Moving On

This blog has now reached the end of its useful life. The boys have left Taipei to begin a new adventure on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

A new irregularly updated blog has been set up at Two Boys Moved to Sydney.

Craig Can Swim

Back in July, Craig had been going to swimming lessons once a week for months with little success. But, a change of coach, that necessitated a change of venue to a pool with warmer (although not heated) water, had a very positive effect. Sadly, because of an impending move, Craig only had a few lessons with the new coach.

With the previous coach Craig was only able to stay afloat when using a kickboard and an adult needed to hold the board. By the time the last lesson with the new coach rolled around Craig could swim a few strokes unaided.

For the last lesson, the coach had set up two benches underwater about 10 metres apart.




Despite the lack of success at swimming the whole distance between the benches Craig didn't stop trying. His eagerness to please the coach was obvious as was his disappointment when he couldn't swim to the other bench.



After 55 minutes of the one-hour lesson had passed, Craig's Dad was consoling himself with the thought that Craig had improved a lot in just a few lessons with this coach. That boded well for the future. Craig was so close to swimming by himself that it would only need a few more lessons and he'd be a swimmer.

The coach is a busy man. His next student had arrived and was watching from the edge of the pool with his parents. It seemed that the lesson was winding down. But, the coach sensed that Craig was not finished. Craig's Dad was very surprised when the coach stepped over one underwater bench to stand behind it and leave the whole 10-metre stretch of water between the two benches unattended. He even motioned to Craig's Dad to prepare to take another video.



Craig was as excited about his little achievement as anyone else. He was full of energy. Usually, straight after the end of a lesson, Craig would hop into a warm spa pool to warm up. He normally has to be on his best behaviour in the spa pool because it is small and he needs to be considerate of the other people using it. On this very special day the spa pool was empty and Craig could release some energy!

Trip to Tainan

Back in July, the family began saying goodbye to Taiwanese friends and family. In that spirit, a trip to Tainan was arranged. Train trips are normally happy events for Graham. He loves watching the world fly past from the comfort of a big wide seat. However, if a 1-hour train ride is followed by a 30-minute trip in a taxi he might fall asleep. That's what happened on the trip to Tainan to visit one of Mum's best friends. After getting out of the taxi, Graham slept on a sofa in a hotel lobby.

Then, Graham continued his nap upstairs on a bed while Craig did his best to wake Graham up while pretending that he was doing something else.

After waking up the boys went to a nearby park to expend some energy.

There was plenty to do.

Craig's climbing skills are very well-practiced.

This photo typified the swinging styles of boys - one more energetic and one more relaxed.

Craig lost a front tooth. It was a baby tooth and he had been fiddling with it constantly so it was no surprise when the tooth fell out during dinner.

At breakfast the next morning Graham wasn't happy with the food being provided so he went to check out the buffet himself.

There were photos taken to commemorate the occasion.

Then, there was a very crowded trip on the High Speed Rail.

A typhoon had messed up the schedule and all the trains were packed to the rafters. The boys were lucky that their clever parents had caught a local train from Tainan to Zuoying so that they could get a seat. :) Otherwise it would have been a tough ride home.

Cing Jing Veterans Farm

Immediately after finishing their "ice cream" in Puli the boys were piled into the car to be driven up into the mountains to Cing Jing Veterans Farm. A late afternoon storm broke just as the car was parked so Graham had to be carried from the car to the door of the hotel by Super Mum.

The rain curtailed the boys' activities for the rest of the evening. Fortunately, Monday morning was filled with bright sunshine. Straight after breakfast the boys went to see a show. The place was very crowded 20 minutes before the show began.

The boys waited patiently for quite a long time.

A single sheep dog herded a small mob of sheep all the way up the hill and down again while the extravangantly-outfitted "cowboy" gave orders.

It was a very well-prastised show.

The sheep were driven passed the audience so peole could touch and feed them.

One sheep was dragged up on stage and shorn.

After the show, Graham had a go at feeding the sheep.

Craig preferred to renew his acquaintance with the girl who had been on the reunion trip. By amazing coincidence, she and her parents were visiting the same place.

The farm is in the mountains of Central Taiwan where some proper alpine scenery surrounds visitors.

There were some rather twee decorative gardens.

Next on the agenda was a horse riding show. The MC had a very deep voice that he was clearly in love with.

Despite the tiny ring, the show was quite good.

But only a few photos were taken when it was almost over and the riders were waving farewell.

Further attempts were made to take photos of the scenic mountains and valleys.

Craig had decided that he didn't want to smile for the camera any more.

The boys couldn't resist playing with the garden decorations.

A friendly passer-by took a family shot.

Very short horse rides were available that Graham really enjoyed.

But Craig was too nervous to have any fun and couldn't wait to get off.

Craig was soon happy again after being told he could have ice cream.

To get the ice cream, the boys had walked all the way to the top of the hill that the sheep had run up earlier.

After finishing the ice cream and then making the long walk down the hill, the boys visited a mini Swiss Garden.

The defining feature of the garden was a pond full of decorative carp! And a few ducks, to keep them company.

Perhaps the thing that made the garden "Swiss" was the fabulous "Dancing Water" display.

Or maybe the windmill?

After all that fun and adventure it was finally time for the boys to sit back and relax for the long drive home.

Mum's Annual University Reunion

The weather in Taipei in July settled into a regular routine of steamy hot mornings followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon.

So, it was fortunate that an escape was arranged. The 2013 holding of Craig and Graham's Mum's annual university reunion was upon us. (To see what happened in 2012 click here, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.)

The weekend began at a mushroom farm in Nantou.

While Graham waited for lunch Mum renewed old acquaintances.

Craig was pleased to be out of the car after a 4-hour drive.

Mum's friend Yating's kids were pretty happy too.

After a lunch that largely consisted of mushrooms there was a tour of the mushroom growing.

There were lots of mushrooms.

Lots of different kinds of mushrooms.

More than can be easily imagined.

Which made the tour far too dull for two little boys. Fortunately, they found a slide to play on.

It was a lot more fun than listening to a tour guide talking about mushrooms and their uses. (Craig's Dad had never seen mushroom soap before and didn't think to take a photo of it.)


The reunion group then moved on to a famous distillery in a town called Puli. The English on the signs inside the distillery didn't inspire confidence that the produce would be safe to drink.

The ice creams looked ok.

The distillery is a bit of a tourist trap. It provides plenty of places for children to pose for cute photos.

Graham wasn't allowed to have all the fun.

Craig just didn't understand why he had to lift up this heavy thing and smile for the camera. It made no sense to him at all.

After stopping off at the no-name B&B the group moved on to the Paper Dome. The building is a church with structural elements made of paper tubes.

Inside, Craig found a familiar face to play rock, paper, scissors with.

It was getting late and food was needed but they only sell waffles and snacks at the Paper Dome. The boys didn't mind.

The church looks lovely when lit up at night.

After a cheap dinner it was time for the adults to get together for some conviviality. This is the type of thing Taiwanese blokes munch on while drinking beer! If you've been brought up in other places like Australia you might never get used to it.

Nevertheless, everyone had a good time.

They're a quiet bunch during the day but get far more boisterous after a drink or three.

The kids were entertained with sparklers outside. Graham hadn't played with one before but quickly got the idea.

Craig took a relaxed approach.

The next morning, Sunday, Graham wanted to pull fish out of the B&B's little pond with a net he'd found.

The morning activity was a paper-making factory that doesn't make paper any more. It's been turned into a tourist trap. However, some of the attempts at historical information boggled the mind, especially the "4Ws".

For the second year running, whenever Graham wandered off one of the girls in the group would bring him back. This young lady took great care of him. It made life much easier for the boy's parents.

The factory had a little shop that sold edible paper, among other things. The poor boys were given some chocolate and paper snacks. It was a pretty silly idea.

When someone suggested a group photo people started to gather together. The kids found a playful kitten to play with while they waited for everyone to get ready.

The group was much smaller than the previous year but it was still really good to see all the familiar faces.

Some people headed for home straight after the photo but a few others made their way to a place that sells gelato.

The gelato is excellent and very, very popular.

It was another good chance to sit and chat before a final parting of the ways.

The boys didn't talk much, they were too busy eating. :)