January News

News January 2011

A ‘Happy and Prosperous New Year’ to everybody, and a particular thank you to all of our customers for the kind and positive feedback they have sent. Most of you were delighted that our quality was so exceptional for the price and the next day delivery service worked a treat. In spite of the weather all of our parcels got through. Well done UPS.

You will be glad to know that we have not passed on the VAT increase (from 17.5% to 20%), we still have 10% off, and will be giving away a free cashmere pill-comb with every order. ‘Never been a better time to buy, as there is still plenty of bite left in this winter. You'll see that we have added new scarves, hats, gloves and cosy bed socks to the ranges too.

On our travels for you and Noluur we get to meet many interesting and kind people. By and large Chinese people, like people everywhere, are friendly, honest and disarmingly hospitable. This is a good thing, especially when one gets lost, confused and generally screwed up, in foreign lands. It happens to me a lot…

I like the fast trains in China.  Compared with British trains they are faster cleaner, cheaper, more reliable, and everybody gets a seat unless you specifically opt to stand. Even the lavatories are better, which in China is saying a lot.

The snag is that English is not widely acknowledged outside of the main towns. Therefore at 5.30 in the morning, when you arrive at a railway station to find that the 5.25 has left on time exactly on time, it can be a bit of a trial trying to find out how to get onto the next train to Beijing Airport for a flight south.

The Information Desk Manager did not speak English, but did perform an energetic sort of directional dance that any bee returning to the hive would have been proud. 

The Station Guard did not speak English either, but sounded as if he could mangle German (or maybe Dutch), to a hideous degree. I could not rearrange them into a well know phrase or saying, much to his disgust.

The aged Porter got very close to being useful in English, but apparently could really only recommend some 5 star hotels, take my bags and lead me to a taxi

Meanwhile I was being encircled by an enthusiastic throng of the travelling public, many of whom were trying very hard to make me understand instructions in Mandarin. This sounded like a flock of geese in a state of alarm, to the untrained ear. Happily Mrs Ping arrived just as I was beginning to develop a headache.

Mrs Ping introduced herself and asked if we needed assistance? She spoke very simple, clear English with a hint of an Irish brogue, which was a bit surreal in the circumstances. I replied that we had, ‘…missed the train; wanted the next one; when was it; and when did it arrive in Beijing – we had a plane to catch????!’

Mrs Ping efficiently shooed away all the onlookers, who smiled at us for providing some entertainment so early in the morning. Then she arranged the station’s staffs in a row. After a few curt questions and instructions, she told me to leave my baggage with her, follow the Station Guard to the ticket office (which was outside of the station), swap our tickets for the 6.30 ‘D’ Train, come back, and board the train with her in 12 minutes time.

Mrs Ping also saw us off the train in Beijing and onto a taxi which took us to the nearest subway station for the airport. Wherever you are, a Happy New Year to you and your family, from everybody at Noluur. Oh, her Irish accent came from visits to Dublin where her daughter is studying at university, and we made the flight.

Please study the photograph of chicken noodle soup from ‘Nae Mair Chuen’ a fast food emporium in Beijing (I have changed names to protect the guilty).The more perspicacious of you may notice that there are no noodles in my chicken noodle soup. This contradicted the picture in the menu which showed a veritable skein of appetising noodles in a steaming bowl of chicken stock. 

‘Noodles from my chicken noodle soup – where are they?’ I demanded of the waitress, pointing at the picture in the menu then at the bowl. 

‘No ‘oodles’, she shot back, ‘’Oodles off’, scowling at the chicken consommé then at me, to confirm the patently obvious.

In these circumstances, my questions of, ‘Why is there a noodle famine in Beijing; am I to be offered an alternative; will I get a discount?’ got the same response.

‘No ‘oodles. Oodles off.’  

I did what I always do in these circumstances, which is break into a fit of the giggles. The waitress soon followed, as did the kitchen staffs looking on from the serving hatch and the customers around us.  Pretty soon we were all in a happy mood. I didn’t get a refund though.

In our next news, we’ll discuss why one hotel in China keeps Cypriots in the guests’ wardrobes in case of fire. Also, what we’re thinking and planning for spring and beyond.

In the meantime, keep warm.

Ray.