It's got to that time of year again where I'm about to have a little break. We've got five days of work left then we'll be jetting off home again for a couple of months. Friday afternoon will be hectic as we have to stay at school for a recognition ceremony, get home and get all those little loose ends tied up before our driver arrives at 5 pm. We've got another stack of frequent flier points which this time we've used to upgrade to business class for the two long hauls this week and again coming back in early August: luxury in the brand new flat bed Cathay Pacific business...we'll try not to get used to it!
Through the week we had the weirdest morning. Two giant blue birds with a cavalier degree of aggressiveness carried on with squawking shrieks at a very loud volume most of the morning, frightening the cats (the wimps!) and annoying us as we were getting ready to go to work. They eventually settled down a bit but Cass had a most bizarre incident in our lane on the way to work (I was riding the scooter due to my dentist's appointment later) A local street cat pounced like lightning on a myna bird right in front of her and carried the squirming prize into an underground garage. She was just getting over this shock when one of these huge strange griffins swooped down from the overhead wires into the same garage, seemingly to rescue his "brother" from the jaws of the cat!! Cass heard all sorts of noises but wisely didn't hang around to investigate!
The lower school party was on last Friday night up at the traditional haunt of Shann Garden. It was a good night, Gurecki, Lewy and I having a few beers first for the last time at big brother bar at Qiyan (last time for Lewy at least). It went on and on and Wal, and I managed to last and last at a great sequence of bars and pubs. Suffice to say that we needed a big sleep in on Saturday morning!
Today was dreary with rain, but we went out for Cass to spend some gift vouchers up at the Eslite bookstore. She found a couple that matched her vouchers exactly that she needs for book club next year. It was good timing as they only picked the books on Friday night at their last meeting of the year. They went to a Japanese restaurant in a hotel over at Neihu and they all enjoyed the food and ambiance. No doubt we'll be returning there at some stage come the new academic year!
I'm loading my e-reader with books for bringing home, and Cass plans to get to the library soonest. Gurecki and I had yet another article published in the school magazine last week, with yet another pending for first edition next year. The unpublished one is all about e-reading as we are both converts. I'll post a link when I have one. Photos: a few shots Lewy took of our night up at the Mexican restaurant in Damshui for Gurecki's birthday, one of the giant attack birds and Cass in the rain today!