This had to be one of the most low key weekends we’ve had for a very long time. Although I got out and about on Friday night to welcome Chad and Cathy back for the night and Cass and I went to Beitou for dinner on Saturday, we didn’t do much else of anything. It was actually a very relaxing weekend because of that, but Cass unfortunately succumbed to a very sore throat and associated sickness on Saturday night, so hasn’t been really able to do much of anything today.Chad was coaching the girl’s team from his Singapore school and our school was hosting the IASAS tournament for basketball this year, so we were able to meet up. Cathy arrived late on Thursday night as well, so after a few of us watched one of his games on Friday afternoon, we all headed down to our old traditional haunt, the Green Bar. Lots of folk drifted in through the night, so we had a great time and although there weren’t heaps of opportunities to catch up one-on-one, I managed to corner each of them for a little while, so was able to find out what they’ve been up to. Ironically, the main thing I chatted to Chad about was my trip to Singapore not long ago, and Josh’s buck’s night!
On Saturday night, it was rumoured to be all happening again, but perhaps with an even greater ferocity, so I wisely mumbled something about staying in touch, but didn’t pursue it any further! Cass was keen to get up to Beitou on the train on Saturday night, which we did, to enjoy a very delicious steak and accompaniments at the Royal Host up there. The New Zealand beef is a fine very thick cut and is probably the best steak we’ve had over here. It is consistently good, so whenever we get a real hankering for a slab of beef, we know we’ll not be disappointed at the “Royally”. Even though we only go about 5 stops, it always feels like we’ve really gone “out”, but it is far more leisurely on a Saturday night to head north to Damshui, rather than south to the cauldron of a weekend night downtown!
Sunday, Cass has really succumbed to her illness and we have just spent the day lying on the lounge and watching the one day cricket, which, as I write is in an innings break, the Aussies finally looking like breaking their longish losing streak. We’ve also been reading about the horrific bushfires and loss of life and terrible injuries and realizing that we’re very lucky. I’ve been a bit introspective for some time over here worrying about how much money we’ve lost/ are continuing to lose on the share market etc. but things like this put it all back in perspective. It’s been great to hear from both Cassy’s parents and my Mum on the phone this weekend, or through the week: hearing about what they’ve been helps to keep us feeling a bit Aussie and not too separated from reality over here!
I’ve just returned from the supermarket after going to pick up a few things Cass couldn’t get yesterday: chicken and mince, nothing exotic! Just when you think Taipei has actually got everything you need, a shelf of no chicken and no mince certainly brings you back down to earth. The shopping still takes Cass only about 20 minutes…there aren’t 5 million product choices like there are back home. Well, it seems Cass will soldier in to work tomorrow to set things up, but I’m hoping she’ll take a couple of days off after that to rest up. That’s it! As I say, an unusually quiet time for us…. Photos: Dinner at the Royal Host, Beitou.