What really happened, Catrionas account!

I was really looking forward to Jørgen’s suggestion about the ice cold beers that were waiting for us at the bottom of the hill. The perfect end to a very enjoyable and quite challenging hike. I set off enthusiastically and confidently bouncing down the steep slope as fast as my legs could carry me.
It was within a matter of minutes that disaster struck.
My left foot slipped on some loose rocks. I fell backwards with my left leg extended and my right bent underneath me. My body twisted a little…. and ………….SNAP!
I didn’t know it at that moment but, I had a spiral fracture of the fibula just below my right knee. It happened in a split second.

I swore loudly several times (I’m embarrassed and sorry Bob and Yvonne) but there were no tears from this Highland lass.

I looked up to see Bob, Yvonne, Pfoten and Christy standing over me and asking if I was ok.
I told them I was fine and tried to stand up but couldn’t put any weight on my right leg. It felt as if there were a lot of hot needles stabbing my leg from the inside.
Bob diagnosed that my leg was broken immediately and I argued with him that I was sure it wasn’t and if I could just sit down a little longer everything would be fine.

By this time Jørgen who had been much further down the slope and closer than anyone to tasting the cold beer prize at the bottom had been called back up the hill (Poor guy!)Both Bob and I could feel the broken bone moving in my leg…….but even so, I was adamant that I HAD NOT broken my leg.

Bob and Jørgen made me a makeshift splint using 2 sticks ,a belt and a long waist tie from Christy’s trousers to hold everything in place. Any Boy Scout would have been very impressed!
Before I knew it Jørgen and Christy were heading down the hill to the road to meet a police car,ambulance and a fire engine (standard procedure in Hong Kong) if you call emergency services then you get the full package: Police, ambulance and fire all together. Christy had called emergency services and asked for help.

Still convinced there had been some terrible mistake and I was only experiencing a sprained muscle I begin to panic about the very real possibility of being thrown in a cell for wasting police time. I relayed these fears to Bob, Yvonne and Pfoten.

By this time Bob was coordinating the rescue team from his mobile phone and they asked him to take off his shirt and wave it so the helicopter….HELICOPTER??? and ambulance could see where we were on the hill side.From his vantage point Bob could see the road and was able to advise the emergency services they had gone too far and that they had to turn around.

Some minutes later (thanks again to Bob Stearns) a helicopter was hovering in the sky a few metres above us and Yvonne was telling Bob to put his shirt back on immediately.

Soon after that a policeman was coming down a rope in our direction with a medical package. As soon as he was on the ground the helicopter flew away, waiting for radio contact from the ground that the patient was ready for airlifting to hospital!!
Pfoten was very afraid of the helicopter, the stretcher and the policeman so she began to struggle and whimper.Yvonne very skillfully held Pfoten tightly and tried to reassure her (poor Yvonne, this was not a pleasant experience, Pfoten had rolled in something which smelt suspiciously like poop on the way up the hill!)
I , in the meantime, was still in complete disbelief and dismay about the events which were unfolding around me.
Bob and the Policeman removed the temporary splint. My leg was strapped up and then I used my hands to pull myself into the stretcher.
I don’t know what would happen if a very large person got stuck on the hillside. The stretcher was VERY narrow. It was a very snug fit! (I wonder if they keep different sizes of stretcher inside the helicopter?) Every part of me was securely fastened down. I couldn’t move at all.

Before I knew it the helicopter was above us again and I was being lifted up, up, up into the air. It was very windy, hot, extremely noisy and smelt like diesel. I had been told to keep my eyes shut but realized that I was experiencing one of those life memory moments and didn’t want to miss out, so I had a good look around me. I wanted to try and enjoy what was happening. It was the weirdest feeling to be pulled up into the air. A bit like flying I suppose. I had that feeling in my stomach like you do when you go over a bump in the road suddenly. I also had that thing happening, that always happens to me when I’m nervous. I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. Yes I know, its weird!!
The whole stretcher seemed to tilt almost vertically just before I was pulled inside the helicopter. I strained my eyes to see if I could find Bob ,Yvonne and Pfoten on the hillside in front of me…but I couldn’t see them at all. I was a little afraid of slipping out of the stretcher and crashing down to the ground from on high!

There was one other policeman in the helicopter who had been helping to lift the stretcher up and inside. The policeman had been on the ground with me had also been lifted up at the same time as me.

As soon as we got inside the helicopter he tested my pulse and gave me the thumbs up sign.

I really wanted to interview both police men about all manner of things relating to their daily job (well its not every day one has that opportunity is it?) but the noise of the rotors inside the helicopter was deafening and they were talking to each other in what seemed to be sign language. If my hands had not been strapped down I would have had a go at that myself, but all I could do was smile as they patted me comfortingly on the shoulder with their leather gloved hands!
All of a sudden the doors of the helicopter opened (I hadn’t even felt it landing and so half expected to be lowered down through the air.) Light flooded into the dark interior of the helicopter. At first I could only see the outline of six human? faces as my eyes adjusted to the light. I was eased onto a hospital trolley which was being pushed by six goggled, capped, masked hospital staff. I smiled at all of them too.
I think I have probably relayed the most exciting part of my leg break adventure. After that I had x-rays and several doctors asking me to try and move my toes. Why do doctors always ask you to touch their pen with your toes, but hold the pen just beyond your reach?
I asked them where I was and they told me I was at Eastern Hospital.
It was a few hours until Bob, Jørgen,Connie and Christy arrived. I was allowed to go home with my broken leg on the condition I would go to a hospital nearer our house first thing in the morning.
It was there that I had my first experience of “one size fits all” checkered hospital pyjamas and chamber pots….but that is another story.

Fussball auf Moskauerisch

Hi an allen Fussball fans, heute wird es halt mal wieder Deutsch. Nicht weil die jetzt beendete Umfrage einen kleinen mehrheit von deutschstaemmigen haette, Demokratie laehmt ja wie wir wissen, nein Heute ist es wieder in Deutsch weil der Beitrag eigentlich geliehen, wenn nicht gestohlen von Alex Mirinow, ja, der Alex der jetzt in Moskua kickt. Der beitrag ist aus der Studienverzeichnis forum gruppe: Traktor Trotzdem. Und ich bringe ihn auch hier weil es vorbildlich ist wie der Alex ueber das Sonntags Kicken berichtet zum Thema Fussball und das Wetter.

Gut, dann fang ich an: mal wieder ein Sonntag, 21.10.2007 ca. 12:00 morgens. Die Sonne laest sich fuer kurze Augeblicke hinter einer dicht-dicken Wolkenmasse herforblicken und verschwindet wieder. Es ist ein angenehmes, fast optimales Fussballwetter, um die 14 Grad Celsius und nur ein Negativmoment ist zu beanstanden: es ist Nass! Normalerweisse macht dieses, ja einem "richtigem" Kicker nichts aus, aber unter dem Gesichtspunkt, dass wir nicht zu fiele Spieler sind und wieder in dem Asphaltkaeffig kicken mussen, zumindest nennenswert. Location: ein grosses Internatgelaende, mit einigen Wohnblocks und drei Sportplaetzen, abgesehen von dem Eishockeyplatz, sind zwei davon relevant fuer uns. Ein kleiner Asphaltkaeffig optimal fuer ein 5x5 Spiel, oder maximal 6x6 Spiel, an vielen Stellen durchloecherter Metallkaeffigzaun und aetlichen unebenheiten im Bodenbelag, aber trotzdem durchaus Spielbar und gegenueber ein auserst annehmbarer Rasenplatz, mit Ausenlinien, klassischen Grossfeldtoren (wir haben eigene Netze), aber etwas kleiner als ein original Grossfeld, sowas wie fuer 10x10. Zuruck zum 21.10.2007 wir haben ein klassisches 6x6 Spiel, also bleibt uns die Quahl der Feldwahl erspart und wir kicken im Kaeffig, wie so oft der klassiker "Nowatory gegen Granat". Nowatory nach einer, dem Lenninskij prospekt, anliegenden Strasse genannt. Granat, die, den Novatory gegenueberliegende Prospektseite (wo auch ich wohne) nach einem "Sowjetgeschaeftsgebaude" bezeichnete Gang. Fruher, hat man sich
die Birnen eingeschlagen, jetz kickt man lieber. Dank den Lochern im Zaun hat dieses Feld seine ganz speziellen Regeln:
1. Gekickt wird nur im Kaeffig, ohne Aus und Ecken
2. Wenn der Ball den Kaeffig ferlaest, so macht der "Rebounder", den Einstoss! (da es wircklich, recht viele Loecher gibt, wird der "Rebound" von grosser Bedeutung, for allem bei Loechern in Tornaehe. Es gibt wirklich starke Rebounder und manchmal
kommt es zu Ausernandersetzungen auserhalb des Kaeffigs, dass sieht, dann in etwa so aus wie im A-Park, wenn der Ball zuweit wegfliegt und zwei Maenner hinterher hechten, bloss das ganze eben ohne Regeln!)
3. Jede Hand wird gepfiffen (man darf aber Laut streiten, manchmal hilft's und das Team, das am lauten schreit hat dann keine Hand)
4. Mann spielt bis jemand 10 Tore hat, es muessen aber zwei Tore unterschied sein von einander, d.h. bei einem Stand von 10:9 spielt mann wieter bis sich, die zwei Tore differenz einstellt hat.
5. Mann Spiel mindestenz zwei Spiele, da der Looser recht auf Wiedergutmachung haben muss. Im Falle, dass beide Teams 1. Mal gesiegt haben, zaehlt die Tordifferenz. Wenn die zwei Spiele nicht zu lange gedauert haben, dann Spielt mann, noch ein drittes kurzes bis 5 oder ein langes bis 10 Tore Entschedungsspiel.

Am 21.10.2007 spielten wir drei Spiele ,das Erste 10:5 gewonnen, dann 10:4 verlohren und das dritte 10:6 gewonnen. Diesmal keine Eigenstatistik weil a.) nicht so gut gespielt und b.) ehrlich nicht mitgezaehlt. Aber ich muss, so um dir 6 Tore geschossen und vieleicht genauso viele vorbereitet haben.
Alex Mirinow 22.10.007

Holiday is hiking day!

This is our first week of holiday in Hong Kong since we arrived in august. We live at the border to the Country parks of Sai Kung, so we decided to spend some time exploring the hiking possibilities here and then go to Lamma Island at the end of the week. Bob and Yvonne Stearns lives in Tcham chuck Wan just at the entrance to the country park from where you can find some lovely hills and hiking tracks. From their house we have often looked up at the hills outside their window and Bob always said: “I want to go up there on a hike”.So finally the October break came and we packed our small lunch boxes and water bottles, tied our hiking boots and put on loads of sun cream and mosquito repellent and started our hike to the Tai Tun Mountain. We were six in the group. Beside Bob & Yvonne, Catriona and I, we had Christine Lau, our Cantonese friend and language teacher and of cause Pfoten the beagle dog along. The estimated time for this hike is 3 - 4 hours, depending on the condition and of which patch we were going to follow. There is the easy ones for families, and then the indistinct and seasonally overgrown ones, which also led to the peak, and who doesn't want to go there. We started of on the family track which led us deep into the country park and just around the peak we should start to clime up the more difficult patch to the top. Like I’ve mentioned before on these pages; Hong Kong hosts 52 different species of snakes, among them the Burmese Python, who can reach a length of 6 meters and therefore also could be a very dangerous one to cross your way, and just at the beginning of the track leading into the park we were met by this sign....

Because we had Pfoten the Beagle dog along, we stopped for a moment; looked at each other and then everybody at her; the Beagle dog. She didn’t seem to worry about the possibility to be standing face to face with a 6 meter long Burmese Python at all, she just looked back at us like she was saying; “come on, why aren’t we moving any more, this place is gorgeous and filled with delicious smells”, and of she went again with her nose deep down to the ground like a vacuum cleaner and her tail wavering in the air like rotor blades on a helicopter. Ok, maybe it was just because she can’t read and didn’t know what that sign said. Anyway we continued our walk after her, trying not to think about the 6 meter long bone crushing muscle, who apparently lived (and ate) here in this area.We didn’t meet any danger on the first part and after a little lunch break we came to the first steep and bit difficult stage of the hike. The climb to the peak of Tai Tun. So far it had been like a walk in the park, solid and well organized tracks, but the next part was a bit challenging; a steep indistinct and overgrown path with big and some times loose rocks and high obstacles to overcome. Should Pfoten go with us up there? Could she manage that with her small legs, and was she at all able to stand the physical endurance this climb would demand? Nobody wanted to -or could- carry her all the way down from there, if she suddenly decided to act tired. Bob decided just to go, cos he wanted to reach and see his house and the bay of Sai Kung from that peak. Yvonne too, all though she was wearing sandals and for Catriona it was a piece of cake, she was born in the highlands of Scotland and used to run up and down the mountains with her dog. I was a little nervous at the beginning but because I had seen on the map, that following that path over the peak was the shortest way to come down to the little kiosk at the entrance of the country park, where they sold nice cold beer, so I didn’t argue either and just followed Bob. And Pfoten, the beagle dog, went up with an astonishing speed; she overtook all of us up there, but stayed then between me and Bob at the front. Maybe she in fact can read, and therefore wanted him to deal with the dangerous snake somewhere out there.On the top we realized it was the wrong one, and we could not see Bob & Yvonne’s house from there, there was another peak maybe one kilometer to the south. Christine was tired and without any passion for hiking, the only thing that kept her going was in fact that it was her only way out of there, so one by one we tried to pump her up and to encourage her to enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful view over the mountains of her home country. Pfoten was still going strong and she obvious loved hiking. Normally she is tired after 1 hour, and after two hours walk, she normally wants to be carried, but no, she was still trying to take of, rotating her tail in the air. Finally we could enjoy the view at Tcham chuck wan, the Country Park and Sai Kung bay, and we really enjoyed that.It was starting getting late and we just had to go the maybe 700 meters in direct line way down to the waiting cold beer at the kiosk, but on foot on a mountain it is of cause more, but nobody thinks of that when you just have to go down. And then it happened; one step leads to another, one loose rock, Catriona’s right foot twists around and she fall down on her leg. One hour later she is airlifted by a Helicopter and on her way to East district Hospital on Hong Kong Island. We got escorted down the mountain by the country parks mountaineers and 2 hours later we arrive at the hospital to see Catriona. But this is going to be another story. In fact it is no story, and a shame that it is no story, because Catriona has now got a broken leg.

We have a holiday!

To make a blog is hard work, so now I need some time of. Catriona has holiday from school so we are going out to explore more of the surroundings here in Hong Kong. We are going to Lamma Island which is the 3td biggest island here. Its one of the outlaying islands between Lantau and Hong Kong Island. We go there by boat and stay for two days. There is good hiking possibilities and in two days we would be able to visit most of the island. Theres no cars allowed on the island and the the locals used small TRACTORS to transport things around. It's also known as a hippie resort, with lots of left over expats from the 60- and 70ties hanging around there in bars and veggie restaurants. So there will be some stories about that next time and also something for Karl the renovista especially, about scaffolding here in Hong Kong. It a very interesting thing, because there still using bamboo, even on the biggest modern sky-scrapers.

Pfoten; my guest dog

Because I seem to have a lot of time, what I also do, I am a Dog sitter once in a while. My guest dog is Pfoten, a female Beagle dog born 3 years ago in Canada between Ottawa and Montreal on a little farm. She is raised in Dresden at the Pfotenhauer Strasse in Blazewitz. That's why her name is Pfoten which in fact means paws. Instead of hanging out alone in her own house, when her parents are at work, she comes over in the morning to hang out with me in our house. That's perfect because then I don't have to hang out alone either, when my wife is at work.
Normally we hang out until around 12 o'clock and then go for a walk. Normally Pfoten decides where to go, because her nose seems to drag her in one direction, to where all the other dogs are living and I just follow her around and wait patiently while she's sniffing everything on the way. I think that reasonable, cos she also has to wait here at home for me writing hour after hour on this blog. Often we also go to the beach and walk along there to Sai Kung. She really likes the water and maybe it reminds her of her life in Dresden, where she used to walk along the river Elbe. At the beach it some times happens that she catch a little Crab fish and -EATS- it. But Normally she just runs around chasing the waves coming in and scampers after the bigger Crabs until she gets scared and jumps when they stop and show her their scissors. After a while she use to lay down in the water to cool down her tummy.Two days ago we managed to get all the way to Sai Kung and back to Tai Wan. About 2 hours we were on our way that day, so Pfoten was very tired when we finally arrived back in Tai Wan village again, and just as we came back, Yvonne -her human mum- came to take her back home to Tcham chuck Wan by taxi.
After a couple of hours I received an e-mail from Yvonne saying: I do love the photos of Pfoten too. Speaking of Pfoten, she has been sleeping soundly ever since she dragged herself up our stairs - it seemed to be a bit of an effort. Well no actually, first she went to her dish and ate her lunch, then she walked a few steps into the living room and flopped down on the floor with her substantial tummy-side facing the air conditioner. When she was cooled off enough (I am assuming) she went and curled up in her basket and has been there ever since. She is dreaming happy dreams, of that I am sure! Thank you for giving her such interesting adventures, Jorg. I think that they are so good for her brain development as well as her emotional well-being. Maybe you are the real Professor Paws! Ummm.

I hear Pfoten snoring...the first sound of life from her all afternoon!

Have a good afternoon and evening.

Yvonne

May I present to you; our village in the New Territories -Tai Wan Village.

At a little bay just north of the fisher town of Sai Kung you will find the little village or settlement; Tai Wan. This has been our home town since the 16^th of august. With an astonishing view both out front towards the bay of Sai Kung, and to the back towards the hillside of the Ma On Shan Mountain. It is a nice and quiet place to live. By the way; the house you see here at the front on the right side, is still empty. It is a lovely house, two stocks and a rooftop, just at the waterfront. So when anybody have plans for some relocating, could this be a possibility? When we walk along the beach in direction Sai Kung and turn around is this what is left of Tai Wan village. But this walk is only possible when we have the tide, otherwise the water comes right up to the empty house on the first picture.
One public -and quit busy- road connects the village to the satellite cities in Sha Tin to the north, to Sai Kung in the south and to the country parks of Sai Kung district to the east. The well organized public transport in Hong Kong allows us to reach Sha Tin center in 30-, Kowloon and Mong Kok in 30- and the busy and crowded Central district on Hong Kong Island in 45 minutes. Ok; we do not have the best shopping malls in Tai Wan village but we do have more fresh air and more sky to look at. If somebody forgot our view from the rooftop; then here it is again. Enjoy the weather where ever you are; J鷨gen.

Wer wird 2. TRAKTOR - Hong Kong?

Nach einigen Rescherchen habe ich ein par Fussball Teams gefunden die einiger massen Würdig scheint um einen Traktor Kuckucks Ei aufzunehmen. Hier unten sieht ihr deren Selbstdarstellung, und die Frage ist jetzt; Welches von den Drei Teams sollte ich als 2. TRAKTOR Hong Kong übernehmen?
Nimmt Teil in die Neueste Umfrage.German All Stars Hong Kong
Information: The German All Stars Hong Kong are an amateur football team participating in The Yau Yee Football League, Hong Kong’s premier amateur football league, of which we were one of the founder members 1977. If you are interested in playing competitive, yet social football in Hong Kong then please contact Daryl Grove on the details above. For more information, please take a look at www.yauyeeleague.com or www.germanallstarshk.com

French Dragons Football Club
Information: The French Dragons Football Club has been part of the Hong Kong football amateur scene since 1991. The French Dragons have won the Yau Yee League Championship many times in addition to the Cup & the Sixes competition in the last few years. With 16 nationalities currently represented, the Dragons
are a culturally diverse team. This makes for a dynamic experience on and off the pitch. Please visit the following website www.frenchdragons.com in order to know more about our team and history. Should you be interested to join us for a trial, do not hesitate to contact us at :
vinoteca88@netvigator.com

Hong Kong Squadron
Information: Hong Kong Squadron is a sports and leisure members club registered under the Hong Kong Clubs and Societies Ordinance. The Club has two football teams active in The Yau Yee Football League, Hong Kong’s premier amateur football league; “HKDC Squadron” in the first division and “HKDC Hearts” in the second. The Squadron team were founder members of The Yau Yee League at it’s formation in 1977 and have remained in the top division ever since. The Club is gratefully sponsored by the Hong Kong Delivery Company. If you are interested in playing competitive football in Hong Kong then please contact either Barry Wilson , Nick Oates or Rick Curtis www.hksquadron.com

Na dann bin ich ja echt Gespannt.

1. Oktober; Chinas Nationaltag

Foto: Sophie Cosneau © 2007
Am 1. Oktober 1949 wurde die Volksrepublik China gegründet. Wie in Deutschland der 3. Oktober tag der Einheit ist, ist am 1. Oktober Chinas Nationalfeiertag. Es ist einen Urlaubstag und am Abend wird dann ein riesiges Feuerwerk geboten. Wir waren auch am Hafen von Hong Kong am Abend und haben uns dass Spektakel angeschaut. Aber ehrlich; auf Bildern sehen Feuerwerk nie wirklich Spektakulär aus, war es aber.Hier vorne ist die Anlege stelle von Star Ferry zu sehen, die kleinen Alten Schiffe die seit über 140 Jahren den Victoria Hafen überquert. Das Feuerwerk war natürlich über den ganzen Hafer verteilt und hier auf den bildern sieht man natürlich nur einen Bruchteil. Nach den ganzen Spektakel war dann zeit für ein Gruppen Foto vor Hong Kongs Skyline. Von Links; Bob Stearns, Cristine Lau, Unsere Chinesische alleskönner und Urheber diese Bilder, Yvonne Stearns & dann natürlich uns beiden. Bob & Yvonne, (sorry aber ich muss eigentlich immer Lachen und an unsere Drehübung beim Einführungskurs denken, wenn ich die beiden Nahmen Hören) also Bob & Yvonne kam auch mit uns aus Dresden nach Hong Kong, wo die auch 6 Jahre an der DIS Arbeitete. Ab und zu haben wir zusammen Heimweh nach Dresden.

Neue Geschäftsidee für Schnurz!

So verbreitet im Stadtbild wie in Dresden die Bäcker- oder Fleischereien sind, sind hier die Geschäfte die mit traditionellen alten Chinesische Medizin. Schon aus der Entfernung erkennt man das man sich Eine, oder gleich mehrere, nähert; wegen des Geruchs. Eine für uns Europäer ungewöhnlichen Susssäuerlichen mix aus getrochnete Meeresfrüchte und unbekannte Gewürtze wirren in die Nase und zieht einen förmlich unbewusst in den Laden rein. Auf dem ersten blick scheint es wie eine Miniatür Ausgabe des Naturhistorischen Museums. Hier wird man von unzähliche Regale mit gefühlten Glässern, Plastesäcken, Schubläden und Kisten mit Chinesischen Schriftzeichen und Zahlen, begegnet. Nicht immer ist es zu erkennen was eigentlich in den Glässern drin sind, weil es so eigenartig aussieht, aber ab und an erkennt man schon was da, getrocknet, vor einen liegen und angeboten werden. Wie wäre es z.B. mit 500 Gram getrochnete Seepferde, Heuschrecken, Schildkröten, Haifischflossen oder dünn gehobelten Hirsch Geweih oder Horn vom Nashörner? Alles scheint irgendeinen Heilenden wirkung zu haben und wird meistens als eine Suppe oder als Tee gekocht und Getrunken. Die traditionelle Chinesischen Medizin dient am meisten die vorbeugung von Krankheiten und hat seinen Ursprung in das System des Yin & Yang. Negative Kräfte haben einen einwirkung auf die Positive Kräfte und das muss in einklang gebracht werden. Dazu hilft die über 7000 Naturheilmitteln, welchen die Chinesen in über 1000 Jahren benutzt und Dokumentiert haben.

Und die getrocknete Schlangen und Eidechsen, ja die werden meistens zu eine Brühe gekocht und - ins Bier gekippt und runter damit. Wielleicht wäre das ja eine Niche für einen Bar wie Schnurz; Schlangen- Eidechsen Weizen statt Bananen Weizen.
Prost - J鷨gen.