Taoyuan Nights

Don’t worry, this blog is still alive, and so am I.

However, I have an illness that has meant I’ve been spending a little time in hospital, and getting plenty of rest. I’ll post more as the doctors find out more about the illness. I can say though that the preliminary results are reasonably encouraging, so far.

I am fortunate to have some awesome friends who looked after me when I was in hospital, who have helped me through this illness and been there to talk to. I don’t know how many of them read this blog. But, hey friends. You know who you are. Thankyou.

I also want to say thankyou to all the people who keep checking this blog to see what I’m writing. It is comforting to see that although I haven’t been able to write much recently, you are still popping by.

Unfortunately though, for the moment this blog is on vacation, hopefully to resume normal service next month, depending on what the doctors find.

For everyone else though, it’s Chinese new year. Rather, it’s about to be Chinese new year. There are a few more hours of pig year left; then the year of the rat will begin.

I quite liked the year of the pig. Apart from the bad luck at the end, most of the year went well; I made some new friends; I saw new things; I learned new stuff; and life was… well… not bad. Quite good, actually. My parents continue to enjoy the start of their happy retirement. My brother is still happily married. Some of my friends have new children, and some have children on the way. Life goes on.

Outside, there are firecrackers going off everywhere, even out close to the hills and countryside of Taoyuan. Fireworks are flying into the air and coming disturbingly close to my bedroom window. I had a direct hit against the window last year. This year has been a little less terrifying, but we haven’t yet reached the main event yet. I expect I won’t be getting too much quality sleep though.

Happy Chinese new year, everyone. I hope the year of the rat is lucky for all of us, and I hope I can resume normal service and start writing about Taoyuan and life in Taiwan again, soon.

Gong hsi fa tsai!

(picture via Spring’s Greetings)