As of this weekend (July 1), London goes smokefree! The new smoking ban applies to pretty much all enclosed public spaces and work places. I can't wait. Of course, it probably just means that I have to deal with more smokers outside.
Our local (which is a chain pub) has boasted a non-smoking section for longer than I've been here. It consists of precisely one table. And that table comes equipped with an ashtray.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
现在几点了? (What time is it?)
Having a flatmate who is also learning Chinese is great. (Séverine 也学中文.) Anything that we know how to say in Chinese, we do, and waking up in the morning and saying "早上好!" reminds me of being in China.
I think I'm as bad as Robin though. This morning, Séverine asked me (in English) what time it was. I coughed pointedly. "Um... um..." she stalled. "现在几点?" she asked. "十一点零五分," (11:05) I replied.
Yesterday I went to the Chinese bookstore (昨天我去中文书店). I bought "The Little Prince" (我买 "小王子"). It's in both English and Chinese. I was excited because I could read the title (and because I love the book). Trying to actually read the text in Chinese is more difficult. It reads more or less like "I something something something. You something something something. I want something something something." I guess I'm not quite ready for it, but they didn't have the baby books I was looking for.
I think I'm as bad as Robin though. This morning, Séverine asked me (in English) what time it was. I coughed pointedly. "Um... um..." she stalled. "现在几点?" she asked. "十一点零五分," (11:05) I replied.
Yesterday I went to the Chinese bookstore (昨天我去中文书店). I bought "The Little Prince" (我买 "小王子"). It's in both English and Chinese. I was excited because I could read the title (and because I love the book). Trying to actually read the text in Chinese is more difficult. It reads more or less like "I something something something. You something something something. I want something something something." I guess I'm not quite ready for it, but they didn't have the baby books I was looking for.
Friday, June 22, 2007
New Flat
Alright, here are a few pictures of the new flat.
That's Séverine. Charlene (my other new flatmate) is back home (Northern Ireland) for a few weeks.
That's my goban on the shelf behind the door.
The kitchen.
My room, with my Alvinia baby cotton monster in the corner.
That's Séverine. Charlene (my other new flatmate) is back home (Northern Ireland) for a few weeks.
That's my goban on the shelf behind the door.
The kitchen. 
My room, with my Alvinia baby cotton monster in the corner.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Number 2
The outrage! The humiliation! We're only the second most expensive city in the world! Beat out by Moscow!
At least we still top Tokyo.
When my first visitors were here, we were walking around one evening and happened to pass a real estate agency. Glancing through the advertised prices, Barbara said, "Oh, that's not so bad... You'd pay more in New York." I was dubious, so I looked closer: "Barbara, those prices are per week."
I've moved into my new flat, just down the block from my old place. I'm slowly settling in. There's still much to be done, but work comes first. My third visitors (friends Amy & Tom) arrive tonight. They're only here briefly, on their way to Spain. I'm happy to be able to offer them a place to stay, now that I have more than a dorm room.
At least we still top Tokyo.
When my first visitors were here, we were walking around one evening and happened to pass a real estate agency. Glancing through the advertised prices, Barbara said, "Oh, that's not so bad... You'd pay more in New York." I was dubious, so I looked closer: "Barbara, those prices are per week."
I've moved into my new flat, just down the block from my old place. I'm slowly settling in. There's still much to be done, but work comes first. My third visitors (friends Amy & Tom) arrive tonight. They're only here briefly, on their way to Spain. I'm happy to be able to offer them a place to stay, now that I have more than a dorm room.
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