It must be chilly. I have turned the fan off and I'm wearing a shirt. I hope it's a sign that the "cold" season has started. I've had a busy few days so it's going to be good to get into a normal daily routine.
There are no secrets around here. A friend phoned to wish me a happy new year and he mentioned I'd been to his family for the day on Saturday. His sister told him everything I'd eaten, which she said wasn't much. He was worried I wasn't well yet. If it's not my eating habits then it's my appearance that comes in for observation. Yesterday a young friend said, "I swear your ears are growing." Today I was told my eyebrows are going all over the place, which is true, and I'm going to have to do something with the fast growing white ones. I was also reminded that my nose hairs were coming out of my nose. People seem to forget that I've been ill and couldn't be bothered with such trivia. I was also told that when I bend down I have a lump in the middle of my back but it disappears when I stand up. If I were 20 years old I'd be feeling a bit paranoid at this moment.
Last night I chatted to Chan and his family who were down below on the street on their motorbike. They wanted me to join them for countdown at the riverside but I'd got Oudom with me - which was a good excuse as I wasn't that interested. Oudom wanted to count down for the new year but I said we were going to bed and that was that. I asked him to set the alarm, which he did, for 11.50pm! I could have strangled him when it woke me up but not him. I deliberately stayed awake until midnight so I could bash and pummel him but he was fast asleep.
We went out for lunch today, to a Chinese Dim Sum place. When Cina orders food one never knows when the end has arrived. We'd had the usual wonton soup, dumplings with shrimp, bean curd balls, fried rice with seafood, a plate of a variety of mushrooms and I thought that was it but then plates arrives with various chicken, pork and duck dishes. I managed to get through a bit of each and then a sweet and sour fish arrived. I think we were all heaving by that time but more was to come - a vegetable dish, a crispy mushroom dish and a dessert. I went home and had to lie down for a while.
I've bought myself a blender. There are always sales at big holidays so I went back into town to buy one. I was pleased to see it was made in Vietnam which is a lovely change to coming from China. I think that's my final gadget purchase.
I caught a mouse last night - they really enjoy peanut butter here. The locals call them rats but they are more like a large mouse. This one spent the day in the cage until I decided to go outside to get rid of it. I waited until it was dark as I always have a problem getting the creature out of the cage as they cling to the wire walls while I'm shaking to get it out. I decided to let it go in the alley; I even saw one running along when I went outside so I knew he'd have company. He plopped out of the cage, staggered about a bit, ran right past the nose of Friday (my neighbour's dog) and ran straight into their home. It's so embarrassing. The last time I released a mouse it also ran into a neighbour's home. I suppose I should be grateful they decide not to come back to mine. I've now set the trap to see if any more are planning on visiting.
