It's amazing to think that around 8 weeks ago school was being let out for the summer, and our friends were heading off on their summer adventures. We hung around for 2 weeks before heading off and watched Jinqiao empty. We said have fun, stay safe and good bye to our friends, and that we would see them again soon, or sometime somewhere if moving on was in their summer plans.
We came home again last Friday, glad to be back in our own beds and finally unpack those suitcases. Our trip was amazing, Hanoi, HoiAn, Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong in 30 days.
Jinqiao is filling up again, and we are seeing our friends and acquaintances arrive back, the first trip to the supermarket, the first visit back to the playground, the first lunch at the local hang out, each of these resulting in running into a friend of somebody - Didi, 3 years old, sees his friends and runs around in circles with them, Jie Jie, 5 years old, sees her friends and just gets on with business as if she saw them yesterday, Mike sees his colleagues and grunts that the holidays went too fast and I see other mums and remark on how the kids have grown, or how tanned everyone is.
Now we have one week before school starts, what to do in that time? Text messages are fast and furious usually starting with 'Are you back yet? How was your summer?' before launching into requests for playdates or coffee. Speaking of playdates... we're off!
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Summer Exodus
It's funny here in Shanghai - everyone leaves as soon as school is out! The American schools finish in very early June, so the annual exodus starts then, and many people with young children leave before school finishes, to beat airfare rises and to maximise the time at home.
It's sad too, because we say goodbye to so many friends at this time of year who are moving on, so the last few weeks have been filled with farewell parties for grown ups and for the kids. The grown up parties usually consist of cocktails and dinner while the kids parties are usually at indoor play centres or swimming pools with chocolate cupcakes! It's hard nonetheless to say goodbye.
This year, we decided to stick around for nearly 2 weeks after school finished before we embark on our summer adventures, and it has been so quiet. The streets are deserted, a result of many expats being away already and also the heat. We have been swimming and hanging out with some remaining friends, and generally relaxing; we have really begun to wind down after the frenetic finish to the school year. Now to get on with the packing!!
It's sad too, because we say goodbye to so many friends at this time of year who are moving on, so the last few weeks have been filled with farewell parties for grown ups and for the kids. The grown up parties usually consist of cocktails and dinner while the kids parties are usually at indoor play centres or swimming pools with chocolate cupcakes! It's hard nonetheless to say goodbye.
This year, we decided to stick around for nearly 2 weeks after school finished before we embark on our summer adventures, and it has been so quiet. The streets are deserted, a result of many expats being away already and also the heat. We have been swimming and hanging out with some remaining friends, and generally relaxing; we have really begun to wind down after the frenetic finish to the school year. Now to get on with the packing!!
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Photo a Day - June
I'm quite proud of my efforts really, and here are the photos I took each day in June, just using my iPhone, and mostly just editing and publishing on Instagram, which then auto publishes to Facebook. I edited one using Stitched Lite, which makes photo collages. The "favourite photo ever" challenge was taken on our regular camera, and then dropped into my Photo Stream in order to upload it via my iPhone.
Now I'm ready for the July Challenge! Join in too!!
Friday, 18 May 2012
A day in my world
Recently I heard about this movement or project called “A Day in the World”, the premise being you upload photos taken on May 15 to the website, and they will create a story of what happened around the world that day.
Granted, I didn’t hear about this until May 16, so it was fortunate for me that I happened to have a day of interesting and varied sightseeing in Shanghai with Didi and my parents, and subsequently a tonne of photos to sift through… now, don’t worry they only let you upload ten photos… this link is to my profile, so if you'd like to see what I posted... click this one...
Follow the instructions on the home page if you'd ilke to join in too!!
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Photo Challenge
So while I was reading other people's blogs and generally roaming the internet, I came across this sweet little challenge run by Chantelle at Fat Mum Slim - basically to take a photo a day based on a list of inspirations for the month... I am a bit late coming to the party, and I'm not sure if each suggestion is supposed to tie in with the actual day of the month... but hey, I'm taking the inspiration list and posting a photo for each one as I find it...
1. Flower (#16): This is the ceiling inside the Moon Pagoda in Shan Hu, Guilin.
Next month, I'll try and work harder to do it all through Instagram, which I do love... I've also already posted one through Instagram for #18 - hair. So that's 11 photos for April so far... and today is the 11th!
1. Flower (#16): This is the ceiling inside the Moon Pagoda in Shan Hu, Guilin.
2. Someone who makes me happy (#4): These are my kids.
3. Stairs (#12): These stairs are climbing up Solitary Beauty Peak in the centre of the Princes City in Guilin.
4. My Reflection (#1): You can see my camera anyway in the glass, and Didi is moving too fast for my camera to focus on him!
5. Sunset (#15): Over the Karst Peaks in Yangshuo, from a great pizza restaurant called Luna.
6. Colour (#2): This is in the Dragon Cave, Yangshuo.
7. Vegetable (#23): Making chilli and garlic paste in Guilin
8. Younger me (#9): Well... passing of time anyway, and what I was, and what I will be... my daughter, me and my mum! On holidays in Guilin.
9. Last thing bought (#22): We bought a painting from this gallery of the Guilin landscape.
10. Orange (#19): We went rafting in Yangshuo and all the life vests that nobody was wearing were orange.
Next month, I'll try and work harder to do it all through Instagram, which I do love... I've also already posted one through Instagram for #18 - hair. So that's 11 photos for April so far... and today is the 11th!
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Bubble fun
Yesterday was our first warm weekend day after what seems to have been the eternal winter and grey sky. The days are gradually lengthening. The sun shined all day. The wind was not cold. The sky was almost blue. We enjoyed being outside without crazy amounts of clothing.
And in the late afternoon, before dinner and baths the kids and I went downstairs and blew bubbles just outside our front door.
Didi poured nearly as much bubble mix out as that which he turned into bubbles, see the angle of his bottle... it's a bit hard to coordinate for a 3 year old!
Double bubble trouble Through the bubble
This is fun!!
Can we catch them again?
As our neighbours walked by they commented on how lovely the evening was and what a joyous way to spend our first night of the start of summer. I hope for many more long evenings in the next few months, where we can enjoy the kids being kids.
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Supermarkets and reward coupons
A trip to the supermarket is an exhausting and draining experience. Not only is the supermarket enormous, but in addition to the regular grocery items you need to walk through a superstore selling widescreen TVs, whitegoods, mobile phones, cameras, books and magazines, kitchen ware, crockery, bedding, clothes, shoes, furniture, luggage and so on. Once in the grocery section, it is difficult sometimes to work out what is where, as frequently the supermarket staff reorganise the entire layout, so just as you have got used to going to a specific spot for say, sugar, they up and move them to somewhere completely different. So visiting the supermarket can also be a bit of a treasure hunt.
This is in the meat room, which has a definite aroma...
Yes, this is a pile of skinned chickens.
Yes, their heads and feet are still attached.
No, there are no tongs to pick them up, inspect and look for a juicy one before putting them into a bag.
Yes, it is a good idea to always have hand sanitiser in your bag.
Yes, it is a very good idea to wash your fruit and veg very well - why? well because people who have handled these chickens could very well have then handled your apples!
This is part of the live fish market in the supermarket.
You can buy frogs, eels, fish, mussels, turtles, prawns and other stuff alive, by the jin, or half kilo. I have seen fish still flapping around when they are scanned at the register.
You can also buy fillets and frozen items like prawns or squid.
It is often a bit like a trip to the aquarium and the kids like to look at the huge tanks of fish, and the crabs, frogs and turtles.
Often when you buy your groceries you are given a little coupon which you can redeem by showing your receipt and handing over the coupon, and sometimes paying a nominal amount, for a number of little giveaways, but frequently the queues to get these items are just as insane as those inside the store, and on days that I've already dragged one or both kids around the supermarket I would rather just get home. At the bottom of the escalator, near this stand, there are often people asking for your coupons and receipts. If the line is too long I don't claim my free / reduced item, but I also can't hand over my receipt as we need them to claim as a living expense, much to the chagrin of the people asking.
This week, there was no queue and I'd already shook my head to say I wasn't giving away my coupon and receipt, and for the price of 1RMB (15c) I got this gorgeous new non-stick pan with thermospot!! And the best news is that I was in the market for this as my old non-stick pan is decidedly non-non-stick. And at first they gave me a yellow one, but I exchanged it for this lovely red one!!
This is in the meat room, which has a definite aroma...
Yes, this is a pile of skinned chickens. Yes, their heads and feet are still attached.
No, there are no tongs to pick them up, inspect and look for a juicy one before putting them into a bag.
Yes, it is a good idea to always have hand sanitiser in your bag.
Yes, it is a very good idea to wash your fruit and veg very well - why? well because people who have handled these chickens could very well have then handled your apples!
You can buy frogs, eels, fish, mussels, turtles, prawns and other stuff alive, by the jin, or half kilo. I have seen fish still flapping around when they are scanned at the register.
You can also buy fillets and frozen items like prawns or squid.
It is often a bit like a trip to the aquarium and the kids like to look at the huge tanks of fish, and the crabs, frogs and turtles.
This is the check out area... it looks much like any supermarket anywhere else, but the queues are more aggressive and impatient than in other countries, and there is not yet a self serve line.
Often when you buy your groceries you are given a little coupon which you can redeem by showing your receipt and handing over the coupon, and sometimes paying a nominal amount, for a number of little giveaways, but frequently the queues to get these items are just as insane as those inside the store, and on days that I've already dragged one or both kids around the supermarket I would rather just get home. At the bottom of the escalator, near this stand, there are often people asking for your coupons and receipts. If the line is too long I don't claim my free / reduced item, but I also can't hand over my receipt as we need them to claim as a living expense, much to the chagrin of the people asking.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Sunshine finally...
Despite spending 6 weeks in summery Australia over Christmas, we have come back and I have had a serious case of the SADS (Seasonal Affected Disorder) due to lack of blue sky and sunshine, and excessive amounts of rain and freezing temperatures since Chinese New Year.
Finally this week the sun shone warm through my coat. I was able to dispense with my cozy winter hat and gloves (actually I lost them, which is fine for now, but will be a pain next winter!) and just wear a scarf.
I have taken the bunny rugs out of the buggy because although the kids are still bundled up in winter jackets, they no longer need the extra insulation. Finally the playgrounds are starting to dry up, and we can start getting some exercise after school.
Despite complaining now of the cold, I am looking forward to what is hopefully a nice long crisp spring before I start whinging about the summer humidity and heat.
Finally this week the sun shone warm through my coat. I was able to dispense with my cozy winter hat and gloves (actually I lost them, which is fine for now, but will be a pain next winter!) and just wear a scarf.
I have taken the bunny rugs out of the buggy because although the kids are still bundled up in winter jackets, they no longer need the extra insulation. Finally the playgrounds are starting to dry up, and we can start getting some exercise after school.
Despite complaining now of the cold, I am looking forward to what is hopefully a nice long crisp spring before I start whinging about the summer humidity and heat.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
People touching me...
This most likely isn't what you are thinking... naughty!!
About 10 years ago, health insurance in Australia pretty much became compulsory. To make it compulsory, if you earned a certain amount (which in my opinion wasn't very much) you either had to buy health insurance or you got taxed pretty much the same amount health insurance cost... lucky for me I worked for a bank which had an excellent health insurance offering, and suddenly I was about 25 (super fit and healthy) with this ridiculous level of health cover, including one of "Extra or Lifestyle Benefits" - this meant that I could claim up to $400 a year on things like gym membership, acupuncture, chiropractors or massage (but it had to be therapeutic massage).
Anyway, me being me, always thought that I needed to claim on these things to get the benefit of the premiums I was paying on the health insurance. I was claiming the maximum amount on my gym membership which was lets say $200. There was no way people were going to stick needles in me, and so one of the other benefits I could claim was massage, and so with holding telephones and using computers all day long muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders were frequent.
I think back now to my masseuses in Sydney and compare them to massages in China. In Sydney, I lived with a girl for a while who was studying massage, and every now and again, well twice, she'd 'practise' on me. We actually weren't great flatmates, as we were at opposite ends of our twenties and had different home priorities. I didn't actually pay her either for her massages.
My first real masseuse had been vaguely recommended to me via the intranet at work. She worked from her apartment in Bondi Junction. Her front room was where she practised, overlooking a huge leafy tree and she usually had the balcony door open and the salty sea breeze would waft in. At the time I lived just down the road in sunny Coogee, so she wasn't too far away. I went to her for about 3 years, the whole time I lived nearby.
My second masseuse was a lady called Tanya. One day at work I cramped my neck so severely that I had to find someone who could sort it out straight away. One of my colleagues recommended Tanya and warned that I should say that I like quiet massages, minimal chat. She was able to see me virtually straight away, and was in the super convenient spot of being just in the next block up from work. She was strong and her deep tissue massage was excellent. I visited her about every three months for about 5 years. But she could talk the leg off a table! She even gave me a massage when I was pregnant with Jie Jie.
In Sydney, I used to see the Chinese Massage in places I thought were really odd - for example in the Centrepoint food court or just outside Wynyard Train Station - acknowledging they were cheap (comparatively) but couldn't see the attraction of having a massage with your clothes on or in such a public spot.
So in Sydney, I was largely exclusive with my masseuses! Except for the one time when I was given for a birthday a super special massage voucher, for a massage by the sea, literally on the rocks at Bondi Icebergs... the salt spray, the waves and the seagulls making it super relaxing and amazing. It is also the only time I was massaged by a masseur.
Now in China, there's no health insurance incentive for having massages but it is affordable! A Chinese massage costs about 75RMB for one hour... this is insane, as I used to pay $75 (AUD) for the same, and would only get about $15 back per session (so yes, a bit of false economy) from health insurance..... so in China, a massage costs about $11(AUD). And there is a massage place on nearly every corner. And in each spa (fancier name for massage place) there are a number of masseurs and masseuses. And as seems to be tradition here, they only give you their employee number if you ask, not their name - so they will answer "I'm Seventeen, thank you" except in Chinese. Because I struggle with that procedure, I am unlikely to come in again and ask if twenty six is free, and so here in China, most every time I have a massage I have a different practitioner.
Chinese massage is different though, because you stay fully dressed - usually I will wear something comfortable, like tracky daks, and you are not necessarily in a private room. The place I go to most often has rooms with four massage tables in them, and while you might start alone, other people may come in during your massage. Sometimes they even chat throughout the whole thing, with their friend on the next table!
But, in Expat-ville, which is where I live in Shanghai, there is also a proliferation of Western style day spas. I have a massage here every now and again too - and even this (with private rooms, near naked, relaxing music and oil) is half the price of Australia... but again, you are unlikely to ask for your therapist, because there are still too many there!
So in Australia, I had a total of four people massaging me, and here in China I have completely lost count.
And for the record, I am not one of those people always indulging themselves - it is still a treat, but one which is less out of reach than it used to be.
About 10 years ago, health insurance in Australia pretty much became compulsory. To make it compulsory, if you earned a certain amount (which in my opinion wasn't very much) you either had to buy health insurance or you got taxed pretty much the same amount health insurance cost... lucky for me I worked for a bank which had an excellent health insurance offering, and suddenly I was about 25 (super fit and healthy) with this ridiculous level of health cover, including one of "Extra or Lifestyle Benefits" - this meant that I could claim up to $400 a year on things like gym membership, acupuncture, chiropractors or massage (but it had to be therapeutic massage).
Anyway, me being me, always thought that I needed to claim on these things to get the benefit of the premiums I was paying on the health insurance. I was claiming the maximum amount on my gym membership which was lets say $200. There was no way people were going to stick needles in me, and so one of the other benefits I could claim was massage, and so with holding telephones and using computers all day long muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders were frequent.
I think back now to my masseuses in Sydney and compare them to massages in China. In Sydney, I lived with a girl for a while who was studying massage, and every now and again, well twice, she'd 'practise' on me. We actually weren't great flatmates, as we were at opposite ends of our twenties and had different home priorities. I didn't actually pay her either for her massages.
My first real masseuse had been vaguely recommended to me via the intranet at work. She worked from her apartment in Bondi Junction. Her front room was where she practised, overlooking a huge leafy tree and she usually had the balcony door open and the salty sea breeze would waft in. At the time I lived just down the road in sunny Coogee, so she wasn't too far away. I went to her for about 3 years, the whole time I lived nearby.
My second masseuse was a lady called Tanya. One day at work I cramped my neck so severely that I had to find someone who could sort it out straight away. One of my colleagues recommended Tanya and warned that I should say that I like quiet massages, minimal chat. She was able to see me virtually straight away, and was in the super convenient spot of being just in the next block up from work. She was strong and her deep tissue massage was excellent. I visited her about every three months for about 5 years. But she could talk the leg off a table! She even gave me a massage when I was pregnant with Jie Jie.
In Sydney, I used to see the Chinese Massage in places I thought were really odd - for example in the Centrepoint food court or just outside Wynyard Train Station - acknowledging they were cheap (comparatively) but couldn't see the attraction of having a massage with your clothes on or in such a public spot.
So in Sydney, I was largely exclusive with my masseuses! Except for the one time when I was given for a birthday a super special massage voucher, for a massage by the sea, literally on the rocks at Bondi Icebergs... the salt spray, the waves and the seagulls making it super relaxing and amazing. It is also the only time I was massaged by a masseur.
Now in China, there's no health insurance incentive for having massages but it is affordable! A Chinese massage costs about 75RMB for one hour... this is insane, as I used to pay $75 (AUD) for the same, and would only get about $15 back per session (so yes, a bit of false economy) from health insurance..... so in China, a massage costs about $11(AUD). And there is a massage place on nearly every corner. And in each spa (fancier name for massage place) there are a number of masseurs and masseuses. And as seems to be tradition here, they only give you their employee number if you ask, not their name - so they will answer "I'm Seventeen, thank you" except in Chinese. Because I struggle with that procedure, I am unlikely to come in again and ask if twenty six is free, and so here in China, most every time I have a massage I have a different practitioner.
Chinese massage is different though, because you stay fully dressed - usually I will wear something comfortable, like tracky daks, and you are not necessarily in a private room. The place I go to most often has rooms with four massage tables in them, and while you might start alone, other people may come in during your massage. Sometimes they even chat throughout the whole thing, with their friend on the next table!
But, in Expat-ville, which is where I live in Shanghai, there is also a proliferation of Western style day spas. I have a massage here every now and again too - and even this (with private rooms, near naked, relaxing music and oil) is half the price of Australia... but again, you are unlikely to ask for your therapist, because there are still too many there!
So in Australia, I had a total of four people massaging me, and here in China I have completely lost count.
And for the record, I am not one of those people always indulging themselves - it is still a treat, but one which is less out of reach than it used to be.
Friday, 5 August 2011
The Benefit of Illiteracy
I never, ever, thought I would write a title like that above... but I have to say that one of the benefits of living in China, and in particular, grocery shopping in China means I buy what I need, and use it, and then buy it again.
At the moment I am on holidays in Wales. Wales is a bilingual country, and everything is written in English and Welsh. I am not (obviously) illiterate in English, but I am illiterate and non-comprehending of Welsh. Fortunately, as a by-law of being bilingual everything in Wales is written in duplicate.
Where am I going with this? I am going to target Sainsburys - the big supermarket chain here, and tell them that they are driving me crazy with 'multibuys'. Why do I have to buy 3 cartons of juice, when I only want ONE. Why is it such a bargain to buy meat or fruit 'Any 3 for L4'? I get angry when I see that I'm paying 30p more per item if I only buy one pack, but it's no good for me, or my kids, if when I want one pack of 'crisps' it is significantly cheaper for me to buy THREE.
Yes, do multibuys on things like tinned tomatoes, packets of pasta, pantry staples that you can hoard (if you live here and ultimately will need them), but don't do it on packets of biscuits, crisps, pizzas, and other junk food. Don't do it on fresh food that you can't possibly get through before it expires or crowds out your fridge.
I reflect though, on times when I've picked something up in China that I want/need, put it in my trolley and then start to leave, only to be chased along by a shop assistant carrying a second item and a roll of sticky tape, which she sticks to the first item, sometimes the same as the first item or the same brand, and sometimes completely different, and sometimes to my eye, unrelated - eg toilet paper and a food storage box.
I love a bargain, but I hate the pressure and angst I feel when I have to multibuy.
At the moment I am on holidays in Wales. Wales is a bilingual country, and everything is written in English and Welsh. I am not (obviously) illiterate in English, but I am illiterate and non-comprehending of Welsh. Fortunately, as a by-law of being bilingual everything in Wales is written in duplicate.
Where am I going with this? I am going to target Sainsburys - the big supermarket chain here, and tell them that they are driving me crazy with 'multibuys'. Why do I have to buy 3 cartons of juice, when I only want ONE. Why is it such a bargain to buy meat or fruit 'Any 3 for L4'? I get angry when I see that I'm paying 30p more per item if I only buy one pack, but it's no good for me, or my kids, if when I want one pack of 'crisps' it is significantly cheaper for me to buy THREE.
Yes, do multibuys on things like tinned tomatoes, packets of pasta, pantry staples that you can hoard (if you live here and ultimately will need them), but don't do it on packets of biscuits, crisps, pizzas, and other junk food. Don't do it on fresh food that you can't possibly get through before it expires or crowds out your fridge.I reflect though, on times when I've picked something up in China that I want/need, put it in my trolley and then start to leave, only to be chased along by a shop assistant carrying a second item and a roll of sticky tape, which she sticks to the first item, sometimes the same as the first item or the same brand, and sometimes completely different, and sometimes to my eye, unrelated - eg toilet paper and a food storage box.
I love a bargain, but I hate the pressure and angst I feel when I have to multibuy.
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