As a result of chronic drought in Australia, we've been living under Stage 3 water restrictions for years. At times it seemed kind of tedious but now that we've left the country, it's interesting how ingrained the restrictions had become. We all had three-minute showers under our water-saving showerheads. We weren't allowed to wash our cars ( ( Read more... )

This may be the first time I've ever embedded media into my LJ. Therefore you must all watch it immediately.

You can watch this video on www.livejournal.com

I should be working right now, transcribing a shipping dispute, but all my "laycans*" are coming out as "lady cans" and "orders of lading*" are coming out as "OK Beyonce, yes, we are both married women now but I'd hit it. And please have ( Read more... )

No real news, except today Joel thought of a much catchier name for the Kings v Kongs feud still being waged at Lung Mei. Kings v Kongs was good, but Fu v Poo far more graphically captures the dichotomy between their wushu skills and our overflowing faecal arse-nal (ammpoonition ( Read more... )

After my previous post about the paradisical utopia we are living in, I dare say you will be shocked to discover that in the past few weeks, used disposable nappies have been strewn about the communal village garden - by me, no less! I know I was ( Read more... )

Beautiful fat rain is pinging and plopping off every surface in Lung Mei Tsuen, drops kissing the windows and bursting over the front awning.


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One of the best things about living here, if not the best, is having a live-in helper. Around 75% of people have one, expats and locals alike. They do the childminding, cooking, cleaning, and shopping, all for around AU$180 a week (the legal minimum is HK$3500/month). They're predominantly Filipina and one of the most interesting things to do ( Read more... )

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Our dear friend Antonio Salvatore Vincenzo La Leggia (true story) dropped in the other week. We took him to Victoria Peak. On other occasions I've tried to go up there, my touristing has been hampered by foggy weather, or the pollution. In fact the last time, it was like the view from an aeroplane window once you attain cruising altitude, i.e. a ( Read more... )

It's Chinese New Year, the most important time of year for the locals. It's pretty whack-oh for me too, meaning as it does a glorious two-week paid vacation from work, an excuse to attire Zadie in a pink Chinese puffer suit, and making out like a bandit with all the lai see being given to Rufus at kinder. It's a week-long festival. Here's a ( Read more... )

Rufus has been started bringing home lots of artwork from kinder. Unsurprisingly I can't bear to not display any of it so of our current 700sq.f living space, approximately 560sq.f is festooned with his adorable lanterns, pictures of postmen, glittery bookmarks etc. (The other 140sq.f? Yeah that's festooned with mould. But the humidity, and the ( Read more... )