Cassy hosted her Book Club crew at our place on Friday night and I'm glad it's over! Yes, although I took no part in it whatsoever, it has been quite the extravaganza in planning, shopping, debating, agonizing, cleaning, decorating and eventually, hosting. In the interests of happy living, I've offered to help as much as possible and Cassy has actually allowed me to contribute, which I was pleasantly surprised about! Owing to the nature of the gathering, and despite the fact that local supermarkets now offer heaps more than they did a decade ago, specialty shopping was still a necessity.

Anyway, after all the effort expended, apparently the evening was a great success, with the cheeses, salads, bread, champagne and guacamole to start, before the main course of penne with olives and chicken. Cass made this recipe a while back and has tweaked it a little over time till it appears in its current form. I love it, and apparently it was a big success with "the girls" as well. Cassy's signature pavlova made its obligatory appearance: they refuse to let her cook anything different, they love it so much! This time, the lower humidity allowed it to cook and crisp to perfection, despite being squeezed into our rudimentary toaster oven for the bake: I'm always in awe of Cass being able to produce this in such circumstances!

The week and weekend consisted of a bit of research and a bit of booking for events in London in the next couple of weeks. We're staying in a pretty lux apartment in Kings Cross for the first week and then a super cool new cube hotel in the centre of town in the second week. We're going to see a Premier League soccer match between Queen's Park Rangers and Swansea on New Year's Day and see the Book of Mormon in the West End on Boxing Day (premium tickets at quite a cost!...YOLO). We've got a great range of stuff lined up with no set plan....just depends where the Tube takes us. The only time we're leaving London is to see Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle on a bus trip one day early on.

We've got a little blase about these trips and left things a little late we've discovered! Luckily, we've still managed to get ourselves in to see what we wanted and with a little creative work this week, we should be all set to go super early on Saturday morning. The school camera I have been issued started to play up lately: couldn't have that could I? I requested a new one this morning, so they swapped me over a new one for the dodgy....gotta love that!

Taipei winter has finally arrived with a vengeance: Antarctic style puffy jackets have bloomed on the streets, our little blow heater is working overtime, the second quilt is on the bed, and the girls have disappeared into the inner sanctum of said quilt's folds in the blink of an eye. It's probably a good thing as it gets us slightly acclimatised to the European winter once again, albeit, very belatedly.

I'll have a spell from blog writing for a few weeks as we're away till January 5th: next blog probably the 11th. Happy Christmas and New Year! Photos: Book Club pav, amazing 3D printing by my 5th graders, running repairs for the car through the week, nice label on the oyster sauce and some of the tickets. Oh, and the follicly challenged brigade at the lower school Christmas party on Friday night!

Canadians can get a bad rap sometimes. We've become good friends with a number of Canadians here over the years, and, without exception, they're all great people. In many Australian minds, they tend to suffer from being a mild ingredient in that ethnic bowl of North America, a paprika to their louder southern cousin's tabasco. The maple syrup, bacon, Mounties, snow fields, the engine freezing weather and super friendly and delightful folk all going together to form a folksy, charming image that is justified in every case we know!

We've just been able to elevate all things Canadian yet another notch in our psyches, by experiencing the hereto unknown (to us at least) national dish of Poutine.  The description of the ingredients alone is enough to make good old fat-lovin', salt-devourin' folk like me get all gooey-eyed and salivating like a Pavlovian dog. The actual experience is even more beatific: the smell and sight was enough to get us started, but the taste, oh, the taste!

We'd traveled down on the MRT on the new Elephant Mountain (xiangshan) Line to the slick eastern hub of the new financial/restaurant/nightclub section of town. Xinyi Anhe station squeezed us out right on Anhe Road the most renowned nightclub stretch in the city, also dotted with exquisite restaurants and exclusive bars. Our destination was Whalen's, owned and run by Canadians. I was first drawn to the place after reading a description of their Killer Whale, a mountainous slab of various meats and fries and gravy meant to stymie even the most determined glutton. It had recently been conquered by a young (svelte) Taiwanese woman in the required time limit, but I became more fascinated with the rest of their menu.

The meals were exactly what we had imagined: Cassy's Mexican version had home style fries (wedges) with the ubiquitous gravy, jalapenos, salsa, crumbed chipotle chicken fingers and cheese curd. Mine had the original fries, gravy, cheese curd and lashings of turkey with even more gravy dripped over the top....heaven! after enjoying the meal immensely, along with the muted, old-wood, glass and mirrors, cosy interior, we reluctantly bid our farewells to make the trek back home. We happened across a trendy jazz bar called Relax, which had its resident cat immortalized on the roller door......but the cat itself sat proudly in front of it! So cool!

We stumbled through the garbage chaos on our way back home, but it's one we regularly join in: nothing like dodging flying blue garbage bags at twenty paces and drums full of kitchen scraps in the evening to get to know the neighbours a little better! Here's a good article. I also took a little video of the action as Cass wandered through (red jacket) to get some supplies from the 7/11.

Photos: my kiddies hard at work, big city sunset, poutine fever, Hello Kitty phone cases (that's for you Hel!), even the supermarket has its quirks!

A four day weekend was just the ticket for us, a reward for a hectic few weeks leading up to the break with meetings, compulsory social events and testing/grading leading up. We decided to stay put in Taipei for the duration as we couldn't really summon the requisite energy or enthusiasm to get overseas or even another venue on-island.

As it turns out, it was just as well as Cassy succumbed to another bout of bronchitis on Wednesday. Scurrying down to see the mercurial and questionably capable Dr. Tseng in her lesson break, she managed to get drugged up quickly and managed to stave off the worst of the illness so it didn't ruin her break. As work loomed this morning, she had a bit of a relapse, but I think it might be partly psychological!

It's always great to get out and about in the city during regular working days as we get precious few opportunities to enjoy it without the pressing weekend hordes. We had relaxed breakfasts and lunches, wandered the shops and open spaces, and generally reveled in the space and comfort of just a few thousand people out and about. Isn't it sweet to partake of decadent pastimes while everyone else is beavering away?

We had a lingering brunch at 1bite2go before taking some rock memorabilia (two signed albums), a Japanese banzuke and some Merewether panoramas to the picture framers. Ross took a great panoramic sweep on the new Bather's Way at Dickson Park on their trip to see us in June, and we'd ordered two enlargements to bring back over here. We'll hang them in our respective classrooms when we retrieve them next week. Signed albums by The Cars and Blondie look great and my treasured sumo schedule from 1986 is finally getting professionally framed. To continue the rock theme, we wandered the road up towards Hola and dropped in at a very cool guitar shop before making our way through Hola for the first time in many years, looking for some replacement sheets. "Taiwanese queen size or American queen size, sir?" Ahhh, we'd also forgotten this frustration! Looks like Cass might be bringing back some sheets in her suitcase in April.

Next day we took advantage of the dearth of humanity to sample the extremely popular Universal Noodle ramen shop in Tienmu. Normally discouraged by the snaking lines to enter, we waltzed in to be the only customers and enjoyed a very authentic ramen feast, so hot I was sweating from the top of my currently chrome-like dome! Back over to the cinema to see The Drop, a surprisingly good thriller/drama, James Gandolfini's last movie. The other crazy experience was having the gigantic theatre all to ourselves...we moved ourselves right into the middle and loved the viewing!

We traveled down to the main inner city on Saturday looking to buy a camera for our upcoming trip to London, but after examining the product (after a lot of research) we decided that the camera the school supplies me with has done the job pretty well for years now, so we'll just keep using that one! We had two cameras stolen in last year's break-in that we haven't replaced, but we'll wait a little longer I think. On the way out we stopped for ages to look at a dance-off competition practice: these kids were very cute!

Longtable in the Hsin Yi district was next stop and we had a tasty, lazy lunch. Cass particularly enjoyed the fresh roses, which were adorning each table. Onward to the 24 hour, eight story book store of Eslite (can you imagine: open all the time, gigantic, shops and coffee shops and every book known to man in every language....why can't we do this in Australia?). I wanted to buy a dial version old-style red telephone, but they'd sold out and only had other colours....disappointing! We wandered a little more, marveling at the new buildings that seem to morph into existence every time we visit. Buskers and entertainers were out in force: one impressively muscular young guy performed miracles on a steel "hula-hoop"....Cirque du Soleil on the street!

One of the new modern hotels in the district, Hotel W, soars to 31 stories and boasts an exclusive restaurant on one side and a coffee shop on the south with an unimpeded view of the imposing Taipei 101. We managed to sneak in just when a couple had vacated the prime position: a little table for two sequestered away from everyone else in a mad cube of glass sheets hanging right over the city! Despite my occasional shudders of vertiginous panic, it was incredibly spectacular to take in the city sights from such a lofty perch. We stayed there as long as possible, which worked out pretty well: as we ate the snacks provided, they kept filling them up!

Yesterday, Cassy spent a great slab of time knocking over a stack of her essays for grading and she feels much better with the weight off. She can cruise a little easier this week as a result. I took the opportunity to rip into the steps once again: it was a muggy day and I arrived back home with a couple of sandwiches dripping with sweat. My knees seem to be holding up to the pounding really well at the moment: seems like ever since I bought two kneecap support braces for the climbs, I haven't needed them.....is that some "law"?

Videos: the muscly spinner and the tiny dancers as well as a small section of the steps going up and also down!
Photos: ramen, cinema, downtown sights, mountain path.

A nascent cafe culture in Taipei city is spreading beyond the inner city trend zones. It is nosing its way up through all the major arteries in the city from its birth in the new eastern district about 5 years ago. Our northern suburb of Tienmu has had its own little "enclave de cool" happening for a while, but the vibe from downtown has spread up Chung Shan North road all the way up to the floral park/art gallery district in very short time.

We experienced the Farmer's Market area around the old Yuanshan soccer ground on the weekend, as well as a massive international bonsai exhibition in the new space built inside the cavernous stadium. Beyond the exhibition space is an equally gargantuan semi-outdoor dining and shopping district with established international restaurants with indoor/outdoor seating. They were vying for trade with a phalanx of matchbox style food court booths selling all manner and  taste of goods from shopfronts. Punters could then take their wares to eat at the many table areas dotted in and around the central space.

A three piece Japanese folk rock trio provided some syrupy harmonies in the background as people of all ages wandered the eclectic mix of shops and stalls. There were retro clothes and furniture stores, arts and crafts, leather and wood, high end chic and trendy, industrial junk. There were children's party palaces with resident fairies and princesses, and even a shop selling replica Eames chairs on a tiny scale for very pampered kiddies!

The biggest draw-card for us, however, was the string of cafes with a whole host of different vibes and flavours. We ate at an Argentinian one after passing an English pub, an Italian gelateria and pizza parlour, a Thai restaurant, a Taiwanese beer-house and a "butcher's kitchen" no less! It was great to eat in the semi open air (the place had roof sails soaring way above the crowd to ward off the weather) and do some massive people watching on a weekend afternoon at our leisure. The food was superb...Cassy's spinach ravioli and my lamb chops, the passing parade amusing...a very calm cat on a leash, and the vibe just perfect...we could while away time and enjoy the stellar autumnal weather in the big city!

The bonsai exhibition in the space next door was a tip from Wal. It was hard to believe that it was free, because even though we have only a very limited knowledge of the art, the size and scale of the show had to be seen to be believed. Up to 300 of the most incredible specimens were on show, from the standard cloud clump shapes all the way through to twisted and stained trunks defying gravity with their asymmetrical waterfalling out of the pots! The president of the National Taiwanese Bonsai Society, Wal's friend Jack, insisted that we sign the special attendance book: we did our western signatures sideways in the traditional vertical book meant for Chinese characters!!

After being more than slightly overwhelmed by these magnificent plants, we wandered on the periphery of the Farmer's Market back to the station which sits right on the square itself. The huge vaulted pavilion built for the flower expo last year, is really doing sterling service now for the citizens of the city: even an outdoor cinema now runs each evening. The structure took on an ethereal glow in the sharp, golden vespertide, and we left most satisfied with a gorgeous end to a perfect day.

Earlier on, taking advantage of the re-invigorated scooter and the superb weather, we'd ridden up to Yangminshan and beyond the fumaroles all the way to the ridge line of Mount Datun. We'd discovered a most delightful, gently winding country road some time back, and and wanted to experience it again. It is almost devoid of any other traffic, the sun was shining and the birds were singing, so....why not?!

Motoring through the caldera valley, the temperature dropped a few degrees as we climbed beyond. It made the ride a touch less pleasant, as we'd forgotten what a sharp temperature change there can be up there, and forgotten to bring any jackets. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the blissful ride, found a trail which we'll investigate further on another trip, and arrived home quite exhausted after a few hours astride the "Taiwanese Harley" which offers none of the power, speed, shock-absorbing or comfort of its Australian brother!

All in all, another fantastic weekend! We've got a Thanksgiving long weekend coming up (God Bless America is all we can say!), so we need to spend a little time thinking about our trip to England and getting a new camera to replace our stolen one...it's less than a month away.

Photos: a shot we just received of Cass and Annie at the wedding, Cassy doing some grading at school, shots of the scooter ride up the mountain and eating and viewing at Yuanshan Stadium and environs.

Books: Cassy is reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, after devouring the incredible Winton classic Eyrie. Dave has finished the Booker prize winning gem, Narrow Road to the Deep North and is recuperating with the far less grand Lee Child easy reader, Worth Dying For.

This week is super hectic at work, especially for me (usually the boot is on Cassy's foot), so sharp eyed readers may have noted I'm a day late with this posting. I'm also going to be relatively brief and try to keep the verbosity to a bare minimum!

We're in the throes of 1/2 yearly testing this week which demands a lot of one-on-one testing in all the skills areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Accompanying that, we have to juggle a few different teacher's schedules and try to preserve times that they feel are sacrosanct where they must have all kids in attendance. Most of them are pretty flexible, but there are a few who have a bit of a god complex. Throw in a visiting math consultant taking up my time and theirs as well as a visiting author (likewise) and you have a very busy, mixed up week.

Adding to the madness, we have an obligatory gig, a "parent reception", at the American Club this evening. Cass did her equivalent night last week and found it to be most tedious. It's a fundraising event only vaguely disguised, so many of the parents have sussed this and tend to stay away. Last week there were more faculty attending than parents and it may well be a similar scenario tonight. Wal and Grande and I will meet at Uli's for a beer before we head down together in a taxi, to avoid the "fun bus" leaving from school with teachers and parents(!)

We had a fun weekend and finally found the Holy Grail! I was more than ready to give up the quest, but Cass insisted in crusading on to find the mysterious and fabled Aubergine restaurant. We had one last address to check, this time in the far north eastern suburb of Neihu. As "Blackie" was literally now firing on all cylinders and the mechanic had managed to stitch together her shaking frame to avoid the death rattles, we hopped on our trusty steed for one last foray into the unknown. With a minimum of fuss (and the help of Google Maps!) we managed to find the address, and most importantly, the restaurant in situ and fully operational. We had an excellent meal with all our favourites and just hope this branch, at least, keeps going strong.

We had a coffee mid week at the funky local haunt, "The Soup" and discussed some of the latest hiring/retirement/moving news from the faculty. There is quite a bit of movement as always at this time of year, and it provides great fodder for gossip and speculation. Never a dull moment around contract signing time! For those who might be interested, we've signaled our clear intention to the administration that we'd like to be offered another contract in December. If this eventuates, which we assume it will, we'll be committed here until at least June, 2016.....time rolls on!

Photos: election signs, The Soup, a beautiful Porsche in our lane, Aubergine at last, a quirky motor scooter and a complaining fat cat!

P.S. We're off to London for Christmas....we've decided we want to relax and speak English and not country hop this time: Good ole England!