Heat revisited

On March 22, most of the central heat supplied by the city of Beijing was shut off.  It was left on for one week longer than the normally scheduled date, March 15.  In November it had been turned on almost a week and half earlier than the regular November 15 date.  It has been a very long cold winter.

I have mixed feelings about this.  On one hand, I was getting used to the comfort of a not-freezing apartment.  On the other hand, I am happy to say buh-bye to the coal dust for the next several months.

Just a few weeks ago we could take comfort in the steam pouring out this smokestack. It meant the heat was on. 

I know you are just envying the view from the rear of our building.

And then earlier this week, nothing.

With the heat shut off, it almost looks like our city is full of abandoned factories. Every few blocks is another smokestack.  For part of the year they give the impression of Beijing being full of all these busy little industries. The rest of the year, they look like relics of another era, like the dormant smokestacks that still can be seen all over parts of Pittsburgh.

We aren't freezing.  At night we've been using an electric space heater in our bedroom where the whole family is sleeping now. Yes, rather cozy, almost like having a kang. During the day we are living in layers.

The bright side should be less coal dust in the house and more blue skies this spring. If I just keep repeating that to myself it will come true, right?