Upgrade

My buddy Michele returned to the USA at the beginning of the month. This in itself was a sad event for me as she became a great friend and I miss her enormously. On the plus side, it meant an excuse to get dressed up and have a big party! Sunglasses at Night is still being talked about in certain circles, although I wouldn't be so uncouth as to repeat any of the tales here on a family friendly show ;)

 Ze Germans sure can handle their beer...

4 photos stolen from Facebook! Sorry and thanks Andrew Massie, Michele Chapman and Carlos Furukawa! ;)

 

The other bonus was that her room became available in a much more modern complex than mine so I duly snapped it up and moved house a few days before my birthday.

I have loved living down-downtown as the area is authentic and is a constant hive of activity. I have located a whole array of excellent eateries, fruit and nut sellers, e-bike fixers and interesting characters and I will continue to frequent each and every place even though I now reside in  a more refined area.

The new place is at the edge of the city centre and right on one of the main routes in and out of Xinpu, which is convenient for my weekend job as I no longer have to walk twenty minutes to the bus; I can now roll out of my big pink building straight onto the bus stop.

View from the sundeck/roof

I was assisted in the tedious task of moving by Jana and Mei who manfully hoiked my stuff out of the first place (2nd floor) through the rain and up into the new place (7th floor, no elevator). It was all over in less than a sweaty hour and I showed my appreciation by repairing to a place I discovered this week that sells THE most amazing seafood in THE WORLD. Or at least, on this street.

Out with the old..

 

Photo courtesy of Jana Franke

We ordered a big bowl of long xia, which are teeny weeny lobster type beasts, and they are served with plastic gloves, a pile of serviettes and a bin. This is class epitomised. The only way to get at the goodness is to get stuck right in. Carefully rip away the shell, pull the head off and clean off any poop then enjoy! It's messy but fun and unbelievably tasty. Is it wrong that I went there three times in one week?! Don't tell my Jioazi lady...
 

 

 See, everyone makes that face when trying to get in! This is Sarah Beth, my new roommate.

 

Think we ordered enough?!

 Love at first sight during first visit. I'm like that.

 



So a new chapter begins; goodbyes followed by a new home, new age of 35 in a few days and more new and wonderful surprises every day. TIC.