First post from my new laptop, which arrived yesterday! It’s so fast… and is a smaller version of Neil’s multimedia monster. I think it’s such an amazing state of affairs that this laptop, which is considered an ‘extreme performer’, cost considerably less than when I bought my previous laptop, which is very much a basic, entry level model. Both are Dell, too.
I have also upgraded the security on my mum’s wireless network, which then meant I had to upgrade the WLAN driver on her laptop. That was fun.
And now I have to go get ready because we’re going out. Muddy’s!! Yay!
I’m eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new laptop, supposedly scheduled for this evening. Then I’m sure I’ll have problems logging it onto the wireless network.
Singapore is comparatively cool and dry after a roastingly hot June and July in Xiamen. Never thought I’d see the day when I’d think Singapore wasn’t super hot. Hehe.
Went to MAAD. ‘Twas a touch disappointed that the venue was smaller than expected — but hey, they’re just starting, right? Saw some cool things and great ideas. Also saw someone who designs then contracts the ‘handmade’ production to artisans in India. That’s cheating, in my opinion.
Saw Superman Returns and Thank You For Smoking. I love salted popcorn.
Bought that Dopod. Neil runs down the battery playing the default games. Bought a new laptop. It should be delivered later this week.
Collected my stash from various craft swaps. The haul is in-fucking-credible. I love craft swaps. I visited the bead shops in Chinatown today and bought many things. Made my first pair of earrings. Not exactly a professional job, but they’ll hold and I now have a pair of earrings that match the garnet pendant I got in India.
Completed a lot of editorial for the next issue of What’s On Xiamen. Yes. Really.
My first time online in a week. I could get used to this!
Courtesy of Terry, a couple of football-related links: The Real Butthead and real England fans. Blame him, not me.
First purchase in Singapore, unless otherwise warned, will be the Star Trek Dopod S300. Nice.
I always thought that my last few weeks in Xiamen would be a little more idyllic — today we spent the morning running around Xiamen, first to the tax-free zone in Huli where a broker (the only company allowed to deal with shipping foreigners’ personal effects, we were told) had already seen our inventory list and paperwork and said we were fine to ship some of our things.
Naturally, he wasn’t at work today.
The obvious conclusion was that his colleague had major problems with our paperwork and inventory list (apparently, he is the authority on how much stuff someone ought to have in their possession when they leave China, he kept muttering that it was impossible to have so much stuff — all five boxes and two bicycles), and just couldn’t accept I wasn’t a Chinese national, even though I’d told him more than once I was not. Then when we went to the marine customs office next door, we were turned back there and told to go to the other marine customs office on the other side of the island because that was where we were really supposed to go in order to get the export permit.
Mr Broker (Mr Broken, more like) refused to take us to the other office, even though that’s his job, so we (we went through an agent who went through the broker, this country is all about getting your percentage, I swear) traipsed halfway across Xiamen to a ferry terminal with the other marine customs office.
So you know what happened there. They looked at our paperwork and turned us back and said we had to go to the other marine customs office at the tax-free zone (yup) because that was where we were really supposed to go in order to get the export permit.
We’ve sold my bike.
China Post is really doing good business through us.
And this would be why I can never work in the local media — Singapore gov condemns blogger for expressing opinions. I’m late to the news again, but I’ve just gotta say this: working in the media (i.e. being allowed to report and comment in a meaningful way) there (here?) is like being in a relationship with someone who’s borderline and extremely insecure.
We all know the government is thin-skinned. That’s sad, considering the country has been, effectively, a one-party state for coming on half a century. Maybe they do not feel like they have a mature long-term relationship with their constituents, and have not been able to trust them — the proverbial possessive and jealous partner. Maybe the constituents cannot be trusted to be faithful?
The sad and ironic thing about possessiveness is that while it may kill the relationship, it may also show just how intensely the possessive person loves his or her partner – and how much they value and need the very relationship they are helping to destroy.
The Lover’s Guide
Moving stuff about has gone into medium gear. The good news is almost all our stuff has been sold (yesterday was quite the day). We’ve posted four boxes via surface mail so far, with probably another four or five to go. Then we’re contacting shippers to move the rest.
(We’re pretty lucky we’ve got a post office within walking distance, one where the staff know us so well it’s never a hassle to post anything.)
I’m afraid to post my craft supplies, not because there’s a possibility they could get lost in the mail, but because what happens when I hit crafting withdrawal? I don’t want to get all new stuff that I already have just so I can craft something. But most of the fabric can go by post, I think. I promised myself one last trip (and no more) to the fabric market to score more cheap supplies (and remnants).
Meanwhile, my final in-Xiamen issue of What’s On is going to go to print this week. I am working on the next issue right now. This means another intra-province bus trip this week, headed north.