Friday (July 16th.) morning on the lake side

I reach the north end of the lake, just as the longest shadows of the day are cast. Before a small rain shower, a perfect rainbow is within reach.  If only I had my spade to dig for that pot of elusive Gold.

Even in China they have Leprechauns; Xiang Tong  仙童

My lucky morning, the Rainbow’s end is right outside my hotel room …..

After the rain shower clouds move in and diffuse the light.   This marble statue of a rather Rubenesgue, young Chinese girl,  stands much viewed and untouched.

The lithe figure of a western muse, is much viewed and much molested  by the local youth

Looks like the lake fishermen have upgraded the fleet: ……………..…

………..  As one of the old stalwarts sinks to a watery rest:….

An early, silent patrol of the traps, attracts only the eyes of the “GuiLao”

Thursday July 15th. in Song Shan Hu

Paolo and Matt, order lunch in the Song Shan Hu Teahouse

The hottest (Spicy hot) dish on the menu, ordered “Da La”

Palao, enjoys the very spicy soup (大辣, Da La):……………………………..

Projects continue: Summer is here (with updates)

I’m getting lazy, no new entries just updating an existing post ..  some new pics of finished home projects ……………Next week its back to China for a few:…………….  Heather is back in Hawaii now, Robbie is Diving regularly.………

Time has evaporate like the virga.  Heather is home two weeks into a four week vacation. Sean graduated collage last weekend, started working on Tuesday .. has worked 10-12hr days since .. now its Sunday 6/20/10 and we are having a family BBQ this afternoon .. picture perfect So. Cal weather. Time for summer relaxing. 

I’ve managed to catch up and finish a few more home projects:   The small vanity and dressing area get a much needed face-lift. The vanity in the master bath area will get matching doors and drawers. Six doors and 8 drawers.

Phase I, small vanity lower section over-hall.. couple of Work In Process pics: 

The remaining door frames under construction: …………..

The dressing area was simple, a couple of matching drawers, Done!

The challenges with custom built-ins are just that, they are custom, each door, drawer etc is just a little different.

Small Vanity, lower section:.. Done! ………………………….

Bathroom, Lower vanity:… Done!  ……………………….

Here we are: July 10th. Last of the upstairs bathroom vanities; Door – Drawer projects finished!!!

The last of the reclaimed / repurposed wood takes shape as a writing slope base.

Small Oak wedges drive a secure fit and show construction detail.

The desk now finished finds a new home and is a match to the Tea Table

The spacious work surface is a magnate for all manor of items.

Finally got the matching stool finished:….. June 30th.

Yi Xing – expanded marketing

Mrs. Yang’s tea shop:…… is now carrying a new line of Yi Xing products, mostly mugs.

As with Tea-Pots, one requires a specific mug for different teas .. That's my logic to buy more….  The Tea Sets / Tea-Pots remain undistinguished.  When I visited the store, she only had two different types in stock, Models 001 and 009 .. so they made the trip home.   Workmanship, finish and overall quality rates good, as does ergonomics.   Aesthetics: to each their own, I like them.

At home; 1 of 15 and 9 of 15, are safely assimilated into the Yi Xing collective.

Interesting internal design detail .. a “tea leaf trap”

I scanned the catalogue and you will note numbers 004 and 014 are omitted. (not by accident, unlucky numbers)

The catalog extols all the virtues of Yi Xing wares and the wonders of Zi Sha (Purple Sand)

A few weekends at home

A few weeks ago I left the cold and very wet WuXi behind.  The weather in So. Cal has been fantastic of late .. With back to back weekends, I finished up a couple of fun projects.   …………   A few months back Andrew came by with some “acquired” furniture that  we converted / “Re-Purposed”.    From the remainder of the wood, I managed to build a new tea table, echoing in design the small seats,   made some months back:  ( Nov 2009)

The new tea table made is debut on Sunday afternoon:

Having started on: Feb 9th 2010, the last of the kitchen doors and drawers, were hung and mounted last weekend.

Now its time to re-model the; Kitchen Island and Dinning room areas.  I suppose in the grand scheme of things I should have completed the re-model before the finish carpentry .. but that’s just how it played out …..…. However, this Thursday ( 5/13/10) I’m back on the bus to: Hong Kong – Dongguan – Singapore and WuXi.

lóng ​fèng ​tāi 龍鳳胎 (Boy Girl Twins)

April 18th. the twins birthday ..Happy Birthday   生日快樂 shēng​ rì​ kuài ​lè

Heather is living in Hawaii is off to a remote area with friends for a long weekend.

Andrew is in Japan with his girlfriend for a well earned vacation:  …

NAAFI tea goes on sale to civilians for first time

This news headline sparked a few memories .. my first up close and in person encounter with NAAFI tea was when stationed at RAF West Raynham, Bomber Command and home to the Bloodhound Guided Missile. (long since closed) A desolate location  if ever there was one .. a very long walk to the nearest Pub .. there in lies many stories .. but I digress

For nearly 90 years it has been the exclusive brew of Britain’s armed forces.

 

But from today civilians will be able to enjoy a cup of NAAFI tea as it goes on sale in stores across Britain.   NAAFI, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, has agreed to allow the coveted beverage to be sold in branches of Spar, the convenience store.

The move is the first time in NAAFI’s history that one of its brands has been extended to a high street retailer.

Its NAAFI Break tea, which has been served to British service personnel since 1921, is said to differ from the average cuppa due to its “premium quality blend that gives a rich, strong taste and a real military flavour”.

It will be available from 80 branches of the supermarket chain and 50p from every box will be donated to the charity Help for Heroes, which helps injured service personnel.

The tea will feature retro-style packaging and will be followed later in the year by a range of memorabilia to mark the 90th anniversary of NAAFI.

NAAFI chief executive Reg Curtis said: "Our famous NAAFI tea has been the beverage of choice for the British Armed Forces since 1921 and we are delighted to work with Spar to ensure it is widely available for everyone to enjoy for the first time in our history."

Family anecdote #578 … NAAFI Tea link

At the onset of WWII, my Dad and a few friends went to “Sign Up” as an alternate to waiting for the inevitable “Call Up Papers”.  As voluntary registrants one had the opportunity to choose between:  the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

My Dad and his friend Chalky had a “cunning plan” they would select the NAAFI. Great plan, get into the supply chain, life is good!  Chalky (nickname, last name of “White”) was  hopeless at spelling .. ended up putting down: “Navy” as his elective. Dad a bright scholar got it in one: NAAFI, Bob’s your uncle.

Chalky, ended up with a “Home Posting” as a sentry at Greenock shipyards only a few miles from home in Hamilton, spending WWII sleeping in his own bed, eating Mum’s home Cooking.

My Dad: sand, bloody sand and more sand, slogged all through the North African campaign. (he never had a good word for: Monty)  He spent a few months in Cairo, where the Slade Club was commandeered as an NCO’s mess. An ideal place for a young entrepreneurial lad. Bartering Whisky for all forms of trade items. Let’s just leave it at that.

Dad on the Left:……………………………………….:

Formal dinner in the Slade Club: …………………..

An evening of entertainment with all the girls signatures:

From there he went all though India and the Burma / Malaysian jungle campaigns. As he says: “His reward for being able to spell.”     Dad on the far Right:

I’m lucky to have been able to listen to my Dad, and various family members, recount endless tails from their WWII exploits.  Interesting that the “Bad Stuff” was seldom or ever discussed.  My Dad’s stories from this time as; Staff Sergeant and manager of the Slade Club / NCO’s mess were particularly colourfull, much to the annoyance of my Mum.