"I don't like the dumplings in that new recruiter's on the corner"

Yes, Beelzie. You've brought food into the equation. Well done! I don't like Chinese dumplings at all, but everyone to their own. And that brings me to the recent significant change re my meat hotpots.

As far as lamb hotpot or mutton hotpot is concerned, I've stopped cooking them.

One reason is that real mutton, 100%, that is, smells sheepy. Another is it's about 34 RMB/jin here. Too dear!

If I buy the 20 RMB/jin 'mutton', it doesn't smell sheepy coz it's a composite of sheep meat and duck meat. But that hotpot is too fatty!

I can buy top quality pork sliced thin by the butcher for 18 RMB/jin. It's not at all fatty and the spicy hotpot thereof tastes great. It's best with red potatoes, as are all potato-based dishes here.

Finally, my beer now just costs me 18 RMB/9 pack of large bottles here. The local supermarket has a special offer on it!

I agree with you about the dumplings-well, the meat ones, because what gives them that special Chinese flavour is because the meat is off and stinks to high heaven. Dumplings with leek or just mushroom are not bad- however, fried dumplings, guo tie, are really often quite tasty, with vegetable filling of course. I would advise to steer clear of all Chinese meat- it is only a question of time before one comes a cropper....the accentuated sheepy smell you've experienced means it is off, but that's normal. That's my intuitive guess only mind.

Yes Desiree type spuds are usually reliable, as are the red onions in China.

WOW a good price on the beer. Good for you at this time of year- as long as it doesn't go to the waist.