When a Saturday is really a Saturday

Enjoying a late morning Mountain Breeze coffee reading That's PRD magazine about the Pearl River Delta (SZ & GZ)

Lei and Luke ordering the adventurous delights of the hot pot


After 9 days of teaching, this morning was lazy and a good start to the week long Spring Festival for the Lunar New Year. Coffee at a local coffee shop where i was given a loyalty card just like home, now I feel like a local. A rare Saturday on a Saturday as days off are normally Tues/Wed. With no particular plans other than to stay out of the lazy cold wind from the cold snap (the weather knows when it is new year so it can create havoc with holiday plans), I accepted an invite from Lei and Luke from school to venture into Luo Hu and DiWan to look for DVDs and a hot pot meal.

I had my initiation to the Luo Hu Commercial Centre ( 5 floors of tiny shops and calls of "just looking,come in" , offers to buy sunglasses, bags and baby clothes galore). A gentle induction as it was very busy but not crowded. We went to find a tailor to make some work clothes (beige of course) but all the tailors were closed.

Back on the subway to the shopping area for DVD browsing and to stock up for the chilly holiday days and nights ahead.

A hot pot meal was what I was promised and in return I agreed to be adventurous with the ingredients ( I don't have to teach till next Saturday). The Chinese equivalent of black pudding slices, an eggy tofu dish , and sucking marrow through a straw just about ticked all the adventurous boxes for the day. It was bleak and gray outside so a warming hotpot broth late in the afternoon was just right.

The city centre near Diwan was not at all crowded in contrast to a two weeks ago so the tales of travelling home must be true. [A good time to visit the traditionally crowded places over the next week, with the camera and Hannah when she is not working as they do not have such a long break as us.] A quick bus trip home due to lack of traffic and passengers by comparison to normal.

I got the seal of approval on the apartment from Lei as she hadn't seen it. Tonight you can see the lights of the New Territories (HK) and the road bridge so the air is clearer than normal - maybe I will get a sea view one day soon.

Time to watch one of my DVDs, as I can't get the DVD player working through the TV (the ex-AV technician knows what to do but I can not read Chinese for in/out etc and on the remote controls) I'm taking the laptop to bed with a hot cuppa and watch one of the dozen new titles.

Goodnight from me