The last month, 2010 and GETTING HOME!!!

Good evening everyone!

I hope you're all looking forward to christmas and that you're all where you're meant to be now for Christmas (or heading there now or tomorrow). I'm DUE to go tomorrow...

More on that later.

So, if I remember correctly, I wrote to you on the 19th Nov last time on here. That means that I've been a bit lazy and that you've missed a few goings-on since then.

I think the first main thing that's gone on with me is that I've moved place within the last month. Approximately 4kms away, this new flat is on the ground floor where I have a bigger, warmer (although it ain't that warm now) ...room, with a TV, sofa, wardrobe, table etc. Simply, it's a LOT more than I had in the last place! ACTUALLY, the last place I was in was honestly a complete rip-off for 430Euros a month.

Whatever, I'm out of there now ...All is well here in 'Hamm'. I'm happy. Only time I'm not happy ...is when the FUCKING BABY upstairs starts screaming this block down. Yeah, it would happen to live above me, init! It's favourite crying time - 5-7am! Great! My flatmate later advised me to get earplugs - She does.

I will say this though, he/she can be good for when I need to get up early as I'm not a fan of it.

A bit about my new flatmate: She's all right. 38 and works all day, everyday. Love it! That means I get complete peace in the day. She's chatty and helpful and she likes my boyfriend, so that obviously goes down well.

On the school front, everything's still the same really. Kids still cute most of the time but f***ing rude the other half of the time. As I said on Facebook once, I've finally started speaking to the 9 year olds in German after 3 months of refusing to. It's all about confidence, isn't it. Now I just don't care. It makes life easier and I think they prefer it too. Obviously, I still speak a lot of English to them which is what I'm there for.

Since last speaking to you all, I've taken a number of lessons ALONE. 9 year olds, 13/14 year olds mainly. I guess all kids will try their luck but I haven't really had any major behaviour issues. You've just gotta think of good threats and be nice back to them when they do what they've got to do.

So, on the 2nd December the Deputy Head of the school invited a few of the other teachers and me round to her place for dinner and a drink. It was very a lovely evening and she has a lovely, spacious apartment. On that night, Hamburg was under a blanket of snow and her living with decorated to hilt with Christmas decorations and stuff. So that helped to make it very fitting for a Christmas get-together and meal...

...Meal's finished and the wine starts flowing. Now I had a feeling all eyes would turn to me to get the lowdown from the latest addition to the staff. You know the questions, "Do you have a girlfriend?", "Are you seeing anyone?", "What are you into? Blondes? Nice arse? Nice tits?" -Well, their faces were quite a picture when I turned around and said "Erm, DUDES."
OK, well I didn't put it exactly like that but I came out nonetheless. Awkward but they were fine about it. The questions then were just asking whether I'm seeing anyone or not. Much easier questions to answer...

Speaking of questions, one of the questions put to me during that dinner with the teachers was "When you go out of the town, Leo, are you going out for the girls or just to be with ya mates?"

Well, there have been a couple of CRAZY ones with the mates out on the town over the last month. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, we've been as raring to go as ever.
I think the most important thing that needs to be said is that I've actually found a club that blasts out the DnB all night. Not every week but every 4 or so. It's a good night and the Fischmarkt is there on your doorstep when you're done at 5 or 6am. Shame, the tube station is a good 20 mins walk away when you're both drunk and freezing your nutz off. We took a taxi last time.

Other nights out just include the gang being too drunk - Drunker than usual. Things not being remembered after a shitload more shots being downed!  I'll look forward to further nights out in Hamburg in 2011...

The Apprentice: Great series this year. I really enjoyed it. Won't say much about it, apart from the fact I did want Stella to win. And I'm happy that she did.

As I write this, this evening of the 23rd December, I think I really am the last of the assistants left here in Hamburg now. My flight back to London is due to leave here tomorrow at 11.25am. Just my luck that I'm due to fly into Heathrow with BA. Usually, Heathrow handles it a bit more - I thought! Anyway, so I'm HOPING that it's goes fairly swimmingly tomorrow. It's got to the point where I don't even care if it's delayed, long queues, even if I don't get a window seat. Just care that it's going. Because if it isn't and I can't go any other way - THEN I WILL be in Germany for Christmas which will be REALLY SAD!

It will be snowing lightly in Hamburg tomorrow (not in London), but I trust Hamburg airport more - I don't trust the British ones

I'm looking forward to coming home to see all of you there. I'll try to see as many of you as I can. I'm not there for long though - Only until Jan 2nd.

I will take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope 2010's been kind to you. I've had a good one. Here's what I've enjoyed throughout this year going fron the start of the year through to now:

1. Family christening in Wolverhampton (Feb)
2. 21st Birthday with Sophie in Finland. Crazy/rememberable night with included waking up in a random woman's flat (Feb)
3.  Gradually coming out to everybody (Mar)
4. Raiding fridge with Enrique after party (Mar)
5. Meeting my baby and spending the summer with him...falling for him in that time (May 2010-)
6. The Circle Line Challenge (June)
7. World Cup 2010 (June/July)
8. Notting Hill Carnival (Aug)
9. Every 'farewell' night out before I left London (Aug/Sep)
10. Altenberg (Sept) - Seriously GREAT times. Like freshers at uni again
11. Hamburg!!! (Sept-)

...Until next time people!!! xxx

Fully enjoying the weekend on next to no money?

"If you've been working all week and Friday/Saturday nights are the only nights you have a chance to have a drink, you're gonna binge, ain't ya?." Those were the words of my hard drinking Scottish ex-colleague when I was a good student working in Sainsbury's in Reading. Think she's right? I do.

But, it may be the case right now that you want to go out tonight and drink and be merry. However, you let yourself believe that your wallet won't allow you to do that.

Entirely understandable. Obviously, it wouldn't be a good idea to go out on the town if you've got rent or a mortgage to pay. If you're in my position, however, and you have been working all week but are slightly low on funds. Here's a quick uplifting guide to how I manage a cheap night out. Trust me, I'm highly trained in this field...

This refers to how how it can be done in Germany, by the way. Still useful, I suppose if you're coming over here at some point. To see me, maybe!

1. Get yourself to PENNY MARKT or LIDL or almost any German supermarket actually. They're almost all dirt cheap. Depending on what you drink, you can stock up on your pre-drink for under 5 Euros. So look at all the prices presented to you carefully.

2. I've found that the little minature bottles of spirits found in ALL German supermarket suffice when on a poor man's night out. 2 minature bottles of the spirit of your choice, throw a decent sized bottle of Coke on the conveyor belt too as mixture. Total costs: 3 Euros
If not, wine (ONE WHOLE LITRE TOO) or 3 cans of beer can all be found for under 2 Euros in German supermarkets

3. Find a friend who's also not loaded and who also wants a bit of time to gear up at home before heading out. It can be great fun with a bit of music etc. Don't drink it all too fast.

4. If you haven't finished what you bought earlier, buy a can for the journey. It's cheaper to do that than buy an extra drink in the bar/club, no?

5. Don't go into any club charging more than a fiver. Obviously, this depends on how much you have on you but that's usually my rule when I'm running low. It'll certainly be my rule tonight!

6. Down something! Anything!

7. Buy the cheapest drink on offer in the club. It's usually beer, but if there's a difference between price in draught and bottled beer. Make sure you know that before you're served. Or, ask the person serving. You don't wanna end up with a shock when they've made the drink and present you with the price, do you?

8. Then enjoy the music. If you're still not satisfied, maybe friends will buy you drinks. Or, you could just nick them - I know people were happy with that.

Have a great weekend people - Don't take this too seriously, by the way. I'm fooling around, init!

I'm still on the quest for DECENT Drum and Bass in Hamburg. If you know where it's at, I'm listening.

8MVJ9HG9C3P9

Back on the blog - Get reading!

Hey people,

It's been a while, hasn't it? And, as I write this, having just burnt the roof of my mouth with pizza fresh out the oven, there isn't too much to tell....

Tuesday evening and I saw my boyfriend leave for London again after his second visit in less than a month. Always a sad moment, but we enjoyed a good weekend - Going for lovely walks and visiting a swimming baths on Friday night.

The baths, I will say, were, well, an experience. Obviously, a great, romantic one when it came to us and spending quality time together. I hadn't been to a proper swimming baths in about ten years. So, I think I forgot how they worked ;) . Either that, or I wasn't quite ready to be faced with - a building full of bollock naked Germans - men and women. It took a minute or two to get used to it, but then I was stripping off too and strutting around the place naked like the rest of them.
I'd never been in a sauna before, especially a sweltering hot Finnish one.

85-90 degrees celsius in that place! I was astounded by the fact that I managed to stop in there for more than 5 minutes.

Eventually, when the member of staff came into the furnace to do the hourly pouring/tasting or something (I forget what it's called in English and German), but anyway, it was time for me to leave. The pouring of the liquid onto the stones produces an intense heat that I couldn't deal with. We left.
And, I never thought I'd enjoy a cold shower! I also didn't think I'd go for a dip in the outdoor pool on day when it was raining outside. But, guess what! That wasn't too bad either.
Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I didn't quite enjoy the part when a fellow 'gay' thought we'd wanna 'get excited' with him, at one point. He touched his thing until it was...well, you know. No we weren't scared, or even freaked out - just surprised, really. We left that room, as I'm sure you can imagine. And, there was me thinking that we do a good enough job of 'gaying up' the places we visit ourselves!

All the Brits decided to go to Prague the weekend just gone. Apart from Katy who returned to Scotland for the weekend and Frazier (He's American though) who visited London for the weekend - but still, it's not Hamburg, is it? So, I didn't really have anyone to party with. But, if you know me, that didn't stop me.

There's a nice, friendly bar at the top of Hans-Albers Platz. Of course, everyone was friendly on the night I wasn't in the mood to chat to everyone. Maybe, I wasn't drunk enough. ;)

We ended up there after checking in on the 'Winterdom'. A fair which will be going on in Hamburg until early December. I only went on one ride, so I vow to go back there a finish the job off.

So, Saturday night there was a protest in the Schanze, and we diverted through there to take a look. But, after a small, but somewhat loud explosion, we sort of scarpered.
I bumped into Joel and Bastian, along with Bastian's other friends later on the Reeperbahn, anyway. Saying that though, I wasn't with them for long. And, to be honest, I don't really have that much in the wallet these days anyway.

Boring but vital: I must find somewhere to live and I must do it fast. It started to put me into one of my 'I hate life moans' on Sunday morning - The hangover didn't help either. I was told to just keep looking, and eventually, I'll find something that suits. We did actually go to a viewing somewhere on Saturday. A half-decent room in a two bedroom flat, sharing with a youngish Frau who's into her jellyfish - awww. Anyway, I just couldn't see myself living there/with her really. Even though, the room was all right and stuff but, I dunno...I...yeah, I dunno. Plus, she hasn't really replied to me either so I'm guessing she's thinking 'piss off' too

It's not that there's nothing in Hamburg, a city with 1.7 million people. But, everything just seems to have a crazily high priced Kaution/deposit whacked onto the price, or it's too far, or they don't want you. I dunno, I'll just keep looking and keep you posted, OK? I've got until Dec 1st...

I was told that the words 'yeah, but...' are frequently articulated by me. Really? Never really noticed it myself. Oh well, anyway, that's me along with half the young population of Britain. Where do you think they came up with Vicky Pollard's 'yeah but, no but' from....?

Moving onto my last bit of business this side of the Channel. And, I was told that I'd be TEACHING classes of nine year olds ALONE! Perhaps until Christmas.

Their regular English teacher whom I normally work alongside, has fallen ill. They're short-staffed as it is. So, even though I'm not supposed to be doing it according to the people who run the scheme, the kids aren't that bad. I'm glad to help the teachers out and there isn't too much pressure on me really. Plus, I'm sort of looking forward to it.

I did the first lesson on my own just six hours ago. It went swimmingly. One thing though - I should have planned a bit more work - hahaha. Can't have them just sitting back, now, can we!?

Before I go tonight, I'll just say that I've been watching live BBC coverage of this engagement announcement which has been made today. Yeah, when something 'big' happens over there, they allow to watch their news coverage from abroad. I'm happy for them and whatever. Hope it lasts and whatever! It should be a good party in London when it happens. Anything excuse for a booze-up in the streets, yeah? I just hope she 'behaves' herself and they don't order a little 'accident' for her to be involved in. I say that, but I'm actually a little monarchist really. Weird!

I like the way the BBC media folks are saying, 'for the rest of her life,' and 'she will be Queen.' Don't they know that divorce rates are higher than ever these days and that times have changed? They still sound so out-of-date.
Does Camilla Parker Bowles know how stupid she sounded saying 'it's wicked' after the reporter approached her in the street. I didn't know how much of a plum in her throat she had. I rarely hear her speak. I think, even the Queen sounds more 'in tune' these days. I like to hear the Queen saying 'it's wicked' and Parker Bowles sticking to 'it's brilliant' - Only!

...Switch back to German TV and we have a young man looking down telling his cock to only react in 'the good way' when it sees hot women, as opposed to hot men. LOL - German TV: It's classic sometimes! When it comes to the royal engagement - They ain't too bothered. Well, the 'serious channels' ones aren't really, anyway.

People, until next time!
xxx

"Professionality" and "teaching" ;)

Tuesday morning and at 8.45am it was my turn to get up in front of the class and conduct my "own lesson" with a class full of 9 year-olds. The lesson was sticking to the theme of food and breakfast because, as you know, it takes a while for things to stick in little kids' heads.

Anyway, we had to listen to a cringeworthy "rap" called "The Sandwich Rap." I may have to post it on here one day - just for laughs.

I went on to teach them a couple of knew words which they remembered today - Good stuff! Those words were lettuce, mustard and cucumber. Obviously, they had problems pronouncing lettuce but we worked on that and now it's not an issue.

A worksheet was the last thing they had to do and they did it without problems. So, I was very pleased with how it went. The only pointer the teacher gave me was to allow them a bit of time to write words down because obviously they're younger, therefore a bit slower. Next Tuesday I'll do the same lesson with the other class of 9 year-olds.

My fellow assistants and I have come to the conclusion that kids get away with more in German schools and the British ones are a lot stricter. I'll just let you one thing though - I know that we have such a thing as 'lines' in the UK but when it comes to these 9 year-olds. The teacher I'm always with loves to threaten them with "SCHREIB'ing' DIE KLASSENREGELN AB" (Copying out the classroom rules) - It's like it's all she's got lol. Always makes me giggle to myself.

Lastly, I had a good bitch just now on Facebook about getting up this morning to get to school for 8am! I won't moan anymore on here but I still don't think there's any need for a start that early. It was still pitch-black outside, for God's sake. It'll be even darker after the clocks go back at the weekend.
Oh well, I suppose it's all part of the experience, no?

Plus, it's getting colder here by the day - I'm scared of just how cold it's gonna get over the coming weeks.


Apprentice comments (27.10.2010)

Just watched watched yesterday's Apprentice and I have to say that it was pretty funny. It's always funny but this was an particularly funny episode.

Won't talk about it too much. I will say that even though I knew about Melissa's firing before watching (SOMEONE spoilt it for me on Facebook straight after the broadcast without warning) it was still fun to watch. I found Melissa funny to watch, but she was definitely the right one to go. 

At least, she'll be remembered for her great ending "Get out my face" lol - Don't think I've heard that before and the "great" words she came out with in one episode alone. 

"Manouvrement, professionality and retributed" are just three I can remember. 

I was reading the forums as I was watching it and after she came out with some of these, a page of posts followed with most people simply saying 'manouvrement? (Is that a word).'

Lord Sugar came out with a classic line also whilst talking to Melissa in the boardroom - 

'You remind me of these, like knock-off DVDs. At first glance you're quite convincing and then afterwards, you know, you're just impossible to follow.' Yeah, that one made me laugh.

Have a good weekend folks :)

This week!

A week's gone by and I feel obliged to fill you all in on my life...

I've just had a really good/crazy weekend mainly hanging around the Reeperbahn with Frazier and Joel (and Emma on the Friday night) and I finally made it to the famous Fish Market after yesterday's clubbing. I had no idea how big the whole thing was but it's AMAZING (if you like fish, that is). I over ate and I'm surprised I wasn't sick! Got in at 7am BOTH NIGHTS. I've found that I'm getting into the continental way of going out later and going all night long.

Good times anyway!

Found a drink in one of the bars called 'Kalte Muschi' - I recommend it people. It really does just taste like juice, needless to say, it's fucking you up.
I was also reunited with 'Strongbow' and 'Snakebite' after a visit to the British pub at the busy Hans Albers Platz - It's a smoking pub too which helps in these increasingly cold times.

Drinking aside, the other assistants and I attended a Training Day on Thursday so that meant a day off school! Not that it made a difference, we still had to be there for 9am. Anyway, we got the chance to meet some of the other English Speaking assistants we didn't already know who were mainly Americans. Once that was over, I had a box full of teaching material to take home with me (all for free) so that was worth it. Before taking the box home, the entire gang paid a visit to our mate's flat which was round the corner. There must have been about 15 of us in her one room. As I expected, her one flatmate soon starting complaining saying that she was 'studying.'

 I spent more than 5€ for the first time in a German supermarket, Lidl to be exact. Yeah, Lidl's German for those who don't know. I didn't for years until I came here. So, I went in to spend 7€, ended up spending 23€ - Not on anything big I might add, but the basket consisted mainly of snacks. A can of Lynx or 'Axe' as it's known on the continent and some fabric softner to top it off. I often wonder why Lynx is known as 'Axe' almost everywhere apart from at home. I've come to this conclusion: The Europeans wouldn't be able to pronounce 'Lynx' upon seeing the word due to the weird spelling, but....what do I know!


I've just got one bitch to throw out there: I suppose I don't really have the right to bitch though 'cause it's my own fault. I keep bloody forgetting to take my own plastic bags when I go and they don't provide free bags so I'm forced to spend extra pennies for fucking bags! Oh well, I'm sure I'll learn.


I still haven't cooked here. Well, I can't cook but I have managed to boil a couple of ready made meal type things. They're not hard. So, that means that the only piece of kitchen shit I've used is the frying pan - Fine by me. That brings down the number of things needing to be washed up at the end of the day!
I also know I'm not alone. One of my other mates is also living on bread and cheese!


On the school front, I didn't do much again this week but that's all gonna change this week. Giving my first lesson to the little ones on Tuesday. Looking forward to it but not as much to the bloody singing at the start.
Sat in on one of the English lessons with the older ones on Tuesday. They're quite cool and yes, I still feel sorry for the girl who got an 'F' on the English Test. She was crying, the poor thing!
They certainly know how to shame the kids in German schools when it comes to handing out results. 


Apart from that, that's it really. Getting up in the mornings is killing me. It still takes about 100 alarms to get me up. The first starting 2/3 hours before I actually have to get out of the bed. 


Thursday night was fun. We went to a Shisha Bar in the Schanze and had an hilarious sex discussion. We have them quite a lot when drink's involved but that one was a laugh. I am now accepting the fact that I have no shame sometimes.


...and I bought two books - in English whoops! But, one could come useful with the kids so naff off! It's a book of facts about the UK called '8 out of 10 Brits,' the other is a novel called 'One day' and I've been told that it's 'a really good book' so I'll let you guys know how I get on with it. I did buy some in German too before you lay into me! I've got enough material auf Deutsch to read anyway, including a book about a pisshead. Interesting! 
I'm trying to balance the reading in German and in English. I need to read a bit more German though I would say 'cause I haven't been speaking it as much as I should be. That's naughty of me. For example, it showed during my short visit to the transport centre to get the payments for my transport transferred over to my name. It was laughable but we got there in the end, didn't we luv?


Of course, I'm still missing my baby. I love him so much and I miss him but in 5 days he'll be here with me for the weekend and then AGAIN two weeks after that. Who's a lucky boy then!?


Just before I go, I'd like you to read this article if you have time. 
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/centuryold-teaching-programme-suspended-after-spending-cuts-2114235.html
It talks about how this new annoying British government may be cutting the programme which I'm doing now which would be a GREAT shame I think.

Until next time peeps

Maxed out!

British bank account - Maxed out!

German bank account - Well, there's a couple of hundred left in that and the rent's paid so that's one thing off my mind.

I didn't max out my British account boozing as you'd probably guess but booking a flight HOME for crimbo and New Year!!! Yay, I'm so happy! 

That doesn't mean I don't have any thing to look forward to over the next two months in Hamburg. 

On Saturday, my baby randomly booked a flight to come here in TWO WEEKS :D 

He was already meant to come in four weeks but now the wait's been cut down which makes us both happy :)

I can't wait to see him - in the flesh again (Skype's still serving us well).

So that's that. I'll update you on my weekend now and Saturday night was a crazy one! Thankx to toytown.com the website for ex-pats living in Germany from all the English speaking countries of the world, I had someone to go out with...

Frazier is from the East Coast of America and was up for a night out. He has a pretty demanding job and doesn't know many people in Hamburg yet. Anyway, he came to my place and we sat and had drinks with my flatmate and watched a bit of the boxing before heading out to the Reeperbahn. 

Before we left, my flatmate treated us to some homemade vodka he has here, courtesy of his girlfriend's parents' house in Ukraine. 

Strong stuff! Between 50 and 60% percent and it certainly did its work on me!

We went on to visit about 4 different bars on and around the Reeperbahn, including the 99 cent bar (every drink 99 cent). 

Not surprisingly, it was totally packed and we left to try and get into the famous 'Funky Pussy Club.' Didn't get in though and I can't rememeber the excuse they used. I believe it was that it was already too full inside. Anyhow, that didn't stop us and the night came to a close at 5am with me finally getting to bed at 6am. 

Yesterday, I was "out of action" due to a stinking hangover! Same again next week though, I should imagine.

The mates are coming round tonight for a bit. That's nice. I haven't seen them since Thursday after they pissed off to Frankfurt for the weekend leaving me.

So school's back on in other news. I'm happy in a way 'cause I was getting a bit bored hanging around the flat all day, everyday (although I wasn't complaining about the lie-ins) and when I did go out, it just meant money. Now it's back to what I came here to do. I am, however looking forward to getting up in front of the classes and doing some proper "teaching." I'll soon get bored of just sitting at the back of the class. Maybe I should come up with some ideas of things I wanna do with them then. 

I'm so pissed they already know 'Head, shoulders, knees and toes' lol. 

I've been told that I'll be working mainly with the little ones and the 8th class (I think that's Year 9 in England) I still get confused when working out with class is which in the English system. 

After Christmas, I'll move on to work with the older ones mainly working on mainly speaking practice before their exams in May. I'm fine with the younger ones for now - They're funny! And you know me, I like a laugh! ...Even in the morning!

Until next time people

Mwah! 

 

  

Update:

Today's another day and I haven't done much except walk over the road to go into Lidl for a few bits...
I picked a few things out of the jumble sale style supermarkets they have here in Germany and went to pay. As I approached the checkout, I came across something which generally really irritates the poo out of me in a German supermarket....ONE TILL OPEN!
At that moment, they managed to get another one open so I was served pretty quickly but still - I don't like queing for ages in supermarkets (or anywhere really). That's the London in me!
So I spent 11€ in there. I do love the prices of the stuff over here. I left with a bag full of crap really. You know, the stuff that tastes really nice but isn't really doing the old insides any good. That should keep me stocked up for about ...2/3 days I would say. 


Apart from that, my Haspa bank card came through today so I FINALLY have a German bank card and I can give the British bank one a rest. However, with this German card, I can only withdraw from the cashpoints owned by my bank. If not, it's a whopping 5€ charge on top - Pissed!


Speaking of being pissed, although now switching to the other meaning of the word, I've been on the wine the past two nights with the Brits. Drinking it slowly but still managing to see the bottle off while we socialise. 
I've also throw a couple of glasses of Weissbier into the mix when we've been hanging out at Jungfernstieg. 
We've now realised we need to cut out the daily visits to the bar/restaurant at that place as we're not all made of money. I think it's just boredom during the day due to the fact we're all still on holiday.


You may remember from my last post that I was VERY homesick the other day. You'll be pleased to hear that it's a lot better now and I'm happily getting back into liking the fact that I'm in Germany!
Good! It's better than being miserable and hating every minute here as I'm sure you can imagine.
I cured my homesickness by downloading literally every British TV programme on the box. Obviously, my EastEnders and Coronation Street but also, bloody Emmerdale and Hollyoaks too (two programmes I never watch at home) I think it's just the accents I wanted to hear. 
For me, they're good for giving me a dose of home but now I'm trying not to get hooked on them again and spend every morning downloading each of them (even though they don't take long to download)
...No I haven't downloaded and watched X Factor before you ask. They hype over the programme annoys me and that's one thing I don't miss!


Apprentice tonight! So give it away before I watch tomorrow and I'll speak to you all soon


Have a great Wednesday people 
xxx