Family Bike Ride

Last Sunday, we went for a family bike ride. It sounds like an easy kind of thing, but with a 1 year old and a 3 year old actually getting out of the house is an accomplishment at times! So with helmets, jackets and layers of clothing on and tears averted after Ellie really wanted to ride her own bike, and despite having never been outside on her bike was convinced she could keep up and ride as far as she wanted, we loaded the littles into the baby seats and got outside... phew.


This was Jamie's first real trip on a bike, as although he has sat on the seat and been wheeled along (and once on a big trip in the Ergo - shh, we are responsible parents really), he proved himself to be quite the cyclist, loving the wind in his face, and especially the sound of the bell!

There's a canal not far from where we live, and we rode along it. We saw the fishermen fishing, we saw children playing, we saw other people out for rides on their bikes, we rode through some vegie patches. We rode down through the Dong Jiao Guest House gardens - this is a hotel environment for dignitaries and guests of the Government, and it is stunning. The gardens are maintained beautifully, there is a beautiful lake and with spring coming, the emerging new growth is delightful. It was interesting, or maybe what we are sadly getting used to, to see that the top 15cm is perfectly groomed, but then go any deeper and there's refuse and sodden water.


We didn't ride for very long, but we were correct in preventing Ellie from riding her own bike, because she said once "I'm feeling tired" and then boom, I felt my bike lurch to the side and Ellie had fallen asleep in the bike seat. Her dead weight on the back of the bike actually made it really tricky to keep the bike steady, so instead of continuing our cycle in the lovely crisp fresh air we headed to Face - a cocktail lounge bar in the residential section of the Dong Jiao Guest House grounds.


This turned out to be a very good choice, because it has some fantastic day beds to lounge on... So we managed to get the heavy 3 year old off the bike and into this bar and onto an elaborately decorated bed, where she slept soundly for about 45 mins while Mike and I enjoyed a cocktail each, and Jamie climbed around, and found it particularly amusing to sit on a little table in the middle of the bed. It was very funny really and quite fortuitous.

Afterwards we rode home, through a tip, which depressed Ellie to see an abandoned Winnie the Pooh, and over a bridge with the most stunning sunset. It surprises us no end that where we live in the heart of 'Expatville' is so close to abject poverty, and on our regular days we don't see it, and it only takes us on a short ride to cross over into that void.

For the record we rode less than 10km on this trip!

The Year of the Tiger!

Xinnian kuaile!!

So with the Year of the Tiger, I'm back after a 7 month absence, the GFW has prevented access to a number of websites, but we are now the proud owner of a proxy server in the UK, so we're back with access to the world again!! Hello YouTube, Facebook and Blogspot!!

Yesterday, I posted 'diary entries' for the missing time (maybe I'll go back and post some photos to match the stories later, but maybe I won't) and from today I hope to start my regular blogging again...


So let's talk about the kids' birthdays... Ellie turned 3 and and Jamie turned 1 on consecutive Tuesdays, and in the between weekend, we transformed our house into a pirate ship for a pirate party! Ellie had her heart set on a pirate ship cake (yes, from the AWW cake book) and so to match, I made a treasure island cake for Jamie. Mike constructed all the trimmings for a ship from cardboard, including a wheel and cannons! The deck looked awesome!!

Ellie was delighted to have all her friends over, while Jamie was a bit overwhelmed. Overall it was a pretty low key party, but everyone had a good time with a pirate story, musical statues and lots of delicious treats. The birthday cakes were a big hit!!



We've also been busy with the lead up to the Lunar New Year - Ellie was a donkey in the school production, and the toddler part of the show was so cute. The costumes were amazing, and I think all the kids enjoyed getting dressed up.

Last night was the first of two weeks of fireworks. Fireworks are said to scare away the evil spirits, and so are a big part of Chinese New Year festivities. We live on the 21st floor of an apartment building, so we had an excellent view. We went to bed listening to the constant snap, crackle and pop of fireworks and crackers, and seeing the room illuminate as the sparks flew. I am a tiger, and so according to Chinese tradition I am required to wear red every day of the year for good luck - I think this calls for a piece of red jewellery, but today I have tied a piece of red string around my wrist.


Waking up this morning was a pretty treat, as during the night we had a very light dusting of snow... not enough to build a snowman but enough to cover the sports pitch opposite. Looked beautiful.

Happy new year everyone - may you all be prosperous and happy in this new year of the tiger!

January 2010

Happy New Year!!

Technically we can say we've been in Australia this year as we headed back to cold Shanghai on January 1st!! What a shock to the system - 30 degree temperature drop to -4 degrees! We have had snow a number of times this year, but never enough to stick or actually build a snowman. I'm not complaining. Dry cold is not so bad, and after last year I've actually learned to dress myself properly.

It was good to get straight back into routine, as we arrived home and had the weekend to recover, and then school started again on Monday. Ellie was glad to get back to her kids, Mike not so much.

We had a pretty busy month, playgroups and play dates for Ellie and Jamie and lunches and coffee for me fills the week up quite quickly. Finally I've enrolled in Chinese lessons, for although I have managed, my vocab has been somewhat limited... I am having classes twice a week - Tuesdays and Fridays, and I've improved dramatically already. I wish I'd been able to do these classes when we arrived 18 months ago... oh well, better late than never.

The other thing that has been keeping me busy has been getting ready for the kids birthdays! Ellie has been adamant about having a Pirate Ship cake for ages... so we are having a pirate party... I am starting on the collection of goodies. Our most successful trip was to the Yu Gardens Bazaar - wow what a place to visit... I thought the fake market had everything... But we managed to get a pirate hat for Mike, and some black balloons (cannon balls) and a whole pile of other rubbish that we absolutely needed! I'm sure the pirate party will be a hit!!

December 2009

Solo flight again... me and 2 kids to Australia!! This one was an absolute breeze - a single leg, Shanghai to Sydney! And met by my very excited parents at Sydney Airport. We sat next to a Chinese Australian family who were doing the same trip, except 1 baby and 3 adults... the mum said to me that she felt a bit embarrassed that I was travelling on my own with 2, and she and her husband had thought they weren't capable of juggling their baby on their own, which was why her mother-in-law was travelling too! Why were we alone? Because flights were significantly cheaper if I left before school finished... so Mike joined us in Sydney 6 days later.

We had a terrific month staying by Coogee Beach with Mum and Dad. The break from the cold Shanghai winter was most appreciated too! Our week before Mike arrived was jam packed with activities - we went to Billy Kwong's for dinner (I must try and replicate a salt and pepper tofu dish), went out for my cousin's birthday overlooking Bondi Beach, had high tea at Bungalow 8, started Ellie on swimming lessons, and started catching up with friends.

Mike arrived and the whirlwind began - arranging Jamie's christening, visiting our apartment and attending to a number of business things. Mike also did a Final Cut Pro course for 3 days. I visited my old work, who have now moved into a flash new building - I thought it could be fun to work there (for about 2 days!).

Jamie's christening was perfect. We had it on the balcony at Coogee with about 30 friends. Super special was that my grandparents came up from Batemans Bay, to share in the ceremony. Also lovely, was friends came from the UK, Shanghai and Sydney, and also some brought new babies that we hadn't yet met!! Graham Long, the minister who married us and christened Ellie, again lead proceedings - and did a lovely and simple job. We feel so blessed to have him as part of our spiritual family.

Jamie's first Christmas was lovely with Mum and Dad. Ellie was well into understanding about being good for Santa and loved the presents under the tree and of course ripping them open!! Ellie was quite funny too, she was most adamant that Santa would be bringing her "a pushbike, a dog and a cat", and for Jamie - "something to throw on the floor".

After Christmas we headed down to Batemans Bay to go to Clarissa and Chris's wedding at Nelligen. Runnymede was stunning, and the wedding day was perfect. I particularly loved the boat cruise from Batemans Bay to Nelligen, looking out at the Australian Bush - so different to the built up river banks in China. I took hundreds of photos, so I can remember the beauty of Australia, after taking it for granted for so many years.

It was sad to leave Sydney to come home to Shanghai again. And in a month there, it was also surprising that we still didn't quite manage to catch up with everyone, or spend quite enough time just relaxing on my beach. But it was also nice to come back to where we currently hang our hat and get back into some form of routine!

November 2009

OK - I do seem cut out to be a teacher!! I’ve enjoyed my 6 weeks with Year 3 and can’t believe how fast it has gone!! I have learned so much in my time on prac, and I even think I have even taught a fair bit too!! :-)

My passage hasn’t been all smooth sailing though. After 2 weeks, my mentor from Canberra unfortunately had to return suddenly to Australia for medical treatment. My third week left me in the classroom keeping things running and helping get the supply teacher up to speed with the workings of the class. And I practically taught the whole week as I knew what was planned for each lesson. Some of my classes were observed by senior teachers, and I got some interesting feedback on my teaching!
The following week I started with a new mentor, the Year 3 coordinator, and went back to observing, and then slowly started teaching more and more.

There are so many things that go on in a 6 week period - Roman Day, a fundraising thing where everyone brought in their jiaos (Chinese equivalent of 1c), International week culminating in dress up day in national clothes and food fair, class preparation of school assembly, dance competitions and final show, and just regular lessons!

My favourite things to teach are literacy and numeracy - I like reading the kids ideas in their creative writing and seeing the penny drop when they finally get the concept in maths.

October 2009 - part 2

How random is this... It’s been part of my life since July, yet I’ve barely mentioned it... In case you missed it I’ve gone back to uni!! I am studying to be a primary school teacher - who would have thought? I am studying online, and in this first semester for me I have enrolled in 2 subjects - Learners & Learning and Teaching & Planning.

For T&P, I have to do a 6 week practical placement starting on 12th Oct. I won’t go into the heartache and angst I experienced in sorting my prac out, but needless to say, I am not going to the school 10 mins walk from home (thanks to Uni rules, also not going to Mike and Ellie’s school), but I have been offered a placement at another International School in Kangqiao (about 40 mins by bus / taxi from home).

The school is fantastic, they have given me a great Australian mentor (which is good from the perspective that she remembers what she had to do on her pracs). I am in Year 3, which although I didn’t specifically request it, is exactly where I wanted to be.
Over the 6 weeks, my responsibility will increase until I am teaching whole lessons. Initially I am mainly observing, and helping out in the classroom. I am taking a reading group already every day.

I’m enjoying it thus far, but it’s a LOT of work!!

October 2009

Happy Birthday Dad!! And welcome back to Shanghai - what a great idea - Shanghai as a stopover on the way to the UK, and back!! Arriving on his birthday, Mum and Dad came with stories from their first visit to Marnie and Pete’s house, tales from the South of France (and half a grocery store) and trips down memory lane as they had revisited many of their previous stomping grounds.

For Dad’s birthday we went to see a Chinese Opera - Le Ke Shan - the story of a woman who was displeased with her husband’s apparent earning capabilities and so divorced him, only to have him then climb the ranks of success, but sadly, without reconciling, as happy endings are not as essential in Chinese stories.

The first week of October is National Week Holiday, and this year was a big one as it was also the 60th anniversary of Communism, and therefore the Peoples Republic. There was a general feeling of good will as we moved around in Shanghai - and in Lujiazui on the riverfront in particular. We enjoyed a beer or two at the Lowenbrau while watching all the movement on the river. We had a crazy surprise after catching the Sightseeing train under the river, with return tickets back in spite of knowing that:

1. Nanjing Dong Lu Metro station was closed, and

2. There were no ferries crossing the river to the Bund, and

3. Having observed the lack of people across the river on the Bund;

that exits to access the Bund were closed. For the whole of the National week, the Bund was closed. But in true China style the ticket seller didn’t tell us that in fact we were unable to get out at the other end.
We had a great short break in Hangzhou - thanks Nigel for the recommendation. Caught the train out there and stayed near the lake. Was a very quick trip and we did a tour around the lake on a golf cart, and sampled Beggars Chicken, in the least ‘beggar’ environment imaginable - the restaurant in the Shangri-La. Such a beautiful holiday town, and really felt like the world was having a good time.

Back to Shanghai, with the lead up to my birthday - hairy crab season, and that was what I wanted for dinner... But alas it wasn’t to be and instead my birthday dinner was at the Blue Frog for Fajitas... And a margarita ( well 2, as it was happy hour) with all my family!!

No visitors now in sight, we can really focus on settling in to Shimao Lakeside, until we go away for Christmas.

September 2009

What an exciting return from holidays. Settling into our new home in Jinqiao was a bit of a challenge as some of the things in our new apartment just didn’t feel immediately like ‘home’. And really I preferred our old place. There’s nothing wrong with this one... it’s a bit bigger, we have a pleasant outlook and we are only 10 mins walk from school!!

As usual we suffered through the usual maladies with Mike’s post-holiday blues, but with the beginning of a new school year, our little baby Ellie started school proper. She is in Miss Alicia’s toddler class at Dulwich College Kindergarten, affectionately (and officially) known as Ducks. She is enrolled for 5 mornings a week, and her timetable is filled with exciting activities including PE, Art, Music, Library and Mandarin. She loves going to school and has settled into the routine quickly and easily.

Mum and Dad were our first visitors to our new place and were quite happy with their new room, with en suite bathroom - quite agreeable and comfortable accommodation.

We took them on their first trip out of Shanghai with our dear friends from Michigan, on a day trip to Tongli. We all piled into their trusty Buick, babies on knees for 2 hours basically west of Shanghai. Tongli is a water town, built on canals, it really is beautiful and there are lots of peaceful gardens to explore. It is also home to an ancient sex museum, which we opted to visit - fortunately for us, our kids were actually sleeping for that part of the excursion, however MJ had some curly questions for his poor mum!!

While Mum and Dad were here, we also celebrated Fathers Day with a breakfast in one of the summer houses on the lake in our compound. We also visited the Shanghai World Financial Centre, the current tallest building in China, which is very impressive. And indulged in some new culinary delights, including the world famous Yangs Fried Dumplings from Wujiang Lu and a Hunanese restaurant called Di Shui Dong - delish!

August 2009

So I have lost Blog access in China. Thanks Great Firewall. If I’d known, I would have done this update while we were in the UK!! Instead, now I have to do it, save it and wait to post it!! Grr!!

We had a great holiday. We spent an entire month in Wales and London staying with Nannie and Granddad and Aunty Marnie and Pete. We couldn’t believe it has been 5 years since we were last here. (If you don’t remember, we were in Europe for 6 weeks with 3 weddings each in a different country.) How much has changed since then... there were a number of new people to meet, old friends to catch up with and still we ran out of time and missed out seeing some too! :(

We had a terrific holiday, London was awesome - we took Ellie to see the dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum and wow - weren’t they incredible!! We enjoyed sightseeing and hanging out in London too.

We went to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Kingston-on-Thames with Marns and Pete and it was delicious.

We helped Dorothy and David celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary. It was lovely to have the De Borde family all together for a weekend.

We loved exploring Wales, especially visiting Cardiff Bay, Castell Coch and our trip to the Welsh seaside - Porthcawl.. We weren’t so impressed with the weather though - it rained half the time we were there! Some summer holiday - hey?
Bath was fun to explore - I loved seeing the elegance of the Jane Austen style tea rooms, the stunning Abbey and of course being transported back to Roman times touring the baths.

My first flight on the London Eye was breathtaking. It was a lovely day and we could see for miles! We had first been to a city farm which Ellie loved, even though she was dressed as a princess not a farmer. Thanks Marnie for a great day out!

Thanks everyone for a memorable trip.