Holly bushes and others

Coming back from lunch yesterday and I realised that I was walking past a holly bush. Good to see at this time of the year.

No berries though.

Our resident gardener has been hard at work and even there doesnt seem to be as many gardeners at work here now he has managed to add another couple of new bush animals.

My students when sent out to find an animal told me that there were none. I explained where they could find some and off they went, they had no idea! Probably too busy looking their mobile phones.

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Ha! Found the old Fizz Pizza

Today being Sunday and wanting a long walk it was proposed that we would go by bus to the big shopping centre, have lunch then walk home. Due to Sunday also and likey to be busy we decided to wait until 12 before making a move.

No all prepations go to plan as there was a line up outside if Puzza Hut, not very big but the line is just inside the door coming in and every time someone walked in there they brought a blast if cold air with them and seeing it was 6 degrees today, we moved on.

We had seen a sign for Fizz Pizza and a 1 so we started looking and found ourselves outside and there is was over looking the canal.

They were busy but found a table for ys and proceeded to clean it off. Menu was much the same but now the orders and ticked onto the menu, we chose mushroom soup, a serve of chips, large pizza ans a hot cocoa. It was delicious!

Waiting, been served hot water.

Chips in a basket with tomato sauce on the side.

Pizza!

The menu and order which also the bill.

Mr Fix-it

Our new apartment has a king sized bed, it is great! So great in fact that are considering upgrading our queen sized bed for a king sized one once we get home.

This is a picture of our bed in China.
However it had developed a squeak over the weeks that we have been here. At first it wasnt too bad and only occassionly but it had been getting worse. Warren thought he knew the reason for it and as yesterday was sheet changing day, he took the bed apart. Well, not completely, just moved the mattress and the slats that the mattrss rests upon. Arr! I knew that he had discovered the problems and it was as he thought.

The bolts had not been tightened enough or they had become a little loose so Warren with his trusty screw driver, tightened them. Arrrh, we can now get into bed and even turn over and there is no noise!

Tonights dinner

Raining all day today. Worst thing about no cooking facilities is we have to go out to eat. I had been out for lunch but had ordered in the wrong order, I asked for coffee first and was directed to another counter that only did drinks. I decided then to jyst go with the coffee and i had a cup of spinach and egg soup when I got home.

Still raining but felt we needed to eat when jt was dinner time as I fast for breakfasts. We braved the elements and walked to the canteen.

This was dinner after we had eaten, the plate on the right had sweet and sour pork with cabbage and twice cooked pork had been on the other, bowls of rice are out of sight. I try to limit the rice that I eat. The white dishes are cooked to order and the place is still using the menu that I helped translate several years ago.

This was lunch a few days ago. I had eggplant and beans, front left and two chicken wings in soy sauce with sesame seeds on top. Warrens on the top of pic was egg and tomato with a fried egg and on the left was a type of mince with egg on top. He was having an eggie day. Dishes are served on different coloured plates and determines the prices. Some things are already on the plates and it is a matter of picking them up or others can be selected, usyally by pointing and the se4vers didh them up and the tray is then taken across to the cashier and ttotes it up. The green dishes are 6 y each with a bowl of rice being 1y, so my tray was 13y just under $3.

Newspapers

Currently in China and living on school campus. When we were here before, there was a small post office just inside the gates. I would buy my phone cards there and many newspapers. China daily was a paper wriiten in English and I would often use articles from them in class or to use as wrapping paper.

I wanted to do a pass the parcel activity with one of my classes and I couldnt find a newspaper! Shock horror. Small post office has closed down.

Last week when we ventured to the big Post Office down town only to find that it is half or quarter the size that it used to be, I thought I would buy a Chins Daily from there but no, they do not sell newspapers anymore.

I asked our "minder" yesterday and he said that all newspapers are now on line! Not sure if magazines are still available. I will go to the book store today, last time we went we could only buy maps in Chinese no English ones so I will try my luck at least I know how to say maps and newspapers so half the battle is done.

Shades of Autumn

Leaves are colouring and falling, making for a very pretty picture. Gardeners must hate it though as they are out with their brooms sweeping or scooping them up.

A Flaming Dessert

We were out for dinner on Saturday night, met with friends at a restaurant down town called the Glasshouse. This was a very nice place, the boys said it was a little pricy but not too bad. Cost us 210y around $20 each for a main course and dessert.

Meals were individual and Warren had a pizza, I had a sopy thing with noodles, minced pork and a few pork balls in it. Warren decided that he would have a dessert banana broulee and it sounded good so I said yes to one as well.

It was presented nicely on a wooden platter with a small glass of whiskey and a small cup of black coffee. After Warren's was delivered to him, mine was first, the server came back to me and upended the shot glass of whiskey on the banana dish and lit it.