To those of you reading this, you will notice no changes; however to me, as a writer, I can tell you I have discovered the secret of enjoyable blogging: wifi. As I write this on the new laptop, I am sitting on one of the balconies looking towards Mt Fuji (I can't see it - there's too much haze), enjoying the sunshine. I used to have to write in the study - a darker room with some great features: a large screen and a wider keyboard mostly. The wifi was my doing - what fun I had setting that up, but on to other things.
China. Remember when we were there? Remember tales of travelling on our first Chinese bullet train, me feeling like Michael Palin, eating unforgettable delicacies which I eventually learned to refuse politely? Well it really was deja vu for us.
Early May saw us on an early morning flight to Beijing to celebrate the wedding of our lovely friend Helen. Helen used to work in the office at Rego school in Tianjin and became a surrogate daughter for us. Her wonderful ways with the English language entertained us and soothed us over the two years we shared with her and her command of Mandarin got me out of jail free - being arrested for not reporting as an alien in my early weeks in the country.
She and Michael set the date of their wedding by interrogating the spirits and gods at a Taoist shrine - they came up with 4.13 pm on a particular day in May - so we were all duly summoned to a lovely Chinese Restaurant, overlooking the Haihe River where the Master of Ceremonies was installed to conduct her Chinese wedding.
We arrived a little early and , to be honest, it didn't look like there was much going on at the place the taxi dumped us (having negotiated an inflated fare by stating that his meter did not work - oh that old chestnut I thought! Still, doubling what should have been a pound to make it two seemed quite a bargain really compared to taxi rates in Tokyo!) The building looked as though it might just be still under construction but a few conversations, with lots of gesticulations and smiles, later and we found we were in the right spot.
She arrived in the traditional red car and was greeted by her husband to be who carried her all the way to the fifth floor - ah.... bless. The firecrackers were so very noisy and the bad spirits well and truly chased away. She looked stunning and a bit shocked by it all - she spotted Dave standing well back and shouted "Oh Principal!" - it was a lovely greeting. We were treated like royalty all afternoon. We met her parents for the very first time and were greeted warmly - an invitation to go to their home was issued immediately and the fact that we had come all the way from Japan seemed to make them all feel very happy. We were humbled by the whole day - it was wonderful to see our old friends and they, in return, seemed so pleased to see us. We had a fabulous time with Max, Sara and Frank, May and Harry and many others.
The wedding was true China meets Las Vegas and it was hugely emotional for us all - I even shed a tear or two while they decared undying love for each other (you had to be there really!). Dave and I both think they are well suited and hope they lead long and happy lives together.
We did not waste our time in China and took the chance to revisit a few of our favourite haunts - we stayed in Beijing, travelling to Tianjin on the bullet train. It was such a privilege to feel so at home in a country that we have learned to enjoy - we really felt we knew what we were doing! When it was time to leave we were a little sad - it is unlikely that we will return - Helen's wedding was the last thing on our agenda and that period of our lives is probably closed forever - but who knows? Babies will be born and if we can, we will travel to see them too.
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