Geo: 32.0404, 118.785It's Monday again. Kids are at school....Caught the Metro (train) for the first time all by myself....WARNING... The only time that Chinese move quickly is when they are trying to get a seat on the Metro. It doesn't' matter if you are man, woman, child, old or very old. Boy can they run.Jumped on Xuezelu Station. There was a 1 minute wait.... Not bad. Take note Australian trains.The train forgot to stop... No probs another arrives in 4 minutes.Go 11 stops. Get off at Xinjiekou station. Jump onto line 1 and go 2 more stops down to Sanshan Station.Go out exit 4.... OHHH... Where am I.I walked one way.... Then walked back the other.... This looks familiar.... Yes.. I'm not lost.I have been there a number of times but always on the weekend. There ... read more

Geo: 32.0404, 118.785The day started out really well.I was given some samples of shampoo and conditioner on the Monday while shopping with Zoe so I thought .... "Why not use them!" So I did. Only problem... which is which????Is the smaller one Shampoo or is it Conditioner... I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right or wrong.And I got it right.... Yeah.Headed off to school for parent, teacher interviews. All OK after 4 weeks of school in Nanjing.Then we jumped into the Metro to Xinjiekou where you will find Fashion Lady. It is a maze over two floors of so many shops about the size of a small bathroom. Very tiny but also so many.The kids bought more shoes....Luca had a meeting with a soccer team this morning.... We shall see... They didn't really care ... read more

Geo: 32.0617, 118.778Wow... Who would have thought that I would be celebrating the Melbourne Cup in CHINA.All of the ladies where dresses up. On the invitation the dress code was "Hat and Heels".The traditional prizes where awarded for 1st 2nd 3rd and last place.The only problem was.... we couldn't watch the race because the Aussie TV station was down.Welcome to CHINA.We still had a great time. Some ladies where facebooking and emailing to get the results.We had to wait for the delayed replay plus the photo finish.GUESS what? I won...... LAST place. At least I got my money back.....Things never change. ... read more

Geo: 32.0617, 118.778Today I went on a shopping tour with other expats.We caught the Metro into town and then walked a bit.They where re wiring the whole area. There where so many cables being pushed into man holes and a few metres down the road other men where pulling them out of another man hole.China is an amazing place.Bought some nice things for Xmas presents. So many little shops.... Need more time.Down one of the side streets in front of a shop out in the open there was a pool table. It wasn't there the first time we walked past.... so I don't know where they kept it....Tomorrow we ladies are having a Melbourne Cup Lunch.... to raise money for charity....Being an expat is pretty busy..... I need a holiday....... read more