Money, money, money...

Yup, can burn through it here at an amazing rate... But really, when you take the exchange rate into consideration...

Anyway, yesterday was the requisite trek to Shenzhen. The visa office at the border just recently re-opened post-Olympics. It had been closed just a couple weeks after my spring visit. So, hi-ho, hi-ho to the tailors we go (well, I was on my own to start). After a brief(ish) and unplanned sojourn to Tsuen Wan (got on the wrong bus at Tsing Yi - note to self: verify bus numbers with Chrisite when running strictly from memory!), managed to (eventually, and with some help from the local bus administrators) get on the correct bus to get the KCR station at Sheung Shui and was pretty much smooth sailing from there. Thankfully, Christie had armed me with RMB (yuan), so I was easily able to pay for my visa. Sadly, the same could not be said for her (until November 1, 2008, you could pay for your visa in HKD!). So, for me, after a relatively short line-up (about 30 minute wait in total), got my visa, and was good to go. Found the tailors with little hassle (had my headphones turned up loud enough to ignore the other hawkers - no, I don't need 'copy purse', or 'DVD'), and reached my destination with no aimless wandering about.

And, boy, were they happy to see me! So, off to the tailor stand, park the suitcases, drink some water (thanks!), and start figuring out how much fabric required for each item. Notes in hand, head off with Jo-Jo (she's helping me today), and go in search of fabric. This makes life oh so much easier - she negotiates (their comment later to Christie was that they think I don't know how to haggle - Christie's retort, she can, but we know you do a good job for us and get us a good price, so easier not to), and we go to the places where they know the stall owners. The more you buy, the lower the price. I think I was below 11 yuan per metre on most of the knits (that's under Cdn$2). Now, to put that in perspective, without the '10m skirt' and matching top sets (4 of them), I was at, I think, 97m... Let's just say, I have clothes for the next 5-10 years (unless I spill things on them - as I am wont to do!). My fingers are crossed that the skirt/jacket/pant suits will turn out well - up side (for me) of not much business at this juncture, I have very personalised service - they insisted on taking proper measurements rather than simply copying pieces the suits were to be based upon.

We've got dresses, and pants, and casual skirts, and dress shirts, and suits, and tops, and... Oh yeah, and some lovely silk dresses that should turn out properly this time - Jo-Jo's comments on at least one of the silks - 'well, you'll be easy to see!'. I figure this nicely balances out the normal penchant for black. Oh, and winter coats, and repaired linings (they're gonna be bright, those linings - I like 'em loud and unique) and more trench coats. All of this completely appeals to my control freak tendencies! Get to pick the styles, the fabrics, the linings, the buttons (on the ones I really cared about - otherwise, they have always done a great job of selecting on my behalf), the lace trim on things which require it...

Christie arrived just before 2pm. Susan brought her by the stall we were shopping at (the one of the 97m+), and then we headed for lunch around 3ish. After lunch, start organizing the order (it will be delivered on Monday at the latest - since I fly on Wednesday morning, and must get it in the mail - can actually do this myself this time!), trying on items, tweaking the fit, making notes, doing some alterations. Then, abandon having a couple things made, but head off to get the last of the fabric, and the various trims. We had been prepared to stay overnight - this seemed likely to be a two day job. But, by 8pm, we are pretty much done and the bill is paid. Head over for dinner at the pub in the Shangri-la Hotel, then toward the border around 10pm. Quick trip through the border, but being out in Discovery Bay, it is just after midnight when we walk (exhausted) through the door.

Bed!