I had a major breakthrough on Wednesday. Bob and I went to B&Q (home depot) with Mike who speaks Chinese to get supplies. I really wanted to ask again as I've tried many times before, to see if I can buy just colorant. Pretty much when we walk into the paint department all the workers go running away from us. They know we are trouble. We have managed to find a woman who is very helpful and even gave me her direct phone number to call her if I needed help, which was very kind but I do not speak Chinese so I'm not sure what kind of help she could give. Anyway, Mike explained to her what I wanted, at least 5 times and she finally gave me dark brown colorant with a warning not to put it in white paint. I happily agreed and went back to the Mac and spent 2 days faux finishing the conference room and great room. It makes such a difference! Bob has been instaling light fixtures and curtain rods, finishing up garden projects, patching holes in walls, hauling furniture and a ton of other things. Keeping busy is not a problem.
The highlights this week were being invited to dinner by 2 families that live here. Ann and Mike and Jana and Steve. They both made wonderful western dinners, chicken hotdish and spaghetti It tasted so good. We have made some good friends here and are beginning to realize that it will be hard to leave. Ann and Mike have a young friend named David who stopped by on Wed. evening while we were there. He is 15 and blind and the most fascinating young man I have ever met. He is obviously a genius on so many different levels it blows your mind. He spoke better English than we did and was so articulate, inquisitive and engaging. Ann wanted him to play the piano for us so we went to the great room, which has a baby grand, and for the next hour or two we had an impromptu Les Mis singalong. What fun! David and his parents have moved to Beijing because of his talent as a pianist as he was accepted to a very prestigious music school here. I plan on staying in touch with him to see where his talent leads him.
Brad left Friday morning and we were sad to see him go also. It's back to just Bob and I again. Kristina and I spent the day at Gaobeidan shopping for furniture, lamps and accessories. Gaobeidan is a town where furniture is made and sold and there is shop after shop of furniture of every style and color. We had a fun but exhausting day and came home with a van full of stuff. We will need to go again as we begin to accessorize this place. This is the fun part for me. Bob is pretty much staying away from the shopping! Only 12 days left to finish!
Garden furniture project
Curtain ladies in their workroom
Faux finishing
David
After the "Les Mis" singalong
Shopping at Gaobeidan
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