Last Post for 2012

Final post for 2012.  Patrick got to the US on Thursday, and Gwen arrived Saturday.   We will be spending a week working in Minneapolis before heading to South Carolina to spend the holidays with Patrick's family and Gwen's parents who are traveling down from Pennsylvania.  We will be on blog hiatus for a few weeks.

But I wanted to post the last few pictures from HK.

We had a new team member start on Monday - which means Dim Sum for lunch.  I have been trying to get a good picture of the Dim Sum ordering process.  Here is Sonic ordering for the table:

Monday night I did some visiting and shopping with some team members from Mpls.  Before heading to the night market, we went to my bosses apartment on the 69th floor of a complex close to the harbor - pretty cool views.

Night market is the bright street in the center of the photo.

Closer shot - the market is probably 5 blocks long.

Looking toward our place.

Looking across the harbor with Kowloon park in the front (dark patch).

A close up a a "Seasons Greeting" light display on Hong Kong Island

 One last Hong Kong Holiday Funny.

Snowmen made with only heads....

Then it was time to head across the Pacific (for Patrick's flight to Tokyo on to Mpls) or over the North Pole (for Gwen's flight to Chicago on to Mpls).

Gwen's ride over the North Pole.

It was Gwen's first Trans-Pacific flight in coach class.  She made it safe and sound, and stayed awake until midnight on Saturday.   Helps to kick the jet-lag.

For those of you who have only flown business - this is the lunch you were missing :)

When she hit the ground; the 1st stop was - you guessed it  - TARGET.  Primarily because Gwen packed no toiletries and knew she could pick it all up when she got there....

Happy Holidays from the Anderson's - see you in 2013.

2012 Coming to an end in Hong Kong

Our time in Hong Kong this year is coming to an end.  We both leave this week for the US - a week of work and a week with family.

We did get 2 of our 5 lights hung in the apartment - continuing to feel like home.

Two things to share from the week:

#1 - A wedding - here are two pictures of cake that were handed out in the office to celebrate a wedding.  It was OK - but not sweet enough, but there are not many sweet things over here.

#2 - One last holiday photo

Hong Kong Christmas

This week I was taking pictures of Christmas around Hong Kong.

This guy appears to be the mascot of our complex.  He almost made our Christmas card - maybe next year.

Not sure how the toadstools fit into Christmas but they were there.

What a tree???

Patchwork Reindeer....

Another view

Up close shot of the tree - it appears to be knit.

Patchwork Reindeer Ass

So we had a few deliveries this week from our shopping last week:

Boxes of light fixtures to hopefully be installed next week.

New TV Stand - Recycled Teak Wood from Indonesia

Another view of the living room.

Yesterday we visited a lighting store a few blocks to find small fixtures for our 2 small bedrooms (one is a closet).  We managed to purchase 2 light fixtures, bulbs and installation with very little english.  We tried to negotiate the electrician to install our 3 already purchased  fixtures - but the english did not get there.  So we will have to negotiate when the electrician arrives.  And we pointed to Wednesday afternoon for installation, but looking at the paperwork is looks like it will be Saturday.  We will just have to see when the phone rings.

Here are some other oddities I saw around this weekend:

All week the weather has been rainy.  This morning when I got up it was somewhat clear - but the clouds seem to hug the mountains.  There were quit a few days I could not even see the building to the right of the picture and it is in our complex.

Yes - that is a bride in the mall.  This afternoon as I was walking though the mall to find Patrick I followed this bride - not sure where she was going...

Then I found Patrick with less hair.  Yes he set a record in time between haircuts - a few days over 11 weeks.

Then for dinner tonight we had Mexican - 1st time since we have been here.

I forgot how good Tequila tastes....

So next week we should have lights in every room - the Master Bedroom bulb broke today (Yes - fell from it's fixture, the screw part is still up there) and we will be packing for the US.

End of November

Well not too much has happened since my birthday.  Every month there is a birthday celebration for the team and the team members with a birthday that month get a cupcake (or something bigger than everyone else).  Here is November's celebration:

Birthday Girls - me on the 12th and Man on the 25th

Thanksgiving came and went - no "Black Friday" sales in Hong Kong.  Everyone shops all the time.  Apparently their big holiday to shop for is Lunar New Year in January /  February.

I did bake a Cranberry Pie to celebrate the holiday with the team and it was a major hit.

1st Cranberry Pie of the season.

No leftovers here.

For the Anderson Thanksgiving we did something we felt was American....

This past Saturday was spent at "the" spot to shop for home furnishings - Ap Lei Chau with our friend Kerry.  28 floors (less the numbers that have a 4 in them) of shopping.  We tried to be strategic and did place orders for some light fixtures (delivery next Friday) and a TV stand (delivery next Sunday).  Chi-chi also got a new catnip toy which she fell in love with.  Pictures hopefully we be available next week.

Today I then baked my 2nd cranberry pie for Patrick.

Gwen's Birthday

So here is my birthday via photos:

My computer monitor decorated by the sourcing team - specifically the intimates, sweater, outerwear and performance teams 

Gift from the FFF (fast, fun and friendly) committee

What was in the bag.

Dim Sum lunch with the team.

Yellow Inside Bao - yum

The team included visitors from MN.

Flowers from my boss - Patrice

Patrick had a present put on a building for me :)

Dinner was Italian with amazing bread that tasted just like Jennifer's homemade bread.

Antipasta

Forgot to take a picture before - so here is my empty plate of muscles shells and Patrick's of gnocchi.

Tiramisu for dessert.

Cute little sweets to finish the meal off.

The doorman had roses waiting for me when I got home from Patrick.

And Chi-chi had to be part of the party too.