winter!
Winter has come to Taipei, courtesy of a weekend in which temperatures didn’t get much over 10C. Sunday I had a nice long lazy day during which I never changed out of my cozy flannel nightgown – but by dinnertime I was wearing fleece tights under the gown and a light fleece pullover on top of it.
Yesterday the office was not as cold as I feared it would be; I definitely needed to wear my fingerless gloves all day but have not had to wear the the midweight fleece jacket I brought. On the other hand, I did wear a ribbed turtleneck, cardigan (mostly-silk knitted), warm wool trousers, and ankle boots. Also the scarf I just knitted, but that’s more about style than warmth.
It’s supposed to warm up this week (in fact, it already has) but it won’t get over 23C, so I’m not sure if it will make a difference. Today the office is actually colder than it was yeserday; I had my heater on this morning. I like it like this, as long as it doesn’t get so cold that I freeze even with my woolies on.
The company gave out its annual Christmas gifts yesterday (because Dutch companies all do that). So far over the previous three Christmases I’ve worked here, the gifts were two bottles of wine (one red, one white), a company-themed Monopoly game, and a box of chocolate ckaes and cookies. The wines were our favorites; they were quite good wines, and it was definitely one time we were glad to have two of us working here. (The Monopoly year, not so much – who needs two of those?) Since a lot of people in Taiwan don’t drink, or don’t drink much, I don’t know how popular this year’s gift is here, but I love it: a bottle of Moet and Chandon Brut Imperial champagne.
(Outside the US, the attitudes seem to be something like, “You don’t want it? Give it to someone else then.” I don’t know if our US offices have a nonalcoholic gift option.)
Ted’s off this week (and I’m not) so he is in charge of planning and shopping for our holiday dinner. I don’t quite know what we’re having, except that he did manage to find a turkey. I’ve been hearing rumors of homemade chocolate candy, though 
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
At least you didn’t get a foot or more of snow. Luckily, the neighbors on both sides shoveled our steps and walk. I paid two young guys $10 to shovel my car out, then had to put a chair in the space to save it for coming home.
Your fingerless gloves are a lifesaver, except when we have no heat in the offices, and then they’re not warm enough. Friday, I wore my coat most of the day, in spite of wearing two layers.
Enjoy your champagne, and have a very happy holiday. Happy birthday, Ted, and Merry Christmas.