Not for all the tea in China....

As some of you have commented there has not been a single post on my experiences of mainland China. Those fateful 6 days.  The main reason for that is foreign blogs and access to them are banned in mainland China.  Afterwards I had my accident etc and it was just too painful to type both figuratively and literally.  Anyway I am going to write my experiences now.  I just want to say this is MY EXPERIENCE of Mainland China and it is not the same for everyone. I had only hoped it would have been different.  However all I can say is that I feel very courageous to have done it and I actually feel pretty fearless now.  Would I ever go back to China again. The answer is no. I could go to Hong Kong again but Mainland China not ever again. Not as long as I have a say over how I live and no amount of money would temp me to go there - no amount.  There is still another client site to visit in India but someone else can go. I am done...give me Europe, South or North America, Southern Asia; Malaysia or Singapore, the Middle East but mainland China you can keep and India too!

Sickcation started 25 July to date....

Well I am back folks in France and have been since the 24 July....after a punishing 26 hour flight broken up by a 45 minute stop over in Argentina.  I arrived into the London Heathrow and a very shocked girlfriend who came to meet me - was aghast at how much weight I had lost (I have subsequently managed to put on a few kilos from my sickcation!)

My mother who did not know I was involved in a car accident and I had not wanted to tell on the phone.  I walked into the house, she was on the phone and words that my mother rarely utters "...I'll have to call you back my daughter has..." and then hung up the phone.  I then endured her wailing, tears, shaking:

"are you going to be crippled...my baby is going to be a cripple".

This ordinarily would not be funny or ironic if not for the sole fact that my mother is a NURSE. The mere fact that I am wearing a neck brace does not I hope mean instant cripledom. I spent most of the weekend in bed in a tramadol haze and feeling faint most of the time. My mother spent the weekend on the phone bad mouthing my boss to her whole network of friends. She was absolutely disgusted that he didn't care about her darling only child - how dare he. Go on Mummy! She even uttered those fateful words about coming to Paris in person to see him. I should add my mother has yet to visit me since I have been to France and has no desire to...so the mere fact she would come to see Big Boss is really something!

I was very grateful to see Missy and her other half at the Eurostar terminal.  I realise that I am surrounded by amazing friends and it only really hit me when I got back to England.  I am very happy to be alive and walking and talking...things could have been so worse. So very worse.

MONDAY 25 JULY - D DAY
I walked into work primarily to ensure that the Human Resources Department were aware of my accident.  It was like someone told them I was dead and had somehow managed to ressurect myself. They were not prepared for the neck brace or just how awful I looked.  If HR weren't ready well Big Boss started to tremble when he saw me:

"I didn't realise how serious it was...eerr...rien a aucun importance que vous et comment vous sentez...."

Anyhow after seeing him and experiencing his take on sincerety...I made it back to my flat and that is where I have been ever since.  I have been to a terrible doctor and then I found a good doctor thanks to Madame G. An MRI is booked for the 23 August so we will see just what the damage to the left side of my neck, shoulder and arm is...

My sickcation since the 25 July has included watching the following series;
True Blood series 4, the Big C, Damages, the Good Wife, Boardwalk Empire, Modern Family, Desperate Housewives, Luther series 2, the Wire series 1

 I have a cinema card and have waxed that to the limit; Harry Potter, Conan, Melancholia, Horrible Bosses, Planet of the Apes, Bridesmaid, Bad Teacher etc

My discoveries whilst sick have included online shopping at MONOPRIX (Le top de top) - so easy and the lovely man carries all my shopping into my kitchen. Well once I am back at work no more carting heavy load like a donkey for me...no sir...I am a lifetime fully signed up member of online shopping at Monoprix. It then leaves me time to go wander through markets and chi chi Parisian shops like those Hollywood films make us lust after...

Filing - all of you who know me well - know I do not file and have papers lying around for the past 3 years. Not anymore!!! I have filed every single paper. I am up to date with my administrative requirements....I am organised. Or in the words of a dear friend ...finally an adult in the 21st century!

Finally I have discovered a multitude of sites online including Gwenyth Paltrow's = dull. I know too much on celebrities. I have made jam. Found a sofa bed (a proper one!) that I will buy.

Who says being sick in deserted Paris in August can't be a life changing experience.  I am READY for la RENTREE!!  Miss Try-Hane is back and back with a vengeance!

Argentina in 45 minutes

The plane from Sydney was delayed as there were too many bags on the plane. The pilot quickly added that the plane was not overloaded just that there were too many bags. Mmmmm.

Arrived in Argentina after 12 hours and 50 minutes and a 2 hour delay in Sydney.

I had 45 minutes to catch my other flight. If I could have crawled along the ground without someone thinking I had mental health issues I would have done. I was in absolute agony.


I made my plane and we were again delayed so I swivled around as I cannot turn my neck and saw duty free. I bought 2 jars of dulce de leche and cigarettes...the baggage man looked at me. Oh yes I cannot carry bags so I had a baggage man!

In 13 hours I will be in London hooray!

Sydney 19 and 20

I get to Claire's house in Sydney. I am miserable.

What do I see of Sydney - from her car I see I see the harbour bridge and the opera house in driving rain at 9.30pm on Tuesday night.

I get to trailfinders agency and they say how can i help you. I say " I want to go home"

Oh they say they can't change my ticket cause it is london who booked it., So I say why are you called traiilfinders. You aren't the same company. I say get me home. Thank goodness I am in business class.

It gets sorted.

Big boss finally awakens and asks have I finished all the site visits.  had enough I emailed the CEO of the group.  I am coming home, i have pain radiating all over my neck, shoulder and back and I feel terrible.  No holiday for me then!!

Quantas upgraded me to first class!! There is a first for everything and a proper reaction to what has been an awful situation!

Homeward bound! I have spent 2 days and 2 hours in Australia. I have gone round the world in 20 days - is that a world record?

17 July - Melbourne

I arrived in Melbourne and its bloody cold. Understandly its winter here.

I am completely spaced out and feeling very very sick.

I have to take a 70km taxi ride and I have a mini panic attack. The driver was very sympathetic.

The man at the client site took one look at me and said what the hell are you dooing here. He said he saw my email and felt terrible. He said I shouldn't have come and I said yeah. [This is how normal people react!] Still no word from my boss nothing.

We finish the site visit and he said I am driving you back to the airport. I fall asleep in his car. I am at breaking point.

16 and 17 July

Valium is a wonder drug. I now understand the addiction to it. It makes you feel goooooood! The body is relaxed. Every bone relaxes. That bloody doctor only gave me 3. I need MORE. I take the valium with my other painkillers so you know this whiplash is no joke.

I spend most of the weekend looking at the origama ceiling and I saw Mel.

Mel took me to the airport. She said that my accident was reported in the national newspaper!! Apparently taxi accidents in Singapore is rare! Fame at last or should I say infamy.

Quantas business lounge in Singapore is rubbish. However the plane Airbus A380 is fabulous and the fully flat bed a marvel. I have some very sexy - ok won't exaggerate - quantas pyjamas now. I sat next to a very interesting man called Peter who is an executive coach. He made me realise I need to get a new job and get passionate again.  He said to me oh yeah I was in a taxi yesterday and my driver was telling me about this accident on friday morning involving a lady passenger. I said "that's me!!"

Famous I tell you - I am Famous in Singapore!!

CRASH - 12.30am Friday 15 July

20 hours of being awake. I had just sent a message to big boss on blackberry messenger to say arrived back in singapore, at airport and getting a taxi back to hotel. I had falled asleep on the plane; i was ready to sleep.
I joined taxi queue and the lady who manages the queue said "smile, don't worry be happy" - what prophetic words they were.

My blue champion cab arrived and I duly told the driver take me to wanderlust. I could almost sense the tempur topper mattress that my tired bones were going to sink into. Ah bliss and the rest of Friday and weekend was mine. At a junction intersection and 5 mins from the hotel ....i could smell the spices (hotel is located in Little India) heck I could get out of the taxi now and probably make it there before the taxi.  I didn't look at the traffic lights but I was alert, awake, lucid.

CRASH

I saw out of the corner of my eye a car, a red vw beetle - thank goodness for my eye for detail) coming at a break neck speed towards my taxi. My taxi driver didn't see though. There was nothing i could do. I honestly thought this is it. I braced. I screamed and screamed. My teeth felt loose. Every bone in my body tensed up and i prepared for the worse. I had my seat belt buckled.  Everything slowed down I saw the car but knew i could do nothing but protect my head that at least i needed to do.

Then it was over. The pain radiated down my left hand side of my body and my head was pulsating with the sensation of rivers of fire rather than blood circulating within it. I was shaking.

The taxi driver said "miss you don't need to pay for this fare"

"what?!'

the workman from the building site came. I was shaking. I managed to send bbm to my boss to say in accident and i called the last number in my phone.

I said to the driver "you crash into us"

"he said i tried to brake but couldn't"

An ambulance was called for me and i was stretchered in. Then the taxi driver came into it and two other people from the other car. The taxi driver started to have palpatations. They took my passport.

I fought hard to remain lucid and alert. I succeeded. I am if anything just bloody stubborn.

All 4 of us got wheeled into the emergency room and were lined up together in our wheelchairs.
The doctor was crap sent me away with pandol and cream even though i said i was on fire.

The police arrived. Am I legal. What?! Doctor says yes she's a lawyer. Thank goodness I have business cards!

I had to get a taxi back to the hotel. I had a panic attack and the driver was sweet he drove at 5km an hour apologising for shit drivers in Singapore.

I got to the hotel and got into bed. The doctor at least gave me a form saying if you develop any of the other symptoms come back asap and you shouldn't be alone tonight. Oh well nothing can do about that.

8AM
Panic. Can't move. I took my breathing down and then realised could move. I took myself back to the hospital by metro...i couldn't and still can't face getting in a taxi.
this time they took x rays - nothing broken but whiplash. i am told to wear a neck collar and given valium, dicofenac and something else. 

Get back to bed in hotel.

I get to the hotel and all the staff say "miss rosalynn what happened" they are stunned and apologise on behalf of Singapore. I coming back to Singapore. People here are so lovely and welcoming.  I love WANDERLUST HOTEL stay here!!

I tell my boss what happened by bbm - nothing not even get better. Radio fucking silence!

4pm - Police Station
My goodness even though they speak excellent English in Singapore the policeman was a bit dim. He then heard i was a lawyer and perked up. However the report he did was rubbish. So I said give me the keyboard and I typed it.  I am suppose to make a formal report later before i leave singapore.