Free Moon-cakes
Fri Sep 13 2019 17:20:00 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)
Greetings from Yiwu, China
Today is a national holiday. It's Mid-autumn Festival. So nobody is working today.
We live in an apartment on the 26th floor of building number 1 (of 12) in Oujing Village. Europe style Village is how it styles itself.
There is a swimming pool, tennis courts, gardens and lots of rather cheesy statues and fountains all surrounded by these huge 45 story buildings. It's closed community with it's own security, school and regular social events.
Mid-autumn festival is the biggest. I call it Moon-cake Day.. Last night we ventured forth to meet the neighbours, listen to the children singing and dancing on a pretty big stage with lots of special effects. Lots of local businesses are invited to set up stalls and give stuff away to the (rich) residents in exchange for Wechat contacts. A local bakery hands out lemony moon cakes, the best I have ever tasted, and a dozen wine importers hand out cups of (mostly Spanish) wine. It's all very jolly.
There was a slight altercation - it seemed that security had let in a host of old ladies all clutching carrier bags - the news of free moon-cakes had got out. These non-resident grandma's created such a scrum around the bakery stand that the tables collapsed and the stand came crashing down. They all seemed to think it was huge fun, no-one got particularly cross and it was sorted and back in business with little fuss.
Last week I was telling you about how Yiwu mega wholesale market came to be, and the unusual history of Yiwu that made it happen. You can read about it here.
Village party... My wife Coco is our Agent in China.. Moon-cake day is traditionally when friends and relatives give each other Moon-cakes.. and many of them are pretty solid and gluttonous (the cakes not the relatives).. I don't generally eat them.. but the local Yiwu puff pastry version is actually yummy. Our suppliers used to swamp Coco with lots of gifts at this time. Moon-cakes so luxurious in huge red and gold boxes and often fat red envelopes of cash - she told them all that sending gifts didn't mean they could put up prices, so these days we don't get so many. But one still managed to delivered a live duck, I was a bit surprised to find it quacking in the kitchen. Don't ask.
It's Friday the 13th and a full moon.. that doesn't happen very often. What does it mean? This being the Ancient Wisdom newsletter.. I'm fully authorised to tell you :)
It’s time to grab the smudge sticks and crystal ball. It is Friday the 13th and also a full moon — the first full moon to fall on a Friday the 13th in 13 years. Spooked? Don’t be. According to some witches and astrologers, the number 13 is auspicious — we have 13 full moons and 13 menstrual cycles in a year. And Friday is associated with the goddess Venus. So a full moon that falls on Friday the 13th is a special, powerful time. Calm down dear.. it's all going to be OK.
So the apartment is full of people, grand children, cousins visiting. Coco's sister and husband. What are they all doing whilst I snaffle moon-cakes and write this newsletter... Playing mahjong? Drinking rice wine? No.. they are quite happy stood round the dinning room table packing a consignment of gemstone jewellery ready for the next container. I complain to Coco that she is making all her relatives work on a national holiday. What did he say? they ask.. Coco translates and they all fall about laughing.
Next week I fly to Spain, I have some jobs to do with the new warehouse and interviewing staff. So should be interesting.. then back to China with Tomas. It's all go.
Hope you survive Friday the 13th in one piece.. see you on the other side.
I'm going to have another moon-cake and find out what's for dinner.
Take care
PS
Someone suggested we make a "Meet the AW team" web page with a bit about all the characters who make AW happen. Good idea.. Watch this space :)
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