T8

Now here's something I would never blog about back home.  I got a text message at 6.00 this morning:  "T8  hoisted - classes cancelled".

That means there is a typhoon that is getting a little too close to Hong Kong, making it too windy in places to travel safely. All schools are closed on a T8 day, although if it passes before 12.00 (reducing the warning to T3) then teachers need to make their way to school for the afternoon.

I've been watching out the window and have never seen it so quiet out there!  We had some heavy rain earlier and I can see that it is a bit windy, but it is quite sheltered here in the city.  But apart from a few taxis, everyone must be staying home.  Who can blame them - a bonus sleep-in day!!

Dad's Birthday

When I was thinking about moving to Hong Kong, a lot of people said to me "it's only a plane trip away if you ever need to or want to come home for anything". 

So I did.

I decided that Dad's 70th birthday, plus a big family get-together, was important enough for me to come home for the weekend.  I couldn't bear the thought of not being there for it!

So I went home last weekend and it was really worth the long, tiring overnight flights.  The best bit was surprising Dad - he was so pleased I was there too.

It was good to catch up with lots of aunties and uncles, and to have lots of cuddles with Matthew.  He is such a happy, gorgeous baby!  (Check out his shirt - Elizabeth thinks it is very funny to dress him in that when I'm around!)

Now starts the 3 month countdown till the next visit...

Bad Accident

I went to school today, and just as the taxi got there a bunch of fire engines, police cars and an ambulance were arriving.

We have a building site across the road, and it seems there was a very bad accident with a crane, and a man lying on the road had terrible head injuries. It was right under my library window so I couldn't help but watch for a while.

I keep thinking of that poor man tonight, and hope he is going to be alright.

On the bright side, what a beautiful day it was! I walked home and had to take a couple of photos while the sky was so blue. I know I've said it before, but blue skies like this are quite rare here!

A Busy Visit

Normally when I don't blog for a while it's because I haven't done anything exciting. This time it is because I have had Susan here visiting, and we packed so much into the last 10 days!

Susan had to explore Hong Kong by herself during the day when I was at work, but at least I had a weekend and a public holiday to spend time with her, at Stanley, Shenzhen and Mong Kok. And of course we were out every night revisiting all my favourite restaurants.

It also happened to be Mid-Autumn Festival, so she got to see all the beautiful lanterns in Victoria Park.

Workout for the knees

I found a shortcut from Aylish's house to my house the other day (my taxi buddy). Straight down a street called Ladder Street - just steps, no road. 387 steps to be exact! Needless to say I won't be using the shortcut to go TO Aylish's house!

The next photos are from a trip to Cheung Chau on the weekend. Chris had visitors from back home and we all had lunch together. I had met them previously, but I didn't know one of them grew up on the same street as me in Cooma! Small world...

This is a shoe shop, just in case you were wondering

A bit of greenery along the restaurants on the wharf

Cheung Chau is mainly a fishing village, with dried fish and live fish tubs everywhere you go

Experimenting at the bakery

I couldn't resist these because of their names!

Mochi Lava Chocolate Ball

Raisin Maple Caramel Bread

I think I have the names right - I was trying to remember them all the way home.

The bread was beautiful! I wasn't quite sure what to do with it, but ended up cutting it in half like a bread roll and putting a little butter on it. I think it would be fantastic grilled with honey, because it had a kind of damper taste about it, but I don't have a griller :-(

The chocolate ball wasn't as good, it was very chewey like an uncooked doughnut (although it had a beautiful gooey centre).

Obviously, after a post about bakery food, I haven't had a very exciting week! School has been pretty busy of course, so I'm just having a relaxing weekend. Susan arrives next week for a holiday so I'm really looking forward to showing her around, and enjoying some of my favourite parts of Hong Kong again.