June 24th 2013
Recently...
Recently Bought
Whilst wandering the backstreets of Qibao, we came across a number of small stores specialising in hardwood items. There were stools, rocking chairs and water tubs. We also found an ideal mortar and pestle set perfect for not only pounding cooking spices but also for our new found love of herbal Chinese medicines. And it was at a bargain RMB 19.
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Recently Went
After our recent mass clearout, I realised we had some left over bank notes from our trips to Australia and Malaysia. So it was off to Travelex to change them into RMB. The great thing is, a new outlet has opened up just minutes from our house on Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu. And they are currently running a summer promotion on select currencies of just RMB 10 commission.
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Recently Watched
Despite its limited screen release in China, Man of Steel has still managed to top the Chinese Box Office taking $25.8 USD in its opening weekend. Starring Henry Cavill as Superman and Amy Adams as Lois Lane, it’s unlikely that the duo will rival the colossal revenue generated by on-screen couple Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow) in Iron Man 3.
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Recently Watched
South Africa may have the status as the ‘rainbow nation’ but still, nearly 20 years on after apartheid, various cultural groups sometimes view each other with uncertainty. Here, an elderly Indian woman takes in an orphaned Zulu boy to not only overcome her deep rooted fear of Black Africans but show a love that transcends racial and language barriers.
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June 17th 2013
Recently...
Recently Watched
Despite the lukewarm reviews for this film, I actually enjoyed this fantasy storyline of a young farm boy (Jack) and his showdown with the terrifying giants from the land above. Yes, the digital animation was a bit sketchy and there was no major twist in the plot but it was simple escapism - the perfect antidote for a rainy afternoon.
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Recently Watched
In this 2010 release, former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett stars as Angie King who leaves her home to pursue a life outside of the Church. Explosive singing and compromising situations come to a head as Angie hits the road with a Gospel play. It's a type of modern day Prodigal Son story.
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Recently Ate
You can't beat good old Marks & Spencer. Thankfully in a city like Shanghai they have a few outlets dotted about which means access to their renowned food section. Not a as big as the UK, but you can still pick up quite a few goodies including our must-have Wholegrain Wheat Bisks and a well-priced RMB 35 (for 24).
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Recently Read
How I miss the sensationalist British press! Thanks to visiting friends, I got a copy of The Daily Mail. One story that stood out was that of a girl in Cambridge who got turned down for work at the Body Shop because she didn't speak Mandarin. As I have said before, the Chinese language is a force to be reckoned with.
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June 10th 2013
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Recently Read
The very fact that it’s A3 in size makes Talk Shanghai magazine literally stand out. Published monthly, for June they cover: Seoul (Korea) as a travel destination, Brawl on the Bund (boxing) and there’s an excellent dining supplement with what they tout as ‘Shanghai’s 50 Best Dishes’ ranging from local stuff to a wider international selection. Well designed on good quality paper this is one read that regularly finds itself in our magazine rack at home.
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Recently Taught
I was called in to cover another teacher’s classes over the holiday period. Being a different school, I had to use their teaching materials. Called Global Family these books are fronted by a bunch of cartoon kids from around the world. I was impressed with the high quality of the accompanying resources which included flashcards, work books and a set of DVDs with a well-produced animated series to go with each unit. Oh and I had to sing and dance the very catchy tunes too!
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Recently Watched
With an irresistible music soundtrack, this BBC 1930s drama follows the rise of a Black British Jazz band in a period where the term ‘coloured’ was readily used and being in the same room with a non-white was good-cause for wiping the cutlery of potential contamination. The band’s leader (played by British Nigerian Chiwetel Ejiofor) oozes on-screen panache whilst the lead singer Jessie (Angel Coulby) delivers her songs with impeccable cleanliness.
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Recently Read
Racial divide in 1920s America along with the unprovoked killing of her father, by the hands of white men, forces Hattie, her mother and sisters to jump on a train and flee Georgia for Philadelphia. This newly released title has raced up the book charts thanks, in part, to the demigod touch from Oprah Winfrey when the debut novel was recommended in Oprah’s very own book club. A moving story of one young lady watching the world around her slowly change.
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June 3rd 2013
Recently...
Recently Found
I met Tanzanian Michael and his Russian Chinese girlfriend Annie at a recent event. He is the creative director for Kotebo.com –a Shanghai website specialising in e-commerce and web design. Aside from making beautiful clean-looking websites, they also create a forum for fashion-related groups and enterprises to network, promote and sell their products. They certainly have an impressive range of clients on their books.
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Recently Watched
Four Aboriginal young ladies get a hold of Soul music during the 1960s which sees them not only break racial boundaries but their talents take them to war-torn Vietnam to entertain the American troops there. With a brilliant Motown soundtrack and heart-warming storyline it’s even more insightful to know that the script is based on a true story. It became one of the strongest Australian box office releases in 2012.
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Recently Watched
We waited for Shanghai’s good old street DVD release to see this one. A prequel to the famous flick Wizard of Oz, Disney bestowed this 2013 edition with lots of imagination and on-screen imagery magic. Starring Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz as the three sister witches and James Franco as the one and only Oz the magician. Broken hearts and a battle of good versus evil unfolds.
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Recently Ate
Oh the joys of tasting Ecuadorian chocolate! These two bars originate (as the names suggest) from two regions of the country both having their distinct flavours. Esmeraldas has a sharper dark chocolate taste, whereas Los Rios is a touch smoother on the palate. Using handpicked Arriba cacao beans – the health properties are endless including being a mood enhancer, antioxidant and reducing cholesterol.
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