Winter? Perhaps...

Well the temperature has finally dropped...I hope. It fell about 15 degrees in about three days. On Wednesday last week it was around 32 and by the weekend it was about 15-16 degree. Of course it went back up to about 27 but now it seems to be sitting at around 17 degrees. 

The rain sets in.

It is raining at the moment as well which compounds the issue. The Chinese seem obsessed with high polish on their footpaths so the rain results in some precarious sidewalk slips. 

The road crossing in the rain...double the danger! Watch your footing whilst dodging the traffic!!

They actually fool you into a false sense of security by alternating rows of tiles with a nice non-slip surface with highly polished marble type nasty death tiles. So you take your life in your hands when you attempt to walk along certain footpaths after rain. I shudder to think of the situation once the freeze sets in!!

Penny and Darren. Note Darren's hair cut. A wash and style cut for 10 yuan...about $2.50 AUD!!

Anyway we have been coasting along for a while now. We have found a babysitter for Penny after interviewing about 7 postgrad students. Her name is Wu Juan Juan (we could never remember it until we thought of Whoo Duran-Duran! Ah gotta love mnemonic memory triggers!) and her English name is Anna. She has been along twice now and is getting along fairly well with Penny. Although the Chinese seem to play in a very different way than we do. Not a lot of imaginative play, and a lot of...no that is a cow it does not drive a car or that is a volleyball you do not kick it. Oh well its only for a couple of hours and I (Darren) will be home while she is here.

The lovely Penny.

We have finally got the whole Internet shopping organised and have successfully ordered, paid for and received a couple of things. Which is good. I have included some photos of the house to show some of the changes and additions. It is slowly turning into a home for us. We have ordered a painting (hand painted oil triptych of course) and a rug to help make it a little more cozy before winter sets in properly. 

The kitchen...note the corona. Cheaper than in Australia! The fake wood tiles are interlocking foam which act as insulation from the cold coming up through the concrete and real tile floor.

The living room, needs a rug and some pictures...

The "rack" is a little more comfortable now...but not much.

Congratulations to Mel and Mark and welcome to Tom! We are thinking of you guys and hope that all is going well. Good work and best wishes!!