The Ministry of the Very Healthy

So today Jon was at a work lunch at the Ministry of Health and came home smelling like cigarettes on account of 'most of the group smoking like chimneys and being rip-roaringly drunk'. Hm.



Meanwhile, Emily and I embarked on the first day of a two-week assault on our ears as the apartment above us is renovated. Again. Masonry drilling and the smashing up of tiles, to be specific. Thankfully, they are pretty good about sticking to the 9-5 rule, but for a baby who still naps twice a day its just not ideal....



Co and I made a Raspberry & Banana Loaf, adapted (for a tad more nutrition) from an Aussie recipe website I like. It turned out beautifully, Emily being its biggest fan :-) Em and I also went for a walk down food street. We attempted to pop into a local expat cafe but the bottom (only pram-accessible) floor was all smoky from... yes.... more cigarettes.

Trying to play the piano

I am really missing playing the piano. Whenever I try, Emily comes sliding in on her bottom at astonishing speed from wherever she was, nearly hyperventilating with excitement. Her arms flap up and down WAY faster than we could ever hope to move and her face lights up with ecstasy and the SQUEALS of joy are deafening. As soon as she arrives at the keyboard and realises that I am not stopping to lift her onto my lap so she can entertain us with her own concerto, her joy turns to confusion then quickly to being utterly perplexed. Her face kind of crumples and the wailing begins. I lift her onto my lap and the tears are instantly gone. The hyperventilating excitement is back and the keyboard once again braces for the full force of her enthusiasm. So, I'm missing playing the piano.

OOooooooh its cold!

Something has happened even to Jon! This cold just gets right into your bones. Although apparently 5 degrees here today, for some reason the cold is much harder to cope with than the minus 10's of Beijing. No more shorts for Jon!

We've been into the warm 'comfort' foods. Roasts, hot custards, porridge and... pavlova! Not at all warm, but quite comforting :-)

A Bit of a Bingle

Newsflash: Jon-and-Rachel's-romantic-Saturday-morning-brekky-date-via-motorbike ended in tragedy for Jon's left shin when a drunk fellow motorist in the opposite direction drifted from the middle of the right (correct) lane, over into the left (our!) lane -- apparently deciding he didn't need to watch the road either. Jon's left shin took the impact. Somehow, the full weight of Jon - via his other foot - landed on Rachel's tender foot. Both were a little shaken and bruised, tho very thankful it was but a bingle.

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This afternoon our little family walked through the Old Quarter to a charming little decaying French villa wherein we partook of very fine chocolate crepes, mulled wine and passionfruit juice. Emily also partook of the crepes and juice with much arm flapping and delighted squeals. (Chocolate crepes at $2 a plate... wow!)

How to Make a Local Traffic Jam

1. take one 3-way intersection (minimum; a two-way street that intersects with a side road is perfect), preferably during peak hour

2. begin with one taxi stopping in the middle of that intersection to let out a large family who are taking a while to exit

3. add a long line of cars both behind the taxi on the main street, a long line coming in the other direction who are now stuck behind a car wanting to turn into the side street, and another long line backed up along the side street, all of whom are blocked from moving by the stopped taxi

4. quickly mix in swarming hundreds of motorbikes determined to not have to stop, and before the taxi driver can empty his passengers, gather his wits and clear the intersection, pack these swarming motorbikes tightly around the three long lines of stopped cars until absolutely all spaces are filled for as far as possible in every direction.

5. ensure no one moves to the side, holds back from charging into any available space, or shows any consideration; this is sure to unblock the jam

6. for an interesting variation, have this take place just metres from an operational railway line so that cars and motorbikes are completely unable to clear the tracks in the event that a train comes hurtling along

7. enjoy! this could last an hour or more.

Happy New Year!

We've decided we need a 'family' blog. We'll still keep Em's going from time to time, but this way we can share news from other members of the family without taking over Emily's blog :-)

It was great to see family and friends in Perth and wonderful also to come back 'home' to Asia. We've come back to VERY chilly weather. There's been some heated discussion between Jon and I about what constitutes 'cold', but since his favourite temp is around -20 celcius..... :-)
Jon is baffled that the locals are all rugged up in what essentially amounts to ski attire while he himself is in shorts and t-shirt.