Year of the Pig's Eve

The Lunar New Year is approaching fast and gold coloured pig statues are springing up every where as the local population gears up for the Chinese new year celebrations - as the Year of the Dog ends everyone is looking to settle debts and withdraw new notes for their lucky money red packets ("lai see") for the biggest festival in this part of Asia. The Year of the Pig will be ushered in with a firework extravaganza over the harbour and three days of public holiday.

Hopefully the unseasonally warm weather will continue. This week it was unbelievably clear - not only were the Kowloon Hills clearly visible but you could also see past them towards the New Territories. Of course as the weekend arrived , the smog returned. However, I managed to meet E., V. and A on Repulse Bay beach yesterday afternoon just as the sun came out and it was very warm and humid. Tennis yesterday evening was followed by a rather uninspiring game of rugby between England and Italy (watched as usual at Main Street in Stanley) where I met P again. At least England won.

Today was spent with one of E's friends and her two daughters - one of whom is in A's class at nursery. After an interesting trip to the LRC in Mid-Levels (where we couldn't get in) we had an afternoon up the peak at the play area below the the Police Museum. I also cooked a Thai Green Curry (Madagascar (sp?) prawns) tonight which made a change from the diet of Sunday night steak au poivre which I have been serving up over the last few weekends.

We have also managed - finally - to book our holidays with K and A - a week at Cebu in the Philippines - I cannot wait. We are also due to visit Es friend K in Singapore over Easter as we did last year so a hectic couple of months ahead.

Sunday on the Beach

Another hectic week culminating in a colleague's leaving drinks and a first time visit to the "Dirty Duck" - Balinese food overlooking Lockhardt Road in Wanchai - very good although sitting cross-legged for a couple of hours is very hard work on the knees.

Also another good game of tennis yesterday - 3 in a row now so on a roll.

Still no resolution of the Holiday destination. However, we have now actually reserved some flights for the Philippines (sp?) and are waiting for hotel confirmation (tomorrow).

Very relaxing day yesterday with a trip to Tai Koo Shing checking out the delights of Food Republic (basically a food hall with most types of Asian food cooked while you wait at rock-bottom prices - I enjoyed some very reasonably teryiyaki beef - A. had the Chinese style pork and E has the gourmet pizza) after a trip to various shops whose target market very much did not include me. A. had a strawberry "cotton candy" (Candy floss - despite very close attention I am afraid that some of us are starting to speak as if we were bit players in "The Waltons" - particulaly A - "can I have a cookie Mommy" - most worrying).

Yesterday evening included a surprisingly upbeat viewing of the Rugby where Jonny Wilkinson defied the critics and the odds to inspire England to a good victory against Scotland in the 6 Nations.

Another sunny day today - although clouded over in the afternoon. Picnic at St Stephens Beach which included a fabulous (although very expensive - from Park & Shop) piece of Comte cheese - brought back for me and E some very happy memories of Ski holidays in France.