I like wii-ing
(Playing on the Wii: Suzhou, China)
At the risk of Ying’s mum thinking we do nothing but wallow slovenly in a mire of Mahjong, work and massage*, here we are playing a fitness game on the Wii. These are gratuitous images but Ying was so delighted with the snap he took of me that he thought it should end up here. I have said before that my intention with these posts is to paint as honest a picture as I can of our lives here. Of course there are omissions; the long days I spend at my desk either drawing or using the computer to create line art (which would make for very dull reading indeed), the cleaning and tidying of the flat, the reorganising of sleeping arrangements for the impending family visit, the internet difficulties.
The Wii is a domestic diversion just like films or other games. Often the weekends are a time of catching up on sleep or the weather doesn’t permit exploration of Suzhou and elsewhere. Sometimes the bustle of the centre of Suzhou is too stressful for a weekend. As an example, we stopped in town this weekend to have some noodles in a restaurant, but as very often here it is a dog-fight to find a seat after the experience of a disorderly queuing mess whilst ordering. Then the noodles (delicious though they might be) are positively inhaled at great speed to escape the jabbing elbows of waiting diners, the screech of chair legs and the noise of clanking, slurping, chatter and bells of the kitchen. Ying was still chewing as we left, we made our escape as soon as was possible. The flat is a haven, a respite from the crowded streets and furious activity of elsewhere.
*I’m just kidding. We’re sensible people and we only play Mahjong for three hours per day. I’m joking…
By the way, sorry for the late posts today – there have been some technical internet difficulties here at base camp.
