Settling in to Shanghai

Over the last couple of weeks we feel that we have really settled in to life in Shanghai.  We have unpacked the final few boxes and bought some bits for the house. 

Part of this feeling more settled was getting all of our pictures up on the walls.  Normally at home this would have been a straight forward job for Sam.  Not here in Shanghai where the walls are solid concrete and you can pay someone £10 to do it all!  Not bad for five hours work!

Last weekend we decided we needed some plants.  We were given a list of plants which help to improve air quality and Gao Yi took us to buy them. 

After a bit of haggling over a couple of pounds we got a good selection of plants, delivery included for £25!  We then went to explore the amimal market next door.  There was a good selection of animals for the boys to look at, luckily they didn't ask to take any home.

We have been going swimming regularly and Oliver and William have continued to grow in confidence in the water.  The jaccuzzi is still the favourite pool! 

This week I took them on my own and had both in the changing room with me.  The women's changing room is providing a good education for young boys!  The local women strole around with nothing on, chatting to the boys and stroking their hair!  I also discovered that Oliver and William are not shy - whilst I was showering I heard giggling and looked out to see them playing boo with a woman in the shower opposite!

The highlight of the week was purchasing an electric moped!  They are all the rage over here and we went to Carrefour (the shop that sells everything) to get it.  We purchased the moped for £200 and then set about choosing a lock for it.  Up until then there had been no room for negotiation on price or anything.  Just as we had choosen a Carrefour lock the man suddenly got in to deep conversation with Gao Yi.  It transpired that he had a box full of much better locks out the back and for cash we could have one!  He brought one through for us to inspect and they were excellent. So in the middle of a crowded supermarket we handed over our cash and received a lock of dubious origin.  On the way out the moped storage sections had to be inspected by the guard, the man cleverly hid the lock under the lid and we got out without getting stopped!

(Oliver is sitting on the one we bought)

Last night we waved Sam off on another trip which will take him to Auckland and Melbourne (and Danielles birthday party!), arriving home next Saturday.  We will miss him but at least he's racking up the air miles!  Meanwhile we are getting ready for our first visitor to Shanghai.  Oliver and William are very excited to be going to the airport this afternoon to collect Nain!