Thursday lunch...

So it's Thursday and have just had a nice, long lunch with the girls. A group of 9 of us meet every thursday for lunch and a long gossip..its great fun and keeps us all sane. Todays choice was a new mediteranean spot which was lovely. And out choice of conversation included washing machines for dogs..google it. Just what I needed after having a few pints last night for Paddys day. Went to an 'american' bar which on a weekend is full of hookers and pervy old men. These hookers,, on occassion have been known to move us out of the way so they can hit on our other halves...I really don't thinks so ladies. Anyway it was a wierd night...pub was packed...guiness and kilkenny on special offer. There was the promise of Irish music (I heard the band play two U2 songs). And the band playing were pretty average although, we used to frequent this bar alot and thought the band were AMAZING! There is a lot to be said for the effect that martinis have on your ears.

So yet again when I was out and about yesterday I saw another lady at the traffic lights, waiting to cross the road picking her husbands spots. What is it about picking spots in public? Its rank!

So far I am maybe giving the impression that I don't like living in shanghai as all I seem to do is complain. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE living here despite the few wierd and unusual things that occur. They just make it all the more interesting and entertaining. Shanghai is an amazing city to be in. It changes constantly and is a very exciting place to be at the moment, especially with the Expo coming here in May. There are so many great bars and restaurants here and there are more appearing all the time.

Shanghai is a mixture of big, high rise modern buildings and small tree lined streets with low rise old buildings and lanes with traditional housing. Very much of the life of people living in these areas is done out on the streets. You will often see men sat around playing cards or chinese checkers. There are tea sets out on tables and local restaurants often have tables or often cook outside. People wash their hair outisde in the lanes as they don't have bathrooms and in the summer you quite often see people sleeping outside as its cooler to do that then sleep in the houses. Its a very sociable life for the locals and quite often whole families live together. I love walking past and having a nosey at what they are doing. I just wish I could understand them better!