The GF arrived last night, after our longest time apart in years. It was lovely to see him, though there is the inevitable need to learn to live with someone else again – no more leaving the curtains drawn overnight as he doesn’t like light in the mornings. This afternoon I cancelled all my phone meetings and went for a couple of expeditions. The first was into Yangmingshan national park; there is a trailhead about 12 minutes from our building, past quiet little houses and farms. The trail turned out to be 1.6 kilometres up stone stairs, and since it was hot and humid I stopped partway and left the GF continue. He went on for a while and then also returned as it became clear he was not going to make it to the endpoint and return in time for our next expedition. This was the four of us and we went down to Beitou for lunch and coffee. Lunch was in the market, and though not entirely without hitches, all dietary conflicts were eventually resolved and we had a satisfying meal of (variously) oyster noodles, pork noodles, lor bak (or the local equivalent), and different types of bao. Then off for coffee to the very slow cafe, where we found the reason for the slowness: when they make drip cafe they literally pour it drop by drop.
We have, all four of us, decided to stay on here for the next month or so, and then move into Taipei for another month or two. But let us see if we can find a suitable place and on suitable terms.