finally landed proper

Well, it has taken a month of spare room living and countless hours of property viewing, but we have finally got ourselves a place to rent, which is big enough to swing a cat - not to mention house all of the 'stuff' we have had in storage. The men arrived on moving in day with a big truck, and moved us in. The relief to finally have all our home comforts back is super. We have titdied up and been to the tip twice, and the place still looks like an e-bay warehouse - but, this time we can at least MOVE in the place unlike our last flat which was a disaster.

Having a kitchen again is super - so I am indulging in cooking all my old favourites. going to the supermarket is fun again, and best of all I have my sewing machines back. the monster big one has been serviced by a nice man who came round, and now it's ready to go. Joy.

Back In Blighty

Well, finally made it back to England. It has taken rather a while for me to update,but now we have got ourselves together somewhat.

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last supper

It was not really biblical, but we had a favourite local food joint and took our good friend LH out for a slap up supper on our penultimate Shanghai evening. cucumber salad with chilli chilli and sesame oil....broccoli cooked to crunchy perfection.... sizzling cabbage and pork drenched in tasty oil...Yangzhou Chau Fan (fried rice to you and I).... spicy chilli ribs....pickled beans and chilli....oh....oh...oh YES! DEEEE LISH!

Wulumuqi Lu

There's a mouthful of a road name. It took me some time to get it right (and I'm not even sure if I am right still, but the taxi drivers get me) "woo loo moo chi lu" for those of you who are wondering. I love walking down this street. there are lots of little everyday shops and life bustles in the street. the traders are all really friendly. It's a little corner of chinese life, and it always makes me smile.

A quick cuppa

Today we are mostly drinking 'Hong Cha' this is translated as 'red tea' and is as close to the familiar 'black tea' as you are going to find in a Chinese tea shop. In fact if you go in and ask for black tea, they will smile knowingly and say that you must mean 'hong cha'.

Since our recent supply of PG tips has run out on us, we are resigned to drinking Hong cha. I actually really like it, as it reminds me of Earl Grey, it has a properly flowery flavour, and we drink it with milk, although I'm sure this act would make any self respecting Chinaman shudder. Mr V is taking some time to acclimatise to the new tea, for precisely the same reason that I am so taken by it. it's not rough enough for him. what a philistine.

This tea we bought in Carrefour, from the tea seller. It was 4.50 RBM per 50g.