it up on the net -he says that Jill will need a course of 4 injections (one per week) Jill decided that she would have one tomorrow and then get the rest when we get back to Oz. So another early rise and ANOTHER INJECTION.
Chis has persuaded Jill to use a wheel chair and we could all go to Rainbow Department Store. He went to the office to see if we could hire a wheel chair and within minutes a wheel chair was at the door and Jill now had no excuse. We went down in the lift and out the front of the Hospital. Once outside we were exposed to the humid conditions of Shenzhen. As we passed through the gates there were street vendors selling fruit , toys and gifts. We were passing one when Jill noticed hair clips so we enquired how much , we were told 5rmb that was for 10 clips on a card, which we paid for with a 10rmb and then saw a different one which was 2rmb . A total mix up on my part had me walk away having only paid 2RMB for the lot. We continued down the street and found some counting posters for children and were in the process when the lady came after us. After some shouting at us she got the other 5 RMB (90cents) and we continued on down the street. The next major achievement was to cross the street with the wheel chair. We finally got to Rainbow and Jill had a look at the shoe department, but could not make her mind up. We then negotiated the escalators to get up to the Supermarket. Just near the entrance to the Supermarket was a Croissants de France a restaurant. We decided to have lunch. Turned out to be really great- Jill had her much loved Cappuccino and tiramisu, Chris had Gourmet Hawaiian Pizza, I had beef burgundy on rice- also included was soup and garlic bread for each of us (total cost 75RMB – $14A that also included 4 orange juices and a takeaway beef burgandy) I had to ask in my best Chinese (English) if we could leave the takeaway here and pick it up after the supermarket – that worked out Ok. The super market amazed Jill, the variety of vegetables, the live fish, the cold goods and teh number of staff. We had seen a packet of popping corn to make popcorn in the microwave back at the community room at Nanshan. Jill said she would like some – again it was my turn to ask one of the girls if she could show me where it was. I then finished with six girls and a young chap and me writing in English what I was after. (Anybody that has seen my writing would know that that was an impossible situation) The young Chinese chap apologised for his poor English to which I apologised and said that his English was much better than my Chinese. We finished up at the corn cobs in the vegetable department – that’s where I called it quits. We continued through the Supermarket and back to the restaurant to pick up our takeaway and on the way found a lift – turned to be the service elevators again. We were invited into the lift by a staff member and finished up at the rear of the store where their inwards goods come in. We then had to negotiate an alley and some weird smells. Back on the street in front of Rainbow and then the trip back via the road crossing at the lights to 1923. On the way back we passed another restaurant which is close to the hospital and Chris & I decided we might try it for dinner tonight.

An hours rest- returned the Wheel chair and we were off to Rehab. While Jill and I started rehab Chris went to Bill & Babs to help with his computer. Jill’s first part of rehab was a massage from Doctor Wang. Elizabeth came and sat in and pretended to learn how to massage. Next was physical Rehab. Jill has improved at the walking exercise. She was able to walk without holding the frame (first time). From there we went to Voice. Jack was not there today .The doctor was massaging Paola’s hands; she was flying with her daughter back to Italy tonight. Kath was also in there waiting for her turn on the Vocastim machine.
On our way back to 1923 we dropped in on Wayne & Robyn to find out when Robyn was getting her injection (she thought about 6pm finished being 7.45pm) Wayne had been out on the street again and purchased a laptop computer from a bloke on the street for 300rmb ($50A0) only problem the operating system is in Chinese. Chris had a look but could see no way to make it change into English.
Chris & I went back to Ming Tien Coffeelanguage for dinner. It turned out to be an easy process as they spoke some English and the menu was in picture form and description in both Chinese and English. The problem we had was making a decision. Finally we had out food and back in 1923 we were completely satisfied. At the super market we had brought a can of Chinese Beer manufactured by the Blue Lion Company. It tasted really good. Chris decided to buy some more.
Well Jill has had a very busy and has gone to bed – to listen to the late night quiz on the ABC- She is asleep and the Quiz about to start.
Sorry for all this waffle – see you tomorrow on the net.

Chris’s Contribution – For those of you with patience or broadband connections -
(You can also right click on the links and select “save as” to save down to your local machine)

Mac talking to Macca on Australia All Over 16/07/2006 – Audio Download (795 kb)
Jill at Rehab 17/07/2006 – Walking Exercise – Video Download (780 kb)