A Nice Surprise

Craig's Dad enjoyed last Saturday's walk and lunch so much that he suggested the same thing could be done again. So, Craig set off with his parents for a walk.

In fact, Craig has walked this route so many times that he insists on leading the way. In addition, he insists that he has to walk the exact same route, including going up and down in the same elevators at the same locations every time. His parents can only follow.


Craig's Dad made a small mistake on this trip in that he chose to eat somewhere different. They had crepes. The food was OK but the only seats were in a very windy spot. The wind upset Craig a lot because he couldn't put a piece of paper down to draw without it blowing away very quickly.


So, Craig was actually in a pretty poor mood and should have still been a little bit hungry when a former co-worker of Craig's Dad surprised them by running up to them while wearing a bright red shirt! It was a really nice surprise.

Greg is actually a nice guy and a lot nicer than this picture makes him look. He nd Craig became friends very quickly.


And, Greg has two lovely daughters, Naomi and Chloe. Craig seemed to like playing with them too.


The more they tickled him the more he wanted to stay and play some more.


But, unfortunately, the girls had a swimming class to attend so the game had to stop too soon. After they left, it was time to feed Craig something to make up for the tiny lunch he had eaten.


Craig saw a little train running around in a department store and needed to get up high to have a close look.



Craig then moved on to a children's playground that is outdoors on the fourth floor of the same department store.


It was windy up there but Craig had a pretty good time.





On the way home, Craig stopped at a big window where you could see elevators moving up and down. He would have stayed and watched them for a long time if his parents hadn't dragged him away.


After dinner, Craig relaxed in front of the TV and watched Finding Nemo until he volunteered to go to bed. He must have been very tired.

Christmas Lunch

Because it is not a holiday in Taiwan, Craig's Dad had to work on Christmas Day!!!!! To add insult to injury, he was only working because his co-worker Sam was enjoying himself in England. Craig's Mum had a good idea. She thought the family should have a small Christmas lunch.

Craig liked the idea. He helped Craig's Mum eat her spaghetti and filled up on some of the meat from Craig's Dad's chicken burger.


It wasn't much like a real Christmas dinner but it seemed to make Craig pretty happy.


Merry Christmas to all and best wishes.

Saturday Walk

Craig was supposed to be going for a walk with his parents last Saturday morning but half way to their destination he became tired of walking!


Fortunately, he wanted to get down to have a look at the traffic when he was on a bridge over the road.


Craig was happy to "draw" while waiting for lunch.


After lunch, Craig was obviously still hungry. Plus, Craig's Mum looked tired. So, Craig's Dad took Craig to buy some yoghurt for dessert. (Craig loves yoghurt.) When they arrived back at the table, Craig sat down quickly and went to work on his dessert.


Craig's yoghurt had an unusual name. To Craig's Dad's way of thinking the company is trying to suggest that other brands of yoghurt are dysfunctional!!!! ...... There's a popular saying in Taiwan, (你想太多了) you think too much.


Craig wasn't able to finish all the yoghurt so he kept a close eye on it while making his back home. He's very careful with precious things like yoghurt.

Yet Another Overnight Stay in Danshuei

Craig's Mum and Dad had a discount coupon for the hotel in Danshuei that they have been to once or twice before but it had to be used before Christmas! On Craig's Dad's last Thursday off before the deadline the intrepid family headed north.

After arriving in Danshuei the first thing they did was have lunch at Mos Burger. Craig waited rather impatiently for his food.


No matter how quickly Craig's Mum was ordering and bringing the food to the seats outdoors it was always going to be too long for Craig.


Craig really liked the lunch.


After walking north for about 20 minutes Craig demanded a rest. So a stop was made in a well-known American chain-store coffee shop. Craig was happy to sit and draw there.


When they reached the hotel room Craig was treated to a lolly that was in the room.


The scene looking towards the ocean was very peaceful.


But Craig didn't look.


He was busy playing with the sliding doors.


After reading for a while Craig's Mum stood up to watch the sunset.




Soon after sunset a hungry boy was demanding dinner. After being to so many restaurants, Craig is already familiar with the routine. He even insists on (ahem) reading the menu and ordering!!


Fortunately, Craig's Mum had another menu to order from.


Craig did some more drawing before dinner arrived.


After dinner, Craig parents thought Craig needed some exercise so they went for a walk. They were surprised to find the local town hall decorated with Christmas lights. You don't see much of that in Taiwan these days.


The police station next door was also decorated for the (not-so) festive season.


Craig didn't care about the lights. He was busy playing with a public phone right across the street from the police station.


This sign was put up by the township gubbermunt. Craig's Dad thinks its (ab)use of the English language should be taught in schools. Or, perhaps not.


Finally, Craig was tired and the walk back to the hotel began.


Which led to yet another photo of Craig asleep in a hotel bed. He justs looks so peaceful when he's sleeping that it's hard to resist taking a picture.


Two breakfasts were delivered to the room bright and early. The unusual combination included chocolate cake and salad.


There was only two chairs so Craig had to eat while sitting on the bed.


Near the end of the meal Craig spotted the yoghurt.


He insisted on using the spoon to feed himself.


That left just the walk back to the train for the trip home.


Which Craig did with style.

Back to Taipei Zoo Where Escaped Monkeys Run Free

Thursday was Craig's Dad's day off as usual. It was a lovely sunny day outside but Craig was bored at home waiting for his parent's to get ready to go out.


By the time they arrived at Taipei Zoo it was already time for lunch.


Inside the zoo there were lots of school and kindergarten groups.


Unlike past visits, Craig's parents took Craig to see the children's area. Craig liked being lifted up for a better look at the pen containing a donkey and a pony.


Craig's Mum got to lift Craig up to look at the goats.


Looking at the rabbits and guinea-pigs was much easier for Craig's parents. No heavy lifting required.


Craig liked the turtle as well but he was making it difficult for Craig's dad to take pictures because Craig likes to pull his cap down low over his eyes.


Every time his cap ws pulled up a bit Craig would pull it down again before a picture could be taken.


The good thing about the children's area was that Craig took a lot more interest in the animals. He stood for quite a while at each window.


The animal he spent the longest time looking at was this little fella from South America.


Craig's Dad had never heard of a coati before, let alone seen one.


The next cage to be visited had what looked like one lonely spider monkey.


Perhaps he was lonely because two other spider monkeys were running around on top of the cage!!


Craig's Dad was lucky to get two pictures of them because they didn't stay still and his camera can be a bit slow.


Not long later, Craig was begining to get tired of all the walking.


He managed to get up long enough to look at the elephants.


Craig likes elephants. Probably because its one of the few animal names that he pronounces quite clearly.


But he wasn't going to stay too long....


because he had been promised yoghurt! And, when Craig's parents make a promise like that they had better deliver. Luckily, this time they did. Craig sat down in the late-afternoon sunshine next to Craig's Dad and enjoyed his yoghurt with some chocolate wafer biscuits. Life was good.