Another Highveld storm

Highveld storm in the making.

SA vs England

20/20 cricket game at the Wanderers Stadium, Illovo, Joburg, South Africa.

We lost by one run. Duckworth-Lewis be damned.

Johannesburg Jacarandas

And we're back

Temp: 13 - 28
Exchange:
$1 = R7,48
1 Pound = R12, 25
Listening to: Charles Trenet singing La mer

Sunset: Eamon and I on a roof in Greenside drinking red wine. Bliss

And we're back! It took some time and effort to set up our home internet (understatement of the century), but it's all sorted now, so watch out for regular blog updates.

We're settling back into Jozi/Joburg/Johannesburg life. We're both working, Frikkie for a Swiss company called Nussli and I'm spending my days at Liberty as a communications specialist. Work is work, some days good and some days not so good.

The cats all made it back safely from Shanghai, but since then Nunu has gone missing and we've not been able to find her. I'm hoping somebody took her in - the alternative is too awful to consider. She's microchipped and so I know she's not ended up at the SPCA, so hoping for the best.

Need to get my lazy bum out of bed now - catch you again soon.

Silver linings

Weather: warm and with a slight breeze
Temp: 16 - 25
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,23
Good enough for Etsy?

I made this tunic top from scratch. I made the pattern, bought the fabric and sewed it myself. I'm quite proud of it. And just in case you're wondering: no, I'm not pregnant.

Ok, so yesterday I was having a bad day. Today is better. Frikkie went and got me some medication, so I'm feeling 100% better. I'm still zonked, but I feel better. I'm not going on my train trip, I'm not feeling well enough, but hopefully we can go to somewhere nice on Saturday. Sunday Frikkie has to work, again. Sigh.

We're suppose to run the Great Wall marathon this weekend. Don't all gasp at once - I was doing the 5kms and Frikkie the 10. I don't want to die doing it, so I'm withdrawing. Maybe Frikkie will still go, not sure.

Ok, back to bed with me. Need some sleep.

BTW my silver lining for today is that I have a BF that I really love and want to spend time with. So perhaps it's understandable that I get a little grumpy when I don't see all that much of him.

A little rant

This is not one of my usual posts, it's a rant. Here goes: I'm sick and tired of Frikkie always working late. I'm also sick and tired of him working on weekends. Sick.and.tired.of.it.

I'm also really sick (again) with a some nasty cold, so I'm a little more grumpy than usual. Hopefully I will feel better again tomorrow and then I will be able to see the silver lining.

Good Greek

Weather: fine and hot
Temp: 20 - 33
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,22
Money, money, money: We paid our apartment deposit this weekend, in cash. I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss online banking.

I'm listening to Jacob Zuma's inauguration speech. Not bad, I guess, pity about his track record.

We had a great day yesterday. We went to the Fat Olive for lunch. Good Greek, with an amazing view (of which I did not take a photo, duh). They also serve chilled Fleur de Cap Chardonnay. I suspect we'll be back there before too long.

Pete and Rachael came round for dinner - we carried the dining room table onto the balcony and had a lovely night. Today however I'm not feeling so hot - no, it's not a hangover, but I suspect mild sunstroke from sunning myself on the Fat Olive terrace for 4 hours.

I can feel an afternoon nap coming on - catch you all next week.

Days like this

Weather: Hot, HoT, HOT
Temp: 16 - 31
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1.22
Photo boot magic

There are these passport photo booths in the stations in Shanghai. I have very fond memories of taking fun photo booth pics with my BFF Gayle and Rebecca, so Frikkie I and ducked into one at some random station somewhere in Shangers. We selected multi or different photos, 4 of them. Instead we got 9 of the same. I thought it was a good analogy for China - you may not always get what you ask for, but you're get something, that's sort of right, or at least right enough to keep you quiet, but wrong enough so that you don't want to repeat the experience.

I'm planning a little excursion next week. I want to get onto a train and head inland. Not quite sure where to yet, but roughing it. Hopefully I don't get too lost. How lost can I get in three days?

The trip to the fabric market at the Science and Technology Park was a little disappointing. It's more a tailors' market than a fabric market and the fabric that was there didn't really tickle my fancy all that much. I did find one piece that I liked and am busy making a tunic top from it. I made the pattern from scratch, so I'm hoping it will fit me, semi properly. Will post a pic once it's done.

2 years and counting :-)

Weather: fine Spring day
Temp: 16 - 23
Sinful: The Shanghai gang (Holly, Me, Frikkie, Rachael, Pete and Andrew) at Sin on Saturday night.

Frikkie and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary on the first of May. It was also exactly 1 year ago that we first set foot in Shanghai. Much has changed since then: Frikkie and I are infinitely happier, we now live in Shanghai, we can speak a smattering of Mandarin, but mostly it's Shanghai that is changing around us by the second as the city gets ready for the 2010 World Expo. It is amazing to see - construction on an enormous scale going on day and night (as the earth moving trucks thundering down the round outside our apartment at 4am bares testament to). We read in the paper over the weekend that the local government has decreed that property owners need to spruce up their building in the next 6 months and if they don't do it themselves, the local council will and owners will be presented with the bill. Just like that. What is perhaps not so nice about the clean-up is that the street food will disappear as it is now illegal to operate a business from the back of a bike. Street food is the best food. It's fresh, tasty, convenient and cheap. Sigh - will sure miss it. It is also now illegal to spit in public. This will not be missed.

I'm off to fabric market with Rachael and her friend Merte this afternoon. Am really excited. Our boxes arrived yesterday, which means my sewing machine and dress-makers dummy are here, so I can sew!

Last night in Beijing

Weather: mild, sunny and gorgeous
Temp: 17 - 25
Ladies in Lavender: another Spring delight- Irises have popped up all over the garden.

Moving is not for sissies. Moving in China, speaking only broken Mandarin, takes balls of steel. Being in the middle of it I can safely say it's one of those "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" experiences. But like Gloria Gaynor says: I will survive! (sing along now)

The movers came today. They picked up 289kgs of stuff. That may sound like a lot, but it's couple of boxes, 2 bikes and a dressmaker's dummy. I wished Frikkie hadn't bothered shlepping all our books to Shanghai on the plane - at huge expense. Anyway, it's done. The apartment is close to being as we found it. The couch is a bit worse for wear - thanks to Sam, but we're loosing our deposit so I don't feel too bad about it.

The cats had to go for their pre-flight inspection today. What a mission. I asked about 10 taxis before I found one that a) had a clue where the place was and b) was willing to take the cats. Eventually I found somebody, but the cats had to go in the boot. Yes, shock, horror. They survived though and seem none the worse for the experience.

It's my last night in Beijing as a resident. Boo-hoo. I said goodbye to all my friends this week - Elkarien, Bob, Jo, Jetta, Liora... Boo-hoo-hoo. But I'm hugely looking forward to Shanghai - it's almost like moving to Cape Town from Joburg, but with no snooty Cape Townians to ruin it and a little more Chinese of course. But less Chinese than Beijing - if that makes sense. And with expensive wine. So saddle up maties, let the Shanghai adventure begin.

Summer Palace

Weather: lovely
Temp: 9 - 24
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,28
What's in a name: I've now been to the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. Perhaps it will make me a better person who lives longer.

What the hell is going on with the Rand. Not a month ago it was hovering around R1,45 to the RMB, now it's R1,28! Seems like electing JZ as el presidente has done the rand some good. Not good for us though. Oh well.

I was in tourist mode yesterday. I dusted off Time Out Beijing guidebook and headed for the Summer Palace. I've been meaning to go for ages, but since it's the Summer Palace I figured it was best to go in summer. And I was not disappointed. A, it was a lovely day. B, the Summer Palace is magnificent. There's a museum with some of the artifacts removed from the many pavilions and pagodas in the complex. Truly impressive.
Then I ambled down the 750m Long Corridor, an outside walkway beautifully decorated to the Longevity Hill where I climbed what seemed like a millions stairs. Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos of most of the really amazing artifacts and Buddhas, but I understand that a million flashes may damage paintings etc.

As a little treat I took a rickshaw back to the subway. My rickshaw was racing another rickshaw guy. But I think we had an unfair advantage - the other guy was peddling with 2 big Indian lads in the back.

Got home and had some excellent pilsner from BOKB micro brewery in my complex. Alfie, my flatmate left this morning for Qinbuangdao, where he'll be managing (having loads of fun) the Beijing Sailing School for the summer. Only 3 sleeps to go and then we go too. Now if only I can lay my hands on some bubble wrap.

The problem with wrapping things up

Weather: mild
Temp: 8 -21
Then and now: I think I prefer the spring time picture, although my first snow ever was pretty cool.

All quiet on the Eastern Front. Absolutely nothing to report. The kitties and I had a late morning. Well, why rush things when you have, oh well, nothing to do. I went to Secret from Africa, Miranda Allan's shop to get some of Melissa's Chilly Ginger Jam before we move to Shanghai. She even had Lunchbars. It's not quite the South African shop in London, actually it's not even close - I recon it's better - they just got Charlotte Reece.

You all have yourselves a great long weekend.

We're leaving on a jet plane

Weather: good
Temp:9 - 20
Wall flower: Pretty Shanghai graffiti.

Usually I can handle just about anything. I've been told that I'm a pretty tough cookie (and some other choice descriptions). But today China got the better of me and I had a little cry. And I DON'T cry.

I'm guessing that life for the fabulously wealthy is easy. Pay somebody and all the pain goes away. Must be nice for those folks. The money grabbing bitch My friend Kiki from World Care Pet Transport offered to take care of getting the cats to Shanghai for a measly R1300 per cat. That "includes admin and the flights". Unlucky for Kiki I'm not fresh off the plane anymore. So I booked the cats' flight etc myself. But of course it wasn't THAT easy. I wanted to fly with China Eastern - they had the cheapest flight. I should have known that things were going to go horribly wrong when the Chinglish voice prompts were: "Press 1 for operator. Press 2 for sex". I pressed 2 and got a fax line. I phoned again and pressed 1. Despite choosing English as my preferred language I got through to a person who did not know what a cat was.
I explained in broken Chinese. "Aah! You fly cat Shanghai."
Yes, three cats.
No, fly only 2.
But I have 3 cats.
No, you no fly 3 cats. Two cats for each person.
What do you suggest I do with the third cat.
Only two cats can fly.
Is there another way (by now I'm starting to loose it)
Only two cats can fly.
Henri hangs up and has a little cry.

I then dried my tears and phoned China Air, spoke to an amazing, helpful, friendly, knowledgeable person. The cats, all three, are booked on the same flight as me and we're leaving Beijing next Thursday. All for R450.

Communication skills

Weather: rain predicted, but it seems fine for now
Temp: 9-22
Dragon lady: Perhaps this salon/factory is aimed at horrible mother-in-laws.

Flora, Frikkie's office secretary in Beijing, has offered to help with the logistics of moving us to Shanghai. I really appreciate her offer - otherwise we'd be stuffed. You need somebody to explain everything in Chinese to the locals. So I mailed her a couple of questions yesterday. All set out in bullet point, very clear, logical. About 10 in total. This has mostly to do with booking the moving company and flying the cats. She answered one of my questions, with no indication that she understands my questions/ are trying to find answers/will get back to me regarding the others. This lack of communication really frustrates me. Flora's English isn't that hot, so it I fear that it will all get lost in translation...

NuNu is having her teeth cleaned today. Under general anaesthetic. For the princely sum of R1200. Between her and Sam my wallet is considerably lighter. But there was no other way - she lost one of her canines sometime over the weekend and I don't want her to loose all her teeth. Her jaw was damaged when she was run over (before I got her) and I suspect we'll be dealing with her teeth problems for the rest of her life. I'm so getting pet medical aid when we get back to SA.

Barbie for president

Weather: a little windy
Temp:9 - 24
I think this photo says it all...

I had a good time in Shanghai. Thursday and Friday were spent apartment hunting. Argh - some people have extraordinary bad taste. Where do they find the crap they put into their apartments?

We found a 1 bedroom place in the former French Concession area in a old block. It is the complete opposite of where we live now. Now we live in Fourways, we're moving to Obz in Cape Town. The most exciting part is that we will have our own outside terrace. Granted it's not enormous, but big enough for a table, a couple of chairs and a braai. So all the neighbours will be staring at us when we're outside, but so what. Yes, there wasn't a round eye in sight. The area is VERY Chinese. And our building has not been renovated, bar our apartment. Our new place is on the second floor. To get there you have to go through the communal kitchen, then up the (dark) wooden stairs, onto the landing which has another communal kitchen and lav. This second communal kitchen is next to our front door. I can't wait to learn how to cook proper chinese food - I'm counting on my neighbours being neighbourhly and teaching me. At the moment the apartment has no kitchen. Our new landlord, a single guy, never cooks, so didn't need one. He's putting one in for us, but this means that we'll only move in 1 June. In the mean time we're hoping to stay in one of the Hassell flat in Pudong, close to Frikkie's office.

On Saturday we went to explore our new neighbourhood and popped into the biggest Barbie shop in Asia. WOW. I'm not a big Barbie fan, but as a brand experience it was pretty cool. I loved the fridge magnets. My favourite one says: "I wasn't built for house work". You go Barbie, atta girl.

Voting! Done and dusted

Weather: a little cool
Temp: 5 - 18

I just got back from voting! Whoop, whoop. It felt a little bit like '94, just with no queues. I cycled to the SA embassy in Sanlitun, voted and had tea afterwards. Met two Saffers teaching in Shanxi province (three hours by speed train) who came to Beijing especially to vote. Got to love that dedication.
Who knew there were that many parties, I certainly had not heard of most of them.

I'm leaving the cats alone for five days. Alfie my flatmate is away and since Frikkie no longer works in Beijing I can't ask Flora, Frikkie's office secretary... I know this is not ideal, but let's hope they're all fat and flourishing when I get back.

Right, got to start packing for Shanghai. Can't wait to see Frikkie. It feels like it's been forever.

Getting ready to vote! VIVA!

Weather: warm, with a slight breeze
Temp: 10 -24
Spring has sprung: there are flowers everywhere. I love it.

I'm loving springtime in Beijing. I just can't get over how quickly the city has changed. I was gone for 2 weeks and boom - winter's done and dusted and there is this lush, green city that's replaced the dry, dreary place I call home. Perhaps it's the suddenness with which it occurred that fascinates me, being a country bumpkin from the Southern Hemisphere. I've taken millions of close-up photos of all the blossoms I've come across. Pointless, but beautiful. Perhaps I'll get creative, have the best ones printed on canvass and hung in my house. Mmm, on second, thought, perhaps not.

Tomorrow I will go and vote in the South African general elections. I'm excited. I believe that my vote will make a difference. I have to believe, otherwise I may despair. And I don't want to despair. I want to have hope. I want to be feel the way I did in 1994.

I'm also off to Shanghai tomorrow afternoon. We need a place to live and I need to find it. I'm excited about moving. A whole need city to go and rummage around in. Whoop, whoop.

Hey, hey, it's Friday

Weather: mild
Temp:12 - 23
Band on the run: Stella and I hanging out with Pete, the lead singer from London band, Playmaker.

I said good-bye to my Mandarin tutor Demi today. Instead of having a class we went for breakfast at Grandma's Kitchen near the Bei Xin Qiao subway station. I really like Demi. She's forever telling me things about Chinese society that slightly shock me. Like this - somebody offered her a large sum of money to write the entrance exam to a master's degree on their behalf. Because said person doesn't have the time. Apparently this happens quite often. Oh well, as they say, TIC (This is China).

Youtube is still blocked. And has been for two weeks. In case you don't know the background, read it here. I guess the question is: will Google remove the offending video? We all know what the South African government would have done in this case, but let's see how Google, the owners of youtube, reacts.

Sewing

Weather: warm, polluted
Temp:12 - 27
Pink: Beijing has lots of peach trees, so there are little pink blossoms everywhere. Who needs to go to Japan to go see the cherry blossoms if you have these on your doorstep.

I know I'm a little bit slow, but I finally joined Twitter. My friend Rebecca loves it, so I figured it can't all be bad and what can I say, I have time on my hands. You can follow my tweets here http://twitter.com/LifeInChina

My class was canceled today, so it's just me and the kitties hanging out. I'm thinking of sewing something, but I may just finish this great book I'm reading (White Tiger by Aravind Adiga). Decisions, decisions.

Sam seems to be doing fine. He actually has some personality instead of just standing there jowling and peeing on stuff. I think we both felt pretty crappy yesterday and slept for most of the day. The older I get the worse my hangovers are and the longer it takes to recover. No seriously. I was in bed by 9 last night. Frikkie rang me up at 11:30 or so. Or should I rather say Andrew Lamb rang me up (Aussie who works with Frikkie), speaking broken Afrikaans... Andrew, Holly and Frikkie had been to a drink all you can (and then some) champagne evening somewhere. Andrew's Afrikaans wasn't half bad actually. Frikkie wasn't feeling so hot this morning though. Maybe I'll ring him at 11:30 tonight...

A whole new level of weird

Weather: muggy and hot
Temp: 10 - 28
Els girls: Aren't they beautiful? Natasha, Annemarie and I at my mom's place in East London.

Ok, I just experienced a whole new level of weird. I went to the vet to pick up Sam. And they wanted to give me his nuts, in a little plastic bag. WTF? Like I said, a whole new level of weird.

I am severely hung-over today. Severely. I met Stella at Face Bar and let's just say it went down hill from there. The funniest thing happened. One of Stella's friends, who's name escapes my hung-over brain right now, is on her gap year. So, I said that I took a gap year to0, to kibbutz in Israel. Her response? "Ah, my mom did that too. It must have been an era." I started laughing. She looked puzzled. I guess she could have been my kid if I got pregnant at 17.

What did I do before?

Weather: hot
Temp: 9 - 30
Birthday love: My godson Jackson has great taste - he must get it from his mama cause how else did he pick such a perfect gift for me.

I was wondering today what I did with my time before we went to South Africa. I'm bored. Beyond bored actually. For two weeks I pretty much dashed from one appointment to the next. Now - nothing. Ok, not nothing, I'm teaching at 5, but that's certainly not enough to keep my mind occupied. And my mates are busy so I'll only see them on Saturday.

To break the tedium I went back to one of my favourite sites and folded this origami flower. I bought a Chinese origami book a little while ago, but I think you need to be able to read the instructions as well as follow the illustrations. Doh. At least I had the little squares of paper handy, so it wasn't a complete waste of money. I dig my little flower.

Sam is going to the vet at 4pm for his op tomorrow morning. Hallelujaaah!

I love Beijing in the Spring time

Weather: hot, hot, hot
Temp: 9 to 29
Blossoming: Sam and I spotted these blossom during our walk.

Spring has arrived! Hooray! The garden of Phoenix City is slowly but surely coming to life after the harsh winter. The grass is still dead, but the cleaners were cleaning the water features today so I'm hoping it's just a matter of time till they runneth over. And they fill the swimming pool. Soon.

I cleaned the apartment today. Or more precisely I tried to get rid of the cat pee smell. I have, I think, for the most part, succeeded thanks to P-Off - something I found at Diskem and lugged all the way here. Sam has of course done his best to eradicate my efforts, but, touch wood, he's going for his snip on Wednesday and that will be the end of that. It will also be the end of Sam's nuts. He is on thin ice - I had to wash ALL my bedding today. My bedroom door will stay firmly shut tonight.

My godson Jackson and his momma Rebecca gave me the most beautiful bracelet for my birthday. I LOVE wearing it. I'll take a photo of it tomorrow.

And I'm home

Weather: sunny and warm
Temp: 8 - 23
Monkey loves luggage: I hadn't even unpacked everything yet when Monkey squeeze herself into one of my bags.

I'm back home in Beijing. The flights were long, but somehow bearable. Sam still yowls, NuNu is eating again, all the plants are still alive, so all is good in Beijing. And have I mentioned that the weather has greatly improved? It was warm today! Warm people. Come on summer! We won't mention that the apartment now really smells of cat pee. Well, it can't all be good.

I had the best time in South Africa. I spent an amazing week in East London. I went for walks on the beach almost every morning, got to spend loads of time with my family and loved every second of it.

And then I got to hang with my in-laws and friends. Not as much as I had wanted to, but it was good. I can't believe how quickly the kiddies are growing up. Jackson, Erin, Riley, Jared... it's quite amazing how much they've changed in 6 months. Thanks everybody for making the effort and spending some time with me. Love you long time.

Argh, my head hurts

Weather: HOT, hot, hot
Temp: 9 to 26
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,44
Top of the mornin to ya: St Patrick's Day at Durty Nellies in Liangmaqiao.

Ouch, my head hurts today. I blame it on the luck of the Irish. The gals and I went to my nearest Irish Pub and had us some beer. Jo is going to kill me for putting up the second photo, but I love the Jameson bottle sticking out of her head...

Only one more sleep and we're of to South Africa. I absolutely can't wait. Now I just have to get through all the things I still need to do and we should get there ok.

Remember the braai at the Hollemanne is this Sunday.

Girls' night out

Weather: WARM
Temp: 2 to 20 - dare I say it: Spring is in the air
Night out: Leora, Jo-Anne and I. It's like the United Nations of Expatia: Israeli/Argentinian, Saffer and Pomme.

Breaking news: Sam peed on me only once last night. Both Sam and I are very proud of this massive improvement on Friday night.

He may not live to see his second birthday. Seriously.

Saturday's fashion design class was interesting. I finally fulfilled a life-long dream: sewing on an industrial sewing machine. It goes fast. Really fast. Niiiice. Not so nice was the finicky material we used to make a top. It was shiny, black and slippery. I don't think I'll ever wear it, but it was fun making in, once I got the hang of the super-fast sewing machine.

The gals and I went to Houhai for dinner and drink afterwards. Also niiice. Love having girlfriends again. Leora had us in stitches with her tale of how she set her fringe alight when she was lighting up a cigarette. I said it's a sign that she should stop smoking. She said it's a sign of a faulty lighter.

NuNu is under the weather. She had a gungy, closed eye on Friday, kept on scratching her left ear and wasn't eating. We went to the vet. She has a very bad gum infection, which means it hurts when she eats. We came home with eye drops, ear ointment and antibiotics. Let's hope she recovers before we fly on Thursday.

My name is Sam and I wet my bed

Weather: looks like it's going to be a sunny day
Temp: -1 to 12
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,46
Boo! You see paintings like this everywhere and I quite like it.

Sam is a bed wetter. And more particularly he pees on my bed. And on me if I'm in it. Which happened last night. At 2am.

I could smell that Sam had peed on the bed when I went to bed last night, so I stripped it down to the bare mattress and put on a clean sheet and a tiny throw blanket (we don't really have spare linen). This would be the 4th time this week that I would have to wash the linen. Added to his jowling, Sam's popularity ratings have reached an all time low. No, it's plummeted to so far below zero he will have to make up for it with a lifetime of cuteness.

Then I woke up at 2 to find that he had peed on the small blanket. I don't mind the wet, but it reeks to high even. Words fail me...

On a more positive note I got myself a flatmate, Alfie the Scot. I was looking for somebody to look after the cats when I'm away and since Frikkie's moved to Shanghai he was no help in that department, so I placed an ad on thebeijinger.com website and voila, I have a flatmate. He's a nice guy, likes cats (which helps) and will be staying till the end of April when he goes to the coast to teach at the sailing school in Qinhuangdao on the coast.

I can't believe we're leaving for SA on Thursday! It's just around the corner.

Shanghai or bust

Weather: windy and chilly
Temp: - 5 to 4
Exchange rate: RMB1=R1,46
Beijing sunset: Chilly, but glorious.

Ok, big announcement. We're moving to Shanghai. Actually Frikkie's pretty much moved there already and I'll start packing things up when I get back from SA and then at the end of April it's "adios Beijing". Frikkie's job requires him to work in Shanghai and I'm certainly not going to stay in Beijing on my own.

I was in two minds about moving to Shanghai. Although we've spent some great weekends there I really didn't fancy moving to a new city. Thing is, I've just gotten to know Beijing and I sort of know where I am most of the time, I have a sense of direction and I've made a couple of friends. Basically it's starting all over again in Shanghai. But, the alternative is staying in Beijing without Frikkie, so there really is no alternative. But having gotten my head around it, I'm quite looking forward to it.

Great weekends

Weather: warm for this time of the year
Temp: -2 to 10
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,56
Float away: you can enjoy endless cups of green tea in this little house boat on the lake in Liuyin Park.

I'm really sorry I haven't blogged since last week, but our internet was disconnected. It seems that in China they don't send you bills - they just expect you to know that you should pay, how much and where. I guess if you're from here you know this, however if you're a loawai you don't. And you have to go pay at one of the banks. I eventually got round to doing that yesterday. Won't happen again, I promise.

Frikkie is still in Shanghai and per usual Hassell standard is working late and on Saturdays and Sundays. It would seem that this is the norm and that if you want a life, Hassell China is not the place for you. And it look like I may not see him this coming weekend either. It's getting a little tired...

Despite not having the love of my life around I've managed to have some fun and keep myself busy. My week nights are pretty crammed with teaching, so not much socialising happening there. On Friday I joined my fellow teacher and colleagues from Standford English for a photo shoot. The shots will be used in some promotional material. Apparently we'll get copies of our individual photos. Should be good for a laugh, cause I'm a terrible model.

Saturday morning Leora, an Israeli girl I met in my fashion design class, and I set off for Panjiayuan Antiques Market. I've been there before, but it's such a massive market and there's so much to see that one visit really isn't enough. We spent hours browsing through some interesting bric-a-brac and blatantly fake, ridiculously-priced "antiques". Don't worry, I was in top form with my bargaining and didn't get ripped off.

For lunch we headed to a Korean restaurant close to the market. It's a chain and we all know how much I dislike eating at chain restaurants, but being veggie and in China it forces you to eat at places where you can either read the menu, or they have pictures of each dish. Which sometimes mean eating at chain restaurants. This particular chain serves dog. Korean restaurants usually do, it's their thing. Despite it being nothing new, it still makes me nauseous every time I see dog on the menu.

Leora and I talked all afternoon. And drank litres of green tea. Until 7pm actually, at which point we took the subway to go eat fillafel. The fillafel joint is close to Beijing's only kosher restaurant, which is just around the corner from the Israeli embassy. Who knew.

Sunday was a glorious day. I think we hit a midday high of about 15. It was warm! Leora and Stella was suppose to come for brunch, but Stella's flatmate's visa expired and there was some drama... so it was just Leora and I. We took Sam for his walk, but perhaps Sunday mornings aren't the best time to walk Sam cause there are loads of unleashed dogs and it's not all that safe for him.

Since it was such a glorious day we headed for Luiyin Park. It's a small park with a lake in the middle. Ok, it's more a big dam, than a lake, but it has it charms. People were flying their kites, playing checkers, mahjong, chewing the fat or playing some musical instruments. The park is covered in willows and I can just imagine how lush it's going to be in summer. Stella eventually joined us and we drank some more green tea. Again we couldn't stop yapping and stayed till dinner time. It's great to have girl friends again.

The art of procrastination

Weather: foggy and cold (snow predicted)
Temp: 0 to 4
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,55 (ouch)
Ruby Tuesday: This is a carpet in a lift. It is changed everyday to show that it's been cleaned and rotated, hence the day woven into the carpet. Only in China...

Yesterday I took my procrastination to new heights. Here's what I was supposed to do:

• Practice my Mandarin characters
• Practice my Mandarin reading
• Practice my Mandarin pronunciation
• Learn Mandarin vocab
• Respond to a career coach
• Wash the dishes
• Do some laundry
• Tidy the house
• Prepare for class
• Teach class

Not a long or complicated list by any one's standards. Here's what I ended up doing:

• Prepare for class
• Teach class
• Watch 10 episodes of Heroes till 1 in the morning
• Read this new blog I discovered. Ok, look at the picture cause it's in Danish or Swedish...

I really need to be more focused (now there's an understatement).

On my new second favourite blog I found this: Guerrilla gardening- graffiti with nature; "without permit or license, we plant seeds and seedlings in all those neglected corners of public space. Join us as we vandalise the city with nature!"
I love the idea of randomly scattering seeds around the city that will turn into beautiful flowers. I see some guerrilla gardening in my future.

Will I never learn?

Weather: chilly
Temp: -2 to 4
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R 1,49
Marketers' dream: I think they're trying to say that the shopping mall being advertised will be brand heaven... or maybe not.

The thing with cats... I love our cats. I really do, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish they'd give more. My cats are real cats - they expect a lot and give a little. Frikkie often jokes that they allow us to live in their apartment. We have to put up with all their whims, not to mention adolescent growing pains. Sam is still spraying. On Friday morning I woke up to a wet, funky-smelling duvet. On Saturday he sprayed the couch. He still yowls all night. Threats of cutting off his nuts with the kitchen scissors have no impact - he carries on regardless. NuNu hides in closets. Monkey ignores me some of the time, and Frikkie all of the time. Where is the love? Maybe I'm becoming more of a dog person.

Perhaps you can answer this question for me. Why is that when you have time to study, you don't? I often say that if I could do my degree again I'd be far more diligent and get better grades. Yeah right. Right now I'm not looking for a full-time job so I can study Mandarin. But what do I do? Of course I don't study as hard as I should. I didn't even do my homework or revenue work this weekend, so today's class was really hard going and I could see that Demi was more than a little frustrated with me. Argh. I will do better for Wednesday's class.

We had a busy social weekend. Friday night we went to Pinotage, the South African restaurant, with Elkarien. Then on Saturday night we went to dinner and jazz with Jo and Lenora from my fashion design class. On Sunday we went to breakfast with Bob, Suzanne, Sho Sho and Ernest at Opposite House in Sanlitun. Making new friends can be hard work.

Lost and found

Weather: too cold to wear just two layers.
Temp: - 3 to 8
Exchange rate: RMB 1 = R1,44
Market day: we try and go to the fruit and veg market every Sunday.

NuNu is home. I found her in the service duct on the 33rd floor. She was a little traumatised, but otherwise ok. Needless to say, the door to the fire escape is staying firmly shut from now.

Also on the kitty front: Sam's on heat and driving us absolutely MAD with his night-time yowling. To add to our joy he's started spraying. And the vet refuses to neuter him until he's had all his shots. That means we have to put up with it for another six weeks. Sam may not live that long...

We also didn't have electricity for nearly two days. First I thought the electricity for the whole building was out, but when I left for my class I noticed that the hallway lights were on. The concierge phoned the management office and all they said was that I need to go and pay my account at the bank. Thing is I paid the water and electricity last week. Of course I'm not 100% sure that I paid for water and electricity - who knows, perhaps I just paid for water... We spent a romantic evening by candle light. Next day I phoned our estate agent who speaks brilliant English and went to the management office with her. As it turns out I had paid for water and electricity. The problem was with a burnt-out fuse in our tripbox. That took most of the day to fix. Wasn't loving China so much then.

We booked out tickets to SA last night! Can't wait to see you all.

NuNu is missing

Weather: chilly, but bearable
Temp: -2 to 3
Exchange rate: RMB1 - R1,47

NuNu went missing yesterday afternoon and I'm seriously worried. What was she doing outside our apartment in the first place you may ask. Well, there is a door from our floor to the fire escape stairwell. The fire escape is totally enclosed with doors to every floor leading off it, but no access to the basement or anywhere else. I figured since the kitties can only go up or down the stairs but can't get out it should be a safe place for them to get out of the flat for a little bit. Mostly I was hoping that Sam would scratch his gallavanting itch and that we would get some sleep at night. NuNu went out at about 2 and we haven't seen her since. I've looked everywhere, I've asked the cleaners and I've put signs up in the lift. I'm hoping that some good Samaritan found her, thought she was lost, took her in... and will return her.

Settling down

Weather: mildly cold
Temp: -3 to 0
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,48
Snow, snow, glorious snow: I took Sam for a walk this morning. Yes, in the snow. He loved it.

I finally feel like my life has settled into some rhythm that I'm comfortable with, I've made my peace with and I like. No, I'm not permanently employed in some high-flying marketing position. I'm still teaching part-time, but I have at least four classes a week plus one private student. I'm also seriously studying Mandarin 3 times a week. I'm learning how to read and write, which is very exciting for me. It's a struggle some days, but I'm getting there. It helps that I have a great teacher. On top of that I've enrolled in a part-time fashion design course. It keeps me busy, stimulated and happy. So, this is my life for now and I think it's pretty cool.

Frikkie's deadline has come and gone and hopefully things will return to normal now - whatever that is.

My mother once told me that male cats are more trouble than they're worth - they want to gallivant and roam - and that I should stick to girl kitties. She was definitely right about their gallivanting ways. Sam kept me up last night yowling and generally being a pain in the behind. Hence the walk this morning - I thought if he worked off some of that energy... Also, my friend Toby takes his cat for a walk every day. So I figure if I can train Sam then he can go for a walk every day. Let's hope my plan works. He certainly did seem to enjoy his romp in the snow.

It's SNOWING

Weather: snow
Temp: -6 to 0
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,47
Room with a view: it started early this morning and has been snowing ever since.

Hooray! Finally it's snowing. It's amazing watching the snowflakes drift past the window. Beijing is getting whiter by the minute.

I don't know what time Frikkie came home, but I think it was around 5 or 6 this morning. Surely this madness cannot continue.

There's nothing on my agenda today besides doing the laundry and crocheting. And drinking loads of hot chocolate. Hopefully Frikkie can sleep late. I've closed the bedroom door and if we're lucky Sam won't wake him up any time soon. Sam meows loudly and likes thudding down the passage at top speed chasing Monkey.

Just another manic Monday

Weather: chilly, with a capital C
Temp: -9 to 2
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,47
Stuff on my cat: Monkey in the year of the ox.

I was a busy little bee today. First I went to the Expat Learning Centre to pay my tuition for my fashion design course that starts in two weeks time. I'm super excited about the course and can't wait. Then I rushed back home to pick up Sam to take him to the vet. Thing is you can't really rush and take public transport so I was still half an hour late. Sam is healthy, but he has ear mites, which he's passed on to NuNu and Monkey, so he had his ear thoroughly clean (you can just imagine how much he liked that), plus had his Cat Aids test (negative) and his rabies shot.

The real fun and games started when I home and had to clean Monkey and NuNu's ears with some solution and ointment. NuNu was first up. It went so well that I decided to do Monkey tomorrow.

Demi came round at 2pm for my Mandarin class. I've started writing Chinese characters and let me tell you it ain't no joke. I feel like I'm in grade zero. Learning to read and write all over again is not easy, but I really want to be able to read and there's no other way.

Then I hopped back onto the subway to get to the class I had to teach. It was my last class with a great group of students, but we said we'd try to hook up in the spring to go hiking. Can't wait.

And finally I went to Frikkie's office to have dinner with my boyfriend. Pizza for two at the table in reception. The project he's working on right now is due at midnight, so I won't see him before then. But hopefully it won't get this crazy again for a while. He's utterly exhausted, but somehow he's very zen about it. Tomorrow apparently he gets to sleep late. Seeing is believing.

Beijing weekend

Weather: chilly
Temp: -8 to 2
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,46
Technicolour dream coat: These are real, fresh roses from the Laitai flower market. How the hell? I have no idea.

It's been a lovely weekend for me. On Friday we had dinner with Pete, who's here from Shanghai. On Saturday Frikkie went to work and I made dumplings. It's a bit of a job, but the end result is home-made dumplings which is a great quick, fast food at home. Then I joined Frikkie and his colleagues for lunch followed, for me, by an afternoon/evening of chilling on the couch. I did not sew. I need to print out the pattern somewhere and well, it was cold, I didn't fancy missioning to find a print shop and the couch was just so inviting.

I watched two movies. First up was the Curious case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchett. Before I say anything about the movie I have to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for Mr Pitt. He sure is beautiful. And Ms Blanchett is brilliant. A bit of a chick flick, but a good one. Scoffing Cheetos I moved on a Changeling, Angelina Jolie's latest movie. Also good, not light and fluffy, but very good.

Frikkie came home at 4am. The poor man. I'm feeling very sorry for him. They have a deadline on Tuesday and right now they're working like crazy. He went back to the office today after breakfast with Stella and Bob at Grandma's Kitchen. Stella is from Taiwan and she just celebrated her first year in Beijing and Bob is from LA. We had fun. Breakfast started at 10:30. I got home at 4pm - need I say more.

The things I love about Beijing

Weather: mildish
Temp: 0 to 10
Exchange rate: RMB1 =R1,45
ROAR: a tiger on a wall somewhere.

Yesterday I went to the Mu Xi Yuan Shi Chang fabric market. It's in the south and quite a mission for me to get there, but worth it. I have never seen so much bedding fabric in my life. It wasn't the best day to be out and about - it was cold and miserable with rain and although I expected something else, the market was still interesting, with some nice fabrics, but you really had to work through a lot of unpretty fabric to get to the good stuff.

I found this site burdastyle.com which gives away free sewing patterns etc, so bought fabric for a dress, which I hope to make over the weekend. Frikkie is on a hectic deadline and I'm guess it will just be me and the cats at home this weekend so I'll have time to sew.

I also got to thinking yesterday about the things that I love about living in Beijing. So here goes: discovering new places all the time, super-fast internet, the different kinds of Chinese food, friendly taxi drivers who help me with my Mandarin pronunciation, going to the flower markets, going to the fruit and veg market, not having to drive anywhere, having a bike, playing badminton, my students who give me some insight into modern Chinese society, making new friends (albeit slowly)...

My birthday present finally arrived yesterday. Yes, a little late, but Chinese customs wouldn't release it for some reason. My friend Nolene introduced me to Charles and Marie and I love checking out all the beautiful things people create. Frikkie has obviously been paying attention and I LOVE my present. The rings are a little small though, so will have to send them back and get a bigger size. Sigh - more waiting :-(

The things I miss

Weather: it may snow today...
Temp: 1 to 10
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,44
Round and round: Sam's favour pastime is sitting in front of the washing machine watching the washing spinning round and round. He also loves chasing his own tail.

After an email to my friend Julia who lives in New Zealand I started thinking about all the things I look forward to when we get to SA next month. Here's what popped into my head: seeing my family, seeing my friends, hanging with my nieces and my godson, meeting Gayle's baby Frances for the first time.
I am also excited about the prospect of finding shoes that fit properly, waxing my legs (it costs an arm and a leg here), getting a good hair cut, speaking English and being understood immediately, seeing some South African faces, drinking water straight from the tap, driving a car, staying in a house, looking at stuff and being able to read the lables, knowing which products are good and which ones are rubbish, South African music, 5FM, aqueous cream, Woolies food, Woolies clothes, Woolies undies, Pick and Pay... and of course some sunshine and heat, Joburg sunsets, early morning walks on the beach with my mom, waking up to the quiet of the Bosveld in Bela Bela... I can't wait.

Oh brother

Weather: very mild for Feb in Beijing
Temp: 0 to 14
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,44
Colour galore: Perhaps not as vibrant as India, but China has lovely splashes of colour. These quilts livened up my room at winter school.

I went for another interview today. And it all seemed very promising until we started talking salary and then it seemed a lot less promising. But we'll wait and see. Perhaps they're prepared to pay slightly more than minimum wage. I doubt it though.

But it wasn't a completely futile outing. One of my fellow interviewees and I got chatting and will meet up again over the weekend AND on the way back I went in search of a sewing machine shop, actually found it, which was surprising cause my direction were a little sketchy and am now the proud owner of a Brother XL2500. It's the most complicated sewing machine I've ever owned, but I'm really excited about sewing again. Tomorrow I'm going fabric shopping. Maybe I'll sew something over the weekend. The excitement is too much.

Lantern Festival

Weather: mild
Temp: -4 - 15
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,42
Boom, boom: the view from our lounge last night. Beijing celebrated Lantern Festival in style with millions of fireworks.

Last night we headed to HouHai to enjoy the fireworks and to soak up some of the festive vibe. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year celebrations and it's also the last day that you can legally shoot off fireworks in Beijing. And boy were there fireworks. And celebrations. It started at about 3 in the afternoon with crackers in the streets and just escalated from there. People were out in the streets, chilling, playing with their kids and watching the fireworks.We went to HouHai Lake for dinner and although we wanted to go check out Nuage, Vietnamese restaurant, we ended up at our old favourite, no name, where we had a great view of the fireworks from Tiananmen Square. Besides the really delicious food, no name's best feature is it's upstairs glass terrace. It's heated so you don't freeze to death and has a cocoon like feel to it.

I signed up for a fashion design course at the Expat Learning Centre and start in about 2 weeks. I'm super excited. Now I just need to get a sewing machine and I'll be all set. Set for what exactly I'm not sure, but set, nonetheless.

A new member of the family

Weather: fine and mild
Temp: -4 to 11
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,40
I am Sam: Sam ran into me at the winter school, so another rescued kitty joins the Els-Labuschagne household.

Last week was rather interesting. Teaching at winter school was quite an experience. From 7am to 9pm it was just me, 14 kiddies and 3 other teachers. Although it was called an English camp, there wasn't a lot of English speaking going on. The youngest children were 7 years old and the eldest 12. I taught for 2 hours in the mornings and we did fun things in the afternoons, like crab fishing (complete with fishing rods and pieces of fish for bait), skiing, swimming in hot springs (with lots of chlorine in the water and swimming cap police - you have to wear a swimming cap, no exceptions), picking vegetables, chair skating, clamber club... And of course as much as I was teaching them English the kids were trying to teach me Chinese. Lucy, who's 8, tried communicating all week by speaking Chinese really LOUDLY and s-l-o-w-l-y, and then when I didn't get what she was saying, would say it again and again, even more slowly with the volume going up, and up and UP.

And then of course there was Sam. He was begging for food all the time, but surprisingly wasn't too wild. I couldn't just leave him there, so I brought him home in my rucksack. Monkey turned into a spitting cobra when she saw him, but by last night they started playing with each other. NuNu has retreated and is still hissing at Sam, but I think in another day or two she should be ok. Sam, being a kitten, is completely oblivious to the aggression and just wants to play.

And very exciting news for me: we'll be in SA on 20 March for a week or two. Georg and Rhone are getting married and Frikkie really wants to be there, so watch out Joburg, here we come.

Vietnam: sun, sea, heat...

We got back from Vietnam yesterday. We had a great week. It was warm, beautiful, the people are really friendly and we were reluctant to leave. I'm too lazy to write about it, but I will once I get back from the Winter School where I'm teaching this week. So, after this, no more posts till next weekend - sorry about that. Entertain yourselves with the photos. If you're my friend on facebook you can check out some more there.