Sunday 13th January, 2013        2115

What can I say?

Yes I had a haircut - not just because I wanted to ages ago (Anita stopped me) but because one of my brothers commented on a photo that I had transmogrified into our mother. Bastard. I thought so too.

So, feeling comfortable if somewhat cold in the cranial region, Anita and I were collected by Kevin to go to the wine shop for a wine tasting party.

We really should have known better. This being China we never even saw a wine shop. We were taken to what will be one once the rubble has been cleared and they actually put some wine in it, and later we went to the “party” elsewhere. It was the grand opening of a new housing development (people being persuaded to buy new apartments) but sponsored by a wine company.

Fine so far, but then it was “sing for your supper” time! Kevin and I were expected to lecture on plonk! Ok, I did three minutes and left him to do five (he regards himself as a connoisseur, I simply know what tastes good) - job done. They had a buffet of various Chinese tidbits with some superb sushi I loved along with other delicacies which were not for me. It amazes me that at such functions “bag ladies” suddenly appear, eat their fill and stuff their overall pockets with food with nary a word spoken - but it happens. This is China!

Fine, we both did our bit and the plan was to go as a foursome for a hotpot dinner after, but first we had to wait for the raffle because originally we were supposed to help. That didn’t happen. We were simply called as guests to pick a ticket, I assumed for someone else to win a prize. Wrong. We picked a ticket to see if we could win. Premium prize was a laptop, next was a digital camera and “first” prize was 200y. Kevin got a goody bag with umbrella and playing cards, I won the first prize of 200y, thank you very much.

Dinner plans disappeared when we were invited by the property and wine company plus the local government official to dine with them. Sod it, it’s free! And so we went to a hitherto unknown restaurant where the usual scenario would take place.

That is, everyone sits around for an hour watching four people playing an incomprehensible card game before the food arrives. Sorry, I didn’t learn the landlord and farmer game for nothing, so I asked Anita if she could get me in. sorry, they wanted to play a different game (ok) but could the laowei really play? Yes I bloody can, so while Kevin was showing Anita how to do Soduku on his mobile I did battle - and held my own - against the government and national and local business stalwarts. I enjoyed it, especially as I had more success than I did playing Anita’s family.

The meal was good - plenty of plonk as you would expect - and I particularly liked something obviously Chinese but very akin to pakora. It was lovely, so were the crispy pigeon wings.

Cassandra - Kevin’s lady friend - made a foolish bet by saying she would drink a bottle of red if anyone could understand what she said in the local dialect. I am sure you have guessed who actually fulfilled her side of the bargain when she lost - hence I am decidedly tiddly tonight.

All in all though, as always with plans that don’t go according to plan, a good day and one on which I not only never paid a penny but profited from the tombola!