Christmas holidays were so short and as soon as we got back it was jumping back into work mode.  The teachers started work on the Monday and the children on the Wednesday.  So to make the most of the children not being at school, the teachers went out to lunch on the Monday and Tuesday.

Our table at Yummy's

 Kathy and Hannah

 Vivian and myself.  Vivian having fun with her photos.

 We went to 'Hong Kong' restaurant.

 We ordered a beef dish.  Have a look at all the chili's.

Vivian and Daisy

It was been extremely cold when we returned however it has now warmed up slightly.  With the maximum of up to 10 degrees. But talks of it getting colder.  We are yet to see.

 This is usually how dark it is when we leave for school in the morning.

And the pollution is something else.

This is my route to school

The school organised a New Year Dinner function that was held in between our New Years day and Chinese New Year.  Vivian was the MC and did a fantastic job.  They served traditional Chinese food, but there was so much.

 Vivian the MC for the evening

 Back from left:  Tracy, Sete, Vivian

Front from left:  Cindy and Lisa.

 From left:  Tracy, Sete, Lisa and Vivian

 Lisa and Kathy

 From Left:  Daisy, Lisa, Hannah and Ning Ning

 From left:  Sunny, Lisa, Tracy and Jane

 Vivian and Lisa

Gifts we received from the school.

NOW FOR SOME OF THE FOOD THAT WAS SERVED

Snacks before dinner

DINNER

IT STARTED LIKE THIS

NO. 1

NO.2

NO. 3

The plates had to be balanced on top of other plates.

We also decided to go to the market with Kathy and Vivian.  It is so great that we can buy a weeks worth of fruit and vegetables at next to nothing prices.  But we are able to also buy so much other stuff.  We really had a good time walking through the market.

In the taxi, on the way to the market.

The man at the market was making smaller balls of wool.

 Selecting fruit.  Everything is weighed.

 Sausage meat in pigs intestines skin.

This is where some of the stall owners live.

The fish section in the market.

After the market we went our separate ways home then all met back at our place for lunch.  Where Paul cooked the clams and oysters we bought fresh at the market and the duck we bough from the market, and baked a loaf of fresh bread.  We had a good afternoon.

 Steamed oysters

 Clam soup

 Duck

 Freshly baked bread.

As per normal, Paul outdid himself.

Later that evening we all went to see an English movie called “The Seventh Son”.  The purchasing of tickets area reminded us of home.  It has a western setup.  We had a good evening.

The display outside the mall

I had to put this in.  (Sounds like a Christmas prostitute.)

 The display outside when we left the mall.

My Korean friend who lives on the 16th floor sent over some food for us.  Yummy.

This weekend we had Kathy and Vivian over for snacks.  We landed up playing charades.  What fun.  We really enjoyed ourselves.

 Paul baked orange and vanilla crumpets with caramel sauce and orange and brandy sauce.  He also baked some bran muffins.

 The snacks Kathy and Vivian brought over.

 Vivian had to look up her word on the Internet to see what it meant before she could act it out.

 And of course we were rolling around with laughter.

 Trying to guess Vivian's word.

Vivian acting out "The Mona Lisa", but we got it instantly.  But she thought so hard about what she wanted to do, we had to pretend we didn't get the word so she could act it all out.

Keep reading.  Chinese New Year is approaching so I am sure I will have something to write about.