START OFF WITH "DEAR SIR"

One of them is hard of hearing, though testing out a new hearing aid, and the other one is capable of great miscomprehension. Both of them were born before the war and gibber a bit. But they're nice fellows. I enjoy chatting with them despite occasionally needing to roll my eyes. Which they have never seen because I am capable of subtlety.

Evenso, I did not need to hear at length about how his younger brother's homie passed away and the family is being cheap about the post-funeral meal (素餐 'sou chaan').

He's quite upset about that. Understandable.

Still, all that talk about the dead man qualifies as inviting bad luck, more or less. Can we find something more propritious to discuss? None of us are getting any younger, and this is, somewhat, affecting my keen enjoyment of the tea and pastry.
The tea and pastry are very important.

Of course I didn't indicate any of that. What with being a diplomatic sort.

Calmly I loaded my big-ass billiard about halfway (because it IS big-ass), finished my teatime snackipoo in a leisurely fashion, and bid them both adieu. Before heading out into the surprisingly cold day. It's supposed to be Spring now. It doesn't feel like it.

That's how I know I'm getting old. In my youth I would step gaily out into the blizzard stark naked and think nothing of it; now I kvetch when it gets barely into the mid-fifties.
When I'm wearing a flannel shirt and a sweater under my overcoat.

This is the kind of weather that demands a strongly worded letter to the editor.
Stressing that none of the retired military I know are cross-dressers.
Or, if they are, that they act like perfect ladies.
Because they are gentlemen.
Officers!


It really is a big ass billiard. If fully loaded it would take over an hour to smoke. Half-full it's about thirty five to forty minutes and quite delightful. That old and exceptionally well-dried briar from the post-war period. When there still seemed to be a plentiful supply.

I shall probably take it to work with me this weekend.

What a very great pity that there is no place to get cheung fan near work.
Or any other dim sum. Plus a pot of guk pou chaa.
菊普茶。



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