Watch Out, and In a Cupboard

Last Thursday, Craig's parents took Craig to the park nearest home where he had strange encounter with a larger boy while playing on the jungle gym. Very, very few kids in Taipei have a bad reaction to Craig despite him looking so different but this boy raised a fist at him for no apparent reason. Fortunately, Craig didn't seem worried by the event, he just came over and reminded his parents that it was nearly lunchtime by asking to "go Fridays!" Then he speaks in Chinese, saying he wants to go on an elevator because he knows that he can take an elevator up to his favourite restaurant.


Later the same day, Craig began experimenting with hiding in a cupboard.


He's never done anything like this before.


And his parents are a bit boring. They haven't played any hiding games with Craig so he had to think of this all by himself.


He's pretty clever, eh?

The Beach (Bai Sha Wan 白沙灣) Day 2

No one woke up early after Craig's Mum had watched Wang Chien-ming's latest disaster for the New York Yankees. But, breakfast was quick and it was soon time to hit the beach again. This time the weather was not windy at all. The ban on swimming was still in place so only fun on the sand was permitted once again. Craig didn't mind.


He had a nice spot to play where Craig's Dad had dug another private swimming pool for him.


Not only was there virtually no wind the waves were also non-existant. The temperature was just above 20 degrees Celsius so it wasn't really swimming weather but it was good to be outdoors.


The only tiny drawback was that Craig seemed to enjoy throwing sand into the hole more than helping to dig and make it bigger.


Poor Craig had a tough bus ride back to Danshui and threw up his breakfast during the trip but once he was off the bus he became happy again in no time. Due to a lack of seats anywhere else, Craig's parents took the boy to McDonalds for a late lunch and were fortunate to find places to sit right beside a childrens' play area.


Craig had a good time in there. Craig's Dad really wishes he had a picture of one little boy who came down this slide and then froze, stared at Craig for what seemed like a full minute before moving away very, very carefully making sure that Craig didn't touch him. He was bigger than Craig but scared, must be the blonde hair.


Craig's Mum tried to sleep on the train on the way home.


At home Craig got into difficulties when he sat in an upside-down plastic footstool and, initially, became stuck. Not only did his cruel heartless father not help, he actually rushed to get a camera to take Craig's picture!


Poor Craig had to struggle while Craig's Dad tried to get a better angle for a second photo. Luckily, he got himself out soon without any help. Life is so difficult for the littlest person in any household.

The Beach (Bai Sha Wan 白沙灣) Day 1

While having breakfast downstairs before setting off for a weekend (well overnight) away, Craig did not eat more than two or three mouthfulls of breakfast. Meanwhile, Craig's Dad looked exactly the way he felt, like he hadn't slept enough because of a hayfever attack.


During the train trip north Craig and his parents had to change trains. While they were waiting on the platform Craig became very concerned about whether or not they were doing the right thing. He seemed to think there were no more trains. Luckily Craig's Mum was there to keep him happy till the next train arrived.


After taking the train to Danshui there was a 40-minute bus ride that no-one enjoyed Upon arrival at the former hotel now bed-and-breakfast place the bags were dumped and lunch became the first order of business.

Craig helped with Craig's Dad's mango smoothie. Craig called it juice and wasn't too interested in being corrected. He was much more interested in drinking.


Due to the lack of a real breakfast, Craig was also interested in eating. All of the chicken from Craig's Dad's sandwich became a part of Craig's lunch.


Then, finally the fun could begin. Craig wore his new rashie both to keep the sun off and to protect him from the very strong wind that was blowing.


Craig's Dad began by digging a hole for Craig to play in. The tide was coming in so it was being dug a few meters from the water's edge.


Pretty soon the hole had enough water in it that Craig could get in to play.


Eventually Craig began having fun in the hole. It provided a tiny bit of shelter from the wind. But, in fact, the rashie played a vital part in keeping him comfy. Several good-on-yers Aunty Annette.


After doing not much else other than digging the hole for Craig for an hour, Craig Dad's washed the sand off his hands in the water and came back to sit down and rest. He would have liked to go for a swim but the lifeguards were being very strict about keeping everyone except surfers and windsurfers out of the water!! It made no sense to Craig's Dad at all.


Just behind Craig's Dad's left arm you can see a windsurfer and behind the sail are some surfers. The waves near the point were small but quite good and in the late afternoon there were more than a dozen guys out there. Some pictures of the surf action can be found here.

Aunty Annette's Package Finally Arrives

Almost a week without an update! In fact, it's been a week of work and little else for Craig's Dad. The other morning he was trying to take a nap after watching Arsenal beat Villareal in the Champions League but little did he know that Craig was piling up stuff on top of him!! Just CDs and a roll of wrapping paper but ....... it's to be expected, generally speaking, 2-year-olds don't show much respect for their elders.


The only other event to occur this week worthy of mention was when a long-awaited package arrived from Australia for Craig. There was a swimsuit with some built-in flotation that is not pictured here and a swim-shirt/rashie that he didn't want to take off. Craig's Mum cleverly got him to put a t-shirt on underneath so he could keep the rashie on all afternoon.

Craig will be going to the beach this weekend to give both items a try out.

More Father-Son Time

Craig and Craig's Dad have had some more father-son time recently while Craig's Mum completed her most recent computer course. Craig's Dad reckons that Craig is much happier when he is outdoors. So, going to the park and playing whatever silly game Craig's Dad can invent is the primary activity.

Dad's New Chair

Back a week or so ago, Craig's Dad decided that he needed a new chair to sit in while he reads. The two sofas that occupy the living room at Craig's home are not very good for Craig's Dad's back. Naturally, Craig had to give it a try to make it sure was all that it was meant to be.


Craig became a bit possessive of the chair for a little while. But, not long because he doesn't sit still for very long anywhere.

Mahjong

On Tomb Sweeping Day this large group of kids all related to Craig went with their parents to clean up the family resting place. Craig stayed at home with his lazy Dad while Craig's Mum joined the hard-working people that did the cleaning.


Everyone returned to the building where Craig lives for lunch on the second floor. After lunch, Craig was introduced to a time-honoured Asian tradition, Mahjong.


He wanted to help with the mixing up the tiles and fortunately he has no idea about gambling just yet!

Jin Sha Wan 金沙灣

Saturday was a really happy day that began with the borrowing of Craig's Great Aunt From the Fifth Floor's car to drive into the mountains to Craig's Taiwanese Grandmother's house for lunch.

While waiting for lunch, Craig played with his cousin Soit-Jade. Some friendly wrestling occurred on Craig's Dad's lap ......


and then on the floor. Soit-Jade was the clear winner.


Craig found some protection!


And, he giggled a lot the next time he lost his feet.


In the afternoon, everyone piled into two cars and went to the beach at Jin Sha Wan (which would be Golden Sand Bay if you translated the name word for word.)


It was a bit cooler on the beach than it had been back at home but still a great place to dig in the sand.


Not long after they arrived, a cloud came overhead and a sunshower began!! Craig was well protected thanks to Uncle Guapo's golf umbrella.


Thankfully, the rain never became heavy and it soon stopped. Craig's cousin Soit-Jade and her sister Yu-chi both had a good time digging in the sand as well.


Then Craig started to kick a ball around with Craig's Mum!



They had a good time but soon Craig's Mum took over the camera.


Craig now has these two videos on one of his mobile phones and he watches them all the time.


After the football there was more digging in the sand, this time close to the water's edge.


The hole is so big because Craig's Uncle Guapo helped them a lot.


It had been a really good afternoon of fun in the sun and it was no surprise when a tired little boy needed a nap on the way home.

A Quick Recap

There's been somne technical problems that have delayed new posts being put up on Craig's blog but the problems have now been resolved ..... well temporarily, at least.

So, a brief recap of the events that have transpired over the past week beginning with the day after the Chinese Rhyme post. It was a Thursday and it featured a morning with Craig's Dad while Craig's Mum went to a computer class and then lunch at TGI Fridays.


In the afternoon there was lots of fun sliding at a park that is right next to Wufenpu.


On Friday morning while shopping at Carrefour Craig's Dad noticed something that he had no intention of buying however he couldn't help but take a picture.


Saturday morning was as cold as winter but Craig was very, very bored at home. Craig's Dad suggested a walk to buy some cushions. The walk took them past some very odd "Year of the Ox" artworks.


The English name of the artist was almost as strange as the product of the artist's mind. But, who knows, one day "Legend" may become a famous artist!


There were quite a few Year of the Ox artworks in a plaza outside of a bank but Craig was not particularly interested.


Back at home later, Craig settled down to watch his newest favourite movie. He has begun watching Ice Age quite regularly. That means Finding Nemo can be given a rest after about 100 viewings.


On Tuesday morning, Craig and his Dad went down to the second floor where Craig's Uncle Guapo showed Craig and Craig's cousin Soit-Jade how to mess about on a computer.


The kids had some trouble using the mouse for this game that requires a reasonably deft touch. That meant they became bored quite quickly.


After lunch, Craig played silly games in the front room at home with Craig's Dad while his Mum tried to take a nap in the bedroom out the back.


On Wednesday morning Craig tried playing fussball with his Mum.


After Craig's Dad went to work, Craig went with Craig's Mum, Craig's Uncle Guapo and Craig's cousins Soit-Jade and Yu-chi for a long walk that included a stop at a park.


The cool thing about this park was the height of the bars was low enough for someone Craig's height to hang from without any help!


Craig had a good time playing there making himself nice and tired before going home.