Ok, the title is probably a little confusing because it's always me and Rachael, and I suppose all our of our weekends could be considered girl's weekends, but this felt a little different. Firstly, the main reason we were going to Shanghai was dress fitting, which is of course very girlie. Long story, but I had a dress to collect as well, which was a little nerve wracking but a good tester so we could see if the seamstress was any good. I didn't have high hopes for my dress but it was lovely. It's a kind of silky material with black and pink circles on a white background. The neckline is great, flattering but not revealing so I can wear it for work. It's a bit of an odd length for me, but I can ... read more

Exciting times in Tonglu. Rachael and I have lots of weekends away in the diary now, and our last mini holiday to book. We have four days off at the beginning of May and we're trying to decide between going to Suzhou, which is a city, and a beach. I've wanted to go to Suzhou for a while, but kind of feel that we've seen several in the last few months and that it might be nice to do something completely different. No doubt the beach will have temples in the vicinity anyway! I need to check the weather and accommodation etc but I've got my fingers crossed for a beach break. Actually, the weather's been gorgeous up until today. I'm very close to becoming addicted to the mango milkshakes from a new shop near the ... read more

I've been off the Roaccutane for a month now. My doctor at home advised that after 6 months on it you should give your body a rest, and even though my first 4 months were only at half strength I don't want to take any chances with something quite so strong. The acne is flat now, and I just have discolouration which I was optimistic would fade with time. Roaccutane stays in your body for quite a while after you stop taking it, but the first signs that my body is now getting rid of the last of it have started to appear. One of the benefits of the medicine is that it really limited oil production so while it did lead to drier skin it also meant my hair never looked greasy. Given that I ... read more

I don't know why I haven't blogged for a while...I guess Tonglu doesn't seem to offer much to report after the adventure of our travels! Actually, there has been a flurry of excitement in the past week or two, as we've all noticed an increase in the number of foreigners here. Two and a half years ago, my brother was the first foreigner to live here, then another school got an African person to work for them, then, almost a year ago, I moved over, swiftly followed by Rachael. Well, now there are at least half a dozen more, and a wee family that we've seen. One or two might be teachers, but we have no idea what the rest are doing here! There really isn't that much to do, and there are no international schools. ... read more

It's now 9 months since I moved to China and I have to admit to finding it difficult sometimes. However, our recent travels have given me a new, more positive perspective. I think it's partly because I was able to compare Tonglu to bigger cities, and partly because I could see Shum struggling to cope with some aspects that I used to find difficult but now just accept. There is a lack of consideration towards others here, in my mind. However, I now realise that this is more about looking after yourself and your family rather than actively trying to thwart other people. This probably comes from a tumultous - and very recent - history where people did have to fight tooth and nail to ensure their families survival. History has taught people to be wary, ... read more