Back in the fog

Our return flight from Beijing was delayed by one hour at departure due to "technical problems" on the incoming flight, always a bit worrying, and then we had a really smooth good flight as compensation. However when we neared Heathrow there was the inevitable fog and we were "stacked" in loops around the airport to allow waiting flights to get landed and others to take off. The food was as bad as ever and I fail to see why BA cannot serve up a half decent meal like Virgin does!
As we had landed so late we missed our connection and had to re-book and pay an extra fiver for the privelidge! We eventually arrived home after 10pm instead of the anticipated 7pm and dropped into bed without eating and just pleased to be at home again.
We might need to go back to Nanjing in March or April so should be a bit warmer then.

A Very Cold trip in Beijing

Our flight from Heathrow was delayed by nearly 2 hours due to the fog and allowing the waiting incoming flights to come in before our take off. 10 hours later we arrived at Beijing


We arrived in Beijing to a warm reception from our hosts who met us at the airport and whisked us off to our hotel but the weather was less than warm being a chilly minus 2. The next few days were spent in meetings with the Police and Army of the PRC and two outings.
We had a convivial time and some interesting meals, especially those in the country. We were accompanied by a colleague of mine this time who had not been to China before and it was all a bit of a shock to him!! I must say to his credit that he was brave and tried a number of unusual food items despite some initial misgivings. He even quickly learnt the use of chopsticks by necissity due to the lack of western "eating irons" in the country.



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The Army camp was located a few hours North of Beijing, beyond the Great Wall, and getting near to Inner Mongolia. Hence the coldness was nearing that of Siberia not too many miles Northwest of us!!
The writer and his companion took shelter from the bitter wind in an army bunker!

Overall the trip was very successful despite some shortcomings on the client side and we now expect to return again in the summer.

Have you seen any foxes...? Happy New Year

A Very Happy New Year to all friends & family and anyone who reads this blog.
We celebrated the coming of 2009 over a few days with family and friends and neighbours in various ways,all of which were most convivial and enjoyable. We will not bore you with the details of these intimate times spent by relating names, places and details apart from an anonymous event which was amusing to all who were there.
The aspects of local wildlife came into the conversation and a long term friend and partner, who live in woodlands, enquired of my wife if she sees any foxes in China?
She thoughtt for a moment and then said "Yes, in zoos", then added helpfully "and in restaurants". Our friends at first looked puzzled but then their expressions turned into one of slight shock and horror as it dawned on them that the restaurant inclusion meant that fox was on the menu!! My wife then laughed to cover her embarassment and apologised to them, bless her. Thankfully it was all taken well and the evening continued in a harmonious state.