Start of the Expo?

We were on the way to the airport and drove past a convey of army truck full of guards... probably being ferried into increase security in the lead up to the Expo on the 1st May...

The Rumoured Free Expo Tickets...

So there has been a rumour floating around for the last few months that there would be some snazzy benefits for Shanghai residents as a form of compensation for having to host the Expo 2010.

The first rumour suggested that there would be holidays for people working in Shanghai on the 30th April and 3rd of May. So that there could be some reduction in congestion for the opening weekend of the Expo, by eliminating the normal commuting load on the transport systems...allowing Shanghai to be taken over by the Expo visitors. Sadly this wasn’t exactly the case, companies are obviously not that keen on just giving 2 extra days of holidays to workers, especially when they have to pay them for not actually doing any work, so it's actually turned into 'all offices will be shut' days, but with most companies expecting people to work from home instead.

The other rumour was about each household being given a free Expo ticket and a transport card with a value of 200RMB (that is a LOT of travel - especially if you are planning to use the metro and buses). We just got a notice in our mail box the other day (like yesterday) confirming it. It turns out that even foreigners can claim their free ticket and transport card. It seems to be being organised by each local neighbourhood committee.

Basically the note said:
Each family, which has been registered in shanghai for more than 6 months is entitled to 1 ticket and 1 transport card. In order to claim the ticket and transport card you need to take your passport and residence permit or home visit permit (HK and Macao) or more than 6months visa endorsement to the neighbourhood committee between the 25th - 28th April, with the address of the neighbourhood committee in our compound.

City Weekend

Trash a Go Go at Logos

Who can resist a free gig, especially when its a crazy mix of garage punk and rock and roll bands from Japan?

pre-gig joy

Logos might be small but it's a cute little venue. Particularly liked the scrawlings on the walls, and the inconveniently placed foozeball table just behind the entrance so that the door will hit one player anytime anyone wants to come into the place. We did however manage to squeeze in the smallest mosh pit you can imagine just in front of the stage - i'm not sure everyone (ie. people holding drinks near by) was quite so impressed with it as we were.

Apparently we managed to see: The Routes, The Beat Bandits and Jehosaphat Blow & The Blah Blah Blahs. It was all good.

Peppermint Creams!

Having found a box of icing sugar in Carrefour the other day, tanya reminded me of the existence of peppermint creams. Think the last time I had made or eaten any were when I was at primary school. I also remember that after we made little peppermint cream mice at school that I tried to make them at home myself with icing sugar and water and failed miserably (although I still enjoyed eating the sugary peppermint flavoured mess afterwards)

We found a much better recipe online:
1 egg white
400-420g of icing sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
a few drops of peppermint oil/flavouring

Lightly beat the egg white. Add the lemon juice and gradually add the icing sugar, mixing, until you have a smooth, firm dough then add the peppermint. Mould in to silly shapes!

Dog house and a cave for a pink bear...


my attempt at a palm tree for my little monkey to sit under.

Come to think of it I guess we could actually have melted some chocolate to cover some of the peppermint creams, but we just got a little carried away with the mini playdough session.

Ceramic Workshops in Shanghai

I've been attempting to track down a list of pottery/ceramics workshops in Shanghai. First of all because I was looking for a place to do ceramics and/or buy materials. So here is a list of what I have found:

As U Wish
1039 Changle Lu, Jing An (near the center of Wulumuqi Lu)
徐汇区长乐路1039号(乌鲁木齐中路口)
Tel[电话]: 021-62489697
Website: www.asuwishart.com
Email: asuwishart@gmail.com

The Pottery Workshop [乐天陶社]
2F, 220 Taikang Lu, Luwan (near Sinan Lu)
上海市卢湾区泰康路220号2楼
Tel[电话]: 021 64450902
Website: www.potteryworkshop.org
Email: infosh@potteryworkshop.com.cn

I managed to finally pop into The Pottery Workshop (which is just off Taikang lu) and buy a 10kg bag of clay for 50RMB. They also sell a variety of tools as well as kilns and glazes, but you do need to contact them directly to ask about prices (their imported kilns are close to double the price in US or Europe). If however you just want to take your pieces to be fired there, they charge 40RMB per kg of cermaics you want fired. Personally, I have mainly been looking at Taobao for tools, as I don't know anywhere which really stocks this kind of stuff. Have just ordered a few little things and will see how it works out.

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Studios that seem to be shut but came up in searches...

Yiduini Clay Modelling Studio [一堆泥陶艺教室]
Room 1202, Building 4, 191 Tianyaoqiao Road, (near Nandandong Road, Metro Line 1 Xujiahui Station)
徐汇区天钥桥路191号4号楼1202室(近辛耕路) 近南丹路

HanGuang Pottery workshop [汉光陶艺教室] 汉光陶艺工坊
No. 15, Lane 188,Changshu Road, Jing'an District (near Julu Road)
静安区常熟路188弄15号(近巨鹿路)
Tel[电话]: 021-54039440*109
Website: http://www.sh360.net/biz/biz45/16701.html
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