I go out for lunch or shopping or many more things with my friends here but it is always a lot of fun to hang out with other families or with other couples. We seem to have been doing that a lot just lately and it has been a blast!!! Karaoke…. Well it was Friday night and Kevin was going out with the “boys” and Liz’s husband was out of town on business so she invited the girls and I over to her apartment for a karaoke night with her and her boys. It sounded like fun although I am not one for singing in public. Sure I have belted out a few tunes with my sisters at family gatherings and like most people I have imagined pop stardom as I sing in the privacy of ... read more

After a horrendous journey we finally made it to the Holiday Inn Resort in Phuket at 1am in the morning. The day had started very well with a flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong. No problems with the first flight so we were optimistic about the next two. Hong Kong is a really efficient airport so even our tight transfer time became very easy and stress free. On to flight no.2……disaster!! Well not literally but it felt like it at the time. Due to a problem with one of the engines which was discovered as we were taxing up the runway we were forced to sit on the plane for 3 ½ hrs (with no AC) before it was repaired and we were cleared to fly. We couldn’t have chosen a flight with a small plane. ... read more

It's Tuesday afternoon and I am lucky enough to be sitting on a comfy chair on my balcony enjoying the beautiful weather that we have here in Hangzhou today. The temperatures are in the low 70's F today and after spending the day with my friends shopping and stopping for lunch at a local tea house, I am now enjoying the peace and quiet of this tranquil afternoon. (Can you tell that the girls are still at school!!!) I feel like the last week or so has been very busy here so I may need to write about our adventures on several blogs so bare with me.... Saturday 7th- We were invited with some friends to a day out with our driver Shen De. He is the head of his "tea" village and so he wanted ... read more

The Wilsons visit Shanghai (Feb, Friday 13th - Sunday 15th) As I write this I am sitting in the lounge on the 24th Floor looking down over the lit up city skyline of Shanghai. The view is great as I sit here being waited on with my tea!! (there is no alcohol in this lounge unfortunately). Kevin is an executive member at this hotel chain so we are able to drink here and have snacks here for free. It is certainly a different way of life at the moment. Its not going to last so I am trying to make the most of it!!!! Reality will come and bite me in the ass before I know it!!!! Anyway let me start at the beginning with our trip. Our journey here was supposed to take about 2 ... read more

MONDAY 2nd FEB Big day for the "Wilson Girls" today. It's their 1st day at their new school in Hangzhou. They are going to the international school here. It's based on the US curriculum so that they won't be too far behind when we go home to Massachusetts. There was a lot of anxiety with both Megan and Sophie last night. Sophie was worried that none of the children would want to be her friend and Megan was just worried about EVERYTHING!!! They both managed to sleep OK thankfully! This morning Sophie seemed OK. She had all her uniform on one hanger including underwear, headband, necklace and earings. It was the cutest thing!! He sister took forever to get ready and was very quiet. Our "driver" started today so we went downstairs to say Hi and ... read more