We’re headed back to IKEA today.  We bought a few extra curtains by mistake (two panels in each bag instead of one).  It was the fastest trip ever for us.  I took care of the return while Judy picked out the replacement drapes.  We were home in less than an hour.

Back at the apartment, we finish hanging all the drapes, and a few other sundry items that needed placement.  The changes look great.  Bit by bit the apartment is becoming upgraded.

Two items are really big in the news in Beijing these days.  I read in the paper that fireworks are going on sale Saturday, Jan. 25.  From what we’re told by the “old-timers” at BISS, it’s a crazy time.  They tell us we can expect to hear fireworks (big commercial type fireworks, not firecrackers) going off 24/7.  It’s supposed to last for two weeks.  Since we’re leaving town the day the fireworks go on sale, we may miss a lot of the activity.  There have already been a few nights when we heard big fireworks in the neighborhood.

The second subject getting a lot of talk is the discussion of the “human migration” that takes place during the Spring Festival (New Year).  It’s a tradition for everyone to go back home during this holiday.  The news outlets are saying that over 3 billion train tickets have been sold for this holiday.  That’s a lot of people.  Apparently, many people can’t get tickets, and there are reports of false ID’s being used to purchase tickets and then scalped.  The online ticketing process is not functioning as smoothly as needed under the pressure   Standing-room only tickets are also being sold.