Cocktail Hour with Murray, Adelia, baby Alethea and Murray's colleague Grace.

Last night I was invited to Murray and Adelia's for what they called "snacks" at 5 pm. Murray's colleague - Grace - also joined us. It was the first time I met Grace, but Adelia had told me about this wonderful colleague of Murray's - who accompanied Adelia to every Doctor's appt, ultra-sound and check-up during Adelia's pregnancy. They have become very close.

Grace's full-time job is at the Normal University of Eastern Shanghai ( teacher's college)- where she teaches both Chinese and English. She is originally from just outside of Shanghai, but has lived here now for 10 years. She also, however, teaches a few English courses at the experimental campus of Shanghai Foreign Language School- where she met Murray. They share an office.

Murray is a wonderful cook and has treated us to his meat skewers in the last year at our group events. Last night it was beef with vegetables - and a huge salad to share, garlic bread, and white wine.
It was a lovely two-hour event  in which we shared our funny stories about teaching in Shanghai and Grace tried o explain some of the "oddities" of student behaviour, etc to us. We laughed a lot.
I had my phone, but did not feel it was  appropriate to take photos. Baby Alethea was the perfect little sweetie- sitting on her mother's lap, listening and occasionally joining in with her opinion.
What a nice evening.