Today it’s minus 4 degrees and counting in Beijing, and the air is drier than British wit. And yet, since the government turned on the heating – much later than needed – two weeks ago, it’s gotten too hot inside our flat. We asked reception if there was a way to turn it down in … More Christmas conundrum
“Good news, the wind’s blown the smog away this morning.” “Shall we switch the air purifier off?” “Why, do you want to open the window?” “Nah, I guess it’s still ‘UnhealthyForSensitiveGroups.’” We were back in Beijing, and sounded it. After 9 days seeing family and friends in Tokyo, a while longer than DD who came … More Ode to the onsen and the solo karaoke
“What’s… ‘Mach in’?” I asked, reading a text message from the lady employed by the British Embassy who had coordinated our flat-hunting. It was the night before our move, at long last, into the flat that we will be living in for at least three years under contract, the longest time either DD or I … More March in
“Thank you! And thank God!” said the taxi driver as we climbed into his cab parked on the roadside. We were in Hong Kong for the weekend, and we were surrounded by high-rises in every direction, cars sharing the road with quaint double-decker trams covered incongruously with modern retail advertising, and glitzy bars packed side … More A conversation in Hong Kong
