We have finally started up our Blog just in time to send you our Blog Christmas Card. It is a bit diificult for us to use snail mail this year so we are going all techno. Enjoy your new and improved Christmas Newsletter! For those of you who need a "live" picture for your fridge, album or placemat...let me know and I will mail you a photo.
So we are just about to finish our 4th month in Hong Kong. It is hard to believe that we are really living here now, no turning back. We are settled in our apartment which is on the 20th floor so we are adjusting to elevators and walking! You walk everywhere, which is helping to keep us all in good shape. It was fun moving into the apartment and unpacking...OK that may sound a bit strange but as I unpacked I thought of "most" of you! :) Every box contained items wrapped up in paper and as I unwrapped the "treasures" I thought about who gave it to us and why...It made this part of our move so much more enjoyable. Many of you are represented around our home...a table clock, a DE cutting board, star fish wooden slad servers, a wooden bird, a piggy mug, small tea cups, photographs, SC tshirts, friendship bracelet, DE Memory Book, a pewter plate, table cloths, rolodex box, Disney lollipop, Dante painting, Lake District watercolor...I guess you get the idea! So thanks for the "stuff" which made us smile as we found it a new home.
We have finally received all of our important documents so that we fit in...the Hong Kong ID and now our drivers licenses. It is funny how they staff these Government Offices with the same sorts of people wherever you go. I wonder at what point in your life you say to yourself, "Hey, I want to sit behind a piece of bulletproof glass, have a grimace on my face all day, speak in a monotone and secretly enjoy telling people that they don't have the correct documents and send them away in a huff." How do they find these people?
Bill and I bought a car so that now we can tool around town. It is weird getting adjusted to driving on the other side of the road (again!). There is really only one road to drive on near our apartment so as long as you follow the car ahead of you, you are alright! Now driving into Central, the city part of Hong Kong, that is another story. It is basically like driving in NY City, minus the beeping and hot dog vendors. We drove 15 minutes to church on our first Sunday with the car. We arrived no problem. Getting home was another story, after an hour of driving around in circles, Bill finally recognized a landmark and we arrived home just in time to put the kids to bed! :)
Highlights of the past months:
*Experienced Halloween High-rise style...everyone meets on the ground level with their bowl of candy and kids walk by you in a line saying, "Trick or Treat" over and over again. The best part is no late night kids ringing the door bell and it is all over in about 30 minutes.
*Received second brand new washer and dryer...best explanation: appliances are not so good over here. Not user error issues! :) Back to washing 2 towels in a 1-1/2 hour cycle and then drying for another hour. Not loving laundry time. Reminds me of laundry in the UK.
*Two Navy Sailors spent the day touring Hong Kong and eating dinner with us.
*Celebrated Thanksgiving in Hong Kong with all the traditional fixins'
*William turned 13...now 2 teenagers in the house!
Funny T-shirts - seen as we have been walking around Hong Kong...makes you wonder what T-shirts in America with Chinese writing on them actually say:
I am propelled by the cheers
You are my love, my angel, don't treat me like potato
Successes in member trial winning
Derided by the moon. No surprise
Energetic Lifetime. Establish 1961
Deray No More
Congratulations, you won an amazing prize
The Wonderful Beef (with a picture of a bull)
Stop Silence. World
Ever Late than Never
BTW, No Hawking on the above ground walkways. So glad that I saw the sign before I hawked the poor guy who didn't see the sign...not a pretty sight!
What We Have to Say:
Stewardess: Would you like a hasset?
Bill: Excuse me?
Stewardess: Would you like a hasset?
Bill, Um...OK.
She handed him a headset...phew!
Will: When Sofia was 6 months old, Aunt Gabrielle and I went to pick her up from her crib. We walked into her room, she sat up and said, "Hello!". It scared us half to death. She was like a man-child.
Grace: Is it big in the bottom? (She was talking about our new glasses)
Grace: Hey Will...
Will: Yes?
Grace: Ooops, hey Mom...
Mom: Yes??
Bill was talking about visiting Macau
Pamela: Linda suggested that when we go to Macau, we should go to see Cirque de Soleil.
Grace: Mrs Wines has been to Macau?
Pamela: Not that Linda.
Will: All the boys keep asking me why the girls like me. I told them to use a little Old Spice in the shower.
Merry Christmas
Christmas music has been playing for quite awhile over here and lights are up all over. So, it is beginning to sound like Christmas. The 70-80 degree weather doesn't give the Christmas "feel" but we are getting into the spirit anyway!
Contact Us
Hong Kong Parkview
Flat 93, 20/F Tower 17
88 Tai Tam Reservoir Road
Hong Kong
House Phone: 001852 2812 2866
Pamela's cell: 001852 9389 0397
Bill's cell: 001852 9858 8220
Grace's cell: 001852 9858 0753
Will's cell: 0011852 9389 7761
