CAN'T WE MOVE CNY? JUST THIS ONCE?

I know --- asking to move CNY is like asking to move Christmas and New Years Eave all at once.

Yep - I'm still in China and it's still really cold.

It hit a whopping 44F (7C) today -- which isn't so cold you may think - but when you're in cement buildings, a warm up to 44F doesn't translate into the buildings. This weather situation is ruining Chinese New Year for people. Trains are still at a standstill. As of yesterday 150,000 people were sleeping in the Guang Zhou train station hopeful and awaiting trains. Ice and snow has blanketed areas just north of where I sit, and roads have been at a standstill for 3-6 days now.

Fu just came into the office (after having said goodnight for the day) and told us the government has cancelled all home-going (northern bound) trains through February 6th. All this after having to telephone the train company exactly 10 days prior to your departure (no more, no less)-- hoping that your call goes through and hoping you get a ticket before they sell out -- followed by getting yourself to special pick-up tickets building (that isn't at the train station or near good public transport) within 24hrs or you loose it.

This means 600,000 people will not be able to go home for Chinese New Year (CNY.) Figuring it can take 4 days journey each way --- most factories & businesses reopen the 15th. There just isn't time now. Fu herself was making her first trip home for CNY to see her daughters. CNY is the only time many people go home to see their families each year. Since it's customary in many parts of China to have the Grandparents raise the grandchildren while the childrens parents go find good work and send money home, this is the only time parents often see their children all year long.

At least they are refunding the cost of the train tickets! A rarity indeed!If you're interested in photos of this all, BBC had a story on it this morning that I'm sure you could find at www.bbc.com . Especially now with the trains being cancelled rather than "delayed."

Factory update -- They have started some heat for me at the factory bringing it to about 53F as an inside temp, which has allowed my fingers to work in the fingerless gloves. (Thank goodness for the handknits, scarves & down vest that I brought!! :-)

FASHION IS GLAMOUR!

A wee China update...

Tony (works with me at the factory) just told me that it's so cold in China right now that (local) trains have broken down due to the cold. 90,000 people are stranded on trains & the train company has been trying to put some diesel engines on the tracks to fetch the dead trains and move the people along. Most trains are electric and don't handle this cold well at ALL!

Normally this cold wouldn't be QUITE so bothersome, but trains are filled to their roofs with people heading the many days journey home for Chinese New Year!!

Fu, the woman who cooks for us at the factory, has friends who decided to drive the 4 days journey home. They have been stuck...stranded in the mountains... on the highway for 3 days now due to the broken down cars and accidents.

I've been working wearing long johns, trousers, tshirt, cashmere turtleneck, wool sweater, wool scarf and puffy down vest plus wool hat and wool fingerless gloves to do my work. Plus an additional wrap as a lap blanket. (Mom--- I'm wearing those wool socks you knit and I even those haven't kept my feet thawed!!!) 4-5 years ago there was a cold (freezing) snap in January almost as cold as this and thankfully I packed for it's return--just in case. (Usually it's 65-70F now.) Oh, and there's no heat in the stone/cement factory...they hardly ever need it. The locals are freezing! (Bernard -- I'm earning some extra sunny vacation time here!!)

So...I'm working early and leaving early as the temps drop at night rather than burning the creative midnight oil...when the thought of hot glue on my fingers is tempting to warm them, it's time to go home! [grin]

It's now 42F (6C) at 8:30pm expected to head near to zero tonight. Last night the hotel turned on the heat!! AMEN!!!

Of course, extra cold, like extra heat = more electricty needed...so the local gov't is putting through rolling "semi-scheduled" brown & blackouts. Which means everyone needs to have their generators cranked up and ready!!

My hotel advised us all that there would be low power for an hour yesterday as their generator would be in place rather than gov't supplied electricity. I missed the fun as I was at dinner.

All that said, everyone (myself included) is in remarkabley good spirits as they next few days will bring the start of Chinese New Year celebrations!

I see hot tea, hot soup and hot dim sum in my direct future!! Dinner time!!