How high to set the bar

The last 7 days have been rather tense and I haven't had the energy to focus on writing. I am really grateful to those of you who sent messages of support and encouragement. The Chinese call this "adding oil" or "加油" and I really needed it.

All the oil helped as the cogs seem to be grinding a bit more smoothly now. My pay deal was agreed yesterday, but without anyone checking with me whether a substantial cut in income would be a problem. I very nearly lost it and seethed all the way through the 'celebratory dinner' for having sealed the deal. My manner was duly noted and a new pay deal was agreed today resulting in a pay packet that still won't make me rich but will give me twice the amount agreed yesterday. I am bemused to say the least.

Deal done, I had a meeting with the construction team this afternoon to talk about finishing the bar on the 5th floor. The design for the bar is very simple, a rooftop terrace with a large glass roof over a deck and a cute Chinese style house for the days when the weather limits sitting outside. It will be lovely. I say "will be" because the man who designed the bar neglected to consider that a bar might need running water... and so there is no water supply inside the lovely Chinese house. The floor is also sloped so considerably that I can roll cans of coke down it with the Resident Poppet as the new best game of the year. Amusingly, when I mentioned this to the restaurant manager who has taken care of the construction thus far, he just replied that I never asked for it to be flat! I am now responsible for this renovation and for thinking of all the things that no one has thought of to date. Things like fridges. And air conditioning and the electricity supply to both things. It may sound tedious and it probably is but I had such a lot of fun figuring it all out.

I also have to start the designs for the cultural lounge on the 2nd floor. Remind me to say that I want the floor flat!