Air conditioner part II

When we first started using it a few weeks ago it was around 18º. Then it was 22º, and now it's like 25-28º. And even at 28 I was feeling a little bit cold (but not cold enough to turn it off completely). I know it's not us or the air temperature, but when the guy came to 'fix' it, it went the other way and is now too strong! I suddenly started feeling very hot and didn't realise Mike had turned it up to 30º! D'oh!

Super Landlord! Speedy service.

Well, yesterday my amazing landlord was at it again.

He called me to say he'd be over to pick up the water bill and pay it for me. I didn't even know it had arrived in the mail but lo and behold - there it was. He went and paid it then came back with the receipt and collected the money off me. I even wanted to round it up but he wouldn't accept even a cent more.

While he was here I told him the air conditioner was not behaving and he called someone to come and fix it. Within 10 minutes someone was here to fix the air conditioner and now it's working great. So great it feels a lot colder and stronger than before. I had it on 18-19º before but now it's on 21-22º.

I am still sick. I think I am getting better but my insomnia is really taking a toll on things. I just can't fall asleep so I'm getting maybe 3-4 hours a night for the past 3-4 nights. ARGH!

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Yay! Zoidberg has (more) friends. Clustrmaps visitors:

* Central USA somewhere
* Indonesia?
* Melbourne, Australia

Service and Delivery in China

Service and Delivery in China = fast and cheap/free
Service and Delivery in Australia = slow and expensive.

Mike and I are both amazed at how fast things are here in terms of service and delivery!

* We applied to have internet installed on a Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning someone came around with the modem and everything and installed it for us - free of charge! In Australia we'd have to wait about 2 weeks and wait for them to send you the modem in the mail.

* We applied to have cable/satellite tv installed and called at about 2pm in the afternoon. At 6:30pm they were at our place installing it. In Australia it'd probably take a week or so and they'd probably be slow as.

* We had a problem with our plumbing, specifically the kitchen sink would not drain. We called our landlord who called a plumber who was here within an hour. Fixed it, and left. In Australia - probably a week's wait and then be told they couldn't fix it and we'd need someone else to come out a week later to finish off the job.

* I buy Chinese herbal medicine from my doctor. They cook it for me and deliver it to me the same day for 10 RMB (about $1.50).

Delivery for almost anything is free or very inexpensive and they come to your house to do it all! which brings me to my next point.

Our Landlord

One of the nicest people I have met in Shanghai. He gave us a discount for paying our rent in 3-monthly installments instead of the usual monthly arrangement. He arranged to have furniture and appliances in another apartment swapped with those in ours. He installed a special laundry drying rack (which can be lowered) on our balcony free of charge. When I asked him where to go to pay our bills - he just took them off me and went and paid them for me! I couldn't believe that someone could be so nice. Also, he has the same accent and similar voice as my grandfather and when he spoke to me on the phone for the first time and called my name I freaked out! I thought it was my grandfather calling me!

... which brings me to my next point. The air conditioner in our living room still isn't working properly. I've set it to the lowest temp. of 16º and it's cool if you stand right underneath it, but I'm about 2-3m away from it and I've been sweating all afternoon. It feels more like a fan, a fan that is churning hot air around rather than nice cool air you are supposed to get with A/C so tomorrow morning I'm giving our landlord a call! Humph.

"I'm melting, I'm melting..."

Sick of being sick!

Just when I was starting to enjoy my time in Shanghai and only 1 month after I was sick, I am sick. Again. UGH. On top of that the air conditioning in our living room does not seem to be working properly and I'm sweating! Just fan-bloody-tastic.