2006-07-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Sheng,

It is so cold today, that I wish I was in Longzhou, where I am sure it is much warmer. Down in South Wales, and in South West England, there have been many floods. Water, water, everywhere, even in some of the homes, which must be very sad for them now that it is so near Christmas. I hope the weather is better tomorrow for our drive down to London. I have not been down to London for more than a year. The last time I was there, was the same time I came to meet you in Beijing.

In about twenty days time it will be the shortest day, so the sun will be starting to move closer towards us; it will be very nice to see the Spring again. I dont like the Winter very much. It is only 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but I have already drawn the curtains over the windows, to help keep the warmth in, and also so that I can not see the wet and windy weather outside. This time next year perhaps you will be here and you will have to wear lots of extra clothes to keep you warm, just like Van did when he was staying in London.

Zhong was hoping to come to London, but I dont think he will manage it for some time yet. When Zhong first wrote to me I thought he was only a young boy because he said that he was one of Yin's students. In fact he is now 20 years old and is attending the Art School, at Chang Sha. He sent me some photos of himself in his last letter, and Quang thinks he looks a bit like Liu. Liu will be on his own in Beijing for the next ten days, as Kate has gone to Japan, until the 12th December. Although she is going there on business for the hotel, I am sure she will have some free time to see something of the Japanese way of life, which should be very interesting. I have now learnt three short sentences in Japanese, from Ko ! I can say, 'What is your name?' ... 'What do you do ?' ... 'Are you Japanese?' The language seems much easier to learn than Chinese. Ko is going back to Japan next Summer .... for a holiday !

I have tried on my 'Father Christmas' costumn, ready for the school party on the 17th December, but Brian seems to think that all the children will be frightened when they see me. Instead of making them laugh, I will be making them cry. Do you think Xiao Ai would like to see me all dressed up ? I remember when I was a little boy and I was taken to see Father Christmas, I was too shy to say anything to him. When I came back home, I wondered whether 'He' would bring me anything for Christmas, even though I had not asked for anything. Of course 'He' did !!!

Take care and be happy,
Danny

Preparing for Christmas, Buying Presents, Sending Cards.

2006-07-17T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Sheng,
Your letter, that you wrote on the 8th December, arrived here this morning, so I must rush to reply for posting this afternoon. Everyone is very busy now,preparing for Christmas and I shall soon be very merry for ten days! This morning I went again to the shops to buy more gifts, so now I have finished buying everything. Tonight I will start wrapping them all up in pretty colored papers, then on Christmas Eve I will take them all to my family and friends, ready for them to open on Christmas morning. Perhaps next year, you will be here to help me..... I hope so !

I have not yet had the letter from the College, so I think it will be after Christmas before we hear anything from them. When they do send me the letters of acceptance, I will post them to you straight away. I do not think I shall be able to get to Beijing in January, so I can not meet you there when you go for your visa. I am sure they will give you one this time, which will make you happy. Who else do you think will be happy ? If Quang comes to China it will not be before August 1993, because it is then that he has holidays from the factory, and he cannot take his holidays at any other time. I will write to you later about that when he has made up his mind.

I was sorry to hear about Hong's accident. If it was not Hong's fault then he paid the other man too much! The Nanning man wanted 1000 yuan from me.... but he did not get it ! Any rate I hope no one was badly hurt, which is the important thing. What was Hong doing in Guangzhou. Did you go with him ? When I next arrive in Nanning, it will be very nice if Hong is able to bring his Bus there to meet me, then we will have plenty of room for our luggage, instead of trying to put them on other seats of a service bus.

Of course this is a short letter...! But after Christmas, when I have recovered from the celebrations, I will write a longer letter to you with all the news about the holiday.

By Happy....
Danny

Writing Letters: Letter Writing To Friends

Preparing for Christmas, Buying Presents, Sending Cards.