A coating of cool

It’s been about 4 years since I’ve needed a winter coat.  In SD, it was unneeded, I could get away with a hoodie or a light coat and hoodie.  In BKK it was completely unneeded.  Here, however, it’s starting to get cold.  Yesterday the high was 15C (59F) and the wind was about 15-20mph and just cutting.  The weather is changing and we are all getting a dose of it and used to it.  For J and myself, it has been a while.  For our Lil Thai Popsicle, she’s been freezing!

We call her our little Thai Child.  She loves the hot.  She has a bunch of Thai gestures and mannerisms.  She is also a bit spicy at times.  So, when she’s freezing, she’s our little Thai Popsicle.  

The last time I had on a winter type of jacket or coat was the last time I visited WI in the winter.  That’s 4-5 years ago now.  I can’t really recall, it’s been so long.  It’s really no matter.  The point is that I now have a winter coat again.  After so many year.  Socks, as well, since I’m talking about changing wardrobes.  I lived sockless in BKK.  Not that I didn’t have socks.  Mostly, however, I would wear Converse or flip flops (thongs to some) or just be barefooted.  When the low is 30C (86ish in F) it’s hard to really get the point of wearing socks.  Here, however, I couldn’t get away with that.  I’ve got on wool hiking socks today; for a point of reference.  

This weekend, we all got winter coats.  Kiddo was over at H’s house on Friday for a playdate and dinner and so J and I went out and had a little mini date and grabbed dinner and got ourselves coats.  Sunday, we went as a family for lunch and then Kiddo went to her music school to get some drum practice in.  We found a little dumpling spot for lunch.  It was good.   It’s also been in operation since 1946.  WOW!  After that we shot over to get Kiddo a coat and she wanted to wear it because she was freezing.  It’s only going to get colder and we can’t wait to hear the reactions to that. 

We also got her a sweater to wear to school.  It’s cute and it goes well with her uniform, so that was a plus.  While there, J got herself a new dress that is warm and comfy.  Kiddo picked up a fluffy pair of sweats that she’s been living in around the house for the past few days.  I got a scarf to go with my winter gear.  

We adapt to the changes, like we adapted to BKK and to our summer adventures.  Rolling with it and making it work for us.  It’s been fun.  Tonight, I’m going to throw together a soup for dinner and that can warm the soul of J and Kiddo.  We only wish that Beer could join us, as she always loved when I made soup in BKK and I’d always send her home with some.  Hopefully she will be out to visit us this winter and can experience some soup first hand.

Thinking of Beer and BKK, we also found so durian fruit here and so we had to have Kiddo pose in front of it.  It made Kiddo reminisce on BKK and wishing she could be back there so she could “finally be warm again.”  It’s gonna be a fun winter.  LOL

All in all, we are adjusting and figuring it out.  On Friday, when J and I went out, I suggested that we take the train so she could experience that and get a feel for it.  On Sunday, coming home from our outing, we took the train as a family.  It was super easy with Kiddo and now that we know how to do that, it will make seeing more of Shanghai easier.  Yesterday, I needed to do a Costco run and I used the train to get there.  I got a car back, just because I had so much stuff, but knowing that I can get there and where to make my transfers and all that is helpful.  

We are starting to close the house at night and even during the day, if I’m home, I’ll close the balcony door as it will blow and breeze right on me if I sit on the sofa and that can get a bit chilly just sitting.  We will experience winter again and Kiddo will really experience it for the first time as the last time she had a true winter she was about 2.5 and doesn’t remember any of it.  She’s 7.5 now.  That was 5 years.  Half a decade and 200% of her life ago.  Time flies!

Let’s go, Kiddo….. It’s only going to get colder, but we geared you up for it and you will survive; much as you don’t believe you won’t just freeze to death walking to school one day soon.  One day we will get back to warm, of that I’m sure, but it might be a a couple of years.  Who knows, as we are just on a grand adventure and for right now, there is no end in sight.  Where to next and why?  Who knows, but you got me and Mumma and we got you.  Keep being our spicy lil Thai Popsicle and we’ll keep you in fluffs as best we can.