Somehow, I’ve made it through thirteen weeks in China whilst retaining some sense of sanity and self-respect. I’ve worked hard and pleased my client by hitting the deadlines expected of me. On a personal level, I’ve had a few good weekends and done some tourist stuff. I’ve read some great books, lost a little weight, started writing a book and kept on the straight and narrow as a married man.
Thanks to the wonders of Skype and Facebook, I’ve kept up-to-date with events from family and friends from around the world, including my daughter’s birthday, my birthday and the birth of my youngest sister’s first child at the age of 38.
It’s been a very challenging time, and the only time I felt a little down was at the offer of another three months work. Do I have to go through all that again? Well it pays the mortgage, but I need to try to take some control back somehow, and chart a course, rather than bob around on the open sea. I pay respect to my wife and children for coping without their husband and father. With the right attitude, life is a tutor and not a torture, but it’s not easy. Thoughts about home are finally permitted, and I look forward to the chatter of children, easing some of the burden from Iris and to juvenile banter with friends.
