My Key Number for 2025 is 25

Posted on 5 January 2025 by Di Hill

My Number is 25

Last year was an interesting year for me.  I experienced many highs and awful lows, which I will not explain here.  I don’t even want to think about it myself – except the big good events.  I decided to make 2025 very exciting for me. I chose my key number for the year as  25.  The number 25 is a BIG number in my life.  It was the day, in July, many years ago that my life started.

It was still wartime – not that I knew it, of course. But a few years later, I learned a little of how it impacted my parents, grandparents, family and friends. The lack of food, housing, and workers affected our lives, and I recall seeing the searchlights scanning the skies looking for enemy planes above the city. We had our evening meal by lamplight, and the house was the home of 6 adults and 3 children.

My parents were both in the Australian Army when they met, and my mother had to be discharged when she became pregnant after they married. The year I was born was 1944, so the number 4 is a number I write on the many occasions I still have to record my date of birth. Yes, I am 80 – 2 times 40, if you like maths.

The house that my father built in 1948, was at 48 Railway Terrace, so the number 4 is a frequent one in my world.

My Plans for the year 2025.

So, what are my plans for the year 2025? I have made some decisions, and many are still “in progress.”

I have, for several years, wanted to return to university and study for a PhD.  Yes, a big step with several years of full-time research. I was accepted a couple of years ago, but did not proceed.  Will I apply again?  Which university?  I do have a plan on what to study and research, but I am not quite ready yet.  However, it is my plan to take further steps towards this study, this year.

Late last year, I was elected President of the Older Women’s Network Queensland – which is quite a demanding role, so my study plans cannot proceed while I am committed to this organisation.  But I can find time to do my planning for the study.

This year I am also going to focus on my writing. I do have a plan to publish a collection of short stories on Amazon Kindle Direct shortly, and I plan to enter three or more writing competitions this year and just may finish two other major writing projects.

I have written about my mother–who passed away several years ago.  I’m just about to add a collection of photos of her, and I will have about 10 copies printed for the immediate family.  This project is almost completed.

Yes, I have also written in my plan to blog more often, and I have been working on a new blog with a special project that I do not wish to promote at this point.

Other plans for 2025 are:

Photography

I intend to print more of my photos on cards (as I have been doing for several years) and give them away to people and request that they write to people who are lonely, or unwell.

And I will do my usual photography – visiting places and writing about them and the pictures.  Then choosing the best ones for my cards.

My Key Number for 2025 is 25 1

Travel

I’d like to do some travelling, but for some of my plans I need a new car, but have not got the funds, yet, to buy one. I will be doing a nearly 1000 trip by train from Brisbane to Mackay in Queensland. Do I have other plans for travel this year?  Yes, but no details yet.

Housing

I am pondering moving – no major decisions yet, but I am downsizing and getting rid of many items that I may no longer use. Finding new accommodation is not an easy thing to do, and the downsizing is taking longer than I imagined, but I will keep going until I am satisfied.

Family

I have 4 wonderful grandchildren–2 who lived less than 10 kms from where I live, and the other two around 80 kms away. The eldest moved to Melbourne around 1 year ago, and the second eldest is moving to Darwin in a few weeks.  I will miss them. I plan to spend more time with the two younger ones (both adults) who live an hour’s drive away.  And I will keep in close touch with their parents too.

What is your key number for 2025, dear reader?

 

 

 

 

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An Inspiration – Lady Olave Baden-Powell

Posted on 4 January 2025 by Di Hill

An Inspiration – Lady Baden-Powell

I have always admired Lady Olave Baden-Powell. I learned about her and her husband, Sir Robert Baden-Powell before I was even a teenager. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I became a member of the Girl Guide movement as a Brownie (junior Girl Guide). My mother was a Girl Guide in her teens and later went on to take on senior positions in the Movement. I continued in Guides until I was around 19 years of age.

Lady Baden-Powell, was the wife of Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement for boys in 1908, and later with his sister Agnes Baden-Powell the Girl Guide movement started.

Robert was born on February 22nd, 1889, and he and Olave married in 1912.  He was 32 years her senior.  Olave initially supported her husband in the Scout movement, and when Guides started she became involved with them.

“{In 1916 she was chosen to be County Commissioner and two years later became Chief Guide for Britain. In 1920 Olave helped form an International Council which grew and developed, and eventually became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). She was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.

In 1932, Olave was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King George V in recognition of her volunteer work.”

She was the only person to be the World Chief Guide.

Source – https://girlguidesballarat.org.au/resources/history-of-girl-guides/olave-baden-powell/

It was 1957 that Lady Baden-Powell visited Adelaide, South Australia, and I met her. I was the Patrol Leader of the Swallow Patrol of the 1st Warradale group, and there was a state competition, prior to her visit, and the visitors were to be introduced to Lady Baden-Powell.  Our patrol came second, and I met her at an event in the South Road Parklands, Adelaide.  I do have a photo taken at the event of Lady Baden-Powell and the State Commissioner – but none of me meeting her.

I remember repeating the Guide Promise – which was:

“I promise that I will do my best:

  • to do my duty to God
  • to serve the Queen and my country;
  • to help other people; and to keep the Guide Law.”

I believe that my experience in Guiding and the Christian community set my standards for my life, and I have no doubt that my love of Lady Baden-Powell had influence.

Old Family Photo - around 1962

Guide Family – Sister Chrissie on the left, our mother, the regional commissioner, and me on the right.

Lady Baden-Powell, as the leader of the organisation for a long time, especially in my formative years, set the standards for me to follow.  I did continue with Guides until I left home and went nursing, and had random involvement with the organisation.  Sadly, my regular moving did not make it easy to get involved.

I learned later that she was also a writer, as was her husband, though I have not read any of her works, I am pleased to know that she did.  She travelled around the world for many years visiting members of the Guide movement, which more well known in those days, as it was one of the major organisations dedicated to girls and women.

She died in 1977 at the age of 88 years.

I do think of her often, and even reading about her now makes me quite emotional, for she really was a brilliant leader and an inspiration for women and girls. I really admire the work she did and kept doing long after her husband died.

An Inspiration - Lady Olave Baden-Powell 2

In the Guide Hall that my father built, speaking with one of the leaders.

(I’m still looking for a photo of Lady Baden Powell taken in Adelaide in 1957)

I welcome comments.

 

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My Life, My Story

Posted on 3 January 2025 by Di Hill

My Life

I have loved writing forever, and don’t plan to stop.  As a child I was a good reader, and into my teens was writing – many words to my pen pals in UK, Asia and Australia.  These days “penpals” still exist but it can be different.  In those days we wrote letters by hand, inserted the letter into an envelope, wrote the name and address of the person who was to receive the letter, added a postage stamp, and put the letter into one of the red mailboxes that were commonplace in towns and suburbs.  Then we’d wait. And wait, for the reply.

I had no idea what my life would turn out to be!!

I was born before the end of World War II – in Adelaide, South Australia.  I have a lot of memories of that time with search lights scanning the skies for years after the war ended.

My education was in various schools in the suburbs of Adelaide, and I finished school at 16 years, and went to work in an office, which I hated.  I later worked for a doctor and it was there that I was inspired to do nursing training.

Leaving Home at 18 years

I packed up and left home, moving to a country town of Mt Gambier to live in the “Nurses Home” – accommodation for the students learning and working in the local hospital.  I have written many stories of our life there – and I left after graduating, and worked in Melbourne, Victoria for a few months before returning to Mt Gambier to do my Midwifery.  The course was cancelled the week before it was due to start, so I stayed on at the hospital for another year before getting married.  I left Mt Gambier and South Australia, never to return.

My Life, My Story 3

Only in China

The next years I lived in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – as my husband was transferred back and forth – but ended staying in Queensland, so that the children could get all their education in one state.  And there I remain.

My Careers

For most of my working life I was a nurse, or medical representative working in hospitals and medical practices, but along the way I was a marketing manager for two major shopping centres, owned a craft gallery, and became a trainer and subsequently went to university and gained a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational teaching, which lead me to my life as a “teacher”.

My Crazy Life

I worked in Brisbane at a couple of adult education centres, before heading to China to teach ESL in a college/university in 2008 and 2020, and South Korea in 2009.

When I returned from my last teaching contract in China, my marriage broke up and for the next few years I was homeless (to some degree), and housesat for several years, before  surviving high rental places, before living in an old bus.

I certainly have stories to tell!!  My life is not the way I had imagined it would be – and I don’t know what life I have waiting for me.

Oh, there’s much more to my story – I’ve been involved in many women’s organisations, done a lot of volunteer work, been a guest speaker, and so much more.

I have driven around Australia on my own in my Mitsubishi lancer and driven to Uluru in my old bus, and had exciting wonderful and no so wonderful experiences. The grandchilden used to call me “Adventure Grandma”.

My Life, My Story 4

My Bus at Uluru

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Ultimate Blog Challenge 2025

Posted on 2 January 2025 by Di Hill

The Ultimate Blog Challenge 2025

This is not the first time I have challenged myself by participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge – but this time I hope to keep up with the daily posts.  I have a bad habit of taking on more than I can really manage, so by starting right at the beginning of the year, before all my meetings and other activities start, I have expectations of keeping up to date with the daily projects.

 My Blogging History

I started blogging way back twenty years ago, in 2005, when I was planning a trip to Ireland to do some research.  So many of my friends and family requested that I keep them up to date with my travels online. It was then I discovered “Blogging”.  I set up a site that I paid for – and did my best to keep it updated on my travels.  At the time, I had to go to places that had computers and access to the internet and update details of my travels.

After I returned to Australia, people asked me for information and advice about blogging and I ended up helping others set up their sites.  I used the free Blogger.com program initially and that is the site that I recommend for newbies.  It’s easy and free!  Eventually, I was doing training for library programs and helping people set up their own blogs.

Quite a few years later I met a young man who had taught himself WordPress. He was involved with the WordPress communities in our state.  Soon I was attending WordPress Meetups and conferences learning more and more.  I still use WordPress and also Blogger, but I don’t have a niche. I did not set out to earn money, but as a writer, I just enjoy telling stories and that is what I do.

What am I going to do in 2025?

Here I am at the start of 2025, and still “fine-tuning” my plans for the year.  Yes, I am going to work on two of my blogs, and yes, I would like to earn some money.  I am essentially “retired” – I am in my 80’s, and have plans to publish several of my writing projects.

With my blog, I am going to go back through my thousands of photos and write about them – one at a time.  My first one will be about the journey I took way back in 2005.  I flew alone from Brisbane, Queensland, to London, and Dublin, and on the return journey to Australia, I spent a few days in Hollywood. One photo that I will write about is of the time I spent there. The following photo is my “inspiration” for the post.

Ultimate Blog Challenge 2025 5

One of the Stars on Hollywood footpath in 2005.

I remember flying into Los Angeles airport and catching a taxi to Hollywood, where I had a booking at a back-packer place.  I recall dragging my luggage up 3 flights of stairs to reception, and I asked about the location of the dormitory I was going to stay in.  The lady told me it was a further 3 or more flights of stairs, so I cancelled my booking, and dragged my luggage back down to the street.

When I went into a strange nearby shop that one could use their computers, I made a booking at the Hollywood Hills Hotel, but before I left the shop, I was approached by two staff who were aggressive and wanted me to have a tattoo, which of course I didn’t.  In the end I had to push my way past them and run down the street to escape.  Another taxi ride later and I ended up in the amazing Hotel, which had a lot of history!!

So, I am starting the new year with the Ultimate Blog Challenge – and hoping, no, intending, to complete one post every day!  I look forward to participating and reading others’ blog posts.

I plan to have a fun and fulfilling 2025, and get some or all of the items on my 2025 To-Do List completed, and maybe more.

It’s going to be a BIG YEAR!

Comments are welcome.

 

 

 

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Cards from Students

Posted on 1 January 2025 by Di Hill

Cards from Students

There were many wonderful experiences during my time teaching in China, way back 16 years ago.   One of the wonders of teaching English there was the end of semester events.  I was surprised to receive small card sof thanks from the students – with many wonderful words of inspiration to me.  I treasure the many cards or notes from my students.

I have one collection in a small pottery bowl, and I confess to occasionally reading many of them when I feel down.  They really make me cheer up.  Today I was clearing out a box of sewing materials and knitting wool and found another of my collection of encouraging and inspiring words from students, and I decided to write them down, and post on my blog.

Christmas – end of semester

These are the ones from Christmas 2008 – when I learned that it was not acceptable to celebrate this event, despite some celebratory material in shops, and the occasional Santa walking in the streets.  I must say that a Chinese Santa looks quite different to one we would see in Australia.  He was usually a very skinny person, dressed in the familiar red outfit with white fluffy collars etc.  We Aussies always laughed when we saw one.  I had to teach on that day, and unknown to me beforehand, the students had prepared a Christmas lunch, and at the beginning of class, they locked the door, and blacked out the windows with newspaper and we sang Christmas Carols as we ate their fancy food.

It was the end of the school year, and many students did not know if I was returning the following year – I didn’t and spent some time teaching in South Korea, but did return in 2010.

Love you.  Happy every day.  We will miss you

To Dianna.  Merry Christmas and Happy everyday. Become more and more beautiful.

Diane, Wherever you go, our heart will always going with you!!  I will miss you.

Dear Dinna, I’m so sad to hear that you will back in Australia.  During this term I feel very happy to together with you.  Thank you for your teaching.  You’re reall a lovely grandma.  I love you forever.  And I’m very glad to see you in 2010. 

You’ll always in my mind.  Best Wishes for Dianna

Give you my best wishes.

Dear Dianna I love you forever.  Your smile will on my mind all the way.

To Diana, I wish you have happiness everyday.  And we love you forever!

One Dianna, One Class.  No matter where will you go, you are always in my heart! Keep healthy and happy everytime.

To Dianna, You look lovely and I will love you forever so you always remember me.  Do you remember that Australia is one of my favourite country! Do please wait me.  I will come to Australia in the future.  Remember me.

All of us feel lucky that we met you. You are so lovely that we like you very much.  Happy everyday.

I don’t know what can I say to you.  You are my best foreign friend. Best Wishes for you.  I will miss you!


Dear Dianna.  Happy everyday!! No matter where you go I will love you forever.

Best Wishes! Merry Christmas!  We will miss you all the time.  It’s an unforgettable period when you stay with us.I love you.

Dear Diana.  I hope u happy everyday and u’ll be back.  I’ll miss u very much.  Thank you.

Happy Everyday!!! I will miss you.  You must remember me.

Dear Dianna.  I am very sorry to hear that you will go back.  We all like you very much.  And you give me deep impression.  We will remember you forever. I’m waiting for you.

God Bless you!!! I have the same belief with you.  I wish God with you all the way.

I miss you very much.  I love you forever.

Merry Christmas. Love you.  You’re my first foreign teacher and you will be in my memory forever.

To Dianna, Wish you happy everyday and we will be right here waiting for your come back.

To Dianne, thinking of you and wishing you Merry Christmas season.

I will treasure the unforgettable and happy time we spent together.  I love you forever.

Dianna, you are a very lovely lady.  I wish you have a good and happy Christmas.  You are the first foreign teacher I have met.  I love you very much and also your class.

I was so happy that I can learn English with you.  It’s so fun and I will remember you forever.  Hope you happy everyday.  Love you.

I’ll remember you forever.  I’ll love you forever.  No matter wherever you are.  Please remember there is still a student who miss you in this world besides your family and friends.

May happiness follow you wherever you go.  May joy and health be with you always.

Happy everyday. If I have a chance to go to Australia I’ll call you.

Dianna,  Remember never forget put smiles on your face. Miss you forever.

Dear Dianna, I still remember you encourage us to speak loudly and I’ll remember it forever.  Thank you for your teaching.  We are students in China forever.  Merry Christmas.

“A teacher who can arouse a feeling for one single good action, for one single good poem, accomplishes more than sharing knowledge.  Best Wishes.

To Diana, I will not forget the memory that you teach me English at Yuexiu.  Merry Christmas.  And happy everyday!

Dear Dianna I very happy that I can meet with you here.  I hope you can be happy everyday in the future and I can meet you in the future. At last I will remember you forever!

 

 

 

 

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My Terracotta Warrior Story in Xian

Posted on 23 December 2024 by Di Hill

My Xian Warrior Story

My Terracotta Warrior Story in Xian 6

The Book from the 1983 Warrior Exhibition in Australia

Back in 1983, I had no idea I would one day visit Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors.  This is how it happened.

I remember that in 2008, when I was offered a chance to teach in China, I said I was not interested. At the time I had no wish to go to China, but I did have a long history of learning about China. I had read a few books about Chinese life.  I also had a collection of Chinese items, and I loved Chinese food.  But I had never thought about visiting China.

I did have one treasured book – the book above that I purchased after visiting this exhibition in Brisbane around 1983.  I was fascinated by the story of the Terracotta Warriors, and found the exhibition so amazing.  I learned that so many years ago,  so many potters had created the thousands of warriors, each with different facial expressions, the animals and the tools that they used at the time.  And that until 1974, no one knew what was underneath the ground, hidden for around 2000 years was found by a local farmer digging for a well.

To China to teach English

So after initially showing no interest in going to China, I changed my mind and in early 2008, I was on my way to an adventure that I will never forget.  I spent most of 2008, and much of 2010 at the Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages (it was actually a College, until upgraded to a university in 2008), and I did my best to learn as much as I could about the culture and history of China.

My Trip to Xian

It was in 2010 that I decided to visit Xian.  I could not find anyone who was keen to travel with me, so chose to go alone, and bought tickets to fly from Xiaoshan (near Hangzhou) to Xian on my own on a Friday afternoon.  On the plane, an American Chinese man and I spoke, and he was going to help me get to my hotel, which was described as being close to the city and the bus terminal. He asked a staff member at the terminal, who explained that the roads were so narrow that taxis did not drive on them, and I would have to walk.

It was around 10 pm, dark, and it was a bit scary walking along the narrow pathway.  I was told to go until the end of the road, and turn left.  I did, hoping I would get there, and luckily I did, without any drama.

The Trip to the Warrior Pit

I had booked on a tour that visited several interesting places around Xian, and of course  the Terracotta Army Museum.  I can recall lining up to get a ticket into the Museum, and a man (not sure if he was Chinese) who pushed me out of the way at the ticketing window. I didn’t give it much thought, and retaliated, giving him a strong push and was able to get served before him.  I was surprised at myself – it is not like me to be so aggressive, but I certainly felt my response was appropriate to his bad behaviour!

One could spend many hours wandering the many pits where thousands of clay soldiers, animals and more are still in the pits, and the archaeologists were still working, with lots more to go.   My time was limited as the bus was to take us to other places, but I spent all my time walking around in awe at the amazing work and history.

Qin Shihuang was the first Emperor of China, and was responsible for the completion of The Great Wall, and his idea for the terracotta army and more was to ensure that he would live forever.  Why did no one know about the underground army for around 2000 years?  One story is that any workers were killed after they had completed their work, so that they could not tell anyone.

I went into the Bookshop at the complex and got to see the farmer who dug up the first of the terracotta folk, in 1974.  I think he was signing certain books that people purchased.

The Great Wall of Xian

On the Sunday, I wandered around the city of Xian, and also did a tour on a “buggy” along the great wall that surrounds the city of Xian. I was also interested to see a group of elderly locals doing ballroom dancing beside the wall. They even asked me to join in the dancing with them.

That afternoon I went back to the bus terminal and travelled to the airport for my return journey to Shaoxing.

It was a great trip and I will never forget the experience at that Museum.

I doubt that I will ever get the chance to return to Xian, but it may happen.

I suggest you watch the video. Where would you, dear reader, like to visit?

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Smoking Cigarettes

Posted on 17 December 2024 by Di Hill

Did I smoke cigarettes?

Sadly, yes, I confess.  I did smoke cigarettes.  I started in my late teens, and during my nursing training, I was a regular with a fag in my mouth.  Fortunately, I don’t think I have any photographs of evidence of what I did.

Perhaps I can blame my parents.  Not only was it popular for actors and actresses to smoke in most of the films (yes, from the US) that we saw in those days.  There are several reasons I feel that I can put the shame on my parents – they did smoke for many years, and at no time did I get any discouragement about doing so myself.

But it is this photo that I found many years later that showed me that I was given the opportunty to ruin  my health at a very young age.

Taken by my parents?

Dianne at about 6 months of age – early smoker.

 

I did smoke Alpine Cigarettes I think during my late teens and early 20’s, before I gave it up completely.  I certainly ended my smoking before my husband and parents.  When I learned how dangerous it was to one’s health, and that I had children in the home, it was the end for me, but I do laugh about my nursing days, when I “taught” new students to smoke.

At that time I preferred a cigarette rather than eat – which made me very skinny and I did have other eating issues too.

Ban Smoking?

Yes, it should be banned.   I am surprised that stores still stock these things, and am appalled at the number of shops that have opened, selling often illegal cigarettes and now Vapes, which also have been discovered to be dangerous to one’s health.  And clearly the warning signs on cigarette packets haven’t helped rid us of this horrid stuff.

I remember in China, where many folk (mostly men) smoked awful cigarettes with dark smoke.  Occasionally women did – but mostly men.

Tobacco Growing in Queensland

Whenever I drive on the old “Bruce Highway”70 in Queensland that runs through the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains, it reminds me of the tobacco farms that were there from the early 1920’s until the last one was closed in 2006.  Initially the growing of tobacco in this reason was enccouraged by the Australian government due to unemployment issues.  It’s great story to read – here.

I do recall the fields of tobacco growing around Beerway, and until recently little wooden “barns” were visible in the area, where the tobacco was dried.

 

 

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Do you know about the Hemmant Quarry Reserve?

Posted on 15 December 2024 by Di Hill

Do you know your neighbourhood?

I probably visit more places in my own neighbourhood than many of the residents who live here.  Not only am I curious to see what is around my local area, I like taking photos – and I have a great collection of images of places, some of which many local folk do not know about.  The Hemmant Quarry Reserve is one of my special places.

Understandably, I am somewhat more adventurous than most people, and I have my own transport – I drive and until recently would ride my electric bike to places.  My E-bike folds up – and I can put it in the boot of my car, and then explore places without having to walk!!

History details

At the Entrance – Details of the Reserve’s history.

Recently, I had the urge to go somewhere and take some photos – and chose to visit an old quarry about a kilometre from where I live – right on the main road into our local suburb.  There are no signs telling folk what is behind the bushland and no parking spaces on the main road.  In fact, on the other side of the bushland is a small parking area (enough for 6 – 8 vehicles), and a pathway around the old historical quarry.  At the entrance, there is signage that gives information about the area.

Locals have not seen the Quarry

A few days after I had visited the spot, I was with four ladies who lived local to the spot, who had never been there. Most had lived in the area for many years, but it is not a place that gets any publicity, so unsurprisingly, few people know about it.

Do you know about the Hemmant Quarry Reserve? 7

Burn Off Notice

It is described as a “quarry” so most think it is a space of rock, and not particularly inviting.  That was probably how it looked many years earlier.  It was indeed the “go-to” place for rock to build roads and houses many years ago in the early history of our city, Brisbane.

But as it is in an area with many natural springs, it is not surprising to know what happened many years ago. A spring opened up and filled the quarry with water, ending the rock harvesting. While some of the rock walls are visible, the quarry is full of water and surrounded by native bushland.

Taken with my OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Not all rocks – water from the spring.

When I was there, only about ten days ago, I noticed a sign advising that there was to be a burn-off to get rid of the copious dead trees and other timber debris that is in the park.  When the weather it is suitable it will be done – and until then, there is so much dead timber, which, if there is an unplanned fire, would provide fodder for a big fire.  The burn-off  in the bushland of the Hemmant Quarry Reserve is to be done under the supervision of experts, at a time that would reduce the danger to traffic on the main road, and the residential properties nearby. While it will make the bushland black after the fire. It will inspire new growth and soon after the green new foliage will be back!

Taken with Olympus OM

In the Bushland

You can read about the history here.

While I have visited many of the local areas to take photos, I am going to make it a mission of mine to visit many or all of the local places and update my photos.  It is a promise to myself to do in early 2025.

Do you know all the interesting places in your neighbourhood??   Do some research and see what is there – visit by yourself or take friends and family with you to educate them too.

Have you visited the Quarry Reserve?

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The Silk Story

Posted on 13 December 2024 by Di Hill

The Silk Adventures

When I first went to China in 2008, I had little knowledge of the history of silk in China.  My knowledge of this wonderful fabric was limited.  I knew about it – I can’t recall being very interested in it, though I do recall having silkworms as a child.  Some how we were given silkworm eggs, and when they hatched we watched them grow bigger, and eat the mulberry leaves that we fed them.

We watched them hatch from the eggs, grow into fat white caterpillars – you can read about the life of silkworms here.

When we were children, they were our first pets!

But it was in China that I was able to see hundreds of them, and the results of their silk creation.

Only a while later did I learn more about the amazing history of silk, and how once only emperors were allowed to wear this wonderful fabric created by the silk of the cocoons.

Of course, there is a lot written about the history of silk, and I suggest that there is great information here.

Feeding time

Dinner Time for the visitors to see

 

 

The Silk Story 8

Cocoons – waiting

We visited a couple of Silk Museums – but the one in  Hangzhou stands out.  I recollect that it was at this museum that we saw demonstrations of the way that four ladies holding one  cocoon – each one then holding tight as they backed away and a whole sheet of silk – big enough to cover the bed.  Then layer upon layer, and they had the filling for a duvet.(You have to see it to comprehend.)

There are so many places to see or buy silk – and the prices are quite good too.

Silk Town in Hangzhou

This part of Hangzhou was a favourite of the Australian’s who taught at the college/university in Shaoxing for several reasons.  Every few months we had to go to Hangzhou for medical tests.  Not far from the medical centre, was the Silk Town or Market.

It was a relatively small market, but awesome fabrics and items of silk to observe or buy, but not only that, it was near a book shop that sold books in English! You can imagine it was a popular spot for us to visit.  But it got better.  There was a cafe beside it with a menu in English, and it gets even better.  There were western  toilets!!!

Always the appointments at the medical centre were in the morning, and if we did not wish to return on the university minibus, we could find our own way to either the train station or the bus station on our own.

So, it was always a big day for us!

 

 

 

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Visit to the Yangmei Village

Posted on 3 December 2024 by Di Hill

Learning about Yangmei

It was February 2008 that my adventures to and in China started.  I had signed a contract to teach English at a college in Shaoxing China, and with little time to research the place that I was to live and work for almost a year.  There was plenty to learn about this country, and on this occasion, we were to learn about Yangmei.

It happened a few weeks after I arrived. Someone invited me on a bus tour to an area where the villagers grew a fruit which I had never heard about.   There were seven of us in the minibus, which made its way from the city, out through farming areas and villages and into a hilly area when the bus stopped in a tiny village.

For some of us, it was our first tour out of the city, and the scenery fascinating us as we drove to our destination.

We were welcomed by one local and we followed him along a pathway up among some trees on the side of a hill.  There were a couple of people there, standing on ladders picking fruit.  One was a little girl – I think the daughter of man from the village who did not speak English and spoke with one of the college staff who was there as our interpreter.

Visit to the Yangmei Village 9

The little girl picking Yangmei

There were many trees across the hills.  The fruit was Yangmei – a small fruit, looking somewhat like a mulberry.

We were there for about an hour, and were heading back to the bus, when there was something happening as we were told to wait. Three of us had already climbed into the bus, and we waited, not comprehending what was happening.

Then, before the driver had got into the bus, it took off slowly down the hill. It all happened so quickly.  Suddenly we were heading for disaster. One of the ladies on the bus jumped into the driver’s seat and hit the brakes. The other folk who were with us on the tour had started running behind the bus and all us were greatly relieved that the bus had stopped.  I hate to think what would have happened if the lady had not quickly reacted and halted the bus – saving our lives.

Visit to the Yangmei Village 10

The reason we were asked to delay our departure was that the villagers decided to give each of us a small container of Yangmei. We had to wait because they were packing the boxes for us.

After a short wait, we were all gifted our fruit – which we all enjoyed over the next few days.

Our bus tour was interesting, and we will never forget how it nearly came to a crashing end!!

Visit to the Yangmei Village 11

More Yangmei

 

 

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