It's funny where you end up...

When you are looking for a gas station. Or at least, it's funny where the kids and I end up.  This afternoon, I took the kids to buy some supplies for their birthday party to be held this Saturday.  I had tried to get them to nap at noon but they didn't, so of course they fell asleep and slept for over an hour, which meant flagging the trip to the store that sells the party gear.  They woke up as I was diverting to the highway toward the cottage.  I realised we needed gas, so I got back off the highway and drove along to Xijr.  Kyle was hungry so I decided to find somewhere to stop if we couldn't find a gas station.  Of course, I couldn't (I have a GPS but it listed 20 in no particular order or direction, so I gave that up).  We ended up at Cathay Hospital.  It's like a huge community, and behind the hospital is the start of the cycleway along the Keelung River.  Walking along, we found "叮呱呱", the Taiwan Fried Chicken chain.  The kids hadn't been there before, so we ordered our takeout and sat at the park, eating our picnic dinner.  Our family verdict is, Ding Gua Gua is way better than MacDonald's.  Is that getting too local?  We were quietly eating when Hannah yells, "There's a cow!"  (She takes after me, suffering from the odd case of animal misidentification.)  Coming up to us was this giant pig, with a collar on. It had smelt the chicken and came to ask for some.  It was the cutest big pig I had ever seen.  It was talking to us, and put its head on my knee.  The owner of the pig came over and said sorry but he loves the smell of chicken.  It was fine with us.  It was certainly a "first time" moment for me.  Kyle decided he never wants to be a pig farmer as they "have to chop those gorgeous animals up", and Hannah declared pigs "fantastic".  Funnily enough, less than five minutes later, a man walking his cow walked past.  Now, please note that we were not exactly in farmland, but right next to a highway and large hospital. 

(The bikeway itself is currently 12km long, and eventually will connect to Taipei's bikeways.  It's in really good condition and not crowded at all.)

We then walked back to the carpark, stopping at the local community park.  The children there were very friendly, and both kids quickly made new friends.  But, the promise of a daytrip tomorrow convinced the kids to come back to the cottage when I asked them. 

We got back here and painted the paper clay models we had made a few days ago.  At first they were all painted beautifully, but then the kids decided BROWN was the way to go, and now all the animals are one color.   The kids were quite brown themselves so I had them jump in the shower and head off to bed for stories.

Talking of brown, I was saddened to hear Hannah tell me she is not happy that she is too dark, and not white enough.  And to tell me I am too fat to be a mermaid.  Taiwan media has so much to answer for.  Even if I don't let her watch shows like "美人女" (Beautiful mermaid, a superhero story for girls, with 3 beautiful cartoon mermaids doing cool stuff), even Disney channel shows ads for the mother, selling whitening products, slimming products, and anti-aging products.  There is no control over advertising at all.  Hannah is only four years old, and she is already worried about her skin and her waistline!  I'm going to have to restudy my "advertising ethics" paper materials and educate the little girl before she develops issues she shouldn't have at four years of age!